Have you ever eaten one of your favourite foods at a restaurant and realised they’ve ruined it for you everywhere else? That’s what happened to me when I first visited 123V. Their vegan sushi is so good that everything I’ve tried elsewhere has fallen a little short. For me, it has set the bar for vegan sushi in London.
Why 123V Sets the Bar So High
Since becoming vegan, one of the few foods I have really missed is sushi. I adored good sushi. I even tolerated the not-so-great supermarket stuff. Give me a spicy tuna roll, some wasabi and soy sauce, and I was a happy girl.
Once I adopted a plant-based lifestyle, finding decent vegan sushi was a bit of a crapshoot. At one point, Wasabi — the fast-food chain that offers sushi, bento boxes and curries — had a Zalmon sushi option that was pretty good, but that has since disappeared. I did discover another place that does a vegetable-based sushi box we quite liked — until I visited 123V for the first time. Then all bets were off.
123V is part of a trio of restaurants from Chef Alexis Gauthier, alongside Studio Gauthier and Gauthier Soho. The styles of the restaurants are distinct, but the quality of the food and service is consistently outstanding.
The sushi at 123V is freshly made, which already sets it well above the more fast-food-style options out there. But it’s not just that. It’s obvious that a lot of thought and work has gone into creating dishes with that rare combination of flavour, texture and beauty. These are not boring rolls of rice, nori and a few spears of veg or mock fish. They are tasty works of art.
The Vegan Sushi That Keeps Me Coming Back
I have already mentioned my propensity for a spicy tuna roll. It was always my go-to order back in the meat-eating days. It was something I often craved and sort of missed when eating fish was no longer an option for me personally.
Luckily, I heard about 123V on social media and made plans to visit for the first time a year ago. It was on that visit that I experienced the best spicy tuna roll — vegan or non-vegan — I’ve ever had. The Crispy & Spicy VTuna Roll — an excellent combination of spicy VTuna, avocado, cucumber, spring onion and “zingy” miso — has 100% filled the spicy tuna roll gap in my life.
I don’t just order it every time I go to 123V; I’ve ordered it at Studio Gauthier as well. If it’s on either menu, I’m having it. The feature that sets it apart is the crispy texture created by an outside coating of little ball-like rice (?) crisps. I wish I could describe them better. They just add a little something extra.
123V also has another more “traditional” roll in their Dragon Roll that is definitely worth trying. For something a bit different, you might want to try the Tropical Roll — pickled mango, avocado and cucumber — or one of their sushi tacos.
Because my visits there have been for special occasions, it’s imperative to partake in dessert. 123V’s dessert menu changes, but I can attest that the Yuzu Crème Brûlée or the 123V Tres Leches are a lovely way to finish your meal.
Don’t Walk, Run to 123V
I would absolutely recommend visiting 123V. Much like the other Gauthier restaurants, you are in for wonderful food and great service. It’s located in the Mayfair area of London, so it’s perfect if you are planning a day or night out in London.
Booking a table is recommended, as it’s not a huge restaurant — at least when it comes to indoor seating.
You can check out the menu and book a table on 123V Brown’s website.
Browse more of my vegan and plant-based restaurant recommendations.