The Araki in City of London, Westminster

Foods were good as expected. The squid nigiri was the best in my life. That was a surprise. Their sushi rice is very delicate and well prepared. Not too sweet or sour, which is a big difference from other sushi restaurant. Chefs were good performers but one apprentice placed a knife on the counter with the sharp side facing me, which is a really bad manner for Japanese. The main chef corrected her there, though. She might not be Japanese as it is a common sense in Japan. Since we are in London, I don’t blame that seriously. The waiters can be trained a bit better as I felt they were just part timer students. That might be because of their clothes. Overall the experience was great and we enjoyed the foods. After seeing the chef’s replies to bad reviews, I wanted to remove some stars. And they said Japanese people don’t want to hear anything about sushi from non Japanese chefs. It is not true and I felt offended by that. The foods price was fair for the central locations but I did not like their attitudes. They thought they were discriminated but it is their delusion. If they are confident with their service, they would not say that. I was expecting chef Araki was there but I did not get disappointed but after I heard the discriminating comments on Japanese, I did not think the restaurant is not good enough to serve people.

Superb experience, so far one of the best sushi experience I have had in my life!! Really intimate atmosphere, which I really enjoyed and excellent food and service. The Otoro was my highlight and the extra otoro temaki at the end I also loved it. The sake we tried was also fabulous, I plan on visiting their brewery in Japan next time I go again! Highly recommend it.

My best dining experience in over 15 years in London

Saw youtube videos about this resturant. I hope food is affordable tasty and good. Will be visiting this resturant soon for consumer reviews.lets see how tasty is food 👀?

Wont recommend the restaurant if you’re not used to Raw food. I got food poisoning next day and it was serious. However, staff and atmosphere is excellent.

Food and service are unmatched.

One of the best Japanese sushi restaurants in the world. Martin is the best host we can imagine! He makes Araki happen!!!

I really looked forward to this restaurant as many friends recommended this place. I went with a group of 6 which included my family. The staff were so strict, uptight, rude, and simply looked down on us. We paid a lot of money for the food and experience, but they treated us like we had no money. The food was average, almost 50% of the food was tuna in different parts, so overrated. My family flew to London for Christmas and wanted to experience this place but we were met with the chef shaking his head if we took some photos and telling us constantly how to eat it 'properly.' But, we were 15 minutes late as we underestimated the London traffic during the holidays. When we called they told us we couldn't attend when we had already made a huge deposit and we practically had to beg them. I think the only reason they let us in is because of the size of the group and how much money they could've made from us. The atmosphere was very awkward and felt like everything we did was done wrongly. This place really is the opposite of how it was described to us. It has been a year since I went and my family and I think about this funny experience all the time when we're out to eat omakase.

Buono ma ci aspettavamo un po’ più tipico giapponese dopo aver fatto Tokyo E molto troppo caro Peccato qualità del pesce top ma molto semplice e ripeto troppo caro attenzione soprattutto non vi dicono per le tasse e in più i cornetti di tonno a 80 euro uno 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

The intimacy and staff’s level of service justifies the £300 tasting menu. Not only is this omakase outstanding, it’s an experience you will always remember. Tucked away from the busy streets of London it’s the ultimate special occasion destination. Look forward to their tuna and toro courses and if you have space go for the extra hand roll at the end of the meal.

It is indeed undisputable, tonight is not just dining, it is simply an unforgettable experience. Every sushi served for the night brings you surprises and a discovery of a well blended mix of taste and texture. And as the chef shared, the finishing will always be completed with the original taste of the main ingredient. Simply awesome and a must for a return!

The food and service were truly world-class and worthy of a special occasion, but considering the price tag I don't think I can give it 5 stars. We ended up paying over £800 for 2 as drinks are not included in the £600 prepayment - on top of that we were asked at the end if we want 2 sushi rolls for an extra £100 if we were still hungry, a little bit ridiculous.

Great food with an amazing experience. I highly recommend it but you need to keep an open mind and try the real authentic raw food experience.

Tremendous experience - Japanese omakase at a small counter setting with detailed explanation of the composition of each dish in English. As someone who frequents omakase restaurants in the Asia and the US, this feature definitely stands out and we can see chef Marty’s passion preparing each dish. Recommend for the experience alone. The nigiri was top grade and features regional/ local catches that varies based on season and supply.

when will you release more jojolands chapters

Delays in delivery have been a recurring issue, causing inconvenience to both the riders and customers.

Been to countless omakase restaurants all over the world. This one isn’t my favorite at all. The discrimination is way too real! Unprofessional and not respectful at all, waste of time and money quite frankly. The option to add a 50 pounds of mushed up tuna roll was also hilarious, never experienced that before. The mockery… normally the ala carte are ordered by the guests, not pressured by the chefs and made fun of for refusing.

