Calling all sushi and bottomless brunch lovers in London! I recently visited a fantastic brunch spot that offers incredible value and delicious food – Aqua Kyoto in Oxford Circus. It might just be my new favourite weekend brunch destination, as it also boasts a fantastic terrace for open-air drinks in the summer months – perfect for soaking up the London vibes. But anyway, first let's discuss the food.

Available on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at £55 per person, you can treat yourself to a variety of Japanese dishes, that are well-executed served in filling portion sizes. For a bit more, you can add a drinks package that is free-flowing, aka bottomless as the kids call it these days, that will keep you hydrated as you dine.

Starters

The meal kicked off at Aqua Kyoto with a steaming bowl of perfectly balanced miso soup, a great way to cleanse the palate before the starter onslaught. Four beautifully presented dishes arrived shortly after, each a delightful surprise. The rainbow tartare served in a crispy nori senbei had a nice contrast of textures, though the salmon tataki taco was a tad dry for my liking.

Neither of which could compete with the absolute star of the starters – the chicken nanban su. The light broth that it came in was super flavourful and both my boyfriend and I agreed that it was our favourite of the four dishes. The seemingly simple aubergine agebitashi was a close second favourite - the aubergine was soft and tender and melted in your mouth. Divine! This got me quite excited about what was to come.

The Sushi Platter

The next course, the sushi platter, was a feast for the eyes and the stomach. We each had eight gorgeous pieces of sushi and sashimi. The platter, in my humble opinion, really offered a fantastic variety for the price. Only thing we didn't love was the octopus tempura, as it was quite chewy.

The tempura prawn maki was my favourite, but I usually love that anywhere I go and I think you can't really get it wrong if the tempura is well cooked and crispy. The spicy tuna maki and salmon & avocado maki were also delicious. At this point, we were both getting quite full and really made me hold off from drinking because we wanted to keep eating... 😅

Mains

The mains continued the impressive streak at Aqua Kyoto. The star of the show and the menu was the sukiyaki beef with a side of candy floss (yes, you read that right!) was a unique and delightful take on a classic dish.

The candy floss added a touch of sweetness that perfectly balanced the savoury broth and the moment it disappeared into the bowl was quite entertaining to watch, and worthy of pulling your phone out to capture. There were also some shimeiji mushrooms and cabbage in the bowl along with the broth added a few more interesting textures and flavours to this dish. I loved the veggies as this meal had been pretty meat and fish heavy.

The beef aside, the grilled spicy teriyaki salmon was also delicious and was very well presented, but the sukiyaki earlier was definitely more memorable with its melt-in-your-mouth tender beef and umami-rich broth.

Needless to say, both were accompanied by steamed rice which, despite how full I was becoming, I enjoyed very much as the broth and the sauces of both these dishes were really nice paired with the chewy Japanese rice.

Dessert

No meal is complete without dessert. The desserts arrived with a touch of theatrics with the pouring of liquid ice, adding to the fun brunch vibe.

The platter had two of each of the following: wasabi parfait, mochi ice cream, passion fruit & ginger cheesecake, hojicha soya panna cotta, as well as some seasonal fruits.

The standout dessert for me was the unexpected wasabi parfait. Trust me, it works! It sounded kind of strange but the taste of wasabi was subtle and provided some aromas instead of the kick that you'd usually experience with wasabi. The creamy cheesecake was another winner that we both loved, perfectly balanced in sweetness and texture.

Can't say that we liked the soya panna cotta, it was bland in comparison to the other desserts.

Overall

While the sushi itself wasn't the absolute best I've ever had, the overall value and quality of the food at Aqua Kyoto were outstanding. The friendly service, the fun, interactive elements of the meal, and the central Oxford Circus location make it a truly memorable brunch experience. And if you're looking for a lively weekend brunch, with live DJs spinning tunes, the atmosphere is perfect for celebrating birthdays and special occasions, as evidenced by the place being packed out with groups of merry diners.

I highly recommend checking out Aqua Kyoto – your taste buds and your party spirit will thank you!

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