Tasty Japanese food
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Edamamé

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A beloved Oxford institution for over 20 years, offering authentic home-style Japanese cooking with a cozy, family-run vibe.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Tasty Japanese food

Edamamé

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A beloved Oxford institution for over 20 years, offering authentic home-style Japanese cooking with a cozy, family-run vibe.

"Authentic Japanese home-cooking at competitive prices, with the best sushi in town on Thursday nights."

TIP

Prepare for a Queue

Edamame doesn't take reservations, so arrive early or late to avoid long waits, especially on weekends.

Check Opening Hours

Hours can be unpredictable; check their website before visiting to avoid disappointment.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens Wednesday 11:30AM

Cuisine

Japanese

Price

Mid-range

Address

15 Holywell St, Oxford, OX1 3SA, United Kingdom

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Sushi Night

Authentic Sushi Night

Experience some of Oxford's best sushi on Thursday nights. Platters of nigiri and gunkanzushi are a must-try.

TikTokThe 15 Best Restaurants In Oxford - OxfordOxford travel guide: Best things to do and where to stay for a 2023 city break+3
Home-Style Japanese Cuisine

Home-Style Japanese Cuisine

Savor authentic, home-style traditional Japanese dishes like expertly cooked curries and stir-frys.

The best restaurants in OxfordOxford's top 10 budget eats | Oxford holidaysOxford travel guide: Best things to do and where to stay for a 2023 city break+4
Cozy & Casual Ambiance

Cozy & Casual Ambiance

Enjoy a warm and inviting atmosphere in this bustling, family-run eatery that feels like a hidden gem.

Google Review+4
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

if you’re ever in Oxford on a thursday & looooves sushi, go straight to 📍Edamame 🍣 #foodtok #sushi #oxford #fyp
@katxtherese
75 likes • 1.4K views

Prepare for a Queue

Edamame doesn't take reservations, so arrive early or late to avoid long waits, especially on weekends.

Check Opening Hours

Hours can be unpredictable; check their website before visiting to avoid disappointment.

the best sushi in oxford, periodt #oxfordthingstodo #oxforddayinthelife #oxfordrestaurants #travelife #oxfordcity #oxfordfood #oxfordfoodie
@caryllevillajin
231 likes • 14.8K views

Embrace Shared Tables

During busy times, you may need to share a table with other diners. It's part of the experience!

Don't Miss Sushi Night

Thursdays are dedicated to sushi night, offering some of the best sushi in Oxford.

Tips

from all over the internet

Prepare for a Queue

Edamame doesn't take reservations, so arrive early or late to avoid long waits, especially on weekends.

Check Opening Hours

Hours can be unpredictable; check their website before visiting to avoid disappointment.

Embrace Shared Tables

During busy times, you may need to share a table with other diners. It's part of the experience!

Don't Miss Sushi Night

Thursdays are dedicated to sushi night, offering some of the best sushi in Oxford.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Edamame is celebrated for its authentic Japanese home-style cooking and warm, attentive service, making it a beloved hidden gem in Oxford. Diners consistently praise the fresh, well-prepared dishes and the cozy, welcoming atmosphere. However, be prepared for significant queues as the restaurant does not take reservations and is extremely popular, especially during peak times and on Thursday sushi nights.

"I do not write reviews and this is my first time writing one. I love this place and I genuinely hope that this place doesn’t get too famous 😂 This place is already tooo popular 😭😭 I love how friendly the staff are and I LOVE the food. These are some recent pics I took:"

이채은

"Edamamé in Oxford is a fantastic spot for home made Japanese food, but what truly sets it apart is the service. The staff are warm, attentive, and make you feel genuinely welcome.
The food itself was good. The crispy salmon bites were perfectly cooked with a satisfying crunch, the pescatarian dish was well balanced. The katsu chicken was good, and the miso soup was rich and comforting.
The cozy, casual atmosphere adds to the charm, making it a great place to enjoy a meal. If you’re looking for authentic Japanese food with great service.
Be prepared to wait, though—Edamamé doesn’t take reservations, and there’s always a line outside."

