Tsuru

Good ramen for a fast lunch spot; noodles — perhaps the most important part — are good, and the broth is flavourful and a little spicy. Sushi is good too (although as most places in London, strictly tuna or salmon); staff friendly. For «fast» food, it’s a great option in this area.

Katsu curry when I booked up into my local Tsuru. Nice breaded chicken and good sauce. I’d come back again.
I came back to Tsuru and to this other branch and tried the karage chicken burger. Not the most tender of chicken but like the Japanese mayo in it with lettuce. I could have eaten two of these easily and would have preferred one meaty large piece than two smaller ones.
Third time I’ve been to Tsuru because I’m a sucker for Japanese food. Ate some lovely chicken teriyaki bento. Flavoursome and would defo order again.

It’s been 3 years or so since I’ve been here for lunch. When I worked at the building next door, I used to come here a lot as it serves the most delicious katsu curry. My favourite is still the mince beef katsu, which I’d tried again today. It was quite disappointing to learn that the curry sauce was not what it used to be. Whilst the dish was tasty, the sauce is a lot thinner these days, probably cutting back on the ingredients… I’m not sure. I have always liked their sushi sets, options are pretty diverse and the ingredients are fresh. I tried the chilli chicken ramen, which is new on the menu for me. I was impressed with the quality of the noodles and the way that the chicken was marinated. It also came in a decent sized pot which filled me up nicely. It’s definitely a great place for lunch… takeaway is recommended as the dining space is quite squished and the staff is constantly shouting out order numbers so it’s hardly relaxing. The staff lack a bit of customer service… some are quite rude and verying in heing aggressive which doesn’t leave you with the best experience.

Tried this place for the first time today for lunch. It was brilliant. The service was super fast an efficient.
Today I ordered chicken breast katsu curry. It was gorgeous. The portions were generous and the sauce even had some potato and carrot in it.
You ordered food at the counter, they then gave you an order number and you wait for it to come out fresh from the kitchen. I must of waited no longer than 2 mins before my order was ready. Super efficient!
Looking forward to trying the chicken ramen tomorrow for lunch.

My bar for Japanese food is pretty high. I am from California and have had a lot of high quality sushi in my lifetime. This place seems to be mainly for take out; already a bad sign.
We arrived on a Monday evening and it was closed. The times on Unilocal have not been updated to new business hours at the time of this review. We came back the next day since it’s very close to our hotel.
We dined in and received really nice service, some of the best so far in London. The menu was very small, so don’t expect a lot of options.
The sushi platter wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. The nigiri was on the small side and not vey fresh, but not terrible either. The rolls were a bit limp and the rice was cold and gummy, as if the sushi was made in advance and just sat around all day.
The Gyoza (pork dumplings) were horrible. They were probably still frozen when cooked, because they were mushy and lukewarm and all stuck together when it arrived at the table. It was inedible. I took half a bite and almost gagged.
The only decent part of the meal was the chicken ramen. The noodles were nice and chewy and the soup, while a bit simple, was tasty.
Tl;dr: service is nice, ramen is decent but nothing spectacular. Sushi pretty much sucks and Gyoza should be avoided like the plague.

American alert: Rubbery chicken is what I received in my ramen after politely asking for something else when the chicken terriaki arrived cold and fatty. Do not go to this sushi spot. Disappointed that I didn’t turn around after seeing the non-​Japanese or Asian «chef»

GBP 6.40 for Japanese katsu curry. Not bad. Quick and easy lunch spot if you’re working in the area. I’ve definitely had better Japanese curry but for the price and efficiency I’ll come back. They have takeout selections of sushi too.
+bottles of Japanese green tea too!

This place had well priced dishes. However I didn’t think the sushi was well compacted, it fell apart quite easily while being picked up. The sashimi however was nice thick slices and not frozen. Sashimi was good value for money, I wouldn’t say the same for the sushi. The pork gyoza was one of the best I’ve tasted. No dough remnants and the pork was perfectly cooked. It was served with a delicious sauce.

