pretty nice ramen! not great in portion, but love the seating plan where seats surround the kitchen, cool idea, a great place for lunch with friends but not optimal for dinner as people sit next to each other all facing the kitchen can be difficult to chat while enjoying the food :)
Good place to have udon. The noodle itself was fresh and had a perfect texture to bite. The broth was super clear and heart warming. The pork was delicious and juicy. Really a good bowl of udon.
Vigikaran Vijayaratnam
+5
Duck and Waffle is one of Londons highest restaurants and runs 24hours. Trust me when I say this- it’s packed for all of those 24hours every single day! They have a bar area and a restaurant and it’s always full! We booked a Sunday Brunch there for Mother’s Day and loved it! We ordered their famous Duck and Waffle, Roast Chicken,
Needed something light and warm for dinner ('cause temperature has been dropping). Heard that Koya Bar has one of the best udon in London. Only ordered the Kake Udon (plain udon) with tamago as the addition. The noodle is so chewy. Broth is light but tasty. Tamago is so soft and nice. And the chili powder is quite spicy!
Koya, Koya Bar, whatever you want to name it but their noodles are one of the best in London! Both hot and cold version is also good. Remember to add the egg! Add on pork belly if you have extra room.
Have always heard bout this place but still wasn't very sure of it. Went in once as I went for movie nearby. Well I have to say Koya completely changed my mind! Didn't even expect it was such a bomb. I rarely have cravings for udon, so you can imagine when I say this place is good. I had the vegetarian curry udon, my friend had the tempura rice meal. Both were soooo tasty! I'm waiting for my next visit back there now 😁
I woke up with a craving for a Japanese breakfast. I don't even know what they Japanese typically eat for breakfast but figured it was something I needed. After spending a while searching for where one can find a Japanese restaurant and the same amount of time finding a partner in crime we arrived here way beyond the breakfast cut off time! Guess it's the thought that counts :)
So skipping breakfast and straight onto lunch to start the day we stuck pretty much to a selection of daily specials:
Grilled girolles with Onsen Tamago and nettle - poached egg... almost like breakfast - winner!
Turbot sashimi with spicy yuzu salt - amazing texture
Cold Udon with finely sliced pok - perfect for a hot day
Miso coming back here before 12pm when breakfast ends!
Hidden away at the heart of Soho is a little piece of Japan.
With its simple design, it's not much of a looker and you might have passed it hundreds of times without even realising.
But behind Koya's traditional curtain is one of London's most authentic Japanese restaurants...
I was pretty sad to see Koya close down last year without even managing a final visit but since Koya Bar is still up and running, all's well. With queues shifting gears from the old Koya to its new occupant, Hoppers, it's safe to say the Japanese udon bar is still going well. Waiting time average is around 20 minutes, but if you like authentic-tasting udon and/or clean Japanese flavours then this is defo worth it.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Koya Bar, Frith Street (published 4th February 2016)
Koya Bar, Frith Street – Koya Bar is a proper Japanese noodle bar. In the night of Soho lights, it sits humbly among the other eateries with their attractive and catchy signs. A black shop front with large glass window and a one door entrance, it would have been easier to keep an eye out for their logo. Did it attract any less customers? No, in fact, queues can build up easily as seating are limited. Koya Bar does not take reservations and you will only be seated when all of your companions have arrived.
fish and chips £9.10 – served as a starter, small plate, sharing style it is the Koya's take on English fish and chips. Brilliant! I suspect that the chips were from a sweet vegetable like plantain or sweet potato. It was feather light like the batter on the fish. No vinegar or tomato sauce but served with their dipping sauce of radish and spring onions, it was so delicious that we didn't stop eating until the plate was empty.
kamonabe (duck and vegetable hot pot) £14.30 – from a spectator's view, I thought that they were a little mean on the duck and vegetable. My dining companion confirmed that it had the proper proportion of udon to filling to broth. It was good but the broth was a little on the oily side.
hiya-hiya zaru udon tenzaru (cold udon with cold sauce to dip with prawn and vegetable tempura) £13.90 – after the fish and chips, I was glad that I chose the tempura to go with my noodles. It was delightfully crispy and each bite into the batter was so satisfying. The kind of batter that possibly every OCD foodie/chef is trying to create at home. I give up, and will just dine here from now on. The assortment of vegetables were all but one slightly undercooked.
