Pompoko in Brighton and Hove

Quite a cheap but good Japanese meal to get in Brighton. I like the bread crumbed chicken with curry.

Good food, but check your bill. I ordered 2 starters and 2 mains. I was charged £36..looking at the menu now it should have been £22!! So make sure you double check!

Date: 14th April 2025 Cost: £40 for two Thanks to the crowds of people standing in the street perusing menus or hustling for space on others’ tables I see every time I walk past, I’d always associated Pompoko with those lovely local hidden gems, always full with repeat custom from those in the know. But the allure of rice bowls and noodle dishes just hasn’t been enough to warrant a deliberate diversion, particularly as I cook lots of them at home. However, the need to squeeze a meal in between the end of a working Monday and an early gig at the Corn Exchange - a mere javelinned chopstick away - presented the perfect opportunity. A member of staff was handing out tokens for free stuff at their newly opened Kemptown branch, and so the usual crowds dispersed quickly - Mich was seated by the time I’d nipped back from Tesco for cash (no card payments) and beers (£2.50/pp corkage fee). In a bind you can factor the efficiency of the service into your wait time anyway - I was barely back up the tiny staircase (order at the kiosk downstairs) before everything we’d ordered arrived at once. My chicken shougayaki don - plainish (and precooked) chicken and green peppers - felt like a very safe and boring option almost as soon as I’d ordered it. Which was kind of exactly how it turned out to be. Nice. Mich had a nanban don, which I always find surprising to not hate given the sweet stickiness of the chicken and the squeezy tartare mayo stuff; it made me wish I’d gone for something more interesting. The prawn tempura, gyoza and edamame (warm and unsalted) only served really to fill holes in tummies - slightly unnecessarily as it turned out, as the donburi were deceptively filling. Having been there, I’ll now associate Pompoko with its simple, cheap and efficient Japanese fare - a tasty enough option and pretty enjoyable experience, but not particularly stand-out. I’d go back out of convenience, and not be annoyed about it, but there’s still not enough there to warrant a deliberate diversion.

cash only place Affordable prices, good for students and anyone looking for cheap eats Good portion and taste

Bit of a good and bad vibe at this establishment. Firstly as other people have mentioned it’s quite cramped and stuffy especially upstairs. The toilets both male and female were also not the cleanest. I see people mention the cash only policy which I didn’t realise until we had sat down and looked around to see the many signs. There is a Tesco round the corner with an ATM so I was able to order then grab money to come back and pay. My food was pretty good - I ordered a special chow Mein and spring rolls. However my partner was not pleased with the special fried rice and gyoza. Rice a bit stale and gyoza a bit stodgy I did speak to two members of staff when I was there - a young lad who was very nice and pleasant. Also an older woman who seemed a bit pushy and rushed off her feet. Overall it wasn’t a bad experience nor was it amazing just meh.

Not often giving 1 star but: - taking only cash - pork was very chewy

I think I may have gone in with overly high expectations after reading reviews, but unfortunately I found Pompoko underwhelming. The restaurant felt cramped and in need of a refresh; paint and varnish was worn through, and tatty handwritten signs on the walls didn’t add much charm. On the plus side, it was cheap and the staff were friendly. However, the food was disappointingly bland — quite a feat, really. I have tried a wide range of Asian dishes over the years, including many I didn’t enjoy because they were too spicy or unusual for my tastes; but never because they lacked flavour. That said, I can see the appeal for students and young people looking for a cheap, filling bite on a night out especially as you can bring your own drinks. But if you're a lover of Asian cuisine seeking a "taste experience," this probably isn't the place for you.

The food was so great - highly recommend!

Food was affordable and delicious. Very fresh tasting and a nice atmosphere. Highly recommend the prawn nanban don.

Food was delicious and incredibly affordable. Portion size is good as well. Only downside is the cash only payment method otherwise a good option in Brighton

really great food, will definitely come here again.

So satisfied I am vegetarian person and they have plenty options for a vegetarian, which is I love it!!!!! must try

Really friendly staff in a small cosy setting. Vegetarian food was delicious and cheap. Cash only so make sure you get some. There’s an atm around the corner.

I visited this restaurant expecting a good dining experience, but unfortunately, I was met with an unexpected inconvenience. While the food looked nice, I was caught off guard when I was about to order and was informed that they only accept cash. What made it worse was that there were no visible signs or prior warnings about this policy. The staff handed me a menu, allowed me to get comfortable, and then, just as I was ready to order, they casually mentioned the cash-only policy. To make matters more concerning, they required payment upfront before even preparing the food, which felt a bit unusual and off-putting. Given that most places accommodate card payments, this lack of transparency seemed misleading and inconvenient for customers who might not carry cash. If you’re planning to visit, make sure to bring cash to avoid any frustration. However, I personally believe that businesses should be upfront about such policies to ensure a smoother customer experience.

