Food: Authentic Japanese Cuisine in London

In recent years, Japanese food has started to explode it’s way onto the London scene. Wagamama was the pioneer in bringing ramen and katsu curry to our tables, and soon Yo! Sushi, Itsu and Wasabi were familiar staples in the lunchtime diet.

All of them, however, aren’t really Japanese. Japan merely ‘inspires’ these chains, so food is unsurprisingly westernised. Bring a Japanese person to Wags and they’ll think it a unusual, inauthentic amalgamation. Retry Wagamama after a sojourn in the land of the Rising Sun, and it pales in comparison.

A huge reason is that the base ingredients are vital to the overall flavour, but they’re expensive to obtain and being Japanese, they’re all slightly odd.

You wouldn’t believe the amount of fish that goes into everything, from soups to flour. Exchange those ingredients for cheaper, familiar western versions and you lose a lot.

There is one place in London that keeps the authentic red and white flag flying without costing an arm and a leg. That’s the Japan Centre just off Piccadilly Circus.

It doesn’t look much. You’ll see street vendors outside selling Asian snacks, but the real gem is tucked away up the escalator. Head upstairs and you’re in a colourful, noisy and decidedly Japanese world.

The Centre sells cold food to go, hot food in and ingredients for those daring to make their own. The sushi and sashimi (sliced raw meat/fish) are the best you’ll get outside expensive restaurants.

They come in stuffed lunch packs easy to grab and get back to the office with. Further along you’ll find bigger bowls that’ll have you stuffed till dinner. We recommend the katsudon – fried pork cutlet and rice with a delicious onion, soy and egg mix that’s second to none. Need it hot? The counter will heat it for you.

The counter itself sells raw ingredients and hot soups, curries and noodle dishes. If you just want to snack or pick and mix some tempura, you’ll find all you need here. The Japan Centre’s crowning glory, however, is their vast array of imported ingredients.

If you’re looking to try your hand at sushi, yaki soba or gyoza (Japanese dumplings) this is the place to fill your cupboards. They have everything you could need and so much more you never knew about – you’ll feel like a kid in a shiny supermarket.

The staff are always happy to help out, but their website is the best guide. It’s chock full of recipes: just pick one and go hunting for just the right kind of stock, seaweed or rice. If you’re not sure where to begin, try a dish at the counter before starting out on your own.

The Japan Centre isn’t always cheap. Though the prepared food is good value, the shelved ingredients are all imported.

They’re also cheaper in bulk, so you’ll likely spend £20-30 as you begin to stock up. However, the roaring trade they do for both Japanese and Western customers can only help spread the word and bring prices down.

If you’re looking to wow with some healthy, simple dishes that make your palate sing, this small centre is the  perfect place to start.

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