With Koya Bar, it was more than just the food. The place exudes the Japanese culture of eating and looking around the place for a moment, I could be fooled that we were in Japan. Koya Bar was full and most had their heads down totally engrossed in their bowls of udon, I was quite amazed that a steaming hot broth noodles was favoured equally well in the West as in Asia. I thought it was only the kind of dish only understood by the Asians.
Seating by the bar might not be suitable on certain occasions – like if you have a crowd of friends or have sharing dishes - but on second thoughts, sitting opposite someone who slurps their noodles is not particularly inviting.
I still have to work my way through the menu - udon noodles being the main which comes with different toppings, rice in donburi style and various small plates to choose from. Not to mention that there are specials from time to time. What seemed like a small portion of noodles turned out to be quite filling and with a small plate to share between the two of us, I was full. A good place for simple yet flavoursome food. No desserts served and I did find myself wanting one.
Koya Bar exudes a casualness with personality and integrity. It is not the kind of glamorous place with awkward formalities, numerous cutlery, hostile service and an expensive menu that makes you think twice but if I were taken on a date here, I am glad to walk away with the date that knows and has good taste!
Will I be back for more? You can certainly count on it!
The prawn tempura hot udon soup was Delicious. I added a poached egg and made it even better with some 🌶️ flakes. There is a line outside the door but worth the wait. Fair prices and authentic. Good people make sure to slurp! 😋
Delicious, authentic Japanese udon restaurant.
Beautiful, seasonal dishes and daily specials.
A “must try” if you are an udon aficionado!
Counter seating only.
Be prepared for a queue during lunch and dinner peak hours.
Worth the short wait!
Stopped here for Sunday brunch. We were delighted to see they were offering a traditional Japanese small breakfast menu. We had the curry udon with a poached egg, and oh my! It was incredibly delicious. For an authentic experience, I can highly recommend this lovely gem of a restaurant
Obsessed with everything this place serves! Their pickled veggies feel so special. Broth on soups is on point and everything tastes and makes you feel amazing. Great macrobiotic food options. Great restaurant vibe, clean and simple. Be prepared to queue
I love seaweed so ordered seaweed soup udon which is breakfast menu. I’m so upset the photo of the noodles is so ugly 😭actually it was really good.. warm and comforting and tastes home !! I can have the noodles every morning as my breakfast.
I’ll definitely go back again!!
Excellent udon shop! No reservations & the restaurant is very small & counter service only, so be ready for a little wait. But it’s worth it. They have hot & cold udon, I got the hot pork miso, which was excellent. Also, the shrimp tempura was fantastic. My wife doesn’t usually like sake, but she thought the higher-end version offered here was great.
Very cost-effective!
very authentic taste
It's the best udon I've ever eaten in the UK
Fried chicken is very good, must choose for the first time!
Duck udon is also a very delicious choice, it is recommended to try it!
I had lunch here yesterday. I waited 15 minutes in the queque but it was worth it. Enjoyed the food, but i would have loved to taste more things. I’ll have to come back. I suggest the duck udon soup with an appetizer before. The atmosphere is unique and it’s lovely to see the cousine right in front of you. The prices are okay, fine for London and good food.
The best handmade udon restaurant in London, with plenty of udon type to choose. Among most of the sides / main selection, Tempura is also the most delicious choice!
Beware for long queue during peak hour!
Fantastic!
Koya Soho undoubtedly exceeded my expectations with its remarkable Donburi Chicken Kara-age and exceptional service. The delightful flavors of the dish, combined with the warm and attentive service provided by the waitstaff, created an unforgettable dining experience.
The first experience was so perfect, I just had to go again to try the breakfast menu where I ordered a delicious Udon Noodle Kama Tama which had a delicious rich flavour!
If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine or simply in search of a hidden culinary gem, I wholeheartedly recommend Koya Soho.
Make a reservation
Order online
Find the best restaurant in London
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes