London Restaurant Recommendation12 Kurisu Omakase

Kurisu is a small, low-key omakase spot run by Chris and Suwannee, a mother-and-son duo. The setting is relaxed and unpretentious, making it feel more like a personal dining experience than a formal omakase counter.

This place has received quite polarising reviews online, but given its relatively accessible pricing, I was curious to try it for myself. Head chef Chris is of Thai-Colombian heritage and trained in Japan. Unlike more traditional sushi establishments such as Takahashi (which I wrote about earlier), Kurisu takes a more fusion approach.

Anyone who knows me will know how much I dislike the majority of sushi restaurants in the UK—mainly because many smother their fish with sauces to mask inconsistencies in quality. While some might call it “creative,” I often see it as smoke and mirrors.

That said, Kurisu does a good job with its small dishes. I was particularly impressed by the tempura—the batter on the fried shark was paper-thin and crispy, while the fish remained tender. The Thai dipping sauce added a unique and well-balanced flavour.

Fish quality is definitely on the higher end by UK standards—several dishes featured aged fish, including a memorable charcoal-grilled otoro. Chris's sushi shaping was precise, and the seasoning generally well-judged. My main criticism would be the sushi rice, which was slightly too wet and lacked the ideal bite and separation.

Still, one real standout was the Hokkaido scallop—among the best I’ve had at any sushi spot in the UK.