A Cozy Japanese Hideout in London: COCORO Marylebone

Tucked away in the side streets of London, COCORO Marylebone is a quiet little Japanese restaurant I probably would’ve missed if it weren’t for a dinner with friends. I usually hang out around Oxford Street and don’t often wander into these narrow alleys, but I’m glad I did this time — turns out there are a bunch of cute cafés and stylish little shops hidden back here. Definitely worth a proper stroll next time.

COCORO has a dark brown exterior that blends into the surrounding buildings, so it doesn’t really stand out. But the display window shows off traditional Japanese sake bottles and tableware, giving it a calm, grounded feel. Inside, the space is quite tight — almost too tight. Watching the servers carry hot dishes between tables just inches from guests gave me a few heart attacks.

We had checked out the menu outside before coming in, so we placed our order quickly:

Starters: We ordered three cold appetizers — light, refreshing, and a great way to start the meal. We also had some seaweed salad, which was slightly tangy and crunchy. Super appetizing.
Grilled Sanma (Pacific Saury) with Rice: The fish was nicely grilled — not too dry, still a bit moist, and with that distinctive sanma flavour. The only downside? The fish was tiny! Definitely not enough to fill you up on its own. 😣
Tonkotsu Ramen: Surprisingly, the noodles, broth, and toppings were served separately — even the sesame seeds! I’m not sure what the intention was, but it was a fun twist. I prefer mixing everything together anyway, so I just tossed it all in. The broth had a nice richness to it — not too heavy, not too light. Sadly, you can’t choose your noodle texture, and I’m team “firm noodles,” so that was a bit of a letdown. But the pork slices, once dipped in the tonkotsu broth, were super flavourful. Since COCORO isn’t a dedicated ramen shop, I’d say their ramen is above average for sure.
Avocado Sushi Roll: This was a pleasant surprise! The sushi was topped with avocado, a drizzle of mayo, and some roe. At first, I wasn’t sure how avocado would work with sushi, but it turned out great. The mayo added creaminess, and the popping texture of the roe made each bite interesting. So good!

In the UK, lots of Japanese places use avocado in sushi, but honestly, it doesn’t always work. This one pulled it off. And while this combo isn’t super common in Asia, it’s definitely something to try if you’re in London. 👍

📍COCORO
31 Marylebone Ln, London W1U 2NH, United Kingdom