Kedgeree with a side order of umeboshi and Japanese hot tea! What a hearty breakfast! read more

Koya Soho - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

The little sibling of the larger Koya restaurant next door, Koya Bar is styled after the traditional Ramen houses where customers sit along a bar facing the kitchen. The menu here is more limited than its neighbour but the dishes are freshly made in front of you which provides a great opportunity to watch the chefs at work and see each step as your dish is assembled. The atmosphere is Spartan and the layout is challenging to socialise in groups, so Koya Bar is best suited for a quick catch up with a friend or a bowl of noodles before heading out in the area. Prices are reasonable with main dishes around the £10 mark. The Kedgeree was fairly authentic and may be a good entry dish if you find yourself a bit dubious about the whole thing. The rice porridge is grainer than your standard cooked oats and the smoked haddock gives the dish a light savoury flavour. It's a step above congee (although I've had some full-bodied congee in my time) and is filling and warming - great if you are feeling the chill or are a bit under the weather. My curry udon noodles were fine but lacking the hefty punch I associate with curry. This is undoubtedly a result of my tendency to eat my mom's spicy chicken curries for breakfast whenever I'm at my parents' house so I imagine it's more than sufficient for the average person - particularly for breakfast! Rob H, Katie B's partner in crime, raves about the English Breakfast udon which is your standard udon noodle soup topped with a fried egg, bacon, and shiitake mushrooms. While it did look pretty good (and who doesn't love the smell of sizzling bacon), it's a hybrid dish I still can't quite get on board with. That being said, he's a noodle aficionado so there must be something to it. For a tenner, you do get a decent serving of food and service is fast and efficient if not the most friendly. I'm more than happy to drop in to line the stomach but if I had more time to kill (or was with more than one person) I think Bone Daddies has them beat. read more

Delicious udon and very nice beer. I had a mushroom and walnut udon soup. Cold udon and hot broth with walnuts on the side which you mix in. All aspects were great and I added a spoonful of spice to give it a bit of a kick. The Kirin beer was more expensive than usual but when it came I realised the price was because it was the premium brew and it was really delicious. Only reason it didn't get five stars is cos the place is a little small for its popularity and it was a little warm in there because of the open kitchen, which I like, but could have used some air. read more

yrscore: F5/E4.5/R5 One of the best udon I have ever tasted in London. I particularly like the cold noodle in hot broth. The tempura was very well cooked too. Fresh prawn and vegetable with good batter. The experience was fantastic. There are limited seats in Koya. This is because the setting is of a bar style. You get to see the chef preparing it right in front of your eyes. The only thing that I have to comment is the friendliness of the staffs. Perhaps due to the busy-ness of the restaurant, I feel that the staffs can be a tad friendlier. Despite that, I would definitely return to this place for the food and experience. read more

Koya Soho - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

My first visit to Koya (the restaurant) was admittedly underwhelming. I guess I didn't know what I was really expecting from the place. But I've been back several times since and I've been cautious about writing a review because I find myself liking it more and more everytime. Until now, I think I actually crave a bit of Koya every now and then. The udon is great, but that on its own would never have earned a 5-star rating, there's so much more to Koya. Let's start with udon - hand made, the udon at Koya has a great texture, I always get the udon cold because I like the tenacity and would prefer that they were kept that way until I decide to eat it. The broths and choices are simple and straight forward. I didn't quite get the flavours at first, but the more I eat here, the more I appreciate the simplicity. The walnut paste and mushrooms is definitely one of my favourite here, but everything's good. What tips Koya off the scale and into 5 star territory is / are its specials. They change with frequency and it always brings something new to the table. They marry ingredients I would never have dreamt of, and honestly opens my taste palette to new experiences. How could I not give them 5 stars. The last special I had was the John Dory sashimi with soy marinated cucumbers and something really fragrant on the plate. The flavours were gentle and worked in harmony. It delighted and suprised me. As for it's pork belly - I always get this - it's just divine. read more

I knew I was in for a treat when I entered a very Japanese-looking noodle shop and was greeted with "irasshaimase!" The menu looked traditional, obviously besides the English breakfast udon, and I had a hard time choosing just one bowl. I settled on the kitsune udon with onsen tamago and the fish that was written on the daily special. Maybe it was because I arrived at the odd time of 11:50 (right between breakfast and lunch), but I think my order took a long time. Another couple arrived after I was nearly finished and they seemed to receive their order in less than half the time I did. The egg was cooked perfectly, with a yolk that only barely kept its shape in the broth and the whites were just wisps. I finished almost all of the soup and the noodles had a great texture, as did the tofu. Just like in Japan. However, I have to say I was a little disappointed with the fish. It was delicious and nicely grilled, but I didn't feel it was worth £9 even though it came with some lovely pickles. But I guess London is expensive and that should be expected. I would definitely come here again when the udon craving hits, though I will stick to the udon and show up at a more reasonable hour. read more

