Every bite was better than the next. Finally a proper omakase experience in London. Attentive staff, great quality sushi. Deserves every one of its three Michelin stars.
Always on the hunt for good sushi (and especially in London), The Araki fell on my radar sometime late last year. When I was looking into it, it definitely wasn’t cheap, but considering it has two Michelin stars (and it skipped there without even getting one!), it must be something amazing, right? So I mentioned it to some friends, and they really wanted to come along. Unfortunately, one of them had recently become pregnant, so my original plan of going for my birthday this year fell by the wayside as she was VERY interested, and wouldn’t be able to go until later in the year. (Luckily, I filled my birthday sushi quota with a booking at Umu instead.)
There are very few restaurant openings in London which excite me. The restaurant trends seem to be gravitating towards casual/ small plates concept rather than serious high-end, haute cuisine. If a big name chef is involved in a restaurant’s opening, then this is usually with a more junior chef doing the cooking (e.g. Celeste) or simply on a consultancy base (e.g. Tokimeite). As such when I heard that Mitsuhiro Araki had decided to close his sushi-ya in Tokyo and open up in London I initially received it with plenty of scepticism. Would he be cooking here for a short period of time, train up a more junior chef before heading back to Japan? Nearly a year and half after opening, Araki-san is still in London, serving up his interpretation of Edo-mae sushi during every dinner service.
Great food with an amazing experience. I highly recommend it but you need to keep an open mind and try the real authentic raw food experience.
Best sushi and only recommended for those who are in love with special sushi. It’s a show for at least 2 hrs - I gave it a 4 only for the price which I believe is a bit high.
Very authentic sushi experience with delicious food, but not exactly the same experience as when I first visited when Araki-san was there. The 4 stars are only because of my nostalgia.
The food and service were truly world-class and worthy of a special occasion, but considering the price tag I don't think I can give it 5 stars.
We ended up paying over £800 for 2 as drinks are not included in the £600 prepayment - on top of that we were asked at the end if we want 2 sushi rolls for an extra £100 if we were still hungry, a little bit ridiculous.
Look, this is an expensive place to eat and whilst the food alone is absolutely faultless, it probably cannot justify the final bill.... BUT, you are paying for the experience. It is really intimate, you are part of a working kitchen, you see, hear and smell everything that goes on and service is impeccable (as it should be).
In these times, I fully understand people balking at the price, the answer though is to not go if it bothers you.
It is daft paying upfront then dropping a low rating because it was expensive.
Did I enjoy it? 100%, a fantastic memorable experience and, as per above the food was faultless.
Would I go again? I'd certainly like to.... It is more of a one off treat though, than anything you could repeat
This place has amazing service. They take the time to explain every single dish they serve you. It is delicious as well. It’s a serving menu so you can’t pick but everything they served us was perfect. It is quite expensive but it’s in Pat with the quality of the food. Highly recommend this place for true sushi lovers and they are also kind enough to teach you the right way to eat it.
Tremendous experience - Japanese omakase at a small counter setting with detailed explanation of the composition of each dish in English. As someone who frequents omakase restaurants in the Asia and the US, this feature definitely stands out and we can see chef Marty’s passion preparing each dish. Recommend for the experience alone. The nigiri was top grade and features regional/ local catches that varies based on season and supply.
One of the best meals I've had in my life. Marty Lau is not just a world-class chef but also a wonderful host and entertainer. Truly one of the most special meals you'll ever eat.
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I recently had the privilege of dining here, under the expert guidance of Chef Marty Lau, and it was an experience that exceeded all expectations.
The chef's passion for his craft were evident in every dish that graced our table. The creativity and innovation displayed in his dishes were truly awe-inspiring. Each course was a carefully choreographed symphony of flavors and textures that delighted the senses and left me in a state of culinary bliss.
Beyond his culinary expertise, Chef Lau's warm and engaging personality added an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. I loved how he took the time to educate me on the proper etiquette and technique of enjoying nigiri, ensuring that I experienced it to its fullest potential.
Yes, it is quite pricey.. but it is worth every single penny. If you're looking for more than just a memorable dining experience, then The Araki is a MUST. I am grateful for the knowledge shared by Chef Lau and the rest of the amazing team, as it has forever enhanced my sushi experience!
Will definitely be coming back here on my next trip to London.
First three stars experience. This was taken around April. Just after master Araki left. I think it was really good, but still lack of something. I liked the dish a lot, but did not impress me. I used to work in a fairly good Japanese resturant, so I really familier with the cuisine. The service and food was fab. However, the place is costly. Recommend to order some sake with the food.
I don't know where to start. This is an experience you would like to have at least once in your life. The authentic and theatrical Japanese cooking in front of you, by the best 3 stars Michellin star chef, is unforgettable. The place boozes with respect and great energy. The chef and his staff extremly proffesional and the whole experience worth the price tag attached. The downside, it is expensive. £300 per person for set menue, not including drinks and service charge. The dishes are very small and if you haven't eaten the whole day, this dinner will not fill you up. Hovewer, this is not a restaurant you eat every day. This is an experience and it is fantastic. I would definetly go again and again.
R Saraswati D Djojohadikusumo
+5
Only 9-10 seats available and you get the most exquisite, satisfying and fulfilling Japanese sushi meal ever. You can tell how well thought-out and prepared each dish is. They explain each dish to you and no matter how full you get, you always seem to want more because of how delicious each mouthful is. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
One of the top sushi places in London, the only disappointment was the handroll add-on, seaweed was slightly soggy.
Open in 2014. Now the only Michelin three stars (2018) Sushi restaurant outside Japan! Limited to only 9 seats per sitting and 2 sitting per night at 6:00pm and 8:30pm. Super expensive but one in a lifetime 😋😋
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The food and sake are faultless, definitely 5 star but it loses a star because of the clientele.
Some guy was on FaceTime half the time, one person was shouting about how they were vegetarian (I can only assume they paid the full amount for just a seat at the table), the others were nice enough but barely looked up from their conversation to engage with the chef. The idea being that if they are paying this crazy price they can do whatever they want.
The price gets you quality but it also gets you next to people who are there, not to experience something special, but just for a dinner on a Tuesday night and that brings down the whole vibe as a result.
When you pay this sort of price - we paid a bit over £400 a head - you want everything to be perfect. Unfortunately there is potential won’t find that here if you get unlucky with whoever books the other 8 places at the counter.
Again, chef, food, service, sake were incredible and if you’re only concerned with excellent food, go for it, but if you want to eat with people who are into the food and into the experience, maybe look elsewhere.
What a memorable experience this was! I reserved this to celebrate my BD a month before and it certainly made that special day even better. Everyone from the Chef down was very nice and accommodating. Fantastic experience!
Top experience ! This was an unforgettable night ! Thank you to the “ Araki “ team for an incredible explosion of flavours, thanks for the company, we had a lovely evening !!! The best !!!
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