Koya Japanese Restaurant Soho

Great spot for lunch. Loved the authentic counter seating, not the best for a dinner date but superb for a solo lunch hideaway. The beef don was really nice but I’m used to having more sauce as I had in Japan, but this isn’t Japan so it’s unfair to compare. It’s still good though. Overall, great location for a lunch spot.

A lovely Japanese spot in the heart of Soho. The food was fantastic! Especially the grilled fish, which is well worth trying. Everything tasted fresh and properly prepared. Service was a bit on the slow side, and we had to wait a while for the bill, even though it wasn’t too busy. Still, it’s fairly priced for the area and a great alternative for breakfast or a light meal.

I came specifically to Koya for their prawn tempura udon which was shown on the lunch menu. I arrived slightly before 12pm which was still their breakfast menu time. I didn’t argue — I even ordered a breakfast soup noodle first and waited until 12pm so I could order the prawn tempura. At 12pm when I asked to order it, the staff told me I’m not allowed to order prawn tempura as a topping, and instead I must order a whole full portion. I asked politely if I could at least take away the extra if I can’t finish it (since they were forcing me to order an entire separate dish). The lady then told me they do not provide any takeaway containers at all. The entire interaction made me feel extremely unwelcome, rigidly policed, and honestly punished for trying to order what’s actually on their menu. Totally ruined my experience. Bad service attitude + absolutely inflexible. I left feeling mad and disappointed. Definitely not coming back.

I think there was only counter seating inside and two tables outside. I was trying to rest my tired stomach after a recent disordered diet (pre-trip binge eating) and needed some real Japanese food, so I think I was right to come here. I ordered mini udon soup. The soup was light in color and flavorful.It was very tasty and warmed my body and soul.

Very popular. Some of the udon noodles were a little bland, but I think that’s authentic. Belly pork was fantastic. Service was excellent. Worth another try n

Went and had nice udon. Food was amazing. Authentic food and vibes. Although the service was a bit mixed experience. After we paid, they hold us off. We waited at the entrance for few minutes, wondering what went wrong. They said we paid the correct amount but the waiter put it to the wrong table. So not our fault and we paid extra for some reasons (should be £72 but was asked £74). The one who paid extra was offered tea, but we were in a hurry so we declined. Thus low service rating. Maybe just one off.

One of my favourite restaurants in London. Highly recommended! My favourite is pork noodles, pork belly, mushrooms, seaweed plum wine and prawn tempura

Koya is a small Japanese spot tucked away in the heart of Soho, offering chef/ kitchen counter seating for around 20 people. The atmosphere is casual, and they open early, though the menu before 12pm is quite limited—mainly breakfast items and a small selection of udon dishes.Three chefs were working behind the counter during my visit. I ordered the curry udon with grilled vegetables. Unfortunately, the dish was underwhelming. The vegetables—okra, fennel, aubergine, spring onion shoots—were fibrous, sparse, and didn’t add much to the plate. The curry sauce was overly thick and starchy, lacking balance. The portion of noodles was Over-generous almost turning it into a dish filler, but it felt mismatched with the meagre amount of vegetables. Service left a lot to be desired. Food was handed over the counter without much interaction, and one of the waiters repeatedly brushed against me without a single apology. I eventually had to ask for the service charge to be removed. Overall, it was a disappointing visit. The food was below average, and its was overpriced and poor value. The lack of basic ingredients—especially vegetables, which are inexpensive—felt careless. I won’t be returning or recommending Koya.