Nestor Cerami

"A cozy hidden gem in Oxford's back street. I dropped by during lunch and was welcome with a cozy atmosphere. The food is one of the best I have tried so far. Fresh. Well prepared and portioned. The price is reasonable to portion size. What else can you ask for a lunch break? Highly recommend.
Caution: Be prepare to queue up on Friday and Saturday and on other days. 🤣"

Yui K.

What People Like

Authentic Japanese flavors
Warm and friendly service
Cozy, hidden gem atmosphere

What People Dislike

Long queues due to no reservations
Limited seating / shared tables

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Edamame does not take reservations. Be prepared to queue, especially during peak hours and on weekends.

The best restaurants in OxfordGoogle Review+1

Sushi is served exclusively on Thursday evenings. It's a popular event, so expect queues.

TikTokThe 15 Best Restaurants In Oxford - OxfordOxford travel guide: Best things to do and where to stay for a 2023 city break+4

Opening hours can be unpredictable. It's best to check their website or social media before visiting.

Google Review

Yes, Edamame offers good options for vegetarian and vegan diners.

Oxford travel guide: Best things to do and where to stay for a 2023 city breakGoogle Review

Yes, sharing tables is common during busy periods to accommodate more diners in the small space.

The best restaurants in OxfordBest Restaurants in Oxford 2025Google Review+1

Yes, Edamame is recognized for serving truly authentic home-style Japanese cuisine.

The best restaurants in OxfordOxford's top 10 budget eats | Oxford holidaysBest Restaurants in Oxford 2025+2

Prices are very reasonable, with main dishes typically ranging from £7-£10.50, offering great value.

8 Amazing Asian Restaurants in OxfordGoogle Review

Mentioned in

Featured in these publications

The Telegraph

The best restaurants in Oxford

You’ll have to queue to get into Edamame, but it’s well worth the wait to get a table at this tiny Japanese restaurant. Taking understandable pride in only serving authentic Japanese dishes and flavours, this family-run operation has been an Oxford institution for over 20 years and with good reason; the signature edamame (baby soy beans) are heavenly, the curries and stir frys expertly cooked, and the sushi – served on Thursday nights only – the best in town. Contact:edamame.co.ukPrice: £Getting in: Just turn up

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The Infatuation

The 15 Best Restaurants In Oxford - Oxford

On Thursday nights only, you can get some of Oxford’s best sushi at Edamamé. This pantry-sized spot on Holywell Street has three different menus for different days and times of the week, but you should plan your visit around Thursday evenings. Platters of nigiri and gunkanzushi (a “sushi boat” of rice, topped with fish and wrapped in nori) are on every table.

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the Guardian

Oxford's top 10 budget eats | Oxford holidays

Peter and Mieko Galpin's buzzy cafe-restaurant is actually shut now until 28 September. Put the date in your diary. Authentic Japanese home-cooking is the deal, here, and Edamame's competitively priced ramens, stir-frys and noodle dishes have made it a firm favourite with local foodies, Japanese students and many national guides.

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squaremeal.co.uk

5 Japanese Restaurants near Oxfordshire

It may be squirreled away in Holywell Street, but this tiny Japanese canteen is surprisingly easy to find – just look for the queues. Rather than sh ...". The beautiful county of Oxfordshire is surrounded by Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire. It's home to about 723,000 people and has three stunning Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Cotswolds in the northwest, the North Wessex Downs in the south, and the Chilterns in the southeast.

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The Independent

Oxford travel guide: Best things to do and where to stay for a 2023 city break

Edamame is a legendary Holywell Street eatery announced by a queue of eager diners most days; so stop by early for lunchtime walk-ins. Homely and no-fuss Japanese cooking, including punchy chicken katsu, salmon teriyaki, and plenty of fresh vegan options are served with soul (and a gentle price tag). Sushi appears only on Thursday evenings, but takeaways are available throughout: we recommend you skip down with your takoyaki pancakes to University Parks, the city’s most charming green space.

