Any meaningful discussion on the world’s tastiest cuisines has to (and will) mention Japanese food. With succulent staples like mouth-watering sushi, sashimi, tempura, donburi, nigiri, temaki, and gyoza causing infatuation and obsession among foodies worldwide – Japanese food sends restaurant queues and waiting lists into overdrive, and bank accounts into the rather-not-check territory.
In this article, we tell you the best Japanese Eat Out to Help Out restaurants in London to overindulge in.
This August, grab your chance to devour your favourite Japanese delicacies at 50% off with the UK government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme – which pays half of each person’s individual meal costing up to £20. Active on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays until 31 August.
No minimum spend. No voucher is needed. No catch.
The government reimburses restaurants the 50% and consequently lends a much-needed hand of support to a hospitality sector hit hard by the pandemic. The scheme is part of a £30 billion economic plan for jobs and applies to groups of all sizes, meaning a family of 5 can save up to £50 on their bill.
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Rishi Sunak
‘The industry is a vital ingredient to our economy and it’s been hit hard by coronavirus, so enjoy summer safely by showing your favourite places your support – we’ll pay half.’
Cheers to that, Rishi. Now it’s over to us – time to eat!
How do I find an Eat Out to Help Out Restaurant?
Where do I go for half price food? I hear you ask.
To take cash in on Eat Out to Help Out – make sure to type your postcode into this Find a Restaurant search engine and let the conspicuous consumption begin.
To make things easier for you: here are our favourite hotspots to demolish delicious (discounted) Japanese delicacies in the capital.
Japanese Eat Out to Help Out Restaurants in London
isshoni_uk 185 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 6AB
Outrageously fresh and eye-catching, Issho-Ni is an East London classic offering a guaranteed deliciousness of food and drink. The Japanese for Issho-Ni translates as ‘together with’ – giving the restaurant an izakaya-style vibe that encourages sharing a few plates at a time. Feast your eyes on stunning sushi platters and scrummy sashimi, as well as hot plates including squid ink yakisoba, gyoza, tempura, kara-age, and hoisin duck ribs. Nigiri, tataki, bento, sake and more. Seriously. Move now: Wednesday is the specific day to head to Bethnal Green Road with Eat Out to Help Out.
@kurobuta_london 17/20 Kendal Street, London, W2 2AW
Drawing inspiration from Japan’s unique izakayas (after-work meeting places for small plates and refreshing drinks), Kurobata is a must-go on the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Expect an astonishing array of outrageous flavour: including BBQ pork belly buns with peanut soy; miso baked aubergine with candied walnuts and sancho pepper; spicy tuna rolled in tempura crunchies and wagyu sliders with onion tempura, umami mayo and Japanese BBQ sauce. Oh, and there are tasty cocktails. And much, much more.
@temakibros Pergola Paddington, 4 Kingdom St, London W2 6PY (on Wednesdays)
Grounded in a sushi obsession and creative urge to throw in taste-bud tingling flavours, Temaki Bros offer a unique experience. Their sushi handrolls (temaki) are melt-in-your-mouth and roll-your-eyes good – and range from their signature Spicy Tuna Crunch to salmon with avocados and Japanese Mayo, 7-spice togarashi on a bed of cucumber, plus innovative sushi rolls like a steak and shiso leaf, a sea bream and fennel and a seared scallop served with yuzu infused soy. Undoubtedly one of finest Eat Out to Help Out restaurants in London.
@yidasushi 246 St Paul’s Rd, Highbury East, London N1 2LJ
Yida Sushi has rave reviews for a reason. This family-run restaurant in the heart of Islington serves the full range of traditional Japanese dishes and prides itself on its mouth-watering freshness and favourites like Alaska Sushi (salmon, avocado, and mayo), Seafood Tempura, Chicken Gyoza and Beef Tataki. You’ll need more than a moment to browse the breath-taking brilliance of its menu.
