You’d think Nairobi would be big on African food due to its popularity as a tourist destination in Africa. Don’t get me wrong, it is – but that doesn’t mean you won’t find the finest made Sushi from the best Japanese restaurants prepared in Nairobi.
Asian food is big everywhere. It’s a healthy option with a rich aroma, exotic taste, and spices to arouse your taste buds. There’s a bounty of authentic Japanese restaurants in Nairobi. In my quest to satisfy my inner foodie while exploring the rich cultures in Nairobi, I bumped into the following list.
These are the finest authentic Japanese restaurants in Nairobi.
Tokyo Restaurant
Tokyo Restaurant is a popular Japanese restaurant in Nairobi that has been operating for the last 23 years. Suppose you are going to eat in a Japanese restaurant outside of Japan. In that case, you’d be more comfortable tasting the cuisine prepared by a certified Japanese Chef—Tokyo Restaurant in Nairobi offers that and more.
Japanese culture is all about the beauty and greenery of the earth – this is one of the first things you will notice when you step into Tokyo Restaurant. It’s decorated with a small, serene garden and designed in an indoor-outdoor setting.
You’ll be dazzled by their Chef’s culinary skills thanks to four Tepanyaki tables designed for live cooking. Tokyo Restaurant is ideal for small and large gatherings and offers an ample playground for kids and parking for several vehicles.
Tokyo Restaurant’s mouth-watering menu includes an assortment of starters, vegetarian dishes, soups and salads, Tempura, Noodles, Rolls, Sushi, and Sashimi, among others.
PS: Tokyo Restaurant is ideal for casual meetups, romantic dates, family gatherings with children, and small meetings with friends.
Tokyo Restaurant Menu: Sushi, Sashimi, Combo Set, Teppanyaki (last order 8 pm), Dessert, Tempura, Rolls, Noodles, Vegetarian, Soups and Salads, Seafood, and an assortment of Starters.
Tokyo Restaurant Average Cost PP/Meal: $10 -$25.
Location: Kolloh Road, Lavington, Nairobi. Open Monday – Sunday, 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Phone: (+254) 722 485 556; (0)733 444 651. Email: tokyonbi@gmail.com.
Furusato Japanese Restaurant
Furusato Japanese Restaurant in Nairobi is one of the most recommended locations in the city for authentic Japanese food. Its popularity in the city among middle-class Nairobians and the expatriate community began thanks to their Teppanyaki. Furusato Japanese Restaurant has six (6) Teppanyaki tables, which make for an exciting display.
Furusato Japanese Restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating areas perfect for casual meetings and huge gatherings such as birthdays. The ambiance inside the establishment is reminiscent of Japanese culture—the art, paintings, decor, and lighting.
There’s enough space at the back for tents a children’s playground and ample parking for diner vehicles at the front.
Furusato Japanese Restaurant Menu: Japanese Starters, Sushi, Tempura, Teppanyaki, Rolls, Sashimi and Syo Platter, Seafood, Noodles, Desserts, and Drinks.
PS: Furusato Japanese Restaurant often has a crowd of dinners, and it is recommended (based on reviews and my experience) that you ensure you are specific about your orders, especially for large gatherings or parties.
Furusato Japanese Restaurant Average Price PP/Meal: $15 – $25.
Location: Ringroad Parklands, Westlands, Nairobi. Open Monday – Sunday, 12:00 am – 10:30 pm.
Phone: (+254) 722 488 706. Email: furusatonairobi@gmail.com.
CHEKAFE – Japanese Restaurant
They say, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” and CHEKAFE – a Japanese Restaurant in Nairobi seems to live by this mantra. It’s the perfect Japanese establishment in Nairobi for diners unfamiliar with Japanese cuisine, thanks to its simple menu.
You’ll be invited to its huge lush gardens, friendly staff, and comfy ambiance and environment. The patrons of CHEKAFE – a Japanese Restaurant, clearly went on a limb to make sure the environment around the establishment was lush and cozy.
Perfect for enjoying the sunny Nairobi afternoons, CHEKAFE – a Japanese Restaurant, is perfect for romantic dates, small gatherings, and family and group meetups. It’s also one of the most recommended restaurants in Nairobi for all-morning-all-you-can-have brunch. It also has one of the fastest delivery services in the restaurant scene in Nairobi.
CHEKAFE—Japanese Restaurant Menu: Japanese Cheesecake, Amazing Coffee, Sandwiches, Chicken Curry, Sushi, Sashimi, Grilled Seafood, Tofu, nato snack, Salads, Curries, Chicken, Pork, Teriyaki, and other offerings.
PS: My server recommended their Roasted Pork with Salad Onion, which I enjoyed. You should try it, too. Don’t miss out on their appetizers.
CHEKAFE – Japanese RestaurantAverage Cost PP/Meal: $10 – $20.
Location: Kuria Close (Off Muthangari Road, Nairobi. Open Monday – Sunday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Phone: (+254) 717 700 666; (0)711 336 688.
Haru Restaurant
Set in the lush neighborhood of Karen in Nairobi, Haru Restaurant is a great Japanese restaurant for diners looking for healthy cuisine in an innovative and fresh setting. The ambiance of this establishment will take you back, and the speedy, quality service from the staff will keep you coming back.
