Soho’s hand-pulled udon bar serves comforting bowls of chewy noodles, creative Japanese breakfasts, and crisp tempura in a casual counter setting.
"Koya is a temple of noodles and soups and all manner of good things, and it legitimately can lay claim to having the best udon in London. It’s a great place to come for a Japanese-style breakfast, to eat at the bar with a friend or two, or even solo should you have an hour to yourself. Besides the noodles, order some of their sides like the braised pork belly which is slow-cooked with cider and will make you very happy." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager
"It’s hard to justify most of London’s queues, but since Koya opened on Soho’s Frith Street in 2010, the standard of its lasso-worthy noodles has remained consistently high. Once you’ve foot-tapped your way through the line, you’re met with a counter catwalk and 25 or so heads bowed in appreciation. It’s proudly utilitarian and knowingly transient—an English breakfast udon bowl with gooey tamago egg first thing, solo miso-slurping on the weekend, or stopping by for a crunchy hit of kara-age chicken when you’re not ready for your W1 night to end." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager
"Open for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinnerPrice range: $$Shuko Oda’s little bar in Soho is among London’s most acclaimed Japanese restaurants. Over a long, blond wooden counter, chefs calmly and politely pass hot bowls of steaming broth containing noodles made on-site, topped with proteins like tempura prawn or smoked mackerel, or seasonal green vegetables from Sussex farm Namayasai. The traditional Japanese breakfast is the most steadying in London.Know before you go: The specials board of small plates changes every day and exhibits some of the city’s best modern British cooking." - Adam Coghlan
"A favorite spot for a quick bite, known for excellent produce and great value." - Andrew Young
"We once left a party because there was a three-minute queue for the bathroom, but we’re willing to wait in line for the noodles at Koya. This little corridor of a Japanese restaurant in Soho specialises in udon. Whether you go for hot udon in cold broth or for a tempura donburi that’s as crispy as it is comforting, you’ll be set for a seriously excellent and seriously affordable meal—we’re talking under £20. And if you’re heading to the theatre or want to grab breakfast before work, Koya works for that too." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak
