Luna Omakase: The new fine dining Japanese restaurant inspired by the moon

On March 12, London gained another fine dining Japanese restaurant in the form of Luna Omakase. Hidden inside Los Mochis City in Liverpool Street, this is one of the tiniest and most exclusive new openings in the city — with a capacity of only 12 seats and a menu inspired by the moon.

At the helm is executive head chef Leonard Tanyag whose 20 years of experience and global travels brings a deeply personal touch to traditional omakase dining, which translates as ‘I’ll leave it up to you’.

Distinct from its sister restaurant, Juno — the world’s first and only Mexican-Japanese omakase and one of Europe’s smallest restaurants — Luna Omakase specialises in Sosaku-style Edomae Omakase, a modern interpretation of traditional Edomae sushi, which originated in Tokyo during the Edo period.At Luna, the 12 course menu changes daily, highlighting the finest seasonal ingredients and sustainable seafood. And each course somehow tends to outdo the last. The experience begins with a welcome drink, and what follows is a journey of flavours, from delicate, mellow bites to bold, umami-rich dishes over the course of the evening. Each course, of course, is paired with cocktails, wine or sake, culminating in a tea ceremony to bring the dinner to a close.

The restaurant in itself is intricately designed, reflecting many elements of the moon. A soft glow of ambient lighting highlights custom artwork of a series of 12 circular paintings symbolising the moon’s perpetual cycle. Its floor to ceiling windows overlook the St Paul’s Cathedral and the London skyline, giving a serene view to complement the culinary masterclass of omakase style dining. 

“With Luna, we wanted to bring a new kind of omakase experience to London, one that honours Japanese tradition whilst embracing innovation. Every dish on the menu is deeply personal to me, each one inspired by a memory, experience, or emotion, that I hope will resonate with our diners,” chef Leonard says of the concept — and it really rings true.Dining at Luna Omakase is an experience unto itself. Each dish centres around a key ingredient that is reimagined, bringing out new contrasts and depths of flavour. From the fatty bluefin tuna tartare that comes in a ball designed after the moon and the mouthwatering cucumber avocado handroll (a personal favourite) to the unagi handroll and the grilled onigiri rice, every single dish is flawlessly executed.

Not to mention, the sake pairing with each phase of the dinner simply enriches every dish you eat. And watching the chefs meticulously prepare each course with military precision is mesmerising to watch.

Luna Omakase is now open for reservations, and we can say this with utmost certainty: this is one new opening in London you wouldn’t wait to miss.

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