Koya Japanese Restaurant City of London — Restaurant in London

Koya City at Bloomberg Arcade, located on Canon Street, is a noodle bar that offers a delightful Japanese dining experience. The restaurant combines minimalist design with charming Japanese-style decoration, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

One of the highlights of Koya City is their exceptional udon noodle dishes. We had the pleasure of trying their Nabeyaki Udon, which was a true delight. The udon noodles were perfectly cooked, with a soft and chewy texture that paired beautifully with the flavorful broth. The dish featured succulent pieces of lamb and a hint of aromatic cumin miso, adding a unique twist to the traditional flavors.

In addition to the Nabeyaki Udon, we also tried the White Fish Udon (Sakana Udon), which showcased the freshness of the fish. The delicate flavors of the fish combined harmoniously with the udon noodles, creating a light and satisfying dish.

To complement our meal, we enjoyed a selection of sake and ginger beer. The sake enhanced the flavors of the udon noodles, while the ginger beer provided a refreshing and zesty accompaniment.

It seems that the ice cream at Koya City has an interesting name, "Happy Ending," which adds a touch of irony to the dessert. This playful and clever choice of name further enhances the dining experience at the restaurant. Despite its name, the ice cream itself was still a delightful and satisfying treat, adding a sweet note to the end of our meal.

Overall, Koya City at Bloomberg Arcade offers a memorable dining experience with its outstanding udon noodle dishes, charming ambiance, and excellent drink pairings. Whether you're a fan of traditional Japanese cuisine or looking to explore new flavors, Koya City is a must-visit destination in London.

Nick...

Set in one of the only areas you’d want to eat in near Bank station, Koya City has an outdoor seating area that consists of benches. We were a group of 11, so we were seated outdoors under the current regulations. Inside there are smaller tables and it is air conditioned very well. When we were there music was low volume but played songs from artists including Robbie Williams, fountains of Wayne and Natasha bedingfield.

Everyone was given chopsticks and one napkin each as standard, and they were generous with the cold tap water on a hot day. No extras are on the table - no additional napkins, dipping sauces, or bits that you might expect in a Japanese restaurant.

The menu is accessed through QR code and orders are taken at the table by a server. No real detail is given on the menu and googling will not necessarily bring up an accurate picture of food, so best to ask server or look for Google maps location-specific pics.

House white is delicious but a bottle of the cheapest wine is £46 which is extremely overpriced for the cheapest bottle.

Cold udon noodles come on the side of a simple broth. They are deceptively filling! Katsudon is the best thing in the menu for meat eaters, and the katsu pork is a delicious starter! Miso soup that comes in the side is rich and comes in a container that makes it easy to tackle while you tuck into rice.

Definitely an improvement would be some table sauces or toppings to sprinkle on your udon or rice dish.

Overall really lovely experience - wouldn’t recommend seating if you have back...

I had an extremely poor dining experience marked by apparent racial discrimination at Koya City on August 8, 2024, around 12:10 PM. Upon entry, two staff members were conversing at the door. As I waited, the male staffer smiled at me and asked me anything need help? But before I could finish saying I was dining alone, the female staffer turned around, looked at me, and sharply told me to wait because they weren't finished talking. Her demeanor was so off-putting that I nearly left right away. Despite a previously pleasant visit, this experience was drastically different. After their conversation, she pointed me to a bar seat without any guidance, which felt unwelcoming.

Furthermore, shortly after I sat down, two Caucasian men received guided seating and assistance, highlighting a stark contrast in treatment. When it was time to pay, I observed the same female staff member warmly engaging with what seemed to be local guests, a complete turnaround from her attitude toward me. Upon asking for the check, she briskly acknowledged without even looking at me, and in the end, a male staff member finalized my bill.

This was a deeply disappointing visit to what I remembered as a lovely restaurant with good service and ambiance. The differential treatment as an Asian woman was particularly disheartening. I'm uncertain of the female staffer's name; she's tall with blonde hair. I sincerely hope Koya’s management can address this issue. I am left feeling that I will not return to this...