Omakase has taken the capital by storm, with a flurry of new openings in the last few months alone. If you’re looking for a special occasion meal at a decadently high-end spot, or a casual catch up over some proper sushi (none of that pre-packaged stuff, thank you very much), these are the best omakase restaurants in London to try the city’s latest restaurant trend.
Loosely translated as ‘I leave it up to you’, this Japanese dining style hands complete control of your meal over to the chef, putting your full trust in the hands of the expert who’ll provide you with a tailor-made meal that showcases the best available ingredients. The setting is intimate, the countertop seats are sought-after, and the attention to detail is unmatched, with delicate dishes that are almost too pretty to eat. Book a table at an omakase restaurant and you’re in for some of the best sushi in London.
Kibako
Kibako, the new contemporary Japanese restaurant in Fitzrovia offers an array of well-known Japanese dishes re-imagined, featuring traditional techniques with a modern flair. Their signature however, is the ‘kibako’ omakase-style boxes containing nine hand-crafted sushi and sashimi dishes chosen by the kitchen staff.
Expect specialist Japanese ingredients like Sanpuku nori and Kagoshima Wagyu beef combined with the highest-quality produce from around the world, including hand-picked Maldon rock oysters and 36-month aged organic Parmigiano Reggiano.
WHERE: 3 WINDMILL ST, LONDON W1T 2HY
WEBSITE: WWW.KIBAKOLONDON.COM
Endo at The Rotunda
The immersive omakase menu at Endo at The Rotunda priced at £225, and you’ll be guided through more than 20 courses of elegant, seasonal dishes from third-generation sushi master Endo Kazutosh, who rather impressively won a Michelin star within six months of opening. Located on the 8th floor of the Television Centre, you’ll need to join the waiting list to book one of the coveted seats at this sushi-in-the-sky restaurant, but the price tag is more than worth it for this kind of unmatched skill and artistry.
Giles Coren even announced it to be ‘the most perfect meal I have eaten in a restaurant in more than 20 years as a critic’, so that’s really saying something.
WHERE: 8TH FLOOR, THE HELIOS, TELEVISION CENTRE, 101 WOOD LN, LONDON W12 7FR
WEBSITE: WWW.ENDOATROTUNDA.COM
The Fuji Grill at Beaverbrook Town House
Not the first place you’d expect to find an omakase menu, the Georgian exterior, jewel-toned interiors and checkered floors of Chelsea’s Beaverbook Townhouse do in fact house a beautiful mint-green Omakase sushi bar.
Here, a 20-course menu highlights a different fish in each course, is prepared before your eyes, and is served with the utmost creativity in one of Chelsea’s most beautiful settings.
WHERE: 115-116, BEAVERBROOK TOWN HOUSE, SLOANE ST, LONDON SW16 9PJ
WEBSITE: WWW.BEAVERBROOKTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK
Dai Chi
Looking for omakase dining that doesn’t break the bank? Dai Chi offers a brilliant value six-course omakase menu for £42 (or £59 for eight courses).
Dishes include the likes of octopus, tonkastsu and katsuobushi; scallop and black garlic aioli; and miso cod risotto with soy butter. Add the wine and sake pairing for £44 for the full experience.
WHERE: 16A D’ARBLAY ST, LONDON W1F 8EA
WEBSITE: WWW.DAICHI.LONDON
Roji
With just 10 seats available, Roji in Mayfair is one of the best omakase experiences in Mayfair. Run by husband and wife chef team Tamas and Tomoko, the menu changes daily in line with what the chef chooses to prepare on the day.
Expect a daily nigiri selection, Cornish lobster broth, hand dived scallop and seaweed, and jerusalem artichoke ice cream with a nashi compote.
WHERE: 56B S MOLTON ST, LONDON W1K 5SH
WEBSITE: WWW.RO-JI.CO.UK
Maru
You’re in safe hands at Maru, where third-generation sushi chef Taiji Maruyama has spent years honing his craft at renowned restaurants like NOBU. With the principle of ‘Omotenashi’ (wholeheartedly looking after your guest) at the heart of the restaurant, the focus is on the spirit of harmony between guest and host – and this goes for all parts of the experience, from the menu and the interior design, to the flower arrangement and the crockery (which is designed by Chef Maruyama himself).
With intimate chef to counter dining and an innovative and take on traditional Japanese cuisine, combining British ingredients with classical Japanese training and techniques, this is one the most sought after omakase restaurants in London right now.
WHERE: 18 SHEPHERD MARKET, LONDON W1J 7QH
WEBSITE: WWW.MARULONDON.COM
The Araki
At £300 a head, The Araki offers what is without a doubt one of the most expensive menus in London, but when it comes to omakase, it’s also one of the best there is.
There’s no a la carte here, as the restaurant offers only one menu, and is rather wonderfully prepared by head chef Mitsuhiro Araki himself, whose Ginza restaurant boasted three Michelin stars.
WHERE: UNIT 4, 12 NEW BURLINGTON ST, LONDON W1S 3BF
WEBSITE: WWW.THE-ARAKI.CO.UK
The Aubrey
Flipping the script on a traditional omakase menu, The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park offers up something completely different, and applies the same principles to an intimate cocktail experience. Look closely and you’ll find a hidden secret bar which seats only six, where bar director Pietro Rizzo and his team take guests on a deeply immersive and interactive ever-changing experience through the expansive world of Japanese spirits, which they transform into new exciting serves.
The unique experience costs £198 per person, and is by-appointment only, so if you’re looking to impress, this could be the perfect spot.
WHERE: 66 KNIGHTSBRIDGE, LONDON SW1X 7LA
WEBSITE: WWW.MANDARINORIENTAL.COM
Mayha
Mayha is Marylebone’s newest Japanese omakase restaurant. The two-story restaurant features an intimate ground floor, home to a curved stone counter where guests can interact with the chefs as they expertly craft and prepare dishes, while the lower ground floor offers a Japanese raw bar and courtyard.
The omasake menu is rooted in technique and uses what’s currently seasonally available.
WHERE: 43 CHILTERN ST, LONDON W1U 6LS
WEBSITE: WWW.MAYHALONDON.COM
By The Handbook
Kibako
Endo at The Rotunda
The Fuji Grill at Beaverbrook Town House
Dai Chi
roji
maru
The Araki
The Aubrey
Mayha
