Edamame is an authentic Japanese eatery in Oxford. We serve our own style of home-cooked food, offering various Japanese dishes, and sushi, at low prices. It is not a sushi bar and it is not a formal Japanese restaurant. It is a very casual and friendly setting that might not appeal to people in search of more formal dining!
However, everyone is most welcome, and we do our very best to make you feel comfortable through what might be for some a new kind of dining experience. In Oxford there are several formulaic chains and Asian "fusion" food outlets. At Edamame we fiercely maintain our policy of serving only authentic Japanese food, that we carefully prepare and then serve to you with much pride.
However, everyone is most welcome, and we do our very best to make you feel comfortable through what might be for some a new kind of dining experience. In Oxford there are several formulaic chains and Asian "fusion" food outlets. At Edamame we fiercely maintain our policy of serving only authentic Japanese food, that we carefully prepare and then serve to you with much pride.
Services
Owners Peter and Mieko met in Tokyo in 1991. Peter was working as a sound engineer based at the Japanese office of Solid State Logic (SSL), that has its headquarters in Begbroke, just north of Oxford. Mieko was a professional singer and an excellent cook! Their shared interests in music and food brought them together and so it remains over twenty years on.
It is possible to book Edamame for private parties on Wednesday evenings. Parties usually start at about 7pm, and they need to finish by 9pm to comply with the terms of our building's lease. Unfortunately we are usually unable to take party bookings for any other time. The maximum seating capacity is 30.
A minimum availability of twelve hours a week is required. You should be available to work for a minimum of one year, preferably for much longer. You should be friendly and motivated, and work with high levels of initiative and common sense! Experience of having worked in a lively restaurant environment as part of a hard working team is an advantage.
We operate a fixed set of sushi takeaway collection time slots which need to be reserved in advance. We operate this system of sushi takeout slots so that our level of service to guests eating inside the restaurant is not compromised by a high demand for takeouts. To avoid having to wait long at the door for your takeaway we strongly suggest you call ahead with your order to reserve a convenient collection time.
We invite you to "like" our Facebook page "fans of Edamame", where you can post comments about your visit to Edamame. By "liking" our page you will also be kept informed of our daily specials and of any other news about Edamame. Over more than 20 years of operation there have inevitably been changes in our staff personnel, but we always try very hard to maintain a consistent level of food quality, with efficient and friendly service.
Reviews (21)
Romain Polak Alaphilippe
Dec 05, 2021
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Maya N.-K.
Nov 16, 2021
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A must-visit if you are ever in Oxford, and this coming from a born and bred Oxfordian!
I have been coming here with my parents since I was a toddler and it has remained a firm favourite for us as a family.
The salmon teriyaki is my favourite dish in the world, and I've always said that I would like it as my last meal!
The staff are always great and the owners are wonderful too.
Be aware that this is a very popular and thus busy restaurant, so seating and eating is not an hours long affair like in most places. But that's what makes it all the more charming!
I simply cannot recommend EdamamÃ
I have been coming here with my parents since I was a toddler and it has remained a firm favourite for us as a family.
The salmon teriyaki is my favourite dish in the world, and I've always said that I would like it as my last meal!
The staff are always great and the owners are wonderful too.
Be aware that this is a very popular and thus busy restaurant, so seating and eating is not an hours long affair like in most places. But that's what makes it all the more charming!
I simply cannot recommend EdamamÃ
Dan Phillips
Oct 08, 2021
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Tom Furniss
Oct 07, 2021
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So this is pre-lock down, and things may have changed since we ate here.
We had lunch. The food was fine, I could not fault it but I won't be going back or recommending the place to others, unless I hear that how they do things has changed.
We felt rushed by the staff and treated as if all that was important was getting us through the meal as quickly as possible. I accept that the eatery needs to make money and to do that it needs to have enough customers, but it was an unpleasant experience that I did not enjoy.
We had lunch. The food was fine, I could not fault it but I won't be going back or recommending the place to others, unless I hear that how they do things has changed.
We felt rushed by the staff and treated as if all that was important was getting us through the meal as quickly as possible. I accept that the eatery needs to make money and to do that it needs to have enough customers, but it was an unpleasant experience that I did not enjoy.
Carla Paszkowski
Aug 28, 2021
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Edward Mottram
Jul 26, 2021
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Mogala M.
Jun 09, 2021
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2 stars for the food
5 stars for the staffs in the cozy restaurant
Ordered tonkatsu, reasonable price. Pork fillet was too dry and hard, overcooked, taste just normal.
Ordered takoyaki too, £6 for 5 small pieces. Lack of taste, octopus pieces in takoyaki was too hard as well.
Reasonable price, student's favourite.
5 stars for the staffs in the cozy restaurant
Ordered tonkatsu, reasonable price. Pork fillet was too dry and hard, overcooked, taste just normal.
Ordered takoyaki too, £6 for 5 small pieces. Lack of taste, octopus pieces in takoyaki was too hard as well.
Reasonable price, student's favourite.