Came here for breakfast on the weekend, at first glance you get the feel you are at one of the more contemporary ramen bars you get in Tokyo near a train station. I come in and hear the usual 'irashimasen' welcoming you into the restaurant, although here it was a bit limp and unenthusiastic (compared to the roar you get in Japan). We weren't welcomed in by anyone so walked up to the bar to ask for a seat and that we had a reservation but the waitress just looked at us as if we insulted her. For a second, I thought I had said something to scare her but I really hadn't. After eventually coming to an agreement that we want to sit and eat, we found the menu already on the table for us and a bottle of tap water, it's always good when you don't have to ask for water so when it was automatically provided, I was glad and it took away a bit of the bad feelings my initial experience left me with. Also free water is commonplace in Japan, you will pretty much always get free water or even tea sometimes. The food for breakfast was ok, there was nothing wrong with it. Kind of resembled Japanese food but lacking some of the flavours and scents that you experience in Japan. Textures were fairly reminiscent of Japan and it was enjoyable at the very least if you like eating at the bar rather than at a table. The price was too high for what it was, would be at least half of this even in Tokyo and the portions would be bigger. I witnessed the 2 waitresses, including the one that we first encountered, have generally bad manners and poor behaviour towards customers the whole time we were there. Good service goes hand in hand with Japanese dining and this place failed miserably on that front. Waited about 10 minutes to finally get the attention of someone to ask for the bill even after direct eye contact and me asking for the bill several times. I payed, although the whole transaction was so awkward, I felt like I had asked something incredibly unreasonable, maybe they prefer you to not pay? I don't know, Koya was good 3 years ago, sadly I don't have any desire to return. Only come here if you don't care about service. read more

Trendy Japanese place with an innovative take on British fish and chips (light, thinner, smaller-- delicious) and a shockingly good beef udon. Not to mention a very decent set of rice bowls, shrimp tempura in particular. The beef was amazing, the udon broth was good, the only real weakness was the noodles-- compared to how amazing the beef was, the udon was only somewhat above average. Perhaps it sat in the bowl a little too long while I took pictures-- that could be entirely my fault... One long bar, glass front, not quite elbow to elbow over steaming bowls of rice and noodle soup. About the way it should be, yet with the glass storefront giving a bit of entirely appropriate European flair. read more

Probably my favorite udon place in London. Very authentic, charming, friendly staff and unbelievably delicious food. Must go.

This is a nice place to enjoy some light food. Cold or hot udon in a hot brooth with different Japanese sides. My favourite is the cold udon with any tempura on the side. The udon is chewy and favourable. I also had a chance to try their beef don. Compared to what I had in Toronto, this place served a lighter version of beef don, in which doesn't give you a heavy kinda aftertaste. I will definitely go back once again before I left London. read more

Awesome udon and sake, very authentic and yet casual ambience -an all-around great place for delicious Japanese food in London! read more

Koya Soho - Delicious food, friendly staff, lovely Japanese ambience. - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Went here with a friend for early lunch today, however they weren't serving lunch till 12noon but the breakfast menu still looked like it had good options. I got the English Breakfast rice porridge with miso soup, and my friend got the Curry udon noodles. First, they brought out the wrong order (English Breakfast with udon) for me, but they kindly took it back and gave me the right order once I pointed it out to them. My dish was filling, but not flavorful. The porridge was lukewarm (not sure if that's the convention), and you receive two bacon strips, one fried egg, and one single mushroom. The miso soup was alright. Overall I don't think it was worth £11.60. I tried a bit of my friend's curry udon. The flavor was fine, but nothing special. It also had very few toppings and was also a bit overpriced. I think the lunch menu items are better, but maybe skip Koya Soho for their breakfast menu. The ambience is nice and the service is good, despite the high pricing for the subpar food we had. read more

Koya and Koya bar are next to each other makes it very difficult to not compare. If I were to go to Koya bar as an independent experience, I'll probably give it 5 star. But if I were to compare with the food next door, it would only deserve 4. I was at Koya couple weeks ago and had a bomb duck udon. I loved it soooo much I ordered the same dish. Unfortunately, the duck is a bit dough-ie and it's not the rare juicy duck breast at Koya. The soup and udon are still out of the world yum! It boils down to : if there is not a line, go to Koya, but if there is, the bar will do the job. read more

