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    Kurobuta

    3.5 (31 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:30 PM

    Kurobuta Japanese Restaurant Photos

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    Ice cream mochi
    Chrissy H.

    £20 for a tasting menu with starter cocktail with nudge. The restaurant wasn't in the most convenient location but for a bargain taster meal, waking a little isn't too bad. The meal started with some fried sweet potato chips with a couple of dips. One of the dips were amazing...forgot to ask what it was. We then had some sushi and sashimi which was very different to the usual. It felt like the rolls had been pan fried hence the rice had a much chewier texture than usual. Different, for sure. We also had some fried chicken baos with some picked cucumber and kimchi along with an aubergine dish which I wasnt a fan of as it the sauce on top was far too strong and I usually love aubergine. We finished off with some mochi ice cream. The yuzu one was def the best. Overall, good for the price but wasn't blown away by the food. But that's okay as overall the food was still considered ok/good.

    Sweet potato fries and pork belly buns at Kurobuta
    Samantha S.

    When we arrived we were seated at a table directly underneath a large. bright light. When we asked to move the staff were friendly and accommodating. I liked the design of the restaurant, good lighting, and the tables aren't too close to each other. We ordered the frozen kirin beers, a favourite of mine, then started off with the sweet potato fries and BBQ pork belly buns. The fries were well seasoned and perfectly complimented by the delicious kimchi mayo. The buns were pillowy soft, and the pork cooked really well, served with a really, really great spicy peanut sauce. We followed with the squid karaage, rice hot pot, and the spicy tuna maki. The squid was nicely spiced, well suited to the jalapeno dipping sauce, and the rice was a nice accompaniment. The spicy tuna maki was good, not the best I've had, but good. We finished off with Pistachio chocolate forest cake, and ice cream stuffed buns with peanut butter. by this stage we were so full, but the food was so good we had to eat it all. All in all an amazing dining experience. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. Will definitely return.

    From the unlimited bottomless brunch. Seabass sashimi, tuna maki, salmon maki, cucumber maki and salmon sashimi 'pizza'
    Wendy L.

    Bottomless brunch on a Saturday for £35 sounds like a bargain for a restaurant that usually charged sky high prices for their individual dishes. Sadly it didn't quite meet up to my expectations and there were a few things here and there that could have been better and when adding these together it has already lost two stars. We went into an empty restaurant with really sad looking staff. The place really lacked atmosphere. They went for the modern contemporary look, bright natural lights from the large windows that went to the floor. Seating varied from black and coloured topped tables to tall streaky wooden tables and metal legs and bar seats. It was very casual and tacky around the toilet area with all the posters stuck on the wall. It was a bit mix and match. I didn't feel it fit in with the food they were serving. Buffet section was in front of the open kitchen which stood in the centre of the restaurant. It was nice to see the dishes being cooked freshly and the buffet refilled. The waitress immediately greeted us and asked if we were ready for our complimentary house cocktail of sake spritz. It was sweet like a soft drink as it had no taste of alcohol. Dangerous but delicious. For an extra £10 to the £35 brunch we added a fresh cooked dish from a good selection of their popular main dishes. We chose the recommended pork belly in steamed buns and takikomi gohan described as Japanese risotto. As we were waiting we headed to the buffet and filled up several plates of the following: BBQ Napa cabbage These were grilled nicely and the flavours were sweet, crunchy and smokey. Seabass sashimi Incredibly silky and fresh. I was very surprised with the grade of sashimi being very rich in flavour and full of bounce. Cucumber, salmon and tuna maki These were small and quite generic but flavoursome enough with the salmon being my favourite with the added spicy mayo on top. Sashimi pizza These were amazing. Rich salmon sashimi on pastry pieces which although were deep fried, were incredibly light and greaseless. Tofu tataki These were silky and flavoured nicely with the sweet soy marinate and grilled around the edges for extra texture. Green and grains A bit bland for my liking, unadventurous but a nice mix of textures and fresh ingredients. Truffled cauliflower A real winner out of the vegetarian options with a real depth of flavour and smokiness from being grilled Chicken karaage Too much batter on the outside that overpowered a lot of the tenderness inside being too dense and crunchy. Disappointing. Beer grilled steak These were amazing being cooked medium rare. They were marinated well, incredibly tender, succulent and sweet. Fried rice Lacked wok energy and depth. Seems like a typical generic dish to have in a buffet. At least jazz it up a bit. Build your own ramen! Little bowls of noodles next to a self service toppings of kimchi, greens and seaweed before filling it with either pork broth or miso soup. Fun but disappointed with their poor quality noodles that broke easily. The broth was weak too, lacking depth so the concept felt more novelty than taste. Onsen eggs Luckily we went back to the buffet counter as they added these a lot later. Not cool! Had it with plain noodles in the end which were nice being rich, thick and creamy. And their freshly cooked hot dishes: Takikomi gohan I can honesty say it's the best risotto I have ever had with the same texture as Italian risotto. It was so creamy, rice al dente with flavours of miso, sesame and mushrooms running through it. It was a genius at work to come up with the idea of topping it with tobiko flavoured with wasabi which were mild in spice. But when stirred into the risotto you get these nice burst of salty wasabi flavour as you're eating it. Pork steamed buns The buns were incredibly light and fluffy and although the pork slices look thick it was very moist, fatty and therefore incredibly velvety and packed full of flavour. The dipping sauce was thick, sweet like syrup, salted by soy and mixed with crushed peanuts. The flavours were amazing together but be careful, I nearly went overboard with the sauce and forgot it was salty. Finished our bottomless unlimited brunch with a exotic fruit platter with the indulgent part of creamy filled truffles, yuzu and green tea ice cream mochi and a delicious soft fudge slice. Another highlight of the meal. I somewhat expected better for Kurobuta, especially for £35. It wasn't bad but wasn't amazing. Their buffet dishes were boring, selling fried rice, fried chicken and cheap noodles with only their high quality sushi and beef worth going for. Their freshly cooked dishes were definitely better and something that has got me wanting to go for dinner one day, ordering from their a la carte. Some of the staff also need to lighten up and stop lingering around to give more privacy. With all the bottomless brunch available in London, Kurabuta is not one to stand out

