Itsu

I come here for the Aloe Vera Water. It’s not full of sugar like all the other ones you can buy cheaply. Then I add the seaweed and usually the chicken soup with crystal noodles.
This one is nice because it’s so open planned and spacious. I also love how you can add to your itsu how you want. Sauces, seeds etc. (I also like how quiet they usually are, it’s never too loud you can’t think!) although I’ve known this one to be busy at lunch time rush.
Plus they have a loyalty card to get a free hot tub! You can’t complain to basically getting a free lunch! 8 tubs and you get one free, compared to places Like Starbucks where you collect point after point after point and never get a free coffee!

After standing there for a full minute and then speaking loudly, I thought I would never be able to pay.
Soon thought the only choice would be to leave empty handed, or with the take away in my hand unpaid for.
The person in the back kitchen eventually stopped tapping into their phone and someone else came to serve me.
They forgot to charge me for the drink and said that once they had pressed the total button.
Normally I would have insisted on paying, but after having been point blank ignored earlier I felt it was not unfair as they were knowingly not charging.
The sushi was warm, moist, fresh and tasty, I no longer felt aggrieved…

You’re never far from a pot of Itsu goodness, which is exactly why it’s very often my hunger port of call in Central London on the way home from work. Japanese-​influenced food is inherently healthy, so if you’re just not in the mood for another ball of stodge in the form of a tuna baguette or sandwich that’s just a wee bit average (tuna baguettes are pretty amazing though… I just couldn’t eat them every day), Itsu is your lady! I’ve made Itsu a lady as I feel it’s very ladylike, and also trying to be a bit more low carb/​health conscious… Just roll with me here.
Favourites: Any of the tasty, tasty Potsus… And clearly, the sushi, Itsu’s main sell, is also immense.
Things to remember: There’s free wi-​fi, so I often prop myself up on one of the tall tables and get typing whilst nibbling on edamame beans.
SALE chat: Half an hour before any of the branches shut, all the sushi and salad boxes are sold off at half price… Double the California rolls joy.

Itsu promises health & happiness. What is it really about?
The food here is Japanese inspired but not very traditional. We tried the vegetable dumpling noodle soup and vegetable dumplings with brown rice. It was actually tasty and healthy. The topping with sunflower seeds was nice. The atmosphere was relax and friendly. But I wouldn’t actually try their sushi. Fish has to be very very fresh and I wouldn’t count on it in this fast food restaurant.

Public service annoucement: managed to get food poisoning from here.
Enough said!

i can never get just one thing — it’s all sooooo good!
i don’t really understand why frozen yogurt and sushi go together, but when they taste this good, i don’t complain! seriously — itsu itsu itsu. all day errrrday. the sushi and the new sandwiches and the frozen yogurt eeek so good. the prices are a little steep, but it’s worth it feel like you’re being healthy

As a North American who doesn’t really think that English food is all that great (not even their failed attempts at making French fare, English-​style), this is a godsend when I am on vacation.
I love the food, the prices are reasonable and it is ALL YUMMY. The quality is high, it’s a great atmosphere and I would eat here everyday if I could afford it.

You know, people like to knock fast food in London, but compared to what is in North America, it’s pretty darn good! I was very impressed with how fresh the fish was in the sushi — actually fresher than some of the Japanese restaurants I’ve been to in London! I also like the assortment of all healthy food that they offer here. I shall return.
Note: very hectic during lunchtime.

yummyyyy froyooo

Wanted to fall in love with itsu. But it just wasn’t meant to be. It was okay. Sort of bland and safe. Not bad. Just not love at first sight.

I know it’s a Japanese franchise so I really shouldn’t say I hated the food, but I did. The food honestly didn’t taste like Japanese food, and the sushi wasn’t great either. But, the service was really good and my friends liked the food — maybe it’s just me.

The staff here are super friendly. The fish is really fresh and its one of the few places that still has sashimi left at 6pm in the evening that doesn’t look like it’ll give you food poisining. But I found bones in my tuna and salmon sashimi so sadly, I can only give this place three stars. I’ll try it again and see if this was just a one time fluke.

