Mai Food - Kensington and Chelsea

While on a 2-day business trip, I was exploring Earl's Court in search of a dinner spot. I was looking for a cozy atmosphere and stumbled upon Mai Food, a small Japanese restaurant with a traditional menu that I love. Upon entering, I immediately felt at home. The menu displayed outside does not do justice to the amazing dishes found inside. I highly recommend taking a step inside to experience the friendly atmosphere, delicious food, and wide selection available. You will not be disappointed! I am already planning to return whenever possible. Whether dining with friends or alone, Mai Food is the perfect place for a wonderful evening out. Don't miss out on this hidden gem!

The food is decent, but what sets this restaurant apart is its variety of Japanese dishes not typically found in London. Our experience was somewhat marred by uncomfortable seating at the counter, with chairs too low for the height of the counter. Sitting elsewhere may have provided a different experience. Overall, the unique menu offerings make it a worthwhile visit.

I appreciate the authenticity of this small restaurant, but overall the food is just okay and the freshness of the seafood can be questionable at times. The extensive menu and limited daily volume make it difficult to justify using fresh ingredients, and unfortunately, it shows in the taste. The popularity of the restaurant may be due to its small size, but that's where the appeal ends. I found the service to be rude both when making a reservation and during my meal. Despite living nearby, I have no plans to return or recommend this restaurant.

We were in London for a week March 10 16 of 2019, staying a block away from this apparent 'hidden gem. ' Unfortunately the three separate times we tried to visit this place we were denied. The first attempt we arrived about 15 minutes before opening (6:30 pm), stood outside the glass door (seen by staff) until opening only to be shooed away saying they were booked (all tables empty). They saw us, could have said something earlier, but OK we 'll try again. On the next attempt the hostess made absolutely no effort at civility when she heard there were 6 of us. There was no come back later, no sorry, we have very limited seating just hands waved in the air, head shaken side to side, repeating No. No. No. Seriously? There were plenty of open seats, just not 6 together. It made me wonder if something else was going on. The final time was a busy Friday evening and the place was full so we didn 't even try. I had called prior to their opening to check on reservations and got no answer. Can 't say I was surprised. They obviously have a loyal following and a model based on very limited volume so they don 't need my business. No problem. I won 't bother when next in town to support such discourtesy.

The environment is very Japanese style and it seems to be in a movie recorded in Japan. The food is amazing and really well executed from taste perspective to the presentation. The staff is very kind! The only defect is the price, not so cheap