Defune in City of London, Westminster

I applied for the floor staff recruitment here. The attitude of the elderly Japanese man called the president was too bad. He hung up on me while I was still talking. I went to the store for an interview, but it didn't start even after the scheduled time and I had to wait for about 20 minutes. On the way home, I saw a similarly elderly woman, my wife? I also thanked him for an interview, but he completely ignored me. I made a CV and went all the way to the store, but I didn't hear anything about the results of the job offer. (I wish they would at least say that they would contact you only if they decide to hire you 😯) I don't like the feeling that only my personal information has been taken out. We are recruiting staff frequently. There may be a problem with the store.

I have never met such rude and cold staff in London. The portions are tiny for starters, so £24.80 for a Nabeyaki Udon where you won't even walk away full. Despite the restaurant being empty (this is always the case), they require you to sit at the sushi counter and the chairs are like torture devices. I asked if I can move to a table, they said no, so they shoved a normal chair at me which was WAY too low for the counter (they didn't give a care). At the end, I very reasonably opted not to pay the *optional* service charge to hopefully communicate the message that they cannot treat customers like that. The owner said to us: "I do not want to see you again!" Wow some gut. Conclusion: meh food, super small portions, overpriced, SUPER DUPER RUDEST STAFF in LONDON. I will never go there again. The owner's wish is my command! Luckily for him, as head of events for a large S&P500 company, he definitely won't be getting any of our corporate business either!

I rarely eat slowly, much to my mother’s chagrin. But the dishes here made me slow down in hopes of making the flavors last a bit longer. My husband took me here for my birthday and it was perfect. Not that the place or food were “perfect” — there is no such thing. Instead, this lovely calming place with pretty and simply yummy dishes hit the spot. The spinach with sesame sauce was delicious — crunchy and flavorful. Then we each had a set menu. Each of the three-piece seafood dishes was delicious in their little distinct flavorful sauces. The chicken seafood (??) broth in what looked like a tiny teapot was our favorite — we both fell silent as we appreciate the earthy umami flavor. And the delicaye sashimi was delicious. The main dishes — me steak, husband seafood — were nicely done, but we preferred the previous dishes Loved the mochi ice cream! But that’s not a revelation. The service could not have been better — attentive, friendly and welcoming without being intrusive. In sum, a very special place annd evening that’ll be hard to replicate, so we’re going back as soon as we can.

Really great lunch at this completely authentic Japanese restaurant - second visit - and both times impressed by the food, the unobtrusive service and the serene atmosphere. The set lunch was a great selection and just the right amount of food (had to leave the rice)!

Great restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.

We had such an amazing meal (signature set). We’ve been looking for authentic Japanese place and we found it) highly recommended for foodies)

I first went to Defune when my daughter was only 3 months old - so 39 years ago and have continued to eat there as its about as authentic for sushi as one can find in London. Not a patch on Tokyo of course, nor New York where you can find excellent sushi as it shoiuld be made. Today at Defune was one of the poorest meals I have had there. The fish was fresh, but the preparation and presentation was so poor, the food looked like it had been made by a first timer - terrible rice, poorly put together, the fish badly cut, the eel cold rather than warm, and the whole meal was just a mess. Sadly, Sammi, their regular sushi chef who has prepared the sushi since I have been eating there, is no longer there and they do really need to find someone who kjpows what they are doing soon as they can, as they are charging the same for a meal that was about as good as Itsu - not acceptable at this price. A reputation they have earned will slip away quickly if they don't do something quickly.

Akira is the most amazing chef ever. The food was the best I had in years!

Stunning food - possibly the best sushi I've had in the UK

To be fair we were a loud bunch of 9 fifty something's behaving badly but they handled us expertly as you would expect from a Japan restaurant. Food was splendid without being spectacular, possibly because I was hungry. Somehow I find the place a bit boring which is a shame as the cuisine is nice. When you pay reasonably high prices you shouldn't be bored?

Authentic and fresh; great value for lunch menu. Don’t miss out!

Excelent and traditional japonese restaurant! Must go! Best fish and service!

Food was good but I certainly do not appreciate or feel comfortable being watched by the waiters/waitresses while I am eating. Attentive and professional which any patron like myself would appreciate.

Avoid. A really disappointing experience. Overpriced for the quality of food. The Iberico pork ginger dish was very tough; not how iberico pork should be. Veg with all the main courses were cold…why? Friendly and welcoming service.

We were visiting from America, nice little place good service. Food portion was a little small very nice presentation, it felt more like a local hangout than a touristy shop.

Even though it was lunch, they served it a la carte. It was very delicious, the owner was a pleasant person, the staff was wonderful, and we had a great time. I was happy that my friend from Germany was also very happy. Thank you very much 🙇‍♀️💕

מסעדה מאד יפה , יש אזורי ישיבה שונים במסעדה , בקומה הראשונה יש מקומות על הבר וכמה מקומות ישיבה, בקומה השניה יש מקום לאיזה 6 אנשים סביב שולחן גבוה, ומספר מדרגות למטה יש אזור מאד יפה וחש בו גם אזור של שולחן גדול פרטי. השירות היה טוב , אם כי לאוכל לקח המון זמן להגיע, הסושי היה טעים וטרי,

I had the Katsu Jyu and it was incredible! Lovely staff & great ambience. Highly recommended

Amazing sushi. Will definitely be back.

I have been going here once a month. The value is getting less and less, i ordered some chicken wings, they were tiny mid joints, 4 pcs and charge over £10. Bowl of rice is only half full…I frequently sped £200 a meal for 2 for good food but the chicken wings was really poor

Worst sushi I’ve had in London. Sushi rice was mush. There is a terrible reusable towel in the toilets to dry your hands, incredibly unhygienic.

Sat down in Teppanyaki counter and it was nice to interact and see how the chef cooks. We ordered salmon in teriyaki sauce Mixed vegetables Wagyu steak (1) Drinks: Sake White wine Asahi beer Price: 142£ My boyfriend liked the salmon while I liked the Wagyu steak. It was quite expensive and the food was not a lot of serving. Though the vibe was good and I wished I also tried their sushi. Lastly, their ladies toilet looks old but clean and one cubicle was out of order 😅 Food: 3.5-4/5 Ambiance 4/5 Price: 3/5

A very nice place with absolutely delicious food and reasonable prices. I recommend trying their course menu because it’s super tasty and diverse

Mediocre food, extra charges, missing dishes

One of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Central London, reccomend sitting at the counter on the ground floor. I've become a regular after first visit. Iykyk type restaurant.

a super authentic Japanese restaurant, it is expensive but the quality of food is terrific it makes up for the lack of atmosphere. servers are friendly and efficient. portions are small

Quite expensive but the quality of both food and service is excellent. Worth it!

We got our seat but I think they double booked our table. They had to sort out the other group with something I'm not sure, but we enjoyed our evening Good food little on the expensive side But worth it if you like Japanese food

Staff is lovely and Sami on the sushi bar is a master

Absolutely amazing. Being at the counter seat, I really enjoyed interacting with the chef while enjoying all the foods and sakes at their highest quality. Great service and hospitality make the overall experience better - I would have rated more than 5 stars if the system had an extra rating. Safe to say, it's the best Japanese cuisine experience I have in the UK.

Lunch at Defune was so good. From the set lunch menue I choose the pork teriyaki and my husband the chefs special teppan. Both of these dishes were delicious. Not to forget to mention that the staff were all so very polite and professional. We will definitely visit again soon.

Great little place. Service was a bit skittish first night I think. Fun place with well executed food.

Clean , friendly staff, strongly recommend

Absolutely terrible food! went on Monday 24th Jan. Bathrooms so dirty! Bathrooms dirty We said one guest doesn’t have fish gave her fish starters Asked for steak, gave chicken also charged for steak Soo expensive Also terrible Prawns. Small portions for crazy price!

It is good food..the staff have limited English and look at £100 per head without alcohol

We were at Defune on Thursday evening at 7pm.Four of us sitting at the sushi bar expecting an excellent meal. We took 2 guests who have traveled extensively round Japan and they were looking forward to their Japanese meal. The service was terrible and there was only one chef preparing sushi for everyone on the ground floor. I ordered salmon teriyaki, miso soup, tempura vegetables and 2 salmon nigiri. The soup, nigiri and vegetables arrived eventually and no sign of my teriyaki. I asked on several occasions for the salmon and it didn’t arrive. In the end I said I am not waiting any longer as we had all finished and cancelled the salmon. This is not good enough in a high class restaurant charging exorbitant prices. My guests also waited a long time for their last dish to come . As other people came I think they totally ignored us. Needless to say we will not be returning as there are lots of Japanese restaurants in London where the food and service is so much better.

One of the best sushi restaurants I've been to. Definitely on the pricey side but I don't mind paying when the food is good!

We had a set menu lunch. Really nice food and friendly service. For me the meal was small but others at the table were happy. The key is we had a very nice and tasty meal.

Best Japanese food in London. Excellent quality since +30 years

Another fantastic night there. Excellent food and customer service. I also enjoy talking with the chef.

My partner has also eaten here but she did not like it much but I did spend quite a lot in here

One of the top Japanese restaurants in London! It’s on the pricier side, but you pay for the quality you get! We are never disappointed with the omakase - the sashimi is always on point and super fresh. Can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but our commonly ordered dishes in addition to sashimi and sushi include - tempura, chawanmushi, ox tongue, chicken wings (which are grilled with hand flame torched by chef), agedofu, and black cod. If you want something that’s more on the comfort food side, the katsu Don is fantastic too. For drinks, they’ve got a great selection or sake and plum wine as well. Highly recommend!!

他の方も書いてますが、一部の上の方の接客態度が少し注意されたほうが…お料理や、その他の方の接客態度はいいです。

Has a lovely neighbourhood restaurant feel. The staff are very sweet and the food is very good as well.

Great experience. Amazing food.

The price a bit higher than others and service charge will be added on your check. but food’s quality is good and fresh. Good service. Suitable for a couple if you like a date out.

Thats a great place where to eat authentic Japanese sushi

Disappointing experience, sushis and sashimis were correct, gyu tataki was not impressive, chicken yakitori was dry, and the soba was ok. Just for this price, you can expect faultless execution, freshness, originality or atmosphere, but all were lacking.

One of the oldest Japanese restaurant, but the food is still amazing . Tokyo style. Very friendly Sushi chef. FEBRUARY 25TH. BACK FOR MORE!! The freshest sushi. I cannot stop raving about this Japanese institution.

ロンドンでは増えてきた日本食屋。ここはどんどん値が高くなるわりに質は落ちている気がする。盛り付けや器も品がない。しかし客入りは良いので観光地価格といったところか。カウンターで落ち着いて食べたいのに、目の前の板前がウェイトレスに横柄な態度、日本語がわからないであろう欧米人の客の悪口を日本語で平気で言う。ウェイトレスのリーダーという風格のメガネの背の高い女性はお菓子を食べながら、スタッフとおしゃべりを楽しみながらだらしなく仕事をしている一方、下っ端のような若いウェイトレスがちょこまか走り回って大忙し。久しぶりに日本を感じるためにと寄ったけれど、落ち着くどころか疲れてしまった。揚げ出し豆腐の出汁だけがわたしを癒してくれました。気になったのはレシートにはきちんと頼んだものの名前が書いてある中で、「オープン」という謎のメニューが複数プリントされていた。思いあたるメニューは無いが。なんの料金だったのだろうか。

Delicious sushi well prepared, and kind staff, highly recommend.

Authentic Japanese restaurant run by Japanese staff hence the steep prices but you get what you pay for. Best sushi that I have had for a while although the Tofu salad was a bit too simplistic.

Reservé en el mostrador de sushi, a la llegada solo otras 3 personas en el restaurante, pero aún así tardó 15 minutos en ser ignorado para finalmente ser abordado con "¿qué le gustaría pedir?". Desafortunadamente en ese momento no nos habían dado menús, así que pedimos bebidas y menús solicitados. No había toallas de mano (se nos ofrecieron al grupo de al lado que llegaba más tarde, ¿habíamos ofendido a alguien sin darse cuenta?), Y las bebidas tardaron entre 6 y 7 minutos más a pesar de ser simplemente una botella de agua.La comida era buena, un poco caro si vas a la carta, pero los menús son de buena relación calidad-precio con porciones decentes y mariscos frescos de calidad. La comida llegó enérgicamente, casi demasiado, y fueron muy lentos en la limpieza de platos / platos vacíos.En general, un auténtico japonés auténtico con una gran variedad de menús, pero a este tipo de nivel de precios el servicio realmente era abismal.

Simple atmosphere but stunning food, and really excellent great service. Easy to find but I must say its not cheap probably even expensive.

Definately authentic Japanese cuisine. Excellent and caring staff. Very very good food. Tasty Japanese food without the unnecessary glamour.

Foie gras was really disgusting in a soup of rice and soy sauce. Terriyaki beef was boring close to uneatable with hospital food-like veggies. Will never ever go again. Service was invisible.

Como amante de los restaurantes japoneses, he probado mucho en Londres. Pero yo era un producto que no todos son auténticamente japoneses. Entonces, cuando me uní a un gran banco japonés en 2006, pregunté a los gerentes sénior japoneses dónde comían en Londres. Todos fueron definitivos: solo podía ser Defune. Desde entonces, he visitado regularmente el teppanyaki aquí y nunca me ha decepcionado.

I was 13 when I went there, today I took my 25 year old daughter there.. still the best sushi ever.. Sami San rocks !!

Good sushi just off oxford st, request sushi bar and have a good laugh with the chef

Sadly, not particularly good food; on a par with many other of the less expensive Japanese restaurants BUT it is unbelievably expensive. It's the same price as Ikeda, for example but nowhere near as good.

Perfect for a healthy lunch as service is prompt and efficient which is important for a busy but small restaurant serving probably the best Japanese food I have found in London or anywhere else for that matter. I've never been in the evening but I can recommend the mixed sushi hors d' oeuvre, avocado crab and black cod. It is expensive out of necessity, the sushi chef is exceptionally demanding of his raw materials to ensure perfection in presentation and taste. 3 course lunch with soft drinks including service around £85.

寿司はマジでおいしい！日本でもなかなか出会えない美味しさだった。街もそうだが、店内の雰囲気がラグジュアリーな感じ。とても良い。高いけど…笑

What a lovely Japanese restaurant in a tiny corner shop location just up from Bond Street station. Fantastic fish and really perfect sushi rice at just the right temperature and in modet quantities.

Our family dined at Defune last week while on vacation in London. The restaurant has nice ambiance and the sushi/sashimi was excellent. However, the service was very poor. I asked for a plate of steamed vegetables with my dinner, which they did offer (while not on the menu), as the hot entrees were served with them. Not only did the waitress not bring them, after apologizing, and then still not bringing them, she HID behind a column so we couldn't flag her down. We then finally told her to remove them from the bill and just bring our check. She said "So sorry, it's really busy downstairs". How long do vegetables take to cook?

Fabulous food and staff.. A small place but well worth it.

Escribo esta crítica como un visitante regular a Japón. No solo soy un visitante habitual de Japón, sino que he viajado a lo largo y ancho de Japón y he probado la extraordinaria variedad de cocina regional y de temporada que se ofrece. Así como, por supuesto, innumerables experiencias de sushi y sashimi. Por eso digo con cierta confianza que sé de lo que hablo.Nos sentamos en el mostrador de arriba en Defune y comimos un almuerzo ligero que consistía en sushi y sashimi, así como una ensalada y sopa de miso.En resumen ? Para los precios astronómicos cobrados, la calidad simplemente no existe.El pescado no era de la frescura que se esperaría de un restaurante de este calibre: - La saba (caballa) tenía la naturaleza aceitosa y el sabor distintivo que es el sello distintivo de la caballa que no está perfectamente fresco. - El unagi (anguila) no era digno del precio cobrado. Mushy y sin sabor. - El ama - ebi (camarón dulce) estaba viscoso - El otoro estaba bien, pero evidentemente no era de un grado de alta calidad.¿Necesito seguir?Si tuvieras que pagar precios de nivel Defune en Japón, podrías tener un sushi y un sashimi extraordinarios. Desafortunadamente en Japón, el sushi y el sashimi que se sirven en Defune se describirían mejor como "promedio".Si los precios fueran más bajos en Defune, podría haber sido más ligero en mi revisión. Desafortunadamente, los precios son lo que son, por lo que solo hay una palabra. . . . imperdonable.

Good Sushi. One of the best in London.

The best Japanese food I've ever tasted... from London to Auckland. Bite sized, expertly prepared maki... best quality seafood treated and cut beautifully. This is proper sushi, proper sashimi... proper tempura! The shrimp tempura maki arrived warm and utterly delectable. The chefs here are incredible. It is pricey... but you pay twice the price for 10 times the quality. The downside was the wait staff... one or two of them are nice, but the lady in charge was cold, dismissive, and rude. We were treated like second class citizens. I'm unsure why... perhaps because we didn't book? It's still very much worth a visit. It is truly the best sushi I have ever tasted... pure elegant perfection.

Pricey but good. Service good. Sake brilliant. Atmosphere a bit quiet. Ideal for business.central, just off Baker Street and near Wallace Collection.

Fuimos al restaurante japonés Defune antes de dirigirnos a la Colección Wallace. Todavía era temprano, acababa de pasar el mediodía, así que no estaba ocupado.Sin reservas hemos sido desviados al asiento del bar de sushi. El servicio fue lento pero educado.Nos sentamos durante unos 15 minutos antes de ser atendidos. Pedimos Sake, Sashimi (pescado crudo) y tempura de gambas.La comida era fresca y buena, así como el precio! ! ! .

El exterior es engañoso. En el interior hay tres pisos que bajan. La decoración es moderna simplista. No habíamos reservado un sábado, pero aún tenemos una mesa.El menú es extenso. La sopa de miso era ligera y delicada. Teníamos sashimi atún y selección de sushi. El pescado estaba espumoso fresco. Muy lejos de las cadenas de restaurantes.El langostino tempura rebozado era ligero como una pluma.El teriyaki de pollo fue una porción más grande de lo esperado, una pieza untuosa de pollo con sabor a piel.Esta es la comida japonesa tan buena como la que he comido en Japón.Este restaurante no es barato, pero ofrece una buena relación calidad-precio.El servicio fue rápido y atento, pero necesitas entender la comida japonesa.

Nice food ambience staffs ..one of the best or in fact the oldest and the better ones. Well maintained quality of food services and etc. Very authentic Japanese restaurant. Well run restaurant.

El gerente se negó a servirme porque tenía alergia a los mariscos. Era totalmente grosero y no le importaba. Ni siquiera estaba de acuerdo en que su chef usara una tabla limpia y limpiara su cuchillo con un trapo limpio. Su actitud es típica japonesa arrogante del peor orden mezclada con un complejo de superioridad injustificado que rara vez se ve desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial. La culpa es de él. Espero que se arruine.

Very good food, fish are fresh and sushi were tasty

Some of the best sushi you can get in London, no doubts. Long standing institution

I have been going to this restaurant for 15 years. Made a reservation at the sushi bar and was looking forward to it. Was sat and then ignored completely for nearly 30 minutes. Walked out.

A little touch of Japan. Super sushi bar. Nice and expensive. Also take a peek into Durrants Hotel. From Tokyo to London in a 100 steps. What a town!

Some of the best food I've ever tasted. Fresh sushi and crisp gyoza. I could have drank the dipping sauce, it was absolutely delicious. Wonderful staff and nice ambience. Well worth the visit!

The low rating is for strange service not food quality.

Best sushi and sashimi in London. Quality and 1st class food for over 20 years. Must visit whenever I'm in London

Great sushi and teriyaki; we also tried the special Lunch Box which was delicious with a selection of dishes. Orange slices and the end of the meal went down well. Service friendly, enjoyed our meal.

