Toku

I really dont understand the bad comments. I go there very often for 7 years. And I love it. Its a very good qulaity/price! Try Cocoon opposite!

Ive tried many Japanese, this the nest by far! and theres a real choice. Less than few years ago but still.

Theres always plenty of Japanese there, I guess its a good sign.

Ok atmosphere could be better, because its very busy but come on guy! the food is delicious, Fish so fresh, and the rice is cooked not cooked? the rice is one of the stuff I like, no one else does it like that! and £25 in central london is cheap.

oh and....people are queuing to get a place....
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Karine
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 18, 2010

There are places that you go for certain foods that you know live up to expectation and it is just as you want it. For Sunday breakfast it has to be The Chelsea Bun, pizza you can’t go wrong with The Yellow House and as for a decent Chinese that won’t go near to breaking the bank, The Hing Lee at Tower Bridge.

The only thing that I have not found so far is a place for roast pork / char sui ramen…..until 2 days ago. The best noodles I have ever had – fact. Dense spicy miso stock, ample soft firm noodles with the tastiest roast pork. It did not disappoint.

The rest of the food coming out also looked amazing so there are plenty of other dishes there to try.

Value for money? For the both of us, it was a little more than I expected but trying to find an alternative for what I had tasted – nothing has come close. I highly recommend a visit.
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orhan
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I have been having Saturday lunch here forever. But...and I beg the staff on my knees...please turn down the heating. I've worked in Japan and I know that in the winter, air conditioning blasts out hot air in offices all over the country.

But in a London restaurant, this is unbearable. I've almost felt faint in this place and I've seen other diners sweating as they munch their teriyaki. Either turn the heating down or off altogether.

Also, there are three rows of tables. The waiters insist on packing each row instead of spacing people around. So when you arrive, you are sat right next to somebody chomping noodles when there are spare tables all around you. This really bugs me - and they won't let you sit where you want. I've used the loyalty cards for years and never received my promised free dessert - how does one get it? Am I failing to do something? Other than that, yes...I will keep coming. And sweating through my dinner. But don't take me for granted!
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Ross Todhunter
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Saturday, February 21, 2009

the food and service here is fine but the price is annoyingly high

we dont go there for this simple reason it just feels cheeky to pay over the odds presumably just for the location

no atmosphere whatsoever. better than wagamama though (foodwise)
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kay and james - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A friend and I had dinner at Toku on Friday and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I had eaten at Toku about 4 years ago and was somewhat surprised by the increase in prices and cramped seating conditions, however my last dinning experience was a long time ago. These feelings soon disappeared when I saw the portions of food and I found the staff to be very attentive and friendly. Our food was delicious and the options of a main/set are a good idea - though in future I think I would share meals as it was too much food for two of us to eat.

I will definitely return again - though perhaps not on a Friday night as it was a little too crowded, however we were lucky that the people sitting next to us, were friendly and were happy to chat.
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JR
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Monday, December 01, 2008

I gave this place a second chance and the experience was not bad at all.

Things really have changed but I still think the food is rather ordinary, the quality is good though.

Staff is very friendly and helpful.

Most important thing of all: the ridiculous 12.5% service charge is gone.

I would be back for the occasional visit in the future.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Friday, November 28, 2008

I've been here in the past (years ago), and like many reviews here I was not impressed with the pricing nor the quality of the food.

However, I returned recently (October 2008) to experience a few welcomed changes in the restaurant. Firstly, there was no service charge added to my bill (its optional now). Secondly, there is now a large selection of food available to choose from, and many have the option of becoming a set meal including unlimited miso/rice/gyoza. I had a miso ramen set, which came with rice and gyoza dumplings for 9.50 which isn't bad at all, along with miso (refillable) and kimchi.

The miso ramen, gyoza dumplings and even the kimchi were superb, however the actual miso drink tasted rather odd (very different from the miso ramen!), and I did not make use of the refill option.

The staff were polite by London standards, and atmosphere was what you'd expect from a restaurant in central London in the evening. They also gave the receipt when the food came, and you take it to the counter to pay. We sat for awhile after eating, and they didn't rush us to leave which was good (even on a friday night).

If you've had a bad experience with this place in the past now is the time to give it a second chance (hopefully they don't bump up the prices or something after this is written!)
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, October 19, 2008

This restaurant has always tried to give us customers a wide choice of Japanese cuisine and for that I am very grateful. A while ago you could even get Hakata Ramen with mentaiko! I am Japanese and while I agree that the prices were more competative 3~4 years ago it seems that Toku are listening to when their loyal customers want and are reducing the prices, and also removing the service charge on parties of less than 4 people at last! As much as people write about the prices, at least they are doing something about it!

So I'm pleased about that...
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- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Monday, July 28, 2008

I am Japanese.

I do feel sad that people think this place is a good Japanese restaurant, and think they get a Japanese eating experience.

Yes, only talking about food, this place used to be very good - about 4, 5 years ago. But it is now far too pricy for the quality of the food and atmosphere: The quality of the food is now so bad that I feel as if someone non-Japanese who has never eaten Japanese food has made it looking at a cookery book for the first time (I am sure this is not the case. But the food certainly tastes like that); The atmosphere is too noisy and crammed. They just want to cram as many customers as possible for a better profit, not for customers' comfort.

And the sneaky 12.5% service charge is merely ridiculous.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, June 21, 2008

You don't have to Japanese to be embarrassed with this joint. Over priced, amateurish cooking. The menu harps about the use of organic chicken; the Tori Karaage (deep fried chicken) was appalingly greasy and half cooked. Imagine what they do with the battery variety. The sushi, ah well, the rice was half cooked! The only saving grace was the bottled Asahi beer. £60.00 for two...arrrgh.
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bellaphon
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Sunday, May 04, 2008