Top Best Japanese Restaurants in Edinburgh

"Harajuku Kitchen, the Bruntsfield-based Japanese bistro, is a sushi staple in the city and, to their credit, was one of the first eateries in Edinburgh to adapt to the takeaway trend. The online menu includes a variety of sushi, noodles, set mains (with miso soup and rice), sake and Japanese beer. The team’s focus is very much on respect for the ingredients used as well as their flavours."

"A post shared by Edinburgh Food Porn & Reviews (@plateexpectations) on Jul 7, 2017 at 3:45am PDT. Part of a chain of three restaurants dotted across Edinburgh, Maki and Ramen offers soothing bowls of broth with braised bean curd (or try the ‘Hell Ramen’ if you dare!) and then plenty of fresh sushi to have on the side or as an additional course. This is probably the best sushi restaurant on this list for vegetarians, too, thanks to its thoughtful and delectable vegetarian set dishes."

"Source: Photo by user in Bourke Street, used under CC BY-SA 2.0. This shop is a little off the beaten path, but if you’re looking to take someone on a rainy day date (or you’re just too lazy to microwave yourself some soup – which I feel), head over to Maki Ramen and watch cars and people walk by while you guzzle down a bowl of hot ramen. Don’t forget to read the post-it note memories and doodles left on the wall by other customers, and maybe add your own to the mix!"

"Sushiya is a small, but perfectly formed sushi restaurant which brings a little slice of Tokyo to Edinburgh. The decor is minimalist and stylish, as are the bowls and plates, with the flourish provided by the intricately prepared dishes and garnishes. The food almost looks too good to eat!"

"I was always a big fan of Kanpai on Grindlay St, but their sister restaurant Yamato is my new go-to place. I love Japanese cuisine anyway but they always have Toro Tuna belly which I love."

"This multi award-winning Japanese restaurant and takeaway serves a variety of sushi, tempura, teppan and more. The food is outstanding, and the restaurant's elegant interior and ambience makes it the perfect date night restaurant for sushi lovers. As with all the best restaurants, we advise you to book in advance."

"If you’re going to visit one sushi restaurant in Edinburgh, make it Kanpai. It’s the most expensive restaurant on this list, but it’s also easily the best sushi in the city. The presentation of their food is superb, and the menu is full of inventive dishes."

"A post shared by Gavin (@thatnydguy) on Mar 12, 2017 at 6:07am PDT. Simplicity is right at the heart of the philosophy behind Kanpai. This eatery offers diners the three key ingredients of sushi, sake, and tempura."

"A post shared by edibledinburgh🍴 (@edibledinburgh) on Feb 23, 2016 at 6:19am PST. Though its name is ‘Bonsai’, this restaurant’s menu is anything but small!. It offers dumplings, soups, rice, sushi, and more – with pickles and other sides galore."

"Bonsai is a great spot for an inexpensive lunch, with cheap bento box and sushi deals on offer everyday. Their hand rolls are particularly tasty, especially the spicy tuna. And their green tea creme brûlée is the perfect post-sushi dessert."

"Housed in a converted warehouse and serving a menu that’s about as far removed from stereotypical Scottish cooking as imaginable, Tapa has earned itself a loyal following among in-the-know residents in Leith. Its take on Spanish tapas dishes provides a break from the norm: there are melt-in-your-mouth ribs, and the chef’s mother offers her own recipe for venison stew that’s not to be missed."

"Between the ever-evolving weekly menu, swanky furnishings and informed wine list, 21212 is one to watch out for. Pinned as Edinburgh’s only Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms, Paul Kitching’s masterpiece is housed in a striking Georgian Townhouse. The chameleon menu sports three choices per course and pays tribute to his contemporary French cooking flair."

"The name of Paul Kitching’s restaurant is slightly misleading: instead of 21212, he offers three starter choices, then soup, three mains, then cheese and finally three desserts. Exciting and experimental, this is cutting-edge cooking."

"A grand Georgian town house on the side of Calton Hill is the elegant setting for one of Edinburgh’s Michelin-starred restaurants. Divine decor by Timorous Beasties and Ralph Lauren provides the backdrop to an..."

"It seems that every new restaurant promises neighbourhood appeal, seasonal produce and locally sourced foods. Bia Bistrot is no different, except it really delivers. Husband-and-wife team Matthias and Roisin Llorente oversee a regularly changing menu, including venison carpaccio, glazed pork belly and a range of perfectly cooked fish."

"Bia Bistot is a couple-run neighbourhood restaurant focusing on fresh, seasonal, local and sustainable produce. Order a restaurant quality meal to be enjoyed at home from a weekly menu of dishes including slow braised pork cheeks, butternut squash risotto and ginger cake."

"Also known as Edinburgh’s Secret Garden and on the other side of Holyrood Park from Edinburgh city centre, Dr Neil’s Garden is a heaven of tranquillity and a font of inspiration for artists, musicians and writers. It was originally created by Drs Nancy and Andrew Neil, who had a keen interest in horticulture and medicine. Child friendly: yes Address: Dr Neil’s Garden, Old Church Lane, Duddingston Village, Edinburgh EH15 3PX Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10am – 5pm More information on visiting this garden"

"Dr Neil’s Garden is a wonderfully quaint place to wile away an afternoon or as a pit-stop on your way up to Arthur’s Seat. Tip: If you're lucky you may catch deer cooling off in the nearby Loch. *Guide-dog friendly!"

"Edinburgh’s quintessential secret garden, in the shadow of a 12th-century kirk, is one of the most peaceful green spaces in Scotland. Cultivated in the 1960s by doctors Andrew and Nancy Neil from a scrappy piece..."

"Situated in Newhaven, this sloped, Victorian garden overlooks the Firth of Forth into Fife. This spot is perfect for relaxing under the cherry blossoms in the Spring and enjoying the delights of the lovingly maintained park throughout the year. Ray, our Merchandising Assistant, and Laura, our Finance Manager, favour this park for a spot of quietness with a picnic of foodie indulgence."

"Also dating back to the 1800s, Old St Paul’s has since been renovated multiple times – the nave extended and the chancel floor raised with marble. Nearly all of the many panes of stained glass, ornaments and vestments were made possible by fundraising or donations. Unusually, the gargoyles at Old St Paul’s are located inside, not on the exterior of the church as is common on buildings of this period."