Yamazaki Sushi Bar, in Feathers Lane, in the town centre was declared winners at the Prestige Awards in Portsmouth, being named the best Japanese restaurant in the South.

The traditional authentic family-run restaurant opened in Basingstoke during the Covid-19 pandemic but has survived against the odds and now has a loyal following of regular customers.

Naresh Ghale, 52, who owns the restaurant with his wife Kalpana, said they were “amazed” to be announced as the winners, adding: “We are happy and feel very privileged.”

The couple have more than 20 years experience in the industry and have worked in both Hong Kong and London, before opening the Basingstoke restaurant offering sushi, sashimi as well as traditional hot dishes such as rice, noodles and soup.

Naresh said: “We don’t compromise on quality and always use the freshest and finest products to give an excellent experience to our customers. We always strive to improve ourselves and deliver five-star customer service and try to exceed their expectations.”

The father-of-one said all the food is freshly made to order.

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