Instagram story viewer> @himi_ldn> Tagged

H I M I - I Z A K A Y A

@himi_ldn

9.3K

followers

98

following

Seek out London’s first NEO Izakaya. Great food, rare sake, cold beer. ようこそ。Get a taste on the links below 🎵⬇️
SOHO since 2025

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

day 25/30 of thinking less and sharing more

this month’s solo date was a dinner at @himi_ldn (SO good btw)

i love my solo dates in london, and i love eating alone when i travel, but i’d never combined the two.

going out to dinner alone in the city i live in felt way scarier, like being alone on the night you’re “supposed” to be with friends or a partner can feel like proof that something’s wrong with you.

but i decided that i don’t want to let the fear of what other people might think be the reason i don’t do something anymore. so i went anyways :)

if you’re nervous about trying a solo dinner date, you’re not alone! here’s what helps me do it anyways:

🔖 book a table for one. knowing there’s a spot waiting for me makes me feel even more confident when i show up. but if there’s somewhere you want to go that doesn’t take reservations, go anyways. some of my favorite solo meals have been when i got the last counter seat at a place where it’s usually hard to get reservations. there’s something so satisfying about knowing you only got in because you went alone :)

🔖 treat it like a real date. do your hair, put on some makeup, and wear an outfit that makes you feel good!

🔖 bring a book or a journal. i love people watching, but i’ll also bring my kindle in case i want something else to do. i’ll also sometimes journal if i’m noticing feelings coming up that i want to explore more. one note here: if you can, stay off your phone as much as possible. it’s an easy safety blanket, but being fully present with yourself is so much more rewarding.

for those of you who’ve been on solo dinner dates, what other tips do you have?! 👇🏼

159

55

Izakaya nights at @himi_ldn 🇯🇵🍶

Beautifully crafted bites ✨ of the night: tuna hand roll topped with shaved truffle 🍣

#HimiLondon #Izakaya #Japanesedining #LondonFoodie #LondonRestaurants

55

0

I was fortunate to touch down in London twice this year so I’m back with another round of restaurant recs. It was delightful to stay in Shoreditch. We primarily hit hotspots there or in Soho. Next time you cross the pond, give these a try!

Best bite: Birds tongue pasta slowly braised with spiced oxtail @impala.soho from chef and co-founder @meedu_saad. You recognize that name from Kiln. This is my usual plea to you to grab seats at the counter peering into the kitchen. Also order the mackerel with golden raisin and pumpkin seeds.

Fun Japanese: Just off bustling Carnaby Street is a narrow restaurant @himi_ldn that transports you to Japan from Tomoko Hasegawa and Tamas Naszai. She’s Japanese, he’s Hungarian so go ahead and order that Hungarian wine with your yaki onigiri in dashi with ume and furikake. Also order the Scottish scallop tempura with uni salt, char-grilled beans under a tofu blanket, and a nigiri sampler. It was a treat to have Tomoko making nigiri right in front of me.

Brunch you need: Mini-martini slinger @noisyoyster.london nails brunch, especially if you’re the type that leans savory and seafood over sweet. The fried eggs topped with mojo verde and tiny, crispy crystal prawns was the winner with the grilled octopus atop crunchy rice with aioli a close second. They’re known for their butter and salmon roe topped toast, but the other dishes shone brighter.

Your fine dining pick: @restaurant.waterhouse —a modern Northumbrian restaurant in a restored Victorian warehouse. Formerly The Water House Project, this space is an exciting new home for @gabrielwaterhouse and Patricia Wakaimba. They are leaning hard on koji and other top tricks these days. The lamb lardo, scallop, and smoked white fish over a buttery “porridge” were memorable.

Grand finale: @bratrestaurant from Chef @tomos_pp is as good as people say it is. Your best move is to go with a big group so you can tackle one of the monster proteins like the whole turbot or Angus beef rib with compelling sides like smoked potatoes, wood-roasted greens, and grilled peppers. Don’t miss the kokotxas with pil-pil for a velvety Basque delicacy or the grilled bread with chanterelles and funky cheese.

116

1

#food #himirestaurant #tasty #japanese #leica First time and will be back 🌞👍

23

1

Back at Himi again, in my favourite seat at the counter. Being here takes me back to the izakayas in Tokyo and Osaka, where watching the chefs work is as much a part of the pleasure as eating.

The kitchen is so narrow that two people cannot pass each other at the same time, yet they use every bit of space so efficiently, keeping everything tidy as they work. I even spotted a cute leather holder for the blowtorch, one of those little details you might miss if you were sitting elsewhere.

The food was just as great as on my last visit. The only difference is that I can now understand a little more of the Japanese being spoken around me, so at least my Duolingo lessons are paying off.

