Hanasaki Japanese Restaurant - Review - Fitzrovia - London - The Infatuation

"It feels as though London has more restaurants than people. But only some spots make you truly grateful for this city, and Hanasaki is one of them. On one of Fitzrovia’s quieter roads, this small restaurant serves some of the best Japanese food in London. Little touches like adorable mini carrot and radish-shaped chopstick holders, attentive staff who check in without being overbearing, and reliably good home-style cooking make this spot a firm favourite for wholesome family dinners. Order the moreish crab croquettes as soon as you sit down, a couple of inside out rolls (our favourites are the spicy tuna and ebi tempura), and some perfectly fried chilli squid for good measure. Whether you sit at the surprisingly comfortable counter (the seats have backs) or one of the five or so tables, a pleasant meal will be had. Because Hanasaki is just the kind of crowd-pleasing restaurant you’d hope would open in your neighbourhood. Food Rundown Horenso No Goma Mushrooms and wilted spinach are covered in a nutty, sweet sesame sauce. This is an excellent salad, so get one for the table. photo credit: Rianne Shlebak Kani Croquette Crispy, fried croquettes filled with a gooey crab centre. These come in threes, so if there’s any more of you then make sure to double up. You won’t want to share. photo credit: Rianne Shlebak Truffle Koji Sea Bass Soft melting sea bass is in a umami-rich truffle sauce. This is a great one to share. photo credit: Rianne Shlebak Chilli Squid Fried squid can often be too chewy, but not this squid. The coating is nice and crispy while the soft squid only requires a single bite. No over-chewing here. PlayMute video credit: Rianne Shlebak Spicy Tuna Inside-Out Roll Maki A solid tuna roll with a nice kick to it without overpowering the fish itself. This is our favourite inside out roll here. PlayMute Hamachi Ceviche Maki This sounds better than it tastes. The cut of hamachi on top is a little too thick and the zesty ceviche-style dressing didn’t work as well as we thought it would. photo credit: Rianne Shlebak" - Rianne Shlebak