Welcome
Fresh sushi, bold ceviche and Nikkei sharing plates — served in a room built for people who take eating seriously.
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Ayllu is a food-led Japanese-Peruvian restaurant in the heart of Paddington, London. We bring Japanese technique together with Peruvian fire: fresh sushi, bold ceviche and Nikkei sharing plates, served in a room built for people who take eating seriously. Dark walls, plush banquettes, and an energy that builds as the evening does. Come for the black cod. Stay for the chu-toro.
The name comes from the Quechua language of the Inca Empire. An ayllu was a community that shared land, food and time together. Not a transaction, a gathering. That idea sits at the centre of everything we do, from a menu built to share to the welcome you get at the door. It is Peruvian warmth and Japanese precision in one Paddington dining room.
[ ai · yu ]
Ay • llu
A word from the Quechua language of the Inca Empire — a community that shared land, food and time together. Not a transaction. A gathering.
Nikkei cuisine is the meeting of two culinary worlds. When Japanese immigrants settled in Peru more than a century ago, they adapted their cooking to Peruvian ingredients and flavours, and Nikkei was born. At Ayllu that means Japanese precision… applied to Peruvian produce: aji amarillo, lime and coriander alongside soy, miso and yuzu. It is a cuisine of contrast and balance, and it is what sets a meal here apart from a standard Japanese or Peruvian restaurant. If you are new to Nikkei food, the sharing menu is the best way in.
Menu
The menu is built to share. Head Chef Igor Pereira leads the kitchen on bold sharing plates and tasting menus, while Head Sushi Chef Sandesh Baral runs the sushi bar: bluefin tuna cut to order, truffle rolls and the Ayllu Platter built for the table. Expect black cod, tiradito, ceviche brightened with tiger's milk, robata skewers and dishes designed to land in the middle of the table and disappear fast. Whether you want a quick sushi lunch, a long dinner across the full range or a chef's tasting experience, the menu moves with you. Every dish carries the same Nikkei signature: Japanese restraint, Peruvian punch.
Most of London's Nikkei dining has clustered around Soho and Mayfair. Ayllu brings that Japanese-Peruvian spirit to Paddington instead, with its own point of view and a room that feels personal rather than corporate. If you have enjoyed Nikkei restaurants elsewhere in London, you will find a sharper, more intimate take here, a short walk from Paddington Station.
Host your celebration in the heart of Paddington Central. Ayllu seats up to 60 guests or 100 standing, with bespoke Nikkei menus, live entertainment and a dedicated events coordinator. It is private dining built around the same sharing philosophy as the main room, whether it is a birthday, a corporate dinner or a party that runs late.
Events
There is always something happening at Ayllu. Bottomless Samba brunch every weekend, live DJ sessions, seasonal tasting menus and one-off events. Come for the food, stay for the experience.
See Events & OffersGive the gift of Nikkei — perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or treating someone to an unforgettable meal in Paddington.
25 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, London, W2 6EY. A few minutes from Paddington Station, on the canalside at Paddington Basin. Open Monday to Thursday 12pm to 11pm, Friday 12pm to 12am, Saturday 11am to 12am, and Sunday 12pm to 10:30pm.
Reservations
Whether you're coming for the Nikkei menus, the weekend Samba brunch, or a private dining event — the table is ready.
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