Another great healthy sushi shop added to the Bloomsbury area. This colourful and bright branch stands out from all the rest. They specialise in sushi rolls, noodles, frozen yoghurt, rice boxes and salads. A great place to go for a quick lunch or grab and go. I tried the duck hoisin sushi, which may I say, «was absolutely wonderful» — Little tiny shreds of duck & onion wrapped in herb rice and seaweed, complimented with wasabi and soy sauce — Yum yum! They also have salmon, tuna, crab and vegetable sushi rolls. There are 4 – 6 sushi rolls in a small box and up to 12 rolls in the large box.
The price is affordable for the quality, the food is very fresh and the portions are reasonable. The staff are friendly and efficient. The premises are clean and it is comfortable. Compared to other sushi restaurants, this is definitely the best in the area!

I like Itsu. It’s chain-​y and unlikely to be as squeaky clean health foody as it likes to promote but any chain serving sustainable fish and all free-​range chicken gets at least 4 stars from me! It is high in sodium though and the soups contain MSG.
I love the branding and the food’s good too. The vegetable dumpling noodle soup is my favourite, it’s under a fiver and so good! Plus really filling, actually hard to finish. I haven’t had the sushi in a while but last time I went it was really good, not hard and too cold like takeaway sushi often is. Basically ITSU GOOD! (… ha ha).

I’m a fan of Itsu because it’s the cheapest for highest quality sushi I’ve found. I always get takeaway because school’s nearby, but also because you pay so much less for it. Really though, scrutinizingly wise, I’m thinking of 3.5 stars.
They have a wide selection that ranges so you aren’t completely eating sushi, and for the most part, everything is rather fresh. I mean £5 ~ give or take isn’t too bad of a bargain for three-​four pieces of salmon sushi, edamame and salad. There are cheaper deals of £3 for a small box. It’s all good pricing in comparison to what’s around and what my pocket can afford. At least their sushi is bigger than Wasabi or the other store nearby, is much fresher and tastier. I would always choose Itsu over other Japanese take-​away joints.
Unfortunately their froyo is a disaster. It tastes literally like curdled milk, and is priced like fresh organic milk. I wouldn’t recommend it.
What I do recommend is their Detox Zinger. I drank that two days in a row when I was ill, and felt better after a while. My throat cleared up and didn’t feel sore all over (ginger has good immunity system powers). It’s my go-​to drink when I’m feeling a bit tired.
On the plus side, friendly, good looking staff! It’s probably due to all the business employees that stroll in.

Sieht etwas liebevoller und stylischer aus als die Konkurrenz von Wasabi, aber ist dafür auch spürbar teurer, und es gibt deutlich weniger Sitzplätze. Geschmack und Qualität sind in Ordnung, die Zutaten sind frisch und hochwertig, allerdings rechtfertigt das den Aufpreis nicht.

Since I do not eat any fish, except for the occasional tuna sandwich, but not the raw kind, I usually steer clear from sushi bars. It’s too bad really, because they do look delicious and I love all things Japanese, but I still can’t seem to appreciate it.
Recently however, I found the perfect alternative to sushi in Itsu: theTeriyaki Chicken noodle soup. This a delicious broth filled with veggies, chicken, and thick noodles. It is unsurprisingly a messy meal to eat, especially using chopsticks so do not eat it when wearing pretty clothes, but it definitely hits the spot. I like to accompany this broth with a healthy portion of salty edamame beans which provides a perfect lunch break meal.

Sushi is a great option any day, it’s light but filling, super healthy, and when there are places like Itsu around it’s also super convenient to grab. Sushi branches are now as common as the sandwich shop and it’s such a better option. I’m a total lunchtime convert.
Inside, the décor is modern and bright with wood, black paneling and lots of space to sit down and enjoy their tasty menu, or if you like you can grab and dash. At the moment I’m a fan of their ‘Dynamite Detox’ soup that is bursting with antioxidants and the ‘Health and Happiness’ box that’s a combo of tuna, salmon sashimi and crab rolls (£7.95). They are quite expensive if you’re just stopping for a quick lunch, but because it’s so filling they’re enough to share between two. I often buy a packet of rice crackers to nibble on the go if I’m trying to be extra healthy.
They’re good at offering the nutritional information of their food, but I was told that the salad calorie amount is BEFORE you add the dressing, which seems a bit sneaky to me because of course you’re going to add it, that’s what makes it taste so great!