Yamatora redefines Japanese dining with a modern approach, blending the precision of traditional robata grilling with a touch of European cooking. This Hampstead-based restaurant offers a menu dedicated to Japanese balance, craftsmanship, and flavour. The team works with predominantly Japanese-sourced ingredients, ensuring that every dish is as authentic as possible. The drinks list is included in that, with a gorgeous list of sake to choose from.
The list of appetisers at Yamatora is pretty long, with edamame two ways, chicken, prawn and vegetable gyozas, and the toro tartare with crispy seaweed and raw quail egg yolk. You'll also find a house mixed salad in truffle dressing, grilled eel on crispy seaweed, cold bean sprouts and baby tomatoes in a plum dressing. Following these starters, don't skip the sashimi selection, which includes options to try scallop, surf clam, marinated mackerel, fatty tuna, and octopus. Similar fillings are available in nigiri, with the addition of seared wagyu beef, asparagus and Japanese egg omelette.
Some of the restaurant's signature rolls include the white tiger maki, made with tempura prawns, cucumber and avocado wrapped with sea bass and yuzu mayo, and the wagyu beef truffle roll wrapped in ohba leaf with chives. Every Sunday, head to Yamatora and enjoy brunch from midday to 5pm. It's a set price per person, with starters of chicken karaage, miso soup and sea salted edamame, a second course selection of sashimi and mixed nigiri and maki, followed by assorted robata kushi yaki. All of that is before the main course, where you can choose from grilled meats and fish, and last but not least, you'll be served a dessert platter to share.
We certainly wouldn't skip on dessert, with plenty of bing su (shaved ice) flavours to choose from – like chocolate, taro and green tea, plus several delicious mochi flavours, such as the sweet and refreshing mango and passion fruit.