Butakun in Newcastle upon Tyne

Great food in a relaxed environment. Ramen and sushi are both top notch. Great spot to dine as a group or solo. There’s great benches against the windows where you can grab some food and watch the world go by as you eat.

Had the geso karaage and spicy tori paitan ramen. Pricy, but the portions and the quality of the food are definitely worth it. Staff are fantastic, location is perfect and the place itself is beautifully decorated and quiet. Just what I needed.

My first time here with my friend, but it will not be my last! Incredible food, presented beautifully! Tasted so good! Good range of food, and the staff are second to none. I couldn’t recommend here more!

This was my second visit to this brilliant restaurant and it was just as amazing this time as the last! This time I invited a friend, who was equally impressed 👍 The food is absolutely delicious! Some of the best food I’ve eaten in a while (with the exception of my first visit last month), and the spinach salad with sesame dressing is one of the best things I have ever eaten! The staff are very polite, friendly and efficient and the restaurant itself is very clean and comfortable.

Food overpriced. Food quality was ok but have had better for a lower price in other restaurants. Felt sorry for the waiter and waitress. They looked overworked and under staffed. The manager wasn’t helping them. She wasn’t busy and could have helped her staff out. When we asked her for help she shouted one of her staff over instead of her. Her staff were already rushed off their feet. She wasn’t welcoming or friendly at all. She looked like she couldn’t be bothered. Came across lazy and unapproachable. Wasn’t very friendly. Will not be returning. Save your money, there are far better places to go instead.

This place is a hidden gem I can't recommend it enough the authenticity of the food is its signature price point is good aswella great place to eat and meet the ambiance is fab

Fantastic Japanese food. Highly recommended. Very authentic.

Always excellent food and good prices. Staff are always nice. Highly recommended.

First time eating here on Saturday, as someone with celiac disease I was prepared to question the staff on the food but they told me everything that I needed to know without me asking. They knew which parts of the meal would be swapped, how it would impact the dish, everything. For folks with severe food intolerances/autoimmune disorders this is wonderful, and puts my mind at ease. The food was lovely, I was expecting some veg but even without that the salmon was cooked perfectly and was seasoned so well. It was just a tasty dish. If gluten free folk are looking for a place to eat that can put them at ease and still provide a range of options this is a good place.

Wonderful restaurant and experience--food was fantastic and delivered promptly, service was spectacular and atmosphere was cozy. Mainly ordered from sushi and sashimi options and found them fresh and well presented. Sake and tea were also very nice. Very much recommended! Thank you for a lovely evening!

Food was delicious and warmed the soul.

Have been three times, each time it was lovely. Great service and great food And the lovely lady serving us complimented my shirt so all in all: 10/10 would recommend.

Amazing place with authentic and delicious food! We visited after having been to Japan to relive our food experience and we were not disappointed, wonderful sushi and ramen, very excited to make a return trip. One of, if not 'the best' Japanese in Newcastle.

Costs 14.80 chicken ramen and it’s honestly horrendous everything looks like it came pre packaged and nothing made from scratch and they definitely just shoved everything in a machine it’s honestly the worst eggs I had in my life your better off eating instant noodles than coming here trust me.

The staff is very knowledgeable about the food @ Butakun, friendly and honest. Super happy with the overall experience. For more zesty flavours and bite, must try the Spicy Ramen rather than the Tonkasu Ramen.

A more high end Japanese restaurant but definitely a must visit. We go only a few times a year as a very special treat. This most recent visit was to celebrate a birthday. Not only was the food amazing but the service was by far the best I have ever received. Our waitress kay had remembered members of my party from their last visit which was over a year ago. She also gave us a slice of matcha cheesecake and some plum sake to celebrate the birthday. She was ever so lovely and I have never felt more taken care of.

Solid Japanese food. Great service and nice atmosphere.

Absolutely loved it! Everything was delicious and the staff were amazing. Will definitely be back!

Superb food. Very attentive and friendly service staff. Interior ambience and decor throughout is excellent. My favourite ramen spot in Newcastle.

Authentic Japanese cuisine in town. Enjoying the japanese food you defo have it with sake not cocktail.

Ramen is not thick enough and I felt still very hungry after eating it. Typically, a proper ramen makes you feel satiated. I guess that is the way to make customers order more side dishes or desserts, which are very expensive by the way. A pint is £7.

I visited yesterday evening alongside my husband and his parents to celebrate my husband's master's graduation. The staff were all professional and helpful with one gentleman - possibly the manager - being particularly attentive and warm. We had water delivered to our table moments after we were settled into our seats. The food was piping hot, fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was bright but relaxing. The seating area was beautifully presented with staff regularly maintaining the front of house area and even the bathrooms looked and smelled fresh and clean, which sadly is often where some establishments let themselves down. If there are any points of constructive feedback I can offer it's to perhaps to widen the main course veggie/vegan options listed on the menu. Although when asked a tofu curry was offered, made and thoroughly enjoyed. We all had a genuinely lovely experience celebrating at Butakun, we all left with full stomachs and happy hearts. Thank you for taking such good care of us. We hope to return again soon!

Great food, perfect for groups, had high chair and utensils for children, friendly staff 👍

Loved ,loved the food here! Must go here if you are looking for good Japanese food. We left with our stomach full and happy. Generous portion of food and very helpful staff.

Amazing Japanese food in town. Probably the best out of the ones in town, and taste close to what you get in Japan. Service is very attentive too. The umeshu brought back a lot of memories from our holiday. We will be back.

As there aren’t many Japanese restaurants in the city I have wanted to try here for awhile. I was very happy with the food selection and taste. We had a variety of starters which were crispy and fresh and the mixed tempura was great served correctly with tentsuyu. Agedashi tofu was delicious and perfectly soft highlighting delicate tofu flavor. For sushi the quality was pretty good, I had a salmon roll and toro nigiri. The toro had excellent mild/fatty taste with no fishiness. I would go here for more sushi again. I also appreciate that they give the option to serve sake hot. Overall I’m glad there is a Japanese restaurant with Japanese menu, no pan-asian monolith menu.

Ordered the omakase set and the food was only average. Very disappointing for what you pay. Felt like you were eating a very average piece of sushi but just served in a very nice plate. The waiter also looked clueless and a took a long time to get the bill although the restaurant was at low capacity. Would not recommend.

Ever since I've been to Japan I have been looking for a real authentic Japanese Restaurant. Butakun is by miles the best, most authentic Japanese Restaurant in the UK I've been to! Epic Japanese food 😋👌

Great staff, lovely food, really enjoyable. Will go again. Enjoyed the miso shiru, tori katsu and the spicy ramen.

Very friendly staff here and nice food. Not as good as in Japan, but the best ramen I've had in Newcastle so far. Good fried chicken too.

Had spicy tonkatsu ramen. Was delicious and staff were super helpful.

Great service and very delicious sushi and ramen. One of our favourite restaurants in Newcastle hands down!

Went for our monthly date night as we are both fond of japanese/asain food. Everything was really good. Wonderfully decorated, well presented and delicious food and great selection of sake which I loved. The Chilli Squid was a highlight. Only bad side was the waitress who spilled water over the table, apologised and then left us to clean it up. But that aside, great place and will return.

Absolute top. Tonkatsu ramen was so flavourful I will come for more!

Great food and service. Love the atmosphere.

Great food, great service thank you :)

Excellent quality of food. Skilful and elegant presentation. Highly recommended.

The food was incredible. Not sure on Yuzu juice but all good. Staff were excellent as well

I had an amazing experience during my first visit to this restaurant. The establishment impressed me with its exceptional cleanliness. I decided to try the volcano salmon donburi, while my partner opted for the salmon in teriyaki sauce. Both dishes exceeded our expectations and were truly exquisite. It was an exciting opportunity for me to savour these flavors for the first time.

