Oishii means delicious in Japanese, and Oishiii Japanese Eatery on Stoke Newington Church Street more than lives up to its name.

The Venue
Oishiii Japanese Eatery is the first Japanese restaurant to open on Stoke Newington Church Street. The front half of the restaurant consists of a bar based around the sushi kitchen, bathed in red light. Towards the back you’ll find a more conventional dining room, although it’s also also quite contemporary in style. There’s also a private karaoke room that can be booked for groups of up to 20.

The Atmosphere
Unlike a lot of Japanese restaurants, the emphasis here is on relaxed dining. The staff’s calm and discreet approach adds to the unrushed feel, and you feel encouraged to linger over your meal for as long as you’d like.

The Food
You’ll be hard pressed to choose what to eat as Oishiii Japanese Eatery has an extensive menu. All of the usual delicious nibbles are covered such as edamame and wasabi peas. More substantial starters include the wonderful agedashi tofu (£3) which is deep-fried in a foamy, light batter and served in a tasty spring onion broth. You choose from a number of classic dishes – sushi, sashimi, yakitori and tempura. The sushi sets range from seven to 24 pieces and are great to share if you’re looking to try a variety of sushi types. Prices for these start at £7 and climb to £22.50 if you go deluxe.

A large section of the menu is dedicated to Oishiii signature dishes such as the delicious seared tuna salad (£9). This consists of delicate petals of tuna cooked pink and ringed with black sesame seeds, all on top of leaves tossed in a zingy lime and soy dressing. Meat dishes include a tasty beef stir fry yaki udon and the popular chicken katsu curry. Vegetarians are well-catered for too with hot dishes such as a Japanese curry with pumpkin croquettes and mabo tofu, tofu served with spicy vegetables and rice.

The Drink
Oishiii Japanese Eatery has a selection of reasonably priced wines from £3.50 a glass and £12 a bottle. Those in search of a more Japanese accompaniment will enjoy the sake menu. The hot and mellow Ozeki Ginkan is particularly recommended. Japanese beer (Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin Ichiban) and tea are also offered.

The Last Word
With such a wonderfully varied menu and a relaxing atmosphere, Oishiii Japanese Eatery looks set to be a firm fixture in Stoke Newington.

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