Japan Centre in City of London, Westminster

A very neat and organised place filled with all Japanese goodies..

I love going there on Fridays evenings to get the discounts and eat some amazing food. It is also delicious to buy different Japanese food that I don't have a clue about. The shop floor supervisor SURAJ is always very helpful and friendly and guided us several times when we need any explanation about their delicious great variety of goods.

A really good shop, in what feels like a very authentic environment. It's smaller inside than it would appear from outside, but still has a wide range of products. There are Japanese food and drink items, plus some homeware and even books. They sell sushi, sashimi etc. and there is a small dining area, where you can sit and eat what you buy, although it does get very busy. I've often found the staff on the shop floor to be a little unfriendly and unhelpful. However, the staff at the payment tills have always been really nice and helpful. Overall, a really nice place to shop and eat. Worth visiting if you're looking for authentic Japanese products.

So, I happen to love canteens. You can sit down, chill out, take it easy, without any waiters rushing you off of your cramped four-top table to serve the next person. This, a literal stone's throw away from the most touristy place in London (Leicester Square), is just such a place. An oasis of chill. When you walk into the air-conditioned basement shop, you are greeted with aisles upon aisles of snacks, tinny J-pop over the speakers, and a comforting amount of tables where you can relax. There's an open-air kitchen serving Katsu Curry, Okonomiyaki, Tonkotsu Ramen and Udon soup bowls, while the grab-and-go section has various boxes of sushi and Onigiri, with many different kinds of drink. The food is just okay, and it's about the price of a street food market or a fast food place nowadays (~£10 for mains, plus £2-3 for each extra) - but the draw here is that you get to sit at decently comfortable tables indoors and you don't feel like you're being crowded or kicked out in the beating heart of Tourist London. And if you bought some of their cheap snacks and sat down to eat for a little less, I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

Good place, I order a lot of stuff online as well. Genuine Japanese products made in Japan. Not the ones that are made from indonesia.

I loved this place, I really like Japanese culture and I have never been able to go to Japan but you feel transported there just by going down the little steps that lead to the basement, where you not only find groceries for sale but also a restaurant area with self-service dishes already ready or the possibility of ordering hot dishes, the choice leaves you speechless, upstairs there is also a ramen restaurant

Visited for lunch today. We shared a chicken katsu curry and a chicken teriyaki donburi bowl. Food was delicious, staff friendly and prices really reasonable. Highly recommend!

Great for a quick lunch with affordable prices. Onigiri with real taste, superb pork gyoza! You can find anything you want from japan cuisine and culture! Not much space to eat there but people move fast from tables.

Found all my ingredients for my 3 different Ramen dishes, very pleased. The cheese cake is a must !

Hot/cold food available to purchase, there are tables you can sit to eat but does get busy especially weekends. Supermarket to buy groceries but products are quite expensive compared to other asian stores in the local area.

The chicken katsu curry is great, and you can get a huge meal (more than my short-stack body can hold) and drink for well under 15 which is a good deal for this part of town. If I had a comment, it's that recently they seem to have been serving sit-down customers with curry in the takeout box rather than a bowl, which is okay but I think a bit of a shame. Maybe consider going back to the real bowls?

I love going here on my break or on my way home from work. The prices are reasonable and the food is nice. It's always busy, though, so keep that in mind if you visit. The staff are really friendly but sometimes seem overwhelmed with the amount of customers asking questions and the manager talking all at the same time 😅.

Absolutely horrible customer service at the check-out. The long-haired Japanese guy was supposed to help customers pack the groceries and just stood there watching like it’s none of his business.

The needle-vibrating stone can be implemented if you haven’t sung it before

I’ve been coming here for about a year for lunch twice a week. The quality of the cooked food and bentos is getting worse. I recently bought a salmon bento and the salmon was frozen solid on the inside as if it was an icecube and the outside had black char marks. This is really unsafe and I had to buy a second lunch. In general the food is dry as hell and overcooked which is the opposite of usual Japanese culinary practices, but I usually avoid certain dishes and opt for sushi or tempura. I will say the grocery store section is fantastic though and it’s one of my favourite shops to get cupboard staples.

