Noya — Restaurant in London

Really enjoyed a random night out at Noya. The location is familiar as I used to visit the old shisha lounge it replaced, so it was lovely to see familiar faces running the joint. It is advisable to book as they get busy, and it was nearly full house in the shisha area due to it being a weekend and a fight night. Also parking is on the main and side roads which get quite full.

My 3 friends and I were seated promptly, and when the shisha arrived, it was a burst of flavour with thick clouds - what more could I ask for! We got Passion Nova and Purple Rain and Fizzy Cola and Lime, which was the fan favourite. Shortly after ordering, the food arrived. For 4 people, we ordered a lot of food: spicy chicken karaage, popcorn chicken, chicken gyoza, prawn and chive gyoza, and a dragon roll for starters - all of which we absolutely loved. Popcorn chicken was my favourite - crispy fried chicken coated in a dynamite sauce, and it was a huge portion! The gyoza were soft and succulent - they give you 4 per portion, which we shared amongst us so we could try a bit of everything. The least fave of the starters was the chicken karaage just because I'm not a fan of sweet and spicy. For mains, we ordered the Noya noodles (chicken and prawn udon noodle stir fry), chicken katsu curry, and the black cod miso. I was too full from the starters that I took my Noya noodles home, but they tasted just how I'd make it at home, so it was a good shout. The katsu curry was nice, but the curry sauce had no vegetables in it, and the katsu chicken was a bit too crunchy/burnt on the edges. The plate was also a third full of what tasted like Caesar dressed lettuce, which I thought was odd and didn't go with the dish. The black cod miso was the underwhelming dish - for £38 you'd think there would be something to accompany it, but there wasn't. However, the fish was soft and buttery and tasted rich and light on the stomach, but I felt that that was it.

The atmosphere and decor set the bar, with a DJ playing timeless 90s and 00s tracks I grew up on, great hospitality, and other customers having an excellent night out.

The service let me down a tiny bit as the servers were well attentive in the beginning but as it got busier, the waiters were less available and the shisha waiters were only dealing with the shisha, when we wanted the table cleared. One guy looked like he didn't want to be there! They also came round to add the coal back on while we were still on our starters, which I thought was strange as it would burn the shisha out faster. Also they do enforce the 2h max rule so bear that in mind, especially on weekend evenings. Cash only in the shisha lounge.

And there will be...

🌸 My 34th Birthday Dinner at Noya Restaurant — An Unforgettable Night!

I booked Noya Restaurant’s VIP section for my 34th birthday dinner, hosting 23 guests, and honestly — it couldn’t have gone any better. From the food to the atmosphere, every detail made it a night to remember. Here’s the full breakdown of why you need to check out Noya.

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🍤 Starters: We went all in on the appetizers — popcorn shrimp and spicy chicken karaage were the stars of the show. Every bite was bursting with flavour, perfectly crispy, and packed with that addictive umami kick that makes you keep reaching for “just one more.”

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🥩 Mains: The USDA steak, black cod, and salmon teriyaki quickly became the table favourites. The steak was tender and juicy, the fish dishes were buttery and perfectly glazed — pure perfection across the board.

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🍡 Desserts: We ended the feast with a mochi selection, which was the ideal sweet finish — light, chewy, and just the right balance after all that savoury goodness.

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🍸 Drinks: The cocktail menu deserves its own round of applause. Each drink was creative, beautifully presented, and some even arrived in special display boxes — the kind of thing everyone immediately whips out their phones to capture. Definitely Instagram-worthy moments all around.

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💁‍♀️ Staff: A special shoutout to Mahsa, our lovely server, who handled our massive group of 23 with so much grace and patience. She kept everyone’s orders perfectly timed and never stopped smiling, even in a packed restaurant — absolute star service!

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👨‍💼 Management: Big credit to the management team for being so accommodating, even on short notice. They allowed us to bring our own birthday cake and split the bill into three tabs (food, soft drinks, and alcohol/shisha), which made things so much easier.

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🤝 Hospitality: Everyone at Noya radiated warmth and good vibes. From the hosts to the servers, you could tell they genuinely cared about making the experience special.

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🌆 Atmosphere: The Japanese-inspired décor is stunning — elegant, luxurious, and beautifully lit. It’s one of those places where you can’t resist taking a few photos before sitting down.

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🎶 Music: The in-house DJ kept the energy alive all night with non-stop bangers. It really elevated the vibe — dinner turned into a celebration.

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🚗 Parking: Super convenient — free parking after 6:30 PM, with plenty of spaces right nearby. None of us had to hike back to our cars, which is always a win.

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✨ Final Thoughts: If you’re looking for the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion — great food, great music, and even better vibes — Noya is a solid 10/10. It’s not just dinner; it’s...

I recently dined at NOYA London and while there were a few highlights, the overall experience fell short — particularly for a venue that markets itself as a premium dining destination.

The positives: • The food was well-prepared and portion sizes were generous. • The restaurant was clean and visually appealing. • Our waiter was warm, friendly, and welcoming from the start, which we really appreciated.

However, there were several issues that affected our overall experience: • Despite the restaurant being nearly empty (only ourselves and two other tables), it took quite a long time for our order to be taken. • One of the dishes arrived incorrectly. We had our full order typed out on my phone ahead of time (to help avoid confusion, particularly due to allergy considerations), and showed it directly to the waiter. Despite this, the wrong item was brought out. It took some back and forth to get it resolved, and we felt slightly uncomfortable being made to feel as if we hadn’t ordered it — until we showed the typed note on the phone for clarity. • The room temperature was very uncomfortable — the lounge was overly warm (around 30°C), while the dining area was freezing. We raised it to the staff and thankfully it was adjusted, but only towards the end of our meal. It definitely impacted our comfort throughout the experience. • We also found it odd that the waiter tried to discourage us from ordering multiple plates, even after we explained that we were hungry and fully prepared to pay. This felt unnecessarily limiting and affected the tone of the experience.

Importantly: When it came time to pay, I was asked directly if I would like to leave a tip — and I agreed, not realising that a service charge had already been included on the bill. This felt misleading and unprofessional. As someone who regularly dines in high-end restaurants, transparent and ethical service around gratuities is essential — and this situation left a bad final impression.

That said, I do want to emphasise that our waiter had a lovely personality and was clearly making an effort. With the right training and support from management, I genuinely believe she has the potential to elevate her service and deliver an exceptional guest experience.

Overall, while the food was enjoyable, the service inconsistencies, uncomfortable setting, and disappointing handling of the bill mean I personally wouldn’t return. I hope this review serves as constructive feedback for the team — there’s real potential here, but it...