Tanakatsu in Islington

This is going to be an unusual review in that I can't think of another restaurant where I've enjoyed the food very much whilst taking an active dislike to the restaurant interior. The quality of food is all that really matters, right? If so, please read the next paragraph and ignore what follows it! My wife had already visited Tanakatsu several times with her friends. We both had a lunchtime bento box, which was expertly prepared with wonderfully crisp pork katsu, tasty salmon teriyaki on good quality rice, an excellent pumpkin croquette, a small selection of high-class sushi and a fine side salad on which you could drizzle the owner's "mighty dressing", served with miso soup. I really couldn't fault it. Another big tick from me for the modest 7.5% service charge. So what about the internal layout? It's actually quite spacious with plenty of natural light but the internal concrete walls were for me unappealing and the overall decor off-putting. Along two walls are some tightly spaced and rather small tables. The one we were shown to was unpleasantly sticky and our conversation drowned by an exceptionally loud man next to us conducting a job interview in a domineering manner. On the other sides were two long 'shelves' which I suppose was the inspiration for the unusual restaurant name ('tana' = 'shelf'). I can understand the logic - it makes it easier to accommodate solo diners - but surely the point of sitting diners side by side is that there should be something more interesting to look at than a very uninspiring street or concrete wall. Also it leaves so much wasted floorspace in the middle! Anyway if you think these observations petty and unnecessary - just go there and you'll have a really good meal.

This place is down a side street close to the Angel tube. Had the soft shell crab sushi and gyoza which were delicious and also the katsu plate. Generous portion size and very tasty. The bento boxes also looked great with a good mix of everything. Friendly and helpful staff. Will definitely come back and try the bento box!

Fantastic experience, nice relaxed atmosphere, great service and excellent food! We had the dragon sushi roll, yellow tail sashimi, chicken Kara Age, chicken dumplings followed by the cheesecake Mochi. Everything was simply delicious!

Not the best location or the most pleasant decor but the food is good and you won’t leave hungry, or thirsty. Staff are friendly and the seating a little cramped. But don’t forget to reserve as it’s very popular which is always a good sign! We’ll be back

Ausgezeichnetes Essen bei recht moderaten Preisen. Freundlicher und effizienter Service. Je nachdem wie voll vielleicht etwas laut. Tut dem wirklich guten Essen keinen Abbruch. Empfehlung : eines der Katsu und Teriyaki Kombinationen

Amazing find near to Angel station, was so good we went back 2 nights in a row whilst on a recent stay in London, would highly recommend

Katsu chicken & teriyaki salmon was very delicious. Pumpkin croquette was nice and crispy. Tuna tataki had a very nice sauce, I prefer the tuna to be thinner. Rainbow roll wasn’t special, it needed some sauce. Dora-yaki was just two pancakes with custard in between. Good staff. Very fast service.Nice atmosphere. High prices.

A well known local Japanese katsu resturant service very authentic Japanese dishes. The pork katsudon was delicious but consider the special iberico pork (not served as a don) for a different experience. The sashimi is decent and fresh. Book ahead a table if you are going at a peak meal time or be prepared to wait.

Food was good and tasty and good portion sizes. We ordered the beef katsu, the chicken and salmon katsu, gyoza and 2 miso soups. This was very filling for 2 people. They also brought out a complimentary tea after the meal. The atmosphere is cool, dim lighting, chill music. It’s a popular place, so I recommend booking in advance. However we did get a last minute table by phoning them. Only thing that could be improved is service. It was a little on the slow side. Total was £57 for 2 people without drinks

I got a takeout of chicken katsu and Salmon Teriyaki. The portions of chicken katsu and Salmon teriyaki were big and the seasoning was good - not too salty or sweet. Love that there's some salad vegetables (and pickled ginger!) as well, which made this meal balanced in terms of carbs, protein and fibre. Price was comparatively reasonable. Would highly recommend. I dined in last August and they still maintained a good quality of food this time.

We had the prawn tempura sushi, wrapped with other fish - salmon, tuna, yellowfin, and crab. It was some of the best sushi I’ve had in years. I also loved the chicken katsu curry. I was less keen on the salmon teriyaki - the fish was divine but the sauce was a bit sweet. I recommend bringing a jumper as it was pretty chilly in there!

Booked here based on good reviews and it certainly lived up to all the 5* reviews. The food was delicious, there's plenty of choice on the menu and I would recommend the Mooli as a side and the Katsu curry is the best. It's a small restaurant so book in advance!

