RAI - Tottenham Court Road

100% recommend. Booked here for partner's birthday dinner - and the service and food was exceptional. We had some small meaningful birthday surprises too such as a glass of champagne and candle on the dessert at the end - such a nice touch for my partner. Every course was presented beautifully and delicious. Easily one of the top 3 meals I've had this year. And the cherry on top - it's offered at an amazing value compared to other London venues for omakase.

To start with before we entered the establishment we were spotted and the door was warmly opened to us, jackets and all. Assisted with seating and immediately served with a complimentary champagne for my partner's birthday. What proceeded was a barrage of tastes from sweet to salty, buttery and umami. The experience will be remembered by us both for a long time coming and we cannot wait to go back.

We sat at the counter and had a fantastic omakase experience. The freshness and flavours of the food were great - and the service from all staff was warm and helpful. Would recommend for a date night.

The three of us had the best time ever! The staff were very kind and friendly. THE FOOD! (Fully halal btw just let them know in advance) We did the omakase experience for the first time and it was some of the best food we have ever had. Highly recommend and we will definitely be going back.

Took my partner here for his 30th birthday and it was a great experience. Food was amazing and the service was also amazing. Care and attention was taken to everything and all meals were explained. Would visit again 😊😊

It was a wonderful evening to celebrate a birthday. The quality of the food was top notch, the service was very attentive, overall 5 stars. the sushi counter is very comfortable, the only thing is you have to lean over a little bit to see what the chefs are preparing but that’s a minor issue.

My new favourite Japanese restaurant in London. Exquisite flavours, beautifully crafted dishes, blending classic cuisine with exciting, contemporary taste twists. A real delight.

Came for an anniversary meal. Was expensive but so worth it, every course was so special and so flavourful. Very attentive waiters. Not like any other dining experience I have had before.

A wonderful experience from start to finish. Everything was beautifully presented, full of flavour and delivered with impeccable service. Truly exceptional — we thoroughly enjoyed our evening at RAI.

Outstanding experience! The quality of the ingredients is truly next level! The flavours were incredible, and for the first time, I tried real fresh wasabi grated at the table, delicate and phenomenal, nothing like the usual paste. Definitely worth it for the quality and the unique experience!

Very good - I took my boyfriend for Valentine’s Day. Their tasting menu was excellent value for money.

Premium Omakase was outstanding! Definitely one of the best meals in my life and maybe even the best one so far. The chef was so energetic and watching him do his job was an entertainment on its own, the staff worked seamlessly. The fish was really fresh and great quality. There was probably just 1-2 dishes out of 15 which I did not fancy as much and around half of them were gorgeous, with a couple of mind blowing ones. Maybe next time I’d go with 13 course omakase instead of the premium one as the main difference seems to be in added caviar etc. Absolute joy - definitely recommend this place

Highly recommended. Came on my birthday...the staff were so accomodating. Had the tasting menu...everything was so impecable. Just perfect

Beautiful food in taste and presentation. The chef is such a lovely guy. Highly recommend!

Perfect attentive service throughout and the food was really good! It would be nice if i the nigiri course was served at a slower speed. It felt a little too rushed. But it was our favourite course as the seafood was really fresh and we loved the sequence it was served. It keeps getting better! Seating by the bar counter could be improved too. It feels a little too cramped. Would highly recommend and go back again!

An amazing all-round experience. The atmosphere was delightful, the food was delicious, and the chefs were incredibly friendly. We tried the Valentine’s Day omakase experience and would highly recommend it!

This was our first omakase experience and we absolutely loved it (I booked it to celebrate my partner’s birthday). We chose the RAI special, the premium omakase, and also enjoyed a bottle of South African Chardonnay to accompany the dishes. Although my partner isn’t usually keen on fish, we completely trusted the chef, and every dish was delicious - exceptionally fresh and full of flavour. The restaurant wasn’t too busy, which made the experience even more enjoyable, and the service was attentive and friendly. We definitely recommend RAI. [Date of visit: 27-Dec-25]

