Restaurant in London, United Kingdom

Sumi

Name: Sumi
Address: 157 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS, United Kingdom, London, GB
Telephone: +44 20 4524 0880
Price range: £££

515Pearl Points

Lively Japanese dining without the omakase wait.

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About Sumi

Sumi on Westbourne Grove is a Michelin Plate-recognised Japanese restaurant from chef Endo Kazutoshi — a practical, high-energy alternative to his near-impossible-to-book Endo at the Rotunda. The robata grill and raw fish are the reasons to come. Book one to two weeks ahead and watch the bill: the à la carte format and cocktail list make it easy to spend toward the top of the £££ band.

Verdict: Book Sumi for a lively Japanese evening in Notting Hill — just watch the bill

Sumi is worth booking if you want high-quality Japanese cooking in a convivial room without the formality or the six-month wait of a full omakase experience. It holds a Michelin Plate for both 2024 and 2025, sits on one of London's most reliably busy restaurant streets, and draws a young, social crowd that keeps the energy up from early evening onward. The robata grill dishes are the reason to come; the raw fish is close behind. If you are planning a special occasion dinner and want something celebratory rather than ceremonial, Sumi delivers. Just be aware that the à la carte format and cocktail list mean bills can climb faster than the price tier suggests.

About Sumi

Sumi sits at 157 Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, W11 — an address that already draws serious foot traffic, yet Sumi is consistently among the busiest on the strip. The restaurant was opened by chef Endo Kazutoshi and named after his mother, and it has since expanded into the adjacent premises to accommodate demand. The extra seating filled up quickly, which tells you something about how the neighbourhood has received it.

The room is designed for ease rather than occasion theatre: pale wood, grey banquettes, an open kitchen to one side. On a warm day, outdoor tables under parasols are worth requesting. The atmosphere skews young and social rather than hushed and reverential, which makes it a better fit for a birthday dinner or a date where you want energy in the room than for a board-level business meal where you need to hear yourself think.

Head chef Christian Onia runs a menu divided into starters, sashimi, nigiri, temaki hand-rolls, robata grills, and gohan rice bowls. This is the key structural difference from Endo's nearby Endo at the Rotunda, where a single highly choreographed omakase experience leaves nothing to chance or choice. At Sumi you choose, which means you can spend wisely or run up a significant tab depending on how freely you order from the robata and drinks list.

What to Order

The robata grill is the standout section of the menu: dishes like Ibérico pork 'secreto', finished with a yuzu kosho dressing, demonstrate what happens when live-fire cooking is applied to premium ingredients with precision. The raw fish is the other anchor: nigiri of chutoro (medium fatty tuna) and silky sea bass are consistently cited in verified reviews, and the temaki hand-rolls, soft, creamy scallop with shiso flowers and soy, are among the more memorable items. A vegetable-forward garden salad with wasabi wafu dressing rounds things out for tables that want balance across the meal. The drinks list includes exotic cocktails, sake, and around 18 wines from £35, all available by the glass from £9, a genuinely useful feature for mixed groups or solo diners who want to drink well without committing to a bottle.

Ideal time to visit

Sumi does not currently list a dedicated brunch service in its publicly available data, so if a weekend morning format is your goal, confirm with the restaurant directly before booking. For evening visits, earlier sittings give you a quieter room, this is a venue where the noise level builds as the night progresses and the cocktail list gets ordered heavily. If the occasion calls for conversation, aim for a weekday evening or an early weekend sitting rather than a Saturday at 8pm. Outdoor tables are worth asking about in summer; Westbourne Grove in good weather is a different proposition from a grey Tuesday in November.

Ratings and Trust Signals

Michelin Plate 2025
Michelin Plate 2024

A Michelin Plate does not carry the same weight as a star, but it does confirm that Michelin's inspectors found the cooking worth flagging.

Booking and Practical Details

Reservations: Book at least one to two weeks ahead for a weekend sitting; weekday availability is more forgiving. Sumi is not as difficult to secure as its sibling Endo at the Rotunda (widely regarded as one of London's hardest bookings), but it is consistently busy and walk-in availability is not reliable. Budget: Price range is £££; expect bills to push toward the upper end of that band if you order across robata and cocktails. Dress: No formal dress code indicated; the Notting Hill crowd tends toward smart-casual. Address: 157 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS. Nearest transport: Notting Hill Gate or Ladbroke Grove.

How Sumi Compares to Other London Japanese Restaurants

Within London's Japanese restaurant category, Sumi occupies a practical middle ground. If you want a full omakase at the technical ceiling, Umu in Mayfair operates at ££££ and offers kaiseki-influenced precision in a formal setting. Humble Chicken is a stronger pick if you want Japanese-influenced cooking at a lower price point with a more casual format. For sushi specifically, Chisou and Akira are worth comparing if you are not committed to the robata-led format that makes Sumi worth visiting. Ginza St James's offers a more formal Japanese dining experience if the occasion demands it. The honest answer is that Sumi earns its place not because it is the most technically accomplished Japanese restaurant in London, but because it combines solid Michelin-recognised cooking with a room that actually feels alive, a combination that is harder to find than it sounds.

For deeper exploration of London dining options, see our full London restaurants guide. If you are staying nearby, our London hotels guide covers the full range. For bars before or after dinner, our London bars guide has current recommendations. And if you are planning a wider trip, our London experiences guide and wineries guide are worth bookmarking.

