Hakataya in Edinburgh, City of

Came to Hakataya for the Sushi making class with Tang! He was so kind and informative as we learned to make our own maki rolls. The whole process was explained, giving us details for where to source ingredients, how to cook the rice and how to roll the sushi properly. Also, it tasted AMAZING. Most importantly, we really feel we’d be able to make maki on our own now at home — though never as quickly and expertly as Tang. Would definitely recommend!

Excellent Japanese restaurant that's off the beaten path, tucked away. Small place with great service and food, at good prices, definitely worth a visit....

Very cute place, friendly staff and amazing fresh food!

Tasty and fresh meal. The service is pleasant. Don’t hesitate to come and taste the cuisine at Hakataya.

One of the best tonkotsu broth I’ve ever had. Definitely in the top 3.

An unforgettable sushi-making experience!" We had the pleasure of attending Chef Tang's sushi class, and it was absolutely fantastic! From the very beginning, Chef Tang made the experience both engaging and informative. His passion for sushi and dedication to teaching really shone through. He guided us through each step, from selecting the freshest ingredients to perfecting our knife skills. The class was hands-on, and Chef Tang created a fun, relaxed environment that made learning easy—even for those with no sushi-making experience. After crafting our rolls, we got to stay and enjoy the sushi we made, which was the perfect way to end the experience. The rolls turned out delicious, and it was so rewarding to savor the fruits of our labour ! Chef Tang’s insights into the history and art of sushi added a deeper appreciation for the craft. My colleagues and I left feeling inspired and confident. We highly recommend Chef Tang’s class to anyone looking to learn from a true sushi master. 5 stars all the way!

Had the tonkotsu ramen, very average. Soup was not bad and not too light but definitely not authentic nor rich, noodles were bouncy but seemed a bit instant. Ingredients were the most disappointing, small portion at steep price point (£17) overall food was not worth the price, but service was great :)

Ate dinner here tonight. Delicious Bibimbap and ramen. Good portions and everything tasted great. Our server was lovely but very quiet; to the point where it was sometimes difficult to hear them. They were very efficient though, and everything arrived promptly. I Would have loved a little more mayo to dip my karaage chicken into but overall this was a great meal. Four starters and four mains with three soft drinks and one cocktail came in at around £120.

Hidden gem! Really beautiful fresh japonese kitchen with a very very passioned chef Qun Tang. Take the hell ramen if you dare this lovely restaurant is a absolut recommendation!

Cute little eatery tucked away near Charlotte square, amazing food, great service and such flexible and friendly staff!

Delicious food. Excellent Service

Ordered 2 ramen, bento, edamame, and a pot of green tea. Sat down hungry and the food arrived when we were starving already. Green tea arrived in 10 mins and edamame in 30 mins. Ramen and bento took 1 hour to arrive and the ramen was barely warm, and other people got served before us when we arrived before them. Portions were tiny for around £20 each and the meat were so thin. I don’t think we left satisfied. Don’t come here if you expect hearty warm food, I genuinely think you’d get better service and food at a chain restaurant like Wagamama.

Bad service. If you have to go then go very early to get food earlier. Wait time is 45 to 60 minutes, and people who arrive after you might get their food earlier .

Went here for lunch earlier and I want to highlight how amazing and polite the chef was. He was on his own today so he had to clean, serve and cook the food. The ramen was so rich and delicious. All the food served was so fresh. I hope his hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. Will be back again for sure.

I'm in love with this man and his food. Best pork belly in the universe. Sushi top tier. Ramen God tier 🙌 I will be back so soon don't you worry

Great selection of tasty Japanese delights. Able to account for gluten free eaters. Recommend booking in advance as not many tables and busy.

Really good japanese food. We had ramen and curry and both were incredible bringing us back to our trip to Japan. So far the best japanese restaurant we have visited in Edinburgh.

Best ramen i have ever eaten had a lovely rich broth, yum! Will visit again.

I had the Hakata pork bone ramen. The soup was a little bland for Japanese people, but it was delicious with plenty of pork bone seasoning.

I was lucky to catch it pre-rush. I really wanted good food. I had teriyaki and chicken gyuzo. Best teriyaki I've had.

always great, bit pricey but I think worth it. Music could be improved upon. Sometimes its old city-pop or jpop but other times its some weird semi modern pop which does not match the athmosphere of the place.

Super delicious Ramen in a very cozy little restaurant.

The best ramen noodles, authentic setting, lovely time.

We absolutely loved this place! Amazing food and the staff are so lovely too, so welcoming and friendly and the quality of food was outstanding, highly recommend.

