Last Updated on March 24, 2026
A restaurant that always delivers
Sushi has always been one of my go-to cuisines – there’s something so satisfying about sharing a selection of bite-sized, flavour-packed dishes. So, when asked to review Sticks’n’Sushi’s newest Islington location, you can only imagine my excitement. This restaurant empire has built a reputation for consistency and quality and I can assure you its latest opening on Upper Street is no different.
A short stroll from Angel tube station, the restaurant sits in the heart of Islington’s ever-busy Upper Street. It was a Friday night on the day of my visit and the area was bustling with pedestrians, weaving between dimly lit bars, pubs and restaurants, all eager to shake off the week and dive into the weekend. I met my mum at the entrance, it was her birthday coming up so a cause for celebration. It helps that she is also a fellow sushi enthusiast (a love I’ve undoubtedly inherited from her).
Behind its modest exterior lies an elegant, James Bond esq interior that combines a Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian elegance. The restaurant has seating options to cover any occasion, be it the stylish bar at the front, to high tables ideal for group gatherings and more traditional seating near the open kitchen, where we sat. It was a perfect date night seat to be very honest, tucked away and with our very own lampshade. Ideal for those who like to have a clear view of what they are eating but not in a garish way.
The staff were warm and attentive throughout our evening, keen to offer advice or recommendations on the menu at any moment. If you’re new to Sticks’n’Sushi, the sheer breadth of options might feel overwhelming. Their ‘menu card,’ complete with photos of the dishes is expansive, spanning appetizers, sushi rolls, sashimi, sticks and sides. The concept encourages diners to craft their own à la carte, sharing style experience. While we had some Sticks’n’Sushi classics in mind, the slightly updated menu encouraged us to explore new options. But, given that it was a birthday celebration, we naturally turned to the drinks menu first.
Concise yet filled with intriguing choices, we opted for one of their specials: a Japanese twist on the classic whiskey sour. Toki whisky and peach liqueur shaken with miso lactic honey cordial and topped up with a smooth egg white foam. It was incredibly easy to drink, with the miso adding a subtle, savoury depth to the sweeter peachy liquor.
Focusing our attention back on the food, we ordered a variety of dishes from the menu, starting off with the Beef Tataki.
Tenderly thin sliced beef served with miso aioli, artichoke chips, and a truffle ponzu sauce. Beautifully presented, the dish was a winner, with a glorious combination of flavours. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
Next came the Crab Croquettes with Wasabi Caesar – six perfectly crisp pockets with warm, fluffy centres. Rich but not too indulgent, we were in heaven.
We followed this with the Seaweed Salad, one of my personal favourites. It was light and refreshing, with a cooling cucumber and sesame dressing that lent a delicate brightness between the richer dishes.
The quality of the Yellowtail Kingfish Sashimi spoke for itself, melting in the mouth and requiring no embellishment or dousing of soy sauce.
The main event was, of course, the sushi. We ordered three rolls and one sashimi, each a visual and culinary masterpiece. The standout was the Aka Ebi roll with Argentinian red shrimp, spicy gochujang, avocado, snow peas, miso aioli, and trout roe. Perfectly balanced bite-sized delight.
A slightly more indulgent choice was the New York Subway Roll with tempura shrimp, avocado, and spicy sauce, topped with salmon and garlic. Of course, we had to choose a classic California Roll, executed perfectly with shrimp, avocado, cucumber, masago, sesame, and miso aioli. Finishing off with a Yellowfin Tuna Nigiri, which was as fresh as expected – an ideal palate cleanser.
Having been recommended skewers by our waiter, we obviously couldn’t resist and chose the Chicken wings marinated in garlic, ginger & tamari with soya sesame and miso-cured black Iberian Pork. Succulent, juicy and tender meat, packed with flavour. What more could you ask for?
All in all, I really couldn’t fault the food – creative, fresh and most importantly, utterly delicious. I urge you to exercise more restraint than us and save room for at least one of their puddings… we were told the Vanilla crème brûlée with black sesame crumble is a must.
I totally loved the new Islington Sticks’n’Sushi; it strikes the perfect balance between conceptual creativity and approachable dining, avoiding any hint of gimmicky. The sushi is excellent. The sticks are excellent. The cocktails are excellent. And the atmosphere is just right – special without feeling pretentious. It’s the ideal venue for any occasion, particularly a birthday celebration.
Sticks’n’Sushi
77 Upper St,
Islington
London N1 0NU
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