Hands down the best ramen I’ve ever had and I have been travelling for years around the world you must try the spicy tonkotsu!!!! SOOOOO GOOD

Wow, this place is amazing! The food was cooked and served quickly and tasted delicious. My partner and I both had perfect dishes and were very full and satisfied from our food. The staff were so friendly and the water to our table was a nice touch on a hot day. We will definitely be returning to try more dishes from the menu.

Food so good (sushi & takoyaki 10/10). Atmosphere great, staff are very friendly and accommodating too. Even got a glass of wine on the house. 100% recommend for best sushi in Newcastle

Amazing selection of exquisitely prepared, fresh, delicious sushi. A completely luxurious experience and a great memory to share with friends.

Bonnie, clean venue, with friendly (if a bit inattentive) staff, but with average food for the price you pay. The tantan tonkotsu ramen is over £15, a pint of Asahi is £7, and with an app and a service fee you're looking at spending at least £30 per person, and for only a half-decent meal imho. The place looks more upscale, but food-wise it doesn't hold a candle to Chilli Padi, Thai House Cafe, or Ngon, which are all relatively nearby, (though admittedly none of those are *Japanese* restaurants, but pan-Asian, Thai, and Vietnamese, respectively)! I was hoping I'd find a new ramen place I'd love, but alas, the search continues...

The food is not fresh. It came lukewarm with some being cold in the middle. Does not match the price you pay.

Nice service, but poor food quality, sadly. Food that shouldn’t have been cold (like Takoyaki) was indeed cold, or lukewarm at best — clearly reheated in a microwave. Definitely not worth the price. Ambience isn’t the best either. Disappointed.

Had an amazing dinner here. Their ramen is authentic, the soup is so tasty, and sushi are great too. Staff are very friendly and the whole place is so clean. Love it and highly recommend it to anyone who likes Japanese food. Probably the best Japanese restaurant in Newcastle.

The dish drives me insane 🫶🏼. Soooooooo goood and tasty. The food worths the price. I love it so much!

Pretty cool place. Earth sushi & chicken ramen are amazing!

A lovely relaxed experience. They accommodated for having a child, keeping some of the sauces separate. Asked about dietary requirements. Served a very delicious lunch. Would recommend

Really good food and lots to choose from. Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff.

Visited easily a dozen times in a month. Incredible food, very friendly staff!

Lovely place in all fields, from food, decoration and stuff. Definitely a must go.

I had a wonderful time and the service was top, they came around and offered to refill the drinks very frequently. The food was incredible too and fairly priced.

authentic Japanese food in newcastle, slightly on the pricey end

lovely restaurant, great service, kind waiters, amazing food :)

We went to Butakun for the first time this evening and it was very nice! Food was great, staff were very friendly and the restaurant is very nice inside. Highly recommend ☺️

The ramen was full of flavor ❤️

We had a delicious and authentic bowl of Japanese ramen with all the trimmings and with extra pulled pork!. Also, the carafe of cold Meijou sake went down a treat on such a sunny day. Service and atmosphere was perfect and would highly recommend. My lunch partner on this day was Japanese and she felt as enthusiastic about the meal as me, and also happy that a resturant such as Butakun is now present in Newcastle.

Probably the best Japanese place I’ve been in the UK. The vibe is chill and authentic. Ramen and tea taste incredible.

One of the posh and fine Japanese restaurants in town. Located opposite Haymarket station.

Paid a quick trip for lunch. Can only comment on the Sushi Rolls and Prawn with Mango and Wasabi from the specials menu. They were all excellent. Fresh and full of flavour. The latter dish was exceptional. Eaten at a lot of prestigious sushi / Japanese places and can say those dishes were right up there

Great food, friendly helpful staff

We weren't sure how to enter the premises initially but found the door. Nice staff greeting. Friendly and knowledgeable. Placed in a comfortable area but as we were the only diners in that part of the restaurant it felt quite sparse and lacking atmosphere. We went for the five course menu. Sashimi, chilli squid (favourite), gyoza. Beef, Salmon teryaki,ramen noodles (little greasy). Vegetable tempura delicious. Dessert bit disappointing. Tiny matcha tart unforthnatey drowning in over sweet bottle chocolate sauce. We had Japanese beer and Prosecco. Food was tasty, clean filling. However we had hoped for a little more adventure. These are uncertain times for hospitality so wish the restaurant well. A few simple tweeks and a little more menu risk would elevate it's culinary position in Newcastle.

