Taro Japanese Restaurant, Catford — Restaurant in London

I don’t normally write reviews but for the EXTENSIVE price I paid, I had to say something. This food simply didn’t hit the spot. I’ve traveled all over the world and tried many different foods including authentic Japanese and this wasn’t anywhere near the quality I expected from what they call a legitimate authentic Japanese restaurant despite being founded by a true Japanese family… Again, just another chain.

Me and my partner who live in Catford took it upon ourselves to compare both the salmon and chicken teriyaki and a crab sushi starter dishes from Sapporo (a family run business three doors down) and Taro.

Taro cost us well over £50 and Sapporo just over £20 for exactly the same two meals. Sapporo had a lovely atmosphere, free food, lovely staff, salad, free Miso Soup and significantly larger portions (actually gave us a whole chicken breast and salmon fillet) whereas Taro provided us with a small box with maybe half the amount of meat. The rice from Taro was bland and not “sticky rice” but more like some cheap rice from Tescos.

Taro is loud especially with all the staff running around and delivery drivers as well as the main road with horns and sirens, it was squashed, uncomfortable and just way to busy to enjoy yourself, especially if you were on a date. All the seating is squished towards the front with some down the side and the kitchen is just so busy. Definitely felt like a chain.

Sapporo on the other hand was quiet, aesthetically pleasing with seating in the flooring (definitely check it out), comfortable, and there was plenty of space to relax and not feel like you have someone else breathing down your neck. The staff were respectful and kind making it resemble the sort of lovely experience I had abroad.

Overall, Sapporo had a significantly better quality of food compared to what felt like the microwaved meals from Taro. I would choose the family business Sapporo every day over Taro that have swooped into a developing area with overpriced meals like starters that are £15 and what I would just call an money sucking chain just the same as somewhere like five guys or Leon.

I will not be returning to Taro again, and if I could get my money back, I WOULD. Don’t go to Taro. Have a more authentic, aesthetic, and quality meal at Sapporo for half the price.

Many...

I had the tuna bento box which consisted of lightly seared tuna,accompanied with sushi style, salmon,prawn,beans on a bed of shredded carrots.. The experience for me was a partial no no ,with the music blaring in your head,fortunate for me I had my headphones on.....The other thing was the feeling of being rushed whilst ,taking my time with the miso soup,before I even had the time to finish the soup out came the main course.... The one other positive thing I can say about it,comes to mind ,that someone used to say that a well kept toilet/ highlights the fact of the high standards,they have in the kitchen,regarding hygiene ......whilst I was there, there was a steady flow of orders being picked up,and at the beginning they had a couple of tables occupied..... Overall ,the waitress was quite pleasant,but I felt a bit rushed,and if you must play music,may I advise you lower it down a bit....it's not everyone's cup of tea......would I go back maybe....is it good value for money yes...the only thing I would do , different was to ask them to remove the service charge,since I much prefer tipping the person directly,knowing it's definitely going to them,and not making a part of there normal wages,or paying for the paper napkins your so...

Taro is a great example of the soul sucking and potentially devastating affects of gentrification. It is located a few doors down from a local Japanese restaurant that has been around for over a decade. Despite this (and I find it really hard to believe Taro were not aware of Sapporo when looking for a new location) there was an active decision to open their 8th branch without any thought as to how this may affect a family owned business.

This is precisely how restaurant chains price out local businesses, with no thought or act of care of the area (and the people in them). Rather, they see profit, in what is a 'developing' area at the expense of the very people who created their livelihoods in these communities before they 'developed'.

I think this business should be ashamed of themselves as it's glaringly clear they don't care about local businesses. As a lifelong Catford resident, I will continue to support family...