Very very good!! Service was excellent as well. My husband had the tantanmen and I had sushi tacos - all tasted very fresh with very good flavor. Will come again! read more

Hare & Tortoise - Tantanmen and chicken katsu taco and spicy salmon taco - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Hit the spot! We had the Penang Curry (chicken) and salmon teriyaki. Very good and service was solid.

Pop quiz hot shots: Hare & Tortoise is: A. A running store B. A local boozer C. A museum of taxidermy ...skip a few letters... W. Storybook Land Ride X. A Japanese fusion restaurant Y. A Funeral Home Z. A GUM clinic Although I bet you're all wishing you could go to a place called "Hare and Tortoise" (or would that be Hair and Tortoise?) for all of your Genitourinary medicine needs, the correct answer is X. A Japanese Fusion restaurant. And come to find out, it's pretty tasty! Despite initial confusion surrounding their apparent identity crisis, our sushi came quickly and 3 starving folks stuffed themselves for a measly £23.50. It definitely feels a bit chainy, but you can feel a bit better knowing that you're supporting a west London business trying to spread the love. Would I go again? Yes. And next time I'll know not to ask for a pair of running shoes or a pint. read more

Hare & Tortoise - From Website - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

There aren't a lot of eateries in this neck of the woods, so we decided to give the Hare & Tortoise a try recently. The menu is Japanese-focused but with other oriental dishes, served in a cafe-bar ambiance. Think Wagamama but with a longer menu and individual tables, and more Chinese inspired choices. There are glass walls on two sides of the main dining area, which gives it a bright and spacious feel. The decor is modern but clean, with a single canvas of modern art adorning the main wall. The menu is quite wide-ranging: there is a long choice of starters to choose from, which include both Japanese and Chinese fare, as well as Japanese-style salads and south-east asian style soups. Mains include sashimi, sushi/maki, rice- and noodle-based dishes, and ramen noodles served in big bowls with broth. Drinks include a small, reasonably-priced wine list, Japanese and Chinese beers and teas and the usual soft drinks. My partner and I had Spiced Chicken Wing-sticks with Chinese spices and Vegetarian Spring Rolls with dipping sauce, followed by Vegetable and Tofu Ramen and Char Siu Don (pork marinated with honey and spices). The starters were both good, and the ramen bowl excellent (huge, sweet chunks of tofu, which is some achievement), although the pork was disappointingly bland. However, main-course portions are generous and, at £12 a head, including drinks and service, you can't really complain. (And the ramen bowl at £4.95 is excellent value for money). A pint of Kirin beer at £2.90 is pretty good for a restaurant, too. Service was very friendly, but a little bit too efficient - my partner's main course arrived, and was left - while he was still mid-way through his starter. I appreciate that (like Wagamama) the dishes may arrive when they are ready, but in this case it meant it began to get cold. The staff also - all of them - left their posts to have their communal after-work meal adjacent to where people were still dining. Although it was 10.30, this still gave the impression that customers were outstaying their welcome, which I don't really think is a good idea. (If they took it in turns, it wouldn't feel so bad). I've deducted a star for this, otherwise it would be a comfortable 4 stars. read more

The service was very good. We ordered Singapore Noodles which were very flavorful. Chicken Chiw Mein was also good. Vegetarian Spring rolls disappointing in they were very small and had very little filling. Very reasonably priced. First time in 22 days we were able to dine and have full bellies for less than 25 pounds. read more

Very good food. Sushi, pan-Asian. Friendly people with good service. We had to wait a bit before we were seated but that's a good sign as there were many people eating there! Singapore noodles were good. As is their sushi and rolls. The cheesecake with sesame is fabulous! read more

My first night out in Olympia ended with me grabbing a quick dinner at Hare & Tortoise. We were planning on going to a pub at first, but holiday parties seemed to be in full swing on this past Friday evening, so we ended up heading down here instead. The location isn't that large, and we were able to grab one of the last seats available. With a small dining room and glass windows all around, it does feel a bit cozy while giving the impression that you're not too far removed from the activity outside. The service was pretty generic, but at least the food was served quickly. The food and drink itself, though, are not that good. My wine - a pinot noir that was advertised as a 'new' selection - was served very warm and in way too large a pour. Given the temperature, it was almost like drinking grape juice that had been left out to ferment...definitely not a strong showing there. For my dinner, I went with the Penang chicken curry, which is a seasonal special (and at less than 8 pounds, a reasonable deal). While the curry itself was quite solid - a bit of spice to it, without being overpowering - there was way too little chicken in the curry, and the parts that were included were filled with bones, requiring you to be quite careful when taking a bite. The only other solid in the curry were a few solitary chunks of undercooked potatoes. In all - while the prices were somewhat reasonable, the food simply did not measure up. Perhaps I made a mistake going with Thai / Southeast Asian cuisine at a spot that clearly leans towards Japanese, but I can't say you're going to get your money's worth here. My mom, who had the unagi don, said the marinade on the eel was too sweet. Given that is something you can pick up from the frozen-food section of a Japanese store and cook without doing anything else, that is saying something. Worth it for a cheap bite that will fill you up, but not much else. For me - the search for good Asian cuisine (excluding Indian food) continues... read more

