Kiraku

Last week was my 5th time dining at Kiraku, I went there after reading a few negative reviews and got confused, so this time I paid extra attention to the details and here you go...

Num of diners: 5 adults. Time/Date: Friday night at 7pm.

Service: Greeted by a very friendly staff the second we walked in. One of the staff who took our orders was a bit un-friendly (not in a rude way, she just looks tired), but all the other staffs we came across that night were really nice.

Food: Super fresh sashimi and all the other food tastes great! Btw, we got our green tea refilled - for free!!

Atmosphere: There is a big group sitting right behind us so it got a bit noisy, but we still had fun!

Value for money: About £30 pp and we were stuffed!
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Vie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, July 31, 2008

The nice decor does not disguise the fact that this restaurant is overpriced, pretentious and serves substandard Japanese food. Now that may sound harsh but please allow me to explain.

First it didn't help that the staff forgot our order so we waited 45 mins before our food came in which a party of 5 who arrived 20 minutes after us got served before we did. We didn't even get an apology.

When you charge premium prices you need to deliver premium food. £6.40 got us 4 California Rolls (they're usually £3.80 approx for 6 anywhere else) which had the rice falling apart and the rolls varying from thin to thick - cut at an odd angle. No 2 California rolls looked the same. They tasted alright but nothing that justified the £6.40 price tag.

The same goes for the £2 miso soup. Which is the same pour from a packet and add hot water soup that I've had everywhere else in London. Except that I didn't spend £2 on it and guess what - they only filled half the bowl!! We had to ask for them to fill it up! Which thankfully they did at the same time stating that this is not normal practice, but does that mean that I now have to check for common sense?

And then was my Tekka Don (tuna sashimi on a bed of rice). £16 it cost (everywhere else is £11 approx). I like my Tekka Don, I really do. I'd spend £50 on one if it justified the price. But the one at this restaurant was okay. It was just okay. Not fantastic, not great, just okay. I'll give them points for giving me the fatty cut of the tuna (Chutoro) but it wasn't cut that well and the portion was small. Again nothing that justified the £16 price tag.

Oh and by the way - green tea is a £1 with no refills and a can of coke costs £3. Go figure.

As for the atmosphere - we could have been in an airport departure lounge. Not romantic or Japanese.

The only explanation I can gather on why this restaurant gets away with it is because it's closest competition is Sushi Hiro which is great and their prices are a tad high but justified. This restaurant is in no way in the same league.

I can't wait until the Japanese Restaurant Inspectors arrive and put some of these pretentious places to shame.

My advice try Sushi Hiro a few doors up or if that's too expensive go to Okawari in Ealing Broadway/ Leicester Square which is a lot more value for money.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Sunday, May 18, 2008

We went there last last with my partner and I have to say I loved it. Everything was just 10/10, the food is fresh, tasty. We will go back for sure and very soon and will never do elsewhere for sushi.
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delphi
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 14, 2008

We were recommended by friends to visit Kiraku and that was probably 10 -15 visits ago! My wife is Japanese and very knowledgeable about cuisine and service. The food has never, never been less than excellent, the staff always pleasant and helpful and the only blemish can be slowish service on a Friday night when they are heaving with local Japanese business people and families. The sisters who own and run the restaurant are just lovely and always give you time when they can. The sushi is first class with the soft shell crab being just outstanding. They have all the right ingridients for a successful future and keeping up their own standards could be the biggest challenge.
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Brian
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 18, 2008

While in Ealing, I was hoping to find authentic Japanese food and was relieved to find this place ten minutes away from where I worked. The lunch menu has a variety of dishes from sushi sets to Katsu curries. I find the sushi is delicious though a bit pricey. I ordered a Tempura and Sashimi set that was very much over ten pounds but it was still tasty and filling. Everything else on the lunch menu is worthy of its price e.g. an Ebi Katsu lunch set at £8. What is rather nice about some of the lunch sets is that it comes with rice, miso soup, fruit, salad and vegetables. Very good if you're on an empty stomach.

The service can be slow on busy days but if you're there at a quiet period or when it's just opened it's nothing bad whatsoever. I do find the staff friendly and approachable. They'll come round to refill your green tea should you require it and assist you on food suggestions. The dinner menu is extensive too and I'll definitely be coming back in the evening to try some of the dishes out.
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Arisugawa-san2 - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, December 20, 2007

Amazing Japanese food in London - come from SE Asia so I know the standard of Sushi in general. Other sushi chains are overpriced and the ingredients only so so. Kiraku always have fresh ingredients, excellent firendly staff, and a wide range of food on the menu unlike other standard chains. IT is reasonably priced as well. Highly recommend the umeshu (plum wine)!!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, November 11, 2007

My partner is Japanese and we've eaten at numerous Japanese restaurants throughout London. Most, especially those with exclamation marks in their name, are overpriced, far from fresh and just not authentic. Kiraku on the other hand is superb value, fresh food that mixes the very best of traditional Japanese with some modern innovative dishes. You can tell from the drinks menu including a great range of Sake and Shochu (served several different ways) to the ingredients such as natto and lotus root in some of the dishes, that thought has gone into the menu and this is no mass-marketed high street chain. The range of dishes caters to everyone from the numerous Japanese clientele, to those who are looking for dishes popular in the UK - although I urge you to experiment!

Kiraku is great value, excellent food, and for a refreshing change, it's unique - highly recommended!
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Matt - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, July 10, 2007

We have just returned from another fantastic visit to Kiraku. A most delightful restaurant with a friendly atmosphere, attentive staff and most important of all, great food. The sushi and sashimi are always fresh, but they also offer a number of other less readibly available dishes, such as the kaki fry (fresh oysters) and soft crab rolls. The enticing photos in the menu always tempt me to order more than we should. I can see why it was voted Restaurant of the Year by the Ealing Times and we will definitely be back for more.
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Stephen
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, July 08, 2007

The food here is delicious- a ride range of sushi and hot dishes. Good service by Japanese staff which I always like in a Japanese restaurant and great value for money. Everytime I have been here it has been full, I would definitely recommend booking. Largely used by Japanese people which is always a very good sign.
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Charlotte - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, June 29, 2007

I’ve eaten at Kiraku several times and it’s now one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in London. The atmosphere is always convivial, with friendly attentive staff and a warm relaxed feel. The prices are very reasonable, but I have to say that I am most impressed by the quality of the food. The menu has a wide range of honest and authentic Japanese food. The soft shell crab is the best I’ve tasted and I love the battera sushi which I haven’t found in many places round London. Overall, a great place!
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Ian
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, June 23, 2007