Just a few minutes away from Angel station, Hot Stone is a little piece of Japan in the heart of North London.

Their speciality? The traditional Japanese art of hot stone cooking. You will be presented with a boiling hot lava stone and your raw dish – tuna, salmon, sirloin steak and fancy Japanese wagyu beef – that you can cook at your liking.

While you are waiting for your main to be ready, don’t forget to try some of the delicious sushi and sashimi made fresh in front of the customers by chef Padam Raj Rai. With 17 years of experience in Japanese cooking, having worked for the likes of Nobu and Zuma, you can trust him to deliver a great tasting experience. 

If you are craving fragrant Asian flavours and some banging cocktails, this small Indo-Chinese restaurant tucked in a busy street of Soho is the answer to your prayers.

The cuisine they champion was created by the Hakka people who migrated to India from the Chinese province of Canton. The result is an explosion of flavours that needs to be tried to be believed.

After one or two guava chilli sours, start your dinner with a selection of juicy momos (mouth-watering dumplings), some sticky sesame vegetables and their incredibly tasty crackling spinach. For mains, make sure to try the flavoursome monkfish curry and their succulent lamb chop. Last but not least, if you’ve managed to leave some space for dessert, their sizzling brownie is out of this world.

Showaken is more than a ramen bar, it’s a travel capsule which will transport you back to 1970s Tokyo.

The small pop-up restaurant – that, for now, doesn’t have an end date – delivers the ultimate tasty comfort food in a cosy and relaxed atmosphere.

The menu is small but mighty: choose from Tokyo Shitamachi, Hokkaido and vegetarian ramen but don’t expect to find anything else but those delicious soups on offer. Why would you want anything else, anyway?

For special occasions or just for mouth-watering treats, there is nowhere in London like Sexy Fish.

Before we get to the food, let’s talk about the decor: onyx marble, luxurious fabrics, themed lights and bespoke mermaids statues to complete the ‘under the sea’ atmosphere. The DJ station occupies the centre of the room so make sure you are in the mood for a party – dinner at Sexy Fish is never boring.

Now onto the food – the freshest fish is served in an elaborate manner. The menu is lengthy and utterly delicious, making it almost impossible to choose. A few things though are a must-try: the crispy duck and watermelon salad, the wagyu gyoza and the sexy tuna ham to start. From the main courses, the Chilean sea bass and the lamb cutlets. For dessert, the chocolate and praline fondant and the cheesecake will make you wish you had left some more space for a sweet treat. 

A heartwarming and delicious menu made of fragrant sharing plates, Wild Rice gives tapas an Asian makeover.

Succulent Japanese aubergine, spicy tofu nuggets, traditional fried chicken or mouth-watering baked prawns - there is something tasty for everyone.

The little bonus? A secret bar located on the bottom floor. The perfect place to end the night sipping on a Thai-inspired cocktail.

If you are searching for a pre-dinner cocktail venue or a casual dinner spot, Machiya Bar is a relaxed option in the heart of central London.

The main restaurant is light and lively while hidden downstairs there is a cosy bar, complete with themed lights and velvet sofas. They recently launched an Omakase experience that consists of a welcome drink, a ‘consultation’ with their cocktail specialist and three bespoke drinks that are meant to perfectly fit your taste buds. A real experience and a great way to start a night out.

At the heart of London’s busiest neighbourhood, Covent Garden, Sushi Samba is very much a locals favourite.

Located on the top of the The Market Building, the restaurant offers al fresco dining on their terrace overlooking the buzzing square – the perfect set up to kick off the weekend, sipping addictive sake spritz and snacking on delicious bean tempura and crunchy nori crackers.

On the food side, the Asian meets South American fusion cuisine promises an incredible experience. Make sure to try the mouth-watering mushroom gyoza, the crispy lobster taquitos or their incredible black cod.

The warm days call for a terrace and Aqua Kyoto is here to deliver. Located in the centre of the London hustle and bustle, Regent Street, this sleek Japanese restaurant boasts an amazing terrace overlooking the city.

A contemporary take to Tokyo’s Ginza district cuisine led by Executive Head Chef Paul Greening, the restaurant recently launched their ‘wabi sabi’ menu. The idea comes from the Japanese ‘wabi sabi’ concept of appreciating imperfection – concept transferred to the kitchen by using ‘imperfect’ ingredients, like ugly vegetables.

Fragrant ramen, fresh sashimi and mouth-watering Japanese egg rice – the ingredients might be ‘ugly’, but the taste is definitely a 10/10. 

Hidden on the first floor of Japan House London, in the heart of Kensington, Akira is an exquisite hidden gem for Japanese food lovers.

Executive Chef Shimizu Akira brings the diversity of Japanese cuisine – as well as the elegant style and impeccable service – to London. From the most-loved classics like the fragrant miso soup, fresh sashimi and crunchy tempura to a Japanese take on fish and chips, Akira’s menu is a culinary experience you should add to your wish list. 

The latest addition to West London’s buzzing food scene, Din Tai Fung is the Chinese temple where dim sums are worshipped – and we are definitely converted.

The menu is full of delicious comfort food, from the classic (but never boring) dan dan noodles or the heart-warming wonton soup, to Din Tai Fung’s signature dishes like the xiao long bao, freshly made dumplings filled with meat, fish or vegetables and fragrant broth. The lovely staff will prepare a ginger, vinegar and soy sauce mixture for you to dip your steaming hot dumplings in. They are full of flavour and dangerously addictive – after trying one, it’s impossible not to go back for more. 

If you are after an Autumn-themes treat, Sakagura has got you covered.

For the next few months, leaves will cover the bar and the outdoor terrace to honour the Japanese maple leaf season and transform the restaurant in a cosy autumnal retreat.

To celebrate the new season, the restaurant (In partnership with Gekkeikan-Sake and KIRIN ICHIBAN) created 4 special cocktails using seasonal ingredients. Fellow matcha lovers, the Midori no Gishiki – a blend of matcha and condensed milk mixed with Kinobi gin and Belvedere vodka, topped with a touch of chestnut syrup – will become your new favourite drink.

If you want something fresher to accompany the delicious sushi and crunchy tempura served at Sakagura, Aki – a refreshing Japanese version of a classic Pisco sour – will work dangerously well with your dinner. 

Tucked in a small street in the heart of Soho, hidden away from the crowd and the hustle and bustle of the city, Hakkasan is a lavish temple of taste.

Going inside through a small door, the stairs lead to a sleek reception. In the restaurant, lights are dimmed and the atmosphere recalls a James Bond film: Hakkasan looks like the perfect spot to meet your nemesis.

Hakkasan’s most famous dishes – such as the delicious crispy duck salad, the classic dim sum and the juicy spicy prawns – are a must try but the whole menu deserves to be discovered. And remember, everything tastes better when accompanied by a lychee martini. 

If you are craving a traditional Japanese supper, Zela is not the place for you. The restaurant’s menu, located in the heart of London’s West End and loved by the stars, is far from a classic Nipponic feast.

A concoction made of fresh Mediterranean products and traditional Japanese cuisine techniques, Zela is the place to go if you like experimenting while having a great time.

The cocktails are curated and scenographic and the food can be enjoyed Spanish tapas-style. Classic dishes like homemade Pekin duck gyoza are served next to inventive miso black cod gnocchi while a dj is getting the party started, hidden between the lavish greenery that invades the room. A great place to start off the weekend.

If you are searching for a secluded spot for a chilled night to catch up with friends or a romantic dinner, then TOKii is exactly what you need.

Tucked away in a tranquil alley in Marylebone, housed is the newly opened hotel The Prince Akatoki, TOKii is still an unexplored London gem.

