Misato

I've been to Misato on two separate occasions after being recommended by a relative. I won't be going back.

It does what it says on the tin. The service is fast and the food is relatively cheap, but the shop is very money minded and even though I hadn't exactly finished my meal, the bill was handed to us without us even asking for it so I felt like I was being hurried out and I find this extremely rude in any service environment. Granted, I know that around dinnertime, they do get a bit of a queue of people out the door, which - for the size of the restaurant - I would not be prepared to wait in to be honest.

On the second occasion that I went, the waitress was extremely rude to us. It wasn't even the busy period, but she came to our table - saw we weren't ready to order - and rather coldly turned to attend to the table next to us. There were no knapkins or chopsticks at our table and my friend didn't even have a menu. So he requested one and she rather callously yelled at him. This put me in a bad mood because manners cost nothing - especially in the service industry. I was a bit more satisfied when a new waitress came to tend to us - I suspected the other one was coming to the end of her shift because we never saw her again anyway. This stuck with me for the remainder of our time there however. They do some good soba noodles though, but that's about it.
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Melissa
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I've got to say Wendy below probably don't like authentic Japanese much overall to be honest. The beef gyudon is meant to be like that- maybe it's an oriental thing, but fat is good. It's not a steak we're looking for here.

I've been coming here for years now, and though I must admit I absolutely HATE the fact: you have to queue, the staff aren't very nice, and the seats are pretty awfully cramped up, I can't stop coming back for their delicious food at a bargain of a price!

You shouldn't be coming here for their sushi or sashimi, if you came before you would know to get their rice or noodles dishes, which is where all the value comes in. They have very generous portions for between £6-£8, you'd leave with a overfilled belly at less than £15 per person. The price on here is totally wrong- You'd have to eat your heart out or order lots of sushi/sashimi (which you shouldn't here) to spend £25 here!

I definitely recommend their ginger pork, you don't find this dish at many other Japanese restaurants around London, and it's delicious!
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Lillian - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 8
Saturday, March 02, 2013

Order Sashimi Bento or Sushi Bento and you won't be disappointed. Under £10 for either is amazing considering the size and quality. Should you queue like every one else? Yes because good things happen to those who wait and all those in the queue, every day 7/7, know the place well and they come again to queue for a good reason.
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Alban
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Wendy below was rather unlucky and really fussy! Me and my fiancé have been going there on a weekly basis for months now, and we absolutely love it. Having tried quite a few positions from their menu, I can shed some light on what Misato offer.

Their chicken katsu curry is absolutely fantastic. Their maki and all other raw fish are always fresh and very tasty. Their chicken teryaki (both the katsu and burger) are delicious. Their miso soup is the best I've ever had!

I agree that their tempura could be more flavoursome, but it's by no means unpleasant! Similarly with the noodles - I like their udon, but it's a little tasteless for my liking, and the other noodles are okayish. The beef is admittedly not the best, and it's something I wouldn't touch again, but that's about the only thing I disliked.

The portions are absolutely massive and you can be guaranteed to leave full. We usually have a feast when we're there, and - after getting absolutely stuffed - we have trouble exceeding £30!

If you're thinking of having dinner there, be prepared to queue for good 10-15 minutes (party of 2; if you're there with a larger group you might be waiting a little longer), as the restaurant is very busy. I also don't recommend their ice tea, as it's barley tea - unpleasant surprise for those not prepared!

All in all, I couldn't praise Misato enough. If you're looking for a cheap place with yummy food that will consistently deliver, Misato is definitely a place to try :)
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Karo
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The food was really good, with abundant sizes. Even though the restaurant was really busy (we had to wait a few minutes in the queue), they agreed to take consecutive orders.
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8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 09, 2012

I don't understand why Misato has got continuously decent reviews here. I went last night with a friend and we had three meals between us - three because one was so disgusting it got sent back. I've never sent a meal back in my life - but quality of the beef was beyond the pale... I thought the soup was laced with strips of batter, but it was stringy bits of fat that strung tiny bits of meat together. It was literally impossible to eat. And it smelt horrible.

My second meal (teriyaki chicken) and my mate's meal (prawn tempura) were pretty unpleasant, too.

The only good thing about this restaurant is that they took my beef soup back without quibble.

Never ever ever again!
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Wendy
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Someone recommended this restaurant to me, using the phrases "cheap sushi", "big portions" and "fast service" - how could I pass up the opportunity to give it a go!

Went at about 7.30-8.00 on a Thurs eve and, by the looks of it, timed it just right - the queue started to stack up about five mins later. I'm not a huge fan of queuing for restaurants, but I would suggest that this place is well worth a short wait. In any event, the staff are supper organised - just because the restaurant is packed and there's a smaller group behind you, don't think that they will necessarily get to swan past you and be seated first!

I ordered sashimi bento and calpico. Others at my table had variously the beef udon, beers and Japanese tea. All the food (and drink) was fantastic value!! Excellent service!! Huge portions!! 3 sashimi bento, beef udon, 2 beers, an extra mixed sashimi, one calpico, Japanese tea.....just under £50.

I like (where possible) to have a bit of a moan, but I really can't fault this place. Go there. It there's a queue, wait. It's worth it.
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The Foodie One
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 27, 2012

i passed by so many times and i never had the courage to get in..

I mean the place looks really run down but i took the gamble and went in last time.

I order chicken terikayi and tea. It came in a huge plate, really big, with some salad an one cherry tomato, some rice ad the chicken teriyaki.

To be honest i was expecting to dislike this place a lot but actually even if prices are very cheap the food is actually quite good. not bad at all. chicken tender, salad fresh, rice perfectly cooked. I mean no problem at all. all great. and prices really cheap... Tea was good too. I also ordered calpico (i could live on this drink i just love it). I was almost for sure thinking that the drink would be watered with loads of water but it was very tasty and strong flavour, if it was watered with water i could not notice it at all. Well i mean that overall everything was great and i will give it a shot to one of the bento boxes. maybe it will be better than tokyo diner at a fraction of its price. who knows.. can not wait to give it a second shot to this place.

If i have to complaint about something, well it does not look very clean. toilets are pretty much a disgrace. but better not to think about it. but it could do a lot better with some refurbishment on the basement..... but anyway... nothing can be round perfect.
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the golden palate - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Saturday, December 10, 2011

Ok ignore the price at the top, its not anyway near £25, for a main meal its about £9 quid, it takes a while for a table to come up but its worth it. Fast service considering its so busy, the food is the closet thing you will get to a real Japanese grill in London. Its quick and very tasty and amazing value for money..
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Severina Guidio
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 12, 2011

OMG! Glad we found this place and after seeing the queues last night we decided to take a look at lunchctime today and the queue wasn't too bad so we waited about 10 minutes for a table.

We went on holiday to Japan last year loved the food amongst everything else there.

Anyway, back to Misato. We saw that the portions were huge so didn't go for a starter, I had a chicken noodle broth (no57) if i remember correctly and other half had grilled chicken teriyaki. Had an Asahi and Diet Coke.

All this came to £14.50 including service which was I just could not believe, mega cheap for good, homemade and about as authentic Japanese food as your going to get in London.

Staff were efficient, food was actually pretty quick in coming and we did not find them rude at all. Atmosphere? - it was heaving in the place, lots of busy lunchtime 'chatter' and you know you are somewhere good when it is as busy as that.
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Jeremy
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, July 31, 2011