'Asta' (as I like to simply call it) - I have no idea of the '3' moniker, or indeed where the first…read moretwo went - is as genuine a Japanese canteen as you'll find in London. I was lucky enough to, along with a colleague, be taken here on several occasions for a quick lunch by a client (indicative of how welcoming the Japanese are!) By 'genuine' I mean no dumbed-down menus, no super-slick interiors to detract from potentially average food, and no gimmicks of any kind. The place is staffed and run by Japanese nationals as any self-respecting Japanese restaurant should be - and perhaps more importantly, frequented by them regularly, too. Service is smiling and attentive and no more that it needs to be. The food is inexpensive (~£6-8 for a bento, £7-11 for ramen, udon or donburi) and so tasty. On my most recent trip I had beef ramen with tan tan (sesame paste) soup base, and my brother had salmon teriyaki on brown rice. Both dishes had generous proportions of meat/fish, and the donburi came with a side salad and pickles. The unagi (eel) is also lovely, and the place does an extensive line in pick-your-soup base noodle bowl dishes where you have the option of shoyu, miso, and sesame as mentioned above, among others. I can't speak for the takeaway bento, but they looked pretty solid and of a decent quality. Drinks come in the familiar (Coke etc) and the more, um, 'traditional' - aloe vera juice, Pocari, cold bottled green and black teas and others. This place is rather hidden away on the fringes of the City, behind Aldgate station on the Petticoat Lane side. In many ways it's a great location as it's very much a local haunt, and in others a little frustrating as even if you're working in the City it can be a fair walk to get there and back! My advice would also be to get there early (between midday and half-past) to ensure a seat, as well as before some of the more popular items on the menu disappear. In brief summary, I couldn't really recommend this place enough if you're in the area. You'll get multi-kudos from any friends Nippon friends (or appreciators of their incredible cuisine) and have a lunch to beat the hell out of an uninspired sandwich / soft-drink combo whilst spending a similarly scant amount of your hard-earned cash. As your fellow diners would say: "itedakimas!"

I wish I could give this place 10 stars because it is simply amazing. For lunch I got a chicken…read moreteriyaki be to box. Their rice is so delicious I could eat it alone without any other dish. The chicken was tender and flavourful and I really liked the fried potato thing that came with the side. Another great thing about Asta is that with bento boxes you can pick a variety of cold side dishes. I recommend the cucumbers and the rice noodles. Will be back!!

We had the pleasure of dining here while we were in London for the marathon. The food was amazing…read moreand our waitress went above and beyond. I don't remember her name, but she was red head and resembled Isla Fisher. She was probably one of the best and most attentive waitresses I've ever had. I hate we had to come home or we'd be regulars at this restaurant. The atmosphere was very elegant and quiet.

Stunning restaurant! Elegant with many beautiful and some traditional details. This review is…read morespecifically for a private event at Mei Ume with the most insane custom Chinese banquet menu ever. We FEASTED! And everything was really delicious, exquisitely prepared and presented. Starter bites - char siu pork, roasted duck, shrimp & octopus dim sum, xiao long bao. Everything was perfect. Mains - sweet and sour sea bass, slow braised pork belly, steamed lobster, abalone, braised noodles. Wow. That lobster was my favorite bite of the night and there was a generous amount of it. Pork belly just melted in your mouth. And then a dessert platter (English)! Mini merengue tarts, fruit sponge cake, and a chocolate choux. I ended up trying a little of everything and all were fantastic. Overall absolutely gorgeous meal, and one I'll be thinking about for a long time to come.

This is a mediocre sushi restaurant which is overpriced. At luch there is a fairly good choice of…read moresushi and sashimi hitting the belt. There is a Dinner all-you-can eat deal but it doesn't include al lot of the things available at lunchtime like edamame (edible peas) and the service is bonecrunchingly slow. The decor is a bit grim too.

Looked like it got potential. Not sure what the sushi is like in england but the pieces were so big…read morethat you barely could lift them with the sticks, not used to that. £4 for a dish, pricy if you ask me, the sushi didnt live up to the price. Hm.. Looked better then it tasted sadly..

We probably come here a little too often lol. Best hibachi on the south shore! We always seem to…read moreget the same chef (John), and we are so grateful for that. Not only is his food amazing, he puts on an exceptional show. My 3 year old twins adore him and always are so excited to come back.