Delicious food, friendly service, and really well priced. The restaurant has a nice intimate feeling. The ramen was delicious, and the matcha crème brûlée was 10/10. I’ll definitely be back next time I visit Edinburgh.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice. They do a good job eith the limited space and highlight the specials well. However , this is where the good experiences end. The food took far too long when the restaurant was relatively empty. The gyoza and maki was nice, but nothing too extraordinary. However, the ramen noodles my boyfriend ordered were far too salty and my order had undercooked vegetables and poor balance of flavours. The service was also not great, with not much attention to our table. For a good experience I would not mind waiting a long time and paying a higher price, but the price is simply too high and the wait too long to justify going here. Would not recommend

A bit sad for not taking any picture the dishes. They were all amazing and very tasty.!!! a very satisfied dinner. We will come back.

One of my favourite spots for Japanese food in Edinburgh! Have been multiple times but always would recommend booking as it isn’t a huge place and can get pretty busy. Menu is large with many different options and everything we’ve had there has always been amazingly tasty! Not the cheapest, but well well worth it. A really special spot! On our last visit we decided to try the sake flight and it was presented to us well, with a little card explaining about each drink and the waiter also took his time to discuss with us what our favourite one was which was nice too!

The most amazing ramen (Hakata-Ya) I’ve ever had in my life. The broth is delicious, full of flavour and perfectly balanced. Ordered plum sake instead of a cocktail and was absolutely happy with my choice. The service is 5 starts, very attentive staff, polite and caring. Highly recommend!

Main reason for the three stars is that the bento box was not very exciting, the atmosphere and service were great, but it does not scale in comparison to Chizuru Tei. The tuna tasted a bit off as well and the wagyu did not feel of good standard. It was good experience but I would not go back or recommend it

Very cosy and small place! We both had the ramen and it was delicious would 100% recommend and would come again. Staff was very friendly and helpful

Fantastic food. The hakataya tonkotsu is delicious and the takoyaki piping hot!

Just perfect! Tau was the sweetest! Could not recommend this place enough! Everything was just amazing! The dishes size were very generous and the taste was heavenly If you are in Edinbrugh or close to it, you have to go! Arigato goyzamas!

Very delicious and a small restaurant with a lovely owner. Little bit expensive but freshly homemade

We dined at Hakataya as a group of 7 and thoroughly enjoyed our food. The choice on the menu was great and there was something for everyone to enjoy. The sake and plum wine were really nice to drink too. The only thing that let it down was the speed of service. The girl serving was young and friendly but inexperienced. Sadly it took quite a while for our order to be taken and despite it being a quiet time there was not the attentiveness that you would expect. Several of us had to wait quite some time for our food whilst others had had 2 courses before others had even had any. Despite this I would return because the food was excellent and we enjoyed our time. I’m sure the restaurant can take this as an opportunity to help train their wait staff rather than a negative comment.

Everything here is great! Always come here in Edinburgh with my wife to eat and are never disappointed. Highly recommend the Japchae!

Excellent experience & authentic food in the heart of Edinburgh. Relaxed vibes & cocktails . We had the Tataki beef & tempura soft shell crab. Bento box with Salmon & beansprouts. Chicken Katsu curry, several maki rolls (avoid the scallop & tobiko)& several veggie dishes. Hot sake hit with my cousin. Servers polite but stressed. Eel avocado roll excellent (not on menu — special request). Potato noodles great but small portions & see threw so less filling.

That's the best Japanese food I've ever eaten. Each time we are in Edinburgh, we come here for dinner with my husband. We recommend this place to all friends and relatives, and they all love it! I would highly recommend ordering the Bento Box with Salmon (~25£).

Visited Hakataya on a Thursday afternoon (26/09/24) around 3pm - was really impressed with the relaxed vibe - usually when we visit it is very busy - which is also nice but got lucky to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere and amazing food! Our waiter and chef was amazing and looked after us very well. Perfect spot for a late lunch!

We eat very well. Sushi a 10!! All dishes with a perfect presentation. You have to go!!

Amazing Japanese restaurant!! 😁

Absolutely fantastic food and atmosphere. For just one guy being there when I went the service was speedy and great. Highly recommend

Simply Excellent . A very nice and cosy atmosphere. An expert chef. Best sashami I had in a very long time.

Great restaurant with excellent service. All food ordered (ramens, sushi, Gyoza, moshi) was very tasty. Very kind and polite waiter. Welcoming of families with young children. Loved it!

Amazing service and amazing food, cannot recommend this place enough! Some of the best sushi, and the beef bulgogi is out of this world.

