Ayllu Paddington: Nikkei for Less (If You Can Find the Deal)

There's a post going around claiming you can get five Nikkei courses at Ayllu in Paddington for £24. That'd be brilliant, genuinely brilliant. But here's the thing: we couldn't find that deal anywhere. Not on their website, not through their booking system, nowhere. What we did find is a proper Japanese-Peruvian restaurant with tasting menus that're actually worth the money if you know what you're ordering.

What you get

Ayllu sits in Paddington Central, just a few minutes' walk from Paddington Station. They run two set tasting menus: the Cuzco at £45 per person and the Machu Picchu at £59 per person. Both are five courses, miso soup, ceviche, katsu curry, sashimi, the lot. You can also order à la carte and fresh sushi cut to order. They're open for lunch and dinner daily, though availability shifts depending on the day. Address: Paddington Central, W2 (full postcode wasn't listed in their booking system when we checked).

The Cuzco menu is where you start. It's the sharper version of what they do, black cod, beef tataki, anticuchio skewers, bluefin tuna. If you're after the full experience, the Machu Picchu adds more courses and the premium cuts. They'll do a vegetarian tasting menu if you ask when you book, which isn't something every Nikkei spot bothers with.

How to get it

1. Head to their website or call to check availability for your date. 2. Book a table directly, they don't appear to be on the major deal apps (EatClub, First Table, TheFork), which might explain the confusion around that £24 price. 3. Ask about the Cuzco menu when you book. Mention dietary requirements if you've got them. 4. Turn up 10 minutes early. Tasting menus move at their own pace, and they'll want to start on time. 5. Bring cash or card, they take both.

What the TikTok didn't mention

• The £24 deal we've seen floating around doesn't appear to exist as a standard offer. You might catch a flash promotion or lunch special if you ring ahead, but don't bank on it.
• Best time to go is weekday lunch if you want a quieter experience and a chance to actually chat to the chefs. Weekends get properly rammed.
• Order the bluefin tuna sashimi if it's available that day, they cut it fresh to order, and it's noticeably better than the pre-cut stuff. Skip anything with truffle unless you specifically want truffle; it's the kind of ingredient that masks rather than complements what they're doing with the fish.
• Paddington Central's got other decent spots nearby, chain restaurants mostly, but if you want a drink after, there's a few bars within walking distance.

The catch

The Machu Picchu at £59pp is genuinely pricey for a set menu, and if you're not into the Japanese-Peruvian fusion thing, you won't suddenly love it because you've paid more. Also, tasting menus mean you don't choose your courses, you get what they're serving that day, which is brilliant if you trust them and frustrating if you don't.

If you're after proper Nikkei in London and you've got the budget, Ayllu's worth a weekday lunch at the Cuzco price, just don't expect to find that £24 version anywhere real.