Admittedly, I’ve never been to Japan, but I’ve fallen in love with Japanese food. There’s nothing more satisfying than sushi for lunch or a bowl of filling rice or noodle dish for dinner. If you’re hungry for some authentic Japanese cuisine, there are plenty of Japanese restaurants in Cardiff.
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I’m not going to lie, writing this article – Japanese restaurants in Cardiff – has made me feel so hungry. I could eat a whole platter of spicy California rolls with tempura prawns, edamame, and duck gyoza. I’ve even going to make my healthy katsu curry recipe for dinner. I consistently overorder when having Japanese food. Luckily, in Cardiff, we have some incredible Japanese restaurants where you can dine in or have a takeaway.
Japanese Restaurant Cardiff City Centre
Mount Fuji
The Mount Fuji Japanese Bento Restaurant serves Tokyo style food. Bento is a way of portioning a selection of Japanese food. It means to go, but don’t let that put you off; you can grab a seat and tuck in. Served with sticky rice, salad and pickles, you can choose salmon teriyaki, chicken karage, king prawn ebi-fry, beef yakiniku or agedasih tofu. Plus, sides, drinks and desserts.
Yo! Sushi
I love Yo! Sushi – even though I’m not usually a fan of chain establishments. It is an excellent introductory restaurant for those who aren’t sure if they like sushi – even though there are a lot of rice and noodle dishes. It’s great for a quick lunch or evening meal before the theatre or a concert in Cardiff. You can get in and out quite quickly if you’re short on time. Find the moving conveyor belt at St David’s 2 Shopping Centre.
Get 50% off food in Cardiff
With a Tastecard, you get 50% off the food bill or two meals for the price of one. At Yo! Sushi Cardiff City Centre, this offer is available Monday to Thursday. However, there are over six thousand participating restaurants across the UK. Get a 60-day free trial here:
Wagamama
Wagamama is a popular Japanese inspired restaurant. First opening n 1992 in London, they now have 149 restaurants throughout the UK. In Cardiff, there are two, at Central Library on Mill Lane or in Cardiff Bay. Big plates include ramen, donburi, teppanyaki, curry and kokoro bowls, and extras, sides, desserts and drinks. Plus, over 50% of the menu is plant-based and vegan.
Japanese Restaurant Cardiff Bay
Volcano
The Volcano is Cardiff’s only all you can eat Japanese restaurant. Yes, you heard that right! The food is all freshly made, from sushi to teppanyaki, with over 100 hot and cold varieties. So you won’t waste any food; if you overorder, you’ll be charged an additional £1 per sushi plate and £2 per hot dish. There’s also an a-la-carte menu if you only want a few items on the menu. There’s even 50% off the menu at lunchtime.
Yakitori 1
Believing in the power of food to bring people together. Yakitori #1 have a fresh take on traditional Japanese food, and their philosophy is ‘made for sharing’. Options include skewers, nigiri, gyoza, tempura, sashimi, plus wok and curry dishes. Choosing from the vast range is the tricky bit. The restaurant can be found by The Glee Club and Tesco. Eat-in or takeaway, where you can order online from Deliveroo or Uber Eats.
Sooshi Day
Sushi Day is a small restaurant in Cardiff Bay. It has a handful of stools inside and a few tables outside when the weather is good. The platters are a great offer; you can choose your favourite sushi roll, maki or nigiri with your preferred sauces and toppings. Pop in for some gyoza, California rolls or miso soup. Takeaway and delivery are also available.
Getting around Cardiff has never been easier
With stops in Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, two in the city centre – Queen Street and Cardiff Central – plus Cardiff Bay. Getting around Cardiff has never been easier. Tonight Josephine is near Central Station. Get off the train and you could be in the bar in less than 5-minutes.
Transport for Wales now offers Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. And, who doesn’t want to save money for cocktails?
Japanese Food Cardiff – Roath
Sushi Life Cardiff
The small restaurant can be found at The Globe Centre on Wellfield Road. Sushi Life specialises in locally-sourced, fresh ingredients to complement its extensive sushi menu. There are also rice dishes like chicken katsu curry and noodles like ramen. It’s best to book a table in advance or call for a takeaway. They are also available on Uber Eats. At the time of writing this, it sits at number one on TripAdvisor as the best Japanese restaurant Cardiff.
Tenkaichi Sushi and Noodle Bar
One of the longest-running sushi restaurants Cardiff can claim is Tenkaichi, which opened in 1999. The bustling sushi and noodle bar is on City Road. You can book a table or takeaway and home delivery options. I love their bento boxes where you can choose your own combination of maki rolls, gyoza, miso soup, or katsu. The multi-award-winning restaurant is also carbon neutral and has firm sustainability principles.
Ichiban Cardiff
The dine-in restaurant on Albany Road is always a big hit. The flavours really pack punch. Ichiban means ‘Number One’ in Japanese. Here you can experience the creative cuisine on the extensive menu, specialising in sushi, yakitori, tempura and noodles. The set menu is a great place to start if you want to try a good selection of the menu. Delivery and collection are also an option.
Yukiyan Cardiff
In the heart of the student area of Cardiff on Woodville Road is Yukiyan. Dig into sashimi, nigiri, hosomaki, sushi rolls, temaki, tempura and hot food, including teriyaki, ramen and stir-fries. The dishes use the delicate flavours of Japan and the Far East. Reserve a table or have a takeaway instead.
Japanese Restaurant Canton Cardiff
Osaka Japanese Restaurant
On Cowbridge Road East is Osaka. The Japanese Cardiff sushi is freshly sourced and prepared when ordered from the huge menu. There are bento box meals, rice dishes, yaki udon, ramen, soup and soba, teriyaki dishes, alongside sushi and Chef specials. Book a table to eat at or enjoy a takeaway. Also, if you become a member (which is free to join), you can earn and redeem loyalty points.
Japanese Restaurant Ely Cardiff
Don Don Yatai
This tiny restaurant in the most unlikely of places is an absolute joy. It’s simple, with fresh decor, fantastically friendly service and delicious Japanese food. It comes highly recommended. I haven’t sat in yet but have had a takeaway that was ready on time, well packed and insulted and still piping hot when we got home. Think hand-rolled temaki, uramaki, hosomaki, futomaki and sashimi. Don Don Yatai is on Cowbridge Road West.
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I’ve never been to Japan, but I’ve fallen in love with Japanese food