Excellent Asian fusion sushi - don't come here expecting only "authentic" Japanese rolls, though…read morethere are plenty on offer if that's what you're craving. The atmosphere is very low-key with the primary colour tables bringing some luncheonette vibes, but it's BYOB and the food is amazing, so who cares? For starters, the wasabi mayo prawns are excellent, as is the spicy salt & pepper soft shell crab. Their gyoza is nice too but I've never met a gyoza I didn't like. For sushi, the box sets are a good value - I've tried the Norwegian box and the sushi roll set, and they're both amazing with larger portions than you would expect. Out of the special rolls, the Dragon roll has my heart but the Norwegian roll makes a close second. If you're noticing a trend here, yes, I really love salmon and tobiko. I love this place, definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in London, and it seems to continually exist as a hidden gem that almost always has a free table whenever I drop in... knock on wood.

Was visiting London (Canary Wharf) for work and had a craving for sushi. I was also sick of all of…read morethe food in our area. Found this great little hole in the wall. Go for the sushi and skip the other stuff. Rolls were good. Nigiri (eel and salmon) were actually really fresh. BYOB / BYOW.

A constant performer! I often come here for Blue Monday's for their cheap but amazing dishes…read more The staff are always friendly and happy to serve. It's never really packed and I always get a table when I go. Go wild and try new things - you'll be pleasantly surprised :)

My first ever visit to a Yo Sushi as I was always misled by the name thinking there is only Sushi…read moreavailable and how wrong was I and so a little embarrassed to say the least. Given this is chain and found all around the globe I don't think I need to explain the concept to anyone. I would say the staff at the Brent Cross branch are excellent and very friendly. Just the space is a little too tight for comfort and you cannot really move around a lot and everyone is seated a little too close for comfort. Now lets get down to the food. I had the following: Chicken Katsu Curry - Small portion size with only a small amount of actual curry but well cooked and the chillies were spicy but the chicken cooked with a nice crispy coating. Beef Teriyaki - A much bigger portion than the Katsu Curry and a great tasting sweet coating but not too sweet so really appetising. Kaiso Seaweed - First time for Seaweed for me. And i thought it would be dry and tasteless but I was very surprised and this is one of my five a day I would be happy to have. Salmon Sashimi - As I say not a fan of seafood but the salmon was not fishy in taste so it went down a treat. I could not eat a full portion as yet so will venturing to try more seafood so I can get more accustomed to it over time. Spicy Pepper Squid - I have had more squid over last 2 years than ever in my life so now I am used to it I will always try. Hey batter coating but a good size portion. Was piping hot and remained hot for a while but not so hot you could not eat it. Chillies it came with were hot and spicy so just right and loved the batter coating. Recommend this dish to all to try. I must say I was happy with all that I had and so many more options for me to try as a non-seafood lover there is still a lot of options here so I would never pass by again without consideration. As you will note as I write more reviews I will be trying news dishes time to time but I always try to take someone along who is either a Vegetarian or Vegan or Seafood Lover so I always get their opinion as well to give a more rounded experience. So hope you enjoy the various reviews from fine dining to street food and chain restaurants to give a full rounded approach.

I don't really understand how this chain has become such a large presence in the UK. Even by…read moreBritish standards where locals will often tell you that the historic impression of their food being bland and uninspiring is overblown and will recommend countless places to you that unfortuantely confirm the impression to be true, I have yet to meet one person here who enjoys Wagamama. "Oh that place is terrible - you should try Bone Daddies!" If you've been to Bone Daddies you'll know what an indictment that is of Wagamama. I mean what else can I say that probably has been written about countless times in other reviews? It's pan Asian (problem #1), some things are fried in a pan, there's noodle dishes you can get and all of it sucks. It has sucked for what, 20 odd years now? Every once in a while (~five years) I will have no other choice (e.g. airport, tagging along with colleagues, drunk, etc.) but to eat here and every single time I am in awe at how truly forgettable it is. How one company can render the tastes of cusines that are normally so delicious to be so bereft of flavor is truly a marvel in mass produced sludge. It must be the marketing right? The playful name? That the locations look inviting? It has to be something other than the reputation that gets people through the door.

Food is alright, Service is fine, but could be better. Atmosphere like in every Wagamama. I usually…read morego to this one when i am in area.