The menu's not extensive, but if you know what you want and they have what you want, then Koya Bar is the place to go. There's often a queue in the evening, but not as long as Koya's. Tip: If you get the cold udon and hot brother, you start eating it relatively quickly. I lingered with my starter for too long, and then I had cold udon and warmish broth, which got cold pretty quickly when I added the noodles. I also really like their tempura, though an entire portion plus udon is a little much, so try to get someone to share. My favourites are the spring onion and tofu cold udon, for a hot summer day, the mushroom and walnut miso udon, and the ten curry don. £2 is excessive for an extra poached egg... but I get it anyway. I haven't been to Koya yet, so can't compare. read more

I really dug this place, so much so I ate here twice in two separate trips to London. This place has a nice compact menu, with couple of every variety, I had a cold udon with hot soup my first time along with some pork belly and I was blown away. The noodles snapped, they were just chewy enough, the soup had enough flavor but was not over powering. The pork belly was flavorful, moist, fall apart tender, yummmm. The second time I had a hot udon and was not disappointed either, everything is cooked right in front of you in a very precise manner. Dinner time always has a line so try it later or earlier in the evening. read more

My second time at Koya Bar and both times I've thoroughly enjoyed my food! Staff are polite, helpful and very knowledgable about the dishes. The food they serve is so fresh and full of quality. I will be back! read more

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Breakfast - ordered the Japanese breakfast. Miso soup was bordering on cold. The portion of grilled fish was microscopic. Beware read more

I love udon, chefs love this place, so was I going to love this place? Hmmm unfortunately I tried Koya Bar for breakfast a few months after returning from Japan so it had some tough competition. The udon noodles are good, with a nice bounce and bite. They should be given the effort Koya takes in creating them! The soup though was lacking, overly delicate. At these prices for a bowl of udon it needs to be great. For around 1/4 of Koya Bar's prices in the reputedly expensive country of Japan you can get much better with flavoursome and rich soup packed with meat, fish, sweet and salty flavours. Even without considering price comparisons Koya didn't knock my socks off and I love udon. So maybe I'm just not a chef. read more

Hands down, the best meal we had in London. We each had a bowl of udon, mine with sweet tofu, my husband's I don't really remember because I was so into mine :) But he loved it too haha. Anyway, sweet tofu udon was on point. Sweet tofu was one whole slab of tofu and udon was cooked perfectly. The bowl was a lot bigger than it looked, so I ate slowly and ended up having overcooked udon by the end. We had some delicious udon in Honolulu, which was rated one of the best in the states, but Koya Bar definitely has them beat :) Then we shared a pork belly. And it was amazingg. Usually the fat in pork belly makes me feel so guilty that I cannot enjoy it, but this was the most tender, melt in your mouth meat that the fat was the perfect compliment. It came with this generous serving of fresh wasabi, that was just as impressive as the rest of the meal. I cannot recommend Koya Bar enough. Long lines during prime dinner times, but so worth the wait. read more

I have fond memories of coming to this place when I used to live here, so I was quite surprised to walk in and find a strange new place (it used to look like this: https://s3-media4.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/unMFDGMTSldwGlbcpRcaiA/o.jpg) Gone is the family-style 4-to-a-table seating arrangement, now everyone sits at a bar counter behind which the food is cooked. Based on the other Yelp reviews I've read, it seems like there was a management change or something in the last few years. I suppose the new seating arrangement makes more sense financially - an added perk is that it feels much less intimidating to go eat on your own, as the old setup meant you were occupying an entire table by yourself, or felt like you had to make small talk with the other individuals put at your table. That said, don't even bother trying to come here with more than 3 people, you'll be left waiting for a while. Udon itself is a fairly simple dish, it's noodles dumped in broth, with meat/vegetables, and garnish, so it's quite easy to make but very difficult to master. While the udon I got (cold noodles in hot broth with beef) was quite good, it didn't have the same depth or "WOW" factor that made me remember the place five years later and want to come back. Or maybe I'm just getting senile with age. I'm glad they didn't chock the whole thing full of MSG like so many other places that serve udon though, I could actually drink the broth without feeling like I needed to down an entire bottle of still water (which they do provide you with, free) Still, for a SoHo-area restaurant, the prices were fairly affordable. It took a little while for me to place an order, but at least the bill came fairly quick. Also, there's a guest wifi network, but there's no wifi password anywhere to be seen. What gives? Verdict: Not bad, good as a no-frills go-to place, but I'd still come back. Yay: Good for individuals, prices, very little to no MSG in the broth Nay: Not good for groups Meh: It wasn't as good as I remembered it to be read more