Had dinner here with friends on a Friday night and the place was buzzing. Delicious food, nice staff and the sake is great too. Wide range of options on the menu and very good value. Highly recommend

Staff were very accomodating even when we didn't have a reservation. Everything on the menu sounded so good. We ordered the chicken karaage, chicken katsu & salmon teriyaki, and a side of pumpkin croquette. Everything was so delicious and arrived quite quickly. Generous portions too and we left feeling very stuffed. Overall excellent value for money. Would definitely come back!

We had a pre-theatre dinner early on a Monday and even then half the tables were occupied and there was a nice atmosphere. The restaurant itself is lovely and service was great. Between two we had the edamame and gyozas and a main course each, everything was absolutely delicious and the generous portions meant we had more than we could eat. The only room for improvement would be to expand the vegan options, on the menu the pumpkin katsu was the only main and no desserts were marked vegan. With more choice I’d return again soon!

This was easily the best meal I have had in London! Upon arrival to a busy lunchtime, I was shown my seat and given a menu very promptly. Although the toilet in here was spotless, it must be said that the seat I was given was rather dirty. The menu was spot on. All the crowd pleasing favourites on there at a reasonable price. I ordered a lot of food and ate every bite. The sushi was made to perfection and the katsu curry was to die for. Staff very attentive, no complaints whatsoever. I would say that to enjoy this restaurant optimally, try to go when it isn't too busy. Overall, it really is a must to eat here!

We visited early on a Wednesday evening having pre-booked. It was very busy. The staff were friendly and attentive. The surroundings were intriguing. Small space, polished concrete walls, tills hidden in cupboards. Small tables, but space between diners. It was lovely. The food was stunning. Between us we had sushi, teriyake and katsu and no complaints, the food felt very honest and authentic. Servings were generous and the cost was lower than expected for the quality, quantity and location. Highly recommend.

Absolutely stunning food. Small place, but big satisfying plates. They even sell an amazing dressing which I have bought cause I couldn't resist! Wine is a bit expensive for what they give you, but the food and service is just exceptional. The chicken katsu is just the best - crunchy, juicy. Quite a small place so I would book prior to visiting!

Went here because of recommendations. It is quite a small venue, and a very average atmosphere. They were first impressions. The service upon arrival was good, and throughout the meal also. The food was delicious and the server helped with a few recommendations. The menu...

As good as it gets… Double salmon roll… Chicken Katsu… warm friendly service… Nice wine… Small unassuming atmosphere reminiscent of Tokyo…Just don’t miss it.

The food was delicious. My partner and I shared a sushi platter and a miso soup for starters which were both delicious. The chicken katsu curry and salmon teriyaki for mains were also amazing. The service was lovely, and our waiter moved us to a...

We had such a lovely meal here! The 5 star rating totally makes sense. Exquisite katsu! Already thinking about what I’ll get next time!

Great food. Katsu, teriyaki and sushi were all delicious. Dropped in for a week-day lunch and were seated promptly. Would definitely dine again on next visit to London!

Just fabulous food. Their combo teriyaki chicken and chicken karaage was fabulous as was the teriyaki salmon. The great puddings were also delicious and thank you for a great meal

Top notch food, delicious Bento boxes, katsu, sashimi and veggie options. Great, generous customer service that made up for a mix-up with the order. We will be back.

Had lunch here- please book as super busy. Sat next to staff counter, some view of the kitchen. Ordered two express bento box- one chicken Katsu and the other pork Katsu-was super full after. The Katsu was good- Chicken better than pork as pork had...

I had dinner here — and overall food quality is good, but the portion size is too small with too few snacks. Because I’m fat.

Food was fresh and well presented however service was questionable and waiting staff did not leave a good impression. The blonde Asian waitress could benefit from some training on how to interact with customers and maybe smile to prevent there being an air of awkwardness....

Authentic Japanese serving up delicious food with great service and ambience. Our family of 5 loved everything about Tanakatsu. We had the classic Katsu curry, Katsu set, and Katsu Don. If you like dessert we recommend the chocolate Mochi. We’ll be back soon, this time...

As usual these guys are smashing it. Sashimi was so fresh and the sushi was incredible!! Always can resist a katsina sando aswell. Thanks guys! Xxx

Amazing no fuss Japanese food. We had the katsu curry and katsu/salmon teriyaki rice, they were both amazing. Katsu was fried perfectly, the pork was still juicy. The highlight was the salad dressing for the cabbage, it was fresh tasting and really nice. Service was...

Amazing food, great staff and good atmosphere. Didn’t book as we were going early (5:45) on way to a night out, but place was full and we only just got a table. The sign of a good restaurant! We had chicken Katy and chicken teriyaki...

Again booked by son jack. Trained him well. Food unique and tasty. I went for prawn Katsu curry. Yum. Normally like hot curries but not this time as would have spoilt the taste. Had spicy beef soup to start just the right amount of bite....

Amazing food, great atmosphere and really great service. Would really recommend the tuna tataki side, can’t wait to return soon!

Oh my god so good! I had the vegan pumpkin katsu and it was phenomenal and such a great portion too. The staff were super friendly.

I was looking for a restaurant for me and my parents to let them try an authentic katsu curry for the first time in their life. It’s been such a great pleasure to find this little gem in the heart of Angel. Food was great,...

I visited with my partner and a friend of ours. The food was all good, my prawn curry was amazing but the winner was the bento box. I’m looking forward to visiting it again!

Truly recommend this restaurant. The food is just fantastic; sushi was really tasty, the fish well condimented. It's a small restaurant with a cozy feel. The staff are really nice as well and the price is quite affordable, particularly given the quality of the food....

Casual dinning in a good atmosphere with friendly staff. Food was great the Katsu curry and sushi were the highlight.

I usually visit this restaurant, the food is really good. No problems for bookings. I had my last dinner before the first lockdown in march, and last dinner before this new lockdown in November. Thanks :)

A truly wonderful meal here at Tanakatsu to celebrate my wife's birthday yesterday which didn't break the bank. The food was exquisite, the katsu set was 5* and the sushi wasn't too shabby either! It's a lovely little restaurant with friendly and attentive staff. We...

Perfect cuisine. Simple menu with teriyake fish , chicken katsu and gorgeous prawn katsu. Exquisite sauces. Plus calm atmosphere (mudic not too loud), simple decor and well designed furniture. A treat. Best restaurant we've found in Islington.

Amazing experience to dine here. Wonderful staff, very attentive and thoughtful. The food was sensational, delicious and super fresh. The menu is not expansive like so many places in London, it’s just the right number of options to choose from. Loved the salmon teriyaki and...

I was recommended by friends who went recently and went with a friend. I am just back now from the restaurant and I would definitely go back there with my family very soon. The proprietess made us so welcome and looked after us very well,...

This place is a hidden gem and definitely worth a visit. Great service and amazing food. The best Katsu

First time but will be back.DELICIOUS food,attentive and friendly service and all in a vibey,understated atmosphere.Big thumbs up!

Haven't been in the restaurant yet, but we had online delivery more than 5 times already. The food is always fresh and with an excellent taste. My favorites from the menu are the pumpkin croquettes, salmon teriyaki, soft shell crab roll sushi, veggie gyoza. Can't...

Huge fan of this place, food is great and service is better. Favourite is the teriyaki and Katsu and their rolls are good too.

The best Japanese restaurant in London! The food it’s absolutely fantastic, very good prices and the staff is so friendly. Great design inside and can’t say enough how delicious the food is. Must have place!!!

This is one if the best options on deliveroo. The teryaki chicken is among the best I‘ve had and the Katsu is tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Comes with a cute anime magazine.

I went here in December 2019 with a friend for diner. I might recommend it to couples more, as it is very intimate and cozy. The tables are small and the restaurant was packed, but the service was very attentive. I ordered the katsu and...

Situated on an inauspicious road on the Islington/Clerkenwell border you can easily just walk past this restaurant. Enter and you will receive a very friendly welcome form all staff. The kitchen is on display at the back and is a hive of activity. There is...

We ordered: - ➡️ Chicken katsu curry (Comes with steamed white rice, fukujin-zuke pickles, and bottomless cabbage salad with @tanakatsulondon ’s koko mighty dressing) ➡️ Soft shell crab sushi roll (Soft shell crab katsu, avocado & tobiko) ➡️ Chicken kara-age (Soy-marinated & deep fried chicken...

Absolutely fabolous. Eat teri-yaki & katsu chicken, real fantastic, prices moderate. Staff friendly all is clean. If you are in this area - visit it. I will visit again, for sure.

A really nice night out! Tanakatsu is more of a local family restaurant than a big chain, which certainly lends its self to a very high quality of service and very friendly welcoming atmosphere. The food was amazing and tasted really fresh! Lots of different...

It’s comforting to taste good Japanese food in London when we had several western dishes for a week. Kids love the curry katsu don (finished it before I could took a pic of it) and I love the bento box and a nice cup of...

Excellent clean fresh Japanese food. Ideal for foodies at reasonable value. It has a limited but specialised (katsu) menu which delivers well on value and quality. The restaurant ambience is basic, but offset by very friendly attentive staff. If you like no nonsense specialty quality...

Glad we reserved a table for a Friday night as the restaurant was very busy. We had a small wait before giving our orders but we weren’t in a rush. We ordered Octopus & Cucumber Salad and the Dover Crab croquette from the sides and...

This is a real find: Japanese food, deliciously preparred at reasonable prices! It is located slightly out of the way but is well worth the effort. The decor is minimalistic, with bare plaster walls and cafe style tables, but this in no way detracts from...

Reasonable prices, nice staff, great food. Restaurant is at the nice location and besides, they serve the best noodles I've ever had. Totally worth it !

An absolutely outstanding example of japanese cuisine. Seriously good sushi and small plates. Had pritty much everything on the menu! Chicken Teriaki was outrageously well rounded as a dish and tuna tataki is to die for! The service was attentive but not fussy and over...

Book in advance if you want to eat here as it is popular. Food was really nice and service quick, tables are all quite close together but we didn’t mind. There were people with high seats and they seemed to manage fine.

What a delightful surprise. Hidden away off city road this spot is a gem. Straightforward menu, brilliantly executed and the service was lovely. First we had a small plate of tuna sashimi. Delicious. Second, we both had the chicken katsu. Juicy interior, perfectly crisp exterior,...

Excellent service,delicious meal (salmon soup,sushi...) and relaxing atmosphere. Would definitely be back!

I found this place purely through OpenTable looking for something near a friend’s office for a midweek dinner, but very glad that I did and it’s definitely worth visiting. The atmosphere was great, and while the tables were set very close together we were on...

Loved the atmosphere, minimalist modern design. Food is great, Katsu sets and the Katsu curry are the best.

We had been missing great Sushi and saw the reviews to this restaurant. Both the Sushi and Sashimi were top quality and the service was excellent. The other meals on the tables around us looked excellent too and we want to try the Katsu Curry...

The katsu here takes you back in Japan. Cripsy, juicy and authentic. The deco if restaurant is quite simple and nice. We also had the crab croquette which was also amazing. I am definitely going back there to try more things. What is there not...

Lovely simple clean setting only 5 minutes from the tube station and then only 5 minutes on to Sadlers Wells. Small menu with great staff who explained and recommended what to get. Very tasty and great service. We booked ahead and I would recommend doing...

The food here really is exceptional. The service is excellent and there are so many little touches which make the experience so good. Complimentary tea, nuts, water, sauce, unlimited cabbage etc. We have returned numerous times since we found this gem. The pork Katsu box...

Since visiting Tokyo, my boyfriend and I have been obsessed with Japanese food and have been seeking a great Katsu in the UK ever since. We came here for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. We had gyoza to start and then chicken/prawn katsu for the mains....

Nice tasting katsu but sadly the service brings it down. The staff aren’t accommodating or welcoming. It took a few times for them to understand a complaint we had with a dish before they realized what was wrong. The staff were slow to sort the...

Good selection of katsu and teriyaki dishes. The katsu set is delicious as well as the chicken and salmon teriyaki. Good portions, complimentary mint water on the table, kind staff.

Undoubtedly good value (apart from the tiny measure of Japanese whisky) and we had had one previous good meal but this time pork katsu don came not tasting fresh with all crispness gone from the panko almost as if it were microwaved, which I don’t...

We began with a generous bowl of edamame beans and tasty miso soup, followed by katsu curry. I have to say, my prawn katsu was possibly the best I have had, even comparing it to those I had in Japan. The mochi were super chocolatey...

We visited on a Thursday evening and were glad we booked because it started to get really busy throughout the evening. I'll start off by saying we had 'hungry eyes' and overordered. You could easily share 1 starter rather than having 3 between us like...

Lovely place, great selection, tasty food, very good value for central London. Attentive, friendly service. Nice atmosphere. We will return when we’re in the area!

We visited this lovely little restaurant on saturday night as we were in the area. It's small but has a great atmosphere and design. Some of the crockery was also really nice - the whole place seemed really authentic. We only ordered sushi, but the...

