Hamayuu in Cheshire West and Chester

It was a really nice experience and the food was also nice and filling. We had the shichimi beef bento, ten-bon, and the tonkatsu noddles. Would definitely recommend them.

Really lovely restaurant with sweet staff. Food is delicious and really authentic. Tried the red bean mochi and was blown away. Sushi was fresh and delicious. I highly recommend if you are ever wanting a nice date night place.

The people who say they've been to Japan once so they know what it tastes like are frankly not accurate. Had the tempura udon and chicken katsu karee bento here and both were quite disappointing. I really wanted to like this place because it's hard to find good Japanese food in the UK bar London and this place is Japanese-run, but unfortunately that doesn't mean it's good. For the non-Japanese people trying this place, any ramen or sushi that you get outside of a restaurant that isn't solely dedicated to those things will usually be mediocre, if not bad. Ramen & sushi chefs spend years dedicated to their craft and the flavour and technique can't be easily replicated by just anyone. I guess I can't speak for the flavour of either dish, but the cuts of sushi and the ramen both look sloppy. The udon broth that I ate had a strange flavour reminiscent of cardboard and the noodles didn't have the nice, bouncy texture expected of even good packaged noodles. The tempura batter was also somehow wrong. It was more clumpy and thick than the light crisp you would ideally want from tempura. The katsu karee was okay, but considering it's likely made from roux cubes, that is quite easy for even a beginner home cook to do decently. My table had the matcha dorayaki and souffle cheesecake for dessert. Portions were quite small on the souffle cheesecake, and both dishes were just okay. This place seems like it's very much so catering to British audiences with the sudden large interest in Japan and Japanese food, but it far from captures how good Japanese food really is. Frankly, it seems way too extensive of a menu that causes more focus on catering to every single popular Japanese food instead of really taking the time to master each dish, or even make each one taste good. The service and atmosphere was great, and servers were nice despite it being a very busy lunch rush.

So we visited this restaurant based on the good reviews by the others, and man, were we disappointed! 4 of us tried different things (see images), we ordered more afterward but we didn't take any pictures at all because they are pretty disappointing... The looks of the food are fine, but the taste.... Let's get into the details: 1. The rice of the sushi doesn't have a good shape, and the sashimi does not stick to the rice at all. Might seems trivial but it is the basic of sushi. 2. The noodles are fine, but there must be better out there, I would not give it 4 stars at all, 3 stars max if not 2.5, pretty standard IMO 3. The rice in the bento box and donburi are just downright terrible! 0 stars!! The rice is almost like "rice mash" and asks any Japanese (or anyone from Asia in general), we would not approve, NOT AT ALL! 4. We ordered an udon and the udon has a funny aftertaste, not sure how they handle the udon but it is NOT good... 5. Aside from all the bad comments, the services and the atmosphere is excellent, which kinda heightens our expectations! And that's how you get 1 star for the food... So the problem has to be in the kitchen, I hope the owner of the restaurant does not take this negative review in a bad way, we feel like we've been tricked by all the good comments and it turns out this restaurant is OVERATED!!! If you have been eating rice and noodles for your entire life, don't even go to this restaurant or you WILL BE disappointed. But if you just "wanna try some Asian/Japanese cuisine", then sure the other comments might apply to you, just ignore me. Now let me emphasize, I typed all these not because I'm trying to troll, I sincerely think that the comments tricked us into thinking that this restaurant is good, but it is not, not at all!

Pork Tonkotsu Ramen and a pot of green tea. Ramen very delicious full of flavour of the broth and you can really taste all the individual ingredient, an absolute party in your mouth. The ramen noodles were delicious and had a slight chew to them which is what you look for in a good ramen. The service was great and had a real authentic feel and atmosphere. Would recommend. Great value for money. The only reason I have not gave a 5 star overview is because I didn’t try enough on the menu.

Little hidden gem this! One of the nicest restaurants we’ve been to in a long time. Was a nice authentic experience sitting down on the Floor tables too. Lovely staff very affordable.