I will preface this review that this restaurant just opened to the public, and still has a few bits…read moreand pieces to sort out, but that's the reason I'm giving Tokyo Retro 4 stars instead of 5. I fully expect to come back in a few months time when this place is running like a well-oiled machine to be a 5-star restaurant. I live just around the corner and only moved here recently. My flatmate told me he'd been eyeing this place for a while and wanted to try it as soon as it opened, which couldn't have been more than a week ago. He went Friday night to try and get some ramen, but currently they're only doing it for lunch. He got some scrumptious crab croquettes instead and invited me for a ramen lunch the next day. No objections from me. The decor is minimal and the seating is plentiful, though I can see this place getting busy pretty quickly. For lunch there were maybe 2 other tables seated and my flatmate said about three other tables were seated when he went for Friday dinner. The servers were very polite and armed with big smiles. I believe they're still a little new serving, as we had to wave them over and then wait a few minutes for service despite 2 servers waiting 3 seated tables. I ordered the Negi Chasiu Ramen (ramen with a double helping of pork belly + spring onions) while my flatmate ordered the Chasiu Miso Ramen (miso ramen with double pork belly). We ordered the burned rice tea, which the servers kindly refilled with hot water once the pots ran empty (I believe there are unlimited refills). The tea paired really well with the ramen, as it was a tad on the salty side, but that's my only complaint. The soup tasted very good, the ramen was perfectly cooked, and the pork belly was SPOT ON. I could not quickly recall when the last time I had pork belly this good. The double portion (4 slices vs. 2) was just right for me, though a few people might find it a bit on the generous side. This is my go to ramen shop now, as going all the way to Bone Daddies for an equal-par ramen just doesn't make sense anymore. The little logistical things that will be sorted out: - I believe they're doing somewhat of a soft opening right now, so not all of the menu items may be available at all times. I believe this will be quickly sorted out. - Waiting time (both for service and food). A few parties came, ate, paid, and left before we completed the cycle - perhaps because we were located at the corner of the restaurant by the window. This was due to slower service and waiting about 5 minutes for the check when we were finally finished and presented with the bill (I think the waitress just forgot). Also, the food took a good 10-15 min to come out, though I think it was because we ordered ramen vs. other people ordering non-soup dishes. I hope it doesn't become a logjam once things scale up, but I guess that's why they have soft openings - to get these things fixed. - Door doesn't close well. The day was a bit chilly and windy. The waitress shut the door but it kept blowing open. She went and got a hammer and tried to sort it out, but it didn't really work. I just thought it was kind of strange seeing a waitress hammering at a door hinge while I was eating - though I'm sure they'll get that fixed too. All in all, I think this place will find its own on Abbeville Road and the days of only 3-4 seated tables will quickly disappear. And as this place grows, I will continue to enjoy my ramen lunches and the occasional dinner there.

Gorgeous little place on Abbeville Road in Clapham. The ambience is welcoming and the food...the…read morefood is so good! Japanese food is meant to be elegant and simple. And less is definitely more, here! Having said that, they do not skimp on portions. The ramen bowls are sizeable and incredibly tasty. Pretty close to what I would expect home cooked Japanese food to be like. I would thoroughly recommend coming here with an appetite. The menu has a lot to offer and you can be adventurous or play it safe. We had ramen and dessert. Honestly there was no space for starters! The ramen that I had was tasty, nutritious and the pork just melted in my mouth! The chicken soup base...had a lot of depth and was super tasty. For dessert, you must try the black sesame ice cream. However, there's also mochi buns and green tea ice cream on offer. I was honestly bedazzled for quite a while. Life really is hard sometimes!

Had TWO horrible lunches here. What is great about this place is how efficient their ordering…read moresystem is. Even with the huge lunch rush everyones orders were delivered quickly. That's about it. The staff are horribly rude and unpleasant to deal with. The food is atrocious. I tried the mushroom chili fried rice which was oily and the most bizarre texture. Another time I tried the ramen noodles with the lemongrass coconut broth. The broth was vile and the noodles were overcooked and mushy. I can't imagine why it's so busy because the food is really not worth it.

I've walked by Japanese Canteen many times on either end of the lunch rush and always thought it…read morelooked like a pretty poor effort. Spartan walls and seating, a menu that looks like it was slapped on as an afterthought with paper flyers adding a few new dishes that just didn't fit anywhere else, and staff that looked like they were just as likely to slap you upside the head as they were to serve you. But damn, this place comes alive during that magical 12-1pm lunch hour. You know those scenes in movies right before the 3 o'clock bell rings to let out school? It's eerily still and quiet, a random frog croaks in the distance, and the scene just screams out for something, anything to happen. Suddenly, BAM, there are people everywhere shouting, talking, and generally participating wholeheartedly in the chaos of everyday life. That's just what happens to Japanese Canteen during the lunch rush with every seat the slightly cavernous space taken, people propping their food on the smallest surface capable of supporting it, and lines out the door. And then as the hour ends, everyone just fades away. The staff are still a far cry from warm and friendly, but they are coldly efficient and mow through the line at rapid speed. The kitchen (hidden behind the wall with a small door the only connection to the dining area) is likewise filled with hyperactive chefs dishing out meals almost faster than the 4 person wide queue can order. I'm slightly concerned as to what goes on back there and I think the trend towards more open kitchens is the way to go. For lunch though, I'm content to get in and out as fast as possible so not much of a gripe. Price-wise, it's a bit expensive and slightly smaller portion than the nearby Wasabi when it comes to katsu curry. A regular portion will cost you £6.95 with a large portion requiring a £3 supplement. JC does offer a choice of chicken, pork, or prawn and sticks a good amount of veggies into their sauce which gives it a one-up on Wasabi. I wonder what else they put in though as I had a slight allergic reaction for a few hours after eating it and I'm not allergic to any food as far as I know... Thinking back, I'm not sure I'm really up for the mania and price of JC for lunch as £7 can buy you a helluva lot more food at Porterford Butchers just down the street. Still, if you are craving katsu curry it's likely to be your best bet in the area.

