This was a fun place to go I’m hampstead although this may have been due to the saki. The food was pretty good overall although if I am to be honest I wasn’t majorly impressed by the time portion s of sashimi. The spicy tuna dish was a delight though and for some reason reminded me of Fiji and a marinated fish dish I relished out In the southern sun.
Paniz G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
The best sushi you’ll ever have, which is quite clearly made from the freshest ingredients. I never seen a more crimson cut of tuna, and I’ve never had fish that melts in my mouth! The restaurant itself is small and intimate(i highly recommend booking in advance) and the staff very attentive. I will be coming back here again.
Joy L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
Wow what an authentic gem of a place in Hampstead! We had been to the Affordable Art Fair earlier and wanted a nice place to eat near the station. We found this place on Unilocal and even with no booking, the owner/manager managed to fit us in. We sat in front of the sushi bar and even though the place was small, we were all very comfortable. We ordered udon, sushi, sashimi, the classic options, and all were impeccable choices. Best sashimi I’ve had for a while. Great place for a date or to have an intimate catch up :)
Laura-Jane M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
An intimate little restaurant with wonderful Japanese sushi/hibachi. The vegetarian selection is divine — overall anything you order here is unbelievably fresh, well prepared, and reasonably inexpensive(especially for Hampstead)! I have moved from Hampstead but still visit this place regularly, it’s that good! Would recommend booking a table(there’s very few) and the line can be slightly long on a weekend.
Ruslana G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
A very cosy and homey place. Serves the best sushi with the freshest tuna that I’ve ever had. Some of the skewers were not to my taste(the chicken meatball skewer for example) but the chicken yakitori and the onion skewer were delicious. The service was excellent and it was not too pricey.
Wendy C.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Paris, France
I’m not usually one to write reviews like this, but I was so disappointed by my visit here. I had checked online for this place’s hours and found that it closes at 2pm. However, I found it really early and a bit odd as 2pm doesn’t seem too late to eat lunch. It was 2:05, so I called the restaurant and asked what time they were closing. The man replied that they were closing at 9 and that they were currently open. I then said I saw online that they closed at 2pm and if it was true. He said that no, they do not close at 2 and that they are still open for lunch. So, my friend and I go all the way up to Hampstead by bus and the bus doesn’t even go all the way. We got dropped off in Hampstead Heath and then we walked all the way to the restaurant. When we get there, the lady working there tells us that they are closed. And when I try to say that I called about twenty minutes ago, she says«I’m explaining to you that we are closed.» She doesn’t care at all that someone in the restaurant told me otherwise. Doesn’t look apologetic. Talks to me condescendingly, repeating over and over that she is «explaining» to me, like I’m stupid and that I don’t understand English. It was absolutely disheartening because we wasted so much time and energy to get there. Also money on the tube ride! I would never go back to this place because the woman was so disrespectful. I recommend not going to this restaurant because you would be supporting a rude and mean lady!
Mashael Z.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
Jin Kichi is a authentic Japanese gem in the heart of Hampstead. The chef there uses his skill and expertise to make the most delicious and succulent yakitori(and you can watch him do it at the bar!). One bite of yakitori and I could almost be back in Japan. All the yakitori I tried was utterly delicious from the chicken to the mushroom and the asparagus. The sauce they flavour it with is delectable and the price is very reasonable for it. The salmon sashimi was certainly the silkiest I’ve tried in London and the inside out prawn tempura roll was good. I didn’t really like the potato croquettes and could easily just live on the yakitori here instead. Jin Kichi is tiny and we had a little trouble finding it in the dark until we realised it would be the one with the Japanese noren curtains hanging outside. I will definitely be back to join the crowd here and enjoy the yakitori delights again.
James D.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
very popular sushi restaurant in hampstead, close to the station which is useful. the menu is reasonably priced, we spent about £25 per head and gorged ourselves on very fresh tune, salmon and yellowtail. the tofu was also very well cooked. service was ok, not great but not bad. and the space was a little cramped but still pleasant. the place was very busy, every table was replaced within 5 minutes with fresh diners. but the food kept coming at a decent rate. enjoyed it.
David T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
This is a great little find. Good Japanese food that almost makes you feel like you’re in Tokyo eating the real deal. Every little dish we tried was well executed and flavorful. The yakitori part of the restaurant is open to the eaters eyes, and it needs a good clean, or even better a complete upgrade. But when the food arrives this is all forgotten. The décor in general needs an upgrade, and due to its cramped style a little stuffy and claustrophobic. But… I will go back more than a few times for the great taste and pricing. I was quite happy when the bill arrived and ringing in at £40.for two people with drinks and multiple course I would call that a definate win for a late night tasty bite.