Excellent freshly cooked food consumed on site, shame about the too much air conditioning.

If you are looking for a place to eat authentic Japanese food, Japan Centre has an awesome restaurant in the basement. It's the same restaurant that you'll find at Ichiba in Westfield (west London), and there's an oriental supermarket to pick up provisions, set around the seating area. Queue up for your food and then find somewhere to sit (if you - it gets exceptionally busy at lunchtimes). The koteri ramen is absolutely delicious, as is the chicken katzu curry and the teriyaki chicken rice bowl.

All the staff was very accommodating and friendly, the place was clean and organised, foods are very affordable.

Fantastic food, friendly staff and, a cornucopia of Japanese products to buy/look at 👍!

I do not recommend this place at all. I ordered pork bun and tempura: as soon as I took a bite I had to spit it out as it tasted so awful. Moreover, when I arrived at home my eyes started swollen and it took about three days until I got rid of the puffed eyes.

I am loving the prepared sushi 🍣 at the Japan Centre. We highly recommend visiting after 7pm when there are great deals.

Good food, nice selection of snacks and other cute things. Sometimes very busy and has very crowded, closed in atmosphere which can be a bit much.

An excellent store with a huge variety of produce, fresh food and an excellent Japanese deli counter. Expensive.

Amazing place for lunch , love Asian food court and shop, affordable price and friendly atmosphere

The ramen noodles are factory made not home made. “If you don’t make your own noodles - you are just a soup shop”. You can get better ramen for the same price at many other places locally for the same price ! Wouldn’t go again!

A nice Japanese food court located quite centrally in London, Both hot and cold food options available. It's usually quite quick but lines can get long at times, and the seating is often busy. There are gluten free options in the cold food but unfortunately not in the hot food. There is however enough selection in the onigiri, sushi and sashimi for one to enjoy a nice variety even with an intolerance.

Comida limpia y sabrosa, pollo al curry con fideos es increíble para esta zona! Además, la comida de pescado es sabrosa, y la gente siempre tiene hambre.

My everyday lunch place. Great food, although now a tad overpriced (sorry)! Suraj is a great customer service rep; always friendly and eager to help!

usually love this place and come for the deals that the end of the day, but because of the lack of attention from the staff I was overcharged for food that should have been discounted and didn’t realise until after I checked the receipt. Very disappointed as I should not be paying full price when the discount stickers were very clearly on the products

Had the salmon onigiri and the pickled plum onigiri. Great snacks!

Came here as I seen a massive watermelon and was like we have to get it. Looked around the store, it’s not entirely for me but my son loves all things Japan related especially the ramen section so he really loved his shop experience which is good for me. Will come back definitely x

Ugo was a friendly and extremely professional associate. While working as security he has such an extensive knowledge of the products, as well as an in depth appreciation and perspective on japanese and Asian culture. I'll definitely be back, keep up the good work :)

Taste was decent for the price.

Fun shop to look around. Unusual gifts. High quality.

A great place to grab a quick bite when you're in town. However, groceries seem to be cheaper at Korean supermarkets.

When ordering, I repeatedly told the waiter that I was vegan, and he impatiently told me that the plate of sushi was vegan. After taking two bites, I found that there were shrimps and pork inside. If you have no intention of running a vegetarian business, please don't advertise that you sell this product, as this will cause people with food allergies to get sick. Please not only make money, but also be a conscientious enterprise.

It was an interesting experience

If you need to stock up on your Japanese ingredients or food, this is the spot. Alternatively, if you are looking for dinner or lunch, this is also the spot for you.