My dining experience fell short in more ways than one when visiting this restaurant. Menu could use…read morea bit more work. The place is already really small. So they should take some chairs out or change the decor to make for a more comfortable dining experience. The food wasn't all that great. Really bland chicken with no flavor whatsoever. The sushi rolls had sub par quality. I wasn't a fan of this place since the beginning. Service was friendly. That's about it.

Yummy!! We did have to wait 30 minutes to be seated but it was worth it. The food was so good…read moreespecially for a rainy day. They have a thoughtful system with these badges that we take that buzz when there's space. All if the seating is shared so better for smaller groups or a couple.

Great ramen spot on Bermondsey St! Quick service and ramen…read morewas the perfect meal for a cold day. Prices were reasonable and food was enjoyable. If you're looking for a lowkey ramen spot, or just a big bowl of delicious soup, check this place out!

We went to Wawa on Monday at 7:30 and it wasn't crowded, but I have heard it gets crowded on…read moreweekends during dinner, therefore I would recommend going on a non-weekend day or later/earlier than dinner. The waitress was really nice and was checking up on us several times. We ordered: * two pork ramens (miso based), they had 4-5 other types of meats * shrimp tempura * Japanese cheesecake Overall the food was pretty good. The pork in the ramen was super tender, had a little sweetness to it and tasted great! I liked the miso broth but I usually prefer the classic shoyu broth. The noodles weren't too flavorful and I didn't love how they put spinach in the ramen.. but the overall it was different than your classic ramen, which was good. The shrimp tempura was great and you get 6 pieces; it was light and flavorful! The Japanese cheesecake wasn't actually a Japanese cheesecake but rather a shortcake, it was still good and not too sweet. I would go back and try their sushi next time. I would give it 4/5 stars!

Wawa is the japanese place to visit when you're in the London Bridge / Tower Bridge area. It's a…read moresimple, comfortable and delicious place to visit for either a quick lunch or a full dinner. And has a unique speciality: the ramen burger. DISHES Wawa has a small selection of warm and classic sushi dishes: it doesn't compete on quantity, but quality at a good price. You can find the classic sushi rolls together with some unique ones (like the salmon crunchy salmon or the melting salmon, my favourites) and also warm dishes like the katsu curry. Their specialty is the ramen burger: a crisping angus beef burger with wasabi and mayo... with a "bun" made of ramen. AMBIENT AND SERVICE The place tends to be more full at lunch than dinner, but overall I always found a place to sit without any queue. The place is simple, but well curated. Wooden tables are used all across the room, and you can choose alternatively tables with chairs or long tables with benches, perfect for parties. During the day it has a great natural light, while at night a good soft incandescent light. The service is really good and very kind, which is something that surely adds to the place. If you crave japanese food south of the Thames, this is the place to go.

I recently visited SUSHISAMBA London and it was such a fun experience. The restaurant has a really…read moreenergetic atmosphere and the design is beautiful -- it definitely feels like a place for a special dinner or a night out with friends. The concept of mixing Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian flavors is really unique and you can see it throughout the menu. The sushi was very fresh and well presented, and the small plates were great for sharing. I especially enjoyed the creative combinations and the attention to detail in the dishes. The cocktails were also excellent and very well balanced. Service was friendly and attentive without feeling rushed. Overall, it's definitely on the pricier side, but the quality of the food, the atmosphere, and the overall experience make it worth it for a special occasion or a fun night out.

Having always enjoyed many dining experiences in their Las Vegas location, my family and I were…read morelooking forward to the SushiSamba sister location in London @ Broadgate. Unfortunately, it was rather inconsistent execution in both the front and back of house. We waited ten minutes at the table without someone present. After pointedly looking around the dining room for anyone to come by, someone finally asked if we'd been helped. He was not particularly friendly and did not apologize for the wait, but did help us place our order and mentioned that food would arrive as it was prepared. Food service was prompt after that with robata items coming out quickly (~6 minutes after ordering), followed by the arrival of salad immediately after finishing the robata. Our shared large plate came out shortly afterwards, but they did miss serving the second bowl of rice that we had initially ordered. As for specific dishes, only one was fully balanced and the others had good elements but also missing parts to complete their respective flavor profiles. Robata - Duck Breast - Duck was tender and well cooked with nice textural contrast from crushed macadamia nuts - Tamarind sauce was sweet and very flavorful - Accompanying hominy was prepared very well - Seasonal offering Robata - Sweet Corn with Jalapeño Butter & Lime - American corn seems generally sweeter with more plump kernels - Too lightly buttered and minimal to no jalapeño notes Large Plate - Mushroom Tobanyaki - Unexpectedly butter forward, even with yuzu soy and truffle ingredients - Missing yuzu flavor to balance the butter - Truffle was so minimal that it was essentially not noticeable - Quite disappointing, as this is a menu staple at their Las Vegas location that is typically bursting with flavor complexity Salad - Green - Flavorful sesame dressing - Lightly salted wakame tempura provided great crunch and textural contrast - Dressing distribution was imbalanced Mocktail - Lychee Lemongrass Collins - Sweet and refreshing - Light, spicy finish from chilis Overall, it was a disappointing dining event when there are so many great options in the city and compared to another location within the chain. It wasn't a terrible experience to avoid, but one that was rather lackluster and forgettable.

