"Please check Christmas & New Year opening hours on our website, www.sushibaratariya.co.uk" With its minimalist blond wood decor and prominent sushi counter, Atariya would sit just as comfortably in a Tokyo suburb as it does in Ealing. The selection, too, is authentic, and more diverse than other London sushi bars. Alongside the usual salmon and tuna, you’ll find natto (slimy and potent fermented soya beans) and less common ingredients such as razor clam, while hard-to-get-right toppings such as squid and scallop are perfect. For a central London lunch, try the Atariya takeaway near Bond Street station (20 James St, W1U 1EH). Headed up by two Nobu alumni, this cosy Marylebone restaurant unusually pulls off an East/West fusion. Seared wagyu beef nigiri with truffle salsa and ponzu (soy sauce and citrus) jelly is a regular crowd-pleaser, while lobster, turbot and caviar also feature in abundance. Your bank balance might take a hammering after a meal at Dinings, but for special occasions – and to try innovative dishes – it’s worth it.

Set lunches (£16.70-£25.50) also make a more affordable option. After leaving top-rated Mayfair restaurant Umu, chef Takashi Takagi set up Sushi of Shiori – one of our favourite spots – in Euston. Takagi closed his sushi bar in 2012, and returned to his Kyoto roots to open this kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine) restaurant in Bayswater specialising in intricate, multi-course meals which all include a sushi course. If you’re not feeling flush (set meals start at £65), then go for lunch when the cheapest set featuring salmon sushi costs £28.50 for four courses.riso sushi online There’s plenty of space at this mid-priced Soho restaurant’s curved counter to watch the itamae (sushi chefs) crafting their rice-based bites. sushi london ontario all you can eatThough the chefs here mix Eastern and Western flavours, when it comes to sushi, it’s best to order the classics. healthiest option at a sushi restaurant

Check out the specials blackboard for what’s freshest on the day, or go for the always-available, and decent, temaki and chirashi options. This Willesden Green restaurant has developed a loyal following over the last two decades. The jovial chef-proprietor greets you from behind the sushi bar, before his wife escorts you to one of the tables in the small dining room. Sashimi and nigiri toppings are sliced thickly here, and the quality is always impeccable. kyoto sushi order onlineBe sure to look for the lesser-spotted items on the menu: this is one of the few places where you’ll find options such as sweet and firm-fleshed surf-clam nigiri, or salmon skin hosomaki. Size isn’t everything when it comes to sushi restaurants: even the smallest venues can have big reputations. Since opening in July 2012, this seven-seat sushi bar in Clerkenwell has proved so popular that finding a perch is nigh-on impossible.

Try your luck, though, as chef Toru Takahashi offers one of the most authentic Japanese sushi experiences in London. Opt for the omakase (chef’s choice) if your budget can stretch to it (£50 to £70 per head), then sit back and let the artfully crafted pieces keep on coming. Other sets start from £15.50, and there are also à la carte options. It’s not often a restaurant experience blows you away, but the fashionable Yashin in Kensington isn’t your average sushi joint. The sushi here is not just excellent, it’s also innovative. Behind the counter the industrious itamae (chefs) turn out perfectly compressed nigiri topped with precisely sliced fish. Some are finished with the lick of a blowtorch, others a dab of truffle oil. The chefs here ask you to eat your sushi un-dipped as they don’t want the soy sauce to overpower each morsel’s delicate flavour. A second branch is due to open in South Kensington this summer. Like Atariya (above), Yoshino is a fish supply company as well as a restaurant, which means it has no trouble getting hold of lustrous fresh fish.

The bulk of this Mayfair restaurant’s seating is on the first floor, but the chefs are on the ground floor, so this isn’t the place to come for a ringside view. The menu has been expanded lately, but the chirashi is still one of our favourite options. Presented in a lacquered box, it’s scattered with shredded mangetout, glistening orbs of orange salmon roe and obligatory sashimi.“... quality of the because you ca...”“... on a bit of and we were no...”Japanese dishes have long been providing us Brits with a light and healthy alternative to the standard sandwich lunch. To point you towards the best maki on the market we've rounded up the capital's best sushi restaurants for your enjoyment. Carnaby Street's Kingly Court is making a big splash in Soho dining, hosting a range of exotic star-ups set to take over the capital. Oka Robata Bar & Grill serves up some of the best sushi we've tried in a long time, in a relaxed, casual environment. The jalapeño salmon rolls are a must, while the hot white chocolate cookie dough with vanilla ice cream sets a new standard for deserts.

First floor, Kingly Court, W1B 5PW, okarestaurant.co.uk 2 | As one would expect from the Hakkasan Group, this Japanese restaurant located in St James' successfully combines brilliant service with striking futuristic design (interior designed by esteemed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma). The pocket-friendly lunch plates swarm in the business crowd, and as for the drinks list, there's a noble selection of both saké and whisky. 22 Harcourt Street, W1, 020 7723 0666 dinings.co.uk Since first opening its doors in 1982, this echoing basement restaurant – located next to the Millennium Hotel Mayfair – has been offering first-class sushi and gracious hospitality to both locals and tourists alike. With historical Japanese artworks adorning the stone walls, this is one of the finest places to visit for a truly authentic experience. Adam's Row, W1K 2HP 020 7493 1255, millenniumhotels.co.uk A stone's throw from Regent Street, this modest joint is a popular lunchtime haunt for the media crowd.

From classic salmon sushi to the more innovative unagi maki special (avocado and fresh crabmeat rolled inside out with flying fish roe and topped with braised eel) the chef's at Chisou pride themselves on creating the finest sushi. They've also conveniently set up shop in Knightsbridge in a bid to spread great sushi across the capital. Sandwiched between a textile wholesaler and loan shop, this family-run fixture in Willesden Green is a hidden gem. Sit at the sushi bar and watch in awe as the chef demonstrates his impressive knife skills and slices the glossiest fatty tuna around. A cup of cold sake makes a great accompaniment. 33 Walm Lane, NW2 5SH, 020 8459 2971 For the best part of the last decade, Nobu alumni Masaki Sugisaki and Keiji Fuku have been serving up mouth-watering Japanese tapas and sushi in the heart of Marylebone. With distinctive Latin glamour, their wagyu beef nigiri topped with foie-gras and sweet soy is a real victory. Established in 1978 and employing only chefs trained in Japan, Kiku remains independent and family owned.

Whether you're there for a classy business do or a romantic dinner, we recommend you indulge in glistening sushi and sashimi platters until you can no longer move. 17 Half Moon Street, W1J 7BE, 020 7499 4208 kikurestaurant.co.uk This chain is big in Copenhagen and you can see why – lively atmosphere but with enough space of your own to feel intimate, a nicely judged take on contemporary without being too stark and a well-designed menu that's easy to order from (there are nice pictures). The Covent Garden branch joins an existing neighbourhood favourite in Wimbledon Village. It's a huge high-ceilinged downstairs dining room with bare-brick feature wall, while downstairs there's a sushi and yakitori bar. Try The Man Food set menu for two which is made up of a selection of succulent skewered meats. And, trust us, don't forego the desserts. This site on St Martin's Lane has been cleverly converted into a homage to modern Japan – lush wood everywhere, subtle lighting and neatly-arranged planting (including a living feature wall). 

It's a big space but has been nicely divided into different areas, so offers a good bet for a pre-planned dinner or casual drop-in alike. The menu features excellent tempura and robatayaki, but the real show is in the sushi and sashimi, prepared by chefs on the open sushi bar which also seats eight. Throw in an excellent and original cocktail menu from the team at Brixton's Shrub and Shutter bar, and you have all the ingredients for a happy taste of Japan in central London. 63-66 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4JS, murakami-london.co.uk Sumosan is tucked away on Albermarle street in Mayfair. The sushi you can expect is not cheap, by any stretch, but it is excellent. The 'sushi and sashimi set' features an excellent 'Suzuki' or sea bass and 'yamachi' or yellow fin and comes on a pretty impressive glass tray for maximum theatre. If you're looking to push the boat out and want an alternative to Nobu, this is the place to go. ***MORE FOOD:London's Best VietnameseThe Best Places To Eat In Brixton VillageThe Secret Guide To Lunch In Soho***