    Bottomless brunch
    Tori U.

    A most unexpected, astonishingly affordable Japanese bottomless boozy brunch at a place notorious for prices that make you cry. I think this might be one of the best kept secrets in London brunchery and all for only £35! This minimalist, steel-stone-and-wood cafe is owned by one of the most favored and famous chefs, Scott Hallsworth, who also started a little restaurant you might have heard of......Nobu? The food is punchy Japanese 'street food' often fried and streaked with salty/spicy sauces. There was friend chicken, and sushi, and salmon on a crisp. There was build your own Ramen and marinated tofu, and something delicious in a lettuce leaf. The drinks are wine and beer and a cocktail upon arrival. Admittedly the food selection was not incredible or incredibly long, but it was definitely enough variety and good quality, plus a fruity dessert platter. Apparently the actual menu for Kurobuta is long and divine and you can get the extended brunch menu for £45 (so you get all of the above buffet-style plus some of the real menu and drinks included). Yes, no joke. No one will even believe me. The staff was awesome as they quickly clocked that our group of 8 were, and I quote, 'hitting the drinks hard' so they started giving us a bottle for the table at a time so as not to embarrass us by making us ask every 15 minutes for a re-fill (and having to come over every 2 minute). How very kind! A very refreshing change from the drunk-shaming ways of other places. I will come back many more times and bring many more people.

    Wings
    Erin L.

    I'd wanted to go to Kurobuta for a while - it's been one of those places I constantly get as a recommendation, as in "oh, you're Japanese? Have you been to Kurobuta?" I ordered what is now my new favourite cocktail on the recommendation of my enthusiastic waiter, the Green Bastard. (The cocktail, that is, not the server). It had all of my favourite things in a glass - Hendrick's gin, midori, cucumber and lime - tart, refreshing and perfectly amazuppai - the Japanese word to describe something that's both sweet and sour (but in the best way possible). Kurobuta attempts a Western twist on the classic Japanese izakaya, and the theme is consistent throughout - from the atmosphere and decor to the dishes and menu itself. In traditional izakaya style, Kurobuta offers a wide selection of small, tapas style plates, ideal to eat family-style - my favourite way of eating anything. Ordering at Kurobuta presented more of a challenge than usual, as everything is so appetising - and the combinations so unusual. After much debate (the waiter had to come and go a few times) we settled on six dishes between the two of us, as well as a few bottles of Asahi black for the mister. Couldn't get much more out of him on the subject beyond "it's beer", but the Asahi black is a dark lager beer - if you're a fan of Guinness then this is worth tasting. The first dishes to arrive where the porky scratchings with yuzu kosho dip. Pork scratchings isn't something I'd ever end up buying in a shop, or attempt at home, but every time it's on the menu I inevitably end up ordering it (with no regrets). Duck and Waffle do great ones in my opinion (okay, okay, they're pigs ears if you're being picky about it), but the Kurobuta ones are in a league of their own. The light crispness is reminiscent of tempura batter, but the way it melts pleasingly on the tongue, along with the distinctively porky aftertaste confirms that it is not. If I come back as a pig in my next life, then this is the fate I would hope for - to end up as these porky scratchings. Served with a yuzu kosho dip, these aren't overly sickly either, and felt relatively guilt-free - though make no mistake, these most definitely are not! The porky scratchings were shortly followed by Jerusalem artichoke chopsticks, served with a truffle ponzu dip. I don't know how they managed to squeeze so many of my favourite things into one dish, and once it arrived I was even more delighted to find that the artichokes had been shaped into attractive chopstick shapes and deep-fried. These were beautiful, although I must admit I much preferred the yuzu kosho dip from the porky scratchings, and found myself dipping these into that sauce instead. Kurobuta was a fun dining experience. In my opinion, the Western twist on Japanese dishes outdid the Japanese twists on Western classics, but I would definitely go again with close friends and family. Including a side of rice and drinks, Kurobuta set the two of us back £120 including service.

    Beef tataki with onion ponzu sauce and garlic crisps
    Naila M.

    Kurobuta translates as 'black pig' from Japanese. I was sad not to see the pork variety available on the menu. The menu is not traditional Japanese but rather an reinterpretation of modern Japanese flavours and presentation. The food was definitely creative: Beef Fillet Tataki with Onion Ponzu and Garlic Crisps was a bit overpowering in flavour but the meat was incredibly tender; the Wagyu Beef Sliders; Brioche Bun, Crunchy Onions, Pickled Cucumber and Umami Mayo were sweet and great to have after the beef tataki with onion. Sometimes a bit too creative to the point of wondering whether it's supposed to taste weird or it's just me not being open to it. But the highlight was definitely the dessert! A crazy combination of lavender, apple creme brûlée hidden underneath crunchy crumble topped with crispy apple slices and vanilla ice cream. We heard that Raymond Blanc asked for the recipe. Overall, trendy and fun but I won't be rushing back for the food (ok maybe the dessert). The Australian chef and Australian staff do a wonderful job of creating atmosphere - you want to sit there and people watch in the restaurant and savour the cocktails. The frozen beer foam or 'head' is a bit off-putting.

    Kurobuta

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    Asta 3

    Asta 3

    4.8(6 reviews)
    3.9 miPetticoat Lane, Aldgate

    '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!!

    Photos
    Asta 3
    Asta 3
    Asta 3 - Sesame-base (Tan Tan) and Beef Ramen with Brown Rice Salmon Teriyaki Bento

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    Sesame-base (Tan Tan) and Beef Ramen with Brown Rice Salmon Teriyaki Bento

    Asakusa - Salmon Head

    Asakusa

    4.1(101 reviews)
    1.8 miEuston, Camden Town
    ££

    This place is awesome. Walked in and felt like I was in another country, Japan. The layout,…read morepresentation, staff and most of the customers here are Japanese. Talk about authentic, this place is a gem. Just got out of a concert and needed food badly, found out this place opens late. Walked in at 10.40pm and they still took orders. Has a wide selection of sushi, sashimi and set meals. Meal sizes are just nice and the prices are decent. High quality meat, tastes lovely Lovely staff, quick service and lovely ambience. It's a nice place to chill, and have drinks. Enough seats for couples, groups and families. I wouldn't say it's kids friendly cause it feels like a place where adults come in to let go some steam after a long day (maybe it's because I'm here at almost 11pm). Also no space to park a stroller. I'm going to come back here to chill DF out lol

    We are so sad. This used to be a very reliable, authentic Japanese restaurant, but now has gone…read moredownhill. French Beans with Sesame Dressing had perfectly-cooked beans, but the dressing lacked depth of flavour and the portion was tiny. Ten Zaru Soba (cold buckwheat noodles with tempura) had tasteless, watery dip. The noodles were cooked nicely, but Tempura was very greasy. Sake Shioyaki - grilled salmon with salt - was very small and was just plonked on top of lettuce; presentation was awful. The rice portion was very mean, too. Very bad value for money.