This is another place that impressed me the fist time I went but has disappointed since. There is always a good atmosphere and the menu is easy to follow and has plenty of options, but the food is not always as consistently good as it is in other places. The sushi is rather small and always comes with mayo, which is just great when you're allergic! When you ask them about ingredients or to omit certain things, they treat you as if you're criticising them and aren't particularly informative, helpful, or even willing to do so. The prices are reasonable and if you know what you want and can eat it as it comes, then no doubt you'd have a better time than I have... read more

We are in London again after last visit to this restaurant. We decided to visited this little restaurant for dinner. It seems menu changed? Dishes taste not as good as last visit in 2015? Maybe owner changed? Hum... ? read more

Stopped by this place after seeing Zagat reviews. Nice and clean, ordered sushi for takeout. Salmon was great but tuna was fishy and a bit disappointing. read more

Hare & Tortoise - Rainbow Roll - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

I'm usually hugely sceptical of restaurants which does pan-Asian cuisine. However, Hare and Tortoise does it pretty well. I will admit that I've really not explored the menu much, and that most of the time I'll plump for the £6 roast duck rice, which comes with plenty of rice, 5-spiced duck, and some token pak choi. The starters have generally been pretty good when I've tried them, and I'll occasionally have a sushi roll of some description which isn't bad. A cheap and good staple, I'll take this over Wagamama any day. read more

Let's pop into the Hare and Tortoise for a quick pint, oh no wait, it's a sushi bar. This seems to be the first of many Japanese restaurants I've come across that have ensconced themselves in an English pub exterior. Haven't the faintest idea why, but really enjoyed this place. It is part of a chain, but we decided that was okay 'cos it was a West London chain and there are different rules all the way over there. The menu is really vast and they have some great hot dishes as well as sushi. A downside to this place is the service. Mid eating, they whisked away empty plates and the soy sauce, 'cos apparently we were done. I also had to ask for a refill of my green tea and it always annoys me to have to do that. read more

Good for too tired to cook weeknights, and lazy weekends. Fast, convenient, cheap and cheerful. What's not to love? read more

If your standard is low and down to being able to get a table this is an ok place. Food is so mediocre bland and some dishes such as chicken with black bean sauce even disgusting I only ate the noodle drowned in sauce. Ok prices for London. Saturday night you can get a table right away with tourists in most of the tables. I will not be going back in a city with hundreds of choices there is no excuse for this place. read more

I've been coming here pretty consistently on my annual trips to London every year since 2009, and it has yet to disappoint me. Overall, the food is definitely above average when you take into account the absurdly cheap prices compared to most of London. I still have yet to understand how the pricing is listed as ££ on yelp. As long as one knows when to come and eat (before 1:30PM, and before 8PM) for both lunch and dinner, this is a great place to grab a quick meal. I've tried a bit of everything, but my personal favourites are the maki rolls and the curry laksa ramen. read more

Don't be put off by the name. It's not a pub! It's actually a fusion restaurant with a heavy emphasis on Sushi, Japanese food, Malaysian curries and Singaporean noodles. Ok, so the service can be a little on the curt side but they're busy as hell and have little time to mess about. If you want reasonably priced, fresh, well prepared Japanese food - then this is the place for you. I also reckon they do the BEST miso soup in London. Better than Nobu or Zooma even. read more

If you like sushi, this is not your spot. Service is mediocre, no solid recommendation from my server - maybe it was his first night. If traditional nigiri is your thing, this is NOT gonna scratch that itch. I also saw the ramen at the table next to me, not visually what I was anticipating. There has to be a better authentic location at a decent price point in Kensington. read more

Mmmmm, English Asian food. Again, who said English food or anything served in London was bad? They must have been on the wrong island. I ordered my Pad Thai and appetizers to go, after walking in to this postage stamp sized established. Not only did they not make fun of my silly American accent, but they had my food ready to go in 15 minutes. And was it tasty! I'm aware that you have a million choices for food in London, however you should make this one of your stops if you happen to be in the neighborhood. read more

Used to love this place. But returning after a couple of years quality seems to have plunged. Got the tempura udon noodle set. Broth was tasteless. Noodles over cooked. Egg undercooked. Tempura (2 pieces of prawn) was over battered and thus somewhat oily. The side futomaki sushi was fine. Also got genmai chat which was tasteless. Maybe the trick is to only order sushi or the items on the menu that will be loaded with mayo and/ or spices. Also for some odd reason, in an almost empty resto, placed by the staircase leading down to the toilets. So lunch was punctuated with the smell of bathroom cleaner. Ugh. read more