J N.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Reading, MA
What a great lunch we had. The lunch box had a nice assortment of items and the various sushi rolls we got were very tasty. I don’t really care for miso soup but this one was very good. It is a very small place but worth it.
Gemini S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 New York, NY
As a Japanese person, I was thrilled to find Jin Kichi. It’s owned and run by Japanese and it really is the most authentic Japanese cooking in London. It’s super busy so best to make a reservation but it’s totally worth it! I have been hard pressed to find a better Japanese restaurant in London that represents the taste, authenticity and hospitality of Japanese cooking.
Paul M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Francisco, CA
I think the Zagat ratings nail it for this place: 27 for food and 13 for décor. The digs are not high end by any stretch. But the food is to die for. I’m from San Francisco, which sets a high standard for sushi. Jin Kichi matches it. The owner, Atsushi-san deeply cares about your experience. Kim, the head waitress, runs a tight ship that focuses on hospitality and quality. It ain’t cheap, but it’s awesome. Some of my favorite dishes: chicken skin skewer, shiso leaf and pork skewer, black cod miso, and otoro sashimi.
Isabel L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
I’ve tried quite a few Japanese restaurants in Tokyo as well as in a few European cities, and Jin Kitchi serves undoubtedly the most authentic Japanese cuisine in this city(London). We had 4 different kinds of sushi — the rice was properly cooked and the ingredients tasted all very fresh. Grilled salmon and other small vegetable dishes were very satisfactory as well.
Boon K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
How I envy those who live in Hampstead! Not for their big houses or quaint village atmosphere or the good schools. But for Jin Kichi, which is one hell of an izakaya tucked away in Hampstead. Having eaten at Dinings the weekend before, Jin Kichi at first glance looks similar: small Japanese restaurant. But the styles are so diffferent. Dinings goes down the creative route, and charges an arm and a leg for it. Jin Kichi has a menu that probably came from a izakaya menu template, as the dishes are all the standard things you’d find across Japan. Yet the quality was good, the pricing reasonable, and the service fast and efficient. Do try the yakitori while there — second only to the ones you’ll find at Bincho, the yakitori specialists. And then venture through their extensive menu — outside-in rolls were well made and full of fresh fish. Fatty tuna was melt in the mouth. Do make reservations though if you want to go — this place was packed on a Friday evening!
Juliana B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
One of the best Japanese restaurant I’ve ever been to. I highly recommend this restaurant if you’re craving for good quality Japanese food. Their customer services was excellent. This restaurant was fully packed on Fathers day so we were lucky enough to be seated down during lunch time without a reservation by the chef’s grilling area for the Yakitori. Although the restaurant was compact and cosey, you weren’t invading into your neighbour’s space. My partner had the«set A» Yakitori dish and I ordered the sashimi lunch box. The Yakitori were amazing. It wasn’t just grilled on a griller but you could taste the charcoals which has been infused into the yakitori. Although there were only 7 skewers which doesn’t fill you up, it was absolutely delicious. The sashimi was the freshest I’ve ever tasted in London. It is definitely more pricey than other Japanese restaurant I’ve been to in London but it was worth every penny.
Chocci C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Best Yakitori in town that’s cooked on coals in front of you. The chicken wings are delicious, as is the pan fried scallops on hot plate. Don’t focus on the sushi — even though its not bad here — it’s the grilled skewers which really are tasty Bookings definitely required on the weekend.
Shaun H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Manchester, United Kingdom
Best Japanese food I have ever eaten, truly authentic great service what an experience. you must book. GO! Good Veg choice, great Saki.
Tom O.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Irving, TX
Small restaurant in Hampstead, this place serves solid Japanese food, nothing fancy or outrageous, just reliably good fares. When it is busy it can get a little cramped in there.
Veronica P.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Cute little place in baby blue. Cozy Japanese décor — tick. Japanese-owner — tick. Japanese chefs — tick. Menu with not just teriyakis — tick. Menu was extensive with little traditional home cooking dishes, udon, sushi and kushiyakis. We only had the stomach to try kushiyaki set A and sushi rolls — all very tasty and fresh. Sushi platter looked amazing. Made a note to try next time along with the soup rice, grills and shochus. Orders came quickly. A busy place so best to book.
Zara L.
Rating des Ortes: 3 London, United Kingdom
Nice Japanese restaurant and really cute décor. Busy for a Monday so best to book. Grilled food was good, You can sit at the bar if you want to watch them prepare it, and order more food than you need in envy. There is also an upstairs and downstairs seating area too. The staff were nice and reasonably attentive but they lose a star when people came in off the street and they rushed us out to seat them. I was still finishing my drink, what should I do — take it with and swig it on the genteel streets of Hampstead? Hmph