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olivemagazine

Best Restaurants in Oxford 2025

Peter Galpin and his Japanese wife, Mieko, set up Edamame in 1998 with the intention of creating an inviting, hole-in-the-wall eatery for guests to enjoy authentic Japanese home cooking. There are no reservations and tables are shared to help keep the prices low and the seating efficient in what is a tiny restaurant. Edamame offers a lunch-only menu Wednesday to Sunday lunchtimes, a sushi-only menu on Thursday early evenings, and a dinner-only menu on Friday and Saturday early evenings.

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YES. Edamameon Holywell Street is one of the best Asian restaurants in Oxford for its high-quality ingredients. I love the enormous bowls of Japanese ramen and hearty katsu curries.Visit Wednesday-Sunday for lunch, Friday-Saturday evenings for dinner or Thursday evening for sushi night. Aside from fitting around these opening times there are zero downsides… Grab a seat on a shared table and tuck in.Main dishes: £7-£10.50.

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The Mobile Food Guide

Edamame | Japanese Restaurant | Oxford, Oxfordshire

Edamame is a small Japanese restaurant in the University City of Oxford and as such is a popular haunt for students and tourists alike. It gets it's name from a fresh green soy bean that is salted, eaten straight from the pod and is served as an appetizer. Situated in a quiet residential street, this informal restaurant is much in demand due to the authenticity of the cuisine and the very reasonable prices.

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amberstudent

15 Best Restaurants In Oxford

If you're looking for the best restaurant in Oxford for sushi and authentic Japanese food like the stir fries and grills, all cooked in an absolutely authentic way that will make you never want to get pan Asian food again. The edamame served is so delicious that it will be the best starter for the tastiest meal to come. Must try: Salmon with sticky rice and edamame/teriyaki sauce

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Independent Oxford

The Best Indie Restaurants in Oxford

Edamame is a small, family run eatery that serves truly authentic and freshly prepared Japanese home-cooking in an informal and inviting setting. They operate three different menus that follow a weekly schedule so their food and its preparation can be as fresh as possible. During 20 years of operation Edamame has received numerous local, national and international commendations.

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XYUandBEYOND

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If you adore Japanese food then this should be your go-to place. The only Japanese restaurant in the city to have received the official stamp of approval from the Japanese Government. They serve three different menus that change according to the time and day of the week -sushi on Thursday evenings only, for example.

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The Oxford Experts

Top 5 Best Sushi Restaurants in Oxford (Japanese Delights)

Edamame is a casual Japanese restaurant that specialises in home-cooked Japanese food. They are located in the heart of Oxford and serve a variety of different types of sushi. They serve only sushi every Thursday early evening and serve sushi such as nigirizushi, gunkanzushi, and temakizushi.

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Oxford Scholastica Academy

The Best Places to Eat in Oxford: A Gastronomic Guide

Its delicious and authentic Japanese menus offer a range of home-cooked dishes and sushi in a casual and friendly setting. Edamame cycles between three small menus: a lunch menu, a sushi night menu, and a dinner menu. This means their ingredients and dishes are always as fresh as possible!

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Best Five In

Top 5 Best Japanese Restaurants in Oxford, UK : Review

Located in the center of Oxford, Edamame is a charming Japanese eatery. They provide a wide selection of Japanese cuisines, such as sushi, ramen, and bento boxes. Visitors compliment the restaurant’s excellent service, delicious food, and welcoming atmosphere.

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Best Lunch and Tea in Oxford

Only the Japanese sign marks this small restaurant on Holywell Street. It seats few so expect to share a table.

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Edamamé (2026) – Best of TikTok, Instagram & Reddit Food Guide