It’s a bit of a shame that I discovered Chinatown’s Tokyo Diner so late. It’s humble, minimalistic style reeks of authenticity. I’d love to try more of what they have to offer. And to it’s credit, it carries all the successful hallmarks of an actual Tokyo Diner.
Excellent service! The friendly staff welcomed us as soon as we came in, and once seated we were served some hot tea before even ordering. The food was great, some of the best I’ve had so far! Would definitely recommend this place for anyone who’s willing to try some authentic traditional cuisine!
Enjoyable and affordable Japanese option for a quick dinner before 4D cinema. The Ton Katsu Dan was really something, never had it before. It is a bowl of rice with breaded pork fillets and fried egg as well. A nice touch waa, once we sat down, we were offered a cup of tea and some snacks. Makes one feel welcomed. Didn't have time for much more gastronomical exploration but I reckon Tokyo diner will get a 2nd visit. Gotta go, movie is starting!
I was looking for a place to eat after 11pm in Leicester square and this place had high reviews on zomato. We were not that hungry, so we ordered inari, tofu katsu ju and age dashi tofu. Everything was good but I loved Age Dashi. Very quick service, we were in and out in 30 minutes.
A little touch of Tokyo in London!
Fabulous Tokyo style diner in the heart of London serving authentic Japanese food at affordable prices. All dishes are superb on the menu and one is spoiled for choice. I can eat here any day. Only thing is that a queue outside means long wait for delicious food.
It's a steal at the prices.
Japanese restaurant on the corner of Newport Place in the "Chinatown" area, where you can find delicious sushi and Don.
Have some nice policies around the sustainable sourcing of ingredients which is why it doesn’t serve tuna. If you also want to give some tips, all money left on tables is donated to the homeless.
Get the chicken teriyaki and the miso soup. That'll cheer you up regardless of how stressful your day has been. For the past 4 years, Tokyo diner has been reliable and authentic, never faltering in its quality or commitment to affordability. Good for a catch up with friends.
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I've visited Tokyo Diner several times during my time living in London, and every time it never fails to satisfy me.
It is located on the edge of Chinatown, near Leicester Square station, and so is a little bit quieter than some of the other restaurants right in the heart. That said, it's still always very busy though waiting times for seating is not too bad. The restaurant itself has a very authentic Japanese feeling with Japanese staff and lots of Japanese decorations. It is extremely small but I think this just makes the whole place seem a lot more cozy and homely.
The portion sizes are good and if you are especially hungry, you can ask for extra rice at no additional cost. I usually go for the Katsu curry which is on par with every other Katsu curry I've tried in the capital. It doesn't try to be something it's not - it's simple, tasty and filling. You are also provided complementary green tea and small corn snacks to eat whilst you wait for your mains (which can take a short while during busy times). The variety on the menu is good with different currys, dons, bento boxes, and sushi dishes on offer.
Drinks are also reasonable with a good selection of Japanese alcohol and soft drinks as well as the usual affair.
Staff are friendly enough, and the bills do not contain any service charge. You are even discouraged from tipping - the 'Japanese way'!
All in all, Tokyo Diner is a very satisfying experience. It's quiet enough that you feel removed from the brouhaha of central London, but the quality is very good for the reasonable prices. Definitely check this one out if you're in the area.
"Authentic Japanese food at attractive prices in the heart of London since 1992", is what you'll find emblazoned on Tokyo Diner's homepage.
Down to the traditional Japanese noren (curtain divider) marking the entrance, to the high number of Japanese diners, this place is about as authentic as a cheap and cheerful restaurant on a Tokyo side street gets. Expect a variety of simple, but satisfying native meals, together with a small selection of sushi and sashimi
They have a few lunchtime deals available from 12pm - 6pm Mon - Fri. And if you order during their 'quiet period' (3-6pm), there's a further £1 off what are already very good value meals.
I've been there several times and it never disappointed!! It's my favourite Japanese restaurant ever. The food is always fresh and delicious and very inexpensive for that quality! You can also ask for bigger portions for free.
