Avoid this place, unless you like to be yelled at. The rudest service I have ever - ever - experienced, and having lived in both New York and London I know what I am talking about.

Food is average but the manager and his bad attitude to everyone coming into the place is the worst I have experienced.

We were told he didn't need our business and to leave if we didn't like it with a few expletives thrown in as well.

If you want to go to experience the terrible service from him and other members of the staff it could be a laugh. It's a night you will not forget!

Sakura Japanese restaurant is the worst japanese restaurant I have ever been in my life. Awful services! I arrived the restaurant in the afternoon. And I and my frd requested another table due to the noisy environment. We sat down, and one of the staff came and requested us to move to another table due to the closure of the particular area. We moved to a 4 person table and the manager came to us, and took our menus away from us very rudely, without saying a word, and forced us to another table which is the original one. We refused and the guy just stared at us very rudely. I can never believe I have ever been to a restaurant like this!

La-men (noodle) was INTSTANT NOODLE. unbelievable...

The service I experienced at Sakura was extremely poor, right from the moment I attempted to book my table reservation over the phone. The person on the phone was extremely unhelpful and I couldn't understand a word he was a saying. All I understood was that he could not take reservations for parties with more than 5 people. Worst still, he slammed the phone on me when I asked him to explain again. I called again the second time and another person picked up. This time, when I requested to reserve a table, the phone was taken by the same person I spoke with earlier, who again spoke in an impolite manner and put the phone down. I can not imagine what the service would be like inside this restaurant!

VERY DISAPPOINTING. After living in Japan for two years I came to expect polite staff and clean toilets. This restaurant did not have either, and spoiled what should have been a pleasant evening.

This is the WORST JAPANESE restaurant I’ve ever been!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two days ago my 7 friends were there and later I planned to join them.

When I arrived, I told a middle-aged slim guy that I was looking for my friends. He said with impatience “Find them FAST.” When I found my friends, they were sitting at two four-seat tables, and I sat down with them. The guy came and asked my friend angrily, “You said there were only 7 people.” I said “I did not plan to join them at first.” He said “Do you mean you are leaving now?” I got angry and said “ Your attitude is very bad.” He got even more angry and shouted at us “ Come to see our regulations! Come to see our regulations!” I told him that I DO NOT need to eat here. Then all of my friends stood up and left altogether angrily. Normally I have a good impression of Japanese’ politeness (although some people say they may not be sincere”. But we all were very disappointed. Without respect, how can they attract customers? Without customers, how can they survive???????????????????????????"
I will print all these comments from many people and send them to the manager!!

PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT: Agree, this is the worst restaurant I've ever been to. Their service was horrible and they removed our cups after the meal to chase us away promptly followed by the bill. The manager there was incredibly rude. We asked for an item to be changed as the soya sauce lid had fallen into the dish. He follwed with a lecture on how to pour liquids and when walking away, swore in Japanese under his breath. This is not exemplary of Japanese culture. Horrible experience!

Sakura is the worse service restaurant that I'd ever been to. Specially that mid age, short, bald head Japanese guy, thinking he is manager there, He is really really rude, he is a**hole! Never go there again!

Worst manner I have ever received at a Japanese restaurant. I am amazed with the manager's attitude and I hope this doesn't put off future customers about Japanese culture because they are normally very well mannered!

Sakura Japanese Restaurant has truly terrible customer service. The waitress made a mistake in taking our order, and it took ages and much rudeness in getting it changed. Even then we had to put up with a lecture from the manager about how important it was that we didn't make a mistake when ordering. Bizarre. Sakura is one to avoid.

The awful service stops me going to Sakura Japanese Restaurant. A friend took me to Sakura two years ago and it made me fall in love with this restaurant despite the rude manager and waitress. Everytime I went there if I didn't get rude service, I felt lucky. Until recently, I took friends there. Now the bad service has put me off forever.



My husband ordered a chicken lunch box and the waitress brought a seafood one. We asked them to change it. Two waitress gave us a big lecture about the difference between the chicken box and Lunch Box, and refused to change it. We said we were happy to pay for another one and asked them to take that lunch box back, but the they insisted that the cheff had cooked it so we must eat it.



We then we asked the manager, who also gave us a big lecture, but fortunately agreed to change it. But the nice meal was ruined and I felt bad for taking my friend there.

A few years ago I became obsessed with Japanese food after returning from Tokyo and searched for Japanese restaurants all over London. Sakura remains one of my favourite, as far as food goes. The variety, authenticity and quality is unbelievably good considering the low price point.



I agree with many reviewers here that their service is awful. But something has to give. If you are on a limited budget, but still want a decent and traditional quality Japanese food, I strongly recommend Sakura. I feel that they are so underrated; lack of good service is one thing, quality and value is something else.

Sakura Japanese Restaurant does good food, but terriable customer service. I have had so many bad experiences there, and have just stopped going. I just don't understand how they can still survive. I hope somebody can do something about this!


Fire all Sakura Japanese Restaurant management and waiters and get new ones. I have found an alternative extremly good value and friendly Japanese restaurant called Eat Tokyo where I will go instead.

A friend and I are regulars at Sakura Japanese Restaurant, but we have never had friendly service before. The manager is rude and so are the the grumpy waitresses. The food is fresh and good value, but the service is just so atrocious.