And here is another review for a quick grab&go lunch place.
Although I really do love the ‘coolness’ of Itsu and their ‘healthy food culture’ — I liked it here at tsuru. It’s small, unassuming place where you can get good sashimi box with some great seaweed salad. Selection of snacks and other bento boxes should definitely satisfy a demanding lunch’er.
Prices are reasonable — maybe even a tad cheaper than Itsu.

We were looking for somewhere to have lunch near Tate Modern on Saturday and tried this joint. The waitress greeted us warmly upon our arrival and were very polite and cheerful all the way through. She brought us a bowl of Wasabi Peas to much first.
They offer some set lunch menu and we had one Tonkatsu Bento and one Chicken Teriyaki Bento, which came with meat, rice and pickles (sweet vinegar marinated thin-​strips of carrots). Tonkatsu was lean and pretty good but the portion was small. The rice was overcooked and mushy in places. Teriyaki sauce was one of the best I tasted, but it was too much of it and the rice was completely soaked and made a paddle on the plate. Strangely the rice was very dry & tough. Chicken was tasty but again the portion was very small. The accompanying salad was topped with aforementioned pickles but had no dressing, so it was pretty bland. We didn’t know the carrot topping was supposed to be pickles but they were very delicious; we were expecting the ordinary Japanese pickles you normally get with Bento.
When we arrived just before 1 pm, the place was deserted, but after 1:30 pm two more couples came for lunch and one student came to order a takeaway. If you are looking for a healthy lunch, try this place. The meal is light and the portion small, but the taste is very good. However they need to sort out the rice situation, particularly if they are serving Sushi.

I would imagine that most of the business for Tsuru is take-​away for the offices during day time but they are open in the evening as well. It was still half-​full in the evening so appears fairly popular then as well. I did sample many of the small dishes (the Edamame, the Gyoza and the Kara-​age) as well as the curry and the scotch egg. The only thing that was not great was the Scotch Egg but I would say that it was probably more me not liking it than something being wrong with it.
Good selection of non-​alocholic bevarages as well as some Japanese beer and sake. a plus for some decent coffee as well (from All Press, the New Zealand chain that opened roastery and café in the Shoreditch area). Service was friendly and prices are good so definitely a place I would consider visiting again. Not so sure the food is authentic Japanese but does it really matter if it tastes good?

I was excited to try this place but I thought the sushi lunchboxes were a bit boring, overpriced and the fish itself wasn’t that good. I also tried the chicken katsu curry & the meat was a little dry. Also the tempura prawns took forever to prepare — aren’t they basically flash fried?
Disappointing because I wanted to like it…

I come here WAY to often. And it is good, but not perfect. I’ve only ever been at lunch, and they have a more limited menu for us office-​folk. It’s pretty much the katsu curry (fantastic) and pre-​dished out boxes of sushi which scale almost entirely to the salmon and tuna end of the spectrum.
The sushi is good. I’ve only had one experience where the fish was clearly past its prime, and one where it had been cut strangely and still had bits of bone in. Neither of these things was ok, but given the frequency with which I’m there (about once a week), it’s not the end of the world either. The one big gripe I have is that they tend not to let their avacado’s ripen enough before throwing them into the salmon rolls.
I’ve eaten in once or twice, but generally I get takeaway, and I also appreciate that the staff are friendly and generally competent. They keep queues moving and remember which order is yours. Can’t underrate a little competence.