I also loved watching them clean down after a busy lunch service. There is something quietly satisfying about seeing the same care and discipline continue after the last dish has left the kitchen.

Thank you @himi_ldn @tomoko_himi @tamas_himi

3

3

@himi_ldn is an Izakaya restaurant owned and run by the most precise husband-and-wife duo 🍣 Opened early last year, the dishes are imaginative, yet exactly what you’re looking for when craving sushi 🥢 Sit at the counter and watch in awe as Chefs Tamas and Tomoko craft a menu that feels not far from Tokyo

#londoneats #londonrestaurants #londonfoodie #explore #foodie

3

0

Himi Soho:
- Wagyu Beef Tartare
- Fried Chicken Two Ways, Kombu Mayo
- Red Shrimp Robata, Pepper Sauce, Squid Ink
- Butter Ponzu Mussels
- Sake-Lees Trout, Courgette
- Chutoro, Ikura, Sea Bream Nigiri
- Lobster Temaki
- Chutoro Temaki, Smoked Daikon, Shiso Leaf

Today's review has some especially empty plates which surely means the food was good right? Himi is a neo-Izakaya, a fresh take on Japanese drinking culture where small plates are served alongside the drinks. Despite the small menu and deceptively simple concept, the food at Himi shines.

We start with the beef tartare which is delivered on a rice cracker and topped with a soy marinated quail egg yolk. Every time I've been to Himi this is the first bit of food that comes out and is consistently the best I've ever had. The combination of textures, the savoury flavours, and the freshness of the ingredients really makes this bite. The fried chicken is also excellent as each plate consists of a thigh and wing, seasoned with yuzu salt and Sancho pepper respectively.

The grilled shrimp is extremely tender with a smoky pepper sauce and the shrimp heads are served deep fried and filled with even more shrimp. The trout is a masterclass in preparing a dish to highlight the main ingredient. Despite it's simple presentation and humble description, it contains so much more flavour than you could ever bargain for. The mussels were on special and were beautifully cooked and delicately dressed in their own right.

Finally, the sushi comes out. You're told as it's placed on the table that each piece has already been dressed and there's no need for extra soy sauce or wasabi. Obviously, they're right. Each piece of fish is perfectly bouncy without being chewy, slightly savoury, and the pickled Daikon being served instead of the more commonly used ginger is an effective palate cleanser. Each temaki was equally fresh and minimally tampered with.

I can very confidently say this is my favourite restaurant in London. The service is always great, the food is excellent, and the concept isn't pretentious or stuffy.

Final Rating: 9.1/10

11

4

september in a big city after a long summer somehow always feels so good 🚕 with a millions places to go to, old & new — discover AYAM's little back to school guide of where to go for: shopping, eating, browsing, reading, and just seeing cool things in London. save it or dm for a curated list, tailored to your needs :)

#ayaminlondon #makingyourlifeeasier

84

6

good food 24/7 @himi_ldn

10

1

Different in spirit, united by an attention to culinary craft, our latest Japanese edit is for when cravings call for high-grade fish served with meticulous care.

From intimate counters, al fresco dining to open-fire cooking, these three London addresses are go-tos for meals where texture, taste and flavour take centre stage; the kind that keep sushi lovers coming back.

#londoneats #izakaya #robata #japanesefood #sushi

47

28

London’s first Neo-Izakaya and the name says it all. Hi for Japan, Mi for taste 🇯🇵🔥

Himi in Carnaby Street by the husband and wife team behind Roji. Bluefin tuna, scallops and dishes off the charcoal grill that hit in a way you don’t forget. Intimate, animated and the closest thing to Tokyo you’ll find in London.

Comment COMMUNITY to join the Cucina Community and get access to exclusive foodie finds and hidden gems!

Want a different version?

154

7

Himi, London

A great option for an impromptu late lunch or early dinner, especially on a sunny day when everyone else seems to be standing across the street at the packed pub. 😜

I enjoyed @himi_ldn on my first visit, and this return confirmed it’s becoming one of those places I’m very happy to have in Soho.

The food was again very good. The fried chicken was still perfectly cooked, moist and tender inside with properly crisp skin. The daily special of butter ponzu mussels was a joy to eat, the mushrooms were punchy and deeply savoury, and the nigiri and temaki were of very good quality.

Himi works particularly well when you treat it as an izakaya rather than turning dinner into an elaborate sushi meal. Order a few cooked dishes, add some sushi, have a bottle of sake and enjoy the fact that you’re sitting outside enjoying the weather while half of Soho is queuing somewhere.

Would I return?
Already have, and will again.

Who is it for?
Anyone looking for very good Japanese food in Soho without needing to turn it into an occasion. Particularly useful for that awkward late-lunch/early-dinner weekend window when many other places are between services.

#toplondonrestaurants #londonfoodie #gastronaut #izakaya

3

4