NAKIMUSHI

Even if you knew nothing about NAKIMUSHI's origin story, the latest red-hot venture from the team behind Dorian and Eel Sushi, the writing is very much on the timber-panelled walls at this townhouse Japanese restaurant. As an outsider looking in through its red-paned windows, the space is a vision of energy, as chefs slice, boil and grill ingredients in the open kitchen, while diners perch on stools, drunk on heady bowls of ramen and the fact that they managed to snag a seat at one of London's hottest reservations (be prepared to queue). 

Ramen is the name of the game across both concepts, but the vibe morphs from an informal, energetic noodle bar downstairs to a more measured, but no less lively 'proper' restaurant above. We're booked into the dining room upstairs, a warm, cocooning space that brings together Japanese design and original features: think oxblood-hued tiles, timber panelling and parquet floors. It's a tight squeeze, with tables packed as closely as humanly possible without causing actual elbow grazing, but we get it; these guys have a business to run, and they clearly know what they're doing.  

NAKIMUSHI's commitment to quality produce and seasonality has been borrowed from Dorian and Eel Sushi, but thankfully, the prices haven't. Pork chashu ramen will set you back just £10, while hot, freshly fried pieces of karaage chicken are an impossible £8, finished with a mellow chive pickle and sharp ponzu. Elsewhere, fat tuna rolls in a hibiscus and blackberry smacks with freshness, as do red prawn gyoza with crunchy slices of courgette and funky umeboshi.  

As for the ramen, it is fantastic. The fundamentals are there – springy noodles with a pleasing chew immersed in a light, umami chicken broth – and adorned with unctuous, delicious things such as duck leg wontons and a jammy, soy-marinated egg. You could happily order one of these with a Shochu Highball and be on your way, or share one and save room for a signature main, including perfectly-cooked brill in a sticky-sweet red vinegar sauce. 

NAKIMUSHI undoubtedly leads London's pack of trendiest restaurants, but we don't see the hype fizzling out anytime soon.  

NAKIMUSHI is a Japanese townhouse restaurant in Notting Hill from the team behind some of west London's most talked-about hospitality projects, including Michelin-starred Dorian, EEL Sushi, Supermarket of Dreams and Notting Hill Fish + Meat Shop.

The restaurant brings together two of the group's previously temporary concepts – Chef Yuji Shimokawa Kelly's Urchin and Chef Robin Kosuge's Robin's Ramen. NAKIMUSHI sees the pair join forces under one permanent roof as joint head chefs, creating a multi-level restaurant that offers two distinct ways to experience contemporary Japanese cooking.

On the ground floor, a lively ramen bar centres around Tokyo-style noodle dishes served from an open kitchen, with communal seating creating an energetic atmosphere. Alongside signature bowls such as lobster ramen and charshu pork belly ramen with Basque chicken broth, guests can expect a concise selection of snacks and starters, including gyoza and skewers finished with Japanese seasonings.

Upstairs, the restaurant broadens its focus to showcase a wider range of Japanese cooking while retaining ramen as a key part of the offering. The menu leans heavily on premium produce and meticulous sourcing, reflecting the producer-led philosophy that has become synonymous with sister restaurants like Dorian and Eel Sushi. Dishes include grilled lobster chazuke made with Welsh lobster, alongside robata-grilled Japanese Black Holstein beef reared in North Yorkshire and served with artichoke sauce, beef jus, kimizu and angel hair fries.

The cooking draws on the chefs' Japanese heritage while incorporating the relationships they have built with trusted British suppliers over the years. That combination of quality ingredients, technical cooking and a neighbourhood-minded approach has helped establish the group's reputation across Notting Hill, and NAKIMUSHI continues that tradition with a concept that feels both ambitious and approachable.

Whether you're dropping in for a quick bowl of ramen or settling in upstairs for a longer meal, NAKIMUSHI offers two complementary dining experiences within an elegant townhouse setting just moments from Notting Hill Gate.