In a nutshell? Great sushi. TERRIBLE service.
My friend and I came here spontaneously on a Friday night after a couple of drinks at the Refinery. It was sort of dead by then, about 8.30pm — we ordered some sake, miso soup, the sashimi platter, and salmon teriyaki.
First off, the service in this place moves at a pace that is, frankly, glacial. It took about 15 minutes to get anyone’s attention, and the food was not exactly quick to arrive either. What were they doing, catching the fish?
That said, the sashimi was absolutely excellent — best tuna sashimi I’ve had in London, and some unusual additions (was that haddock?). So the miso and sashimi made us feel a little happier. Then the server arrived and told us that the kitchen was closing if we wanted to order anything else, so we ordered some pork gyoza while we waited for the salmon teriyaki.
So, we waited. And waited some more. And the gyoza appeared, and they were delicious. Still no salmon teriyaki. They really are catching it, aren’t they?
Finally the server arrives, bearing a plate of delicious, wafting… CHICKEN teriyaki.
My friend: ‘Er, we ordered salmon.‘
Server: *stares blankly* Well, do you want me to change it?
(Do we want you to change it? You’ve just brought us the wrong food! Of course we want you to change it!)
My friend: ‘Yes, please…‘
At this point the good will we’d been building up towards Tsuru evaporates, and we sit in the corner (next to the door, which we’d had to ask them to close… this didn’t start well, did it?) bitching and glaring like two grumpy trolls. The server comes back and gives us a bowl of wasabi peas, which we eat, grudgingly. We wait some more. Time passes. It starts to feel like Waiting for Godot. My friend starts muttering nonsensical rhymes about dogs and tries to hang himself with his tie. I consider the futile and circular nature of existence. Then some — hallelujah! salmon teriyaki arrives.
Yes, the salmon teriyaki was great, and no, I can’t really fault the food. But the service wrecks it, ruins it and ruins the ruins for good measure. The final nail in the coffin: my friend went up to the till to pay and discovered they’d double charged us for the sake.
Verdict: the light gleams an instant, then it’s night once more.

I went today very late for lunch (almost 3pm) and they still managed to put all together 9 pieces of fresh sushi (the taster platter) for my dad, even though they had sold out some things. I tried salmon teriyaki bento and miso soup. Everything was delicious and really good value, nothing compared to the kind of food you get from chains as Itsu, for example.
Staff were really helpful and friendly as well, so a place not to miss near the Tate Modern.

When it comes to the fish served up at Tsuru, I will get all Mega Shark up in this place and swallow every succulent strip of sashimi set down in front of me.
I’d even eat a giant octopus.*
Walking into Tsuru in an evening, you’ll be seduced by the low-​lit, downbeat atmosphere: It’s dark. It’s modern. It’s wooden. Its functional East-​Meets-​West décor will appeal to many a yuppie, sushi-​obsessed Londoner.
Sip on some crisp Asahi. Savour the umami-​laced miso soup. Be suitably impressed by the sexy presentation of your sashimi platter. Nod to the sushi chef in the open kitchen to let him know that you appreciate his flare and pizzazz, that you are middle class, are a sushi aficionado. Proceed to stuff your face — gracefully of course — you are a chopstick sensei.
I may or may not have done all of the above things on my visit to Tsuru.
But I really quite enjoyed the weeknight dinner I had here. The experience wasn’t without its faults, mainly down to service issues; hot water refills for the specialty green tea I ordered were not forthcoming. But the quality of the food, particularly the sashimi platter, belied the cost and ultimately made me forget about the service. The sashimi arrived containing the expected ahi tuna and salmon pieces in addition to some more unexpected selections like yellowtail and sea bass. After starting with a simple but delectable vegetable tempura (£5.25), I found myself unable to finish the sashimi platter (£14.25), which would have been a shame had it carried a heftier price tag. Additionally, the menu boasts cooked things like katsu curries for those of a more squeamish (ie, wussy), not-​raw-​eating disposition.
The restaurant was quieter than a Japanese Real Doll in a businessman’s Tokyo hotel room, which only added to its appeal, if I’m honest. Weeknights are winners for wining and dining at Tsuru.
This place is serious like a tsunami.**
So I’ll leave you with a haiku***:
Tsuru for sushi.
You won’t find karaōke.
Shiitake mushroom.
_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​
*If you don’t understand my allusion, watch and thank me later.

