RestaurantsLondonHackneyE8

Harden's says

Another little sister for Koya arrived in Broadway Market in September 2021, inspired by the fast-paced dining of the train station noodle bars found in Japan.

survey result

Summary

£45
   ££
3
Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Portions are perfect for the price and they don’t ‘cheap out’ on the protein” at these “solid udon places” in Soho (est. 2010), a newer offshoot in the City’s Bloomberg Arcade and now also with the opening of ‘Koya Ko’ in Hackney’s Broadway Market (this last with a slightly different menu). “Very Japanese-chic, super-cosy and cute”, their “staff are kind and helpful with answering questions about ingredients”. Udon are more traditional and subtler than ubiquitous ramen, and arrive in Japan’s famous light dashi stock.

Summary

£40
    £
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Excellent, fresh udon” – the original Japanese noodles – are to be found at the Soho mothership of this small multiple and its offshoot in the City’s foodie Bloomberg Arcade. Other specialities include tempura and kara-age fried chicken. (Udon are more difficult to find in London than the highly popular Chinese-influenced ramen, and are generally considered subtler, lighter and more refined.)

Summary

£36
    £
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“The #1 Japanese noodles in London” – especially for those who prefer udon, the fat wheat noodles eaten hot or cold that are a healthier alternative to ubiquitous ramen. The eleven-year-old Soho original has been joined by a City bar in the Bloomberg Arcade, although an offshoot at Victoria Market Halls closed after only six months this year. Choose the “very interesting specials and consistently good udon – the rice dishes are nice, but not as memorable”. Top Tip – “one of the few Japanese restaurants open for breakfast in the West End”.

Summary

£36
    £
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“The #1 Japanese noodles in London” – especially for those who prefer udon, the fat wheat noodles eaten hot or cold that are a healthier alternative to ubiquitous ramen. The 10-year-old Soho original has been joined by a City bar in the Bloomberg Arcade, although an offshoot at Victoria Market Halls closed after only six months this year. Choose the “very interesting specials and consistently good udon – the rice dishes are nice, but not as memorable”. Top Tip – “one of the few Japanese restaurants open for breakfast in the West End”.

For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Koya Ko?

Prices

Starter Main Pudding
£2.90 £10.90 £6.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £0.00
Filter Coffee £3.20
Extras  
Bread £0.00
Service 10.00%
Opening hours
Monday10 am‑10:30 pm
Tuesday10 am‑10:30 pm
Wednesday10 am‑10:30 pm
Thursday10 am‑10:30 pm
Friday10 am‑10:30 pm
Saturday10 am‑10:30 pm
Sunday10 am‑9:30 pm

Best Japanese restaurants nearby

Tonkotsu East
Japanese restaurant in Haggerston
£47
   ££
2
Average
2
Average
2
Average
Angelina
Fusion restaurant in Hackney
£61
  £££
4
Very Good
2
Average
3
Good
Issho-Ni
Japanese restaurant in Bethnal Green
£43
    £
3
Good
4
Very Good
3
Good

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Ozone Coffee Roasters
Sandwiches, cakes, etc restaurant in Bethnal Green
£45
   ££
3
Good
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
Patty and Bun
Burgers, etc restaurant in Hackney
£44
    £
3
Good
2
Average
2
Average
Tonkotsu East
Japanese restaurant in Haggerston
£47
   ££
2
Average
2
Average
2
Average