We visited Restaurant Rai for my partner’s birthday, and it was an excellent experience overall. I had mentioned beforehand that he doesn’t consume alcohol or chocolate, and the staff were attentive and welcoming throughout our visit. The food was beautifully presented, refined, and full of balanced, thoughtful flavours. The atmosphere was also elegant yet comfortable — a perfect setting for a special occasion. One small issue was that, despite noting the alcohol restriction in our reservation, my partner was still served an alcoholic drink at the end. Thankfully, this was quickly corrected, and they offered him lychee juice instead. While I appreciated how they handled it, it would have been even better if that had been taken into consideration from the start. A special touch we really enjoyed was the lit candle on the dessert for his birthday — such a thoughtful gesture that made the evening feel even more personal and memorable.

Beautiful restaurant! I took my friend here for his birthday and we were both seriously impressed. We had the 11-course omakase with the sake and wine pairing and were completely blown away by the food — every course felt thoughtful and special. The atmosphere is fun without being stuffy, and the staff were fantastic: knowledgeable, attentive and genuinely welcoming. Chefs are amazing to watch and create great atmosphere as well as food. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a memorable dinner experience.

BEST SUSHI IVE EVER HAD!! Definitely get the fatty tuna yum!!! And the sashimi platter pretty good but presentation is amazing! Another tip, get a small bowl of rice on the side good for converting sashimi to your own nigiri. Thank you for a great experience. Oh we had the matcha dessert and I would not get that. But the ice cream was good! Wish they had more desserts

I visited Rai for my birthday lunch as a solo diner and chose the 13-course Omakase. It was an incredible, intimate experience where the chef’s expertise really shone - each dish was beautifully crafted, and watching the skill and precision behind them made it even more special. The fish was unbelievably fresh and melted in my mouth; every course felt like a new favourite. Standouts for me were the butterfish, eel with grated black truffle, spicy scallop, and the black cod main. The service was exceptional - attentive, friendly, and made me feel very welcome dining alone. A lovely surprise was a complimentary glass of champagne and a birthday dessert with a candle, which made the whole experience extra memorable. Rai truly delivered a 5-star dining experience and made my birthday feel very special. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to enjoy a refined and beautifully thought-out omakase in London.

Honestly the best experience ive ever had in a restaurant! So welcoming, the team there was amazing, the atmosphere was brilliant and the food… was the best ive ever had! Every dish was incredible i couldnt pick a favourite! Highly recommend

It was such an amazing culinary experience at Rai! We were celebrating our anniversary and couldn’t have thought of a better restaurant.We went for the Chef Rai premium omakase set and every course was brilliant! Love it!!

Celebrated our wedding anniversary here last night - and it was the best decision! From the moment we stepped in the cosy restaurant, the service was impeccable. We had the 11-course omakase course at the counter and it was outstanding! The skill of the chefs, the quality of the ingredients was absolutely top notch. Every mouthful we had was heavenly. Lovely touch at the end of the meal they put a candle in our dessert to wish us a happy anniversary and we had a toast of rice sake. It was pricey but definitely worth the treat as I could fault nothing and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Thank you!

We went for dinner here on New Year’s Eve and did the £120pp festive tasting menu plus adding two supplement dishes, the oyster and caviar and the Kobe beef. Going in, we knew we only had the table for 1.5 hours, but considering how many courses were served, the service felt rushed, especially towards the end when our table time was up and we still had two or three courses to go. We can’t fault the food at all, though. The food was outstanding and each course was really tasty, especially the sashimi, black cod, and the Kobe beef. After we finished the last course, the cleaned up the table and brought the bill immediately, and then the card reader 5 seconds after the bill was dropped, which definitely felt as if we were being kicked out. I totally understand there was someone waiting for our table and that was the reason for rushing us out, but after dropping a lot of money on dinner, just felt like a sour end to the evening. I’d give 3.5 stars if I could, but the food was so tasty, I rounded up.

