Sushi Bars and Japanese Restaurants Near London Bridge London!
Sushi and Japanese cuisine is my go-to whenever I get the craving for a relaxing and mild dinner experience, not to mention it’s a super healthy alternative compared to the amount of cheeseburgers I regularly consume.
I’ve discovered that London Bridge is home to some of the most amazing sushi restaurants, in the city! So, today, I’ll be sharing with you my picks for the best sushi bars and Japanese restaurants in the most iconic neighborhood in London!
What makes London Bridge a Great Area for Japanese and Sushi Restaurants?
- Fresh Seafood – The restaurants source extremely fresh seafood daily from the famous Billingsgate Fish Market located right across the River Thames. This allows them to serve high quality sushi and sashimi.
- Skilled Chefs – Many sushi restaurants in the area have expert chefs trained in edomae sushi preparation. Their precision and knife skills create excellent traditional and contemporary styles of sushi.
- Relaxed Vibe – The sushi restaurants generally have a laidback atmosphere perfect for grabbing sushi after work or before a show. The seating is a mix of sushi counters and tables.
- Japanese Cuisine – In addition to sushi, many restaurants also serve ramen, robatayaki, curry, and other Japanese fare for a well-rounded experience.
- Great Value – While some high-end omakase experiences exist, there are also budget-friendly sushi joints offering combo platters, happy hours, and lunch deals.
Discover the Best Restaurants and Spots!
Wawa
Wawa is considered one of the top sushi restaurants near London Bridge due to its prime location, high-quality fresh fish, and excellent service. Situated just a 5-minute walk from London Bridge station on St Thomas Street, Wawa provides easily accessible and authentic Japanese cuisine in a contemporary setting.
From maki to sashimi to nigiri, the sushi at Wawa is extremely fresh, as their open kitchen allows you to relax and witness how its prepared.
Beyond the sushi, Wawa also offers small plates like soft shell crab, beef tataki, and black cod that provide a taste of Japan’s culinary creativity.
Great For: Groups of Friends
📍173 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2AW, United Kingdom
Tonkotsu
I recently visited a the modern japanese restaurant, Tonkotsu in London Bridge and had a wonderful experience. The ramen was absolutely delicious! I started with an order of the prawn and pork gyoza, which were nicely pan-fried with a great balance of flavors.
For my main dish, I ordered the Tokyo Spicy ramen, which has a soy-based pork and chicken broth, The broth had an amazing depth of flavor – both sweet and savory at the same time. Since the site is close to other London Bridge landmarks, this shop is especially great to have dinner after a long walk around the neighborhood.
Great For: Groups of Friends, Close Friends, Couples
📍4 Canvey St, Bankside, London SE1 9AN, United Kingdom
ITSU
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Beyond sushi, Itsu has extensive options like chicken katsu curry, seaweed salads, miso soups, and noodle dishes to satisfy cravings. Their menu provides diners with nutritious Japanese comfort food that can be customized for preferences like vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free.
Customers can also choose from ramen noodle soups, udons, donburi rice bowls, hot pots like chicken miso ramen, and sides like gyoza dumplings. Their wide variety of customization make it an amazing dining experience, allowing you to experiment with a lot of what makes Japanese food so amazing.
Great For: Groups of Friends, Couples
📍The Harlequin Building, 65 Southwark St, London SE1 0HR, United Kingdom
Wagamama
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Wagamama in London Bridge stands out as an excellent Japanese and sushi restaurant due to its prime location, efficient service, and diverse menu of fresh, flavorful dishes.
Situated just steps from Borough Market and attractions like the Globe Theatre. While you won’t find sushi rolls, the menu focuses on ramen, teppanyaki, and curry that represent Japanese comfort food at its best.
Signature dishes like the chicken katsu curry and yakisoba noodles receive consistent praise for their authentic, balanced flavors. The chicken ramen features a rich, umami-packed broth that diners say is some of the best in London
Great For: Close Friends, Couples
📍1 Clink St, London SE1 9BU, United Kingdom
Japanese Yama Sushi
Japanese Yama Sushi in London Bridge stands out as an excellent Japanese and sushi restaurant due to its high-quality fresh fish, tasty sauces, and creative sushi rolls. I’d also like to personally compliment heir extensive menu includes sushi bento boxes, sashimi, nigiri, maki rolls, and more.
The chefs here are straight-up artists in their craft and could bring you your order in a snap. They also have a great and intimate Asian-inspired interior perfect for a small party or just to scratch that sushi-craving itch.
Great For: Close Friends, Groups of Friends, Business Meetings
📍6 Trinity St, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom
Iro Sushi
The chefs at Iro Sushi expertly prepare each piece of nigiri, sashimi, and maki roll to order using fresh fish like salmon, tuna, and yellowtail imported directly from Japan. The reason this is widely praised by user reviews is because not only do they offer fresh Japanese cuisine through delivery straight to your doorstep, but because this place does not hold back on its ingredients!
You would think that a place that directly imports their ingredients internationally would be a bit picky on how much fish they’ll serve but Iro Sushi absolutely doesn’t hold back!
Great For: Groups of Friends, Couples
📍Flat 6, Brighton Bldg, 60 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 4TR, United Kingdom
Wasabi Sushi and Bento
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Wasabi Sushi and Bento is known for serving high-quality, authentic Japanese cuisine in a convenient fast-casual setting. Wasabi prepares all of its sushi, bento boxes, and other items fresh daily with quality ingredients and the sushi rolls I tried were beautifully constructed with fresh fish and flavorful rice. The service is quick and efficient, even during busy lunch rushes. Takeaway is available, or you can dine in the minimalist interior.
This is one of my personal favourites and I remember the first time I experienced their fresh sushi selection was actually because I was late for a meeting and thought that maybe sushi would be the ideal meal for me as it’s quick and filling, so I decided to head on over to this little restaurant.
To my surprise their sushi sets were freshly made every day and all served quick and easy – I was still late for that meeting but I remember that taste and service all too well!
Great For: Takeaway, Solo
📍58 Tooley St, London SE1 2SZ, United Kingdom
Oroshi
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Oroshi, a wonderful Japanese restaurant located right in the heart of Borough Market in London. As soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted by the enticing aromas of the robata grill, where skewers of meat, fish, and vegetables were being prepared fresh to order.
The interior was sleek and modern, with comfortable bar seating surrounding the open kitchen so diners could watch the chefs hard at work. Oroshi is a great addition to Borough Market, bringing traditional Japanese robatayaki cuisine with a modern twist to this fantastic food hall. I can’t wait to go back and try more of their menu!
Great For: Takeaway, Solo, Couples
📍Borough Market Kitchen, Oroshi, Winchester Walk, London SE1 9AG, United Kingdom
Looking for More Guides?
If you’re ever looking for more than just sushi in one of London’s most iconic neighborhoods, check out some of our other guides! We have a lot of places we recommend everyone should try out from cafes, bars, restaurants, and a lot more so head on over!
FAQ
What is edomae-style sushi?
Edomae-style sushi comes from Tokyo and focuses on using the freshest seafood possible. The sushi chefs apply intricate techniques to shape the sushi rice and slice the fish for nigiri sushi or maki rolls. Edomae sushi chefs typically source fish locally from markets like Billingsgate in London and prepare each piece with great precision and care right in front of diners sitting at the sushi counter.
Should I make a reservation for sushi near London Bridge?
Making a reservation is highly recommended, especially for the popular sushi restaurants near London Bridge. Many top sushi restaurants only have a small number of counter seats overlooking the sushi chef. Reserving a coveted sushi counter spot ensures you can observe the sushi chef preparing each piece up close. Walk-ins are sometimes available at the sushi bars, but reserving ahead provides peace of mind.
What is the typical price range for sushi near London Bridge?
Expect to pay around £3-5 per piece of nigiri or maki rolls at many of the sushi restaurants near London Bridge. Sashimi platters and chef’s omakase tasting menus often cost £30-50 per person. High-end options like edomae sushi counters could be £80-100 per person for multi-course omakase experiences. However, there are also some more casual spots with budget-friendly combo platters available.
What drinks pair well with sushi?
Sushi restaurants commonly offer sake, Japanese whisky, Japanese beer, and green tea to complement your sushi. Sake is a classic pairing, especially light and dry styles like junmai ginjo which won’t overpower the delicate flavors of the sushi. Green tea cleanses the palate between pieces. Beer and sushi is another popular combination favored by many diners as well.
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