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KenzieKashmiri will guide you.
London
March 16, 2017
A list of my favourite restaurants organized by cuisine. I’ve also put the pound sign to give you rough guidance on spending…
Japanese restaurants in London
My favourite Japanese restaurants in London, in order starting with my all time favourite. I’m basing my preference on quality of food and the vibe.
Tokimeité
(£££) Located in Mayfair.
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- Avg price: 100-120 pp
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- Atmosphere: Intimate/dates/small group 4-5 people max.
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- Food: Authentic Japanese food, specialises in Wagyu beef.
- Notes: Call on the day of your reservation to pre-order the langoustine nigiri/sashimi as sometimes they run out. Don’t order rolls, stick to the nigiri, sashimi and wagyu here.
Recommended dishes:
- Langoustine nigiri
- Wagyu nigiri
- Salmon nigiri
- Toro nigiri
- Sashimi (your preference)
- Wagyu truffle sukiyaki
UMU
(£££) Located in Mayfair.
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- Avg price: 90-120 pp
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- Atmosphere: Formal/business lunches/tête-à-tête/date.
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- Food: Authentic Japanese, Michelin starred restaurant.
- Notes: Service was great.
Recommended dishes:
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- Your preference of Sashimi and nigiri (give the Langoustine nigiri a try).
Defune
(££) Located in Marylebone.
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- Avg price: 90-110 pp
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- Atmosphere: Date/small group of friends/relaxed
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- Food: Sushi
- Notes: I come here strictly for sushi and sit at the bar. Order nigiri served omakase style (piece by piece) even if you order a la carte – ask for Chef Shinya, he’s the best!
More mainstream options:
Roka
(££) Located in Mayfair.
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- Avg price: 60-80 pp
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- Atmosphere: Formal/business lunches/tete a tete/date.
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- Food: contemporary Japanese, think Zuma’s sister restaurant.
- Notes: Quality has been quite inconsistent lately. In general like the atmosphere, cocktails are great. Try to book a table outside during summer.
Recommended dishes:
- Sashimi:
- Rock shrimp
- Nigiris
- Yellowtail and truffle yuzu sauce
Chisou
(££) Located on Beauchamp place in Knightsbridge.
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- Avg price: 40-60 pp
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- Atmosphere: Intimate, cozy, dates, small group (4 people).
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- Food: Japanese
- Notes: Quick bite, excellent service, nothing fancy.
London’s best Omakase spots.
UMU
Kikuchi
Defune
(££)Marylebone
Ikeda
Where else to eat in London
Kai Mayfair
(£££) The crispy duck is a must order.
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- Avg price: 70-90 pp
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- Atmosphere: Business lunches, family dinner, semi formal.
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- Food: Chinese
- Notes: Excellent food, quiet restaurant.
Recommended dishes
- Crispy duck
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Scottish beef
La Petite Maison
(£££) Extremely good food, literally everything on the menu tastes good.
Barrafina
(££) Soho or Covent Garden.
No reservation policy. Spanish tapas concept, the wine is great. My favourite dishes were the Padron peppers, Tuna tartare, Filet & Gambas al Ajilo.
Ferdi
(££) Mayfair – Shepherd’s Market
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- Avg price: 30-50 pp
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- Atmosphere: casual, cozy.
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- Food: Cheeseburgers, and tapas.
- Notes: You can only reserve by text.
Italian/Pizza’s in London
Lievito
(£) Fullhan road. Great Pizza.
Delfino
(££) Located on Mount Street in Mayfair. Very thin pizza, great for a quick bite while shopping.
Da Corradi
(£) Located in Shepherds Market. Very basic restaurant, expect to feel like your eating in an Italian grandmas kitchen. Stick to the pastas.
Circolo Popolare
(£) Fitzrovia. Part of the Big Momma group. Great Italian sharing plates concept.
Late night eats
Jetlagged? Hungry after a long night out? Either way, here are two spots that’ll make sure you go to sleep with a fairly satisfied stomach..
Maaroush
(many different locations, closest one to me was on Beachaump Place in Knightsbridge) Lebanese cuisine, you can pick it up, get it delivered to your home or eat it there. I usually order Kobeba, Hummus and Shish Tawouk.
