LDNGuide
London’s Top Casual Neighbourhood Sushi Spots
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Sushi can come in many forms. There’s the type you’ll find in the fridge at Tesco and immediately regret eating when you swallow the first bite of fishy rice. And there’s the type that would cost you a couple night’s sleep and a chunky deposit before you even arrive at the restaurant. The good news is that there are plenty of quality spots serving top sushi at very decent prices.
Want more of our favourite spots? Take a look at the best sushi restaurants in London and the best places for takeaway sushi.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
A cosy spot with sleek interiors, Kampai knows a thing or two about fish. The Kensington restaurant is usually filled with local families who have popped in after leaving Holland Park, solo diners taking advantage of a free spot at the sushi bar, and groups that span Gen Z to those who still use a landline. It's compact but comfortable with wooden bamboo walls, black ceilings, and enough space between each table that you don’t have to worry about elbowing your neighbour’s rock shrimp and baby spinach salad. Load up on nigiri—the scallop is top-tier—and get some of the chef’s special rolls to share.
A blink-and-you'll-miss-it restaurant, Sushi Show serves excellent sushi in a tiny spot down Camden Passage. You can pop in to grab a takeaway, or sit at the bar opposite the window and watch the fools who don’t realise what they’re walking past. The sashimi is reasonably priced and cut fresh in front of you, and you can get some great-value sushi platters to share that work out to around £15 per person for a mix of nigiri and rolls. If you’re with someone who’s not into sushi, there’s also a small selection of donburi.
photo credit: Jake Missing
Zen Mondo is something of an oasis among the noise and bustle of Angel. The low-key Japanese restaurant is easy to miss—sandwiched between an estate agent and a hair salon. But once inside you’ll find that this is a calming shelter making crowd-pleasing sushi, as well as some lovely handmade ceramics. Temaki and chirashi are particularly good and, although the highly enjoyable menu is classic rather than anything particularly exciting (yellowtail, scallop, chu-toro tuna, and the like), the clean pinewood room and its soundtrack of lightly tapping chopsticks against plates make it a solid spot for a relaxing midweek dinner.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
It’s Saturday night, you haven’t made a booking anywhere, you’re seriously craving sushi, and you also kind of want to have enough money to get the Tube home. Eat Tokyo is your guy. With several locations dotted around London—Soho, Covent Garden, Hammersmith, Holborn, Golders Green, and our personal favourite Notting Hill—this casual spot serves reliable sushi at very reasonable prices. Make sure to get a classic salmon avocado roll and a “king dragon” (king prawn tempura), plus there’s an extensive menu of Japanese classics in case you’re craving some udon on the side.
Dozo is a popular walk-in only restaurant on Old Compton Street that does the usual sushi, sashimi, temaki, and maki rolls. The ‘dozo’ rolls are good too, but if you’re after an affordable dinner, you should stick to the regular maki. You could come here with a group of friends, order a bunch of rolls, and leave £25 lighter. But the dim lighting and intimate sunken seats make it a perfect midweek date night situation. Ask for the window seat so you can enjoy the excellent soft shell crab maki, while watching the Soho bustle from the best spot in the house. If whoever you’re with isn’t into sushi, they also serve ramen, donburi, and robata skewers.
Sushi Atelier is a beautiful, fishy unicorn. OK, that sounded better in our heads, but stay with us. This laid-back spot in Fitzrovia is that rare London restaurant that not only serves genuinely excellent sushi, but shockingly, it’s also relatively affordable given the quality of the fish. On the menu you’ll find everything from octopus carpaccio to snow crab sashimi to yellowtail truffle rolls, but our game plan is to always go for one of the omakase selections or the sushi sets. Although we’re big fans of sitting at the counter where the action is, if you’re rolling with a group there’s more seating downstairs.
Opposite Aldgate East station, Sushinoen isn’t an all-singing all-dancing restaurant, but it is one that covers almost all the bases of Japanese cuisine. The diner setup makes it appropriate for pretty much any casual occasion and the sushi is better than your average. There’s a large selection of always-good sashimi and nigiri, from aburi sake (seared scallop) to tamago (sweet Japanese omelette) as well as maki and temaki—none of which will cost a fortune. Hot stuff ranges from donburi and yakisoba, to katsu curries, and everything is pleasing. In fact, it’s just a very pleasant place to be.
Whether or not you’re in the area, this hand roll specialist in Brixton is worth heading to. If not for the delicious salmon temaki, then for the wooden wrap-around counter, ceramic plates, and overall cool aesthetic. But really, it should be for the salmon, BBQ eel, and otoro temaki. Come with one other person, get the set menu for £30 each, some vegetable tempura, and you’re in for a great meal.
This mini-chain calls itself a blend between “a Japanese traditionalist and a Danish anarchist”. What does that mean? It means that you can get some pretty solid maki topped with things like tuna and barbecue sauce, crispy kataifi, and trout roe. While it may not be traditional Japanese sushi, the rolls here are consistently great. Split one of their hefty looking sushi sets for groups and leave with a stomach full of spicy mayo and a wallet just around £30 lighter. The interior of this Covent Garden spot is sleek and perfect for a date night or a long awaited catch-up. If the sun’s out, get one of their outside tables.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
When you get to Nori’s address, you might be confused. The entrance is in an alleyway off New Malden High Street and you’ll walk in to find an ornate bench and a staircase, but little sign of a great Japanese restaurant. But trust us, up those stairs and to your right you’ll find Nori and in turn, some satisfying sushi rolls. It doesn’t hurt that the intimate dining room is packed full of bamboo and has enough charm to make it perfect for a date night in the area. Planning a family meal or a proper catch-up? Reserve one of the private dining spaces behind the chic shoji partitions.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Pham Sushi serves some of the best affordable sushi in London. And when we say affordable, we’re talking £20 for a 12-piece set, including some pretty great nigiri. At the bottom of the Heron Tower, it’s a slick space with plenty of red leather. Whether you come here for a business bento box power move or a catch-up with friends, be sure to also get involved in the ebi tempura—we’re big fans.
