About
Ayllu is a word from the Quechua language of the Inca Empire. It describes the community, the group of families who shared land, food and time together. Not a transaction, a gathering. That idea sits at the heart of everything here. The restaurant is in Paddington Central, tucked beneath Smith's on Sheldon Square, a short walk from the canal. The menu is built to share. The table is the point.
Nikkei cuisine was born when Japanese immigrants arrived in Peru in the late 19th century and brought their techniques with them. Two food cultures, both built on a deep respect for the ingredient, met and became one. It is one of the most compelling culinary fusions in the world, and at Ayllu it is the only thing on the menu. The food is not designed to impress on first glance. It is designed to be eaten, and remembered.
Igor Pereira leads the kitchen at Ayllu, responsible for the Nikkei sharing plates, tasting menus and the broader direction of the food. Sandesh Baral oversees all sushi: the rolls, nigiri, sashimi and Sushi Platters. The approach is ingredient-first: high-quality fish, seasoned rice, and sauces that enhance rather than hide.
Igor Pereira leads the kitchen at Ayllu, responsible for the Nikkei sharing plates, tasting menus and the broader direction of the food. His cooking draws on the full range of Nikkei technique — bold Peruvian flavours executed with Japanese precision. The black cod, the beef tataki, the anticuchos: dishes that are straightforward to describe and difficult to replicate.
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Sandesh Baral oversees all sushi at Ayllu — the rolls, nigiris, sashimi and Sushi Platters. The approach is ingredient-first: high-quality fish, seasoned rice, sauces that enhance rather than mask. The chu-toro is cut to order. The truffle roll is one of the most-ordered dishes on the menu. The bluefin tuna — whether roll, nigiri or sashimi — is the reason regulars come back.
Follow on InstagramTogether, they run a kitchen that On In London described as delivering "fine dining principles in a relaxed, contemporary approach" — food that is "polished and considered, yet refreshingly unpretentious."
Ayllu is at 25 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, London W2 6EY, a few minutes from Paddington Station and the canal at Paddington Basin.
Whether you're coming for the Nikkei menus, the weekend Samba brunch, or a private dining event — the table is ready.