We didn't have to wait too long for a seat early evening on a Sunday night. It's all bar seating (as the name implies) and udon is good as always. I went for the tempura hiya atsu (cold noodles, hot soup and it was way more than enough food. The tempura plate is a pretty decent size. The noodles are awesome - and if you're an udon fan you won't find any complaints! As always, pork kakuni is amazing, but a bit pricey for the small amount you get. read more

Same concept as Koya next door, udon, udon, udon. Pork belly udon was our favorite, with pork fat galore and the most flavorful broth of the three we ordered. Duck udon was our next favorite, especially with its tender meat. The shrimp tempura needed to be eaten quickly otherwise it gets a big soggy. Squash and sesame, agedashi tofu were perfect starters to the meal, small enough to whet our appetites, big enough to share. The wait was about 30 minutes at 7:00, but it seemed the turnover was fast. I think if you have a larger group, Koya is the way to go. But if you're looking for a quick udon fix sitting at the bar, Koya Bar is sufficient. read more

Thanks to Katie B for organising UYE breakfast edition here! I've never had Japanese breakfast before, so I was keen on trying it out. I went with the Kedgeree (£10), which is a rice porridge with smoked haddock, poached egg, and curry. I enjoyed the dish, the smoked haddock was lovely, and it even came with a little dish of toasted anchovy flakes (could be something else, but its extremely fragrant and not fishy!) to sprinkle on top. I could eat the powder on its own! I felt the Kedgeree was the most interesting main dish, as the other ones were pretty standard with eggs and bacon, with the occasional shiitake thrown in there. Overall, it was a good and light (ie: non greasy) breakfast to start the day. While it was delicious, I thought the price was a bit steep (£15 including service and tea), but quality Japanese food will be on the pricier side in this city. On the upside, the staff were really nice, and it was incredibly clean (a big plus in my books!) However - I AM keen on coming back to Koya bar to try their non breakfast items! read more

We went without reservations on a Thursday evening. Koya Bar, the more Japanese-looking and smaller sister of Koya restaurant next door, was packed and busy. We thought we would have no chance of getting seated, but Koya Bar proved us wrong. Call it luck or great management, the accommodating manager sat us within 10 minutes upon arrival and, during the wait, gave us beers and water. Koya specializes in freshly made udon served many ways (hot udon in hot broth, cold udon in hot broth, cold udon in cold dipping sauce, etc), and at Koya Bar, you would see the udon made in front of you. We shared Kaiso (mixed seaweed) salad and Atsu-Age (fried and grilled tofu). I didn't care for the seaweed salad too much, but the tofu was nicely done. The highlight was indeed the udon. The Kinoko Hiya-Atsu (cold udon served with a hot mushroom broth along with walnut miso) was fantastic. The udon was chewy and easy to eat, one could easily taste the shiitake mushrooms in the broth, and the walnut miso was extraordinary (sweet and savory). Perhaps I don't know any better, but my only minor gripe was that it was challenging to combine the walnut miso with the udon and the broth. Once the miso was in the broth, I couldn't taste the flavor so much, so I mostly ate the miso separately from the rest. The prices were a bit high, but for fresh and delectable udons, it was totally worth it. read more

Honestly so confusing and I think a lot of customers are posting the wrong photos in the wrong restaurant as there are sister restaurants right next to each other! Both look great but don't get confuse. I am honestly not that impressed with the udon, maybe I just don't love udon anymore and I prefer pho... I am over the big thick noodles and soup lacking in flavour. I felt that the noodle soup was a bit expensive as £10.50 for a average bowl of noodle and tiny bit if beef, I was not impressed. Order something else or try elsewhere. read more

Koya Soho - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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I had kyu (beef) udon, and it was solid. My favourite part of it was the broth -- just adequately flavoured and fatty without being too thick or heavy. There was a good portion of well-cooked beef as well. Overall, a very good bowl of udon that hit the spot for me. Ambience was casual -- all seats were along the bar, where food was served over the counter. A bit on the small side in terms of space, but perhaps, this adds to the low-key, local feel of it all. Service was relatively prompt and good. We had to wait for about 15mins to get a seat on a Sunday afternoon around 1:30pm, so just be mindful of the timing before you go! read more

Exactly the same menu as the original Koya restaurant next door, except that you sit at the kitchen bar. Its also a different queue, so if there's a long one at Koya, come here instead! Service was a bit slow though, but the food was awesome as usual. Miso buto udon is my favourite - sweet pork marinated in miso... Mmm! One star taken off as they charge 12.5% service charge, when there really is minimal service. read more

The food was super underwhelming. Noodles were under cooked and service was rushed. Would not recommend this place at all.