I cannot praise this restaurant enough. At the beginning it was hard to find as it's kind of tucked away (I am not from Edinburgh) but once you find it, it's like finding a hidden gem . It's a small and cozy restaurant with a great menu and variety of choices. We tried three of their ramens, sushi, dumplings and takoyaki. It were the best, I've had for a long time! The waitress was very friendly and professional. This restaurant is highly recommended and must not be missed if visiting Edinburgh.

Best chicken teriyaki on the planet, sublime. My go to restaurant in Edinburgh.

I visited Hakotaya after many recommendations. I lived in Japan for a few years and I heard it's the most authentic ramen in Edinburgh. We took one miso and one yokohama ramen and karaage. Unfortunately, they didn't meet the expectations. The broth in miso ramen was very bland and not really tasting with miso at all, I had to spice it up a LOT. Noodles were really lovely, same as egg. I was heavily disappointed with chashu, as it should definitely be thicker, not a thicknes of a packed ham! It was also not spiced correctly, to be honest, it was tasteless. I am a home cook myself and I make ramen at home and I was hoping this from Hakataya will finally be able to remind me the true Japanese one - unfortunately, it didn't. The price is VERY high, 18 per one bowl is insane and I expected something really delicious. It was not bad, but it was nothing special at all. Also, the staff was a bit unresponsive.

food and service were excellent !!

Lovely little place, good food, good service and nice Sake

A hidden gem! Was a bit tricky to find at the beginning but totally worth it! We were a party of 5 and we called in advance to make sure there is space. The restaurant is not very big so I do recommend to book in advance if you can. We had takoyaki, gyoza, sushi and ramen. Everything cooked to perfection. Our waitress was very polite and professional and even if the restaurant was full at some point, she kept the great level of service. Highly recommended!

Love to eat here. Always delicious, always fresh. Thank you

Lukewarm. I'm nostalgic for the taste of Japan, so it seems like tonkotsu ramen to me, but I can't bring my friends from Fukuoka over. It seems to be a soup made by dissolving powder.

Best Ramen I have had. Didn't know noodles could be so tasty!

This was the best Shoyu ramen we've ever had. The noodles melted in my mouth and the broth was incredibly savoury. 100% recommend for anyone visiting the area.

Me and my partner have just found our favourite new date night spot ! It was amazing (we ate some of the maki before the photo :D)

Food and drinks were great! Def want to revisit

Wonderful food, great atmosphere, clean, and very friendly staff. Plenty of great food options for all.

Best tonkatsu ramen I’ve had in Scotland - great vibe from a small restaurant and never had a bad dish! Always a favourite!

Best tonkatsu ramen I’ve had in Scotland - great vibe from a small restaurant and never had a bad dish! Always a favourite!

Great food! However, you don't ask the clients if they want their change back. You just bring it (if they wish, they leave it). And if they say 'no, it's fine', you, at least, should say 'thank you'.

Fantastic Japanese restaurant tucked away. I've been three times and never disappointed: the ramen is creamy and satisfying, the nigiri is beautifully plated, and the ingredients are fresh and tasty.

Delicious ramen, especially warming in a scottish weather

Staff were very nice and the ambiance was pretty cool. I had a Tonkotsu ramen, the broth was good but it had the two thinnest slices of chashu (pork belly) I've ever seen. I found that a little irritating, especially when the menu stated three slices. Overall pretty good and would probably go back.

Small bistro in an alley with around thirty seats. Exceptional smile and welcome. All of our ordered dishes were of a flavor that we have never encountered. We strongly advise you to try it in our opinion you will be delighted. Christian and Milo from Switzerland

Food was average and lacked authenticity, not sure why the rating is so high. Wait staff and kitchen were understaffed so we ended up waiting an hour just for ramen. For the price I expected more.

Delicious ramen and very good service !

Can't recommend this place enough! Delicious and interesting dishes, specifically the tonkotsu ramen with ice cream (have faith, it works). Definitely some of the best sushi I've ever eaten too! The owner Tang is a lovely guy, you can tell he really cares about the food he makes and takes huge pleasure in people enjoying it ❤️

Very overpriced food for what you’re getting. I ordered chicken teriyaki which I can only describe as being very bland and lacking all flavours that I was expecting. I also ordered the Salmon sushi which was average. The main issue I did have was the time myself and friends and to wait from ordering. It took 1hr and 20mins for my 1st dish to arrive and was only 2 other small tables present.

Cute little place with a good miso veg ramen.

Wonderful Japanese restaurant just off the touristy streets. We feel very good there, the service is very welcoming and the food delicious! I would happily return there on a future visit!

This place is a hidden gem : delicious freshly made food and very friendly service. I recommend it 100%!

Great place, friendly staff and fantastic food!

Excellent low profile and straightforward sushi and other Japanese food. We only ate sushi, but lots of it and all was excellent. Will come back.

Great all around! Must try Hakataya Ramen with ice cream. Game changer!

Cozy atmosphere, with good service. We tried several different dishes and everything was perfectly cooked. Ice cold Ashai on tap was a nice bonus!

Fantastic restaurant with a very nice atmosphere! The food was very good and the service was excellent! Strong recommendation!!

Great atmosphere and nice staff, super nice food and deserts

Hakataya is a great spot off Rose st with tasteful sushi, ramen and noodle dishes. The staff is friendly and accommodating. We had a memorable great dinner there!!

The best place we ate during our week in Edinburgh. If I'm ever back, I'll do my best to stop by again.

Really delicious dinner this evening! I had the Shoyu ramen and my wife had the chicken yakisoba, both super tasty. The veg gyozas were a highlight too. Would heavily recommend!!

A very cozy, friendly and tasty restaurant. Will definitely come back!

food was fab, service was fab, pricing is a lot but very worth it. very cute and intimate!

Mysig liten resturang, fanns mycket olika rätter att välja på. Väldigt god ramen och trevlig personal. Rekommenderar.

Great food, service and ambience. We go there whenever we‘re in Edinburgh.

Came hungry after a long day of exploring the city of Edinburgh. We were pleased to find this lovely restaurant tucked away off of castle street away from the hustle and bustle. The food was of the highest quality, and the service from our waitress Lila was excellent. Will definitely be recommending this to anyone who will listen.

Very good little Japanese restaurant. There is a choice and it is very good. Prices are fair, I recommend

It was a little tucked away, but glad we stumbled upon this place. Had a great atmosphere, service was good and the sushi was lovely.

Excellent Japanese food. Far more authentic than anywhere else I have had in Scotland! Proper ramen! Veg okonomiyaki an awesome surprise!

Great food, excellent service. Had vegan miso ramen, yasai platter, takoyaki/okonomiyaki, gyoza and yakisoba - all absolutely amazing! We also had plum sake that was gorgeous and strawberry daifuku which tasted very fresh! Absolutely loved the place and would highly recommend :-)

Small restaurant tucked away in a corner which served very delicious ramen. Chicken karaage was great too

Great place to eat some east asian food. When we arrive the poor guy working there (I would imagine the owner) was understaffed, so it was a little bit of a slow service. However the wait was worth it, as the Ramen and sides were quite nice. Prices are in line with Edinburgh.

Hakataya is a nice wee Japanese restaurant with a good selection of food and drink. Very friendly and helpful staff. Dinner was lovely.

Lovely place, friendly staff and the food was wonderful. For sure we will come back!

Really tasty food in a restaurant with personality. Chicken gyozas were very interesting, wigh a flavor that I couldn't tell. Maybe ginger? Pork belly starter was delicious. My ramen (which sadly I forgot to take a picture of) was good but not as flavorsome as I was expecting. On the menu it was described as the tastiest but I found the Hakataya Tonkotsu to be tastier. Loved the fried banana + ice cream that I had as dessert. The waiter had a very pleasant attitude.

Absolutely amazing ramen! Best I’ve ever had!!

Coming from LA, there's an endless amount of ramen, and this place has the BEST ramen I've ever had. Everything we tried was so fresh and delicious! The waitress and chef were both amazing. 10/10

Some of the best ramen I’ve had in my entire life. I ordered the Hell Ramen. Each element was delicious from the broth to the pork, spinach, and the egg. Everything tasted fresh and just gorgeous.

We always have Japanese cuisine in every new places that we went to and this place never disappoints! I loved the takoyaki, gyoza and teriyaki. My husband loved his ramen too. Crew gave us a table even tho we did not book which is so nice and is smiling the whole time. 😊

Last year my friend came to visit me in Edinburgh and she discovered this Japanese restaurant that I had never discovered. I left Edinburgh three months later to study for a master's degree in England and returned to Edinburgh again last week. The weather started last week was not good, cold, rainy, foggy. But when I set foot in this Japanese restaurant again, I was surprised by the short trip. You can imagine it on a rainy evening with dim lights and everything in fog. Walking alone on Princes Street with an umbrella, the fog and the castle, then walk into the alley and find this small restaurant. And then enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine alone. Memories and touches come flooding back to your heart, and you can enjoy a moment of tranquility and comfort.