The chef offers a great selection of Japanese tapas with a western twist. From the classics of Nippon cuisine such as crispy tempura, fresh sashimi and heart-warming miso soup to lamb cutlets, pumpkin and honey monkfish and ox cheek croquettes - a first-class trip around the world for your tastebuds. 

If you want a comforting, delicious and fuss-free dinner, Rosa’s cafe is your safe harbour in London.

Their authentic – but, thank god, less spicy – Thai food is never disappointing. The chefs take the best recipes of the Thai tradition and tweak them using locally grown British crops.

The perfect dinner at Rosa’s always includes crunchy fried spring rolls, a fresh papaya salad, a classic fragrant pad thai or a heart-warming massaman curry and, to end on a sweet note, the mango and sticky rice pudding. A gorgeously stress-free dinner. 

Uchi must be one of the coolest restaurants around Hackney. Divided into two rooms, one with a traditional Japanese table set up, reserved for big groups, and one with smaller tables, this Japanese restaurant keeps the tradition alive with a modern approach to food.

Miso aubergine that melts in your mouth, sushi made with white or black rice filled with the freshest salmon, crunchy soft-shell crab but also broccoli tempura, asparagus or halloumi for a funky twist on the classics. An East Londoners favourite.

Not your average Japanese restaurant, the Pacific Social Club is a real hub for Clapton’s locals.

At Pacific Social Club, it’s not just about the delicious food – people go there for the atmosphere. Incredible cocktails, friendly service and great DJs make it the perfect place to spend a weekend with your friends. The drink to try? Their Japanese take to Britain’s favourite, the G&T.

While you sip on your cocktail, don’t forget to order a side of avocado fries and a portion of juicy gyoza. But most of all, make sure you try their speciality: the Okonomiyaki or Japanese pancakes made of cabbage. The most delicious cabbage you will ever eat. 

A newly opened traditional Chinese-Korean restaurant that will satisfy your barbecue cravings.

Their bestsellers are, of course, the beef and lamb skewers but if meat is not your thing, you will still be able to go home with a full stomach. King prawns, quail eggs, okra or delicious fish tofu can be grilled straight at the table which makes them perfect for sharing.

On the main menu, make sure you try the mouth watering Korean bibimbap or, if you are not afraid of fiery food, the spicy hot pot with sausage, tofu, pork and noodles: delicious and heartwarming.

Already home to an eclectic food scene, Clapton has a new, interesting local in Lucky & Joy.

Describing this new quirky hot spot as a Chinese restaurant wouldn’t be accurate. Ellen Parr and Pete Kelly have gathered their culinary experiences in China and in Chinatowns around the world to create a modern take on a traditional Chinese canteen. A series of small plates to mix, match and share populate the menu. Our favourites? Fresh Yunnan smacked cucumbers and flavoursome sesame noodles to start, followed by the surprisingly tasty turnip cake with soy cured egg and raised pork belly with a side of pineapple fried rice.

Between the chains, the tourist traps and the street food trucks, it seems difficult to find an authentic Japanese place in the heart of Southbank – that’s what makes Hannah a rarity of the big city.

Just minutes from the BFI and the London Eye, Hannah is one of those gems that only Japanese-born living in London seems to know about. If you are after real Japanese food, that is not California rolls and tempura, this is definitely the place to visit. 

Located on the 33rd floor of The Shard, overlooking the river Thames and the whole of London, a dinner at Hutong is definitely special.

Before treating yourself to their amazing Northern Chinese cuisine, you must try their cocktail bar and the incredible creations inspired by Chinese medicine. Try the Chinese lantern for an Asian take to the classic Italian Spritz or the Iron Goddess of Mercy for a funky Pisco Sour – so your tastebuds can get adjusted to the intense flavours you are about the experience.

Onto the food. A must-try dish is the roasted Peking Duck, that comes to the table twice: first, the duck is served with Chinese pancakes while a duck sauté with greens follows to complete the course. Also not to be missed are their spicy Sichuan-style aubergine tempura and the juicy dumplings. The food is so good you will want to devour the whole menu.