Remco Jonker
Nov 29, 2019
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Tucked away in a quiet street just outside the center of Oxford. Small restaurant with only a few stool lined tables. Is seated at the larger tables you of often share the table with another party. I was here for dinner on a Saturday evening. Nice choice of fish, meat and vegetable dishes, quality and taste of the food is very good. Friendly staff. There is always a line outside the restaurant and orders are taken when you are at the front of the line. Sushi only served on Thursday. Great atmosphere and food.
Aey Fass
Oct 04, 2019
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Saoirse Smyth
Sep 27, 2019
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Crystal L.
Jul 12, 2019
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This is my favorite restaurant in Oxford-- a really lovely and homey Japanese restaurant with delicious food. I loved the salmon teri with rice, which has a rich teriyaki sauce with lots of fruity notes. Overall, I recommend stopping by if you're in the area-- take into account, though, that the restaurant has some strange opening days (I only went twice during my full year abroad because half the time I tried to go it was closed).
Antonio N.
Jul 07, 2018
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I haven't traveled internationally that often but I do eat international cuisines regularly throughout the United States. However, when i stumbled upon Edamame this past week during my time in Oxford I was blown away. I stumbled in for lunch and had the pork tonkatsui and it was delicious! The pork cutlet was tender & juicy with a crunchy breading that was not soggy in the slightest. Paired with mustard or the sweet and tangy dipping sauce I was in heaven. I haven't been to Japan yet but I'm sure this dish is on par w/ traditional and local Japanese food in Japan. Edamame is
Marinaes LaSalva
Apr 27, 2018
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Scott Swedeen
Aug 09, 2017
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Vy T.
May 26, 2016
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The temaki set was average to be honest. It was good for a light dinner, otherwise I was not very impressed with the food quality. The thing is it was not worth the wait in the queue and the sushi was a bit overpriced for its easy preparation and sparing ingredients. The ambience was quite nice as it was a cozy little restaurant. The owners were lovely yet the service was a little bit slow and I did not feel very welcome.
Stuart Z.
Feb 26, 2016
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The service was very quick. It's quite nice but the seating is atrocious. I faced the wall and felt very uncomfortable. They should probably wait to clean the place before the diner service. They were removing the specials notices from the wall whilst I was still eating. All in all... There are better places. Sorry guys.. You got it all wrong.
Giulia Scarpaleggia
Jul 03, 2015
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Brett M.
Jun 22, 2015
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Efficiency is the name of the game at Edemame. Located adjacent to row houses in central Oxford, it's not difficult to pass by this restaurant without a moments notice. Once inside, you begin to understand why efficiency is required. The entire place is a room no bigger than most large living rooms, which is understandable, as this place was likely a house at one point. If you're the lucky few that can get a table, you are asked to usually buddy-up. The menu is simple and straight forward. There are three different menus throughout the week. Sushi is only served Thursdays from 5-9pm!
Kaela S.
Aug 03, 2014
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I've been seriously craving real Japanese food and when I found out about Edamame I got so excited.
We went on a Friday night around 7 and it only took us about ten minutes to get seated. I got the salmon teri and a bowl of rice. In reality it was more of a misoyaki instead of a teriyaki but that was exactly what I had been wanting for the past month. The rice was perfectly cooked and shiny and sticky and so delicious. I couldn't really have asked for more.
I think the food here was better than most Japanese places I've been to in the San Francisco area. It could also be that
We went on a Friday night around 7 and it only took us about ten minutes to get seated. I got the salmon teri and a bowl of rice. In reality it was more of a misoyaki instead of a teriyaki but that was exactly what I had been wanting for the past month. The rice was perfectly cooked and shiny and sticky and so delicious. I couldn't really have asked for more.
I think the food here was better than most Japanese places I've been to in the San Francisco area. It could also be that
Rachel W.
Apr 06, 2014
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This place is awesome OMG! I really love Japanese good cuz it's not way too oily. This place realllly blow my mind! I had the beef from that day's special. It's juicy and tasty! A little bit sweet but not too much ! I am a Asian girl and I don't tend to have much in my meal. The dish is perfect for me! I had breakfast around 10 and didn't have lunch. After I finished my dinner, I don't feel too full or what, which made me so pleasant~ Definitely try them out! BTW, today I went there again, but a lot of people were waiting. So plan your meal ahead of time~ enjoy delicious
Jen Z.
Feb 26, 2010
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I come here every week with my course mates (our department is very close by, and this makes for a quick lunch place).
Edamame serves up good home-cooked Japanese dishes like Katsu-Don and Ramen in little Oxford. It is a bit annoying that they have a long list of ordering rules and random opening hours though. I haven't tried the sushi here, but it looks a bit too expensive for my tastes and certainly lacks variety.
Service staff: The man (who I believe is one of the owners?) is very nice and obliging. One of the waitresses is a bit stubborn and rude though. Other than that, the others
Edamame serves up good home-cooked Japanese dishes like Katsu-Don and Ramen in little Oxford. It is a bit annoying that they have a long list of ordering rules and random opening hours though. I haven't tried the sushi here, but it looks a bit too expensive for my tastes and certainly lacks variety.
Service staff: The man (who I believe is one of the owners?) is very nice and obliging. One of the waitresses is a bit stubborn and rude though. Other than that, the others
