Ikeda

"At Ikeda, there’s a personal note from Paul Simon by the toilets. There’s one from Steven Spielberg, too. Fergus Henderson says it’s one of his favourite restaurants in London. But those aren’t reasons to go to this casual, old-school Japanese spot in Mayfair. Ikeda’s supreme assortments are. Each one comes with a mix of fatty to very fatty tuna, yellowtail, octopus, and more. It’s delicious, high-quality fish that melts away until you’re mourning it. And, importantly, the rice is perfect—warm, with a touch of vinegar. Get a hand roll packed with the stuff." - heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, jake missing

"At Ikeda there’s a personal note from Paul Simon by the toilets. There’s one from Steven Spielberg too. Fergus Henderson says it’s one of his favourite restaurants. But you should visit this old-school Japanese spot for the sushi and sashimi. Ikeda’s so-called ‘supreme assortments’ are just that. Each one comes with a mix of fatty to very fatty tuna, yellowtail, octopus, and more. It’s delicious, high-quality fish that melts away until you’re mourning it. The spot is pretty low-key and if you can get a seat on the counter opposite the chefs, you’ve done very well." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak

"Ikeda is a family-run Japanese restaurant. The restaurant has been around for 38 years — possibly the oldest Japanese restaurant in the UK. Kenichi Ikeda, the second-generation owner, acts as restaurant manager, with his brother supporting the operation as chef. The menu is wide reaching, traditional but top-notch and full of seasonal wow moments. Icelandic sea urchins are flown in regularly and prepared on the spot. Yellowtail amberjack sashimi (Hiramasa in Japanese) is transformed into a blossoming pink-petal flower and served with piquant daikon-oroshi. Tekka don (tuna rice bowl) is tightly packed with many cuts of high-grade tuna. Once the restaurant served raw tuna bone marrow in ponzu dressing — a rare delicacy even in Japan." - Poonperm Paitayawat, James Hansen

"At Ikeda there’s a personal note from Paul Simon by the toilets. There’s one from Steven Spielberg (and other celebrities) too. Fergus Henderson says it’s one of his favourite restaurants in London. But those aren’t the reasons to go to this old school Japanese spot in Mayfair. The sushi and sashimi is. Ikeda’s supreme assortments are just that. Each one comes with a mix of fatty to very fatty tuna, yellowtail, octopus, and more. It’s delicious, high-quality fish that melts away until you’re mourning it. And, importantly, the rice is also perfect. Warm and with a touch of vinegar, you’ll want to get a handroll packed with the stuff. Aside from the famous friends downstairs, the restaurant is extremely lowkey. Plain walls and polite service. But, if you can get a seat or two on the counter opposite the chefs, then you’ve done very well. Also, it’s worth knowing that Ikeda is expensive. But it’s also very worthwhile." - Jake Missing