Giant sushi roll , top quality and good portion. You better to book a reservation for a table, otherwise you will be tired of sitting on the bamboo rag, a tatami

10/10. Myself and Partner have just moved to Chester and love Japan and Japanese food. Amazing authentic food. Lovely staff and lovely atmosphere.

Fantastic food! Service is fast and the staff are very polite. I have been here around 5 times, each time is perfect.

The food at this restaurant is excellent, with great service and a fantastic atmosphere! I’d definitely come back if I have the chance.

Ramen is a bit weak. Popular Japanese restaurant in central Chester. Walk-in tables are not available at 5 pm on a Saturday, which is fair enough. Book in advance. Good Tempura and rice dishes, but the Ramen is just basic. Ramen is just noodles with a bit of broccoli.

We regularly visit, the food is always amazing and the staff are really friendly. Particularly Shiho, she always looks after us when we come in and makes our visits extra special, we always look forward to seeing her :-)

Very good service without a booking and the ramen was 👌. Definitely the most authentic Japanese place in Chester.

Lovely atmosphere, amazing food and service, can’t wait to come back x

The best place to eat in Chester. We first came here in 2022 and went two days in a row and it was a no brainer to visit again on our visit this year. The staff are incredible and the food is so so good. There is plenty of choice and we always leave with two origami paper birds which completes the great experience.

Everything was amazing and its so beautiful from the inside and the staff here is sooo nice 100% recommend!!!

I loved this restaurant, an amazing experience. From the very start we were treated very nicely and the waiters were incredibly kind and forthcoming. The atmosphere was very calm and the restaurant is beautifully decorated. The food itself was amazing as well, everyone in my group loved what they ordered. I had the chicken katsu curry bento and the curry was very tasty. The whole concept of the Bento boxes is so good, a lot of different things that still work together quite well. Perfect for people who find it difficult to decide on one thing to eat. I can recommend it to everyone who’s looking for a good tasty meal in a nice calm environment.

Great food and really good service

Excellent quality food. Fast and efficient service. There is even a Geisha!

The food was lovely and authentic 😋 Good customer service and definitely recommend Hamayuu.

Always amazing quality and service

Really delicious. Lovely staff. Best Tuna sashimi I have had anywhere. Will definitely be back and highly recommend.

First time here and my family and I intend to return regularly. Great atmosphere, warm service, delicious food. Bento box and Ramen highly recommended. It was my daughter’s birthday and they brought pudding out with a candle and sang “Happy Birthday” wonderful.

Well it's more of a personal thing, but I really wanted a Tonkotsu Ramen that day but they ran out of it already... No, not that particular ramen. They completely ran out of ramen at around 7pm. Probably because there are not many Japanese restaurant around or ran out of stock. I went for Katsu curry instead, it was alright, I think really good for children but too plain for Asian like me. They don't have shichimi on the table but I asked for it and they had it so that's good.

The day my partner and I went to Hamayuu, we'd arrived before opening while it'd begun to rain. The staff graciously came outside and let us into the restaurant before opening, which left a stellar first impression. The sushi was delicious; the tuna nigiri was fatty and flavorful, and the squid was pleasantly chewy. We also ordered an excellent platter of takoyaki, which arrived piping hot and seasoned generously with bonito. My partner's katsu was crispy, and held its texture well even after being submerged in curry sauce. Overall, we adored Hamayuu and will certainly be coming back!

My young family and I always eat here when we are in Chester. the portions are a good size, the staff are attentive and the setting is lovely (but not intimidatingly formal!) We absolutely love it. 100% this place is an easy recommendation to anyone and I'd have faith that it would be enjoyed greatly.

Really good food and drink. Highly recommended. Great service too...a truely amazing experience...cant wait to go back

Great to find Japanese food in Chester. Sushi was good. Chilled Asahi beer. Rice of the Katsu Don could have been better, it was too moist and not sticky. Forgot to photograph.

Amazing food, brilliant service! fair portions for the price!

Very nice place, the food is great, staff is friendly and attentive ☺️

Absolutely phenomenal ramen! Possibly the best I have ever had. Would recommend to everyone.

