Yashin Ocean House

"Yashin Ocean House is the sister sushi restaurant of nearby Yashin Sushi. But here, expect your meal to come with a lot more theatre. Like the original Yashin, sushi comes with truffle or caviar on top, but you’ll find some new things too—like lobster sitting over dry ice, or candy floss over wagyu beef. This is a great spot for a group meal or a fun date." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, sinead cranna

"Yashin Ocean House is the older, calmer sister restaurant of Yashin Sushi. This spacious, under-the-sea looking spot in South Kensington is all about quality fish with no funny business on the side. The mood is a little dull, which is why you won’t have trouble booking at the last minute for a group on a Friday night. The counter seating is a mix of solo diners having conversations with the chef, and duos who’ve popped in for a speedy, and great-value, 10-piece omakase dinner before a show at the Royal Albert Hall. The food is enjoyable without blowing you away: carpaccio is flavourful and the sushi rolls are technically flawless—our favourite is the crispy ebi ten. photo credit: Jamie Lau" - Rianne Shlebak

"This converted stables in South Kensington is a great spot for a small group meal or a fun date. There are tapas options, as well as lamb, pork, and beef chargrilled on the robata. We tend to go for their sushi. It’s served without soy sauce. Instead, each piece of fish is topped with something that enhances its natural flavours, like a sliver of truffle, or a tiny mound of caviar." - oliver feldman, heidi lauth beasley

"There are plenty of exclusive places to eat and drink in South Kensington where trainers or your semi-ironic board shorts won’t be allowed in. Frankly, we can’t get on board with that kind of thinking, long live our tattiest pair of mud-tinged Converse. But the only thing that’s frowned upon at Yashin Ocean House is soy sauce. This creative modern sushi restaurant on Old Brompton Road has an ever-changing list of top sushi including things like edible flowers, yuzu salt, truffle, and the odd theatrical smoke show. The high-quality fish is meant to speak for itself sans soy, which trust us, it does. As you might expect, this place is pricey but it’s totally worth it for an anniversary dinner, an intimate birthday for two, or pretty much any other special occasion we can think of. Or if you’re after a more casual sushi situation, walk up Old Brompton Road to Dozo. Expect lunchtime bento boxes, creative rolls, and quality sashimi sets for £20." - heidi lauth beasley

"Yashin Ocean House is a sophisticated Japanese spot that has more theatre than an exhibition on Shakespeare. The tuna comes with truffle. The sashimi comes covered in caviar. And there’s a giant horse in the dining room that also happens to be a lamp. Although a meal here can set you back a couple of hundred pounds, it’s worth it for all of the dry ice, beautiful counter seating, and some of the best sushi in London." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing