So Restaurant in City of London, Westminster

The food was absolutely delicious. The service was incredible . Chris, the owner and chef made our experience memorable. Really good matcha cake.

A culinary gem wedged between the City and Spitalfields. The food is light and delicious with a myriad of delicate flavours. The waiters are charming and the ambience somehow otherworldly. All the dishes were wonderful, but if pushed I would single out the crab tempura and the amazing creme brulee.

Been to So Restaurant a few times while travelling to London on business trips. Naoko and Chef Zu are nothing short but amazing! Kind, attentive and excellent execution in all aspects of hospitality and cooking. Portions fairly abundant, you'll leave with a happy belly. Absolutely loved their Ninja Katzu Curry and sushi (didn't manage to take a picture, but we enjoyed it so much!). Great desserts as well, loved the creme brulée.

I went here for a late lunch and absolutely enjoyed the food. It was recommended by one of my neighbours. The vegan options are brilliant too. Reasonably priced. Good quality food. The staff are welcoming and genuinely friendly. I have started telling neighbours to go here. I love Japanese food. The Japanese prepare their food in clean conditions with high standards of hygiene. The flavours are amazing without being too overbearing. A must visit to all Spitalfields residents, visitors and workers alike.

Such an ambient setting with soft music, chill out / lounge type. The soup, the salad, the drinks, the crab, the chicken, the beef, the vegan dish with salad and amazingly grilled and seasoned sweet potatoes, the dishes served with their signature Ninja sauce! Where to begin and where to end?! Here's what we had; Soft shell crab tempura,Soft shell crab tempura, daikon radish with sansho salt. Crispy with a light flavour while you can still taste the crab. Ninja curry, chicken katsu, bamboo charcoal curry sauce, rice. Green Tea powder and chocolate cake and Daikichi Crème Caramel. Drinks sipped throughout the meal were Mimosa with a twist of orange and Calpis Calpuco juice. Chicken grilled over lava rock imported from Mount Fuji, Japan. Served with grated daikon radish and ponzu. daikon radish with sansho salt. Crispy with a light flavour while you can still taste the crab. Ninja curry, chicken katsu, bamboo charcoal curry sauce, rice. Green Tea powder and chocolate cake and Daikichi Crème Caramel. Drinks sipped throughout the meal were Mimosa with a twist of orange and Calpis Calpuco juice. I'm a very picky eater and I rarely eat out. My partner is the same and we are so glad to have discovered this amazing restaurant. I can't think think of a single negative thing to say, except that the ninja sauce could be less in quantity. Oh my God, this place was amazing. My partner and I ate so much, we decide to skip breakfast the next day! The owner Nadia, is absolutely amazing. Very welcoming. Japanese hospitality is the best! Chefs Zu, Para & Shuto should have their own cookery show! The cuisine is delectable. Waiter Chris and waitress Miri are both adorable. We went for an early dinner so it was before the usual dinner time, so it wasn't crowded. This place is also available for private hire and group bookings. Going at a quiet time gave us the opportunity to chat to the staff. I have been telling all my neighbours to try this restaurant. If you are reading this post, make a reservation and go enjoy the amazing food. And tell others!

Amazing place. Highly recommend

I visited for dinner with a friend. In addition to a hearty meat menu that would satisfy teenagers, we also had a variety of traditional yet new dishes that adults could enjoy as well. The word "just like Japan" is often used to describe Japanese restaurants overseas, but for Kurobuta Berkshire Pork Katsu, "exceeding Japanese pork cutlet restaurants" is the most applicable. The batter was surprisingly crispy and the texture of the meat was just to my liking. For drinks, we recommend the sake set. I think the set contents may vary depending on the day, but I was very satisfied with the reasonable pricing for Japanese sake in London. If you live in London, this is a shop you'll want to visit regularly!

So Restaurant is a real gem, slightly tucked away in the City, but well worth the short walk to find! At this family owned restaurant, the care and consideration that goes into each item on the wonderfully curated menu is outstanding. In particular, the tonkatsu is a great example of a dish which can be found in many Japanese restaurants but where the attention to detail, such as the choice of meat and the frying technique, means that you will not be able to eat anything quite like it elsewhere! A must try! Take your time to read and ask about the menu and don’t be shy to branch out and try something you’ve not had before. A true, authentic and creative Japanese experience that you won’t regret!

Very nice! Wonderful dishes and service

Lovely cosy atmosphere. Brilliant food, excellent dessert! The staff are very friendly!

There is a wide variety of izakaya-style dishes, especially the chicken pon and tongue wasa, which are special dishes that disappear in seconds. You can't complain about the Japanese-style service and the comfort! I had a great time😆 Thank you very much♪

I really like this restaurant and I believe I will come back many times. Firstly, the service here makes me feel comfortable, and the staff are also very friendly and thoughtful. Secondly, the food tastes great and I really like it. I highly recommend everyone to come here for dinner!

We were happy to be here this evening! Very delicious food, tea and sweets. Nice and very pleasant service! Absolutely cosy place❤️

Excellent place with a great food!

Wow!, excellent food with kind and friendly staffi. I will definitely come back.

Had a good experience at So Restaurant. The sashimi was fresh, and the sushi options were interesting and well-prepared. Service was attentive and efficient. A solid choice for quality sushi.

Small restaurant found on Google maps, a real pleasure and quality cuisine!! I highly recommend it

Outstanding and attentive service, all the food was perfect

Wonderful cuisine, staff, service and atmosphere. This restaurant has set its priorities right, so much so, that absolutely everything is… just bang on right and well considered. If you want to know how to run a restaurant, well, then So Restaurant is your guide. To the point or shall I say points rather; a. The food is fantastic, finessed, balanced and fairly and adequately priced, The various plates we enjoyed were intrinsically different to one another and all of them equally intriguing and more-ishly delicious, to the point that favouring one over another was positively impossible. Having said that, the portions are good too, generous in fact and that alone shows So Restaurant puts their guests first. b. The service is very good too, In fact, the friendly, personal and welcoming confidence shows the staff’s great work ethic and catering professionalism. Pride is taken in everything they do, in their dishes and the way it is served too.making the service as good as their dishes. c. The atmosphere is not rushed and without a trace of annoying music blaring, so one isn’t subjected to a gastropub-style playlist for example (many London restaurants get this wrong, not so So Restaurant), it is not awkwardly quiet either as it’s a well visited restaurant, the tables are well spaced so conversations in-between diners are private. Again, their sense of balance shows in every detail. In summary, So Restaurant got it ‘So’ right at everything that it leaves me wishing that more London Restaurants would be run like this one and without wanting to fall into cultural stereotypes it is impossible to think that there is something intrinsically Japanese in their philosophy which leads to their success. I have had the pleasure to visit a handful of top restaurants in Tokyo and So Restaurant is the best one west of Nippon I have visited to date – Thank you,. I will be back for more.. Michael

I visited here a few weeks ago for the second time and it was just as excellent as the first. The sushi is top quality and the staff are incredibly friendly. The atmosphere is also quite chilled. I would definitely recommend it and will personally be returning at some point :)

best japanese in london!, i highly highly recommend, we had the best time food and everything was amazing!

Incredible food, beautifully presented. I wanted to eat everything on the menu!

Without a doubt the best dining experience me and my girlfriend have had in London. The best staff and wonderful different dishes! I can only recommend the place.

Group of 4 visited on a Saturday night. Food and service was fantastic. We ordered a mixture of small plates and particularly enjoyed the sticky beef and octopus. However restaurant was a little noisy and echoey. Found ourselves needing to raise our voices to talk.

Very kind and friendly staff. Great food and the owner was incredibly kind. Thanks!

First class food Excellent and very personal service Highly recommended

What a wonderful surprise!!! Absolute gem. Just planning a casual dinner to catch up with a couple friends and stumbled across the restaurant as we were looking for sushi and we genuinely had the best dinner experience any of us had had in some time. People in the restaurant but still sufficiently calm not to be overwhelming, fabulous friendly, conscientious service without being too pushy and a really delicious selection of food. The 'melty aubergine' was sublime, as was the dressing on the tofu salad. We paired this with the Kara gé chicken, one of the California rolls, the Japanese pancake (spectacular with ginger), and the prawn tempura. Plenty for the three of us and we made just enough space to enjoy the chocolate matcha cake with extra ice cream plus some delicious complimentary tea. We were looked after from start to finish. Will definitely go again! Also a little family business, which is a nice touch. It came through. Can't wait for my next visit.

Really warm welcome and make me feel at ease. Fresh and Authentic Japanese food and very good signature desserts I have never tried in my life. Delicious food, very comforting and really enjoyed it. Well balanced and healthy as well. Good quantity and one plate is more than enough. Really impressed with the attention to details on presentation of food service. Staff very courteous and you feel good.

ate here with my brother, lovley food

ランチメニューで、チキンの照り焼きを注文しました。久々に美味しい照り焼きを食べることができました、、、付け合わせの野菜までも美味しかったです！ボリュームも大満足。ロンドンの物価を考えるとコスパの良い日本食だと思います。定期的にリピートしてます！

the wagyu truffle nigiri is really good

Authentic taste and excellent service!

I had a fabulous meal here - the food was delicious, the staff was super attentive and delightful, and the ambience delightful! Big recommend!

Great food, and awesome environment! We feel very lucky that this is one of our local eateries! Highly recommend!

Great food and lovely service by a family owned business. Will definitely come back.

We recommend stopping by when you visit London! I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy the heartfelt and warm service provided by the sous chef and his wife, as well as the taste of Japan!I hope it stays here forever. I think so This is a shop where you can enjoy.

So nice to have home cooked style cooking applied to Japanese food. It's like tasting the secret grandma's recipe.

great restaurant, lovely staff, delicious food, can't wait to return.

I am Japanese by the way, these are perfect authentic Japanese food if you want to eat authentic style Japanese Tapas you should go there and eat sushi and beef tongue meal and other dishes all perfect

Surprisingly good and authenticated Japanese restaurant. One of the best Japanese restaurant in the town. Highly recommended!!!

First time here, the most incredible food and service!! Will be back so many times! Defo recommend the aubergine and everything else xx

I really appreciate the service, but honestly the food is not as good as cook by my own

We stumbled across this Japanese restaurant while staying in the area. Honestly it's the best Japanese food we've ever had. My picky 11 year old daughter couldn't stop eating everything. One of the owners, who is lovely, served us and recommended some delicious dishes (the eggplant starter is amazing). When we told her to give our compliments to the chef, she mentioned the chef is her husband. It shows that they put everything into their business and you don't find that easily. I would 100% recommend So Restaurant and we hope to return!

Exceptional. Stumbled upon by accident and a wonderful experience. Food and service was exceptional and the place had a magical atmosphere. Thank you

I lived in Japan for 12 years and I can tell you this is the closest I have got to taste the authentic real Japanese food in London.. this place was so much better than chain restaurants and super expensive Japanese restaurants... Must try for anyone who want to taste real Japanese authentic Japanese food.

Amazing food, staff and atmosphere! Fantastic for group dining.

So Restaurant is a Japanese restaurant in London that deserves special mention, with its chef's thoughtful dishes and staff who welcome you with a warm smile.

My and my son had the best time. We both loved the food, the atmosphere and the staff we're amazing. An authentic, family ran business at its best

Really authentic Japanese restaurant, all the staff was so lovely and reminded me of home x You should try the dessert menu, was fantastic!!!! Definitely coming back!

One of the best Japanese restaurants I've been to! It's located very close to Liverpool Street station and Aldgate East station, so it's very accessible. There's a good variety of food, drinks, and desserts. I think my favourite is the teriyaki chicken salad, and although I usually don't like matcha, the matcha cake here isn't too strong and I can eat it. I love the cocktail offered here, and there are good whiskeys too. Albeit somewhat expensive, it's deserving of its price. I've been here with colleagues and friends, and I'll definitely go again. I highly recommend you give it a try! You can easily nab some seats within the first few hours of opening, so need to worry about queues.

I've never had foie gras nigiri this tender and delicious before. The staff's smile and service at this Japanese restaurant were also wonderful. Tables setup like a traditional Japanese Yatai stall are unique and perfect for close-knit couples or groups to sit together.

The food is delicious, the staff are all friendly, and the atmosphere is comfortable. Whether you're with friends, family, or a lover, this is a store we recommend for any occasion!

Enjoyed the Best Tonkatsu and Yatai food! The dessert was also delicious 😋

The most incredible Japanese food in Central London. Attention to detail on another level, all flavours are unique. The nicest staff in London. A restaurant worth a visit. AlsoC reasonable prices for London

Our fifth time here, we live in locally and it’s always a quality experience. Family-operated restaurant, the service is always fantastic, and their contemporary take on traditional Japanese dishes is consistently excellent - the cooking school is upstairs and it really shows. Feels undeservedly undiscovered.

Delicious food and great service. The owner Nadia is super warm and welcoming. Lovely family run restaurant, would 100% come again

I had a delightful meal at So in Aldgate. We had the soft shell crab maki, edamame, tofu salad, and pork katsu to start and share, and for dessert we has the matcha ice cream and hojicha terrine. Everything was nuanced and flavourful, fresh and lovingly made. We were well attended to, and when asked, offered great recommendations (we were stuck on deciding a dessert). Relaxing and warm atmosphere, well suited to most occasions - business to romantic - and modestly priced. We will return to try all of the desserts and have more of the excellent katsu. Thank you to Nadia for serving us, we had a lovely evening.

I was impressed by the experience of experiencing the authentic taste of Japan in London and by the excellent service. I felt like I was in Japan. The quality was good, everything was delicious, and my local friends from other nationalities were also happy. I'll visit you again.

Never thought I would find authentic Japanese food outside of Japan… but this restaurant is that and much more! Family owned and operated restaurant with friendly and knowledgeable staff and the best tonkatsu I’ve ever eaten! All other dishes were delicious and tasted just like in Tokyo!

Amazing food and drinks! Lovely, friendly staff and a great atmosphere. The events held there occasionally are also fantastic! A hidden gem worth the find!

Amazing food, great decor - will definitely be back!

Amazing food and drinks! Lovely, friendly staff and a great atmosphere. The events held there occasionally are also fantastic! A hidden gem worth the find!

Amazing food, great decor - will definitely be back!

We visit London as a group a few times a year and So is always on the itinerary for food. The food is delicious and cooked to perfection. Nadia and the team are so friendly and welcoming - I'd always recommend So to anyone visiting this part of London

The food is delicious (without a doubt the best japanese food in London) and the service is impeccable. Very welcoming ! Definitely worth a visit.

Not sure which is better- the service or the food- and they are both great. If I could give 6 stars I would! I had the Tataki, the Ox tongue and the king prawns sushi. It was all extremely tasty. It’s a bit pricey, but still highly recommended.

Excellent Japanese food in the City

It’s my first time trying this place. It was a great experience form the atmosphere to ambience to food, everything was flawless. The best part was the service with the smile and care which is rare to find these days in rat race. It was not a crowded place where they want to serve table after table but a family run place who serve you just like your family. Will be back for sure.

Fantastic Japanese restaurant in east central London (a short walk from Aldgate or Liverpool Street Station). They seem to frequently host cultural events, one of which we were lucky enough to attend! The organisation was superb and a very smooth experience. From making the booking online, to arrival, to the evening event and dining itself. We were treated to a multi-course set menu of salads and fresh sashimi, mains of chicken and sushi, followed by a dessert. All of which had creative and delicious elements to delight your palate. The service and staff were all wonderful and helpful, creating a warm atmosphere. I very much look forward to visiting again!

Family friendly authentic Japanese Restaurant with nice food, staff and interesting events held regularly. Food is fantastic. Recently we had "Truffle" flavoured Inari which is very tasty. My 3 year old daughter loves "Okoge" senbei with cream cheese and Nori-seaweed. Service is also good. Every staff is attentive and friendly. Atmosphere is interesting. Recently they have implemented "Yatai" (i.e. stall) style seats which reinforce the traditional Japanese atmosphere. I recommend trying this place if you are looking for nice Japanese restaurant in London.

Very good, fresh Japanese food.

As per many of my reviews, this place is another hidden gem! I would be remiss if I didn’t start and end this review without saying ‘Try the tempura prawns!!’ That aside this is an authentic Japanese eatery always with Japanese clientele. The venue is small and intimate which emphasises the friendly and personal service. The staff are knowledgeable about the menu and even wine selection was on point. But let’s talk about the food. This is a great space to explore subtle and delicate flavours. It’s like discovering premium food in a relaxed and casual setting.l. I sound a bit gushy but this is a nice place to dine in your own or to impress your friends. Trust me :) As an addendum I recently returned for one of the comedy nights. This was something different to what I was expecting the performer was Katsura Sunshine and he was performing Rakugo comedy. Basically the art of telling stories. The whole thing was in English and highly entertaining I laughed the whole evening. It came with a set meal of about six different dishes and really well priced. They close the door once performance starts to avoid interruption. I highly recommend checking the website for booking future events. Sunshine has performed on broadway and the west end and is about to start on Netflix. So lucky to catch him in such an intimate venue.

It was a very friendly and comfortable shop. It was very delicious and I was relieved to have delicious Japanese food for the first time in a while. I will go again ❣️

Very pleasant experience with delicious authentic Japanese food! I really enjoyed Teriyaki salmon lunch. Very succulent and full of flavour. Friendly staff and good atmosphere as always. Easy to access from Aldgate tube station. 5-star quality!!

Everything was delicious, and it's been a while since I ate Japanese food outside, but I was very impressed! The eggplant miso dengaku was so delicious! Everything was delicious, I hadn't eaten Japanese food outside for a long time and I was very impressed! The aubergine miso dengaku was too delicious!!

The food and drinks are of a very high standard and I am very satisfied. You can enjoy many nostalgic tastes of Japan. I'm really looking forward to the singing concert. Highly recommended if you want to try authentic Japanese cuisine✨🇯🇵👘

Fabulous Japanese food, and a welcoming service. The team go beyond to make the experience memorable and will certainly be returning in the near future when visiting London. The neighbourhood is lucky to have them!

Very good quality. Staff very friendly and professional. Good atmosphere and location is very centric. Thank you!

The food is remarkable. The flavours are exceptional. It’s a bit like seeing a swimmer at your local pool, then seeing an Olympian. They’re both swimming, but one is way better than the other. This food is way better than you imagine it will be!

Wonderful food, wonderful service really welcoming and clearly passionate about the food and making sure everyone has a good time! Look forward to next time!

The service here was quick and and the atmosphere was so calming as well as the staff being so polite and lovely to ensure that everything has been taken care of and having such a light and bubbly vibe. Would definetly come here again !

Wonderful food and service. Lovely restaurant

Brilliant food the wagyu was lovely great service 👍❤️

Fantastic food, lovely people with a lovely service. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Had an amazing dining experience here! The food was outstanding, had aubergine dengaku, spicy chicken wings, and tempura roll and the chef's special salmon, which was the largest single filet I've ever had. Plus, the manager was incredibly friendly and greets with a big smile. Highly recommend this place!

We went to this restaurant thinking it was a banal one. Instead, this restaurant has the real Japanese traditional food which is rare to find. Delicious 👍

Terrible food. Do not believe other over-flattering reviews. Save your time and money.

I used to go to SO Restaurant Soho back in my student days many years ago. It's good to find this amazing restaurant had been relocated and still in operation. Our favourite dish was the Foie Gras Ju (rice). The atmosphere, service and quality is as good as I remembered. Will definitely be back again. I recommend the Foie Gras ju

One of the best Japanese restaurants I know in London. Absolutely delicious. Service is also excellent, I visit this place regularly. Cannot recommend enough!

Amazing food and such pleasant service. I can't stop coming back here. It's always a wonderful experience. Thank you!

Fantastic Japanese restaurant that we stumbled upon.. Lovely food and excellent service!😊 So glad we chose to stop here😀

Best foie gras I have ever eaten. Visit every time when I get to London. The rest items are tasty too.

The best Japanese restaurant in all of London! The loveliest staff who are so warm and welcoming. The tastiest sushi rolls… honestly you can tell the quality is just exactly how it should be - no other Japanese restaurant meets the quality and perfection that comes out of this So Restaurant’s kitchen. The tempura is perfect. The aubergine is also a MUST order - you can’t dine here without ordering this. I really could go on and on about how much I love this place!

Food was delicious, staff were bubbly and fun. Would highly recommend

What a hidden gem tucked behind Aldgate. Authentic Japanese food with amazing service with a smile.The food was delicious with some interesting dishes I hadn't come across before. HOWEVER, the stand out dish....Miso Aubergine. Best i have ever had. Highly recommended

Definitely coming back. Place is clean. They pay attention to ingredients quality. Kitchen is authentic Japanese. They have simple food which what I was looking for (beef and rice).

Amazing service and very friendly and attentive

Completely wonderful experience with authentic Japanese food. Good flavours, great service and great atmosphere. I recommend this place, and thank you to the friendly and accommodating staff

Incredible food with beautiful twists on traditional flavors. We will definitely be back, thank you !

Authentic food, attentive staff, great atmosphere.