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5 Comments
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Great list.. a few that I would add:
– Chiltern Firehouse for brunch (trendy happening spot)
– Cecconis (spaghetti bolognese is OUT of this world)
– Defune (authentic sushi omakase that is really good.. up there with Umu)
– Dishoom (chill cool indian spot.. food is really good but no reservations and long lines. Worth it though)
– Kyubi (amazing sushi and hot dishes.. however in the Arts Club in Mayfair so need to be a member or go with a member)
Hey Hani!
Thanks for your list, I’ve actually tried Dishoom recently, super good! – need to update this list .. Will give Defune a try next week, and Kyubi. Thanks a lot! If you have anymore recommendations plz share
Hey! My name is Ali actually – last name Behbehani! Here is an update since post:
1. I actually stumbled upon this TINY sushi gem – hole in the wall. The inside isnt fancy or nice but I sat at the sushi bar and had Omakase and it was top. One of the best sushi ive had here – up there with Defune. Chef is from Hokkaido Japan and owner. He’s been there for 20 years. Its called Kikuchi. Definitely recommend if you want GREAT tasting sushi. Only go if you sit on sushi bar and ask for head chef.
2. Gymkhana – really good Indian food. Different vibe to Dishoom, this is on higher end. But their Biryani is excellent (must) and butter chicken is really good as well.
3. Another Indian spot would be Chutney Mary. Definitely higher end but surprisingly has great food. Usually i feel like high end and Indian are failures, this isnt. Butter chicken here and biryan is the go to.
4. Providores – best turkish eggs in this world. Go here for brunch. Won’t regret it.
5. Hoppers – Amazing Sri Lankan food! Highlyyyy recommend. Similar to Dishoom – cool chill vibe and love the presentation. Go here.
6. Cicchetti – tapas italian spot. Chill and cute vibe. Their bolognese is cooked for 6 hours. Great for sharing and ordering like 10 different plates. Go to the Covent Garden location.
7. Bluebird – cute / chill brunch spot in Chelsea. Theres a nice outdoor seating and sometimes have small popups there. Last time was a boutique sunglass popup spot.
Hi Ali! Sorry for the mistake. Seems like we have similar taste as I’ve tried a few of these too! 🙂 I’m a huge sushi fan so I’ll surely be making my way to Kikuchi very soon. Loving the recommendations – this is good stuff! My next trip is Vienna followed by Paris, please let me know if you have any recommendations would be great to add them to my list.
Awesome – really respect others that are also on the hunt for hidden gems! 💎🙏🏼
I was in Vienna a few months ago but only for 2 days. Didn’t get to explore the food scene as much as I want and was a tad disappointed but here is a list for your trip:
1. *Gasthaus zur Oper* – a phenomenal traditional Viennese tavern owned by one of the city’s most renowned chefs, Plachutta, and home to the Austria’s best ‘Wiener Schnitzel’, the most quintessentially Austrian specialty; GET THE SCHNIZTEL
2. *Cantinetta Antinori* – impeccable old-school Tuscan osteria, owned by Italy’s most prominent wine-making family, the Antinori
Lunch:
3. *Zum Schwarzen Kamel* – the epicentre of Vienna’s leisure class on weekend afternoons serving phenomenal tartines (‘Broetchen’); the perfect place for a quick bite and a glass of Prosecco while strolling around Vienna’s old town
Cafes:
4. *Demel* – Emperor Franz Jopseph I’s favourite confectioner and by far the best pastry shop in Vienna – try the ‘Milchrahmstrudel’
5. *+ Hotel Sacher* – one of Vienna’s most established hotels better known around the world for its eponymous chocolate cake – please buy a Sachertorte from the gift shop (their main revenue source)
*GET TEA OR COFFEE IN THE “BLUE ROOM” in the Sacher Hotel. Instagrammable room. Chic!
*Cafe Landtmann* – top Viennese Cafe
Going to Paris myself next weekend so will give a list once I try some spots. Cafe de Fleur in St. German and Hotel Costes for lunch indoor terrace is good.
I hear Fragments for breakfast and PNY for buger are both top! But have yet to try.
If you have a list do send me. The shorter the better as only there for 4 days.
If you want to avoid this being a thread, just email me.
P.S. if you can, go to Salzburg and do the Sound of Music tour. Beautiful city and fun bike tour.