Excellent food and Great value for money place. The staff was friendly. What was interesting is that the menu actually advises eating sushi with your hand to get the actual flavour! So if you aren't very good with chopsticks have no fear.
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I have gone past this place several time on way to Chinatown and always wanted to check it out. This was finally satisfied nearby when my friend wanted Japanese before our movie at Leicester Sq. I always thought it's a small establishment but it actually have additional tables upstairs I think. Anyway we sat down in the corner on the ground floor, and the complimentary tea and rice crackers were served quickly. We had to wait a little time for our order to be taken because the till was busy.
The menu offered the most popular Japanese food - don, bento, sushi, sashimi, etc. I went with the tonkatsu bento and my friend got the tonkatsu curry.
Both meal arrived quickly and at the same time, my bento arrived with a lid which I thought was super cute. There was a selection of pickles, pickled veges and sashimi, but I had hoped for a bigger serving of tonkatsu. It was a little on the dry side but that was helped with the tonkatsu sauce.
However I still really liked this place and will go back again for some fast, simple, tasty Japanese food. They specifically don't ask for service charge, except recommendations to friends, and still served with a smile. The rest of London should take note...
I have never been more pleased to have persevered in looking for a place to eat. The Tokyo Diner is friendly, cheap and genuine. Full to my bow for a fiver, and offered tea even after I had finished spending money. A quick and friendly welcome, great meal, relaxed atmosphere.
No brainer always great food night out. Tokyo diner is where my husband and I come when we want to have a spontaneous night out without it being an affair or major effort. When we want tasty food that never disappoints, consistently friendly service and comfortable seating without feeling rushed to leave once done. It is cheap, good, and has never let us down. I love the soups, he loves the katsu or the donburi - and the plum wine we both have.
When I decided to start writing this blog and had to come up with a title, I wanted to choose something that was original but not too esoteric and self-explanatory without being trite. Although over time I've found myself wishing that I could have come up
Maybe it is a throw back from eating more or less nothing but Indian food for the last 10 weeks that I have been eating everything but…. Maybe I am fed up of those perfectly blended spices cooked in all manor of ways that have been tantalising my taste b
Having a meal at Tokyo Diner was like buying into a culture. I couldn't help but notice the brochures that were strategically placed on each table.
At lunch time you can get a decent sized (and very tasty!) donburi for about £5-£6 and at dinner, this cost somehow becomes an astronomical £9
I recently tried this place and had a great experience. The food was delicious, especially the fish which had wonderful authentic flavours in it. The service was pretty efficient. The staff was quite warm, friendly and attentive. The ambience was great with beautiful decor and pretty comfortable seating. Thus, I would love to visit this place again and would recommend others to try it as well.
I recently tried this Japanese place and had a great time here. The food was excellent, especially the pork and noodles which were cooked to perfection. The service was pretty quick and efficient with the staff being quite warm and friendly. This place is quite reasonable and thus, I would surely visit this place again. I would suggest other Japanese lovers to try this place as well.
I've been to this place a couple of times with friends and am thoroughly impressed by the friendliness of their service and the fabulous taste of their food. The food is authentic Japanese and is quite affordable as well. Among the dishes that I really admire are their Pork Katsu bento. I would love to visit this place again.
I came here often when I was studying in the city and found it to be amazing, every visit. The chicken bento is something I recommend to everyone for its amazing taste. The katsudon is absolutely delightful! This place offers the one of the most delicious meals you would find. Every item is refreshing and full of flavours without being too pretentious. The waiting time can get a bit tedious later in the day but the staff is quite efficient and amicable. This place is highly recommended!
This place is your answer to a not so well planned date or a spontaneous plan with friends. The service here is mostly consistent and so is the food. A point to be noted here is that this place never leaves you disappointed.
With a smooth service in place, this place is busy but never chaotic.
You must try their soup !
I had been quite a regular at this place but now I am quite disappointed with it. The food quantity is decreasing on quite a good rate and the quality is also going down. On top of this, this place is becoming more expensive, even though the standards are going down. I would rather go to other better options available in the city.