If your interest in Japanese cooking extends to source comparisons, Myojaku and Azabu Kadowaki in Tokyo represent the reference point against which London's Japanese restaurants are ultimately measured. For celebrated UK dining outside London, The Fat Duck in Bray, L'Enclume in Cartmel, Moor Hall in Aughton, Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Hand and Flowers in Marlow, and hide and fox in Saltwood each serve a different purpose depending on what you are looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tasting menu worth it at Sumi?

Sumi does not offer a tasting menu — the format here is à la carte, divided across sashimi, nigiri, temaki, robata grills, and rice bowls. That is a deliberate contrast to sibling restaurant Endo at the Rotunda, which runs a highly personalised omakase. If a set tasting progression is what you want, Sumi is the wrong venue. If you want control over what you order and a livelier room, the à la carte format works well.

Can I eat at the bar at Sumi?

Sumi has an open kitchen and a relaxed room with pale wood and grey banquettes, and the venue runs a cocktail list that draws a young, social crowd. Bar or counter seating availability is not confirmed in current public data, so call ahead at 157 Westbourne Grove if counter dining is a specific priority. The outdoor tables under parasols are worth requesting when the weather cooperates.

What should I order at Sumi?

Start with the robata grill section — dishes like Ibérico pork 'secreto' with yuzu kosho dressing are where the kitchen makes the clearest case for itself. The raw fish is the other anchor: nigiri of chutoro and sea bass, and temaki hand-rolls such as diced scallop with shiso flowers, are consistently noted across Michelin and editorial coverage. Keep an eye on the bill — the à la carte format at £££ pricing adds up quickly if you order widely.

Does Sumi handle dietary restrictions?

Specific dietary accommodation policy is not documented in available data for Sumi. Given the Japanese à la carte format and the range of raw fish, vegetable, and grill options on the menu, there is structural flexibility, but confirm directly with the restaurant at 157 Westbourne Grove before booking if dietary restrictions are a firm requirement.

Is Sumi worth the price?

At £££ pricing, Sumi holds two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) and serves top-quality raw fish alongside well-executed robata dishes in a convivial Notting Hill room — that combination justifies the spend for most occasions. The caveat is portion economics: the à la carte structure means a table that orders broadly will see the bill climb fast. Order with intent rather than curiosity and the value proposition is solid.

Is Sumi good for a special occasion?

Sumi works for a relaxed, sociable special occasion rather than a formal, ceremonial one — the room is lively, the crowd skews young, and the format is à la carte rather than choreographed. For a birthday dinner or anniversary where atmosphere and food quality both matter but strict formality does not, it is a credible choice in Notting Hill. If the occasion calls for a more composed, theatrical experience, Endo at the Rotunda next in the same stable is the step up, though considerably harder to book.

What are alternatives to Sumi in London?

For full omakase at a higher technical level, Endo at the Rotunda is the natural comparison but requires booking months ahead. Umu in Mayfair offers Kyoto-style kaiseki at a higher price point with Michelin star recognition. For similarly priced Japanese dining in a more central location, Temper Soho or Ikeda in Mayfair offer different formats worth considering. Sumi's advantage over all of them is a more accessible booking window and a noticeably livelier room.

Location

157 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Compare Sumi

The Complete Picture: Sumi and Peers

Venue	Cuisine	Awards	Booking Difficulty
Sumi	Japanese		Moderate
CORE by Clare Smyth	Modern British	Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best	Unknown
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay	Contemporary European, French	Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best	Unknown
Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library	Modern French	Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best	Unknown
The Ledbury	Modern European, Modern Cuisine	Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best	Unknown
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal	Modern British, Traditional British	Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best	Unknown

How Sumi stacks up against the competition.

Also Consider

CORE by Clare Smyth, Modern British, ££££
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Contemporary European, French, ££££
Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, Modern French, ££££
The Ledbury, Modern European, Modern Cuisine, ££££
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Modern British, Traditional British, ££££

Sumi sits at £££, which makes it a different conversation from the ££££ restaurants that dominate London's most-discussed dining lists. CORE by Clare Smyth and The Ledbury both operate at a higher price point with multi-starred credentials, they are the right choice if technical precision and formal service are the priority, but neither is a substitute for what Sumi specifically does with live-fire Japanese cooking in a relaxed room. If the occasion is celebratory and you want atmosphere as well as cooking quality, Sumi delivers more energy per pound spent than either of those options.

Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal both offer high-concept, ££££ experiences with strong occasion credentials, Sketch for theatrical luxury, Dinner for a British culinary history angle. Neither competes directly with Sumi on cuisine type, but if you are choosing between a Japanese dinner at £££ and a showpiece Modern British or French meal at ££££, the question is whether you want cooking or ceremony. Sumi answers firmly on the cooking side. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay occupies the formal French end of the spectrum at ££££ and suits a different diner profile entirely.

Within its own cuisine category, Sumi's most direct peer is Endo at the Rotunda, same chef, higher formality, much harder to book, and a fixed omakase format that removes the flexibility (and the bill control) that Sumi's à la carte provides. For diners who cannot secure Endo, or who simply prefer choosing their own dishes, Sumi is the stronger practical choice. For Japanese dining at a lower spend, Humble Chicken is worth considering; for more formal Japanese at a higher price, Umu is the step up.