The best Japanese restaurants in Edinburgh

Lucky you indeed if you’ve booked a table at this new diner. Well, at least the address is new. Lucky Yu had actually been blazing a trail up at the Port of Leith for some time, before moving into this prime post on buzzing Broughton Street, to bring its funky, colourful street food to the city centre.

Inside, a simply decorated interior of pale terracotta-washed walls, cream lanterns and wooden furniture, is accented by pink neons. It comes from a stellar team of individuals behind hits such as Bodega and Gardener’s Cottage. The menu includes specialty dumplings, small plates, sandwiches with a difference and bao buns, as well as Asian-inspired cocktails. Lucky Yu claims to have the best chicken wings in town too, so you’ll have to get down there to decide for yourself if it’s true…

The restaurant formerly known as Gulp has been rebranded as Mirin, named after the Japanese kitchen staple rice wine used to give a tang to your tea (that’s dinner if you’re not from Edinburgh).

The menu here is not exclusively Japanese, instead, it’s a fusion which incorporates Korean, Thai, Scottish, US and Chinese elements to create innovative dishes you won’t find anywhere else. For example, there’s katsu pork cutlet made using chasu shoulder, American cheese, crispy vinegar wonton, pickled daikon and brioche; a bowl of quirky dirty rice (egg fried sushi rice with vegetables, curry sauce, “dirty” egg, nori mayo, spring onion, chilli sauce and puffed potato); and BBQ pigeon breast with Stornoway black pudding, pistachio, pickled kohl rabi and sambal sauce. So if you’re tastebuds enjoy a sense of adventure, pay Mirin a visit.

This bijou spot with colourful wall art is far away from the tourist throng, yet extremely handy for those who work in the financial district or commute via Haymarket Station. You’ll find all your Japanese faves on the menu, from teriyaki to tempura, noodles and noodle soups, rice dishes, teppanyaki, curries and katsu, but we reckon it’s best for sushi.

There’s a long list of options, so if you’re struggling to decide, you can opt for the Set Corner omakase, where the chef will select either three of five types of sashimi (10 or 16 pieces in total), based on the freshest catch of the day. For pud, consider some apple gyoza with a serving of ice cream — flavours include chestnut, coconut mochi, green tea and sesame. And wash it all down with some healthy brown rice tea.

Something for those on the Southside and jaded diners wanting something a little bit different, Hope Omurisu focuses on Japanese BBQ. The little shop has a traditional-meets-modern look, with painted lanterns, bamboo and screens and bustles with activity as it serves up scran to in-house diners and order-in customers.

You might like to try a BBQ bowl, with chicken thighs, sausages, tofu, naruto, maki, fishcake, egg and salad items; an ox tongue kebab; or corn tofu curd skewers. The traditional omurisu, the classic homemade omelette cooked with or without cheese, is also a popular option.

If you’re seeking an elaborate spread that you can take time over — perhaps for a special event, date night or birthday, Kanpai will rise to the occasion. It’s also a handy stop before the theatre, in very close proximity to the Lyceum, Usher Hall and Traverse. It’s been recommended in the Michelin Guide and Peter Irvine’s Scotland the Best and won several awards.

You can choose a table beside the sushi bar, for a touch of culinary theatre, or tucked away in a booth for privacy and romance. Everything is exquisitely presented, with huge bowls of sashimi on crushed ice with craved veggies, and such hand rolls in wooden ice cream-style holders. Dishes are served in colourful rustic earthenware for a fashionable feel, adding to the stylish, contemporary Japanese design of the place.