Food is just so-so, no any specials. Overpriced for what it is.

Probably one of the best japanese restaurant in london

Después de oír todas las alharacas acerca de este restaurante era muy triste para ser recibidos en una habitación caliente hirviendo debido al aire acondicionado roto. El restaurante debería tener cerrado hasta que arreglaron

Amazing noodle dish and good service. Highly recommended.

This has to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in London bit pricey.

Always delicious and with excellent service. As authentic as anyone could wish for in London!

Best Japanese food and chief, he throw the whole fish just because not good looking ！

Wow wow wow wow wow! Me llevaron aquí a almorzar y ahora quiero ir todos los días. Tuve la caja especial para el almuerzo: venía con 3 tipos de sashimi; 3 tipos de tempura; Tortilla japonesa; pollo teriyaki; sopa de miso; arroz y una ensalada. 29. Excelente por el precio y todo fue cortado / cocinado a la perfección! También nos dieron una porción de tofu en una delicada salsa que era perfectamente agradable. Mi compañero (que come allí regularmente) derrochó y tenía rollos de dragón (6, suculento, magnífico) y luego teriyaki de cerdo. Una gran porción: el cerdo estaba cortado en rodajas finas y en la cantidad justa de salsa para que no se mojara. Una taza de té verde y estaba muy satisfecho. El ambiente es tranquilo y muy relajante. Un antídoto ideal para el bullicio de la cercana Oxford Street. El servicio fue impecable. No puedo esperar a volver!

Had lunch. Excellent sushi. Great service. Good attention to detail. Overall a very pleasant experience. Will return.

Good price for excellent chirashi at lunchtimes

we know this place since years.. And every time it is just as good as it can be. Sushi and sashimi of the top very friendly staff a nice chat with the owner... We love it. Nithing more to say.

We were looking forward to Defune as we live close by and remember it as a very high quality Japanese restaurant. No longer. We had the set sirloin steak lunch menu at £32 each. It consisted of primarily grizzle and fat, and was left uneaten on the plate. The waitress was informed but remained indifferent. waste of £117 total bill. Shame.

Excellent service and food. Fresh fish, authentic Japanese cuisine. The chefs are all Japanese too. One of very few truly authentic and traditional Japanese restaurants in London.

My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Defune for my birthday. As we love Teppanyaki, I was really excited.

I have been going to Defune for about 20 years. On special occasions. I do not know better sushi outside Japan. The quality is superb.

ロンドンでは歴史のある有名な日本食レストランの一つとの位置づけです。

Ubicado en el próspero Marylebone, este restaurante ofrece comida japonesa, con personal muy atento. El precio para dos personas en el punto está bola de 120 libras - 150 refleja la calidad de los ingredientes y de hecho la opulencia del barrio. El ambiente relajado del restaurante es tentador y lo hace un entorno perfecto para una experiencia más íntima. Para entradas, tuve shumai (dumpling al vapor) que es un guiso tradicional china llena de cerdo y gambas. El cerdo era muy tierna y se derretía en la boca con pequeñas piezas de gambas picadas, dando un toque de dulzura. Este fue seguido por el bacalao a la parrilla con pasta de miso negro que sirve como la pieza central para la noche acompañados con una porción de arroz al vapor. La mantequilla, el cod sedosa había tomado en el sabor de la miso marinar para dar un ligero toque de dulzor. La comida estaba muy elegantemente adornos y luz en la paleta con la textura inusual del baile cod en la lengua. Para el postre, me aventuré a crema de hielo rojo mochi bean que tiene un sabor muy raro. En general, un bonito, comida de gama con un buen servicio y sin retorno si - Pollo defune en la zona y quieres comida japonesa.

Charming, good quality but painful on the wallet. Not good value even if you are *the* Mr Sakatoshi

Lunchtime bookings are required, usually it's a busy restaurant. Superb quality sashimi and lunchtime bento 🍱 always a good choice. Eel sushi is amazing (who likes eel of course:) they do take away (I had food for two of my birthday parties)