Japan Centre, West End, London

This is the best place for sushi lovers

I went here on a relatively quiet Sunday night after a recommendation and I was pretty disappointed. Overpriced rolls for the quality. The tempura was so greasy I couldn’t even finish it. I would suggest going to Tomoe on Marylebone Lane instead

I have tried suhsi is the best and most expensive restaurants in London. My favourite place to enjoy the Japanese dishes? This supermarket-style shop! The selection is amazing, the sushi fresh and good value. The staff are always friendly. Will be going back next week and can’t wait!

I stopped by the supermarket and had a browse out of curiosity but the main reason of my visit was to eat sushi and it didn’t dissapoint. Great range for eating in (although not too many seats) or take away (Green Park is just down the road). Well priced too. The supermarket is open all day but the Japan centre opens at midday.

As a Sushi lover I was amazed I had not stumbled upon this little Aladin’s cave sooner. Not only can you get trays of maki 6/8 rolls to take away for between 2-3 squids, but also all the weird and wonderful ingredients you could ever wish for to make your own.
I love poking around vegetables I have no idea about, and finding a place this central that has such decent prices is always a little bit exciting. Pity about the nonsense poundland-type stuff at the back, but a small price to pay.

What an oversight! Somehow my obsession didn’t extent to my reviews, and now I am left wondering , how have I left this gem untouted?
Cheep sushi shouldn’t be a rarity, but in London it is. I miss living close to South East Asia, where the locals have leaked into nearby countries bring cheep fresh alternative foods. Somehow London has missed the cheep part on the whole.
Yet my saviour The Japan Centre holds with tradition, even while occupying a prime position over Piccadilly Circus! They have amazing sushi (6 to 8 pieces) for under £3. Incredible really.
There is a great supermarket attachment (don’t miss out on the Korean pears/ nashi pears) that provides some of the harder to find ingredients for a great Japanese dinner, plus the bags from heaven… Wasabi peas. If you haven’t tired these yet I may warn you from them- I would hate the supply to run low!

Every time I travel to London I visit it because I really enjoy japanese food and here you can find a wide variety of it. Japanese bakery section is similar than those placed at japanese shopping centres like Daimaru. Meronpan, sobapan, maccha muffin… all were fantastic. Sushi is no so good as fresh japanese one but onigiri are fantastic, a little more expensive than in Rice and Wine store. Maccha parfait was an interesting experience for me because I really love maccha flavour.

I miss the old Japan centre I have to say when it was just the simple bar seating around the kitchen. It was such a discovery to find somewhere for authentic udon noodle dishes that wasn’t the crazy rush of Wagamama.

Now it has grown and become busier it is still just as good but not as intimate or restful. I think some of the big sushi rolls are great for lunchtime sharing. However, the sushi for sale in the supermarket next door to the restaurant, to my taste, is over seasoned with mayo and spices. Sure, it is cheap for London standards, but it tastes a bit too.

The supermarket bit is great though, especially for hard wearing everyday Japanese plates etc. Also, if you like miso soup, but the packs of 20 that some in the plastic sachets. I think they have two varieties, one with seaweed and our with mountain vegetables. So easy to make as a snack in the afternoon instead of reaching for chocolate.

Japan Centre ROCKS! Introduced by a Japanese friend years ago it’s become a staple part of our lives! We love the sushi counter to grab food on the run, and always take friends from out of town to Toku, the restaurant half the centre. The shop is great for hunting and exploring the amazing array of products from foodstuff to crockery. It’s always a pleasure!

I’ve never eaten in the restaurant but I love visiting the shop half of this business.

At the front of the shop is a sushi takeaway, you can get other types of Japanese snack food here too. A little further back is a section with household items, and at the bag a mini-supermarket with Japanese food, toiletries, cleaning products etc.

Downstairs is a bookshop selling books, magazines, music, stationery. There’s also a travel agency that can organise flights and holidays to Japan.

As an untravelled Brit, I find it endlessly fascinating how 'different’ Japanese things are. The beautiful design and attention to detail in the most throwaway items. Cooking utensils that I can’t begin to imagine a purpose for. Magical items like cricket cages stacked up with everyday things. After half an hour browsing here you feel as if you’ve had a mini holiday in Japan.

Among my favourite items are the paper dolls and origami kits - they make beautiful, unusual presents for crafty English girls.