This place serves some good enough authentic Japanese cuisine in decent prices. Even though the owners of this place seems to be English but they still they are doing justice to their food. Food is appealing and appetizing backed by quick and efficient service. Worth a visit as it is very reasonably priced!
I am the kind of person who is not easily impressed by the restaurant serving just good food. However, i stumbled upon this place by chance and post eating my meal here i cannot stop raving about it to all my friends and family. Each dish was so high on flavors and delectable backed by impeccable service!
I recently tried this Japanese place and was quite impressed with it. The service was amazing. The staff was quite warm, attentive and friendly. This made the experience all the more special. The snacks were delicious and as was the Japanese green tea. I would love to visit this place again.
Contrary to my low expectations in terms of food and service, this place has definitely left me spell bound by the kind off experience I had here. I will definitely be returning to this place soon as it everything but low par food and a bad service.
I highly recommend this place.
The Tokyo Diner is a good place to dine out and will always leave you feeling content. The food served here is sumptuous and extremely pocket friendly. It is served by an over friendly service staff which knows every details about the menu only proving more about the quality of training they have been given.
This place is great if you want to grab a quick bite while enjoying a luxurious and calm environment.
I really liked this place.
Prices are a bit on the pricey side compared to a few other restaurants in Central London BUT the food did taste better!
The service was great and they were very friendly. They could speak Japanese (even the non-Japanese staff) which made it more authentic.
The atmosphere was good, and the decorations were cute
As you approach this restaurant, one of the few serving Japanese food in Chinatown, you find yourself transported in a family-run like place, with excellent food, friendly and fast staff and a deep feeling that you are not in London anymore. Apart from the "no tip" policy, that makes the experience even more authentic, the bento options, that are an amazing deal, the "no tuna" rule to help the environment, Tokyo Diner offer a mouth watering selection of delicacies, that I only experienced abroad. The salmon, sushi or teriyaki, is perfect, flavourful and with a smooth texture, all the donburi are fulfilling and delicious, the curries are to die for and with the lunch sets, every dish is a feast that will leave you satisfied, you can even ask for extra rice. I can't recommend this place enough, one of the few restaurants where you get a "taste" of Japan, not only its food.
A little cute shop located in Chinatown, the Tokyo Diner offers a satisfactory range of sushi and other Japanese food. We tried the Nigiri Set with a side of Wakame Green Salad and Aubergine Age Bitashi, all of which were really great.
The sushi was very fresh and the set provided a nice combination of maki and gunkanmaki combinations. The Aubergine was something I had not tried before, but it was really great. It was sweet and a little sour at the same time. However, I wished the Wakame Salad would have more seaweed and less continental vegetables (lettuce, cucumber and tomato, slightly pickled).
Overall the experience was good, the food was delicious and not too expensive. I will most definitely go here again.
Walking near Leicester Square looking for some nice restaurant I noticed Tokyo diner. I first noticed the nice exterior, but then read the menu and I just had to go in. Not so much because of what they had but by how they explained the dishes and the issue regarding tips. This was a true Japanese restaurant. We walked in, we received a free apettizer and a tea, and everything was really nice.
I had a very very tasty soup in a cozy atmosphere with a fantastic service. My only issue is the size of the restaurant, when it's full it's hard to move around. But other than that I will return he one day for sure.
Regarding the tips, they prefer that you come back and recommend the restaurant, and every tip is donated to a charity.
Devaneios De Um Foodie
+4.5
This was quite a nice surprise found near Leicester Square. A cozy place, with a traditional Japanese feeling to it, which transpired to the menu and service. The food was awesome and everything had really good notes in flavor. The meal started with a light and yet rich Miso Shiru, and then I got my hands (and mouth) on an awesome Ton Katsu Bento Box and in a bowl of Oyako Don. Everything was pretty damn good, with the ratio quantity/quality/price being more than fair!
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I am hesitant to write a review on this place as I feel it is my little secret. People don't seem to know about this hidden gem that is smack bang in central London.
