The Azuki Room

Really enjoyed this place. Every dish we ordered was solid and full of flavor. The grilled eel was tender and nicely glazed, not too sweet, not too salty. The rice pot was super comforting and packed with umami. Skewers were juicy with a great charcoal aroma, and the grilled scallops at the end were perfectly cooked and naturally sweet. No flashy gimmicks just really well made food. Definitely a spot I’d come back to and recommend to friends.

6 months ago · via Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Had a fantastic experience at The Azuki Room. The food was beautifully presented and tasted just as good as it looked. The salmon and avocado roses were fresh, vibrant, and expertly prepared, showing great attention to detail and quality ingredients. The drinks were excellent and complemented the meal perfectly. What really made the evening special was the outstanding service—friendly, attentive, and welcoming from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm and relaxing, making it a great place to enjoy a meal with friends or family. Highly recommend The Azuki Room for anyone looking for delicious food, great drinks, and exceptional service. I’ll definitely be returning!

2 months ago · via Google

The Azuki Room: A Beautifully Hidden Newcomer That Still Needs To Find Its Culinary Soul I visited The Azuki Room on 27/05/2026 for a pre theatre meal before going to the Peacock Theatre. Having opened in January 2026, it is still a relatively new addition to the Chancery Lane and Holborn dining scene. The restaurant is tucked away down Rolls Passage, just off Chancery Lane, which gives it the quiet charm of a hidden Japanese dining room discovered away from the main street. The name Azuki refers to the small red bean often used in Japanese sweets and desserts, most commonly as anko, a sweet red bean paste. It is a name that carries a sense of tradition, delicacy and craft, so I was hoping the food would reflect that same level of care. Getting there is straightforward. Chancery Lane Station on the Central line is the closest Underground option, with Holborn Station also nearby for the Central and Piccadilly lines. Several buses serve the Chancery Lane and High Holborn area, making it convenient for a pre theatre stop. The decor is pleasant, with a clean blend of modern styling and Japanese inspired touches. It feels calm, discreet and intimate, although the overall dining experience did not quite match the promise of the setting. Service was mixed. The lady host and another male host were friendly, calm and accommodating. However, the gentleman bringing the food appeared rather moody and not particularly customer focused, which slightly affected the flow and warmth of the meal. The Spider Roll at £15.50 was acceptable, but very standard. It was neatly presented and pleasant enough, although it lacked the texture, richness and memorable finish expected from a stronger spider roll. The Wasabi Shrimp at £13.00 was one of the better dishes. The batter was crisp and well judged, while the wasabi mayo gave it a clean, creamy lift. It was enjoyable, but still short of the benchmark set by Sushi Samba for this style of dish. The Beef Enoki Skewer at £4.50 was disappointing. The beef felt below par in both texture and flavour, and it was unclear what cut had been used. The enoki itself also lacked the crunch and freshness I would expect from a well executed skewer. The Tsukune Egg Skewer at £9.00 had a good idea behind it, but the presentation felt impractical. A dedicated egg holder for dipping would have worked better, as the yolk can easily spread across the plate and make the dish feel unnecessarily messy. The Chicken Gyoza at £8.00 did not taste freshly made. They came across like a common frozen Japanese packet variety rather than something prepared in house. The Shiitake Mushroom Skewer at £2.80 lacked the earthiness, umami and smoky depth expected from proper yakitori. If cooked over traditional binchotan charcoal, the mushroom should have carried more fragrance, char and savoury intensity. The Velvet Snowfall cocktail at £9.50 was refreshing, smooth and pleasant. The Virgin Kurenai Elixir at £7.50 was even more enjoyable, with a cleaner and more memorable finish than several of the food items. The Chicken Leek Skewer at £3.50 was underpowered. It lacked seasoning, depth and the grilled aroma that should make a simple yakitori skewer stand out. The Beef Rib Skewer at £4.50 was poor. The cut of beef used was noticeably weak, with a texture that made the quality issue very clear. The Tuna Sashimi at £4.00 was Yellowfin and did not taste especially fresh. The Scallop Sashimi at £4.00 also lacked the clean sweetness and freshness expected from good sashimi. Overall, The Azuki Room has a charming hidden location, pleasant decor and clear potential, especially as a new restaurant. However, the food felt average and underwhelming. Too many ingredients came across as cost effective rather than carefully sourced, which is very noticeable if you are looking for an authentic Japanese experience. Service also needs more consistency. For a quiet pre theatre meal, it is convenient, but I would book with caution if ingredient quality, freshness and authenticity are important to you.

2 months ago · via Google

We ordered all the skewers and all of them are 10/10 - chef went to Japan to study the recipe. Ingredients have been chosen well and fresh. They are cooked just to the right level of tenderness. Very well priced and well portioned. The rice in the pot is super good but I do think you can have a better choice of rice to increase the aroma Tempura - 10/10 Cocktails are amazing and you can taste enough alcohol in it which is again worth the price Shisha is a bit expensive but tbh you don’t get their flavors somewhere else in the UK so definitely worth trying - we had milk tea flavour All in all superb quality and delicious 🤤 This is definitely worth a visit if you love shisha and Japanese food

6 months ago · via Google