I recently had the privilege of dining here, under the expert guidance of Chef Marty Lau, and it was an experience that exceeded all expectations. The chef's passion for his craft were evident in every dish that graced our table. The creativity and innovation displayed in his dishes were truly awe-inspiring. Each course was a carefully choreographed symphony of flavors and textures that delighted the senses and left me in a state of culinary bliss. Beyond his culinary expertise, Chef Lau's warm and engaging personality added an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. I loved how he took the time to educate me on the proper etiquette and technique of enjoying nigiri, ensuring that I experienced it to its fullest potential. Yes, it is quite pricey.. but it is worth every single penny. If you're looking for more than just a memorable dining experience, then The Araki is a MUST. I am grateful for the knowledge shared by Chef Lau and the rest of the amazing team, as it has forever enhanced my sushi experience! Will definitely be coming back here on my next trip to London.

Very authentic sushi experience with delicious food, but not exactly the same experience as when I first visited when Araki-san was there. The 4 stars are only because of my nostalgia.

Best Sushi I ever had in London.

The best Japanese restaurant on Earth, two seatings menu changed every three months.

The food and sake are faultless, definitely 5 star but it loses a star because of the clientele. Some guy was on FaceTime half the time, one person was shouting about how they were vegetarian (I can only assume they paid the full amount for just a seat at the table), the others were nice enough but barely looked up from their conversation to engage with the chef. The idea being that if they are paying this crazy price they can do whatever they want. The price gets you quality but it also gets you next to people who are there, not to experience something special, but just for a dinner on a Tuesday night and that brings down the whole vibe as a result. When you pay this sort of price - we paid a bit over £400 a head - you want everything to be perfect. Unfortunately there is potential won’t find that here if you get unlucky with whoever books the other 8 places at the counter. Again, chef, food, service, sake were incredible and if you’re only concerned with excellent food, go for it, but if you want to eat with people who are into the food and into the experience, maybe look elsewhere.

（過去の訪問です。口コミと時差があります） 荒木さんがまだいらっしゃる2018年の9月に訪問しました。 荒木さんの全ての所作に注目が集まり、お弟子さん達の緊張のようなものとお客様のドキドキ感が店内を独特な雰囲気にしていました。 日本人の弟子を持たずに、日本からの食材も使わない。荒木さんの本気がお鮨を通して伝わる、今まで食べたことのないお鮨でした。 使われている食材もこの先食べることはないのじゃないかというくらいの、超一流品質ばかり。 美味しくて当たり前。 その先の驚きや感動を徹底的に追求した荒木さんのショーという感じ。 またいつかどこかでお目にかかれることを願っています。

One of the top sushi places in London, the only disappointment was the handroll add-on, seaweed was slightly soggy.

I arrived 15 minutes earlier to the Araki for my first Omakase ever because I was really excited about this experience. I was the first guest waiting in front of the door. I’d prepared myself with Do’s and Dont’s for this traditional dining to make sure I can fully enjoy this evening. I even got to meet the very kind and welcoming daughter of Mr. Araki. The Sushi was absolutely 12/10 and left me speechless. But the other half of this whole experience is the intimacy of it and it is very important to feel welcomed in an intimate environment with only a few people. I was very disappointed by the treatment I received by the American/Chinese Chef Marty Lau. He completely ignored me for the first 10 minutes after chit chatting excitingly with the two nice American guests right next to me -we where only three people in total- and refused to welcome or introduce me to The Araki. It felt really odd because that was a very clear choice of him. He then finally welcomed me but his energy towards me made me understand that he disliked something about me. After him and his (very friendly) team where finished with serving the starters and moved on to the first piece of sushi, he taught me how to eat the delicates properly: Upside down to taste the exquisite fish first. Then the comments on my nails started. I wore my very long and shiny music video nails because I traveled straight out of Berlin to London after a two day shoot. He asked me if I could manage to eat with “these nails” - I clearly do because I obviously wear them. I laughed it off because I hoped it was the only comment for the night - but no: The whole restaurant including the dining team, the staff and the two other guests watched me putting my first sushi piece into my mouth for entertainment and if I could manage to do it with my long, acrylic nails. I do not find it in any way appropriate to entertain a whole restaurant on how a 27 year old single woman -which is visiting The Araki with the most respect- is eating her sushi. This was clearly misogynistic and made me feel deeply uncomfortable. The comments didn’t stop there, even the two guests next to me now felt the allowance to comment on my nails. It went on for the next three sushi pieces and about 10 more minutes after everyone finally calmed down. I somehow ended up in having a very American, loud experience - not a Japanese one. What I love about the Japanese culture is the respect, kindness, the distant politeness and the clear boundaries. For me all of these aspects where missing on this evening. When I travel and visit alone as a single woman I always make sure to choose places to visit where I can feel safe and none-judged. I felt like a weirdo on this evening and like I wouldn’t belong there - mostly because of Mr. Marty Lau because he as the chef is in the responsible position to set the tone. I still found a way to enjoy the amazing food but to be very honest, I couldn’t wait to leave and got up immediately after I finished my last meal. I payed my bill, thanked for the great food and went right out of the door. I deeply would love to visit this place again and invite all my family and friends for an experience like this but I’ll never have a 100% good feeling about this Restaurant because the whole team were not able to hold clear boundaries and good, classic etiquette which is absolutely a basic requirement for a big name like The Araki.

