Great food for under £5 in London’s tourist hotspot? Yes you can

Japan Centre, London

When asked to recommend good places to eat in London, most of us would tell visitors to steer clear of anywhere in the West End. Much like those along the Champs Elysees or those within a block of Times Square, most places here cater purely for the tourist market and don’t expect repeat business from their customers. The consequences of this are over-inflated prices, poor quality food and lousy service.

There is one exception in London, and it’s a place I now regularly make a point to visit if I’m in central London and in need of lunch. The Japan Centre on Regent Street is primarily set up as a source of Japanese food for homesick ex-pats. Most of the store is lined with shelves that are stacked with strange looking products that are alien to the British but clearly very popular among London’s thriving Japanese population. Packaging is colourful without always giving a clue as to the what you might find inside.

Lots of sushi on offer; Japan Centre, London

The highlight of the Japan Centre hits you as soon as you walk in. A great choice of freshly cooked hot food is available to take away, and the fridges at the side are full of sushi and other ready to eat treats. You can choose from a selection of food that offers more variety than any restaurant menu and at a fraction of the price. I picked up a packet of 6 spicy brown rice and salmon rolls and then selected a skewer of teriyaki tofu from the hot section, and it came to the grand sum of £4.20. I was even offered a free miso soup at the checkout.

Most people take out, although you can sit at one of two bench seats inside. You’ll be lucky to get a seat however, particularly around lunchtime or if it’s raining. Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square are only 5 mins around the corner if you want to people-watch while you eat your snacks, or you can cross the road into St James Square if you’re more inclined to watch suited business folk than tourists.

Japan Centre, London

In a place surrounded by over-priced, mainly disappointing restaurants, it’s a real treat to pop into the Japan Centre and get filled up with good food for under a fiver. The first time we discovered this place was on a trip to London when I had promised to take my wife to a wonderful Japanese restaurant in Mayfair that I had been to on business. Sadly the restaurant was closed when we arrived, and as a result we stumbled upon this place. Ok, it’s not posh by any means, and it’s self-service. But for the quality, quantity and price of the food, this place is hard to beat.

(Disclosure: there is nothing to disclose. I went in, paid for my food, ate it and left. I just like this place)