We were so lucky to find this restaurant and, as we got there early, a table. The staff were delightful and the food very authentic (!) and delicious. I hope to return someday. Would highly recommend.

A great Japanese restaurant in Chester! I'm looking forward to visiting again next time.

Great food, location, and prices!

Decent quality of Japanese food! Super nice staff very helpful

Hamayuu is a lovely Japanese restaurant! It's in a quaint part of the high street, located semi-underground. The service has always been impeccable, the hostess who's name I forgot to ask always gives me a little paper crane when I visit (I have collected two). The food is almost always amazing. The starters I've had are all great, the tonkotsu ramen is absolutely to die for, the sushi is nice and varied, and the rice bowls are good too. My only gripe is with the udon bowls, unfortunately the tempura absorbs the broth rather quickly and dissolves into it, so it's not a spectacular experience. Otherwise, it's the best Japanese place I've been to in years. The location is nice too, it has air conditioning so it stays cool even when it's hot out. There are tatami mats you can sit on, which was pretty nostalgic for me. If you do visit, absolutely try out the Tomkotsu ramen. The plum wine is also very nice :)

Always take my daughter here for lunch when we visit Chester never fails to disappoint. Had the bento boxes this time, amazing! Can’t wait to visit again

100 % recommended food and service top class

Lovely small restaurant serving Japanese food. The sushi is amazing and I also had the beef yakisoba, which was really tasty but just a little oily. Having said that I'd definitely go back & would recommend.

Booked a table for 2 and were seated straight away. The restaurant was quite busy but we were served straight away. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food arrived quickly and tasted fresh and delicious. Veggie gyoza and prawn gyoza to start, veggie katsu curry bento box and chicken katsu curry bento box both with miso soup on the side. Unfortunately they forgot the katsu curry sauce on the veggie bento box but my wife didn’t even notice.

The staff are wonderful. The food is delicious and well priced. The venue is kind of small, so you feel like you're somewhere exquisite and exclusive, but the atmosphere can be quiet as might be expected or bustling with cheerful parties.

Ordered curry katsu, and tempura udon. Forgot to try Ramen, need to go again

Glad I found this place in Chester. I will definitely come back, everything was great

Amazing food and service. Lovely little gem and very reasonable. Taste was exceptional. Especially the teriyaki salmon. Worth a visit for anyone in Chester.

The restaurant is nicely decorated and some of the food was decent, but the tonkotsu ramen was very poor. The broth was bland, the pork was dry and there wasn't much of anything in it - a single piece of broccoli, 2 pieces of pork and a small amount of noodles. Definitely not enough for a meal. Sushi was okay, but nothing special. Wouldn't recommend.

Amazing authentic Japanese food on Watergate street! Had an amazing sushi platter, salmon bento box and mochi! Staff were lovely will definetly be returning soon!

A beautiful restaurant with a lovely calm atmosphere. I wanted to eat in but my son was asleep so we opted for a takeout. The staff were all very nice, the hostess in particular was very kind and helpful. The food was all delicious and reasonably priced. We will 100% be back again.

I had a wonderful birthday meal here! The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was amazing and the service was really good too!! The price was great for what we got!! I highly recommend this place for food!!!

Food was amazing in both taste and presentation, service was amazing from everyone who worked there

The food and service was both amazing!🤩😍👍🏻

First time dining here and couldn’t have left happier. This restaurant is by far the best traditional Japanese restaurant we have tried. The sushi was so fresh and soft it melted in my mouth. Tonkotsu ramen was to die for!

Great food and lovely staff! Fab little find in Chester. I recommend the sushi.

Incredible, great atmosphere and food is even better, you can even elect to sit on a low table on the floor which is cool and adds to the experience. I had a katsu curry bento box so I could sample a few things, absolutely delicious Can’t think of a single thing wrong, if anything, the prices are a bit on the low side for the excellent service, food, and quality

Been several times and it never disappoints. I’ve a lot of items of their menu and my favourites are the bento boxes, the sushi selection and the ramen. The takoyaky and the karagee chicken are also some must haves when coming to this place. The staff is always delightful and ready to help without ever being intrusive.