The main thing I go for at the Japan Centre is its sushi: Good and cheap for its quality. You will have to buy them from the supermarket portion of the store as eating in is more expensive.

With that said, however, the food at its restaurant is pretty good as well. You can probably have a good meal for 10 to 15 pounds, though 10 may be sufficient depending on what you’re ordering.

Upstairs is the bookshop, where you will be able to find Japanese novels, publications and educational material. If you’re studying a elementary Japanese course, you might well be told to buy your material from this place. At least I was.

Nice place and considering that it’s an all-in-one shop, restaurant and bookstore, the food is surprisingly good.

A bit expensive but not crazy and definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Great sushi, some of the best in London.

Beware of it being more expensive in the adjacent restaurant.

Best to stick with the supermarket downstairs.

A world of fun for fans of Japanese culture slap bang in the middle of London. Whether it’s sushi you came for, to pick some ingredients or even some manga, you can usually find it here.

I tend to pop down once in a while to get some of the awesome wasabi peas (they taste exactly how they sound!) or some frozen edamane.

This place was also good when I was learning japanese, there are loads of books to help (confuse) you!

Don’t forget to sit down and have a quick bite to eat before you head back on the tube.

I’ve been here a few times now and have even collected a few stamps on their loyalty card (one day I might qualify for a free green tea!).

There are proper sushi chefs beavering away at the sushi bar, where you can sit and watch them. Or take a seat at one of the tables in the restaurant. Someone told me it’s cheaper if you sit near the door! I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s certainly draughtier so I wouldn’t recommend it!

Last time I went, we sat towards the back of the restaurant. I ordered an old favourite – tuna in a wasabi sauce with rice. But I was very disappointed by the tuna as it was really gristly and chewy (it was raw, but it’s not normally like that). So I complained and sent it back. They came back and said that occasionally you get it like that (caused by a layer of muscle in the tuna apparently), but I can’t believe that a top-notch sushi chef would knowingly serve you a piece of muscle?! Anyway, they didn’t charge me for it, but I am a little bit wary of ordering it again. The miso soup that came with it was fab though.

The takeaway sushi is apparently very good value and worth taking to nearby Green Park for a picnic in summer.

This is a one stop shop for Japanese related items, restaurant, sushi bar, grocery store, travel agent all amalgamated into one. I love going to Japan Centre and I am quite a lazy person. I can pick up some groceries at the same time have a quick meal. One down side is that it is always packed with people regardless of the time of the day. I hate crowds and this is the only thing that stop me from going too often. Usually I visit the Japan Centre about once every 2 weeks.

I like the take-away sushi part of the shop, everything looks very inviting. The queues are quite long, and you have to walk sideways occasionaly butthey have loads of stuff there! They have a books and magazine section downstairs. Lots of strange items such as fluffy ear cleaners. Most of the sweets at childrens height can be bought in china town however for better prices.

I love the supermarket in the basement -there’s also a really great takeaway sushi counter down there - the restaurant above I’ve never tried. The stuff in the supermarket is all in Japanese but I’ve found the staff really helpful if you ask questions. The best place to get ingredients for things like Okonomiyaki. Totally authentic. They do a great email newsletter as well that gives you sale information and stuff.

The Japan centre was a place that I found out about after searching for an authentic Japanese supermarket, to try and replicate the meals that I was used to during my stay in Japan. They have a great selection of food, and all the ingredients you would ever need. I even managed to get my hands on some ‘Calpis’ which always refreshes. But the bonus is that you also get a great restaurant thrown in there too. Their yaku-don was as good as I’d had back home. Although be prepared as they are very busy if you visit at the weekends, or in the evenings during the week.

I accidentally found this place when I first arrived in London. It’s very similar to grocery stores in Japan (only less cramp!). They sell a wide variety of Japanese food and cooking ingredients. Prices are reasonable and not excessively priced over that those in Chinatown.

Japan Centre is for those who craves and misses Japanese Grocery store. Most items (including food) are at reasonable prices. Their take away sushi is worth commending as all of them are prepared fresh on the day and with the freshest ingredients. Although on appearance, the food may not look as nicely presented as those you get from japanese chain sushi restaurants, the quality doesnt compromise. Worth a try even if you are not a sushi virgin.