We like. The name: We like for sure, how can you not try out a place names Hare and Tortoise? Plum wine Spritzer: Good Spicy wings: Good. The accompanying fried garlic pieces, very good. Ask for the chilly oil. It has crushed garlic in it I think and its just yum yum! Spicy on rice: Good Malaysian curry (with meat on the bone, just the way I like it): Ooo, wherely wherely good! Perfectly flavored with the right amount of spice, served with freshly made steamed rice. Dessert: Chocolate torte, surprisingly nice. Normally I prefer not to do dessert at places like this, (other than the ice cream), but this was actually not bad. Service is quick, and they are attentive, and nice too. Seems to be open fairly late which is always a great thing considering we eat late. It's a place for a weekday meal, nothing fancy. read more

Nice food and environment. They do however close precisely at 11pm, or before. When they start chasing you out. For instance, the staff asked me out by: asking if I wanted anything else from the kitchen, cause they'd be closing; handing me the bill; asking to pay; and finally, just to leave because they wanted to close. -.-' Very impolite! read more

Good place for a lunch. Usually full with tables close to each other so don't expect privacy. It's usually crowded during lunch and evenings. High turn over place with fast service. Great value for money and you can have a good meal for under £10. You will be full without appetisers. The menu includes japanese, chinese and SE asian foods. Good place to have in the neighbourhood for a quick good meal. It's a very open airy space with full wall windows. read more

A mere sliver of a restaurant... I love to find an excuse to head into Earls Court to shovel down as much Japanese nosh as I can there. I have two agree with Laura N. and her comments about the rather peculiar name of the Hare & Tortoise. I remember going to the other restaurant in Putney, many years ago and running through many of the variants on what this place could potentially be with its name. Seriously check out Laura's review. It's great! I think they have a great menu here, with many lovely things to order. The hot dishes are wonderful and the sushi is sublime. I remember going to the Putney branch of the first time and going for the soft shell crab - it has become an absolute staple ever since whichever reference I go to. Service here is always going to be fairly fast and impersonal. I think this is mainly down to the fact that they have not got many tables available for customers. It does not excuse it, however I can understand that they need to turn the tables over as fast as possible. Okay. I am salivating at the memory of eating thereon the last visit. Who wants to give me an excuse to head for Earls Court and indeed the Hare & Tortoise? read more

A place such as Hare and Tortoise was the last place I'd expect myself to visit during my mini-vaca to the big city. However, I was a little intrigued by it's peculiar name and slightly "cute" clean-cut interior each time I walked by. After days of wondering around in the November snow and rain, I was overloaded with cold wet shoes, frozen hands, red nose and anonymous alcoholic beverages. On the day I depart this lovely neighborhood, hung-over, I dragged my extra-large suitcase down the street hoping that I can get some warm food and energy inside of my before I continue to drag myself and my mistake of a suitcase across town. Apparently, I got there a bit early and they were still getting ready, though I believe they were suppose to be operating by then. Anyways, I waited awkwardly by the door with my oversized luggage while the chef sings along to some Chinese pop-music and the staff and servers yell at each other in Chinese. As I was waiting, an elderly woman came in and they seated her right away, which I thought was pretty outrageous considering I've been standing there for such a long time--she was ordering food before I even sat down. The only reason I gave this place a 3-star was because the quality of the food wasn't as bad as the service. My udon was pretty good, at least what I needed on a cold day to cure my hangover. The tofu appetizer wasn't very good, but was acceptable enough to eat. Pros: Cheap Cons: Cheap read more

Good Japanese food is to hard to find in London without the snobbery that sometimes accompanies certain types of establishments. But when I ate at the Hare and Tortoise I was very pleasantly surprised by the whole atmosphere exuded by the owners of this quaint and orderly establishment. The food served in this establishment is of a very high standard and there is a huge vareity to select from.There are 17 appetising starters to choose from and my favourite has always been either a the Panko Honey Prawns or the Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab which are always cooked to perfection in a modern open kitchen. Although the front of this pub-cum restaurant is slightly cramped there is plenty of seating at the back and downstairs. The decor is simple, neat and very pleasing to the eye. Be prepared for the huge portions of the main courses served in the most attractive bowls. For the main course I think I have become addicted to the Curry Laksa Soup which consists of a spicy coconut soup toped with grilled chicken breast slices,slices of fishcakes,prawn and squid served with rice noodles,garnished with Tofu,BeanSprouts and cucumber. Other than the Ramen dishes,there are salads,noodles and rice based dishes, Sushi boxes, Sashimi and Maki dishes to choose from and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food you get. read more