Being Coeliac is always tricky but there are now great Japenese fusion restaurants that cater for this dietary requirement in Brighton …Pompoko offer just one GF dish which I ordered. The service was quick but unfortunately the dish was VERY bland. The dish was Rice, a few sheds of chicken & frozen diced vegetables, the egg had some eggshell in & there was no Gluten Free Soy sauce on offer which most places now provide. The portion size was ok but the presentation was hurried and not appetising at all. Sadly I won’t return.

Great little find in Brighton, looks rather unassuming from the outside but is very very worth it. Everything was delicious, and for very good prices. Very quick service as well. Would 100% recommend

I come here often and always enjoy the food and atmosphere here! Remember to bring cash and an empty stomach!

RUDE STAFF & when I called to ask them why my chicken is pink they claim “chicken is meant to be pink “.

One of my favourite places in Brighton, so affordable and every dish I’ve gotten (many over the past few years) has been amazing. Portions are great as well, especially for the price

Very brighton. You have to get with the 'anything goes' brighton programme here but then it's consistently good. Cash only. Tables crammed in. You'll probably have to wait 5/10mins for a table, squeeze yourself to the counter to pay. No alcohol but it's $2.50 byo (So actually a better deal esp if you grab a bottle from aldi). But when you accept all this you'll get friendly service, a lively atmosphere and consistently great food. Curry is fruity and lightly spiced. Rice always on point. Chilli don is crunchy and so satisfying. Consistently good.

Love love love it here, eveytime we come to brighton it's the first place we visit for food. Highly recommend 👌 will most likely go back again before leaving!

Estaba muy emocionado de probar el nuevo Pomoko en Kemp Town, pero se fue abrumado. Encontramos el restaurante frío y carente de ambiente y escasamente decorado. Usted paga en efectivo al hacer el pedido en el mostrador y una fuerte £ 2. 50 por persona por descorche. La comida estaba bien, aunque algunos platos ligeramente tibia en temperatura. Ok si quieres un poco de comida oriental rápida pero no realmente una buena cena fuera.

Wonderful food with generous portions and great service. NCP very nearby.

I ate sesame beef bowl and katsudon. It was very reasonable and delicious. It has a flavor that British people like, and it seems to be very popular with locals as well. The cheerful and courteous staff were also wonderful. Japanese people can also enter with peace of mind. Payment is by cash only.

Great food and atmosphere! Value for money as you can also bring your own drinks for a small fee :) one of the best spots in central Brighton!! Friendly service!!!

Decent prices but don’t expect much in terms of quality. That’s pretty much it. Nothing special. The kimchi udon was pretty good though.

Rude staff. Cold food. No flavour

Always a good option for lunch especially - portions very generous, food is excellent, and everything comes out very quickly!

This little Japanese restaurant has the perfect amount of charm, through not only the old building it’s located in, but the lovely people who work there. We arrived on Saturday with no booking and were told it would be a 10-15 minute wait for a seat and we got welcomed in only 5 mins after waiting! I will say the restaurant itself is very small and cramped due to its age. I had a Katsu curry, the chicken was decent and the rice perfectly cooked. I had BBQ spare ribs on the side and the meat fell off the bone, it was extremely tender. My partner had a pork dish, he believed it wasn’t the most flavoursome, although he said the takoyaki he ordered on the side was delicious. Alcohol is not sold on the premises, there is a ‘bring your own drink’ policy which allows you to bring a beverage of your choosing for a fee of £2.50. My boyfriend opted to do this as when he went to order and pay, realised it was cash only so he stopped off at the cash point and in the process bought his drink at a local store. The food is very affordable, our dinner came to roughly £30 for two people which is amazing.

Very cool tiny Japanese restaurant at an incredibly affordable price. Service is quick and friendly and the food is top tier. The place is cash only, if you need to withdraw money there is a Tesco cash point around the corner.

Yummy japanese place, my partner really loved the takoyaki. I'm glad they had clearly marked vegetarian and vegan options. Cash only, atm is around the corner.

The original Pompoko, serves beautiful Japanese food! I've been here several times with my friends and the food is always delicious and quick. It's a must go to when visiting Brighton!

