Few fine dining experiences rival the sheer opulence of omakase. Translating to ‘I leave it up to you,’ omakase follows a culinary philosophy expressing complete trust and connection between chefs and guests. It dates back to the 1990s, a pivotal era during Japan’s economic resurgence when a wave of new and wealthy diners, unversed in the intricacies of sushi menus, gave culinary reins to the expert hands of the chef.
Since then, it’s grown into a global trend – from Manhattan’s best omakase restaurants to London’s hottest Japanese restaurants serving the stuff. And with many new omakase experiences cropping up all over London, we’ve handpicked the ones worth visiting.
In this article:
Sushi Amamoto, Mayfair
Best for: securing a spot at the London import of one of Taipei’s most difficult (and revered) reservations.
Chef Shogo Amamoto – one of Asia’s top sushi masters – is a big deal in the world of omakase. And he’s debuted his insanely successful Sushi Amamoto counter in Europe on none other than Mayfair’s Albemarle Street. Speaking for all Londoners, we're honoured. The two things that stood out to us here were 1) how peaceful the dining experience is from start to finish and 2) that the fatty tuna is the most melt-in-your-mouth, don’t-want-this-mouthful-to-end dish we’ve tried in a long time.
17–22 courses | From £180 per person | amamotolondon.com
36 Albemarle St, W1S 4JE
LUNA Omakase, the City
Best for: an omakase menu guided by the moon.
LUNA Omakase’s magnet-shaped counter serves a 12-course, 12-seat experience with a menu inspired by the 12 phases of the moon. But it’s not unusual to receive more dishes on the night. Small but mighty, it doesn’t skimp on theatrics either: one of the dishes involves lifting the lid on a mini moon to reveal caviar-crowned otoro tuna, emerging in an on-theme cloud of smoke. Grab your mother-of-pearl spoon and spread it across the cracker-like slab of crispy rice.
12 courses | From £230 per person | luna-omakase.com
100 Liverpool St, EC2M 2AT | Credit: Lateef Photography
Endo at the Rotunda
Best for: sushi in the clouds.
If the idea of sushi in the clouds is music to your ears, you’ll love the flagship of a family of foodie favourites – Sumi, NIJŪ, and Kioku by Endo. Third-generation sushi master Endo Kazutoshi whips up an 18-course, 10-seat, Michelin-starred experience atop the former BBC Television Centre. The menu is quite literally up in the air (you won’t find it online), but one thing’s for certain: a meal that’s on another level.
18 courses | £290 per person | endoattherotunda.com
101 Wood Ln, W12 7FR
Sushi Kanesaka, Mayfair
Best for: a big, blowout dinner on a special occasion.
Concealed behind a discreet doorway inside Mayfair’s luxurious 45 Park Lane hotel, Sushi Kanesaka is the first restaurant outside the Asia Pacific region by renowned omakase chef Shinji Kanesaka. Expect up to 20 courses of exquisite edomae sushi using chef Kanesaka’s own rice blend from Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture, premium seafood prepared with the Japanese ikejime method, and unmatched pairings of sake, wines, beers, and Japanese whiskies. Our tip? Book the separate four-seat omakase for a truly intimate experience.
20 courses | £420 per person | sushikanesaka.com
45 Park Ln, W1K 1PN
MARU, Mayfair
Best for: a seamless sensory experience (Chef Maruyama has personally overseen everything from the interior design to the flower arrangements).
Helmed by Chef Yasuhiro Ochiai, previously head chef at two-Michelin-star Tsukumo in Nara, Maru fuses omakase and kaiseki – every element is thoughtfully designed for a wholly aesthetic and multisensory meal. Everything you see, taste, smell, touch, and hear has been inspired by omotenashi, which means ‘wholeheartedly looking after your guests, whether that’s the menu, cooking, interiors, floristry, and crockery (handmade by Maruyama himself).
20 courses | From £180 per person | marulondon.com
18 Shepherd Market, W1J 7QH
JUNO Omakase, Notting Hill
Best for: a creative Mexican-Japanese fusion.
London’s most intimate omakase experience is hidden behind a crimson curtain at the back of Los Mochis. The small counter seats just six, meaning you have the best seat in the house to ogle at Executive Chef Leonard Tanyag (ex-Zuma and OKKU) whilst he works. The 15-course omakase adds a Tulum twist to Tokyo flavours: alongside traditional sushi, nigiri, and wagyu, there’s chutoro tiradito in creamy jalapeño sauce, Oscietra caviar sprinkled with chilli-salted flying ants, and kinmedai sashimi with chapulines (roasted grasshoppers).
15 courses | From £230 per person | junoomakase.com
2–4 Farmer St, W8 7SN
TOKii, Marylebone
Best for: making a night of it with a suite staycation at The Prince Akatoki London.
The Prince Akatoki London is a five-star hotel inspired by Japanese arts and rituals, which are beautifully mirrored in its restaurant, TOKii. Its minimalist feel reflects the simple elegance of Japanese cuisine, which you’ll also find in its 10-course omakase menu. The intimate, blind-tasting experience seats only six guests, creating a personal connection between the chef and diners. Menus are not revealed during the encounter, so be brave and enjoy the finely sourced premium ingredients, including oysters, scallops, seabass, eel, yuzu, and more.
10 courses | £100 per person | tokii.co.uk
