Review of MITSU in Shoreditch

Fancy a night in Tokyo without the 14-hour flight? Shoreditch's newest opening might be the next best thing. Situated in a gorgeous spot below Willow Street, MITSU brings the spirit and vibes of Japan's izakayas to East London, blending great food, late-night energy and eye-catching design under one roof.

Before you've even made it to your table, you'll wander through a peaceful Japanese garden before heading downstairs into a dramatic dining room where music hums through the space and every corner feels like it has a story to tell. Designed alongside creative studio Astet, the restaurant takes its vibes from Tokyo's backstreets, mixing raw industrial finishes with striking artwork and clever architectural touches. A huge central bar sits at the heart of the room, while cosy dining spaces and a private karaoke room promise plenty of reasons never to head home.

Executive Chef Aaj Fernando keeps things firmly rooted in Japanese cooking, with robata grills working away throughout the evening. Expect spicy edamame, crisp shishito peppers and golden chicken karaage to beautifully sliced hamachi sashimi, delicate nigiri, wagyu sandos and smoky skewers fresh from the grill. Whether you're settling in for dinner or making a night of it, MITSU looks ready to become one of Shoreditch's liveliest new hot spots.

With so many tempting dishes on offer, we happily handed the decision-making over to Callum, and it proved to be a very wise move. Friendly, relaxed and impressively knowledgeable, he guided us through the menu with authentic enthusiasm, explaining each recommendation. Our favourite dishes came from his suggestions, and they were among the highlights of the evening. If you're not sure where to begin, he's exactly the person you want looking after your table.

We started with the Kinpira and the hamachi kozara, which was so fresh and satisfying that it finished far too quickly. The wagyu sando was amazing with crisp golden bread wrapped around sweet, tender beef, while the aburi salmon arrived vibrant and delicate, with a smoky richness. The nigiri selection was worth every bite, with the punchy karashi miso and elegant hamachi kobujime sitting alongside soft slices of otoro that vanished from the plate before we'd even finished admiring them.

The truffle nori added an earthy twist, while the akami tempi brought a welcome contrast of texture. The favourites for both sides of the table, though, were the crab and prawn kamameshi and the whole seabream. The Kamameshi was Rich, comforting and packed with sweet seafood; it was the one plate we found ourselves quietly hoping the other hadn't noticed so we could sneak another spoonful.

Perfectly cooked whole seabream is a real treat, and MITSU gets it spot on. The flesh was soft, succulent with a delicate flavour, making every mouthful as satisfying as the last. A side of Tenderstem broccoli gave the perfect contrasting crunch, the kind of combination you can never get tired of. What's lunch without mocktails? We had to try the Asami Spritz, crisp with a warm kick, one could easily have turned into two (or three). I enjoyed the Sencha Fields, which offered a wonderfully fresh, tea-led twist, and the Shiso Ting finished things with fragrant herbs and citrus, a perfect summer accompaniment.

By the time dessert rolled around, we'd sampled our way across much of the menu, so it felt only right to taste test MITSU's Viral signature Matcha Tiramisu. Served from a large dish at the table, it felt more like something you'd share with friends than a formal restaurant dessert, and that suited the relaxed atmosphere perfectly. Under its bright green dusting of matcha were delicate layers of mascarpone and soft sponge that struck a lovely balance between rich and refreshing. We chatted, laughed and passed the spoon back and forth until there wasn't a crumb left, both agreeing it was the perfect ending to a memorable meal.

And because it would have been rude not to, we rounded everything off with a glass of sake, the perfect excuse to raise a toast to an excellent lunch.

For more information and to book a table: click HERE.

Address: 10-50 Willow Street, London EC2A 4BH (about a 9-minute walk from Old Street Station).

Written by: Stacey Reeves

Photography by Nyla Sammons