Disappointed and not recommended! It’s obvious this restaurant is not owned by Japanese. The seating is very cramped, and when we had just put down our chopsticks, the waitress immediately came to take away all the dishes, placed a few candies on the table, and said, ‘Thank you, see you next time.’ This behavior was clearly rude and rushed. The food was unimpressive—I bet any Asian could easily cook better than this. Overall, the experience was poor, and I will definitely not be coming back.

It was ok. Ordered a vegetable stir fried rice for £9. This is pretty much the same price as all the other dishes with rice, including proteins such as chicken, prawn, pork or tofu. I was pretty disappointed to receive a plate of rice with peas, sweetcorn, and some little diced carrot. This was garnished with regular mustard cress. Didn't really seen like it had seen a wok. I ate it all due to being very hungry. It was fine to satisfy my hunger. But for £9, I would expect a vegetable stir fry rice to have a little more vegetables. e.g Some leafy green cabbage, spring onion, bamboo shoot, chilli, pepper, sweet potato - Anything really. Peas, sweetcorn and carrot to me seemed like a massive cop out for a £9 dish. Seemed like the total bare minimum effort put in, especially considering the other dishes contained so much more for the same price. Service was fine, but pretty non existent really. And the atmosphere was ok. Seemed happy to take the money, deliver average food and not even really check if everything was ok. That was my experience. Wouldn't rush back anytime soon.

I ate there this evening Manchester Street Kemptown and I am now sick as a dog. I had katsu prawn rice bowl . The venue has no heating so you have to keep your coat on otherwise you freeze!

The food was fantastic, the service was fast, polite and it was affordable. Can’t believe this is the first time I’ve been here in 3 years of living in Brighton. Would highly recommend to anyone, especially students.

decent place to eat... been going for years too... food is very good for the price

Terrible food. Feels like a student union cafeteria, or a function room at a dirty pub. We ordered a bunch of stuff to try, but it was all awful. It’s the sort of food a university student that can’t cook would make.

Great authentic Japanese food. Food came out super quick, really good portion and reasonable price. Lovely staff and highly recommend for Japanese food in Brighton!

I looooove Pompoko. It’s a small restaurant and serves wonderful Japanese food with fluffy rice and flavorful sauces. I love the tori chili don. Staff are friendly and it’s located in such a convenient spot!! Do not forget to bring cash (☆_☆)

So so good. Amazing prices too, especially for its location. I love!

Teníamos la intención de probar Pompoko, pero nunca llegamos a ello. Un pequeño bar muy delicioso. La comida era increíble, amable con el personal. Entra y sal rápido tipo de lugar. El Tori Chilli Don era genial. Mucha especia, pollo sabroso y muy crujientes también. El lugar se ve viejo y descuidado hasta cierto punto. Pero la comida compensa esto y te da una sensación de un establecimiento anticuado. En general recomendaría 100% a cualquier amante de la comida japonesa o asiática.

One of the best places in Brighton! Affordable and authentic. Great veggie options too.

Good food, good prices and fast service!

Very tasty food. Welcoming and friendly staff, lovely atmosphere

My 4 word review: Do it on Deliveroo For full review including photos, see potato_world_and_beyond on Instagram!

Amazing food. Great service and I love the atmosphere. Only issue I have is, please accept card. That's all. If you're going there, make sure to bring cash

Good food, good price. Definitely worth the visit!

Really nice food. Quick, friendly service and good prices.

Service fine you order at counter and they bring food to the table. I got asked to move so they could push tables together for other customers who turned up which was fine..staff were polite. Its fast food and cheap but the food was not authentic and mediocre. Wastw if money. The pork kimchi Don was really bad. Flavourless and unseasoned. The kimchi is not kimchi at all but soggy cabbage no spice, not fermented, lacking any flavour and tastes boiled. Why not just but in pocket kimcho if its too much effort to make! The pork had a little flavour of soy sauce and that was it. It was hot so that was good but probably reheated.. might as well gone to kokoro as similar price and atleast has more taste to the food. Surprised it was so busy downstairs.

Best gyoza dumplings in the UK. Totally recommend!

I enjoyed friendly people and delicious food. The dine in area is on a small side, but the food! The food was perfect. I am definitely coming back. Thank you kindly 🙏

Open till 11pm so hit for some Asian comfort food after theatre. Did the job 👌 cash only though

Authentic Japanese food, but you can only pay in cash and there is no waiter service, you have to order at the counter. Place with very little space to sit

Such a beautiful restaurant, lovely people and authentic food. Loved it all

Authentic Japanese restaurant experience. Really lovely and responsive staff, respectful and kind. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced! (BRING CASH!) they had lots of options and the atmosphere was cozy and charming, with seats squeezed in to utilise every area without being too cramped. Definitely worth going!