We went to Hamayu for a birthday dinner tonight. The prices were reasonable but the service was really appalling. When we got there, we told a staff member we had a reservation for two at 7:30pm, but it seemed like she didn't know about it. We ordered food at 7:34pm, and food came quickly. The sushi was ok. After we finished eating, the same staff member took our plates away and asked if we wanted dessert. We said no, as we were full. But then she put our bill on the table without saying a word. A little while later, she brought a payment machine and asked us to pay at about 8:10 pm.(Given that they close at 9pm. If they consider 7:30pm too late for arrival, they shouldn't have accepted my booking.) There were other customers too, but they weren't given their bills. Another couple who came after us had no issues. My partner and I were surprised because we had only been there for 40 minutes. We wanted to relax and chat over tea, then we requested to pay later. I used to love coming to Hamayu, but this was my worst experience there. Spending over £40 on dinner, being handed the receipt and asked to pay just 40 minutes after arriving felt disrespectful. After reading other reviews, I wonder if discrimination played a part in this. Overall, the food was ok and prices were fair, but the bad service ruined the experience for us. I used to love Hamayu, but I'm not sure if I'll go back after this.

The most delicious meal I’ve had in years. Amazing service too. Highly recommend.

Really good food not too expensive either

Beautiful food, wonderful people, will happily go again and again!

Great food, great with kids. Loved it

Really excellent Japanese & East Asian restaurant. Quite an intimate feel. The food is so well flavoured and the staff are really nice. Pricing is surprisingly inexpensive. Will definitely go again.

Food absolutely delicious. Service brilliant. Highly recommend

Stunning food! The vegetable tempura skewers were so flavourful and held their crispiness. Highly recommend the vegetable gyozas too and the tonkatsu ramen was incredible. The interior is also beautiful with gentle lighting and the staff are very friendly.

Staff are lovely. Food is amazing every time. Prices are very reasonable. You can even buy Japanese snacks here. Very much authentic and we are lucky to have this close by.

Came here for a birthday dinner, they did not disappoint at all! The food was incredible and authentic, the staff were so nice and friendly and the atmosphere was amazing with all the Japanese traditional decor! Would definitely go again!! They also had the frutia sweets that I've been looking for a while! Thank you for such a nice experience!!

The service and atmosphere does not do justice to the food served. It looked good and well presented but the taste was just not there.

A restaurant where you can savor genuine Japanese cuisine.

Genuinely friendly staff and bloody delicious food.

It is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Chester. Staff are always very attentive and the quality of the food is really good.

Amazing food (absolutely recommend the gyu-don), really sweet staff that always make you feel welcomed and taken care of. The décor is beautiful, can't recommend enough! Dined in and had take-out, both of the same quality and loved it!

Great Japanese restaurant with lots to offer! We got some sushi, seafood tempura, a Katsu curry and a salmon burrito and we're extremely happy with all three options! The portions were generous and the staff were very friendly. I'll come here again!

Sushi and Katsu curry were delicious, would dine in again! Nice atmosphere. Service - great. Food - amazing

The best Japanese food I've had outside of Japan. Amazing.

I always forget to take pictures of the food here because I am so eager to eat it. Best tempura outside of Japan. The donburi bowls are perfect for every occasion. The portions of all the sides are perfect. The karaage is honestly incredible and I'm also a big fan of the takoyaki. Excellent vegetarian options like tempura, gyoza and curries. And agadashi tofu too! Wonderful atmosphere and friendly staff

Had a lovely meal here. I was with a friend who can't eat wheat, and she was delighted with their gluten free menu, which had quite a few options. We both went with bento boxes, mine from the normal menu, hers from the gluten free menu and both were delicious and pretty similar in content (the gluten free bento even includes gluten free gyoza). We will definitely be going back when we are next in Chester!

Amazing food, service & prices! A must visit.

Service was great. Hosts were amazing and very helpful. Food was great and fresh, and the taste was original.

