Hana Japanese Restaurant

This restaurant is one of London's best kept secrets. I was a bit sceptical the first time I climbed the stairs up from the Asian supermarket below but since then I can't stop talking about how great this gem of a sushi restaurant is. I've been to Japan a few times and I can attest that Hana is as authentic as they come. My Japanese better half reluctantly admits that this is the best sushi she's had in London and as good as most places in Japan and yet mysteriously it's Korean owned. Don't let that confuse you though, the food is top-notch traditional Japanese.

The incredibly delicous sushi is reasonably priced and very generous in terms of fish to rice ratio. There is decent selection too compared to your average westernised sushi place. If you're a bit squemish about trying the more unusual fish, such as sea urchin, the salmon and tuna is easily the most delicious in London. The sushi here blows pretentious restaurants like Ubon out of water. I enjoy the atmosphere there too, eating at Hana is like eating in a very local restaurant in a Tokyo or Osaka suburb. The decor is a little bit old so not a first date venue for non-students. However, this adds a certain 80's Japanese Izakaya kitch character to the place and helps everyone relax a bit. The staff are attentive and very friendly too. At Hana you could easily eat all the a la carte sushi you can handle along with miso soup and drinks then still have change from £30. The tempura/sushi bento set at £15 is a steal too. Really no complaints about this place, it's coming close to my favourite restuarant in London.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Saturday, September 06, 2008

I was a little worried when entering here, as it looks a little rough around the edges and I knew my Japanese wife would be hard to please (she complained last time we are at Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo that the Sashimi wasn't fresh enough!), particularly as the restaurant is not Japanese run however my fears were unfounded.

The food was good, if a little expensive but still cheaper than most. The sashimi was fresh and met the high standards of my wife! Soft shelled crab and Aubergine were good too.

Agree with the previous comment that the piped Korean music is a little irritating, but OK.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Monday, April 02, 2007

We live locally and go to Hana a lot for both eat-in and take-away. The food is superb. The sushi is top-quality and there is a great selection of Makimono (try the Wild Dragon with soft-shell crab). Japanese food is never going to be cheap in London because of the nature of the ingredients but we compared to other Japanese restaurants Hana is great value, with a really friendly and interested staff and very simple unpretentious decor (could do without the canned music though!). It's been our restaurant find of the decade.
Comment on this reader review

Julian Turner
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, January 19, 2007

this is my favourite place to but ramen so far! the chicken shoyo ramen is by far the best!
Comment on this reader review

Michael
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, October 25, 2006

I went there last night to get some takeaway and all I can say is that the food and service is excellent. Although I did go in and just ordered takeaway, the staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. The maki was fantastic as was the rest of my order.

I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Comment on this reader review

Jonathan Conway
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, May 11, 2006

We are regulers at this amazing little place you wont find better sarvice or japanese food in north london anne (hackney)
Comment on this reader review

anne steel
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 22, 2006

Hana is a very nice and cousy japanese restaurant,the food is excellent,very fresh. The service is fabolous. Value for money 10+. I'll go back soon.......
Comment on this reader review

monica
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, April 08, 2006

Hidden among the dark recesses of Seven Sisters Road, Hana is a little diamond in the rough. The staff are very friendly, the menu extensive, and the prices reasonable. Sashimi options include octopus and sea bass, and there is a huge list of norimaki and sushi to choose from. Delighted to find they also offer home delivery!
Comment on this reader review

Liz Larvin
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Thursday, February 16, 2006

Hana is a great little 'find'. The location isn't particularly pleasant (on Seven Sisters rd) but in terms of value for money, Hana is hard to beat. The sushi is always excellent (and my wife is Japanese, so she knows!). Staples like miso soup and Gyoza are also very well prepared. The service is attentive and friendly; Kim in particular is a delightful host. This thoroughly unpretentious and charming restaurant deserves to do very well and, in my opinion, although it's reasonably popular already, Hana is criminally under-used.

They also do very prompt and courteous delivery.
Comment on this reader review

Andrew MacConnal-Mason
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 14, 2006

We ordered takeaway in February 06 and what we received was pretty lousy. Very expensive for what we got including sushi with tough non-fresh fish, and a carton of Udon noodles with a pile of what I can only describe as 'slop' with no flavor and ~2 prawns.

I want to write more, but we didn't order much, so thinking back to the price we paid, that really took the piss - stay clear!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Friday, February 10, 2006