Cash only restaurant. Staff bring food to you within minutes of ordering. Great food and customer service.

Después de 10 años, creo que he terminado con Pompoko. Hoy nos hemos pasado. Los pollos servidos fueron refritos de sobras, y duros, y porción de pollo pequeña con los precios más altos ahora. £ 9 por tazones, y todavía efectivo solamente? Creo que ahora se están llevando un Mickey. Además, ¿qué pasó con el personal allí? ¿Por qué son tan groseros?

Going downhill! Food came quick only because it must had been under a not so hot hot plate, warm at best and greecy. Prices are creeping up, and cash only is just dodgy. The service is nothing to rave about. Used to be good, but for its current price and quality don’t go here instead go to Kokoro!

I will now call it a day after 10 years. Today we went to Pompoko again, and the food was just bad. The chicken was re-fried from left over I think, and it was dry and so thin, barely any chicken. :( service was kinda rude and I kept hearing the staff said diarrhea. The prices have gone up and they are still cash so that it another thing. I think you better off going to kokoro instead.

On the list of Brighton Japanese restaurants, this one I think is probably second after goemon. It is cheap, friendly, and it is good quality food just done well. No offense meant when I say it's second,I did enjoy the meal I had here and thought it was very good value! Definitely recommended.

Laid back and humble little gem with absolutely moorish food, helpful staff, and very affordable.

Great food and really cheap. Definitely recommend

Great tasting food at a reasonable price. Would definitely return when in town again.

A friend suggested this as a good drop-in place while we were mooching around town and I'm so glad he did. Quick, unpretentious, jolly, quirky - and yummy food. Will definitely revisit.

Really lovely place with very reasonable prices. The portions are generous too so it feels worth it for your money. Would definitely recommend as there is a nice seating area outside too. Only thing to keep in mind is that it is cash only.

Amazing and very tasty food . Cash only but close to atm, so usually no problem. Very appiling prices, for 10-11£ you can have main dish and drink. 100% recommended 👌

Came for dinner and had the sweet potato Katsu and yubamaki, both were delicious. Really good portions and very cheap and cheerful. Cosy little restaurant, very busy on a Sunday night. Staff were friendly and helpful. BYOB with a £2.5 charge each.

Popped in for lunch with 5 other people. Quick seating and service. Really good food, I had the spicy tofu donburi. Make sure to bring cash as it is CASH ONLY. My friends are muslim and they felt they had a good choice of what to eat, and my other friend is gluten-intolerant and was happy with the accommodations and food. Very good price for Brighton, about £8-£10 per main meal

Cheap but the food quality doesn't show it, a cute little place that has the charm of truly beautiful food

Food was really bad and tasteless. Brought to you in less than 5 minutes so definitely precooked food microwaved with mushy texture. No service at all as you need to order yourself. It is a small space with barely seats available, people on top of you, very noisy. Not really a restaurant, just a fast food place.

Worst Asian food I've had in a long time! The pork was tough and gristly. The place says restaurant but it's more a fast food place. They took only 5 minutes to bring the food after ordering which is not good, makes me believe they have everything prepared and are just using the microwave... Cash only - never a good sign. Atmosphere is bad, tables are too close and it can be noisy.

Used to go here when I was studying at Brighton uni. Was the first time I had Oyakodon, up and till this point I didn’t know much about Japanese food, but this dish was so comforting and familiar. This place is very relaxed, the food is tasty and homely.

Solo la comida más sabrosa más rápida servida por personas sonrientes en una gran ubicación y TAN barato para lo que es. Te enojarías por no venir aquí. Constantemente brillante durante años. Recomendado por este local

Chili Tori Don and there side dishes are my favourite. They served the foods pretty fast. The place is good for lunch and dinner. It can be very crowded.

I have only been there once, but the food and the vibes were amazing! It’s always a bit busy, but there is a second floor where you can find some more space to sit. They also do take away and have some benches outside. All in all the food was amazing and not that expensive for brighton, the main rice bowls were around 8-10£. I had some smaller starters like miso soup, which was great and even mochi ice cream at the end. They also gave us some sweets which was really nice. They only take cash so make sure to take some with you!! Definitely coming again (:

A good value Japanese at Brighton! Highly recommend - but cash only

Wasn’t Japanese at all. Typical Asian fast food you get in western world. Kitsu is better quality. Only cash. The fried pork of my wife was dark, way too long in fryer. People running these restaurant seem to be not Japanese

Really good simply japanese food, quick service good food at a very reasonable price

Food was fantastic. First time visiting but has been a regular firm favourite of my children. Very close to town centre a stones throw from the North Lanes so very accessible.