Locale ben frequentato anche infrasettimanale, ambiente gradevole e rilassato. Tutto assolutamente buono e prezzo onesto, considerando che siamo in pieno centro. Mangiato bene e a sazietà. Consigliato

Absolutely wonderful lunch. Great service and atmosphere. One of the best meals we've had in a long while.

Absolutely fantastic food! The sushi is amazing! The staff are great and very helpful and kind! I highly recommend if you like authentic Japanese cuisine!

一人旅の途中に立ち寄りました。担当してくれた浴衣が似合う女性の日本人スタッフが親切にチェスターのおすすめ観光スポットを教えてくださいました。 おススメされた運河を歩くのは雨なんて気にならない位よかったです。 またチェスターに来たら、何年後になるか分かりませんが立ち寄ってみたいと思います。

Staff were so lovely. I ordered a bento box that I really enjoyed. Definitely would recommend & go again

Great food, warm service, easy to reserve. Can certainly recommend

Such an amazing restaurant, the food is amazing and the servers are so kind and friendly, it’s very reasonably priced for the quality and the atmosphere is amazing too, would 100% recommend!

Hamayuu is a lovely Japanese restaurant . We've been there a few times and love Hamayuu. We recommend the sushi and fried chicken(called karaage)The staff are also very nice. On weekends, I think it's better to make a reservation.

Everything I tried there is so delicious

First try at Japanese food, we both had Bento boxes, sake and desserts Food and service is first class. Highly recommended

Lovely Japanese restaurant with very attentive and thoughtful service. Very clean as you would expect, and with a real eye for detail with their food. If your unfamiliar with Japanese food, their menu has helpful explanations and illustrations of the various options. We had the chicken bento boxes which is a great way a sampling a variety of delightful bites whilst getting a very satisfying meal. Food was delicious and so flavourful, and good value for money. Also it's next to the Warhammer store so everyone wins when you take your wife out for a meal here 😉

Tasty Karaage Bento Box. lovely place and atmosphere. Will definitely come back

Fantastic authentic Japanese restaurant and food, and friendly staff. One of our favourite restaurants in Chester.

Lovely atmosphere & attentive staff, we came in when it was quieter so it didn't take long from being seated to getting our food. We had the cucumber sushi which was delicious, as well as the chicken katsu curry which was so warming, perfect for rainy autumn weather. The only thing I would say is that my chicken was a little bit tough and hard to chew, the flavours were delicious though this is the only thing that was an issue. Would definitely return, absolutely loved the experience, credit to the waitress/front of house who took our order & served us, she was so lovely.

Great experience and food. Very helpful staff.

Service honestly Is friendly and good, atmosphere decent, but I must be honest,. quality of food very poor, specially the noodles and prawns. The noodles sauce and skewers sauce were terrible, taste glutamate and too sweet. Sushi was below average, didn't taste bad, nothing exceptional. Apologies to be a bit hard, place is very friendly, if you improve the quality of the food, and simplify the menu, the place will be great.

Relaxed atmosphere, tasty authentic food, all served by really nice friendly people. Will definitely be returning.

5 stars isn't even enough for this little gem we found. The restaurant is beautiful and feels very authentic. The staff are super friendly and welcoming. The food was the best Japanese food I have ever tried, the tonkotsu ramen was delicious. The meat just melts in your mouth and the broth is rich and flavourful and the Noodles are really chewy and perfectly cooked. Beyond perfect, will be back!

Amazing food and great atmosphere. Very friendly staff.

Honestly some of the best sushi I have ever had in the UK! The service was amazing, the food was top notch, and the restaurant itself was nice decorated and perfect for a date. My husband and I live far away and are only in town for a wedding, but we have already vowed to come back because it was THAT good.

Some of the best food and service we've had in the country, let alone Chester. Always met with a friendly greeting and remembered by the staff. Fantastic food, generous portions, and extremely reasonably priced. Our go-to when after food in Chester.

It was a nice experience of sushi and ramen. You’ll probably have to make a reservation for here

Good and authentic food. The service was fast and efficient. The place itself is quite small but cosy. Both my boyfriend and I were very impressed and would definitely come back to Hamayuu.

Affordable quality food with good service and dining experience