Enjoying both the perfect setting and sushi of real quality, Genji Express at Whole Foods Market is sure to be a hit for the folks of Kensington.

The Venue
Transposed directly from considerable success in the US, Whole Foods Market brings wholesome, organic produce to where it’ll be most appreciated, by the well heeled denizens of W8. Genji Express sits within the sumptuous Baker Building that is now devoted to the Whole Foods enterprise so your journey up to the sushi bar will involve a host of delicious smells from the top notch, though not inexpensive, organic produce on offer. Genji Express itself is located on the first floor and sits beside the many other eateries available to visitors. Consequently it doesn’t feel like a restaurant in its own right but its white, ultra-clean decor gives it enough individuality for this not to be a big concern. And if you can ignore the Barbour jackets and ladies doing lunch then you might be able to lose yourself and believe you’re in downtown Tokyo. Perhaps.

The Atmosphere
There’s a nice authenticity to Genji Express, from the smiling, attentive staff who seem to know what they’re doing, through to the fixtures and fittings that boast an almost clinical cleanliness with their whites and silvers. In a nod to the locality there are more private tables to complement the communal bar-side dining that’s common to sushi restaurants, so visitors can indulge in the cuisine as it should be done, or plonk their shopping down where there’s a bit more room. The option is nice and means there’s plenty of space for both quick diners and those looking to relax after a long hard slog in the shops of High Street Kensington.

The Food
If sushi is your thing then London really does have a good selection of restaurants to cater for your tastes but the freshness and quality of what’s on offer at Genji Express make it a particularly good choice. Sushi combos are probably the best bet for the novices amongst you while those who are a little more au fait with the cuisine will have plenty of individual choices to handpick.

The tuna and the salmon nigiri is particularly good with well prepared and vibrant fish sitting atop carefully pressed rice that boasts a decent enough hit of wasabi. The sesame seed in brown rice roll with avocado and cucumber is well balanced and refreshing but the house salad doesn’t quite reach the same heights, with a thick, almost gloopy ginger and miso dressing unfortunately overpowering what is a delicate and crunchy salad.

The Drink
It’s probably best that there’s not a huge selection of drinks available as you’re best off sipping water to allow you to enjoy the complexities of the sushi. However, for those of you looking for something more interesting there’s the usual soft drinks available with freshly squeezed orange juice working quite well with the nigiri. It’s good to see they’ve put the effort in with good quality sake too so real fans of Japanese cuisine will enjoy sipping on that as well.

The Last Word
Perfectly located for those lucky enough to be able to shop in the Whole Foods Market, Genji Express offers some excellent sushi from a pleasant enough setting. Recommended if you’re in the area.

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