The Best Japanese Restaurants Outside London (Where I and My Japanese Friends Actually Eat)
- Tomono
- Jan 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 31
Authentic Japanese restaurants in Derby, Hurley, and Maidenhead - recommended by someone who grew up in Japan.
As someone who grew up in Japan and now lives in the UK, I'm often asked where to find the best Japanese restaurants outside London. While the capital has its fair share of excellent restaurants, some of the most genuine Japanese dining experiences I've had have been in unexpected places across the country. These are the three restaurants where my Japanese friends and I actually choose to eat - places that remind us of home.
Ebi Sushi, Derby
Quick Facts:
Address: 59 Abbey Street, Derby DE22 3SJ, United Kingdom
Google Rating: 4.7/5 (317 reviews)
Cuisine: Traditional Japanese sushi and grilled dishes
Established: 1998
Chef: Master sushi chef Ebina-san (from Japan)
Price Range: ££-£££
Booking: Essential (4-6 weeks ahead for weekends)
Closed: First two weeks of August
When I lived in Derby, Ebi Sushi was my local haunt, and it remains one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the entire UK. The restaurant was established in 1998 by master sushi chef Ebina-san, who was brought over from Japan specifically to serve the Japanese workers at the nearby Toyota plant in Burnaston. What started as a restaurant for homesick Japanese expatriates has become a destination for sushi lovers across the country.
Why Ebi Sushi Stands Out
From the outside, you'd never guess what awaits inside. The modest frontage on Abbey Street gives no hint of the culinary excellence within—which is, in fact, very typically Japanese. Step through the door and you'll find Japanese television playing quietly, simple décor, and most importantly, Ebina-san working his magic at the sushi counter.
The fish is sourced from a renowned London supplier, and the quality is exceptional. But what truly sets Ebi Sushi apart is the rice. Ebina-san uses a premium variety that you simply can't buy in supermarkets, and it's perfectly seasoned, warm, and textured. For those of us who grew up eating sushi in Japan, the rice is where you judge a restaurant's quality - and Ebi Sushi's rice is the best I've tasted in the UK.
What to Order
Beyond sushi, the tempura is light and crispy, the gindara (black cod) is sublime, and the Japanese pickles are spot-on. Even the desserts are authentic - the Japanese cheesecake is not too sweet and has that perfect balance of texture and flavour that's so hard to find outside Japan.
Booking essential: This tiny restaurant seats only 20-30 people, and bookings for weekend evenings should be made 4-6 weeks in advance. Note that the restaurant closes during the first two weeks of August when the Toyota factory shuts down.
Quick Facts:
Address: Henley Road, Hurley SL6 5LH, United Kingdom
Google Rating: 4.7/5 (567 total reviews for the Hotel, not only the restaurant)
Cuisine: Omakase sushi experience
Established: August 2023 (sushi bar)
Chef: Head Sushi Chef Suren
Seating: 5 guests maximum at sushi bar
Menu Options: 12-course Lotus menu or 16-course Dragon menu
Booking: Open for one evening sitting at 6:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
Not Suitable For: Children under 12, vegetarians, those with food allergies
I've visited the Omakase Sushi Bar at Hurley House on numerous occasions, and each time has been a memorable experience. The hotel opened this exclusive dining experience in August 2023, and it's said to be the only Omakase bar of its kind outside London - a bold claim, but one I believe is justified.
Why the Omakase Experience is Special
"Omakase" translates as "leave it to me," and that's exactly what you do. Head Sushi Chef Suren crafts either a 12-course Lotus menu or 16-course Dragon menu right before your eyes at the intimate sushi bar, which seats just five guests. Suren is not only skilled but also knowledgeable, charming, and engaging—he explains each dish with interesting background details, shares Japanese sushi traditions, and maintains perfect pacing throughout the meal.
What impresses me most is the attention to detail. The fish selection is pristine and kept in optimal conditions. The temperature of every dish is perfect. Fresh wasabi, properly prepared gari (pickled ginger), and even hard-to-find ingredients like myoga (Japanese ginger) appear on the menu. These are the touches that real sushi lovers notice—the things that remind me of dining in Japan.
One detail that may seem small but speaks volumes to Japanese diners: Chef Suren keeps his chopping boards, wet towel, and knives impeccably clean throughout service. This is one of the first things Japanese people judge a sushi restaurant by, and it's rare to see executed so perfectly in the UK.
What Makes It Worth the Journey
The green tea white chocolate sauce that accompanies the dessert course was so delicious that even I, someone who rarely touches sweets, found it moreish and had to restrain myself from asking for more.
Bookings: Available Friday and Saturday evenings at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, with additional private sittings possible on Thursday or Sunday. Not suitable for children under 12, vegetarians, or those with food allergies.
Miyazaki, Maidenhead
Quick Facts:
Address: 63 Queen Street, Maidenhead SL6 1LT, United Kingdom
Google Rating: 4.7/5 (615 reviews)
Cuisine: Traditional Japanese cuisine, sushi
Established: Circa 2015
Chef-Owner: From Miyazaki, Japan (former chef in Japan)
Price Range: ££ (excellent value)
Seating: Approximately 20 people
Services: Eat-in and takeaway available
Tucked away on Queen Street, Miyazaki is a small, cosy restaurant that has been quietly serving exceptional Japanese food to Maidenhead residents since around 2015. The restaurant is named after the Japanese city where the chef-owner is from - he worked as a chef in Japan for many years before settling in the UK and opening this gem.
Why Japanese Love Miyazaki
When my mother came from Japan to stay with me for a few weeks, finding authentic Japanese food became crucial. My mother almost exclusively eats Japanese dishes and is extremely particular about quality. At Miyazaki, she found dishes that were delicious and genuinely reminded her of home - high praise from someone with such exacting standards!
The katsu curry tastes just as good as in Japan. The sushi is fresh and full of flavour, with generous portions where the fish spills over the rice. The hosomaki and rolls are excellent. Everything is made to order using the best fresh ingredients from quality suppliers, and it shows in every bite.
What to Expect
What I appreciate about Miyazaki is its unpretentious approach. There's no fuss or drama—just consistently good food at reasonable prices (comparable to what you'd pay for supermarket sushi, but with infinitely better quality). The chef-owner takes pride in serving simple but delicious traditional Japanese dishes, and his dedication to authenticity is evident.
The restaurant seats only about 20 people, which gives it an intimate, neighbourhood feel. Service is friendly and efficient, and they offer both eat-in and takeaway options.
Your Turn: Share Your Favourite Japanese Restaurants in the UK
These are my top three Japanese restaurants outside London - places where the food, attention to detail, and authenticity genuinely remind me of Japan. But I know there must be more hidden gems across the UK that I haven't discovered yet.
Where are the best Japanese restaurants outside London?
I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments below. Whether it's a tiny sushi bar in Birmingham, a family-run restaurant in Manchester, an izakaya in Edinburgh, or a hidden gem in Bristol - please share your discoveries. Together, we can build a comprehensive guide to the best Japanese food across the UK.
All three restaurants accept bookings, and I strongly recommend reserving in advance, especially for weekend dining.
About the writer
Tomono Davies was born and grew up in Kochi on the Japanese island of Shikoku. She has lived in the UK since 2006 and started her sushi-making event and experience business, Tomono Sushi Party serving London and the South East in 2020.
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