Kikuchi

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

One of the best authentic Japanese in London. The place is simple, but the quality of the food is outstanding. Sashimi is highly recommend it.

There is a minimum charge of £20, but don't be put off by this. You also receive £5 voucher for every £50 spent.

Given the quality of the food, this is a good value restaurant.
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Mon - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, October 18, 2009

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

This place is divine. Went there twice in two days. Would have been three times but was closed for lunch, so was relegated to mediocore Donzoko for lunch.

First meal (set menu): Kirini pint draft; Deep fried mackerel, chef's appetizer; Miso soup with clams; Turbot sashimi with negi ponzu dip and shiso; a 'fresh' style cold Sake (drink); Scallop butter with mixed mushrooms; Prawn Tempura; a 'fruity' style cold Sake; Grilled aubergine with sweet white Miso; Omoakase nigiri Sushi including toro, scallop, amebi etc; Green tea ice cream

Second meal (a la carte): Asahi pint draft; Deep fried mackarel chef's appetizer; Japanese green salad; Grilled Scallop with sweet white Miso; Asahi draft pint; Deep fried squid legs; 2 Maguro, 2 Bream, & 2 Razor clam Nigirizushi; Tskune Yakitori

Dishes of note, Turbot sashimi, Scallop butter with mixed mushrooms, Tskune Yakitori, Toro Nigiri, and surprisingly (for such a dish that is normally standard) the Miso soup with clams.

The restaurant reminds me of trips to Tokyo, the atmosphere is not stylish or hip, but it is authentic and in my opinion great. You're in Japan without the mammoth flight.

Sushi is really fresh, well cut and lightly vinegared, not too sticky, warm sushi rice.

Dishes like the Scallop butter are sublime, all others I've tried are also good, not a bad dish in sight.

Service polite and efficient (its the Japanese way). Expensive, sure but maybe because I've been ordering so much food here... and I have no problem paying for quality.
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Simply the best Japanese restaurant in London. Bar none.
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9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, January 19, 2009

I am a Spaniard, and have been travelling to London during the last three years. I found this place by chance and since then am one of his biggest fans. I've been in other Japanese restaurants in London, but couldn't find the quality of Kikuchi's sushis and, specially, sashimis. As a matter of fact, I haven't found that freshness in any Japanese restaurant here in Spain (and we are supposed to be experts in sea food)!!... The place, yes, it may seem spartan to many "moderns"/"postmoderns", and the price may seem not very low (anyway, not higher than other much worse Japaneses). But, anyway, watching master Kikuchi, a very nice man, is really attending an artist performance, and his toro and yellow-tail sashimis are...are... well, just have no words!
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Angel C. Campoamor
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, January 03, 2009

Kikuchi has some of the freshest and best cut and served sashimi that I have ever eaten, and the price for their omakase is not bad at all. The atmosphere is very authentic Japanese, though not high end, which is fine; the clientele is largely Japanese, always a good sign. Kikuchi's only short-coming is some of their cooked food; I would guess that this is due to the sushi chef not being in charge of or having designed the kitchen menu, as has been very successfully done in a restaurant like Hasaki in NYC. I will keep coming back to enjoy the raw and carefully delve into the cooked.
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Edgar Harden
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, August 17, 2008