Haru Restaurant has become a popular hangout spot for Japanese cuisine lovers in Nairobi. Some of the most requested foods on the premises are sushi, salmon, and sashimi. This Japanese restaurant was also awarded by Go Places Digital in 2013 as the ‘Best Celebrity Restaurant.’
You’ll also love the Teppanyaki sitting around its Teppam hot plates as the specially trained chef skillfully awes you with culinary masterpieces. Haru Restaurant is undoubtedly one of the trendiest restaurants in Nairobi City.
Haru Restaurant is ideal for romantic dinner dates (late evenings are perfect), birthdays, casual meetups, and small gatherings.
Haru Restaurant Menu: Coffee, Japanese Tea, Cake Tart, Japanese Whisky, Teppanyaki, Sushi, Sashimi, Tofu,
PS: I highly recommend you try Haru Restaurant Sushi and Sashimi, Tempura, Zaru Soba, Nabe Udon, Hoso Maki, and more.
Haru RestaurantAverage Cost PP/Meal: $15 – $25.
Location: Karen Professional Center, Karen Road, Karen, Nairobi. It is open Monday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Phone: (+254) 720 945 400. Email: Harukenya@hotmail.com.
INTI – A Nikkei Experience
INTI – A Nikkei Experience is undeniably among the finest Japanese restaurants in Nairobi and the world. It also ranks as one of the best restaurants in Nairobi for an authentic dining experience. This restaurant centers around top-of-the-range Nikkei Cuisine, which simply celebrates a blend of Japanese and Peruvian fare.
Thanks to its perfect location in the heart of Nairobi City in Westlands, diners can enjoy the expansive skyline, which, as a backdrop, features decor and design unlike any in the region. Simply put, INTI—A Nikkei Experience has a top-tier interior design.
PS: INTI – A Nikkei Experience is a fancy restaurant with a dress code – sportswear, flip flops, and caps are highly discouraged at this premises.
If you are looking to impress, INTI—A Nikkei Experience is the best stage to set your showcase. The food prepared is world-class, and the delivery is intercontinental. It simply offers value for money.
INTI – A Nikkei Experience Menu: Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Ceviche, Tiradito, Tempura and Spring Rolls, Robata/Yakitori, Grills, Main Courses (Nikkei Style Peking Duck, Pacha Lamb, Pollo a La Brasa, Misoyaki), Veg Maki, Sushi, Sashimi, Sides and Dessert.
INTI – A Nikkei Experience Average Cost PP/Meal: $10 – $45.
Location: 20th Floor, One Africa Place, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi. Open Monday – Sunday, 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Sundowners 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
Phone: (+254) 735 065 945.
Zen Garden
Zen Garden is one of the most recommended Japanese/Asian restaurants in Nairobi. It offers authentic Japanese cuisine and a scenic ambiance that borrows from its surrounding Spring Valley neighborhood.
Nestled in a 21/2-acre property, Zen Garden houses three entities: the main attraction, a Zen-inspired Asian landscape and gardens, a restaurant, and a patisserie. Diners looking for a place to hold memorable events and experiences can book the Zen Garden’s lush spaces.
The Zen Garden is truly a beautiful oasis of the soul and mind. Its exotic menu cuts across the Asian continent, and not just Japan, and will soothe your taste buds as the environment and atmosphere in the premises revitalize your mind.
Zen Garden menu: Breakfast, Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Dim Sum, Maki and Sashimi, Sushi, Rolls, Grills, Vegetarian, Seafood, Vegetarian Mains, Rice and Noodles, Drinks and shakes and more.
Zen Garden Average Cost PP/Meal: $10 – $25.
Location: Lower Kabete Road, Nairobi. Open Monday – Sunday, 9:00 am – 11:00 pm.
Phone: (+254) 714 744 231; (0) 737 744 231; (0) 717 976 548. Email: info@zengarden.co.ke.
Sushi Soo
Sushi Soo is one of the top-tier recommended establishments In Nairobi for authentic Japanese and Korean Cuisine. This restaurant believes in offering authentic Japanese, Korean, and Asian dishes that will keep you coming back for more.
Set in the swanky neighborhood of Kileleshwa, Sushi Soo prepares its food with the finest ingredients sourced locally and overseas in Japan. The establishment’s premium selection of meats and seafood, marinated traditionally and grilled to perfection, is particularly exciting.
Sushi Soo is ideal for date nights and small gatherings, including family meets, corporate events, and parties.
Sushi Soo menu: Wakame Salad, Gyoza, Ebi Tempura, Karage, Mariwase Tempura, Chicken Skewers, Yasai Itame, buta bara, Grilled Squid, Tofu, Sushi, Sashimi, Temaki, Vegetarian, Rolls, Noodles, Yakiniku, Katsu, Shogayaki, and many more.
Sushi Soo Average Cost PP/Meal: $15 – $30.
Location: Oloitoktok Road (Close to Methodist Ministries), Kileleshwa Nairobi. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:30 am – 9:45 pm.
Phone: (+254) 799 214 787; 020 232 0000. Email: Sushisoogoong@gmail.com.