Asakusa

I ate here with some friends on Friday evening and was quite impressed. To be perfectly honest first impressions weren't good. The restaurant looks very run down. Bright strip lighting and blu tacked paper signs in the window didn't bode well for our evening ahead. However appearences aren't everything. The menu is authentic Japanese cuisine, a great range of sushi, sashimi and all sorts of weird and wonderful dishes made choosing what to have quite a mission. The food, when it arrived, was great. One of the best Japense meals I've had in a very long time. I highly recommend this place, although probably not for a first date or business dinner when you may be looking to impress.
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Steve Kerr - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Sunday, February 05, 2012

Great prices, amazing, authentic food. I wasn't bothered by the interior and the staff were pleasant enough!
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9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Have been to Asakusa a few times now. Food has always been top notch and it's a brilliant place to try different Sake and snacks to go with it.

I did not understand all the negative reviews here until the last time i went a week ago. Was given a table downstairs and the only waitress their had to service 7 tables. She was quite stressed out and hence the bad attitude and slow service. Every other times I was upstairs and everything's fine. So its just a tiny dent to such a brilliant restaurant.

Fried oyster is a must-try. also be prepared to wait for up to 45mins for sashimi and nigiri sushi but its well worth the wait.
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Ben
7 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Thursday, July 21, 2011

I am going to rate this place 0 0 0 0 in all classes take the same approach as the reviewer below (obviously trying to dissuade anyone from going). It is hard enough to get a booking without encouraging anyone else to join the queue. But if you are still reading then I guess its too late and I'll own up. Asakusa serves the most authentic and best prepared Japanese in town at a price that is staggeringly good value. If you don't like the service or the decor then please go to Nobu, Roka or Sumosan where you will have your shirt removed in glitzy surroundings. Asakusa is for the purist.
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RK
0 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 21, 2011

Overall, its a seedy place and this is what to expect: 1.Rude and lazy staff. 2.Unattractive interior. 3.Overrated food

Recently, we walked out feeling extremely frustrated by the unprofessional treatment of staff. Having booked early in the week, we arrived at the restaurant only to be led downstairs to a creepy, utterly empty dungeon room that was dirty, poorly lit and stank of Moth Balls! When I asked 'Why again??' (cause its happen several times) despite booking well in advance and despite the fact that several tables were unoccupied upstairs, the response I received was a feeble shrug and a blank stare! They just do not care.

3 of the 4 times I have dined here, this has happened to me, so it is not an isolated case, but a strange policy toward 'certain' costumers because they can get away with it.
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0 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Asakusa is the best Japanese restaurant in London, in my opinion. I have been several times to more expensive Japanese restaurants such as Nobu, but the food is genuinely much better at Asakusa, and happens to be a quarter of the price! It's my favourite restaurant.

Yes, the negatives are the interior decoration and the appearance of the menus don't make you think 'high end' which might put people off if they want to impress on a hot date, but for me it's all about food, and the food is absolutely exquisite.

Deep fried soft shell crab was out of this world, the sashimi melts in your mouth, the magura nuta is sweet and heavenly, the black cod is delicious and extremely reasonable on price, the fish cakes are sensational, I could go on but I'm getting hungry and Asakusa doesn't open till 6pm!

I would reccommend this restaurant to anyone who loves food and wants to try new tastes, youn won't be disappointed!
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Hannah
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 18, 2011

Went there on a Saturday after having booked a table for 4, and enjoyed it immensely. Waiting staff were friendly, food was of excellent quality, and even with dessert included on the bill (we don't usually order desserts), the total bill came out to be reasonable. Try the specials (deep fried sardines), and the stewed belly pork among other things. Fantastic little restaurant which I shall be returning to if we get a table!!!
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monchichi
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 28, 2011

We visited Asakusa last night. We were unsure what to expect considering the mixed reviews but were pleasantly surprised and we are so glad we took a gamble! We had an absolutely fantastic meal; we ate and drank lots and the meal came to just over £50.00!!! The quality and freshness of the food was top notch and we highly recommend the Wafu Beef!! Yes, the interior is basic but it truly is all about the quality of the food. The staff were very polite and accommodating and we were seated at a table in their restaurant upstairs which is what I had requested when booking (thanks for the tip previous reviewers!). We can only put the previous negative reviews down to Asakusa having the odd 'off' night as we really had a brilliant experience and will be returning very soon to sample the rest of the menu.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, September 26, 2010

I used to love this restaurant - the food particularly. But lately it hasn't been up to scratch - there is just something unpleasant about the staff. It's not anything explicit but just something uncomfortable in the air. The food, which is the main priority, has also slipped. Really sad as I used to love this restaurant but not anymore.
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Me
4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Sunday, July 11, 2010

I've been to Asakusa many times now, and in short they consistently churn out very authentic tasting Japanese food at a very reasonable price. The place does have an "Izakaya"(Japanese Drinking Tavern) feel to it, and it can get a little cramped as the restaurant fills up extraordinary quickly right after its opening time of 6pm. Sitting on the main floor tables is recommended, as a fairly fishy smell surrounds the sushi bar seating area and a musky smell likewise downstairs. However, the food is the main draw here, not haute cuisine, but just basic Japanese comfort food done very well. Service is mostly good but can be understandably abrupt at times due to waiting customers, and with its plethora of regulars wanting to chance their way to a decent meal without prior reservation many are regrettably turned away. Still, if eating a hearty Japanese meal is your primary concern, the plusses soon outweigh the minuses and you won't be leaving disappointed.
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Johnny Wan
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, June 03, 2010