Japanese food is well executed in London so when Sakagura opened to much acclaim from bloggers and critics, it was worth a visit. Was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Authentic Japanese food cooked via traditional methods
A large group as they have the menu variety and space
Casual date night with a few cocktails
Ambience & Décor
The décor was so stereotypically Japanese you cannot mistake the type of restaurant you are in. The plethora of dark mahogany wood was interspersed with fewer, lighter bamboo-coloured wood from the tables, chairs and bar counter. One could see the Japanese calligraphy on the whisky bottle labels and the large ornate burlap baskets suspended above the bar. The far right wall had a bamboo-papyrus fixture with further Japanese-style calligraphy. It was no-frills, simple and clean cut but followed the Japanese principle of Kanso (simplicity). Seated close to the bar, there was a buoyant ambience that did not make conversation tough.
Service
Amazing service enhances and terrible service destroys. Sad to say the lasting memory of Sakagura was the egregious service we received. The waiting staff were lackadaisical, rude and nonchalant. Despite repeat protestation about not receiving dishes, they did nothing till I lambasted the Manager. The decent discount did nothing to soothe my ill temper.
Food
Since I was not overly hungry, I decided for 3 single skewers and a large bowl
The three skewers were Negima (Goosnargh chicken), Miso Buta (Pork belly) and Beef Teriyaki (all left). All three skewers were delicious. The pork belly was beautifully cooked and the awase miso glaze was so tasty and not too overpowering. This was the standout skewer. Beef and Chicken Teriyaki (Beef Teriyaki and Negima respectively) are always crowd pleasers and hit the mark.
The larger Crispy Chicken Karaage (bottom left) was essentially a lightly battered fried chicken. The thin crispy coating emanated the beautiful aromas of ginger, garlic and soy.
The chicken itself was perfectly moist. The dish seemed simple and a tad bland till you added the fiery Korean Gojuchang chilli mayo. The mayo was the star and packed a punch that transcended the dish into greatness. I was upset Sakagura were frugal with the mayo, and it was confusing that a Korean dish was on a Japanese menu. The Japanese are proud of their own cuisine, so this seemed a diss.
Overall Sakagura’s food was delicious and with limited fault. They offer dishes cooked on hot coals and on the traditional barbecue, which was a nice touch. My dining party concurred the food and menu were impressive, making Sakagura great for dates or large gatherings. However, Korean dishes have no place on Japanese menus and the dire service meant Sakagura sadly earns a B- rating.
Photos of Sakagura and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: B-
Final comment: Great food with a lot of choice for all occasions, but diabolical service.
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