**too soon?
***why the hell not?

F@#k Nemo, I want to eat fish! You haven’t had sushi until you’ve had it here. I went for dinner the other night and the slices of perfectly cut red tuna actually melted in my mouth.
So not only was I moaning and groaning (in a very good way!) over the food here but the atmosphere of the place in the evening is wonderful. Chilled out with high stools and long tables, you can chat and catch up with friends without feeling rushed or uncomfortable. I also had some salmon teriyaki which was perfectly cooked. Mmm, I’m hungry just thinking about it.
In an area that is heavy with chains and expensive eateries, Tsuru is a hidden gem. Dinner for two cost about £17 each and we had starters and mains. You won’t be disappointed coming here.

First off I have to say that I managed to catch a cold and lost all sense of taste about 15 min before having food at Tsuru so this review is a second-​hand account of the food.
I have passed by the place a lot of times but never tried it. Located just behind Tate Modern it’s in a very nice and quiet area. Interior is dark but spacious with a few seats by the table and some where you can watch the chef.
Two starters: the salmon carpaccio and seared scallops and prawns. They were both really tiny — especially for £5+ both of them — and not of the best quality. Flavor-​wise they were pretty average with the salmon barely tasting of anything, the ponzu sauce not coming through as it should.
Two mains: the tonkatsu (pork katsu curry, according to the menu it’s their «famous curry sauce») and the deluxe sushi platter. Even though I couldn’t taste it I still felt let down by the sushi plate. Sometimes there was no wasabi at all on the sushi and sometimes enough to make you feel like you’ve been snorting pop rocks. Fish quality was not too bad but I can think of quite a few other places in London with better quality fish. The pork katsu was full of gristle and fat unfortunately.
An OK place, but nothing great. Good if you’re in that area and have a craving for sushi.

I was one of the lucky Qypers who got to go to the sake workshop at Tsuru a week ago, and it was fantastic!
Service was exceptionally friendly and nice; upon finding out that there was a pescetarian in the group, they brought out additional items which weren’t on the menu we were to have. I really enjoyed the agedashi tofu, which was soft, silky and just delicious.
The surprise, for me, was the katsu curry. It’s not something I usually order in a Japanese restaurant, as I tend to regard it as the Japanese version of sweet-​and-​sour pork, i.e. a dish that’s not for the discerning because it’s just meat of an okay quality slathered in some incredibly cheap to make sauce and usually designed for the unadventurous. Plus, most of the katsu curry dishes I’ve tried just tend to be rather salty. But not Tsuru’s version. This curry had depth.
And the dessert! Brownies from Borough Market served with green tea ice-​cream. Such a great combination, and an utterly wonderful way to round off a great meal.
With regard to the sake, my favourite of the four cocktails we tried has got to be the Nippon Old-​Fashioned. It was a nice way to warm up before departing into the cold night.

Ich liebe Fleisch! Fisch ist eine Ausweichmoeglichkeit und roher Fisch ist die letzte Rettung vor der Gemuesplatte!
So-​oder aehnlich haette ich mal frueher gesagt. Tja — und dann wurde ich ins Tsuru eingeladen…
Der Rest ist mittlerweile Geschichte! Will man mal perfekt japanisch essen gehenund erleben wie Sushi und Hashimi wirklich schmecken sollen, dann hat man genau zwei Moeglichkeiten:
Nach Japan fliegen
oder
Ins Tsuru gehen!!!
uebrigens: hier kann man auch lernen, dass Wasbi nicht gleich Wasabi ist! Abolute Vorsicht ist angesagt — das Wasabi — falsch dosiert — im Tsuru sprengt einem die Schaedeldecke!

Tsuru is on the flashier end of the scale when it comes to Japanese food on the go but the good thing about this place is… they also deliver!
They do a great veggie katsu curry and it’s under a fiver too! It’s pretty tasty and worth the fiver. The nice thing about this place is you can get a sushi box to go and if it’s sunny, take it to the Southbank and sit, eat some tasty sushi and watch the world go by.
The selection of hot and cold food is great. It’s nice to get something good quality and inexpensive for a change. There’s even a Scallop Benot box — great idea and very good too!
Check Tsuru out, it rocks!