Sora Tanka
As a lifelong otaku and pop culture enthusiast, I spend my time exploring underground animation, vintage cinema, and the hidden gems of streaming media.
Published: August 30, 2026 | 8 min read | Last updated: August 30, 2026
Ask any London based otaku where to eat and one name comes up before anything else: Uzumaki. But the city's anime dining scene has quietly grown well beyond a single Naruto themed ramen shop. From a maid cafe in Bloomsbury to a seasonal Sanrio takeover in Fitzrovia, London now has a genuine handful of spots where anime fans can eat, drink, and hunt gachapon capsules in one afternoon. This guide ranks the five best anime restaurants and cafes in London right now, covering what makes each one worth the trip, what to order, and what to expect from prices and booking. Grab your chopsticks, Konoha's finest ramen and a rabbit shaped waffle are both on the menu today.
⚡ Quick Answer
London's top anime restaurant is Uzumaki London, a Naruto themed spot near the British Museum serving Naruto Ramen and Itachi Dango. Round out an otaku food crawl with Usagi Anime Maid Cafe, the seasonal Tombo x Sanrio menu, Japan House London's restaurant and cafe, and Kissaten | Fuyu's boba and gachapon corner in Soho.
| Spot | Area | Signature Order | Price From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uzumaki London | Bloomsbury | Naruto Ramen | £15 |
| Usagi Anime Maid Cafe | Bloomsbury | Rabbit Waffle Set | £12 |
| Tombo x Sanrio | Fitzrovia | Pom Pom Purin Curry | £14 |
| Japan House London | Kensington | AKIRA tasting menu | £6 (cafe) |
| Kissaten | Fuyu | Soho | Hojicha bubble tea | £5.95 |
What Actually Counts as an Anime Themed Restaurant in London?
You might also like
Plenty of London restaurants get tagged "anime themed" on Yelp simply for playing anime on a screen in the corner. That is not the same thing as a venue built around anime culture from the menu names to the wall art. This ranking weighs four things: how deep the theming actually goes, food quality based on independent reviews rather than the venue's own marketing, atmosphere and interactivity, and whether the experience is permanent or a limited run pop up you need to time your visit around.
📊 Key Stat: 35 percent of UK survey respondents say they watch anime at least once a week, which is exactly the audience these venues are built for. (WifiTalents, 2026)
1. Uzumaki London: The Naruto Ramen Original
Uzumaki London, on Great Russell Street a short walk from the British Museum, is the anime restaurant most Londoners picture when the topic comes up. Naruto murals cover the walls, the tableware is character branded, and the menu leans hard into the source material with dishes like Naruto Ramen, Itachi Dango, and Bijuu flavored bubble teas. Ramen starts from around £15, and DesignMyNight notes it was the first restaurant of its kind to open in the UK, blending Japanese cooking with pop culture theming rather than treating the anime branding as an afterthought.
"An experience of a lifetime."
⚠️ Important: Uzumaki fills up fast on weekends. Book online rather than walking in if you want a table without waiting outside.
2. Usagi Anime Maid Cafe: London's Only Maid Cafe
Tucked into Little Russell Street in Bloomsbury, Usagi Anime Maid Cafe was London's first Japanese style maid cafe, and it plays the concept completely straight. Maids and butlers greet you as a master or princess, decorate your omurice with ketchup art on request, and run table games like Jenga and rock paper scissors between courses. The kawaii parfaits, rabbit waffle set, and magical soda are the standout orders, and the room is stocked with board games plus free Nintendo Switch rental for anyone who wants to keep playing after the meal.
You might also like
💡 Pro Tip: No filming of the maids or butlers is allowed inside, so the interactive parts of the visit are worth experiencing in person rather than expecting to record them.
3. Tombo x Sanrio: The Hello Kitty Takeover
Tombo, which runs three Japanese cafes across London, has repeatedly hosted a Sanrio collaboration at its Fitzrovia branch, layering Hello Kitty, Pom Pom Purin, Bad Badtz Maru, and Keroppi themed dishes onto its regular menu. Past runs have included Bad Badtz Maru ramen garnished with the character's face and a Pom Pom Purin curry shaped like the character's signature puppy, alongside Londonist reported being the first time the wider cast of Sanrio characters had appeared together in a European cafe. It is genuinely kawaii, but it is seasonal rather than a fixture.
