Ginnan

Ginnan is one of those places that is just really inconsistent with service and the pace. But my last experience with them went very well even though the three of us came in with a voucher for the buffet giving us more than 50% of the original price.

The poor restaurant was empty with only 3 tables filled even though it was a big restaurant. I blame the darkened windows on the outside which no one can really see through to see what's going on the inside. But inside it is really nicely decorated, dark wood, dimmed lights creating a mysterious feel to it. Seats are tall so you have your own secluded booth for more privacy.

The waiter who served us was quick, efficient and smiley. The buffet works by choosing your first platter out of 3, then you will give a plate of their special rolls, then hot food and then you have the choice to repeat certain types of sushi on a set menu.

We chose to order the Sushi Mora (5 types of nigiri sushi) and they did not take long to arrive. What I love about Ginnan is that all the fish taste fresh, bouncy and the rice is perfect in stickiness and cooked perfectly. These nigiri were really good. Warning though, some do contain wasabi without you being told beforehand. They were served beautifully too in fancy tableware. Very enjoyable.

Next came the special rolls. Some worked and some didn't. What Ginnan does not offer is authenticity which to me is fine if it taste good. For example I loved the banana and peanut butter sushi. It was like a silky texture wrapped in rice to balance out that powering creamy crunch added to it from the peanut butter rounded of with another buttery taste of avocado. I liked it! Of course it is not for everyone. However what I did not like was the different sauces on top of the sushi, especially the sweet chilli sauce. The sourness and flavour of the sauce was so overpowering that you couldn't taste the different ingredients in the sushi itself and sushi is suppose to be light. Some of the makis also had too much mayo on top which made things quite sickening after a while and of course the maki lost its taste to the mayo instead. It was a shame as the rolls itself were made perfectly and tasted fresh too.

Hot food was the biggest disappointment out of all. Every dish was overloaded with sugar making it too sweet for our liking. This is where authenticity matters to me. It's like Sweet and Sour chicken made poorly in a chinese restaurant when all you taste is syrup. They were seasoned well though, a bit too oily but the seafood were fresh e.g. the mussels came in its shell which I liked. Gyoza were well fried but tasted like they came from frozen, crispy but mushy inside. Tempura were cold and prawn inside were tasteless. Chicken katsu was dry and gritty. The best of it all was probably the Yaki soba which was great in texture, springy and light.

And finally we reached the repeated stage! We managed to order 3 more platters and still have time left. I must say pace of service has improved significantly as the last time we were here we felt ripped off as they tried to delay everything so we don't get to order as much. Each of the repeats did not lose its consistency and the rice was still beautifully cooked, with fresh fish inside. However it was just the sauces and certain fillings that needed meet our taste e.g. the cooked tuna and bulgogi that was dry and gritty and overpowered by bottle sauces.

Overall Ginnan is one of the best places for sushi buffet by far but please note I say buffet as I'm sure there are more individual Japanese restaurants that do better quality sushi as a a la carte. Their rice is consistently good, sashimi fresh and everything holds together. However they do poorest in their cooked dishes and cooked sushi, either too dry or too sweet. Tea is bland and cheap. They also charge 50p for Tap Water which is even stated on their menu which I'm sure is not legal to and all that with an added 12.5% service charge.

Do try though for a good value sushi in London hoping that the waiting staff are on the ball that day.
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Lamchowder - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, February 21, 2012

I call to ask what is the price for children and they told me is half price . we went there with 6 adult and 1 child, at the end of the bill they charge the child full price. I told them i call before hand and everything but they just didn't care. food is not great Ginnan special roll at the start was horrible who put banana and peanut in sushi. I wouldn't go again cos I just don't think was a great place. staff have no English at all. you would find much better place then this place.
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4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Thursday, August 11, 2011

Been to the restaurant many times. Great food with relaxing atmosphere. Restaurant service is not bad... But delivery service has proven to be a nightmare on several occasions, especially the most recent one (hence 0 for service). Amongst other things, I ordered wafu steak (£7.90). But they delivered tofu steak (£6.90). So I called up Ginnan explaining the situation, and they were very very very difficult. They kept saying that it wasn't their fault, and that I should take it up with the online ordering service not them. My confirmation email clearly stated that I paid for the WAFU steak and NOT tofu steak. The guy who answered the call refused to send me the wafu steak to exchange for the tofu steak that I did not order. He then passed me over to the manager, who should consider investing in some English lessons by the way. Nevertheless, he too said the same thing, until I said I would call the police to explain the situation.