Simply the best quality Japanese food in London that I’ve had. Price means very special occasions only

We had booked the restaurant for tonight Friday March 10th. It is our anniversary. We were supposed to fly to London from Larnaca last night and be in London for 3 days and then fly to Toronto. Last night at the airport, We found out there was a mixed up between BA and American Airlines so they didn't let us fly and booked us for flight of March 11th so obviously we wouldn't be able to go to restaurant on March 10th and losing 2 nights of our hotel. While I called four seasons and they right away agreed to reimburse us for 2 nights that we are not going to be there, the restaurant denied any reimbursement or accommodating us for Saturday night or even reimburse partially (their reason was we already bought the food for you) even though I emailed them our original tickets and the tickets for March 11th, they basically had no sympathy. They took almost $1100 just like that. Yes, I understand the 48 hours policy for cancellation but it was totally an unforeseen circumstances and I believe stars of the restaurant are not just for the food, they are for having empathy with people, for being fair and understanding and not just greedy.

Most racist restaurants I ever been to in London. Call others madam and sir, but don’t give us any respect at all. If you have different kinds of rules need us to follow, please inform to us before the dinner. DON’T COME HERE!

Losing three stars in one night? Deserved it! Worst Omakse experience ever. Get treated differently because of the color of my skin. I spent £1600 not for watching you welcoming other clients with a warm smile but another face to me. When entering the door, the clerk called the white man and woman as Sir and Madam, but not to us. One of our friends could not eat mushroom food because we did not know that there would be black truffle in the meal, so we explained to the chef on the spot. But the chef replied us with no manner and still presented the dishes to my friend. The chef is from Hong Kong, and during the meal, he asked another cook to explain to us in Chinese, and then he used English to explain to other people only, please don't think that Chinese people's English is not good, and I don't need such "sweet" service. The most ridiculous thing is that I used Chinese to discuss the food and feelings with my friend at the end of the meal, the chef heard it and actually retorted in English. So if he can understand Chinese why didn’t he explain how to eat the food before???? At the end of the meal, when we walked out of the restaurant, the chef was at the door to help the other people wearing jackets,bowing ninety degrees and help open the door, but to us was just a faint thanku. I came here because of the name of the restaurant, but unfortunately the name on it it’s not the chef Marty Lau

Not quite comfortable with the service. Was treated differently

The best omakase in Europe for sure!

Look, this is an expensive place to eat and whilst the food alone is absolutely faultless, it probably cannot justify the final bill.... BUT, you are paying for the experience. It is really intimate, you are part of a working kitchen, you see, hear and smell everything that goes on and service is impeccable (as it should be). In these times, I fully understand people balking at the price, the answer though is to not go if it bothers you. It is daft paying upfront then dropping a low rating because it was expensive. Did I enjoy it? 100%, a fantastic memorable experience and, as per above the food was faultless. Would I go again? I'd certainly like to.... It is more of a one off treat though, than anything you could repeat

What a memorable experience this was! I reserved this to celebrate my BD a month before and it certainly made that special day even better. Everyone from the Chef down was very nice and accommodating. Fantastic experience!

Just had the immeasurable pleasure of an evening at The Araki. Marty Lau serves his Sushi with a Cozy flair that, if anything, undermines the phenomenal quality of what he’s serving. Portions come thick and fast. Each one building and varying from the one before. New flavours, aromas textures succeed each other. When you think you’re done… you’re just past half way. The Sake ‘pairing’… well, I think we lost track… but it didn’t matter, the finale was the pinnacle. I cannot recommend enough, as long as your wallet has some spare capacity. Go, Experience, Enjoy, be Grateful. You won’t find this very often outside of Japan itself.

Superb and amazing dining experience. My first Michelin 3 Star and that sets the benchmark for me in Omakase style! A must try and must eat restaurant when you are in London. I have never eaten such good food in my life! Service is top notch and chef is very knowledgeable about his food preparation. I would strongly recommend to book a place well in advance if you want to have such a fabulous dining experience. I want to give 6 star or more.... Well.... :)

ロンドン在住の息子に連れて行ってもらいました。海外で寿司を食べても所詮日本の寿司に比べるべくもないと高を括っていましたが 、日本の寿司では考えられないネタのコンビネーションには絶句。基本的な出汁もしっかりしていて、トリュフ、キャビアの軍艦巻きは新鮮な感覚です。今は日本人と見分けのつかない香港人と日本人以外のスタッフで運営されています。3ヶ月毎にメニューが変わるそうです。

Incredible experience. My second visit after 4 years and have to say that Chef Marty has taken the omakase to another level. Still remains one of the best sushi in the world!

We have never been treated so badly. We had a confirmed reservation for two people at counter made directly through the chef. When we reached the place they wanted to place us at the private room. Not only that they "cancelled" our counter booking but they insisted on charging the "cancelled booking plus charge another two persons for the SAME booking for a total £ 1240 for TWO ppl. Then the manager insisted that since cancellation was not done 48 hours he won't refund. We left the place and would never step foot in that restaurant. No Wonder they lost their 3 star rating. Worst attitude and handling of customers we have ever seen in our lives.

Despicable customer service. Very rude and unpleasant. I’ve never experienced such customer service in my life!! Expected more from a fine dining (supposedly) Michelin star earned institution. Due to my late reply to their dietary requirements I was refused service and blatantly asked not to come to the Restaraunt because the manager said they can’t serve me. After we’ve paid £600+ for our seats, we weren’t even offered a partial refund. Horrendous experience. We’ve been to exclusive sushi restaurants in Japan and they were always very accommodating and welcoming. Seriously they should rethink their managers’ employment. He was extremely rude and I had to ask him to lower his voice numerous times. He smirked and called me entitled when I said I was a paying customer. Truly despicable.

Despicable customer service. Very rude and unpleasant. I’ve never experienced such customer service in my life!! Expected more from a fine dining (supposedly) Michelin star earned institution. Due to my late reply to their dietary requirements I was refused service and blatantly asked not to come to the Restaraunt because the manager said they can’t serve me. After we’ve paid £600+ for our seats, we weren’t even offered a partial refund. Horrendous experience. We’ve been to exclusive sushi restaurants in Japan and they were always very accommodating and welcoming. Seriously they should rethink their managers’ employment. He was extremely rude and I had to ask him to lower his voice numerous times. He smirked and called me entitled when I said I was a paying customer. Truly despicable.

Amazing experience and the most delicious sushi we've ever tasted, even compared with the other Michelin star restaurants we've been to.

Just OK, considering the price and hype. The ingredients were great, something missing. Ah so! A proper sushi master was missing.

Perhaps the no.1 place for sushi in Europe. Expensive, but seriously wonderful flavours.

Having tried some great places in Japan, Korea and Sushi Tetsu in London I was expecting great things from The Araki. However the calmness of most places I've been too with the sushi master behind the counter was no where to be found. Instead it was several people all out of sync with each other. The sushi itself was ok, nothing great especially for that price. I suspect the amount of truffle used and o-toro jacks up the price, however I expected something a little more. Putting truffle all over so many things gets a little boring.

Frankly, they fact that The Akari was stripped of its three Michelin star rating proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Michelin is a cabal with no real interest in the quality of the food and experience provided. This is authentic, quality omakase. The chefs prepared the food with exquisite precision, the ingredients chosen were those only a true sushi master would choose. We were totally blown away. The Michelin guide needs to take a long hard look at itself, this place deserves at least 2 Michelin stars. Their inability to rate at this level shows that they are nothing more than a boys club. In summary, if you have the money, go here. You will not regret it

Second time visiting. The master has left however the team have still managed to sustain the quality!

I’d give this place 7 stars if I could. We visited for the first time the other day and we were blown away by the chefs’ craft and dedication. We were mesmerised by the way the food was prepared and served as well as the respect the chefs had for the ingredients. I’ve been to various 1-2 M-starred Japanese restaurants like Umu but Araki, even though currently star-less, is clearly superior. A few days after the visit, I am still wondering how they managed to make the seemingly plain ika (squid) so exquisitely tasty (and that’s not just down to the extremely rare beluga caviar). Yes, it’s pretty pricey at approx £350 a head (about 2x the price of Umu) and yes it’s omakase only with a limited drinks menu, I would place this as the best sushi restaurant I’ve been outside of Japan and I’d love to know if there are better sushi restaurants in London or Europe for that matter.

大将がいらっしゃる、オープンして少しした2015年3月に訪問。 2シフト制で、お任せメニューのみ。 丁寧な仕事と創作のコラボが素晴らしい。 カウンター越しに大将の仕事振りを見ながらいただく食事は時間を忘れて楽しめた。

Wonderful experience. Exceptional food and ambience. Felt slightly rushed due to the limited time but overall it was a very unique experience.

One the best sushi’s that you will ever eat!

As good as it gets, for any type of cuisine, anywhere. Remarkable.

The smallest pieces of fish I've ever had anywhere - LA, Tokoyo, Vancouver , Sydney, London. Was tasty (and great rice) but never really had that yum yum experience on the fish cause it was all simply cut too small. £500 later and I stopped at my French deli on the way home to get desert. Be wary of the £50 "would you like another roll " - and said yes as still hungry - add on. £50 ONE ROLL?!! Sloppy cut tuna and truffles.... After I said something they gave me my £50 back - but should not be that way in the first place. Come on. ....

The food is delicious, and served exquisitely, but we struggle to describe the experience without being blinded by the price of the meal and the feeling of being milked for more money. There were 6 of us, and the restaurant ushered us out within 2 hours due to another booking after us. The waiters assured us that we had finished our wine and sake, but refused to show us the empty bottles. I would like to recommend the restaurant to others, but we paid £500 a head for 6 people for the menu and for the cheapest bottle of wine and sake per head. Including service. I am very disappointed to be negative, but we have left with the over-arching feeling that we have been ripped off at sheer cost of the bill. We feel a fair price would be ~£150-£200/head based on the true value of the wine/sake.

The food is delicious, and served exquisitely, but we struggle to describe the experience without being blinded by the price of the meal and the feeling of being milked for more money. There were 6 of us, and the restaurant ushered us out within 2 hours due to another booking after us. The waiters assured us that we had finished our wine and sake, but refused to show us the empty bottles. I would like to recommend the restaurant to others, but we paid £500 a head for 6 people for the menu and for the cheapest bottle of wine and sake per head. Including service. I am very disappointed to be negative, but we have left with the over-arching feeling that we have been ripped off at sheer cost of the bill. We feel a fair price would be ~£150-£200/head based on the true value of the wine/sake.

This place has amazing service. They take the time to explain every single dish they serve you. It is delicious as well. It’s a serving menu so you can’t pick but everything they served us was perfect. It is quite expensive but it’s in Pat with the quality of the food. Highly recommend this place for true sushi lovers and they are also kind enough to teach you the right way to eat it.

This place has amazing service. They take the time to explain every single dish they serve you. It is delicious as well. It’s a serving menu so you can’t pick but everything they served us was perfect. It is quite expensive but it’s in Pat with the quality of the food. Highly recommend this place for true sushi lovers and they are also kind enough to teach you the right way to eat it.

5 stelle non bastano per poter descrivere l'esperienza che si vive seduti al bancone di Araki. Unico neo la difficoltà nella prenotazione ed un esborso economico notevole. Fuoriclasse.

Araki-san may have left to Hong Kong, but his young protégé, Marty Lau, has more than filled his shoes. Exemplary sushi in a relaxed atmosphere that manages to be suitably special without feeling stuffy. Yes it's expensive, but this is far and away the best sushi in London (probably Europe), and well worth every penny.

One of the best meals I've had in my life. Marty Lau is not just a world-class chef but also a wonderful host and entertainer. Truly one of the most special meals you'll ever eat.

Not worth to come ... 5 star price and 2 star taste

Top experience ! This was an unforgettable night ! Thank you to the “ Araki “ team for an incredible explosion of flavours, thanks for the company, we had a lovely evening !!! The best !!!

Fantastic experience with wonderful food and service. It’s more like a presentation than a meal with each course prepared and presented to each customer. Not sure it’s worth the huge price but as a one off experience it was faultless and wonderful. I thoroughly recommend!

Top experience ! This was an unforgettable night ! Thank you to the “ Araki “ team for an incredible explosion of flavours, thanks for the company, we had a lovely evening !!! The best !!!

Having had Omakase experiences at some of the best sushi bars globally (Hoseki in Dubai, L Abysse by Yanik Alleno in Paris, O Ya in Boston etc) this is the worst most overpriced experience I’ve had. The ingredients are average at best, some not even fresh The starters were bland and tasteless The nigiri fish quality was decent however everything has been soaked in SOY and all one can taste is the soy The only decent part of the meal was the handroll at the end which was just below the quality you would get at your local Nobu Save your money and go elsewhere - truly disappointing experience and very clear why all 3 Michelin stars were taken away.

Sushis were beyond amazing, but the dessert was my favourite!!! The matcha mochi😍

Even if you're a jaded foodie, this is arguably the top restaurant experience in London. It's the combination of spectacular food (which will change your understanding of what sushi actually is), with a format that has you seated at an intimate counter, able to chat to the chef while he is making the food in front of you, that is just so special and justifies the high price. (NB there are a number of dubious bad reviews here which appear to be entirely fabricated by people with an axe to grind - unfortunately some sad bigots have issues with a non-Japanese chef running an Omakase restaurant, even when anointed as his chosen successor by the Japanese Master himself.)

Best sushi place in London, no doubt !

Out of this world. Sushi but not as you know it

Tried booking with an allergy. Unsuccessfully. So this review is only for the front of house staff. Tried calling, heard their automatic response which specifies to ensure they can cater to the dietary requirements before booking. I follow the instructions and email. A full week goes by with no response. I call again and get someone on the phone who does not have access to the emails, cuts me off repeatedly, seems to not understand why I don't yet have a booking despite literally following the steps they advise to take and assures me someone will call back between 4 and 5pm. At 5pm someone calls. And asks if it's a allergy or an intolerance. I specify intolerance and what intolerance it is whilst the person cuts me off to say it will be fine to cater for a different intolerance oh and the one I have too... And when they ask if it's severe, I specify that yes, I would have to leave shortly after ingestion, they say they can't cater at all and hang up promptly. To say the interaction was the most time-wasteful and rude one I've ever had with a restaurant supposedly upscale is an understatement; and very dismissive of dietary requirements. Not at all what I would expect from front of house staff at an upscale venue.

We have dined here many times and have never been disappointed. The team’s dedication to their art and their innovative approach leads to an incredible dining experience that should not be missed. Certainly the best sushi in London.

It's quite a trick to pull off such relaxed and professional elegance. For some - with the astronomical prices - the expectation would be a rather solemn affair, but that would be a real shame as the personality of the team shone bright alongside the magical food. A was a little apprehensive when the first course was served - a very fresh dish but no real complexity of flavour that I could tell anyway. I needn't have been - from that moment on, everything that we were given to eat was remarkable. The tempura was like nothing I've ever tasted and I don't have the vocabulary to adequately describe it. Melt in the mouth doesn't do it anything like justice. The theatre of seeing the food prepared alongside some interesting chat and banter really made the experience special. I'd never been a fan of Sake - but I enjoyed it very much. Yes it's expensive, yes they have lost their michelin stars, but it was faultless and one of, it not the, best meal I've ever eaten. Can't wait to go back :-)

An experience in London that cannot be missed and is well worth the cost. The Chef and his team have done well.

Ate at the Araki for the second time last night with my wife and daughter. All I can say is that the food was fabulous. For us, this is by far the best restaurant in London & it's difficult to fathom the extraordinary actions of the Michelin guide. We had dined at Alain Ducasse a few days before our first trip to the Araki in 2019 and, theatrical though the experience was, the food seemed almost crude by comparison. Many thanks to Chef Lau and his charming, committed team for persevering through this difficult year. Looking forward to dining with you again in January. Highly, highly recommended.

Incredible experience, worth every penny

Visited there twice. All staff was extremely polite and professional. The only drawback is that I have to sit there before each course as the chef will serve it to me in person. Good food as well. I hope Araki will survive this pandemic and the chef will smile more.

When Master Araki was here it was 5 STAR PLUS, 3 STARS from Michelin warranted But now he has gone it's not the same DON'T GO

Exceptional food (with prices to match) - but worth for a wonderful experience. Done with real love and care.

I can't believe Sophie Zhu's comments, I mean why is she labelling all the races of the staff. On top of which this channel is for reviewing the food and service but you have just admitted you didnt eat there due to your own disorganisation. I was actually in London when these events happened and she was the one who attacked the owner broke his glasses too while he stood there because SHE was hours late. Who doesnt turn up on time when they explicitly stress the fee? I came for a birthday gift that I had to save up for and when I arrived ON TIME it was clear why it had to be on time, absolutely phenomenal experience for foodies like me and my partner. Sick of privileged people like you being able to throw money about and not even appreciate how lucky you are...you can see as well you were petty enough to get friends and family to comment too salty even though you didnt get to eat, I mean what a boring comment that is and its obvious with the names you all know each other with all the likes. seriously get a life

I went to this restaurant with my husband and I would give them zero star. When I received my food my portion and sushi were smaller compared to my husband. The waiter stated that for females the portion at this restaurant was smaller; apprantly we can not and should not eat as much as the men. Sexism is real here and then I noticed they have no female staff 🤔

Very enjoyable meal & probably one of the best in my life. The whole experience was absolutely exceptional. Highly recommended.

£800 dinner for two people. The food quality hasn’t changed since Araki left, but the service and attention to details may need to improve to justify the prices.

A very special dinner. Was here in Feb and had a really excellent time. Previous reviews under the old master have described a rather ceremonious dining experience (which doesn’t sound that engaging) but with Chef Marty the quality of the food was extraordinary and the atmosphere markedly improved. This was some of the best sushi I have ever had, and it was a real pleasure to be able to talk to Marty about his experiences with restaurant. It’s not an inexpensive meal, but definitely worth it for a special occasion and I would love to go again

Wonderful experience. Probably once in a lifetime for me, however the cost of the evening is totally justifiable considering the rarest quality of ingredients and unsurpassed level of personal service. Well worth it.

With the departure of Mr Araki and the loss of the three stars, questions were raised as to whether the next chef could continue with the same perfection and quality of ingredients. Having been back it is obvious that the level has not changed and we were extremely impressed from start to end. The food is creative and extraordinary. Yes the atmosphere is more casual and different from what it was but it “works” and reflects, as it should, the personality of the new head chef. We loved it.

My wife and I were here for her birthday. Last time we went to an Omakase, it was Jiro Roppongi, very large shoes to fill. Yesterday's experience was absolutely incredible in every way. First this is a true omakase experience, however a bit more relaxed than in Japan. The chef prepares the fish in front of the guest and does the right amount of explaining. Then, there is the food, and I must say that from my perspective, this is very close to what we experienced at Jiro. Not exactly the same, slightly more "unorthodox" but outstanding nonetheless. And the chef and his team are really friendly ! Yes it is incredibly expensive, and yes this type of experience means there are more rules to follow, but I cannot understand how Michelin took out all the Stars. From my perspective, an absolute certitude some of them will come back next year. We will be back

Mi esposa y yo estuvimos aquí por su cumpleaños. La última vez que fuimos a un Omakase, fue Jiro Roppongi, zapatos muy grandes para llenar. La experiencia de ayer fue absolutamente increíble en todos los sentidos. Primero, esta es una verdadera experiencia omakase, aunque un poco más relajada que en Japón. El chef prepara el pescado frente al huésped y explica la cantidad correcta. Luego, está la comida, y debo decir que desde mi perspectiva, esto está muy cerca de lo que experimentamos en Jiro. No es exactamente lo mismo, un poco más "poco ortodoxo" pero, no obstante, sobresaliente. ¡Y el chef y su equipo son realmente amables! Sí, es increíblemente costoso, y sí, este tipo de experiencia significa que hay más reglas a seguir, pero no puedo entender cómo Michelin eliminó todas las estrellas. Desde mi perspectiva, una certeza absoluta algunos de ellos volverán el año que viene. Volveremos

Love the service love the food! Amazing feast.

Try your very best not to go there. So.....so disappointed. Not worth the price. The Chinese chef is not up to standard. No Michelin Star is absolutely correct.

I visited The Araki for the third time over the weekend. I'm sad to say that the experience has somewhat eroded. The food can still be remarkable, but the service was only moderate. In particular, one of the chefs used his mobile phone to show videos to some customers, which was unprofessional and shattered the sense of ceremony, let alone food hygiene standards as he didn't wash his hands before touching the food. The Michelin judges got it right, The Araki is not what it once was.

Best Japanese restaurant in London, highly recommend visiting. They are booked 3 months & advanced. Make reservations soon

I arrived 15 minutes before my appointment and can’t find the entrance into the restaurant. The supposedly entrance was locked and no one was there. So I wandered around trying to find it. Eventually, I made the call and was then told the entrance door is locked until my 8 pm appointment, didn’t even apologize for not advising so in advance. When I sat down and order a glass of champagne, it came stalled. I made complaint and they then opened a new bottle. The Chinese chef bowed every time before serving a dish, what theatrical! Do they think that’s being Japanese? I’ve never seen that in japan, having visited there dozens of trip over three decades. Look at the pictures of food preparation in front of me - what a mess. Somewhere during the meal, Araki callled my serving chef to the back and yelled at him in Japanese. It was so loud I can hear them. One od the dishes came with shaved black truffle spluttered all over the dish, not whipped for presentation. The entire experience was a disaster. I left before finishing the set meal, and told the sommelier who’s the only Japanese at the restaurant other than Araki that it’s a disgrace to serve at such a Japanese restaurant.

Only 9-10 seats available and you get the most exquisite, satisfying and fulfilling Japanese sushi meal ever. You can tell how well thought-out and prepared each dish is. They explain each dish to you and no matter how full you get, you always seem to want more because of how delicious each mouthful is. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Unfortunately for the new head chef, I had eaten here when it first opened (before any Michelin stars). The calm focus and dedication of the master chef made it unlike any other dining experience in London - not just amazing quality food and craftmanship in front of you but a serene ambiance that made the food the focus of the whole experience. It allowed you to really appreciate the meal and in an unrushed relaxed approach with the head chef, his apprentice and his wife managing the front of house elements.I was therefore really looking forward to coming back and experiencing it again. I put the lost Michelin stars down to the change of chef but also felt that Mr Araki wouldn't leave this flagship of Japanese cuisine bearing his name to anyone unready or unprepared.I think you can guess where I am going with this. The end result was a massive disappointment. So many staff members (6 or 7) for ten guests, each falling over each other to clear or serve or have a conversation with the guests about whatever (boxing, holidays, etc.). Mistakes made in front of everyone and so much commotion that it destroyed the celestial atmosphere from before.For the price being paid, you expect everything to be perfect and the service quality and ambiance was a real let down. In my opinion, not professional.With Chef Araki, you felt there was a person who had dedicated his life to perfection. With the new Chef, it felt slapdash, too casual and a world away from someone looking to reach the same heights.Save your money and buy a flight to Hong Kong instead to see the real thing.