⚠️ Important: The Sanrio menu is a limited run collaboration, not a permanent fixture. Check Tombo's own channels before planning a visit around it specifically.
4. Japan House London: The Cultural Deep Dive
Japan House on Kensington High Street is less a themed restaurant and more a cultural hub that happens to include one, but it earns its spot here. Spread over three floors, the space pairs a fine dining restaurant with a ground floor cafe and a shop that stocks a genuinely wide manga and anime selection. Japan House London has also hosted exhibitions built directly around anime and manga culture, which makes it the pick for anyone who wants context alongside their meal rather than just theming.
5. Kissaten | Fuyu: The Gachapon and Boba Hangout
Kissaten | Fuyu on Old Compton Street in Soho is less a restaurant and more the drink stop you build an afternoon around. Order a hand crafted bubble tea from £5.95, then work through ten gachapon machines loaded with capsule toys from Spy x Family, Attack on Titan, Dragon Ball, and Sanrio lines. The Infatuation's review singles out the honey tapioca and floral milk tea blends as the reliable order, though several reviewers note the gachapon prize quality can be hit or miss.
My Honest Take After Visiting All Five
In my experience, the biggest surprise was not Uzumaki, it was Usagi. I walked in expecting a ten minute novelty photo stop and stayed closer to ninety minutes because the maid at my table kept the conversation going about which season of an anime I should watch next. Kissaten works the opposite way: it should be a five minute drink run, and it always turns into forty once the gachapon machines get involved. If you only have time for one stop, Uzumaki still earns the top spot on food alone, but treat this as a crawl rather than a single meal if you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an anime themed restaurant in London?
Yes. Uzumaki London on Great Russell Street is the capital's dedicated Naruto themed restaurant, serving dishes like Naruto Ramen and Itachi Dango alongside hand painted manga murals. It sits near the British Museum and is widely considered London's original anime dining destination.
What is the maid cafe in London called?
Usagi Anime Maid Cafe in Bloomsbury was London's first Japanese style maid cafe. Maids and butlers serve kawaii dishes like parfaits and omurice, chat with guests about anime and manga, and offer free table games and Nintendo Switch rentals during your visit.
How much does it cost to eat at Uzumaki London?
Ramen bowls at Uzumaki London start from around £15, with sides, bubble tea, and cocktails priced separately. Set menus and larger sharing dishes cost more, so a casual solo visit typically runs cheaper than a full group dinner with drinks and dessert.
Do I need to book ahead for London's anime restaurants?
Booking is strongly recommended, especially for Uzumaki London and Usagi Anime Maid Cafe on weekends, when both regularly sell out. Walk ins are possible on quieter weekdays, but reserving a table online guarantees a seat and avoids a long wait outside.
Is Uzumaki London halal friendly?
Uzumaki London offers a small halal menu section alongside its standard Naruto themed dishes, according to diner reports. Availability can vary, so it is worth confirming specific dish ingredients directly with staff when booking if you are eating halal.
Where can I find a Sanrio or Hello Kitty cafe in London?
Sanrio's Hello Kitty menu has previously appeared as a seasonal takeover at Tombo Japanese Cafe in Fitzrovia, featuring dishes like Bad Badtz Maru ramen and Pom Pom Purin curry. Check Tombo's own channels before visiting, since the collaboration runs for limited periods rather than year round.
Conclusion
London's anime dining scene is small but genuinely worth building a day around. Start at Uzumaki for the food, add Usagi for the full character experience, and let Kissaten's gachapon machines eat up whatever time you have left. Check ahead on Tombo's Sanrio calendar before you commit to that stop specifically, since it comes and goes with the seasons.
📚 Sources & References
- Uzumaki London, Official Site
- Usagi Anime Maid Cafe, Official Site
- Uzumaki London Profile, DesignMyNight
- A Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe Has Opened in London, Londonist
- Japan House London, Official Site
- Kissaten Review, The Infatuation
- Anime Statistics, WifiTalents, 2026
- Anime Market Report, Straits Research
