TENMARU — Restaurant in London

TENMARU, London: An Authentic Slice of Tokyo's Izakaya Culture Stepping into TENMARU, whether at their Finsbury Park original or the newer Oxford Circus outpost, immediately transports you to the lively, yet comforting, embrace of a Tokyo izakaya. This isn't your grand, hushed fine-dining experience; it's something far more vital and, dare I say, authentic. TENMARU is a celebration of Japan's everyday culinary brilliance, where expertly crafted ramen and moreish small plates take center stage, all delivered with an unwavering commitment to flavour and hospitality. The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, with a genuine buzz that speaks of shared enjoyment. It’s the kind of place you can settle into, whether for a quick, satisfying lunch or a leisurely evening of grazing and conversation. The decor is understated, allowing the warmth of the service and the aroma of incredible food to truly define the space. And the food – it's nothing short of phenomenal. TENMARU has rightfully earned its reputation, especially for its ramen. Forget bland broths; here, each bowl is a testament to depth and meticulous preparation. Their chicken-based broth (Tori Paitan) is a revelation – rich, creamy, and deeply savoury, providing the perfect canvas for perfectly cooked noodles, tender sous-vide chicken chashu, and a perfectly seasoned egg. Don't shy away from their more adventurous offerings either, like the unexpectedly refreshing Lemon Ramen or the aromatic Basil Pesto Ramen; they demonstrate a delightful balance of tradition and thoughtful innovation. For those seeking something beyond broth, their Tsukemen (available at specific locations and often in limited quantities) offers a delightful dipping noodle experience that's rarely found executed so well in London. Beyond the iconic ramen, the izakaya-style small plates are equally compelling and encourage a communal dining adventure. The Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) is consistently crispy, juicy, and seasoned to perfection – a must-order. Their Tako Karaage offers a delightful oceanic twist, while dishes like the Cheese Mochi Potato or the simple yet addictive Yamitsuki Cabbage demonstrate the breadth of their menu. Even classics like Gyoza are executed with a precision that speaks volumes about their dedication to quality. What truly elevates TENMARU in London is the feeling of genuine Japanese hospitality, or omotenashi. The staff are friendly, efficient, and clearly passionate about what they do. Despite often being busy, they maintain a warm, organised composure, ensuring your experience is smooth and enjoyable. TENMARU is a jewel in London's Japanese dining scene. It's not about extravagant displays but about the honest, profound joy of well-executed, authentic Japanese comfort food. For a taste of true Tokyo izakaya culture, delivered with masterful skill and heartfelt warmth, look no further. This is a place you'll want to return to,...

What can I say, I had a feeling Tenmaru would be tasty as soon as I walked in to the place. It has the feel of a traditional Japanese joint. (I've been in a fair few in Japan so I know what I'm talking about) with the wood panelling and it's open counter to name a couple of examples. I pulled up the menu by scanning the square barcode thingy with my phone. The menu is beautifully simple, with three types of ramen. and they serve chicken ramen! This was new to me, as I have had many many bowls of Ramen in my time from many places, but I've never tried chicken ramen, so this was to be a new experience for me, one I did not regret. I opted for the spicy chicken broth, and some tako karaage. The tako was beautifully crispy with a good bite and snap, perfect. And the ramen. As a fella who is obsessed with Ramen, I generally opt for it whenever I can. I am also quite fussy, as I have been spoiled when it comes to this dish having had some truly epic bowls of ramen in my time, so I am happy to say the ramen here was better than just good. The soup was rich and flavorful, the kind of broth where it is disrespectful to leave any behind. the side of chilli transforms the whole dish, so if you likey the spicey, then that's the one for you. The noodles, perfectly cooked, again with the bite and snap, beautiful. That egg though, now I generally leave out the egg but this time I forgot to ask for them to remove it. Now I know what you're thinking, what kind of "Ramen connoisseur" eats Ramen without the egg? I just don't like soft boiled eggs. But I ate this one. Why? Because mother and child should be together.... It was good too. It too was perfectly prepared. And as for the, let's call it charchicken, Soft tender and worthy of the broth in which it swam. Every item blended together to make a wonderful bowl of good eating. Lovely. I urge you to try this place out. The beauty of Tenmaru is, if you have always wanted to try Ramen, but you don't partake of the pig, then this is the perfect place for you. I don't think there is pork in this broth, but I didn't ask as I was too busy eating. Great place, great food and the service was very very good. The lass waiting tables even remembered one of the customers who visited from a couple weeks before! Tenmaru...

Been hearing a lot about this place so as a ramen enthusiast I knew I had to give it a try. I came on a week day around 1pm and it was absolutely empty with only two other tables occupied. It's quite spacious inside with lots of tables and some seats right next to the ramen station for solo customers like myself which is always great when you want to be in your own zone.

I went with the spicy mazesoba given the high rating and lots of positive reviews but I must say I wasn't a fan of it at all. The sauce was way too salty for me I kept wanting to drink water afterwards. The noodles were also too hard they almost felt undercooked. I just wish they had the option of choosing the hardness of noodles that could have potentially avoided this issue as I am sure I am not the only one who has a specific noodle hardness preference. It's an option you can select in other ramen places like Monohon and Kanada ya. The spiciness was nonetheless great, enjoyable and not too overwhelming.

Service was good too, friendly and smiley staff. Chill and relaxing atmosphere inside the restaurant, felt like I could take my time to enjoy my lunch although if I do decide to come back next time I would try their tori paitan as I was pretty disappointed in the...