Hare & Tortoise - qypenoodles - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

One of those places where you can't decide what to have because everything is soooo good! The food is fantastic and good value. The interior is not very nice though.. The space is confined, becomes cramped when busy (and it usually is!) read more

Great service, quickly cooked and very reasonable. I got a ramen, but on reflection the sushi was much better! Good sushi can be hard to come by, but I really rated this. Really good value as well considering the location! read more

Very good food, love their katsu curry and duck with rice. Nice at.osphere with open kitchen too

Walking around in West Kensington and looking for a good place to eat, I came across Hare & Tortoise. This little restaurant looks very clean and modern. With its corner location, it features plenty of daylight. This sounds great, not so great is that they seated me in a virtually empty restaurant in the corner that was as far from any window as possible. My interpretation based on my observations is simple: they do not like lone eaters. Fair enough, I might occupy a premium table alone, where they could otherwise seat two or more. Many restaurants probably do it, not many so openly as Hare & Tortoise it's a shame that this detail that has nothing to do with their food will make me think twice when considering going there ever again. Another detail that will be welcomed by families is, that even the men's toilette has a diaper changing table. The menu read nicely, if you like sushi you might like this place. But even if you are not into sushi, you will find a range of Japanese-inspired dishes that sound delicious. It took me a while to select something, but finally I ordered sliced duck with rice. It was a very good choice, the food looked beautiful and tasted great. A little bit odd, I also very much liked their glasses. I got my coke in a glass shaped a little bit like a volcano at least that was what came first to my mind when looking at it, probably mainly because I just came back from a trip to Iceland. I considered a dessert, but after none of the waitresses or waiters bothered to offer me a menu or asked if I wanted a dessert, I decided that I do not need one anyway, paid the bill and left. In summary, Hare & Tortoise offer tasty and light food in a nice modern environment, but when eating out alone, I might suggest to rather go somewhere else. read more

The manager ( named- Sie) was very unprofessional and very rude. She didn't wanna take additional orders while our main dishes were not served. I tried to explain that we want to have starters while waiting for the main dish but she still insisted on not taking any order. Manager forgot to place for my main dish as well (she's the one who took our orders) and I've waited for nothing. Had to wait longer again lol. However, food was good. Just the manager. Ealing branch is better. read more

While visiting London, me and some friends stayed at the Hilton Olympia in Kensington which is walking distance from Hare & Tortoise. It looked really cute on the outside so we want to try it. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen. I wasn't that impressed to be honest. I was expecting a really savory broth however, I felt like it was lacking in flavors. I could also be biased because my favorite Ramen place is in California... so this one, for me, didn't quite make the cut. read more

Very good portions and usually quite respectable food. Not been this year, so I am a bit disappointed by other reviews which seem to suggest the standard has dropped. read more

I have been meaning to try this place for years as I have seen one in putney while driving past and it always seem busy. The food was ok and the prices seem normal. This place is ok when starving but is not on my top foodie list nor will it be somewhere I will be going out of my way to try again as i have a long list of many more places to try in london and spend money at. I had a duck and rice dish which I read lot of yelpers loving on here. read more

Really didn't enjoy our meal here. The service was slow and the woman who served was just grumpy. You shouldn't have to feel like your bothering someone when you're eating out. The sushi was comparable to gas station sushi. Marks and Spencer's sushi is far better. read more

Looks like it's a Chinese owned joint that's trying to be a hip place for inexpensive, pseudo Japanese food. (A respectable Japanese restaurant would never put Chow Mein on their menus.) The service was OK but the food was nothing to write home about. The soup base for the Grilled Chicken Ramem was very bland and they could've put more ingredients into it. The Dragon Roll tasted like it was made hours ago. Luckily (?) the place was crowded with lots of young tourists from Italy, and their energy level made the place more interesting than its food. read more

Sushi is mediocre, then I ordered a pad thai which was ok but I was with business partner who got his food 10 minutes after mine. Food is jus ok, service not very good. read more

Great ramen joint and sushi as well. Prices are very affordable and there is plenty of menu items to choose from. Atmosphere is clean, chill & casual. Service was on point. Great for groups and even for a night out for two. Best on a cold day for a delish bowl of soup. read more

Miso ramen was the best ramen I ever had. Delicious sushi as well. My friends choice was duck - also great. Portions were huge, next time I'll just take ramen. read more

Nice little place on the corner street. You wouldn't think anything of it, until you got closer. A busy place, we great food. The staff could be more friendlier. Other then that would come here again. read more

I'm so pleased I discovered this place! I love Asian food and this restaurant has a great variety - wonderful sushi but also lots of hearty stir fry and noodle soup dishes. All the ingredients are authentic and the best thing is the price - its even cheaper than wagamama! Okay the decor inside is basic but for a cheap and quick bite to eat it really is a great deal! read more