High quality sashimi (melt in your mouth fish) and well balanced flavouring for oysters salads etc. Staff attentive and mean well but feels clumsy considering the pricing range. Clearing things before we are done, dropping things.. (may be new staff- benefit of doubt)

Really good experience and most of the dishes tasted amazing- not too fused about the dessert on the omakase menu. The chef is super nice

We sat at the sushi bar for the omakase experience, the food and drinks were great. When we arrived we were sat in the waiting lounge which was a bit strange as it’s not actually in the restaurant but in the building/hotel next year. The overall experience was great and the staff very attentive, I would say the seating at the bar felt a bit cramped and not the most comfortable it also made it slightly tricky for the staff to serve us as they were always leaning over or into me. I would visit again but it would be nice to have more space.

Good quality, fresh, good value Japanese omakase in London. Service is attentive and friendly, dish explained in detail, and lively chefs behind sushi bar. We did the 11-course omakase set with a glass of white wine each. We left with very full, happy bellies!

We visited RAI in London on Saturday evening for my partner’s birthday, and it was a pleasant experience. The food was really tasty—fresh, well-prepared, and full of flavor. It is a bit on the expensive side, but it’s worth it for a special occasion. The service was fine; it felt a bit hurried at times, but the staff did their best to accommodate us. The evening was a little rushed, but we still enjoyed every bite. I’ll share some pictures—the presentation was lovely. I would recommend RAI, but I’d choose a table next time instead of the sushi counter.

The 13-course Omakase was absolutely amazing, authentic, and delicious—the chefs deserve high praise. Unfortunately, the service was a significant letdown. The pacing felt far too quick, especially during the nigiri courses, and we felt rushed throughout. What was truly disappointing was being presented with the bill without having requested it. For a premium, because they emailed me to buy feedback and we were and we have a potential to win £200 voucher pre-booked experience, completing 13 courses in less than 1.5 hours and being effectively hurried out is unacceptable and significantly cheapened the overall experience.

Came here for the omakase dinner, and everything we had—from the nigiri and sashimi to the seafood donburi—was very delicious. However, the part of the meal where the nigiri was served by hand felt too rushed. We barely had time to enjoy and savour each piece before the next one was handed to us. The pacing could definitely be slower for a more enjoyable experience. Also, the waiter tried a bit too hard to upsell the menu, which made us quite uncomfortable. Even after we kindly declined, he persisted another four or five times, which was far too much. It really broke the atmosphere and affected the comfort of the meal. It also felt like the service became less attentive once the upsell didn’t work. Overall, it was a slightly disappointing experience, especially because the food itself was actually very good.

I had high hopes for this omakase, but the experience was mediocre at best. While the fish quality was acceptable, the technical execution and attention to detail were significantly lacking. The nigiri rice was packed poorly—it didn’t completely fall apart, but it was loose and lacked a clean finish—and the rice for the temaki taco was served a little too warm. Furthermore, the soy sauce brushed on the fish was overwhelmingly salty, leaving us incredibly thirsty for the rest of the night. ​The service felt rushed and unpolished throughout the meal. My plate was not even clean, with visible sauce marks on the rims, and the oshibori (hand towel) had a noticeable musty, moldy smell. The logistics were equally disappointing: plates were collected from between the seats rather than from the counter, and because the chef couldn't easily reach the corner where we were seated, the sushi was placed randomly on the board without any consideration for presentation or traditional etiquette. Between the rushed pacing and the lack of basic cleanliness, this did not feel like a true omakase experience.

Good flavours, but rushed service, overcomplicated presentation, and disappointing for nearly £300 (two people) followed by a rough night with stomach discomfort. Two days before our visit we were asked to change our reservation time, which didn’t sound like it was an option to say no — ok fine, just a bit inconvenient and took my time to rearrange calendar, coordinate & respond with alternative. We tried the tasting menu— while most dishes were delicious, the overall experience was a big ‘meh’ for the price. Service felt extremely rushed: the waiter spoke so fast it was stressful, pressed us to order within a minute we sat down. At least me, I’m unfortunately incapable of reading & processing 3 pages of menu that quickly, let alone making a decision within a minute sitting down, and being asked again to make the decision after just one other minute we have said we needed time. Made me feel like accepting changing the dining time was to help them squeeze another table for more profit, putting customer experience is on the lower priority. Also, the waiter was upselling really hard on those extra on top of the tasting menu, it’s really unpleasant. And, we initially ordered a small sake, but he pushed for taking a warm one without telling us there is a big price gap from the original choice (£40 showed up on the bill). Food presentation was unnecessarily fussy: sashimi on some wooden logs and sea urchin shells — luckily I spotted a spike in one of my sashimi before eating it. A simple plate would have been enough as the sashimi was all really tasty. New dishes also arrived before we could finish the previous ones— we shared the feedback and appreciated things did slow down a bit. Desserts were sadly on the below average end compared to the rest of the courses, but that’s just personal. And while the chef greeting us at the end could have been a nice touch, the special drink was presented by the waiter in a way that didn’t feel optional.. One other concerning part, both of us experienced stomach upset later that night — could have been just coincidence, but combined with the rushed service and pressured extras, left us with a poor impression. I feel sorry because I had spent some time researching and was hoping for a special evening with my partner away from home, but instead we left stressed and disappointed, felt trapped. Looking back, I should have taken the red flags in other reviews more seriously. On top of all that, the bill experience was uncomfortable: the card machine was slid across under our phone and “tapped” before we could even check the amount, which our waiter just laughed about admitting oh yeh already tapped, and walked away with the machine. Total was £262; in which £40 was for that sake we were unaware of the price gap, and £34 for service charge.

We visited RAI for a 13-course omakase lunch to celebrate my wife’s birthday, and it was a memorable experience. The staff were extremely accommodating from start to finish, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The food was very good, and watching the chef prepare each piece of nigiri right behind the counter was a real highlight — a wonderful blend of craftsmanship and presentation. The ambience of the restaurant is refined and intimate, adding to the overall enjoyment. However, the bar seating area felt a bit crowded, and having staff reach between diners to clear plates at times was slightly awkward. A little more spacing between seats would definitely improve the comfort. Additionally, while the Wagyu beef was delicious, it was pricey for the portion size. £45 for 3 pieces of Wagyu, poor value. I would avoid the À la carte bolt ons and just stick with the omakase set. Overall, RAI offers a delightful omakase experience with excellent service, quality dishes, and a beautiful atmosphere — just with a few seating layout improvements that could make it even more enjoyable.

We had the counter-seating 11-course omakase, and each course showcased a range of flavours. We also added Kobe beef to share, priced at £65 for 100 grams. Unfortunately, the beef wasn’t particularly impressive and didn’t complement the meal well, as it was served right at the end after a series of delicate seafood courses. The 11-course omakase alone is already filling, and I wouldn’t recommend the add-ons. My rating is based on comparisons with several omakase experiences I’ve had in Japan, and the experience at RAI fell short and at times felt awkward. The pacing was quite fast, leaving little time to savour each course, though I may simply be a slower eater. The server frequently reached between diners to clear plates, which was uncomfortable given the already tight counter seating. You constantly had to move to avoid the server’s elbow being close to your face. In most omakase settings, plates are usually collected from the counter instead to avoid this issue. The main reason for my rating, however, is the misleading presentation of the “11-course” meal. It did not appear to be 11 courses. A very small bowl of miso soup was counted as a course, even though it was served alongside another item as a complimentary side. Even including the miso soup, the total still came to 10 courses. I politely asked about this and received a vague explanation that the side of miso soup was considered part of the 11-course offering. Maybe the bizarre shot of the chef’s rice wine at the end is counted as a course also?

Disappointed with the overall experience. We had the tasting menu at £87 per person. Unfortunately, the food quality didn’t meet expectations, and the menu design felt disjointed - it may be worth rethinking. We were expecting high-quality fish, but it simply wasn’t there. The restaurant aims to offer a fine dining experience in terms of service, but it didn’t deliver. Drinks were not topped up regularly, and at one point, we were served bread and cream in the middle of a course - it felt out of place and confusing. We spent £320 in total, but sadly, the food and service didn’t justify the price.

