Kokin Restaurant — Restaurant in London

This is the best Japanese restaurant in London hands down, with the freshest high-quality produce, kind and attentive staff, incredible flavours, relaxed ambience and lovely roof terrace, not to mention its value for money!. We visited on a Sunday as they have a range of lunch menu sets that have different options for grilled items, vegetarian, sashimi, tempura, and so on. The tempura is crisp and airy here, and some of the dishes that surprised us the most were the chicken karaage which was fried to a lovely crunch yet retained its tenderness and juiciness. We also liked the quality of the sashimi and the miso soup on the side which you can tell was not an afterthought as it is in other restaurants and had a lovely richness to it, and the portion sizes were also very generous.

We also tried the signature smoked tuna - incredible bold smoky yet rich flavours balanced with 8-year aged ponzu, and arguably one of the best fish dishes we’ve ever had - and the creamed tofu langoustine starter is absolutely delightful, full of flavour yet light on the palate. The dessert (woodfire smoked ice cream and fermented strawberries) was very complex and refreshing, and you can tell that chef and team have put a lot of thought into every little detail from the service and food to the plates and gorgeous tableware. We used to frequent their old premise Hannah at Southbank (now Donabe, which is run by the same team and which we also love) very often and are happy to see the restaurant evolved to another level here. We will definitely be recommending to all our family...

I celebrated my birthday at Kokin and it was truly unforgettable. Tucked away in Stratford, this new kaiseki-style Japanese restaurant is a rare gem in East London. The chef, with a background from Michelin-starred Ryugin and Umu, brings a depth of expertise that shines through every course.

Each dish is thoughtfully prepared over wood fire, adding warmth and depth you don’t often find in fine dining. Highlights for me were the grilled bluefin tuna collar—crispy outside, juicy inside with a citrusy note from aged yuzu vinegar—and the A5 Miyazaki wagyu, which literally melts in your mouth. Even the starter platter felt like edible art: delicate, fresh, and beautifully balanced.

The chef’s nigiri was pure and precise, and I loved ending the meal with their smoked ice cream—subtle, surprising, and delicious.

With its refined flavours, intimate vibe, and beautiful plating, Kokin offers more than just a meal—it’s a quiet, soulful experience. Perfect for a special occasion or a thoughtful night out. Definitely a new favourite in...

Food is delicious, fresh and authentic. It's also delicate and fine, just like Japanese food should be. We had 2 starters (aubergine tempura, and agedashi tofu), both of which were reasonably sized for the price, and fresh and delicious, and not overly oily. Our mains were the lunch bento boxes (I had the salmon, and my daughter the prawn tempura) - the salmon was beautifully grilled, and the tempura so light. What I really liked was the dishes weren't overly seasoned or dripping in sauce, and it was just enough to be tasty. What could be improved is the speed of service (but otherwise service was friendly and welcoming). There seemed to be only 1 waiter who had to cover half the restaurant, so it took longer than expected to order, and also to catch someone's attention to get the bill. I noticed the next table also got up to walk over to call someone to come and take their order. Hopefully this is just a teething problem of being...