This was a great place to get a hearty, but quick meal. Yes, it is a chain, and there are locations…read morein the US, but it just hit dfferent here on this occasion. It was hot outside so the air conditioning inside was just right. There were some people there around 2pm when we arrived, but plenty of open tables, most of which are long and community, but they will space you out. The menu had lots of good options and was slightly different from the US menu. I had the teriyaki soba chicken and it hit the spot. There was a decent amount of meat when it came out about 10 minutes after I ordered. The noodles were cooked nicely, but the portion was not as big as I thought it would be. No worries as we had the hot honey chicken appetizer which was rich and so good! Our server knew we were in a bit of a hurry and made the meal move quickly without feeling rushed.

Wagamama Ordered the…read moreteriyaki soba with steak and it did not disappoint. The soba noodles were perfectly cooked and soaked up the teriyaki sauce beautifully. The mix of mangetout, bok choi, red and spring onion, beansprouts, and chilli gave it the perfect balance of crunch, freshness, and heat. The steak was tender and full of flavor, and the curry oil added a subtle kick that took the dish to the next level. Finished with coriander and sesame seeds, every bite was bold and satisfying. I also had the chicken donburi ramen, which was comforting and full of flavor. Light yet rich, with tender chicken and a perfectly seasoned broth, it was the perfect complement to the noodles. Overall, a solid, flavorful meal and a great spot for noodles in London.

Headed here because of it's high ratings, dinky place, the friend who I came with is an absolute…read morejapanese food FIEND, and he was perfectly damn happy. Not much place to sit, but I think it mainly satisfies the guys who are grabbing something to take out with them. Polite staff. The food is nice enough, not the best I've had, but it definitely hits the spot. The takoyaki was amazing, worth trying once it's cooled down a little! All super reasonably priced too, so you definitely can't complain.

I was lucky enough to head down to Cardinal Place, only to find Juzu was popping up as part of the…read moreweekly (on Thursdays only) food market. They weren't doing the Takoyaki (which I've had from a different food stall over near Waterloo a couple of times, but I would have been well up for that... you know, once the little balls of lava have cooled down a bit), but instead the lunch menu. This consisted of the choices of either rice or noodles (which based on how good the noodles were, I'd say actually would work as an option on their own) then you can add chicken katsu for a £1 (or a double portion for £2), plus breaded prawns and veggie gyoza. I had the chicken katsu with udon noodles, plus some gyoza. All very reasonable for £7. This was topped off with Japanese mayonnaise and seaweed. This was excellent, and a very decent portion. The chicken was the sort of katsu you always want - it was pre-sliced, making it very easy to eat on the go from a box. It was evenly cooked, so no part of it had dried out as you sometimes get in a Asian themed restaurant that does a Chicken katsu Armadillo, and was very well seasoned. The noodles themselves were great, although they were fried on a hot plate, they didn't dry out or go crunchy, but instead were firm with a very pleasant texture. So overall, very good. Far better chicken than Wagamama's, and so much better than you get at Wasabi.

The Chef/Owner is from Yokohama and he serves delicious Japanese cuisine. The service was great and…read morethe food was authentic. When you enter the building, it's a little confusing because there's a sushi place next to their entrance so make sure you go through the sliding door.

Great find for lunch around the corner from The London Eye. Lunch specials were great. Sushi rolls…read moreand rice bowls with fresh, delicious salmon. The tea is very good. Very friendly staff.