Umu Restaurant

“Had a wonderful experience at Umu today. The food was beautifully presented, fresh, and full of flavour. Every dish was prepared with great attention to detail, and the quality of the ingredients really stood out. The service was excellent—friendly, attentive, and professional without being intrusive. The atmosphere was elegant yet relaxed, making it a lovely place to enjoy a meal. Overall, a fantastic dining experience, and I would happily return. Highly recommended!”

“We had a fantastic lunch at this Japanese restaurant in a very central location in London, and it was a truly enjoyable experience from start to finish. What stood out immediately was the menu, which felt creative and a little different from the usual Japanese dining experience. One of the highlights was a beautifully presented tasting box that included a variety of different items, allowing us to sample a range of flavors and specialties in one meal. It was a great way to discover and appreciate the diversity of the menu. Perfect for a seasonal Japanese lunch menu filled with precise, ingredient-led cooking, every dish showcased high-quality ingredients and careful attention to detail. We also ordered sushi, and the quality of the fish was exceptional. The freshness was evident in every bite, and the attention to detail in the preparation made each piece a pleasure to enjoy. To finish, we tried a unique buckwheat ice cream dessert, which was absolutely delicious. The flavor was distinctive and beautifully balanced, making for a memorable and unexpected ending to the meal. With its excellent food, central location, and distinctive menu, this restaurant offers a refreshing and high-quality Japanese dining experience. We would happily return and highly recommend it to anyone visiting London. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”

“Booked this about two days in advance and went on a weekday evening after work, and it wasn’t too busy, which made the whole experience feel even more relaxed and intimate. We had the chef’s menu for this month, and honestly, if you love fish and clean, protein-focused dishes, you’ll really enjoy it. The sashimi and sushi were definitely the highlight, super fresh and beautifully balanced. The yellowtail was amazing, and the black truffle wagyu was a standout. There was also one piece that tasted almost like scallop(not entirely sure what it was, but it was incredible. I really liked how the wasabi was placed between the fish and the rice, you don’t see it, but you get just the right amount of heat. Very subtle, very well thought through. The grilled sea bass was also great, simple but full of flavour. Dessert was a lovely surprise. The sakura mochi paired with matcha worked really well, and they even gave us some Middle Eastern-style pistachio biscuits at the end, which was a nice touch. For drinks, I had a yuzu margarita (really refreshing), and my partner had a matcha old fashioned which was surprisingly good. The entrance is quite low-key and a bit hidden, you actually have to press a button to get in, which adds to the whole experience. It’s around £200 per person, so definitely on the pricier side, but overall it felt worth it for a special occasion. Would recommend if you’re looking for a refined Japanese dining experience in London.”

“We recently had lunch at a Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Mayfair UMU, and the experience was truly exceptional—arguably deserving of a higher distinction. The atmosphere was refined yet welcoming, with elegant interiors and a calm sense of understated luxury. The staff were exceptionally attentive, taking the time to explain the menu in detail and offer thoughtful recommendations. The fish was incredibly fresh and of outstanding quality. The sushi set was both delicious and impressively varied, while the rest of the menu balanced tradition with creativity. What stood out most was the precision in every detail, from texture to presentation. Overall, a sophisticated and memorable experience that feels closer to two Michelin stars than one. Highly recommended.”

“So it was one of those highly anticipated dinners which me and my friends were looking forward to. Read the ratings and menu reviews and chose the restaurant. Japanese is perhaps not the most common food I eat and hence maybe not super familiar with the cuisine. We all decided to go for the Kaiseki menu ( which was £260/- a head ) With that budget you can pretty much pay any of the London Michelin restaurants apart from a few 3 stars / and the couple of top omakase experiences that are in London. I think overall the food was good, the portions were Michelin stars like so no surprise. Sushi was great, tuna was excellent and maybe the Wagyu was good. In all honesty I enjoyed most of the dishes, dessert was ok nothing much to talk on that front. Wine list was great expensive one, had to look for the budget wines and anything decent you are looking at 70-80 range. The service in the beginning was slow and wine was not cold to out linking so it was kept in an ice bucket. While we are waiting for wine to cool we were almost finishing course 1 of the set menu. I thought either we could have been given a different colder wine / or course 1 could have waited. Anyways it’s a small thing. Overall, decent place but paying 260 a head for a set menu without any booze plus tips … I feel you could try and go to most of the other Michelin restaurants in London. So if you either are in love with Japanese food or you don’t mind paying a big price for it then go for Umu ! For me once is enough.”