It is so simple. I paid for food online with receipt. I did not get what I paid for. A good restaurant should understand and treat a customer better. So, I suggest you eat in the restaurant, and don't order delivery.
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6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, June 07, 2011

The food is extremely fresh and the service is really good.

However, it is a bit pricey to eat inside the restaurant. I nevertheless recommend the take away which is good value for money.
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- View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Saturday, March 19, 2011

I thought the buffet at Ginnan was good value and enjoyable, though I am not what you would call an afficionado of japanese cuisine.

If you eat early it costs something like £12- for which you get 5 different types of nigiri x 2, Ginnan special rolls which were mostly nice, 7 hot dishes (you can choose from about 15) and then if you still have room (we definitely didnt)- unlimited sushi from quite a big selection.

Teriyaki chicken was nice and tasted fresh, tempura was light and non greasy. The pumpkin thing was a bit sweet and stodgy and the salad rather pointless (lettuce and tomato- no dressing) but they may have a more asian inspired salad available which I would try next time.

Restaurant is dark but I found it quite relaxing and spacious. Would go again when feeling greedy. I usually get a bit put off this kind of thing cos of the price, but I reckon it's a bargain!
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Kedi - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Another non Japanese run (Korean) restaurant to avoid...
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Whinger
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, March 01, 2011

I have tried Ginnan's new buffet last night and I love it.

They have changed the style of serving the buffet and reduced the prices too. The buffet is now available everyday from 6pm. On the weekdays, if you manage to leave the restaurant by 7.45pm the price is only £12.90!! If you stay until 8.45pm, the price is only £15.90 which is quite a reasonable price for a buffet. The sushi buffet work as the below:

1. you choose a sushi platter out of the 3 choices (please check on their website if you like to know the menu for the buffet). We have chosen a Sushi Mori which they served 8 big rolls sushi and 8 nigiri sushi (Tuna, Prawn, Salmon, Seabass and Eel). The sushi quality are really good unlike most of the sushi buffet place that I have been in London. The fish is thick and fresh and the rice is nicely done. You could actually see the sushi master making them once you place your order.

2. You could choose up to 7 hot dishes out of 17 dishes. We have chosen prawn tempura, squid tempura, pumpkin koroke (I like this the most!!), Chicken Karrage, Chicken Katsu, Seafood Teriyaki and Chicken teriyaki. The teriyaki came in a sizzling plate and the portion is just nice. The sauce for the tempura and chicken Katsu is really good.

3. You could repeat as many sushi as you want out of the 18 sushi which including a different variety of nigiri and maki. We only manage to order 4 sets of sushi but again the sushi quality is brilliant.

The service in the restaurant is really good and they serve the food real quick too. My husband and I booked a table at 7pm and we still manage to finish the buffet on 7.45pm.

I like the quality of the sushi and the service, will definitely recommend my friends to go there.
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Darkangel82
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, February 16, 2011

I have ordered delivery from Ginnan twice in the last month - both times they've taken 90 minutes to deliver, having said they would deliver in 30. Poor service. Food's reasonable, but waiting an extra hour makes it not worth the wait.
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Charlie
2 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Monday, November 22, 2010

I am disappointed that no one has mentioned that Ginnan stopped serving their buffet. We called to book a table and especially told them that we wanted to book for the buffet and asked about the 7-8.30 time limit. They only said they don't have a specific time anymore. Enthusiastic and expecting a feast of sushi buffet, we arrived and they told us they don't have any buffet. We showed the waitress that the buffet was still a part of their webpage, and she promised they will change it. We went from Earl's Court, spending £12 on transport, we were starving and had to order some food we considered were overpriced for the location and quality.
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Jellocream
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Sunday, August 01, 2010

i have been going there for years for the buffet dinner, which is good.

everything is fine apart from the state of the men's toilets.
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- View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Monday, June 21, 2010