In a word, authentic. In three, East Asian Atmosphere. Came for a gift for a loved one and was spoiled for choice. Ended up spending an hour browsing all the mind blowing products. People were eating and drinking there, getting groceries and just hanging out. Relaxed atmosphere and great prices on genuine products. Don't go to Chinatown - it's for tourists. Go here.

The restaurant was incredibly decorated, super pretty, and the service was very efficient - our ramen took just over 5 mins! BUT there was only one vegetarian option , which would be fine, except it was also listed as spicy. Hence the 4 stars, a non spicy veggie option would be great!

Fresh chilled food is amazing, the warm deli is just okay unless you get it super fresh and then it's amazing as well.

Love this place, come to visit virtually every time I come to London. Great food and service, and lots of reasonably priced Japanese fresh produce and items like cutlery, bowls, cups, etc 😊 Highly recommend!

We had heard good things about JC, so we decided to check it out. You can find everything there—from Japanese and Korean to Chinese products. At the restaurant section, I ordered ramen with tempura. However, what I got was a soggy, waterlogged prawn half-lost in its tempura batter. That can’t be right, can it? I went back to address the issue, asking for a proper crispy tempura. The staff member said, "Okay, I’ll get you a new one." To my surprise, he grabbed a pre-cooked tempura from the display and put it in the microwave! That’s not going to make it crispy, I thought. I had no patience for this anymore, so I walked away, ate my ramen, and left the store.

Good place, just not too many options. Overall is great

You can find Japanese products in a variety, fresh food bakeries snacks and so on it's so good 😍

The Japan Centre is an absolute gem in the heart of London for anyone who loves authentic Japanese food and culture! The highlight of my visit was their udon soups – warm, hearty, and packed with flavor. The noodles were perfectly cooked with just the right amount of chewiness, and the broth was rich and comforting, with options to suit every taste. My personal favorite was the [mention a specific udon soup if you'd like, e.g., "spicy miso udon"] – it was absolutely divine! The ambiance is another level of amazing. Walking in feels like stepping into a vibrant corner of Japan, with a design that’s straight out of a Naruto episode. From the subtle anime-inspired decor to the cozy, bustling atmosphere, it’s a must-visit spot for fans of Japanese pop culture and food alike. Whether you're looking for a quick, delicious meal or simply want to soak in the authentic vibes, the Japan Centre is the perfect place. Highly recommend it – I’ll definitely be back!

Decepcionante, tristemente. Sashimi es bueno, para ser justos. Gyoza menos y calentado por el personal no sonriente. Es un sótano bastante básico. Recoges de la nevera y pasas por la caja, luego vuelves a entrar para sentarte en taburetes altos. Es más bien un lugar de aperitivos según las expectativas del Reino Unido. Incluso al estilo Macdonalds. No se da vajilla. La salsa de soja tiene que ir en la tapa del contenedor de venta de plástico ligero ocultar brotes a través de la mesa. . Es esencialmente una comida para llevar con asientos. Nada de ceremonia y elegancia de la mayoría de los lugares japoneses, tristemente. El antiguo Centro de Japón en Piccadilly era tan elegante. No digo que no vuelva a ir pero no es una experiencia de “restaurante” IMO. Comemos mucho japonés.

An Authentic Taste of Japan at the Japan Centre ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Japan Centre is a gem for anyone looking to experience the flavors and culture of Japan in the heart of London. From the moment I stepped inside, I was transported to a vibrant marketplace filled with authentic Japanese food, groceries, and products. The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the food. The selection is incredible, offering everything from freshly made sushi and sashimi to warm bowls of ramen and flavorful donburi. The sushi was beautifully prepared, with fresh, high-quality ingredients and a perfect balance of flavors. It’s clear that great care is taken to ensure authenticity and presentation. The ramen was equally delightful, with a rich, savory broth and perfectly cooked noodles. The toppings were generous, and the flavors transported me straight to Japan. There’s also a fantastic variety of bento boxes, making it easy to grab a delicious and healthy meal on the go. One of the standout features of Japan Centre is the bakery and dessert section. I couldn’t resist trying the mochi and matcha-flavored pastries, which were both sweet and satisfying without being overly heavy. The selection of Japanese teas and beverages is also impressive, complementing the food perfectly. Beyond the food, the Japan Centre offers an extensive range of Japanese groceries, snacks, and kitchenware. It’s a one-stop shop for anyone looking to recreate Japanese dishes at home or discover new ingredients. I spent far longer browsing than I planned because there’s just so much to explore. The atmosphere is lively yet welcoming, and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly, always willing to help with recommendations or answer questions about the products. While the prices can be slightly higher than standard supermarkets, the quality and authenticity make it well worth it. Whether you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine or simply curious to try something new, the Japan Centre is a must-visit destination.

Great place for a snack and the ramen looks good. I recommend it!

A good place to have Japanese food, sashimi, sushi and groceries. They even have Japanese magazines and items of anime. Recommend anyone who loves Japanese culture to pay a visit. The bilingual signage in Japanese and English adds the vibe so hopefully the owner can do more of this, of course the best is to open more Japan Centre store in the UK.😸🍣🍤🍛🍜

I went shopping while visiting London from another European city. They had a lot of ingredients that you don't usually see, and they also sold bento boxes and useful goods that are common in Japan. I was thrilled to see so many types of koji on sale! There is also a toilet. You can eat there, and they also sell raw fish. There is a fish shop attached. Dashi packs with expired expiration dates were being sold at unbelievable prices. Something that happens overseas😅

Good place to stop for a meal when in the centre. Sushi and sashimi are pretty good. Ramen a bit hit and miss. Big plus the fact that you can drink the sakes sold in the shop with your meal.

I come here every time I’m in London to quickly satisfy my sushi craving (inexpensive, good quality sushi for take away) and buy some Japanese groceries. Very good selection and reasonable prices for imported food.

Cute condensed Japanese shopping experience. Books, Anime, crockery and toys they do but we all know that the main attraction is the food!! Loads of ready-made and interesting "staples" to cram into your cupboards. Super helpful staff.

Always used to buy my favourite food and things from here at the old location, this new place is even better 🤗

I always come here to eat when I'm in central London because it reminds me of my Japan trip.

At first it doesn't look like much, but when you decent the stairs into the Japan Center, you'll be submerged in a cozy shopping district where you can purchase all kinds of Japanese wares. Take out or settle down and eat in, this hidden gem is worth a try.

We have Japanese ingredients and daily necessities. You can also enjoy reasonably priced meals at the food court.

I wasn't expecting this place to be so calm, with a huge variety of products and very affordable prices. I recommend it for Japanese fans.

One of my favourite places in London ! Always coming here !

The food and atmosphere were amazing. However, after being harassed by your security guard, i feel nothing but utter discust towards this establishment. I feel as though something must change as this doesn't seem like the first time he has done this. This encounter made my experience here miserable, and I would like to warn all those who want to visit here to watch out for that so called security guard as he may be the one you need to be guarded from.

Me and my family were just browsing Japan Centre when suddenly we were approached by the security guard as we were leaving. My brother was blatantly accused of stealing although we had already paid for it. Our mum had already paid for it and had provided proof of purchase however he insisted that my brother was stealing and would not allow us to leave. He should be ashamed of himself for disrespecting us and humiliating us as we of course did not steal. Even after the proof and telling him he could just check the security cameras, he didn’t believe us and proceeded to look in our bags himself to look for sushi that clearly didn’t exist because once again… WE DIDN’T STEAL!!! The management needs to sort out their security and rest assured we will be reporting this incident to the relevant authority. If I don’t get any sort of response, I shall be taking action! This is unacceptable behaviour. He didn’t even apologise and gave us attitude stating, “I am not talking to you, I am asking him” as we were trying to stick up for him. He needs to be fired!!!

