Unagi Don with Jollof Rice
Grilled eel in a sweet-savoury tare glaze over smoky jollof rice. Tokyo on top, Lagos underneath.
Nigerian soul and Japanese craft, side by side and sometimes on the same plate. One warm table in north London.
We grew up in Nigerian homes where food was never just food. A pot of jollof meant somebody was being celebrated. Pepper soup meant somebody was being cared for. Nobody left the house hungry, and nobody ate alone.
Then we fell for Japan. Its patience, its precision, its respect for the season and the guest. The more we cooked it, the more familiar it felt. A grandmother's broth. Meat over open fire on a busy street. Fermented beans with a funk that divides the room. Bowing to elders, kneeling to greet them. Different words, the same instincts.
We did not set out to blend two cuisines. We found they were already talking to each other.
So we started cooking both, side by side, at festival stalls across London from 2014. In 2022 we opened our own doors on The Burroughs in Hendon. We call what happens here Nijanese: Nigerian and Japanese as equals, each cooked properly, sometimes meeting on the same plate.
Come for suya or katsu. Stay for the pepper soup ramen. Bring the people you love. That is the whole idea.
Come and taste the story for yourself.
Book a tableThousands of miles apart, Nigeria and Japan built food cultures on the same beliefs: feed people well, honour where it comes from, and share it.
Both kitchens ferment beans for deep, savoury flavour. Locust-bean iru seasons a Yoruba stew the way miso anchors a Japanese broth.
Skewers over open flame, sold after dark from street grills, eaten standing up with friends.
A bowl of broth for when you are cold, tired or recovering. Care you can drink. Our Pepper Soup Ramen puts them in one bowl.
Rice at the heart of the meal. In Japanese, gohan means both “rice” and “meal”. At a Nigerian party, no jollof means no party.
Celebrations where the whole community turns up, dressed up, and eats together. Food is how you say welcome.
Both greet the guest at the door. Both show respect to elders with the body: a kneel or prostration in Yoruba homes, a bow in Japan.
Taste both traditions, side by side.
Book a tableAfrobeats on the speakers, suya smoke from the grill, and tables made for sharing.
Choose your time, pay a deposit of £10 per guest, and your table is held.
Choose your time, add your details, and your table is booked. We send a confirmation by email.
For groups of 6 or more. Dishes arrive in waves to share, the way Nigerian parties and Japanese izakaya both do it.
Sample menu, priced per person. We agree the final menu with you.
Take over the dining room for birthdays, engagements and wedding receptions. Buffets that bring both families to the table.
An intimate set menu where our two kitchens meet on one plate, with the story behind every course. Expect dishes such as grilled rump of lamb with a refined ayamashe, and potato korokke with pickled cabbage.
A gift voucher for dinner across two cultures. Sent by email, ready to print or forward.
Valid for 12 months on food and drink.
Five-star reviews from Google and TheFork.
The food was delicious. Japanese for me, Nigerian for my husband. Perfect.
Very authentic Nigerian cuisine! From the off, the staff were extremely welcoming and lovely.
I love the cosy atmosphere and extremely friendly service.
Truly a hidden gem, worth a visit.
Totally worth the trip from Central London!
Join them at the table.
Book a tableYes, whenever we have a free table. Friday and Saturday evenings get busy, so booking a table is the safer choice.
It holds your table and comes off your final bill. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a full refund. Read the full terms.
Yes. Look for V and VE on the menu. Akara, Edamame, Plantain, Yam Chips and Wafu Salad are vegan, and Pepper Soup Ramen can be made vegan; Pumpkin Katsu Curry, Vegetable Gyoza and Puff Puff are vegetarian.
Tell us when you book and again when you order. Suya and grill dishes contain nuts, and our kitchen handles common allergens, so we cannot rule out traces.
Yes, the meat we serve is halal.
Yes, children are very welcome, and we have high chairs. If you need any, please tell us how many when you book, at least 24 hours before your visit.
Yes, the restaurant is accessible. If you have any access needs, let us know when you book and we will make sure your table is ready for you.
There is parking right by us. Here are the rules, so you can enjoy your meal without worrying about a ticket:
Blue Badge holders can park in permit and pay bays with no time limit. Restrictions can change, so please always check the signs where you park.
Yes. For delivery, order from us on Uber Eats or Deliveroo; we do not deliver ourselves. For takeaway, order by calling 020 8062 5205 or WhatsApp 07346 779193 and collect from the restaurant.
moyolondon is a trading name of Afrilon Limited. This policy does not affect your statutory rights.
Payments are processed securely by our payment provider. We never see or store your full card details. moyolondon is a trading name of Afrilon Limited. These terms do not affect your statutory rights.