Cannot fault the service, the waiting staff were really cheerful and helpful. The food was well presented and taste was fine but nothing was outstanding, especially the ramen (would have liked a fattier broth, softer soya eggs, fall-apart pork). Might have expected better for the price.

I Would totally recommend this place to anyone that loves japanese food, ive gotta say this is now my Favourite one in newcastle of ones ives been to so far, First time going today, Choice to come on my own, really Friendly staff nice atmosphere didn't wait was seated straight away, Lot to choose from on the menu, even the food come quickly, id say it's a little on the expensive side But which one isnt but totally worth it I'd say and will totally be coming back. My pictures don't do this place justice but promise it was really nice and filling. Choose spicy chicken tori soup.

Good experience overall with a few issues. Their sushi is excellent and so are most of their starters. Tonkatsu curry rice was really good. The spicy ramen broth and the spicy pork is great but the quality of the noodles was a big let down. Noodles were mushy and our eggs were overcooked and under-marinated. The chicken pieces in the ramen itself lacked any flavour and were not grilled properly. The chashu was alright. Don’t agree with the concept of service charge in a Japanese restaurant either - why not just increase your prices 10% and get rid of the service charge?

The spicy ramen was amazing and left me feeling so satisfied. The staff were very welcoming and friendly :) thank you

I don’t get into the centre of Newcastle much in the post Covid world, but yesterday I happened upon Butakun - a new (to me anyway) Japanese Ramen, Sushi and Sake joint at the heart of the city, opposite Haymarket bus depot. On a shopping trip with my mother (a recent convert to Japanese food) we decided to stop in for lunch. Butakun was a treat. Quiet pleasant atmosphere and delightful friendly welcoming staff. We ordered tempura vegetables with salmon, tuna, and avocado maki. Water was complimentary and I ordered a Nikka Whisky Highball (a little tart for me, but that was a personal taste. The drink was perfectly mixed). The food was beautifully prepared, presented, and delicious. Next time I’ll have to try the ramen. Everything on the extensive menu sounded good. It would take several visits to work my way through everything on the bill of fare I would like to sample. I also never got to the extensive sake selection. Oh well, next time. Highly recommend Butakun and will definitely return.

Great service and the food was fantastic!

My favourite Japanese restaurant currently. The Chilli prawns Were Fantastic aswell with the Tempura Batter The takoyaki is a cabbage filling by the way The grilled octopus balls Are yummy and I loved every bite The Sashimi Is fresh better than your classic supermarket sushi… (Duh) The spicy ramen was super spicy and the broth was fantastic and the noodles were fresh The matcha ice cream was Fantastic featured with Japanese style Pancakes the staff were very nice aswell!

The food is amazing, and service is excellent. Would 100% recommend! Ramen and sashimi are great.

The food was absolutely incredible, it deserves to be busier. Definitely check this place out! The mackerel sashimi is certainly something I will be going back for.

This was my first experience of a Japanese restaurant and I was very impressed. Fortunately my dining companion was well versed in Japanese cuisine and helped me avoid making any faux pas. We had the five course set menu, which was delicious and incredibly good value. We were both stuffed by the end of the meal. The staff were brilliant, so helpful, friendly and patient. Highly recommended.

I'd recommend the Spicy Tori Paitan Ramen. It was lovely and the service, warm and friendly.