Awful security guard, treated customer as I stole things without evidence. And no sorry from them at all.

Great shop and restaurant, perfect to get those uniquely japanese ingredients you can't get elsewhere. Great to be not only able to get sake but to be spoilt for choice

I often come here to shop for Japanese products. The cook food is very reasonable. I had classic ramen soup noodles, and it was good. I do recommend come to eat early because it gets very busy with the lunch crowd with limited indoor seating. Make sure you pick up a loyalty card, and you get a free meal with 15 stamps.

A place not to miss in London. Ramen 🍜 and mochi are fabulous. 👌

One of my favourite places. I buy ramen and stock. It satisfies my cravings, and is great since I don't go out to eat ramen any more. I love all the other items they stock, like kitchenware, magazines and sashimi. I actually haven't bought any, but it's cool to look at them. If you need Japanese groceries, this is brilliant, though some items are cheaper in Chinatown. The takeaway is great too. I've had the gyoza and yakitori chicken skewers, though it was ages ago.

I love the Japan centre. I don't usually eat there but always shop. Some great products at a very reasonable cost considering they are all imported. Sake week at the moment.

Quite terrible. People who work there have no idea what most of the Japanese’s items are. Frustrating when you are asking the staff and they have zero clue ( if you work there you should know the basics) Overly priced for the same sauce and general items you can find at other Asian stores. Sushi is substandard. Even at the fish market fish is sliced so thinly (mostly poorly seasoned rice) ..and expensive for what it is. Waste of a trip.

Some of the most tasty takeaway sushi in London, and not too expensive. Only downside was I wanted to pick up some onigiri before I left for my train at 11:30am and they were so slow stocking the shelves that I had to leave without it. Good selection of Japanese products.

A pretty nice little Japanese mini market and restaurant where you can get some interesting Japanese ingredients, dessert and food. They don't have the most complete collection on their shelves and certainly the food is not mind-blowing but it was decent enough

I have been going to this Japan Centre for many years. However, I never thought of giving my reviews. On the 3/10/2024-Thursday, I went to this Japan Centre for a quick dinner. I ended up spending over £100 shopping for various Japanese food. Treating myself with a bowl of vegetarian soup ramen and a pack of sashimi sushi. Highly recommended this Japanese centre. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I tried the katsu curry on my recent trip to London and it was easily the best meal I had on my trip! Definitely recommend it. The staff were also very kind and helpful and there was plenty of place to sit and enjoy your meal.

Friendly staff and a nice vibe to the place

Love this place! It’s like a portal into Japan. For anyone who has been to Japan you will find your favourites from fruit to candy. Prepared food is great and authentic as well. Worth a visit.

Chicken teriyaki donburi was so dry and had no flavour, beef donburi was so greasy. We left more than half our meals as it was so bad, very disappointed.

A place where you can shop and eat at the same time. Love their big variety of drinks!!

Didn't stay long my only wish is that it was bigger!

