The best Japanese restaurants in Shoreditch

Sanjugo may look unassuming from the outside, but inside, it's a little slice of Japan. The cosy space serves grade-A sashimi and sake, with welcoming staff and skilled chefs, including a head chef with over 20 years of experience working at Sushisamba. Highlights include crispy chicken karaage and pork and ginger donburi. Upstairs, you'll find a cosy whisky and sake bar, perfect for sampling the finest Japanese drinks. 

Nobu's reputation is well-deserved, with 56 locations on six continents, where Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has crafted menus of Japanese techniques mixed with Peruvian flavours. The Shoreditch branch provides a sleek setting for some of the best Japanese fine dining in the city. Their renowned Bento boxes feature standout dishes like the famous miso black cod and baby tiger shrimp with three sauces. While the sushi is among the best in the city, the creative cocktail menu is also worth ordering from.

Few places serve a bowl of creamy ramen as comforting as Shoryu, including their popular Shoreditch restaurant. Their rich Japanese soup is made with hearty 12-hour pork broth and topped with things like char siu barbecue pork belly. They also offer a delicious mushroom broth that's vegan-friendly, along with a variety of other tasty Japanese side dishes.

The food at Sticks'n'Sushi is as visually stunning as it is delicious, with each dish looking more like a work of art than something to eat. The menu highlights traditional sushi and yakitori skewers, which come in various meat and vegetable options. This dining experience is all about Japanese techniques but with Danish minimalist aesthetics in both its decor and food presentation.

When it comes to ramen, Tonkotsu has mastered the craft. As the name suggests, their speciality is ramen with noodles cooked to perfection—precisely 32 seconds for that ideal medium bite. You can also enjoy a selection of sides, like chilli cauliflower wings and cucumber and mustard seed pickles