When AM Dupee launched Temaki in Brixton Market in 2021, the concept was simple: diners sat around a communal counter while chefs made and then passed you temaki (handrolls) filled with rice and top-quality fish and meat that – crucially – didn’t cost a bomb. It was inspired by sushi bars in California that were accessible but used quality produce. In August 2025, Dupee shut the south London spot and on June 1 will reopen in Mayfair, where he plans on evolving the Temaki concept even further. “We loved our time in Brixton but wanted to bring our food and vibe to central London as we felt there is a gap for it and want to showcase it to a bigger market,” he tells Broadsheet.
Temaki Mayfair is a bigger beast than the one-room counter dining situation in Brixton. It spreads across two levels, with a 14-seat counter upstairs and a 28-seat space downstairs inspired by the layout of Japanese listening bars. Like the Brixton original, the design is minimalist; counters are clad in blonde wood and diners sit on sculptural wooden stools as they watch the chefs at work.
Downstairs, a dry ager showcases the dried goods that will make it onto a menu that goes beyond temaki. “We have always focused on a little more than handrolls,” says Dupee. “But we have some [new] dishes we can’t wait to show off.”
The menu naturally includes a regularly changing selection of made-to-order temaki – nori cones of seasoned rice from Japan and fish or meat – but has broadened out to include other bites. Dupee mentions shrimp katsu and caviar sliders, and cheeseburger temaki, and there are also Wagyu sliders, various sandos and crispy rice topped with premium fish. “For years high-quality sushi in London had a restrictive and very expensive feel to it, and the lower end … didn’t get to showcase the best of British produce or amazingly talented chefs,” says Dupee. “[Here], high quality Japanese and British produce and products … take centre stage.”
Over the past few years, London has finally found a middle ground between expensive high-end Japanese diners and fast food-style sushi spots. More spots than ever – including Soho’s recently opened Kumori are offering quality sushi at an affordable price point. It’s a change Dupee acknowledges and wants to build on. “We’re so excited to be part of that story,” he says. “Now that London has understood the complexities of sushi and its produce, we are able to experience some of the best sushi outside of Japan. London’s sushi scene has created a life of its own, blending the produce we have access to and the culture we aim to respect. To be a part of London’s sushi story is an honour and a privilege.”
Temaki
11 Maddox Street, W1S 2QF
Hours:
Daily midday–3pm, 5pm–10pm
