Sushi Samba

If you’re looking for a London restaurant with a view, Sushi Samba is one to be at the top of the list. Spanning across 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower, just beneath the renowned Duck & Waffle, Sushi Samba boasts stunning views of the City of London. Following a lot of successes, they have also expanded with another branch at Covent Garden, overseeing the Covent Garden Piazza, plus footprints in Las Vegas, Miami and Amsterdam. They are not just another Japanese restaurant but showcases instead a fusion of Japanese cuisine with Brazilian and Peruvian flavours.

As we hopped on then stepped out of the express elevator at the Heron Tower, we were greeted with this gorgeous view and the iconic stairway down to the restaurant. At the bottom of the stairway, there’s an installation of the iconic Kyoto shrine shaping the pathway into the dining area.

Inside the dining area, the interior is super bright with lots of natural light coming in during lunchtime. The decor is snazzy, with a blend of modern yet exotic touch of style. There is a plethora of options on the menu, featuring a range of small & large plates, sushi rolls, sashimi and nigiri, etc. Here is what we ordered:

Please note that Sushi Samba does not serve halal meats. Pescatarian and vegetarian options are available.

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Moqueca Mista (£34)

The Moqueca Mista is a hot sizzling rice dish consisting of mixed seafood (shrimp, squid, sea bass, mussels, clams) that’s cooked with coconut milk and served with chimichurri rice. I knew I had to get this once I saw it on the menu. Everything listed about this dish was absolutely enticing and it’s totally calling for me!

Taking my first bite into the moqueca, a really sharp zingy taste awakened all my senses. It’s really tangy, almost at the edge of being too much, and certainly packed with punches of intriguing flavours. The sauce was extremely rich from the coconut, and it did get a little bit heavy towards the end. Personally though, I was hoping to get more taste of spices from this. Nevertheless, I loved the Chimichurri rice, which was well seasoned and just delicious!

SASA roll (£12)

Normally, I’m not particularly crazy over sushi rolls. I like them but am also quite picky with their fillings/toppings. I nearly skipped reading the Samba Roll section on the menu but I happen to spot the SASA roll at the corner of my eye which sparked enough intrigue in me to try it.

The SASA Roll is a great fusion dish. It basically takes the concept of a Japanese sushi hand roll with shrimp tempura, but combining other non-typical Japanese ingredients such as Padron pepper, quinoa, spicy mayo, and red onions.

I actually absolutely loved this! It’s something different, truly featuring innovative flavours and simply satisfying to taste. It’s generally quite a light dish and features a very mild hint of spice. All the ingredients matched impeccably with one another, creating this unique flavour combo that’s thoroughly enjoyable.

Unagi Maki (£12)

Now for something more typical Japanese, we got the Unagi Maki rolls, which got freshwater eel, cucumber, avocado, and spring onion. This was delightful as expected and certainly well-executed. You simply can’t go wrong with the sticky sweet sauce over the eel, paired with the lovely crunch from the spring onion and a refreshing touch that seeped through from the cucumber.

In summary…

We really enjoyed our meal at Sushi Samba and are absolutely delighted by the food. The quality of the food was up to par, the staff had been attentive, and the setting was great. If you’re looking for a place for a special occasion and is a fan of sushi and innovative flavours, Sushi Samba should definitely be on your list.

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Tel: 020 3640 7330
Website: https://www.sushisamba.com
Instagram: @sushisamba

Nearest station: Liverpool Street