We ordered an oyaki don and a beef shouga yaki don. The food came within 5 minutes and was delicious! The staff are super friendly too! I highly reccomend it, especially given their prices :)

Fabuloso pequeño lugar. Pequeña broca perfectamente formada. Personal encantador. Servicio (orden en el mostrador) súper rápido. Comida fantástica. Gran valor!

Staff were very good and friendly. I got the chilli don chicken bowl. Was amazing and very affordable. Dumplings were amazing too would definitely go again!

I did not enjoy the food that I ordered. I find the pork a little dry and chewy. I always love a good noodle dish.

Very fair prices & friendly service plenty seating including outside. Superb for pre-drinks, theatre etc etc!

¡Gran hallazgo! Muy rápido con la comida. El pollo teriyaki estaba delicioso. El mugi Cha era realmente interesante. Porciones de buen tamaño. Ambiente zumbante y buenos precios. BYO por £ 2. 50 por persona. Sin duda volvería de nuevo. Asiento dentro, fuera y arriba.

Fantastic, we really enjoyed it food and space, highly recommended!!

Noodles tasted nice till I pulled out a long black hair out of my mouth that was mixed in my noodles. Really nasty and they won't see me again. Was so disgusted about it that I didn't even want to get back to complain.

Visited this place 15 years ago, used to be reasonably good with the Japanese owners. Visited 1st time again in 15 years later, clearly it is now owned and runned by Chinese/Malaysian owner. The restaurant still look exactly the same, and it is getting dated with the same old decorations and furnitures. Price was OK, 1 starter and 2 mains came to £27. Portions are small, Yakitori Skewers are just a fraction bigger than the chopsticks, the smallest amount of meat I have ever seen and been served with, and there were some chicken skin and fat on the Skewers too. The WORST was the Katsu Don, the pork was obviously a few days old, and it was microwaved and served, the pork was tough, dry and stale, see photos. There is a very strange taste to it, and the rest was left untouched obviously. The Soy Sauce on the rice was too salty too. I have noticed alot of Luckyboat number 1 thick noodles left by the stairs area, usually these noodles are used for Chinese chow mein. The 2 chefs on duty on 27th June 2024 12:00pm were speaking in Malaysian Chinese, talking loudly in the kitchen and there was no evidence of any cooking from the kitchen, there was no aroma from fresh cooking or frying. This is not an authentic Japanese fast food restaurant, I strongly do not recommend this place simply because they are not fresh and they have not got a clue about cooking.

This shop has long been one of my go to places for a good Japanese meal. Super reasonable prices and they aren't stingy with the portions. You do have to pay in cash.

The quality of food is poor, not really relating to traditional Japanese cuisine. The takoyaki (octopus balls) were greasy and mushy. We ordered a chicken and prawn donburi which lacked flavour. The vegetables in the donburi was only iceberg lettuce. The gyozas were the best (steamed from frozen most likely). Tap water was served in flimsy plastic cups, and the restaurant only accepts cash. The décor was old and general cleanliness was not kept up. The service was good though. Waitresses were kind and helpful.

Lovely staff and nice atmosphere but the food wasn’t great. The yakisoba was not very nice.

Best Japanese restaurant in Brighton!! Cheap, good quality, fast service.

Last weekend I returned to my beloved Pompoko, a precious doll’s house of a restaurant across from the Royal Pavilion that has been delighting me with the same dish, the tofu chilli don, for way over a decade. The portions are perfect, the sides are delicious and varied, and the staff are unfailingly wonderful. My only wish is that they took card so I could have impulsively bought more, but whatever formula preserves the order for Pompoko’s continued existence must remain sacrosanct.

Overpriced for the quality / quantity. Far better places in the vicinity.

The best Japanese food I have had in the UK, it was amazing at a fantastic price

Love Pompoko. Good food, well made good people. What's not to love?

The food was very delicious and fresh and came out very quickly. The staff were very Libyans helpful. We forgot to bring cash so they reserved our table while we went to the cash point round the corner. I would highly recommend!

Friendly staff, super quick service, cosy and welcoming atmosphere with a great outside seating area. Delicious food, thanks a lot.

Queued for 30 mins or so for a table for 4 but in and out quickly once we got a table. Food is good, very quick. Remember its cash only!