We booked RAI Special Premium Omakase and paid nearly £1,000 for four people. Calling this experience “premium” is honestly insulting. First of all: surimi in a “premium” omakase? If you’re going to use imitation crab, don’t market the menu as premium. It’s misleading at best, dishonest at worst. We added oysters and “champagne” to start whatever was poured was absolutely not champagne. On top of that, we ordered A5 Wagyu as an extra. One of our friends couldn’t eat most of the courses, and three of us didn’t want to continue because the food was simply not good. When we asked to cancel the Wagyu, while being told there were still three more courses left, the staff refused, saying “it’s already cooking.” So somehow they can cancel multiple remaining courses, but not the most expensive extra? Convenient. It felt like a blatant attempt to squeeze more money out of a table that was visibly unhappy. Service was just as poor as the food. We had a 20:30 reservation, yet were taken next door to Numa Hotel to wait because they didn’t have space at the counter despite accepting the reservation anyway. Completely unprofessional. We ordered two bottles of wine, which added 130 to the bill, and still left wondering what exactly we paid for. Nothing about this experience justified the price,not the ingredients, not the execution, and definitely not the service. If guests are clearly unhappy, refusing to cancel extras while continuing to serve unwanted courses is not policy it’s bad hospitality. This evening was meant to celebrate two birthdays. There are far better Japanese restaurants in London that actually understand what premium means. This isn’t one of them.

This was, without exaggeration, the worst experience I have had at a restaurant in a similar price range. 1. As soon as we entered, the waiter who checked our reservation handed us menus without even being aware that the meal had already been fully prepaid. 2. The tables were placed far too close together. It felt as though we were dining with the table next to us. It was difficult for even one person to pass through. Also, advertising ‘only 5 tables’ on Instagram is misleading, I would strongly suggest correcting that. 3. The entrance area was extremely cold, so we politely asked if it would be possible to move to another table. We were refused. However, the table seated next to us later made the same request and were immediately moved further inside. 4. The food overall was fishy and excessively salty. The uni in the first small dish was overwhelmingly fishy, and the aftertaste lingered throughout the rest of the meal. Even considering it is seafood, the level of fishiness was unacceptable. Serving soy-marinated sashimi or rolls topped again with soy-marinated salmon roe made several dishes unbearably salty. The rice was overly wet and mushy. 5. The staff lacked professionalism. Their accents were so strong that we could not clearly understand the names of the dishes, and when explaining the menu they could not even properly recall the names of the fish being served. 6. As soon as we finished the final dessert dish, our plates were cleared and the bill was presented immediately. Once payment was completed, a waiter brought the next guests to stand beside our table and asked if they could begin clearing it. When I asked if I could quickly use the toilet, I was told to take my belongings with me. After enduring this throughout the evening, I finally asked if we were being told to leave, and was told that they were too busy and reservations were backed up. It is difficult to believe that we paid £300 for two people for a meal and received this level of food and service. I have had £30 meals that were far more pleasant experiences. While taste is subjective, the poor service is not. Regardless of price, basic courtesy toward paying guests should be expected. I have never experienced a restaurant that lines up the next guests beside your table and asks you to clear your belongings before you have even stood up. I also overheard other nearby guests saying that while the food might be acceptable, the system here is chaotic. To the owner behind the bar: no matter how successful the business may be, this is not the right way to treat guests. Even outstanding food cannot compensate for consistently poor service. When so many reviews point out similar issues, I sincerely hope you will take the time to reconsider the overall system and management of your restaurant.

In short, AVOID PLEASE. Also the restaurant runs lucky draw on leaving review here and people will have a chance to have £200 voucher of their another restaurant. So you may take this into consideration if other good reviews are authentic or not. As an Asian, this is not a proper omakase that will blend with balance and flavour, you can just taste some awkward and shape favours. For instance, all I can taste is the lemon favour for the citrus topping one scallop nigiri. Also, the spiciness in miso soup and risotto as main dish is way too strong. Not to mention that the sushi rice is not sticky enough but collapse a bit when it is on my plate. And, the chef explains the dishes in a rush. We have noticed there is a sashimi boat at the returning window that doesn’t look pleasant. Last but not least, I am totally disappointed by how the chef responses when he asks me how is the food, he just ignores me and presents the last drink immediately when I would like to express my view. You can have a much better Japanese cuisine/ sushi in other restaurants for the price of £100+ but not here, the whole experience isn’t pleasant at all.