Mitsu: East Tokyo street culture meets Shoreditch in new restaurant

Mitsu, a new Japanese restaurant at 50 Willow Street in London's Shoreditch, opened in the former Nobu Hotel space, now part of the Aethos hotel. Designed by Madrid-based Astet studio, the restaurant aims to transplant the energy of east Tokyo's 1970s and 80s street culture into east London. Co-founders Óscar Engroba and Ala Zreigat drew on Japanese heritage and urban character, incorporating neon signs, dynamic graphics, shoji-inspired glass, backlit panels, and hand-painted noren hangings. The menu offers an izakaya experience with robata-grilled dishes like Brixham turbot with yuzo miso and unadon, plus a collaboration with Suntory for Japanese whisky highballs and a saké list from Kanpai brewery in Bermondsey. The venue also features a karaoke room and DJ decks on the terrace. Ben McCormack reviewed the restaurant for Wallpaper*.