Saukura Japanese Restaurant is like a smoking room, so even if you are in the non smoking corner, you'll still be smoked out! We got the worst ever service last time, so we walked out and haven't been back since. There are plenty of good restaurants in London, and I'm sure we'll be able to find a Japanese one that serves good food with good service.

Without doubt the worst Sakura Japanese Restaurant has the rudest service. When will the manager work out that we go out to eat to have a nice evening, not to be filled with food and sent on our way? The manager at Sakura Japanese Restaurant is abusive, extremely rude, and will ruin your evening. Try Ikkyu on Tottenham Court Road, where you can have fresher fish.

Avoid this restaurant the Sakura Japanese Restaurant, it has very rude management. Good food but ruined evening. London is full of good restaurants, but there aren't many places which will ruin your evening to the extent that Sakura Japanese Restaurant did.

It doesn't matter how good value the food is at Sakura Japanese - avoid this restaurant at all costs as there are too many places just as good.



On my last visit the manager of SAkura Japanese himself shouted at me and created a scene (completely ruining my dinner) when I asked if a £3 plate of pickles we ordered by accident could be exchanged for a smaller £1 plate. I could hardly believe it.



Seriously, do not eat here. Try Chisou, around the corner or Tomo.

I would have to agree with earlier reviews in that the service at Sakura Japanese Restaurant is terrible. The extremely rude staff do not make up for the fact that the food is quite good. Will definitely not be going back to Sakura Japanese Restaurant.

Without doubt, in more than 40 years, this was by far the worst restaurant experience of all time.

The manager at Sakura Japanese Restaurant makes Basil Fawlty look like a paragon of good manners and the acme of customer relations. Quite disgusting.

Do not go to Sakura Japanese Restaurant if you wish to have an enjoyable experience.

The food is good at Sakura Japanese Restaurant however, if you want to be insulted by the managers while you are eating then this is also the place.

I went to Sakura Japanese Restaurant with my family. My son who is 10 years old got shoved by the manager because he sipped water from his own water. When I complained I was told by the manager without hearing me out, If you are not happy, don't come back and he then ignored me. I was shocked as I didn't want to spoil the evening for my family.

The food at Sakura Japanese Restaurant is great - good portions at a reasonable price (£20.00 for the set menu).



Sakura Japanese Restaurant is a very busy restaurant hence there is a very strict seating policy. Everyone is required to be present before being seated. If everyone is on time then they will seat you at the time you have booked. Highly recommended if you want authentic, tasty Japanese dishes.

Sakura Japanese Restaurant has the worst service ever! As a paying customer, we should not be subjected to such rudeness and disrespect. They have an utterly ridiculous restaurant policy - e.g. they had a big issue of me turning up late to join my group of 3 friends who were seated on a table for 4.


They refused to let me join them because of the fact that my friends had not informed that that there would be a fourth person. There was a spare seat so what was their problem? They also demand service charge to be paid! For that kind of service, I would not give them a penny! Never go to Sakura Japanese Restaurant, it's not worth it.

The Sakura Japanese Restaurant services are just horrible. They have very arrogant staff and manager, I’ve never seen such a rubbish service. I'll definitely never ever come back to Sakura.


Sakura Japanede Restaurant is really unpleasant!

I have been eating at Sakura Japanese Restaurant with my fiancee and friends for over 7 years at least once a week (admittedly mostly for lunch). I think it is one of the best restaurants in London (taking into account everything from Rama to Nobu). I have made this statement based on the price point versus their sashimi, sushi and set meals. Sakura Japanese Restaurant delivers exactly what it should, admittedly it does not have the friendliest front of house or the best decor in town but you do not get charged for it either. It is good Japanese food and it fits a time and a place. There are always a large proportion of Japanese diners. If it is your first date or you are entertaining a new client you may want to go somewhere else.

Service attitude is completely rubbish...haven't seen such an arrogant manager before...we had booked seats for 10 people the day before but then when we arrived we only had 7 people. At that time the manager is already very annoyed, he just completely ignored us and gave the seats to other people who just walked in.

At last we were so pissed off so we told him to cancel the booking...he just made a face and said in a very impolite way (not even looking at me) "It's alright."

I mean excuse me, is this the right service attitude nowadays? I don't care whether the food quality is good or not but at least the service should be good, if it's not good, will you have the meal with a positive mood? I will never ever go to Sakura again!

Cramped and busy and for good reason...the food is sensational! So book ahead, and turn up on time.

Even if you don't you may still get lucky if you wait, (expect 15-20 mins to be seated) although they'll try to palm you off with seats at the sushi bar. Once you're brusquely seated, staff are accommodating and helpful with menu.

The raw fish is simply fresh and delicious. The meat so red, and beautifully marbled, it could jump right at you.

An obvious hit also with London's Japanese residents, this is the real deal..even complete with Japanese freeview telly shown on monitors around the restaurant. Piping in a little bit of home.

I think that, for the money, its hard to find a better quality Japanese restaurant.

Quite possibly...the worst service I have ever received. We were seated just before 10pm on Friday night, given the bill and made to pay whilst still eating our main course. Our drinks were quickly cleared dispite not being empty and asked to leave as they were closing up! £80.00 spent for half hour use of seats, terrible service and a pedestrian meal at best. I implore all not to spend your well earned money in this establishment!