THERE are restaurants you simply dine in, and then there are ones that invite you into their world. Wani Tzuki, London’s newest Japanese izakaya and housed within the recently unveiled House of Louie, feels unmistakably like the latter.
From the second I step inside, the city’s familiar buzz softens, giving way to something sleek, atmospheric and gently enigmatic. Its name translates to “Alligator Moon,” a reference to the mythical wani of Japanese lore, a symbolic clue to the restaurant’s polished yet enigmatic personality.
Wani Tzuki
Calm without feeling formal, the space is designed for both dining and lingering, blending Japanese minimalism with European warmth by pairing natural woods with velvet seats and chairs adorned with floral detailing, all softened by low, amber lighting.
The menu, guided by the team behind Dubai’s acclaimed Mimi Kakushi, continues this intercultural dialogue. Japanese ingredients meet French-trained precision, resulting in dishes that are both grounded in tradition and subtly reimagined. We begin with steaming edamame and comforting miso soup before diving into the restaurant’s exceptional raw selection of bluefin fatty toro sashimi, A5 wagyu nigiri with caviar, otoro nigiri with caviar, and the citrus-bright yuzukosho hamachi. Each bite feels like a quiet study in balance and restraint.
Wani Tzuki
As the table fills, so do the textures and contrasts. Crispy rice with spicy tuna, Japanese-style salmon tartare maki, and rock shrimp tempura glazed with spicy honey mayo and lime arrive in quick succession. The salmon tataki, dressed in ponzu and ginger oil, is silky and precise, while the black cod, lacquered in caramelised miso and paired with yuzu daikon, delivers a lingering, elegant richness.
Wani Tzuki
We pair everything with cocktails as meticulous as the food. The Crimson Tide, a berried sake martini layered with golden gin, strawberry, redcurrant and jasmine tea, feels delicate yet expressive, while the Keeper of Secrets, a rice-cake-inspired old fashioned blending Nikka from the Barrel whisky, is deep, smoky and quietly seductive.
Wani Tzuki
Dessert arrives in the form of sesame, coconut and matcha mochi, soft, chilled and satisfyingly chewy, a playful final note before returning to the city.
Wani Tzuki isn’t simply a restaurant; it’s a cultural meeting point, a beautifully choreographed blend of mood, craftsmanship and storytelling. I leave feeling as though I’ve travelled somewhere far beyond London, already imagining my return.
by Vivian Hui
To book, visit Wani Tzuki
13-15 West St, Greater, London WC2H 9NE