Jin Kichi - Hampstead

A long-time favourite with in-the-know Hampstead locals, Jin Kichi offers authentic, easy-to-eat Japanese food in pint-sized premises on Heath Street. The place resembles a genuine Tokyo-style 'izakaya' bar, with no-frills decor, a few tables in the basement and the emphasis on sumiyaki (grilled dishes).

The choice is extensive, ranging from skewers of chicken skin, liver and gizzards to fresh asparagus and pork rolls or quails' eggs with yakitori sauce; there are also more substantial offerings like salmon teriyaki or black cod with miso. If that isn't to your taste, the kitchen provides ample back up in the form of sushi and sashimi, tempura and variations on the theme of 'noodles in soup'. Also look for appetisers like ikura oroshi (salmon eggs with grated radish), buta kakuni (stewed pork belly with vegetables) and bonito rice balls wrapped in dried seaweed. Finish with green tea ice cream or red bean jelly.