Brixton , Japanese Restaurant Guide

2022 Review: “Sink your teeth in and savour!” the “bold flavours” of former MasterChef winner Tim Anderson’s take on Japanese cooking using foreign or ‘barbarian’ (Nanban) ingredients, showcased in his “fast and furious” 10-year-old pop-up-gone-permanent on the edge of Brixton Market. “Their noodle dishes became a lockdown delivery staple, packed with flavour, a wonderful smoky depth to the tea eggs, heart-warming broths”. A new Covent Garden offshoot opened in September 2021 at Kerb’s Seven Dials Market, focused on ramen dishes.

‘Rebel against the establishment and join the sushi revolution!’ – purists should steer clear of this small Brixton pitstop, where various funky meat, vegan and veggie options sit alongside more traditional Japanese sushi combos. Feedback was limited this year, but continues to rate it positively all-round. And they must be doing something right, as a new Shoreditch branch opened in June 2024.

Kurisu being Japanese for Chris: this comparatively long-established (2021) pop-up – which is only open on Tuesday and Wednesday nights – is the work of the owners’ eponymous son, who helped serve in the business when he was just 10 years old and now, in his early 30s, has trained in sushi preparation in Tokyo. He takes over Restrepo family restaurant Ichiban on its quiet evenings to offer an 18-course omakase for £150 per person. Many of the capital’s top sushi chefs have made the pilgrimage to it over the years, and all feedback continues to rate the value of the experience as being between very good and exceptional. Look out for availability on Insta.

Billed as London’s first hand-roll sushi specialist when it opened five years ago, this tiny counter operation in Brixton Market serves very high-quality Japanese bites at a good price. If you have always wanted to taste wagyu beef or sake but balked at the cost, this might be your opportunity – a small plate of wagyu is £15, a sake flight £19, and fans find it “a seriously excellent experience”.