Tombo Japanese Cafe

Featured reviews

• G

  Google user

  ·1 month ago

  “Excellent pre-Proms dinner. We had a donburi bowl, a poké bowl and some sides, all served and eaten in half an hour. This place has become a favourite when we’re in the area and never disappoints.”

• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “Absolutely loved this place! Everything was delicious, from the drinks and main dish to the dessert. The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavour. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal. The service was excellent as well. I highly recommend this café and will definitely be coming back!”

• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “I had the ramen and it was absolutely delicious. The broth was rich and full of flavour, the noodles were perfectly cooked, and the ingredients tasted fresh. The portion size was satisfying, and the service was friendly and efficient. The restaurant had a lovely atmosphere, making it a great place to enjoy authentic Japanese food. I would definitely come back for the ramen again!”

• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “Just had what might genuinely be the most depressing Japanese meal since Britain discovered mayonnaise. The only thing I can genuinely praise is the staff — they were lovely, friendly, and very kind to the children, which honestly was the saving grace of the experience. But food-wise, this was absolutely nowhere near worth the price. For £15+ a bowl, I expected at least something vaguely resembling Japanese food, not a sad school-canteen interpretation of it. The ‘crispy’ chicken katsu arrived with all the crunch and structural integrity of a wet tissue. The chicken itself had the flavour profile of boiled regret, and I’ve genuinely had supermarket frozen chicken with more personality. Even the rice looked rationed — portion size so small it felt like they were serving during wartime. The udon was equally tragic. Tiny portion, bargain-bin noodles, and broth that tasted like someone whispered ‘dashi’ into hot water from another room. Meanwhile, Wasabi somehow manages to do bigger portions, tastier food, and charge about half the price — which is frankly astonishing. Lovely staff, lovely with kids, but the food and value for money were so disappointing that I genuinely left wondering whether the chef has ever actually been to Japan.”

• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “Focus on Lunch & Bento (Great for a meal) "Really enjoyed lunch here. The bento boxes and poke bowls are fresh, well-portioned, and beautifully presented. It’s a nice change of pace from the typical cafe offerings in the area. The atmosphere is calm and modern, making it a perfect place for a relaxed meal. The salmon sashimi was particularly fresh!”

• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “This is a neat and comfortable cafe, with high ceilings that create a relaxing and open atmosphere. I ordered a “Ganmo Tofu Don”, which is essentially tofu patties served in teriyaki sauce with rice. I have to admit that the tofu patties did not look particularly appealing at first—round, brown, and rather plain in appearance. However, they were surprisingly delicious. The kitchen apparently freezes and then defrosts the tofu, creating a porous structure that becomes exceptionally soft and absorbent (something later confirmed by the polite staff). The result is a juicy patty that soaks up the sweet teriyaki sauce beautifully. Even the side dishes were prepared with care. The accompanying salad of carrots and turnips was freshly shredded, while the pickles were pleasantly seasoned without being overly salty. Both added a refreshing contrast to the meal. The only minor issue for me was that some of the rice, particularly the parts not covered by the teriyaki sauce, felt a little dry. I also ordered a soft-serve matcha cone. It was creamy and pleasantly sweet, although I personally would have enjoyed a slightly stronger matcha flavour.”

• G

  Google user

  ·5 months ago

  “This is my local Japanese cafe/restaurant. The staff there are super friendly and helpful. Came here last week and ordered some cakes and mains (I did not take a picture of the mains but I’ve attached an old pic from few weeks ago. The sesame cake was amazing but the sakura one was okay. The matcha was good. We ordered a sashimi rice and a bowl of ramen. The ramen was delicious. The rice bowl is really good too and comes in two sizes. This is definitely my favourite cafe / restaurant in South Kensington.”

• G

  Google user

  ·5 months ago

  “Tombo Japanese Cafe is conveniently nestled near South Kensington Station, offering a wide range of food as both a café and restaurant. From savoury dishes to sweet treats and coffee, it’s a great spot to satisfy Japanese cravings. The food is delicious, though it leans towards the pricier side. Service was excellent, and the interior genuinely felt like a slice of Japan, which added to the overall experience. I’d highly recommend coming here for lunch, and I’d definitely return for coffee.”

• G

  Google user

  ·6 months ago

  “Highly recommend!! We ordered the Osaka Fire Poke bowl, Sakura shortcake, Sakura Mochi Matcha latte and Matcha soft serve ice cream. They also gave us an additional free Sakura soft serve ice cream when they accidently brought it out for us instead of the Matcha, so we had both! Food and desserts were very delicious, and the staff were super friendly and helpful! We will be returning!”

• G

  Google user

  ·7 months ago

  “Decent sized Japanese cafe, great selection of quick lunch mix and desserts. Had their matcha desserts for years and it never disappoint! Also gluten free options which is amazing.”