Had the lunch set, beef skewers were tender and juicy. Black garlic mustard sauce elevated the charcoal flavour from the yakitori. Prawn toast was excellent bite-sized side dish that contrasted with the crunch.
Prawn sando was on the salty side, but shokupan was really good.
Finally, the chocolate and Kinako sundae was our favourite! If you are someone who likes soy bean and Nutella taste, would highly recommend! Very unique and delicious dessert!
Sharon Fitton★★★★★
Our visit to Kushi-ya was outstanding. This was the first time we had been and it was a date night for us. We were greeted at the door by a very lovely host, the drinks were excellent and service was quick. The food was the star. So so tasty with lots of menu options and a specials board. The team were lovely and the experience was delightful all round. We will be returning. Loved it.
Travelling Doc★★★★★
Tucked away off a small pedestrian street next to the iconic Paul Smith original building, Kushi-ya is one of Nottingham’s Michelin Guide–mentioned gems. You enter through a narrow passage that opens into a small courtyard with outdoor seating before reaching the main restaurant — a minimalist indoor space featuring an open kitchen at the far end, a relaxed bar area on the right, and private dining to the left. Tables was spread out which was nice.
The Yuzu Margarita is excellent — bright, tangy, and perfectly balanced — while the Negroni twist is pleasant though less memorable.
Grilled Edamame, Soy & Chilli (£5.5)
A standout dish. The grilled edamame is tossed in a delicious soy-chilli glaze, giving it a smoky depth and making it easily one of the best versions I’ve had in a long time.
Furikake Prawn Toast (£5.5)
Another winner — a creative take on the classic prawn toast, served almost as a roll but on the salty side . The texture and seasoning are spot on, with great balance between the crispness and the rich prawn filling.
Prawn Katsu Sando, Gochujang Marie Rose, Shredded Lettuce (£12.5)
This feels like a prawn toast evolved into a sandwich which was on the salty side — crunchy, juicy, and satisfying, with the gochujang mayo adding just the right kick.
Chicken Karaage, Sriracha Mayo
Well-battered and tender on the inside but on the salty side , the chicken karaage delivers on all fronts. The sriracha mayo complements it perfectly without overpowering the flavour.
Soy Braised Pork Shoulder, Lettuce, Condiments (£18.5)
A fresh, assemble-it-yourself style dish. The shredded pork shoulder is rich and savoury, paired beautifully with crisp lettuce, vegetables, and panko for texture — a satisfying balance of richness and freshness.
Overall, with a 10% service charge and an average spend of around £50 per person, Kushi-ya offers excellent value for a meal of this quality.
Verdict: A relaxed yet refined Japanese spot which was on the salty side with consistently impressive dishes and thoughtful flavours. The Yuzu Margarita and grilled edamame alone are worth the visit.
ryan oboyle★★★★★
The food was incredible, cooked to perfection. Dishes were a good size and the food was divine. The drink was also great. Enjoyed the experience.
Staff service was slow however it was busy. It’s took time to get our drinks ordered and the food between plates was a bit slow. Positive part of the service the staff was really friendly and made the experience great !
However the food made up for this. The atmosphere was also great. Will come again and definitely recommend the establishment.
Toby Hassell★★★★★
Super exiting Japanese small plates.
We ate everything on the menu and doubled up on all the skewers. Literally everything that we tasted was delicious and surprised us. The service was warm and efficient, the staff knowledgeable and all friendly.
Interesting drinks menu.
Arlene N★★★★★
Fabulous, relaxed and friendly service with great food. I just recently had my second visit to Kushi-ya, with a year in between. The menu has evolved and it shows!
I have to say when we went the options on the menu & specials were very pork heavy (which was unfortunate for non-pork eaters), however, the choice of seafood and veggie options made up for it massively.
Certainly different to my first visit, which although good, the menu now seems less experimental, but still with a beautiful nod to the culture.
All dishes and drinks are in the captions.
We particularly enjoyed the
* Edamame
* Onion furikake
*Aubergine miso
All the dishes were delicious so very hard to choose! I’d recommend all that we tried - sake too! I’d recommend this place and looking forward to another visit soon.
My only two critiques would be that I had to chase a waiter a few times for things like napkins etc. And secondly, the chicken tsukune was a little salty but otherwise everything was great!
Maggie Cheung★★★★★
We had the lunch menu which was very good value for the quality of food.
The pork on a bed of lettuce was amazing. It came with pickled cucumber, fried spring onions (very fragrant, just like how my mum prepares it), tempura batter bits and a sweet sauce.
The edamame beans were on the salty side, but still very nice. Aubergine skewers were also prepared well. The curry sauce was very similar to other chains that sell katsu curry. The highlight was the prawn toast. It was very fresh and crispy.
Chad Valentine★★★★★
Nice food, varied menu, reasonable prices and friendly staff. We bought 1 of everything and it all came really quickly. Couple of the dishes were a little bit plain (the scallops and the potato skewers) but the rest were excellent. Particularly enjoyed the beef skewers with black garlic, the Japanese sausage and the deep fried artichoke hearts. The deserts were sublime. Go on, treat yourself!
Louise Allen★★★★★
Good value lunch menu that is very filling. Nice drinks and friendly service. The pickles were delicious! I probably wouldn't have the curry sauce on the rice next time as the sauce on the prawns and with the chicken were sufficient.
New Review
FAQs
What is the address of Kushi-ya?
Kushi-ya is located at 14a Low Pavement, Nottingham NG1 7DL, UK
What is the phone number of Kushi-ya?
You can contact Kushi-ya at +44 115 941 1369
How can I get to Kushi-ya?
You can find directions to Kushi-ya by following this map link