Sushi N is a literal hole in the wall. This small Japanese takeaway/canteen is located in the small…read moreoutlet between the entrance to the upper level of Centre Court Shopping Centre and the smaller entrance to Wimbledon train station. There used to be a milkshake bar at this location They offer pre-packed refrigerated sushi or pre-cooked hot dishes kept warm. Sadly, neither choice looked appetising and the range of options was poor. The sushi rolls looked rather dry and squashed. The curry sauce looked fluorescent They're aiming at the Wasabi chain style food but failing to pull off the same quality Happily, if you fancy this sort of food in Wimbledon, you don't have to walk far to get to Ta-Maki, which has branches in Centre Court and inside the train station

Actually, its not at all bad. I'd give it a 3 and a good half. Expectations are half the battle…read morethough. Given the lack of decent, post pub, need grub establishments in the area stumbling off the train with the munchies can be sated here. It's very much a Wasabi (chain) kinda deal, and i'm not really looking for Sushi here. It's the hot fare with a choice of noodle or rice in small, but large enough, and larger portions. The Chilli Chicken was a hit with me. However what will make me come back is the service. Politely Asian, even to the point of passing cash and food back and forth over the counter with both hands. Always gives me a humankind warm and fuzzy feeling. Good on you guys there for going the extra mile (or actually just having manners in a city where they are frequently very quickly forgotten).

Amazing service and delicious food. I love all of the entrees we ordered, everything was unique and…read morecooked to perfection.

I'm gonna rate the Chicken Katsu curry as it's what I usually get…read more The best thing on the menu surely! I've tried the udom noodles and other rice dishes which were OK but the katsu beats them all. Just an amazing dish. A must try for anyone visiting Wagamama! The service has always been great. I would love to see a lunchtime special some time soon. The place is always packed which gives it a nice atmosphere. I used to be but not anymore a big fan of the Japanese styles 'canteen' seats but after a nice big meal all I want to do is lay back onto my chair. Overall - Great place!!

The London portion of our European trip was coming to a close. We wanted to come to St. Paul…read moreCathedral before our shuttle picked us up to go to Gatwick. We took the tube right after we woke up, so we didn't have time to eat. We stopped by Itsu to pick up a quick bite. The kids got Sushi and baos, the wife got Udon, and I got the Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl. The kids loved the Sushi and Baos. I hate sushi, so I passed, but I did try the bao. The baos normally sit in a warmer, so they are not freshly steamed. This makes the bottom bun a little mushy. The top is fine. The Hoisin Duck meat in the bao was tasty, but like I said, you will probably need to eat this with a fork. I tried a little of my wife's udon, but I just didn't like it. I don't even know what flavor it was, because we just told the girl working the register to give us the most popular one. Now, my rice was the opposite. I loved it! It had a nice portion of vegetables and the teriyaki sauce was excellent. Be mindful that of course this isn't a Michelin-prized restaurant. It is what it is. A quick bite, that's not full of grease. Quick Notes: Make sure to get a bathroom (or as they say in the UK, toilet) code, if you need to use it. Also, they have charging plugs at the tables, so it's a good place to load up a little on your battery. Just make sure to bring your cord.

I find it ironic that the types of chains found most in London are all the food genres that London…read moremanages to crap up the most. It's like they've bastardized us with their contagious nastiness. Sushi is the most dangerous of the bunch, and the kamikaze of abundant sushi chains hurts my heart, and causes me to say things like "this is NOT sushi! This is just flabby old raw fish. Who wants to eat raw fish?" To be clear, good sashimi is the nectar of the Gods. Bad sashimi is like licking a sweaty old man. Or worse... Itsu was ... um... ok. Nothing that I'll be running back for, but I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of fresh fish, organic juices, healthy side orders, and yes... FroYo. (Not so much by the abundance of prices.) But I the fact that I had to eat my sushi from a box? That it was pre-prepared, meaning sliced hours ago? I certainly had that not-so-fresh feeling... and so did my seaweed salad. I just don't think I could eat box sushi on a regular basis. It hits too close to home.