First Time Sushi in London: Start in Soho
Planning your first sushi meal in London? Soho is a good place to learn, and a hard place to feel calm about it. Old Compton Street runs on pre-theatre buzz, late lights and queues that snake past the door. You are probably wondering what to order, how to eat it, and whether you will actually like raw fish. Fair enough. That is what this guide is for.
Dozo Sushi has been on Old Compton Street since 2013, at 32 Old Compton Street, London W1D 4TP. The rooms are small and modern, there is a counter where you can watch the chefs work, and the menu reads just as well for a beginner as it does for someone who eats sushi every week. There is a second branch in South Kensington, open since 2011 at 68 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LQ — a calmer option if you want to pair sushi with a museum afternoon.
The trick with a first sushi meal is not to overthink it. Order two or three familiar things, ask questions, and build from there. Nobody expects you to know every Japanese term on the menu. You only need to know what you fancy. The team at Dozo deal with first-timers all week, so you can drop the act about knowing your hamachi from your hirame.
Soho teaches you fast because everyone around you is eating something different, from ramen to dim sum. The pace is brisk, the rooms are tight, and nobody is watching your chopstick technique. Dozo suits that mood: smart enough for a date, relaxed enough for a solo lunch at the counter.
How to Order Sushi Without Panicking
Sushi menus look intimidating, but almost all of them run on the same three groups. Nigiri is a slice of fish laid over pressed rice. Sashimi is the fish on its own, no rice. Maki are the seaweed-wrapped rolls, sliced into rounds. Learn those three and you can read pretty much any sushi list in London.
Dozo lays out its sushi, sashimi and maki clearly. If you are working out how to order, start with two or three items each and share. A plate of salmon nigiri, a small sashimi selection and a maki roll make a sensible first round. You can always order more. The kitchen will not mind you asking which items are raw and which are cooked.
Counter seating is the best spot for a beginner. You can watch the fish being sliced, ask the chef what is good that day, and see how other diners eat. It takes the mystery out of the whole thing. If you would rather have a table, the cosy rooms are just as comfortable.
Drinks matter more than you think. A small carafe of sake is the classic match, though Japanese whisky and cocktails also feature on the Dozo Soho drinks list. If you are off alcohol, green tea works beautifully with sushi — it resets your palate between pieces.
Order in stages. Sushi is not a three-course meal in the European sense; it is a run of small plates. Start light, then add richer rolls or something warm. That way you stop when you are full and nothing goes to waste.
When the food lands, use the small dish for soy sauce. Do not pour it over the rice. If you are sharing, take one piece at a time and pass the plate along. Never leave chopsticks standing upright in rice. None of this is a test you can fail, but these small habits make the meal flow.
What to Order on Your First Visit
Begin with edamame or miso soup if you want something familiar while you settle in. Then move to nigiri. Salmon and tuna are the usual starting points: mild, buttery, forgiving. Eat nigiri in one bite, fish side down on your tongue, so you get the fish and the rice together.
Sashimi is the honest test if you want to taste the fish without rice. Order a mixed plate and work from the lighter fish to the richer ones. Maki are the fun end of the menu. Cucumber maki is fresh and crunchy; spider maki, made with soft-shell crab, is the one people order when they want something richer and a bit more filling.
If you are still unsure, the weekday lunch sets at Dozo Soho are a brilliant introduction. They run Monday to Friday, 12–3pm, and give you a bit of everything without committing to a full à la carte meal. It is the easiest way to try sushi for the first time without the pressure of a Friday night.
For something warm, beef nabe is a comforting Japanese hotpot. It is not sushi, but it is a great dish for anyone nervous about raw fish. Finish with green tea ice cream — subtle, not too sweet, and a nice full stop after all that rice and soy.
You can see the full range on the Dozo Soho sushi, sashimi and maki menu before you go, so you arrive with a rough plan instead of staring at the list while the waiter waits.
Dining with someone who does not eat fish? They will not go hungry. Beef nabe, vegetable maki, edamame and miso soup cover it. London sushi restaurants are used to mixed tables, and Dozo is no exception.
A good first order for two: edamame, six pieces of nigiri, a small sashimi plate, cucumber maki and spider maki. That gives you cooked and raw, mild and rich, rice and no rice. If you have room, add beef nabe to share. If you do not, finish with green tea ice cream.
Soho or South Kensington? Picking Your Dozo
Dozo has two London restaurants and they suit different days. The Soho branch sits on Old Compton Street, in the middle of theatreland. It works before a show, after a late film, or when you have wandered through Chinatown and want something different. Friday and Saturday evenings are busy, so book ahead or accept the queue. Phone: 020 7434 3219.
South Kensington is a slower affair. The restaurant at 68 Old Brompton Road is close to the museums and South Kensington tube. The lunch crowd is relaxed — families, museum-goers, the occasional solo diner. If you want your first sushi meal in London with less noise, this is the calmer choice. Phone: 020 7225 0505.
Both kitchens run the same idea: contemporary Japanese food, cosy modern rooms, staff who will happily explain a dish. You can read more on the Dozo story page, and there are photos of the rooms and plates in the Dozo gallery if you want a look before you book.
My advice: for a first time, take the Soho branch for the atmosphere. Eating sashimi while the theatre crowd hurries past outside is a proper London moment. If you would rather have a quiet lunch after the V&A, head to South Kensington.
Soho on a Friday is a full-on scene: bright windows, pubs spilling onto the pavement, a queue for everything. Dozo is a calm pocket inside it. South Kensington runs the other way — the museums empty around five and Old Brompton Road settles into a quiet evening. If you want your first sushi experience without the crowds, aim for a weekday lunch in SW7.
First-Timer Tips for a Soho Sushi Night
Book if you can, especially Friday and Saturday. Soho fills with theatregoers and late diners. If your diary is flexible, a weekday lunch or an early evening table is much easier to get, and the Soho lunch sets are the best-value way in.
Do not drown your sushi in soy sauce. Dip the fish lightly, not the rice. Mixing wasabi into soy sauce is common in the UK but not how most Japanese diners eat it. If you are unsure, ask. The team at Dozo would rather help than watch you struggle.
Eat nigiri in one bite, with fingers or chopsticks, whichever feels natural. Pickled ginger is a palate cleanser between types of fish, not a topping. Green tea is a good friend to sushi, and so is sake if you want the full experience.
If you are new to this, say so. Staff can steer you towards cooked dishes, milder fish, or a lunch set that eases you in. There is no shame in ordering beef nabe and cucumber maki while your friend goes for the sashimi. The point is to enjoy the meal, not pass an exam.
Nervous? Go at lunch. The room is quieter, the staff have more time, and the set menu removes the pressure of choosing. In the evening, book for 5.30pm or 6pm before the theatre rush. Later on it gets lively, which is fun but not the easiest first lesson.
And do not fill up on rice. It is easy to order three maki rolls and feel stuffed before the nigiri arrives. Pace yourself: a couple of pieces, a pause, then more. Sushi is best eaten slowly, with plenty of green tea and conversation.
For directions, opening hours and contact details, the Dozo contact page has everything you need.
FAQ: First Time Sushi in London
What if I do not like raw fish?
You can still eat well at Dozo. Beef nabe is a warm, savoury hotpot. Cooked maki rolls, edamame, miso soup and green tea ice cream are all safe bets. Ask the staff to point you towards the cooked dishes.
Do I need to book a table?
For Soho on a Friday or Saturday, yes. Weekday lunches are usually easier. South Kensington is generally more relaxed, especially at lunchtime. If you are unsure, call 020 7434 3219 for Soho or 020 7225 0505 for South Kensington.
How much should I order?
Start with two or three small plates per person, then add more if you are still hungry. A lunch set is a good fixed option. If you are ordering à la carte, mix nigiri, sashimi and a maki roll or two. You can always order more.
Ready to give it a go? Look at the full Dozo Soho menu, then book a table or check opening hours. Your first sushi meal in London does not have to be intimidating. Start with a lunch set, sit at the counter, and take it one piece at a time.
