Kikuchi

Setting the record straight - Although I fear increased traffic to Kikuchi Restaurant after my review, I do believe it is important that I set the record straight - Kikuchi Restaurant is one of the finest Japanese restaurants in London or anywhere else in the World including Japan. The quality and freshness of their sushi and sashimi is supreme and his other menu items are truly superb and cooked with authentic flavors and ingredients. Sushi or non-sushi, the food is incredible and I've had some of the best Japanese food I have ever had at Kikuchi Restaurant. This is an authentic Japanese restaurant run by a true Japanese master Chef and as for service, it is typical Japanese service and there is a language barrier so one must be clear, careful, patient and understanding. One can eat well on less than 10 pounds so that is why there is a 25 pound per person minimum. If you want a bargain, go to a take away, if you want haute Japanese cuisine, go to Kikuchi. You need to be clear as to what you want and special requests are always cleared through Chef Kikuchi. Some items may be out and the server's English may not be good enough to explain. I speak Japanese fluently and have had Japanese food all over the World including many years in Japan and I can say that people who want fine dining at an authentic Japanese Restaurant in London must go to Kikuchi Restaurant. I was not disappointed and neither will you.
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WMLA
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, July 16, 2011

Simply excellent, the best sushi in town when it comes to quality and freshness! The chef, who is also the owner, personally goes to the fish market every morning to resupply. The menu traditional Japanese, with many other dishes in addition to sushi.
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Ecaterina
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, July 11, 2011

I had a totally nightmare experience with Kikuchi and my husband and I decided not to enter the restaurant. Firstly, once my husband and I entered the door, we were immediately told that all the tables are fully booked and only two places at the counter for 1hr and 30min. Obviously, there was several tables which didn't put the 'reserved' signs and no single customer was there. Still, when we said yes, the next question was the minimum charge is £25 per person. It is a shame that we went there only because my Japanese colleagues like its Japanese traditional pub-like atmosphere. If you don't want to get dissappointed even before reading the menu, you better avoid visiting the Kikuchi in the first place. Worst experience I have ever had in London restaurant.
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Moe
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Sunday, October 17, 2010

I ate here last week and although the sashimi was pretty good, the service was bordering on insane. I asked for something on the menu, some sashimi with rice, in my brightest clearest voice. The waitress frowned. I pointed to the item. 'No', she shook her head. Why? She wouldn't say, but she pointed to something else. 'Why can't I have that? Has it run out?' 'No'.

I thought it might be a language problem so we got a more senior waitress with better English to help. But she didn't, she just said the same thing, you can't have that, have this. I just wasn't allowed to have what I wanted, and no one would explain why. I gave in, they brought some bog-standard crab, average tempura and some good sashimi. Then they told us off for not using all the little plates that had been stacked on our table. The overall impression I got was that they were completely nuts. Perhaps it was my fault somehow, but I've eaten in an awful lot of Japanese restaurants (sorry for the usual cliched claim to authority) and I've never come across service like that before. Won't go again just in case.
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Elba - View all reviews by this user
3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Friday, April 09, 2010

Definitely authentic and excellent food! Sushi was one of the best I've had in London! But, I don't think it's worth the price tag.
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Popsky - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, May 25, 2009

Booked my girlfriends birthday. She is half Japanese, reads and writes Japanese to Business standard, but is a little shy of the attention this creates in Japanese restaurants.

The greeting is very authentic - a shrieking woman with a shrill high pitch voice meets, greets and thanks every order for over 30 covers - it's like having a demented minah bird loose in the room.

The food is great. Mushrooms in foil, deep fried chicken, tofu etc. to start - all good. The baked aubergine in sweet miso is a revelation - quite outstanding - I implore anyone to try it.

They forgot the sake order (so, sorry, loss of face etc.), but when it did arrive, it came in an equisite pot and was perfect.

Ordering the sashimi (Kikuchi is famous for this) is when the Japanese broke out, which caused a shock after being a couple of gaijin's up to this point. They had otoro, yellow tail and the name of fish I do not know what it's called in English or Japanese. The cuts were generous and brilliantly prepared.

Bill was £113 and they gave me 2 x £5 vouchers to use by June 22nd. This place gets lots of high roller Japs who are repeat clients to add to the mix of foodies and cultural tour groups.

Incredible - as good if not better sashimi than I had in japan (although I did not go to trhe £500/head 10 seaters uber-joints that exist, so please bear this in mind). Very, very good.
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Coops
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Wonderfully authentic food - if only the same could be said of the service! In 9 years living in Japan I have not been met at the door by such a surly response.
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8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 20, 2009

Amazing.

I had, Yellowtail Sashimi, Ebi Tempura, Pork belly and Kimchi hot-plate, Ume kushi ton katsu

Each dish was delicious. Highly recommended.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, March 16, 2009