Staff are extremely friendly in helping me to find the Japanese ingredient that I am looking for (despite my limited Japanese vocabulary). Tried their sushi once. It’s value for money and if you are looking for a quick, nutritious, and cheap lunch - this would be the place to go. A word of warning - the queus during peak hours (i.e. lunch time) can be a little too long. Highly recommended

I stumbled on the Japan Centre completely by chance and have since become a devotee, often making pilgrimages to its incredibly well stocked and fresh supermarket (although sometimes the language barrier can prove a bit tricky when knowing what you’re putting in your basket!). Fantastic authentic in-house restaurant, if a little cramped and basic in décor - the perfect place for a quick bite, although it’s not bargain basement and things can quickly add up. Great fresh sushi available to take away, which is incredibly well-priced and a well-stocked book shop with fashion magazines etc. Highly recommended and very central.

If you walk down Picadilly you might not stop to consider eating at the Japan Centre, given the outside appearance. However, if you go in you’ll discover really good food, made fresh when you order. It’s good value for money and the food itself if really good. I’d recommend the Kara Age set which is deep fried chicken, served with salad, rice, pickles and miso soup. They make sushi fresh all day (and they sell it in their supermarket next door, it’s really good value if you buy it there to take away), as well as noodles, dumplings and desserts including green tea ice cream. The service is good and if you get there before 7pm in the evening you should get a seat.

I’m biased towards any “proper” Japanese shop/restaurant and this is definitely the real deal.

The sushi is absolutely delicious and I would (and do) go out of my way to go there to pick some up even when I’ve got a two hour journey home ahead of me!

The shop has everything you could possibly want. It’s not just about price - sometimes there’s that essential ingredient you need at home that you just can’t find anywhere else.

Plus, if you’re even at all considering going to Japan at some point it’s always worth checking out the Japan Centre’s flights. Unless Air France or Virgin have a direct sale on, the Japan Centre is often extremely competitive to buy a ticket through.

As you’d expect, this place has the perfect sushi! Prices are reasonable and it’s probably some of the best sushi I’ve had in London, even comparing to the likes of Nobu which is essentially the same but with fancier ingredients (and more designer handbags). If you just want basic but very good sushi, you can’t go wrong here. Though beware, we were hungry so over ordered and when the dishes kept arriving one after the other we couldn’t fit everything on the table, so most of it came back to the office with us! An amazing roll full with warm vegetable tempura was incredible and I’ll definitely be going back to order more of that! It doesn’t get the important 5th star because it’s pretty noisy and cramped with the tables and very basic decor, but other than that the food is perfect.

I love Japanese food so when I heard about Japan Centre I was really excited about what I was going to find. I have to say that it didn’t disappointed me at all. The place is fantastic. The ground floor is the supermarket, the basement has a travel agency and the first floor a posh restaurant.
The supermarket has a huge range of Japanese products that are not easy to find in other places. They sell a lot of fresh food (fish and meat) and ready to eat sushi that has amazing value. They also have a small bakery area.
In the last months they have change a bit the distribution of the supermarket (adding some seats to enjoy the sushi in-store) and I hope that even tough is been more famous it will maintain the same quality and prices.

This place is absolutely fantastic if you are a lover of Japanese food then you should definitely visit. It is located next of Piccadilly Circus and has all sorts of Japanese food, from sweets and biscuits to instant noodles. It also has a section selling a selection of Japanese bakery products and cooking utensils.

Next door there is also a restaurant serving sushi. However the biggest attraction for me is the take away sushi service. Here you can buy sushi starting at £2.00 and it is all made fresh everyday. It is by far the cheapest sushi you can get in the central London area and makes a great snack or just a quick lunch!

As a sushi lover this place is absolutely fantastic. There is always a huge variety of sushi on offer which makes it a tough time deciding what to eat at lunchtime!

California rolls at less than £3 for eight pieces is a steal compared to eating in at various Japanese restaurants in the area. There’s also a good selection of drinks and desserts available too.

Definitely recommend if you’re looking for cheap and cheerful Japanese food to takeaway.

Only one phrase to describe it: The mecca of all foods Japanese in London.

They’ve now expanded their supermarket to the shop next door, and opened a new sake cellar at the basement below their restaurant.

You can find virtually anything Japanese in this shop, from soba to sushi rice, soy sauce to seaweed. They also do an extensive sushi takeaway counter, and if you go around 6-7pm (approx) everything is at half price, making it a very good value sushi dinner at home. One of their highlights is that they sell fresh matcha powder, ground from tea leaves right on the spot.

Be aware though that for transactions less than £10, they charge a 30p card handling fee.