Tokyo Diner is a very tiny, no frills Japanese restaurant which apparently goes unoticed in the hustle&bustle of China Town. Yet it stands out in its exceptional Japanese-ness; from the 'no tipping' culture to its refusal to serve endangered tuna, this 20+year establishment ignores the money-oriented frenzy surrounding it, and is a blast of true Japan.
Be prepared to be tucked next to fellow diners and for fast, efficient service. The humble menu includes a range of well-priced, deliciously fresh sushi and very generous portions, particularly for the sides!
It is open every single day per year and if you're umming and ahhing about whether to try it, check out their front window; a collage of Zagat, TimeOut and Square Meal awards and raving reviews. Very reasonable and good quality with charming staff and prompt service. This is one of my favourite places in London. But shh, don't tell anyone!
Good food! Definitely recommend!
The place is in the middle of Chinatown but doesn't seem as touristy as other restaurants surrounding it. In fact, it appears very authentic, all staff speak Japanese, there is a good selection of Japanese dishes. Interestingly, the first page of the menu says that tips are not common in Japan and have never been accepted in this restaurant. All money left on the table will go to a charity of the restaurant's choice. Generally speaking, a very different and positive experience.
First off the service was impeccable, the staff were so so friendly . I understand you can’t tip here but they definitely deserved a hefty tip.
The food was so quick which I was glad about but this did not affect the quality. Fresh, delicious and large portion sizes.
Everything I got was from the sides as I wanted to try a lot of different things, and a bit of sushi.
The Inari was definitely a stand out dish.
Thank you for a great dinner❤️
Very courteous service! No tipping allowed which is neat. They encourage customers to recommend them to others and bring friends instead. They don't serve tuna either for sustainability reasons. The salmon Don and Nigiri platter was so fresh and the rice was perfect and 'warm' which is exactly what sushi should have! The katsu curry was delicious too!
I had the best Chicken Katsu Curry here!
The staff is extremely kind and friendly, the dishes are exquisite and I highly recommend this restaurant! A real gem and I look forward to going back with friends!
They do not take tips nor charge a service fee, however if you leave a tip on the table, they will donate the sum to St Martin’s-in-the-fields’ Unit to help the homeless! Such big heart!
Arigato 🤭 we had the best Chicken Katsu Curry, Teriyaki Chicken, Sushi here.
The staff were kind and friendly, the dishes are delicious!
Great location and a hidden gem.
Reasonable authentic Japanese fare.
I ordered a selection of sashimi, which was fresh and nice but I would have preferred a little more variety and for the portion it was slightly overpriced. The udon noodles with cold soup was reasonably nice but the soup was a little too bland. If you’re looking for somewhere to have an authentic Japanese meal where the dining experience is more realistic of that of a restaurant in Japan, this may be the place for you. Also all the staff can speak Japanese.
Really great service! The servers were very friendly and accommodating. Ambience was on point, it felt like you are being transported to q small restaurant in Japan. Food was as expected. It was a bit on the expensive side for the quantity of food. But overall, good eat!
I am a Japanese living in London for years and this place makes me feel like I’m in Japan.
Although sushi etc can’t be the best quality, they are all so decent and when it comes to warm meals, they are as authentic as in Japan!
What even makes this restaurant better is that their policy is also very Japanese too, that they give free green teas(they will come to fill it up again and again when your cup is empty), and welcoming waiters although there is no service fee!
We had a great dinner with three of us which made us full, with only less than £60. This restaurant is truly a gem 😊
I visited Tokyo Diner on the strength of the reviews and was not disappointed. Going midweek with friends, we waited about 20 minutes to be seated but that was no issue. The restaurant is cosy so we were split across two tables but we were kept close and could still talk to each other. The staff were polite and friendly and exhibited everything that is great about Japanese hospitality. The food was delicious with plenty of choice and portion size good. If you're going to the theatre make sure you leave plenty of time in case they are busy, but if you're looking for traditional Japanese cuisine then Tokyo Diner is absolutely worth visiting.
Great restaurant and fantastic service.
With using before a show as it was very quick and fresh!
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