Had one of the specials, yellowtail with prawn katsu. It was smokey and absolutely delicious. Brilliant location for Sadler's wells, about 7 minutes walk away. Will be back.

This review has long been overdue since we have discovered this restaurant just over 2 years ago. We were in love with the place right from the start for its delicious fresh food, beautifully presented and served by lovely staff. However, we were so afraid...

My friend and I had dinner here as we had heard good things about the katsu, and we were both very happy we tried it! I had the chicken katsu set and everything was perfectly fried, flavourful and not heavy or greasy at all. The...

This was my first visit to this restaurant. I thought the food was amazing as was the service. The tables are very close together and, with the general noise level, that means that it is difficult to hear.

We were looking for a Japanese / sushi restaurant in the neighbourhood and identified this place to go to. Our expectations were not too high, but what we encountered was charming people welcoming and serving us, a small but special menu, extraordinary food, a real...

The menu states that they're a katsu & teri-yaki specialist so I ordered the chicken katsu & salmon teri-yaki. Have not been dissapointed! It taste as good as it looks, is full of flavour and for £12.5 this is a real bargain. On top of...

A small delightful restaurant with simple decor. The restaurant offers a modest menu, which serves fresh food. The beef teriyaki was amazing! The beef just melted in your mouth and was so tasty!! Highly recommended! The sushi menu was very modest but very satisfying ....

Tanakatsu is tucked away on a dreary road but as soon as you step inside you’re transported to a little corner of Japan. It’s a bright, buzzy and welcoming restaurant and the food is really terrific and beautifully presented. I am working my way through...

I visited with a family member and tried the sushi and Katsu/ Teri -Yaki combos. There was complimentary mint water on the table, the ambience was low lit and non intrusive music playing. Not a place to go if you are in a hurry and...

I created a TripAdvisor account just so I could leave this review. The service is amazing, food is excellent and very well priced. This is my second time and I'll keep coming back.

i admit i do not live in London, otherwise for sure i would have one lunch or dinner every week in Tanakatsu. may be not the most harmonious ambiance or the warmest atmosphère but what else ? excellent excellent excellent food

Other Japanese restaurants in the area should feel very threatened. Tanakatsu does not have a lengthy menu but the items on the menu are done very well indeed. We visited my husband's birthday and he left a happy camper. We are both somewhat Japanophiles having...

This place gets many things right. Location near Angel Islington on a busy road with deliveroo signs outside and a dogs home opposite is not a great start. The room is stripped blond wood with well spaced table, but very clean and unfussy. Its not...

I often order from Tanakatsu, through Deliveroo. At least twice a week. Lunchtime and Dinnertime. I'm making this review because I've noticed that EVERY time I order for lunch (Any time between 12:30pm and 3pm) the food is of much LOWER quality than than the...

Stopped by for the miso soup, salmon nigiri followed by the tuna nigiri just as a little treat to me’sen. Outstanding. Clean and well presented sushi.

Tanakatsu is a beautiful little venue, focusing on katsu, teriyaki, and sushi. The restaurant is pared back, uncluttered and stylish, allowing you to focus on the wonderful things produced by the kitchen. Sushi is expertly prepared, rice is perfectly cooked, curry sauce is deep and...

I appreciate the simplicity. That Waganama is a chain has no detrimental impact on the food quality. Above all however I love the Chicken Katsu Curry ;-) Highly recommended!

Nice simple restaurant interior, smart but not over-furnished. Friendly efficient staff. But the food was really excellent, very tasty, appealing, filling, good portion sizes, well made. Top marks.

this restaurant's food and service never let us down. When I saw it on SNS and really came to eat, I was surprised because it was the best Japanese restaurant indeed! I did not know that KATSU is so delicious! I definitely want to eat...

Loved everything about Tanakatsu. As soon as I walked in I was greeted and made to feel welcomed. Service was friendly and attentive through out the entire time we dined. Tanakatsu caters for all 3 things many love about Japanese, katsu, teriyaki and sushi/sashimi. We...

Stumbled soon this place a year or two ago, and I cannot stop coming back. The food, the staff, the atmosphere is all just so wonderful. I feel warm and welcome when I walk in, and the staff make a huge effort with every customer....

This is a small venue, so booking is advisable. The interior is comfortable and well designed. The food was really, really good. Very tasty and generous portions and not too pricey.The service was mostly great, although the younger waitress we had was a little 'guarded'...