Best Japanese Restaurants in the UK and Ireland

The United Kingdom's Japanese restaurant scene is a vividly elaborate tapestry of culinary experimentation and time-honoured tradition. In the frenetic energy of Birmingham to Edinburgh's quaint charm, through Manchester's urban vibe and down to cosmopolitan London, the panache and precision of Japanese gastronomy have intertwined harmoniously with the rich tapestry of British dining culture. It's an exciting blend of up-and-coming izakayas, homely ramen shops, trendy sake bars, and of course, those holy grails of high-end fare where the ethos of omotenashi (selfless service) is executed with peerless finesse. Perfect epitomes of this luxury are restaurants like 'The Araki', which deservingly boasts three Michelin stars. Its sushi bars are a stage where the prestige of Edomae sushi, subtly accented with British ingredients, is theatrically served. Not to be missed is famed chef Nobu Matsuhisa's eponymous 'Nobu', with its polished blend of Japanese and South American influences. Alongside these stalwarts, 'Umu', the first Kyoto-style kaiseki (multi-course meal) restaurant in the UK, functions under head chef Yoshinori Ishii's vigilant eye, adding a visually poetic dimension to Japanese dining. As recognition for Ishii's judicious use of British seafood and game grows, the era where Japanese cuisine conjures only sushi and ramen is audibly fading behind us, and it's a delightful turn of the page.