Having read that they lost their 3 Michelin stars I was reluctant to try the restaurant. All my apprehensions were unnecessary.Chef Marty Lau and his team served up one of the best sushis and other Japanese classics with a twist that’s absolutely outstanding. I have been to many Michelin starred Japanese restaurants in the world but this one stands out. The initial thought that the price of the meal is high because they had 3 Michelin stars were unfounded as they used ingredients that were very exclusive and expensive generously. Without giving away the surprise you will get when you dine there, some of the ingredients they used were Caviar of the best quality and rarity, fresh white truffles, lobsters, fattiest tuna etc. I am not easy to impressed but the Araki definitely was outstanding.Well done to Chef Marty Lau who is personable, friendly and an amazing chef ! Thank you for the best Japanese meal in the world !

sorry to say not worth it. overrated reviews in many newspaper and magazines. Recently lost all three michillin stars. wondering how they got it at first place.

This week I hired The Araki for dinner to celebrate a friend’s milestone birthday. I had been before when Mr Araki was there and the restaurant held 3 stars so was curious how it might have changed since the Michelin inspectors made the decision to strip the establishment of all three stars in their most recent publication.When initially trying to contact the restaurant to discuss the evening I had some difficulty getting hold of them which seemed strange but after some persistence I got through to Marty Lau, Head Chef and he was extremely helpful from then on. Although he usually doesn’t reveal the menu until the night he understood my concern for it to be perfect and kindly sent me the menu in advance and I have to say it was absolute perfection. My next challenge was the drinks pairings and I was surprised that the wine selection was relatively limited and mainly focussed on Burgundy as a region. When I spoke to Marty about this he said there was no problem to pay corkage of £50 per bottle / £100 per magnum and bring our own so I asked my wine supplier to pair the wines to the menu and Marty helped with the sake selection and this worked really well.In terms of the experience, I really cannot fault the preparation, passion, quality or execution of what we experienced. The skill and precision of what the team here deliver has to be seen to be believed and it really feels like a privilege to dine there. It’s an experience which is unparalleled in the UK and more reminiscent of meals I have had in Japan, albeit with a European twist in terms of some of the fresh ingredients they use such as Exmoor caviar and Spanish belly tuna. I enjoyed the meal even more than when they held three stars as the quality of the food was as good if not better but the engagement with our group was more friendly and more personal. Well done to Marty and the team for an amazing job, thank you for you amazing hospitality and wishing you all continued success in the future at your very special venue! Fantastic!

One of the most special dining experiences anyone can ever hope for in their lives. Expertly prepared sushi made from the highest quality ingredients in creative combinations that showcase chef Lau's unmatched knowledge of edomae sushi. Don't let the recent political move by Michelin dissuade you, guests receive, without a doubt, a 3 star meal with 3 star service to match. Being non Japanese is the only reason, if any, sushi "purists" could argue that chef Lau could not be considered Oyakata but anyone who is lucky enough to sit at one of the 9 spots at his counter and experience the life changing flavors of his well thought out creations will argue otherwise. Chef Lau goes above and beyond to demonstrate his mastery of technique and respect for edomae and should be considered the hands down best sushi chef in the UK. Better than rainbow in nyc, better than any other sushi restaurant in the US, eating here is an absolute must for anyone who wants to discover flavor of perfectly prepared sushi. Three stars, regardless of what the 2020 guide says.

Food was good. Attitude and booking experience was rubbish. Considering it's £400pp minimum a bit more professionalism and customer services would not go amiss. We love Japanese food and our favourite local, be it not as creative with recipes, will not ruin your mood and will serve you twice the amount of fresh & tasty food for 1/100 price.

初めてのロンドンThe Araki。期待したあらきさんは、香港カオルーン新店オープンのために不在。残念。メインシェフは3月からマーティ。でも、女将さんとお嬢さんがサポート。お料理は、キャビアに白トリュフを織り混ぜながら、トロ炙り、ずけ、蟹、グリーン鮑、鰻、海老、キノコのお吸い物などなど。意外に欧州ローカルの食材を使用していて驚き。美味しく頂きました。お米はミルキーとこしひかりをミックス、酢は赤酢。。ガリもなかなか。。ただし、雲丹と焼酎と熱いお茶がなかったのが残念。。雲丹と熱いお茶は出さないと。キャビアとトリュフはどこも出すので面白くない。今回、ミシュラン星全て失いました。まあ仕方ないです。NYでも香港でも、シンガポールでも、鮨は日本人が握ってなんぼ。星は荒木さんに付いていたんです。。僕も荒木さんの鮨が目当てで行ったので。。ここからがマーティの実力の見せ所。。期待してます！。がんばれ！

威斯敏斯特The araki日料店，是值得專門為此發壹篇文章的餐廳，細潤溫柔，入口即化，感嘆壽司也可以做的如此好吃。主廚荒木水都弘親切可愛，為了女兒辭去三星主廚來到倫敦，我們走了才發現購物的東西沒有拿，折返發現主廚拿著袋子已經在寒風中等了，鞠躬送我們上車，壹直目送看不到我們才離開。讓寒冷的倫敦又增添了壹絲溫暖，推薦！