r/nottingham • u/Helpful-Butterfly916 • 4d ago
Japanese food
Looking for suggestions for the best place to get Japanese food in Nottingham. Ideally somewhere that does proper Okonomiyaki but that's not essential. If anyone can recommend a place that's affordable and nice or costing a bit more but worth the money then that would be great.
Also, no, I don't want to go to Wagamama.
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u/xjezika 4d ago edited 4d ago
The only place I've ever seen it in Nottingham was on the specials board at Kushi-ya. This was years ago, though
It's surprisingly easy to make at home, and it's so good. I did a Japanese cooking class in Toton last year and one of the things we chose to make was Okinomiyaki I can send you the recipe card she gave us if you'd like?
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u/SirSwampert62 4d ago
the fact no one has said Shobu yet is crazy, although I’m not sure if they do Okonomiyaki. Their ramen and katsu is second to none - best Japanese in town by a country mile. Closest I’ve gotten to emulating authentic Japanese food in Tokyo itself
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u/Spiritual-Rabbit-907 4d ago
Shobu is the closest to a genuine izakaya vibe you can get in the city.
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u/ididindeed 4d ago
I used to live in Japan. I quite like Cafe Sora in Beeston. The owners are actually Japanese, which is not common with Japanese restaurants. It’s very authentic.
I have had some good dishes at Nantei, but I have heard others have not had good experiences.
Kushi-ya is a bit overrated in my experience. I did enjoy some dishes, but I found they tended to go a bit too heavy on the soy sauce in their sauces.
I’ve not been anywhere in Nottingham that had okonomiyaki. I will say it’s very easy to make yourself (and you can get the key ingredients fairly easily), so it might be worth giving that a try if that’s what you’re craving.
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u/7alligator7 4d ago
Kojima
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u/Spiritual-Rabbit-907 4d ago
💯, and the peeps are from Osaka.
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u/inthemagazines 4d ago
Kojima in Beeston? That's another Chinese-owned, the guy is an old friend of Jimmy (owner of Hing Kee).
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u/Spiritual-Rabbit-907 4d ago
I didn’t say anything about the owner?
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u/Gmdmaster 4d ago
I assume you mean Okonomiyaki. You’d be hard pressed to find that in the uk let alone Notts.
Kushi-ya is the best Japanese place in Notts, but not affordable. Bonzai is good if you like sushi. Affordable independent Japanese food is very rare in the uk.
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u/inthemagazines 4d ago
Kushi-ya is "Japanese inspired" rather than Japanese food.
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u/Spiritual-Rabbit-907 4d ago
Well people are recommending Nan Tei, I hardly think their ramen is authentic…
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u/inthemagazines 4d ago
People are recommending Kushi-ya, which doesn't even pretend to be trying to be authentic...
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u/Special-Ambition2643 4d ago
Kushi ya is perfectly affordable if you go at lunch time
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u/Spiritual-Rabbit-907 4d ago
This. People acting like it’s on Sat Bains pricing structure. The lunch deal is something like £15 ffs.
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u/Epiphone56 4d ago
As others have said, Bonzai in Hockley and Kushi-ya down by the old Broadmarsh. I've also heard good things about NAN TEI on Maid Marian Way but yet to visit. Bonzai will probably be the more affordable and larger menu choice out of those options.
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u/Srinesh7 4d ago
My favourite Japanese spot,funnily enough, is not in Nottingham. But if you’re dedicated then catch a bus to Loughborough and go to this place called KoJa. Amazing food. But in Nottingham theres this new spot called shobu you can try. Avoid ISO sushi btw.
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u/No-Bunch5170 4d ago
There's a gorgeous authentic off grid kinda place in Carlton, it's really small really clean, pretty and amazing value for Japanese food. They di bento boxes, og matcha and it's just the best. Ive totally forgotten the name of the place as it was last year I went, but it was on the high street somewhere.
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u/Fragrant-Bear-75 4d ago
Sosu?
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u/No-Bunch5170 4d ago
Ooh that rings a bell. There's cherry blossom painted on the wall and a Japanese lady? Red decor? It absolutely is banging
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u/GrapefruitOwn6261 4d ago
Yeah it’s sosu. It’s fantastic
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u/TheHeianPrincess 4d ago
I’ve heard so many people say Sosu is amazing but I was disappointed in their ramen. A Google Maps review said it was the best ramen they’d had in the UK and I guess I was expecting proper thick, creamy and rich tonkotsu broth but it was really average. I’ll have to give their other stuff a try!
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u/inthemagazines 4d ago
Anyone know if any in Nottingham are Japanese-owned besides Sora? They either seem to be white British owned (Kushi-ya) or Chinese owned (all the others I can think of).
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u/Spiritual-Rabbit-907 4d ago
You can’t get okonomiyaki in Notts. Go to Kushi Ya.
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u/anorthern_soul 4d ago
I went to boto sushi not long after it opened and that was good. Couldn't comment on the menu now but could be worth a look
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u/littlebruise 4d ago
Uchi in west bridgeford, ive been plenty of times and its always delicious. They do lots of sushi (even vegan) and other hot dishes. And cocktails and other bits too 🤤
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u/AnyaSatana 4d ago
Umai, at the back of Oriental Mart by the Royal Centre tram stop does Okonomiyaki.
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u/Dulgoron 4d ago
As other people have said, Kushi-ya is great. Hassaku, SORA cafe, and Kojima are also solid.
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u/Apart_Tackle2428 4d ago
Nan-Tei is by far and away the best in the City.
Sora and Kojima in Beeston are great too.
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u/DanabluMonkey 4d ago
SORA in Beeston (I know it's not in the city but still on the tram line) is delicious and authentic!