Itadakizen London — Restaurant in London

I chose this restaurant because it serves food suitable for vegans. And because it's fifteen minutes walk from the venue where we would be before dinner. I tried to phone them to discuss the timing of our meal because I could see from their website that they close at 10.00pm and our previous engagement would only end at 9.00pm. However they didn't answer my call. So I decided to walk there as I was at the venue setting up the day before. On arrival I was pleased to see it was pretty busy for a Wednesday lunchtime - a good recommendation. The person who greeted me was friendly. After some discussion she agreed it would be helpful if we were to order in advance by e-mail so our food could be served soon after we arrived at 9.00pm. So then I photographed all 14 pages of their menu and e-mailed it to the four other guests. As I was leaving I received an e-mail confirmation from her, but it showed 8.00pm as the time. I pointed this out to her and she amended the booking. I then sent all the photos to my fellow guests asking them to send in their orders, which all of them did. It turned out that my son wanted to bring his partner so I e-mailed the restaurant asking the booking to be increased from four to five. The following afternoon, the day of our meal, I received an e-mail from the restaurant changing the agreed plan and asking us to order our mean when we arrived at the restaurant... When we arrived at just after 9pm our table wasn't ready for us. Not only that, but the booking hadn't been changed from four to five. There was no apology from the waitress and no explanation as to why we now had to re-order when we'd all taken the trouble to e-mail them what we wanted already. And despite the fact that she knew I was getting agitated, made no effort to bring a fifth chair, so I fetched one. Nor did she take our order quickly. Eventually she did so, but then our food arrived in the most chaotic manner. If I tell you the sushi came last you'll get the picture. Several things had run out, even Kanseihan rice. This was particularly annoying since they knew we were coming and what we had ordered. What we did get was of pretty average quality. There was also a big to and fro about having the sake warmed up - this place isn't exactly a sommelier's sanctuary. When the bill came - £182.60 for five people (not good value given the food quality) - it included £16.60 service charge! I was stunned by their insensitivity, but not wanting to upset my guests by making a scene, I paid it. I also resolved to write this scathing review. My strong recommendation is to avoid this restaurant. There are many others yards away and if you're desperate for vegan food, just order vegetables. It's close to Kings Cross and they probably assume most customers are travelers and will...

Expensive. Taste below average. Not worth the money.

For those who have decided to go anyway: !!10% for payment in cash make sure you bring cash!!

The staff was friendly, space was compact but kinda cozy. And good try for offering vegan Japanese food. But sorry I’m gonna say something negative about it now.

As an East Asian I don’t think I would come back again. Probably Ive had many good memory about vegan food when in Japan. Here It seems like those oriental food for westerners, expensive but the taste was just average or even below. I really miss those amazing cozy vegan places I visited when in Kyoto and Osaka! The food there were great in both arrangement and taste!

Maybe I’m being picky, but the taste was really not delicious and the cutlery looked cheap. Like very light plastic spoons and cheap pink tissue used under fried stuff. And the price! The udon noodle with a bit fried veggie cost £11 and 10% service charge. The fried veggie was kinda sticking to the tissue underneath and made me feel uncomfortable.

No hot tea offered for free. (I miss it in China and Japan where hot tea is always offered for free in average Japanese restaurant!)

Anyway It was freezing cold on the street that night and the hot soup udon kinda saved me so I appreciated that. But I don’t think I would go back. Sorry.

I kinda presume that great comments are from non-Asian customers who haven’t had much Japanese food before? No offense but what a pity.

Anyway, to the restaurant owner, there is a lot improvement to be made, and please don’t make people think less of Japanese food! I mean, if you mean to make a place that charge service fee instead of a fast food stall, then please...

A refreshing antidote to London’s vegan scene

Increasingly, I am finding myself seeking out vegan spots for their atmosphere. There is plenty of great vegan food in London, but many venues prioritise novelty dishes and ✨pizazz ✨ over a quiet place to sit and eat a lovingly-made meal.

Itadakizen does not have the hyper-modern, “trendy” feel a lot of other v restaurants do- all lo-fi music and lavender lattes. This is warm wooden decor, jars of homemade pickles and japanese wines along the walls, staff friendly and attentive, small, bustling, hut-like on an unassuming side-street near King’s Cross Station. Here, veganism is not the point but a cruelty-free bonus to a homely japanese restaurant.

I don’t mind the more common genre of vegan restaurant, but it has its time and place. Whereas, I would bring my parents here, or come on my own for a soul-warming ramen after a train journey. It is a place to sit and eat calmly, not to instagram or have a big social or experience a crazy new dish.

The food feels homemade, traditional. The oyster mushroom squid is fun, the sushi is a little rice-heavy but delicious. The pickles are wonderful, sharp and sweet. All the food comes in different kinds of ceramic dishes and bowls. The prices can add up when getting a lots of small dishes, but not unreasonably so. The whole place feels thoughtful and understated: kind of an antidote to what I’ve come to expect from all-vegan venues.

Will definitely be back, whenever I need a break from the cheeze and bacun beyond burgers of...