Kazu

Located at the far end of Charlotte Street, Kazu blends traditional minimalist looks (bare wood, a sushi counter, an open kitchen and severely black-clad staff) with a friendly welcome and some contemporary flourishes on a menu that rarely puts a foot wrong. Sharing plates might bring stir-fried pork belly with kimchi, beef tataki and renkon chips (actually deep-fried lotus root), while agedashi tofu sees lightly fried, barely set beancurd in a delicate broth. Elsewhere, our hamachi (yellowtail) with jalapeño was prettily arranged (we were grateful for the sparing use of the fiery pepper), although nothing could trump the flavour-packed, miso-marinated ‘fisherman’s roll’ wrapped in a fold of seared salmon and packing a wasabi punch. We’re also pleased to report that the menu now offers bigger portions and friendlier prices, with all-in set lunches offering particularly good value for the likes of chicken teriyaki, grilled sea eel and prawn tempura – all served with miso soup, rice, salad and dessert. In short, Kazu’s low-key approach will appeal to diners turned off by the wallet-emptying flash of some other modern Japanese hotspots.

Japanese restaurant, Kazu, balances a contemporary attitude with traditional dishes on one of London's most iconic streets - Charlotte Street. Nestled in the heart of Fitzrovia, Kazu couldn't enjoy a better spot, surrounded by a mix of up-market and stylish restaurants and boutiques, making this a place to be. 

Step inside, and the space is a calming mix of natural materials and earthy colours, very much adhering to the typical sensibilities of Japanese design. Pull up a seat infront of the dynamic sushi bar, dine as a group on the larger, minimalist tables, or bag a cosy spot in the corner, perfect for couples or parties of just two. Sleek and stylish, the main dining room will look great on your Instagram - as will the dishes coming out of the kitchen.

The team is led by Dham Kodituwakku (Kodi), former head chef at Chisou in Mayfair, who boasts 30 years of experience. Kazu is proud to recreate over 100 authentic Japanese recipes, using their own signature flair on the likes of high quality sushi and sashimi, alongside salads, noodles and dishes cooked on the grill. 

Speaking of which, the detailed menu has plenty of choice and covers a wide breadth of plates. Start off with chicken gyoza, spicy edamame or lightly salted shishito peppers. If sashimi is your thing, choose the chef's choice omakase selection which offers a blind taste of everything, while the seared sushi also sounds delicious, and comes in scallop, salmon, waygu and fatty tuna. Deep fried dishes are not to be missed and include soft-shell crab, breaded chicken thighs and black tiger prawn tempura, and you can add sides of noodles to anything, or go for a classic chicken soba or udon. 

If you're looking for somewhere to host your next event, Kazu has a private dining room which can accomodate up to 12 people, and is perfect for meetings, birthdays or anything inbetween.