Japanese food has taken over in recent years, maybe this is due to the influx of Japanese culture displayed on our television screens or plainly just down to the fact they produce some top-class cuisine.
Today HeatHome Magazine will be exploring the nation’s capital, London to tell you about all the best spots to grab some sushi in the city. Of course, this is our list and is just down to persoanl opinion so if you lovely people and have your own suggestions we would be more than happy to hear about them. Regardless this one was fun to research, so you are in for a treat!
Cube – 4 Blenheim St, London W1S 1LB, United Kingdom
I first visited this spot during the pandemic, It is a small space but it’s used extensively by the restaurant, and cultivates a comfortable setting with its elegant but simple decor. The staff here are wonderful and go above and beyond to provide you with excellent customer service. The is a fully Japanese restaurant as well, so you are in for a very traditional experience while dining here.
As we stated, Cubé has crafted a unique space designed to enhance the luxury dining experience. The restaurant features distinctive double-sushi bars, allowing the highly coveted bar space for its renowned Omakase course to serve more guests than ever before. This is a nice touch as you can see the preparation of your dishes first-hand.
At Cubé, Japanese chefs make every effort to blend authentic cuisine with the finest locally sourced ingredients. This creates create unforgettable meals. The restaurant’s passion for serving top-quality cuisine is deeply rooted in its core philosophy. Cubé prioritises sourcing high-quality ingredients to ensure a continuous supply of sustainably sourced produce for their clients to enjoy. This ethos is what keeps the punters coming back through the door.
A must-try dish here is the tempura, I know it is a classic and some would say a little cliche, but honestly, it’s so light and crispy each bite takes you away from all of life’s trials and tribulations and sends you to your happy place. Another essential selection is the Eel fois gras roll. Fois gras is notoriously hard to get in the United Kingdom, and for some people, it’s not the most ethical selection, but for me, it must be a try dish, the richness of flavour will blow you away.
SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden – 35 The Market, London WC2E 8RF, United Kingdom
At the heart of London’s bustling Covent Garden, SUSHISAMBA has become a local favourite. The restaurant’s culture and cuisine offer an unparalleled dining experience. Located at the famed Opera Terrace atop the historic Grade II-listed Market Building, SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden adds a vibrant and modern flair to the area. The restaurant is crowned by an Eric Parry-designed glass roof and runs along the entire east side of the market, offering breathtaking rooftop views across the piazza. So if you like to eat quality food in a beautiful setting this is the place. I would go as far as to say that the setting is a core part of the dining experience here. It’s perfect for a date or a family event. Just take anyone you hold dear here, and they will be happy (They do more than just seafood too!)
Bold in design, SUSHISAMBA provides a variety of inviting dining and drinking experiences. Guests can enjoy the bar with its ‘living canopy ceiling,’ the exposed kitchen, and the high-energy sushi bar. The terrace overlooking The Piazza and the private dining room with its entrance and terrace create a perfect ambience for any occasion.
From Japanese tempura and sushi to Brazilian churrasco and moqueca, and Peruvian anticuchos and ceviches, SUSHISAMBA’s culinary creativity is limitless, offering something for every palate. The open kitchen and fiery robata grill provide brilliantly roasted and flavoured meats, vegetables, and fish. The restaurant’s conceptual small plate style encourages a “shared” dining experience, making it ideal for both casual and formal gatherings.
SUSHISAMBA offers a variety of dining and drinking spaces for events of all sizes. From the Japanese-inspired private dining room with its own entrance and private balcony to the hidden-away speakeasy or full venue hire, the Covent Garden location provides a truly unique setting for any event. And s we mentioned they have a wide variety of options, not just sushi, so this is a great place to take people with a variety of tastes when you are craving sushi, while perhaps another member of your part is not.
Hot Stone – 3 Windmill St, London W1T 2HY, United Kingdom
For me this one is a special experience, I can’t recommend this spot highly enough. Hot Stone, Fitzrovia, offers an extraordinary culinary journey in the heart of The Big Smoke. This is an award-winning restaurant. Hot Stone stands out in London’s dining scene, and this can be credited to the direction the restaurant has taken under the leadership of Executive Chef Padam Raj Rai, who brings over 22 years of experience to the table, and this high level of experience means the kitchen runs like a well-oiled machine.
Drawing on his early experiences in the kitchens of Kotetsu, and Kathmandu, and over a decade spent honing his craft in some of London’s most iconic Japanese restaurants, such as Zuma, Nobu, and Sake No Hana, Chef Padam Raj Rai’s wealth of experience in Japanese cuisine has earned him multiple awards for his sushi creations which again as we stated makes him the secret to Hot Stone’s success.
Specializing in Wagyu, Hot Stone is one of only nine restaurants in the UK that proudly serves certified Kobe beef. Their Kobe sirloin steak is cooked to perfection using the Ishiyaki method on a 450° Celsius volcanic stone. The exquisite sushi is accompanied by freshly grated Japanese wasabi sourced from Japan’s mountain regions, and a range of aged soy sauces, brewed in 100-year-old cedar barrels by the Okada family since 1753, enhances the natural umami of different seafood.
Hot Stone is more than a restaurant; it’s a journey of the pallet for those of us who are inclined to experience authentic Japanese flavours and cooking techniques. Some of the must-haves on the Hot Stone menu for me are having the chance to experience the finest Kobe beef (this is the top-level beef you can get on the entire planet, its costly but oh my when you try it your taste buds will explode, its like butter), freshly grated wasabi, expertly crafted sushi, and more.
Drawing on his early experiences in the kitchens of Kotetsu, and Kathmandu, and over a decade spent honing his craft in some of London’s most iconic Japanese restaurants, such as Zuma, Nobu, and Sake No Hana, Chef Padam Raj Rai’s wealth of experience in Japanese cuisine has earned him multiple awards for his sushi creations and is the secret to Hot Stone’s success.
Wrapping Things Up
Well, that brings us to the end of our lovely little list, I really would recommend trying out some of these places if you ever get the opportunity. I have visited all of these spots personally and I take all of my friends and family to these spots wherever they are in town and we haven’t had any complaints as of yet. Sushi really is delicious, and I find it a perfect choice for an outing as there really is something for everyone on the menu and if you go to the correct place the ingredients are always fresh.