Japanese food certainly needs no introduction in the UK; many books have been written and more restaurants are opening every year, their prime aim to acquaint diners with the nuances of this cuisine. Taro Sushi Noodle Bar chooses to be different from the other futuristically styled places, but still manages to charm customers with its minimalist, woody interior and toothsome cooking.

So settle in with a bowl of chicken udon noodle soup or beef ramen with bean sprout, seaweed, carrot, spring onions and sesame seeds. Chicken or salmon teriyaki are some of their popular dishes but their bento boxes are not to be missed either, especially the tonkatsu version with deep-fried pork with breadcrumbs, topped with sauce and served with mixed salad and mayonnaise. How can sushi possibly be ignored, especially if you've developed a soft corner for those delicious little morsels? Here it could be a cone shaped temaki stuffed with spicy tuna, eel or avocado with wasabi, or chirashi sushi of tuna, salmon, prawn, tobiko, snapper, squid, octopus, soft clam and egg, beautifully decorated on rice.