Omakase is perfect for unfussy, laidback foodies. If you’re someone who doesn’t care to look at a restaurant’s menu days in advance, but also harbours a deep appreciation for Japanese cuisine, this is the menu for you. Directly translating as ‘I leave it up to you’, omakase restaurants offer a true expression of a chef’s practice, as they take the day’s freshest ingredients and whip up countless courses in front of your eyes. 

Born in Edo (now Tokyo) in the 15^th century, omakase evolved from the Japanese culture of trust between customer and chef, where diners would let the kitchen team choose what to serve based on the freshest ingredients of the day. Common in Japan for centuries, this style of menu gained traction with tourists in the 1990s, as well as at Japanese restaurants overseas, as a way for novices to enjoy authentic sushi without the pressure of needing to know your way around a menu of nigiri, sashimi and yakitori. In London, it has since evolved into one of the most elite (and pricey) tasting menus on offer, with many five-star hotels and high-end restaurants adopting omakase menus and positioning them as bespoke experiences for their well-heeled guests. 

In essence, omakase bonds curious foodies with passionate chefs, while allowing creativity in the kitchen to flow endlessly. Fancy giving it a try? Here are the best omakase restaurants in London. 

Sushi Kanesaka, Mayfair

Sushi Kanesaka – the brainchild of Shinji Kanesaka, whose Ginza sushi restaurant has been a destination on Tokyo’s fine dining scene since 2000i – prides itself on being a sensory experience. From the moment a kimono-dressed waitress escorts you to one of 13 seats fringing the sushi counter, to watching chefs hand-press bright pink tuna sashimi onto rice, it’s clear that Sushi Kanesaka achieves what it set out to do: reimagine edomae omakase dining. 

Priced at £420 for 18 courses and overseen by executive chef Hirotaka Wada, expect hand-pressed and rolled otoro, chutoro, botan ebi, and unagi, alongside Japanese delicacies of chawanmushi (savoury egg custard) with steamed abalone and crab, binchō-tan (charcoal) grilled Kobe beef with wasabi and shio, and miso soup with clams and chives. Trust us when we say this is one of London’s best restaurants. 

45 Park Lane, W1K 1PN, visit dorchestercollection.com

Juno, Notting Hill

Discreetly tucked away within the Notting Hill outpost of Los Mochis, what was once a store cupboard is now home to London’s most intimate six-seater omakase experience: Juno. Reimagined and transformed into a speakeasy-style counter last year, executive chef Leonard Tanyag has carefully curated a 15-course Mexican-Japanese omakase menu priced at £230 per person. Each course is thoughtfully paired with your choice of sake, and expertly introduced by Juno’s sommelier, in order to enhance the flavours and story behind every dish. Highlights include Japanese A4 wagyu from Kagoshima with bone marrow and smoked chilli, and seared Hokkaido scallops with caramelised fig and truffle goma.

2-4 Farmer Street, W8 7SN, visit losmochis.co.uk

Sushi Kyu, Soho

The younger sister to chic Mayfair sushi restaurant, Cubé, Sushi Kyu is a hidden gem in Soho. An under-the-radar spot with enough space for just 10 guests at the counter, Sushi Kyu’s omakase experience offers flavours that celebrate the freshest ingredients, seasonal delicacies and each chef’s individual creativity. One of the most reasonably priced omakase menus in the capital – clocking in at £51.80 at lunch and £71.80 at dinner – expect a starter, eight pieces of omakase nigiri, one temaki roll and dessert. 

While the nature of omakase means even regulars will never know exactly what’s on the menu before they go, if the à la carte menu is anything to go by – think miso soup, hamachi yuzu ponzu, wagyu beef tataki, and chirashi don: a vibrant bowl of seasoned sushi rice accompanied by fresh sashimi – you’ll be in for a treat. Pair with one of six sakes, Japanese shochu, and a varied list of Japanese teas, from cold oolong to hot sencha.

30 Brewer Street, W1F 0SS, visit sushikyu.com

The Aubrey, Knightsbridge

The Aubrey – the acclaimed Japanese restaurant and izakaya at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park – offers a unique omakase menu in its Ukiyo Room. Inspired by ukiyo or ‘the Floating World’, an imagined Japanese universe of hedonism and extravagance, this omakase experience is designed as a journey of discovery through 10 courses and carefully paired drinks, with the specially-designated space hosting up to 10 guests at the counter or 24 standing. 

Keeping in mind the Japanese spirit of omotenashi (top-notch hospitality), indulge in a multi-course tasting menu meticulously crafted by The Aubrey’s culinary team. It will include some much-loved favourites, as well as newly developed dishes, all built around fine ingredients reflecting Japan’s 72 micro seasons. From £150 per person, the evening may begin with a taste of A5 wagyu gunkan with caviar, slow-cooked lobster with uni, and Alaskan king crab leg – but bear in mind that a menu preview is unavailable prior, with the evening being left up to the imagination of the chefs.

66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, visit mandarinoriental.com

Taku, Mayfair

Looking to experience omakase in its truest form? Head to Taku, Mayfair’s Michelin-starred omakase-only restaurant. Renowned for the culinary masterpieces that make up its set menus, Taku highlights the art of edomae omakase, celebrating the purity and precision of traditional Japanese cuisine. The 16-seat restaurant was established by chef Takuya Watanabe – formerly of Jin, the first sushi omakase in Paris to receive a Michelin star – and is now spearheaded by chef Long Ng. Dishes are kept firmly under wraps, and the omakase tasting menu is priced at £180. 

36 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JE, visit takumayfair.com

Endo at the Rotunda, White City

Opened in 2019, and relaunched in September 2024 after an extensive refurbishment, Michelin-starred Rotunda embodies everything acclaimed chef Endo Kazutoshi thinks a high-end sushi restaurant should be. Serving an authentic and personal 20-course omakase menu (£250 per person, paid in advance) at a 12-seater table above the former Television Centre in White City, it is a masterclass in not only world-renowned Japanese cuisine, but also Kazutoshi’s commitment to the craft. One thing to note is that the concept of omakase is all about respect – so don’t be surprised if you turn up late for your booking to find it cancelled and payment retained. 

8^th Floor, The Helios, Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, W12 7FR, visit endoatrotunda.com

Clap, Knightsbridge

The fourth opening from the group following success in Dubai, Riyadh and Beirut, Clap is a stone’s throw from Harrods, and spans a three-floor culinary destination, featuring an exclusive rooftop bar. Drawing inspiration from Tokyo’s electric nightspots, the rooftop comes alive in the evening with music-led programming and cocktails made to order, ranging from the smoky and complex Tokashi-Gawa (truffle, tequila, and passionfruit) to the silky and umami of Detective Conan (pisco, yuzu juice, and grapefruit). 

The food menu takes its cues from classic Japanese favourites and highlights include Hokkaido scallops, roasted tamara king crab leg, vibrant ceviche, tataki and tiradito to start, before meinkōsu (main courses) of sea bass amapeño, and pistachio crusted baby chicken with yuzu and daikon. Clap also offers an authentic omakase, allowing all guests the chance to leave it up to the chefs to curate the ultimate Japanese dining experience.

6-7^th Floor, 12-14 Basil Street, SW3 1AJ, visit claprestaurant.com

Nobu Hotel, Marylebone and Mayfair

There are three Nobu Hotels in London – Mayfair, Marylebone and Shoreditch – but only two offer omakase. Renowned as one of the most reliable spots for high-end Japanese cuisine across the world, its restaurants in the capital are no different. For example, Old Park Lane offers three different omakase menus: a refined lunch version (£75), signature (£125) comprising some of Nobu’s most famous dishes, and London (£190), featuring inventive dishes that are unique to the capital. 

Over at the Marylebone outpost, the seasonal omakase starts at £125 and is served at both lunch and dinner. This month’s menu showcases seasonal spring ingredients across seven courses, including confit yellowtail with beetroot and citrus caviar, and the signature grilled jumbo shrimp, followed by a delicate milk chocolate crémeux with shiso ice cream. 

Visit noburestaurants.com

Luna Omakase, The City

Riding on the success of its Notting Hill-based omakase restaurant, Juno, the team at Los Mochis found such demand that a second outpost was opened in The City. Enter Luna: the modern, refined younger sibling which, despite only opening in March, has already made waves on the omakase scene thanks to its intimate, high-energy experience. Inspired by the 12 phases of the moon, Luna’s ever-evolving menu adapts to seasonal ingredients and the chef’s inspirations, serving 12 Sosaku-style edomae dishes to 12 guests per seating. Plus, the menu is entirely gluten and nut-free. It’s been dubbed one of the hottest tables in town for a reason. 

9^th Floor, 100 Liverpool Street, EC2M 2AT, visit luna-omakase.com

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