Went once and have come back so many times since! Bar to eat at. Fresh made udon. I go for breakfast usually. I would recommend the kedgereee and a simple udon...but to be honest that's all i've been able to try because it's so good I keep ordering it! So maybe it's not the best thing on the menu, but I wouldn't know because it's so good I can't resist ordering it every time. Only downside is that it's a bit pricey. but what else can you expect for great food in central london? read more

The eating scene in London is truly amazing. There are so many options, regardless of time or day of the week. After seeing Matilda The Musical at Cambridge Theatre, we went to Koya Bar in Soho for some dinner. Seeing as half of our party was meat eaters and the the other half vegetarian/pescetarian, Koya Bar was the perfect fit as they offer a variety of options. Koya Bar is, like with many other London eateries, on the smaller scale, with an open kitchen and a bar surrounding it. Luckily, the seven of us managed to get a seat before the dinner rush. Aside from offering various udon dishes, Koya Bar also has donburi (a bowl of rice topped with something) and side items like tempura, pork belly and vegetables. Next time I'm in London, I'll definitely make a trip to Koya Bar again! From our experience it's best to get there around six-ish or even earlier, as the place fills up quickly and there's always a queue, even on a week day! And they don't take reservations. The people who work there are friendly and you can tell, dedicated and passionate about udon and good Japanese food. read more

Had a nice piping hot bowl of udon to start my snowy day so his made me a happy camper. I got the duck udon which sounded amazing and you definitely can't go wrong with duck. The flavor and texture was good, udon was authentic but wasn't the best I ever had. Good place to eat if you are in the area and craving udon but I wouldn't wait if there was a long wait. Bar seating only so not ideal with a group. read more

I was excited to try this place but the broth just did not taste good at all... for a ramen place that was very disappointing and just not worth the pricey food. Not worth the hype. read more

Yummy yummy noodles! The udon is so chewy and fresh. The side dishes are very nice too, and the tempura is some of the best I've had, all freshly cooked in front of you. Loved the tofu side dish too. read more

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Very frustrating experience. We came and were told to sit outside. Apparently we should have lined up and 15 people went ahead of us. When I told the hostess she did not honor that we had been there longer than anyone and was not apologetic. read more

I came to Koya on a late Friday afternoon afternoon after arriving in London. There was no wait and I was promptly seated by the bar. I ordered Niku Udon, which is soup udon topped with sliced beef and green onions. The beef was tender, the udon was chewy, and the broth was light and savory. Exactly what I needed after a long flight! Will definitely come again if I have the chance. read more

I really love the idea of getting the food cooked right in front of myself, which is absolutely the case at Koya. Overall, it has a very nice "minuscule bar in Tokyo" feel, which I liked - it could draw attention to itself a bit better, though (maybe a bigger sign?). The cooks are at the same time the servers and friendly. The food was on top, as well. I also ordered green tea, which came in a lovely little ceramic pot. Despite the fact that the place was absolutely packed even at 10pm, it didn't take too long until I found myself enjoying some amazing udon. Absolutely do come early, though, as the bar can accommodate perhaps 15-20 people, consequently bringing a group of friends might be a problem. The toilets are nice and tidy, and - like the rest of the bar - tastefully decorated in a modern Japanese style. I know where I'll be eating at my next visit to London. read more

Their udons were amazing here. It's perfect to go in on a rainy/cold day and just sit and order a bowl of hot udon. I ordered the tempura udon and it was quite refreshing. It's a small place inside and bar seating only, but worth the wait if they're busy. read more

Koya bar is great! the food (I got gyudon Donburi) was solid and the staff were very welcoming! I plan to come back soon.

waited for an hour in the rain! but both tempura and udon were very disappointing. def not worth the hype. paid almost 50 for two ppl. go somewhere else! read more

Koya Soho - mackerel udon with poached egg - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

After the very, very sad closure of the original Koya restaurant, this is now my favourite spot for Udon in London. The udon is as great as it was next door, and the bar layout usually means shorter waiting times, although it is better suited for two or three than for a larger group (there are no tables, everyone sits around the bar). Order a starter from their specials menu - they make fantastic little plates, such as pickled cucumber or various salads etc. Really great stuff.. read more