Superb! We loved it and ordered all over the menu including spicy pork ramen, sushi roll, unagi don, Japanese spinach salad & spicy edamame. I've eaten at world class ramen places such as Ichiran & Ippudo and I can say these folks can compete with those legendary halls of ramen. Sushi roll very nice. The spicy edamame is easily the best version of edamame we've ever had whether that be in NYC, LA, San Francisco, London, etc. Amazing. My only minor critique would be to say the spinach salad could do with a touch more seasoning or sauce. Great to see a place in the UK with an actual selection of sake too. We look forward to our return soon.

Initially walked past as no eye level signage & thought it was a fast food bar. However food was great & staff friendly

Outstanding food and service at a very reasonable price. We went for the 5 course set menu - every course was excellent! Would definitely reccomend - some of the best Japanese food in Newcastle.

Delicious sashimi and ramen, and the staff were lovely.

Loved our meal here. Amazing food, great service, lovely staff.

Had a great dinner here. I have celiac disease and they were really accomodating. Great service, delicious food.

Great food from this place. We had 2 types of donbury with grilled fish and they were just great. I think that as long as they keep up with the current quality - probably one of the best Japanese food places in Newcastle! Definitely will be back😀

We had a fantastic selection of classic Japanese dishes. Loved the variety of sushi available. Seemed pretty good value for the quality we received as well.

great authentic cuisine. great friendly staff very helpful very tasty food would recommend.

First time diner Staff were welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable First class food ans very reasonable Definitely go back

Gorgeous first time visiting! Didn't get photos of tuna maki, takoyaki or chicken dumplings...we ate them so quick! They were delicious! My chicken teriyaki was very flavourful, however if you aren't used to big portions of rice, you will be defeated! Salmon volcano donburi was also big, but super creamy when you mixed the egg yolk in!! Also a nice touch receiving miso soup on the side. Service was excellent! Will be back!

Authentic Japanese food. It was OK, fresh food and a great selection of sake.

Great food and great service. A calm and enjoyable atmosphere.

What incredible food, a little different from the usual sushi/ ramen restaurant. It was quirky in its detail, and absolutely delicious. Service was a bit slow, although our waitron was pleasant enough, and it was a quiet night, so that let down the atmosphere.

Nice Ramen but very small amount for £14.50 and a 10% service charge on your bill....walked out hungry.

Newcastle goes from strength to strength with some amazing new places in 2022 (Solstice, Lovage, Rebel, Nest), but above all, Butakun has rapidly become our favourite. Hands down best quality, most authentic sashimi, sushi and ramen Japanese restaurant in Newcastle with super friendly, attentive service. Hope it’s here for many, many years.

Fabulous quality and as close to authentic Japanese available in Newcastle.

Friendly staffs, delicious sushi and ramen, fresh sashimi, nice sake… will be back to try more foods and sake

Welcoming, friendly and attentive staff. Very authentic Japanese food. Best ramen I've tried in the UK. Good vibes all round.

An outstanding Japanese restaurant! Close the reviews tab and just reserve a table. My partner and I regularly visit the place as it offers the best all round experience to enjoy a meal. Brian and all the other staff really know their trade and are a delight. Food is out of this world and the decor is beautiful.

Me and my partner go to Butakun literally each week. We are always amazed by the food whenever we try something new. Is all the served food excellent? It's very possible yes ! We didn't try the whole menu yet but so far, the flavours are outstanding. Brian and all staff are so welcoming and social. This is the best japanese place. Ramen and donburis are to die for.

Great experience. I was intrigued by their menu and wanted to try it for myself. Ordered a omakase dish and also a sushi roll. I got to try some fish that I never had on a nigiri, so that was interesting. Yes, the food is quite pricey but was still delicious. I would go back again to try other things on the menu.

Absolutely incredible meal, will definitely be coming back

Lovely food and great service. Will be back to try more of the menu.

Nice Japanese restaurant, the sushi tasted fresh. Service was good. Good atmosphere. It is slightly pricy. The Chirashi Don was nice, I thought it was better than the other Japanese restaurants in Newcastle, but it is also pricier, and the portion is not a lot. The Ramen was also good, and the price was more reasonable. Good sushi can be expensive though and I thought the quality was good.