@tanakatsulondon 10 Wakley St, The Angel, London EC1V 7LT
Angel’s Tanakatsu is the comfort food you crave. Prepare yourself for terrific teriyaki and katsu in all shapes in sizes, including pork katsu don (rice bowl topped with a deep-fried pork cutlet, egg, vegetables, and condiments) – and the infamous katsu sandwich. Yes, that’s a real thing. This 8th wonder of the world, plus much, much more (like grilled eel dragon roll) – all at Tanakatsu.
@okkobroadwaymarket 49 Broadway Market, Hackney, London E8 4PH
A Japanese izakaya on East London’s iconic Broadway Market, Okko is unique in serving Pacific Japanese plates from Hokkaido to Hawaii. Taste how parts of Japanese food have been inspired by (and fused delicately with) aspects of Peruvian, Brazilian, and Hawaiian cuisines. Okko’s menu works for vegans and includes classics like sushi rolls, poke, fish tacos, gyoza, ramen, and katsu. What’s not to love?
@sushiatelierlondon 114 Great Portland St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6PA
Creative and classy, Sushi Atelier is the hunting ground of serious sushi eaters looking for an extra special Japanese Eat Out to Help Out restaurant in London. Take your date downstairs to the cosy romantic ambiance to savour your yellowtail truffle and rainbow rolls (snowcrab and avocado with garlic truffle mayo and flying fish roe topped with different kind of fishes). Or sit upstairs, soak in the smells and watch London’s best chefs prepare authentic dishes from a remarkably diverse menu on Atelier’s restaurant-long sushi bar.
@itadakizen 139 King’s Cross Road WC1X 9BJ
Vegan Japanese food? Yes, please. Itadaki Zen is unique and inspiring: all the food is handmade the moment you order it (the consequent longer waiting times are worth it, don’t worry), and there is an emphasis on reducing waste – both for the chefs and customers. Dig into a range of their signature noodles, assorted tempura, and stunning sushi rolls. A truly outstanding Japanese Eat Out to Help Out restaurant in London.
@hanasushisevensister 150A Seven Sisters Road, London, N7 7PL
Hana sushi’s mission is to give its customers a real, authentic taste of Japanese food – and it succeeds. Emphatically. Tuck into tasty teriyaki noodles, tamaki, and tempura, as well as delightful sashimi, sushi and more. 10/10 for creativity, Ikageso Karaage (deep-fried squid tentacles) are a hot favourite plus their brilliant bento and delicious donburi like the Beef Bibimbab (rice, mixed vegetables and beef served with a spicy bean paste sauce). Yum.
@tokyo_retro 57 Abbeville Rd, Clapham Common, London SW4 9JW
As ‘one of very few Japanese restaurants in London who keeps the original taste in Japan’, Toyko Retro in SW4 is a must-try. Particular stand-outs are their moreish pork udon noodles, hot donburi (rice bowls) and amazing salmon teriyaki. There’s also a limitless range of starters, salads, sushi dishes and a sharing menu featuring a seaweed salad.
@tsunami_restaurants 5-7 Voltaire Rd, Clapham Town, London SW4 6DQ
Tsunami is as cool as it sounds – and is making a big splash in London’s Japanese food scene. Think late-licence, luxurious leather seating, and enough freakishly tasty food to drive you back through its exquisitely-designed Clapham doors the very next day. Some of the many highlights include snow crab, eel, scallop and tobiko – all coming in nigiri, sashimi, and sushi rolls. Plus irresistible sushi dishes, tempura and mains like the seafood toban (salmon, scallop, squid, clam, shrimp flamed with sake in hot ceramic dome garnished with grilled shitake enoki mushrooms and snow peas).
@sushinoen 2 White Church Lane, E1 7QR
To the delight of London’s sushi lovers, immensely popular Sushinoen in Aldgate East is proudly an Eat Out to Help Out restaurant. Authentic Japanese style-cooking and home food is the order of the day: superb sushi platters, noodle and rish dishes, nigiri and sashimi, magnificent maki and temaki, and gorgeous grilled dishes. Fantastically fresh food and kind prices; you’d be a fool to miss out.
Well … what are you waiting for? Dine like royalty this August in these spectacular Japanese Eat Out to Help Out restaurants in London.