I can only say good things about Japan Centre. We went there first because we knew it was a supermarket for Japanese products, which had a lot of variety and at a good price, but then we saw that they also had prepared food to take away and that you could eat freshly made food there at VERY reasonable prices. The first day I took a salmon and tuna poke at a reduced price, since in the afternoon, after a certain time, they give discounts of 30% on their fresh products, so you can have dinner quite cheap. The quality of the fish was spectacular. Some of the best salmon and tuna I have ever tried. The second day we wanted to have dinner there, and we got salmon nigiri which was tremendous, mascarpone and anko dorayaki which was very tasty and yuzu mochis, which are our favorite mochis at the moment. Then we ordered ramen and rice with curry, and it was very very good. The ramen was very original and the curry very tasty, slightly spicy. The truth is that it is 100% recommended, and they also give you a points card, and for every 10 pounds you get a stamp. When we return to London we will definitely return. -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --- I can only say good things about Japan Centre. First we went because we knew that it was a supermarket selling Japanese products, of which it has a lot of variety and at a good price, but then we saw that they also had prepared food to take away and that you could eat freshly made food there at VERY reasonable prices. The first day I got a salmon and tuna poke at a reduced price, since in the afternoon, starting at a certain time, they give 30% discounts on their fresh products, so you can have a pretty cheap dinner. The quality of the fish was spectacular. One of the best salmon and tuna I have ever tried. The second day we wanted to have dinner there, and we had salmon nigiri which was tremendous, mascarpone and anko dorayaki which was very very tasty and yuzu mochis, which at the moment are our favorite mochis. Then we ordered ramen and curry rice, and it was very very good. The ramen was very original and the curry very tasty, slightly spicy. The truth is that it is 100% recommended, and they also give you a points card, and for every 10 pounds they give you a stamp. When we return to London we will definitely return.

Love this place!!! The food is so good and authentic

The food is fresh and delicious! I was served very well by Suraj who made sure I got everything I was looking for. Thank you so much Suraj!! 🙏🏻❤️

Gratamente sorprendido por el restaurante japonés. Los fideos Ramen eran geniales, también tenían tiras de pollo teriyaki. Muy barato.

Provides a lot of ingredients produced in Japan🍣🍱🍜🍙🍩

Nice place with very good food!

Very nice place with lots of imported Japanese products. There are also many cuts of meat and fish just like in Japan. There is also a small bakery with baked products such as melon pan at super affordable prices. Nice just to visit. Super recommended

Everything you probably need. Ever so slightly expensive than other japanese shops

Have always wanted to visit. Not as big as I was expecting but the selection is fabulous with some hard to find items and a great ready to eat selection. It's central London and imported products so it's quite expensive but worth the experience

I recently visited this place as I work in the city. I have always been intrigued by the decor both in and out so I thought I give it a try. Needless to say I was blown away by the service that it has to offer. I was greeted by a young Asian male in the name of Suraj. He couldn't me more accommodating to what I wanted to eat as it was my first time ever trying Japanese cuisine. Amazing. Suraj is an asset to your organisation. Thank you. Will definitely be back.

It's great. Nice food and style.

There are many Japanese staff, so you can easily order in Japanese. They offer a wide range of authentic Japanese ingredients and food.

Downstairs they have the market where you can buy sushi, sashimi, japanese drinks, and also order hot bowls of stuff. There are a few tables and you can eat right there inside the market. The market also has lots of japanese products. Upstairs is their ramen restaurant. You sit and scan the table code and order and pay right there from your phone. They bring the food to you. The ramen was delicious. The prawn tempura were hot and crispy. Everything tasted very authentic and the service was quick.

AUTHENTIC! Best food for such an affordable price. Freshest sashimi available -- love the fatty yellow fin tuna sashimi!!!

My son really loves the onigiri at Japan Centre London. We were here one day late and all was sold out. So we came back another day and they were gone too. The staff here noticed his disappointment and checked why. After they learnt about the reason, they made four chicken onigiri special for him. What a lovely team. Thank you Prabath at the fresh counter and Suresh from the kitchen.

interesting places. but Ramen for £13 was not very good. we thought it would be tastier

Love the ambiance, good sushi, lots of interesting little things. Can’t wait to go back 5/5

Variety of japanese products but VERY expensive

Amazing products and ramen restaurant. A true taste of Japan and they have homeware and magazines etc too - definitely recommend a visit. Especially if you are missing any Japanese snacks.

Great quality sushi. I love that they offer discounts close to closing time. Definitely worth it.

Love their sushi selection and always fresh! Staff are friendly and helpful.

Convenient shop for all your Japanese needs. But only does it sell fresh Japanese food and ingredients but it also has book magazines and kitchen goods. A bit expensive but then much cheaper than going to Japan :)