    Photos
    Asakusa - Samna shio

    Samna shio

    Asakusa - Hot Pot Tofu

    Hot Pot Tofu

    Asakusa - Buta kakuni

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    Buta kakuni

    Nambu Tei - This masterpiece does not require explaining

    Nambu Tei

    4.3(33 reviews)
    0.6 miMarylebone
    ££

    As we look for places to eat amongst coworkers, we decided to go to a Japanese place. Not being…read morefamiliar with places to eat here in London, I looked to Yelp, and of course someone from our hotel recommended this place too. So I can say it wasn't bad at all, but it wasn't the beat Sushi I have had. I would go back for sure as the service was good, minus my coworkers chicken dish took forever to come out, as we kept having to check on it. The Uni was definitely not a bad batch as it had a sweetness and creamy texture that I would expect. Amaebi was not the larger shrimp with the fried heads, so not what I was expecting. As for the Natto Rolls, I could tell you that our young waitress made a surprising face, which made me laugh, as I could tell she was from Japan, as I was told not many Japanese even eat Natto. Of course I had to ask later and she is not a fan. Hahaha... I enjoyed it though. Enjoy.

    As another reviewer says, this is an undiscovered gem! Hidden away inside an arcade, it was filled…read moreon a weekday evening with mostly Japanese patrons. Plenty of wait staff who were quite attentive, including some who were preparing table side shabu shabu (cooking thinly sliced meat and veggies in a broth). They have a huge menu with an unusually wide selection of small dishes as well as the usual entrees. I ordered their ten piece nigiri (17 GBP), grilled miso black cod (12 GBP), and salmon belly age dashi (cooked lightly in a daikon soy based sauce) (7 GBP). All were excellent including with fresh not powdered wasabi root. Super affordable, high quality with great service -- what's not to like!

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    Nambu Tei - Nabe-yaki udon

    Nabe-yaki udon

    Nambu Tei
    Nambu Tei - Salmon donburi bowl, yellowtail nigiri and miso soup. YUM

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    Salmon donburi bowl, yellowtail nigiri and miso soup. YUM

    Shogun Restaurant

    Shogun Restaurant

    4.5(4 reviews)
    0.7 miMayfair
    ££££

    This upscale Japanese restaurant is located on the lower ground floor of the Millennium Hotel, just…read moreoff Grosvenor Square. It's lavish traditional Japanese decor that includes medieval battle tapestries and samurai armour sets the setting for some of the best authentic Japanese food in London. The choice on the menu is significant, offering many traditional Japanese dishes, as well as some variety with a unique angle. The choice and quality of sushi are among the best I've encountered. I also enjoyed their interesting beef burger, prepared with Japanese recipe but in the western manner. The staff are extremely welcoming and attentive and the overall atmosphere is comfortable and pleasant within this basement location. This kind of place will most likely attract you to come back again and again.

    A dungeon-like hidden gem. It looks like a back-alley takeaway on the outside (well, practically)…read more Don't be put off by it. Go inside. Descend the stairs. Inhale the incense. And prepare yourself for pure, simple, sushi delightfulness. Staff were incredibly friendly, explained the menu options, and food came at the right time, with the nicest presentation, and tasted delicious. My personal favourite was the sushi, although I was misled by the prawn tempura roll, thinking it was a hand roll. It was just maki. Oh well. Yum nonetheless!! Would not recommend it for a (rowdy or not) group for friends, as it's very very quiet, eclectically lit and patrons seem to want to keep it that way. (discussions were not escaping tables, with the notable exception of one older adventurous American gentleman who recently came back from Peru) This is the kind of restaurant you take someone you fancy, to whisper to her throughout dinner, and then surprise her (well, assuming she'd like to be surprised, and won't slap you in the face for being presumptuous!) with a room at the Millennium hotel upstairs afterwards. Oh yeah If you sit near the back, go have a peek at the shogun armour :)

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    Shogun Restaurant - This soup is delicious :)

    This soup is delicious :)

    Shogun Restaurant - Sake

    Sake

    Shogun Restaurant

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    Kurobuta - japanese - Updated June 2026

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