DINERS dropped in to sample Japanese cuisine at a new restaurant in Cornmarket Street in Oxford.

Wasabi gave a free lunch to 600 customers on Monday before officially opening on Tuesday.

The chain restaurant launched in 2003 when it opened its first branch on London’s Embankment to sell handmade Japanese sushi.

Customers in Oxford will now be able to ‘grab and go’ dishes at an affordable price or have a meal in the restaurant.

As well as sushi there will be hot food bento boxes featuring hearty Japanese classics like chicken katsu curry.

Among those enjoying the food on Wednesday was Leon Sloth-Nielson.

Mr Sloth-Nielson, 55, of Headington, was one of the first customers and selected a tub of Tofu-bean curd.

He said: "I have been to Wasabi before in London, so I was pleased when I found out a branch would be coming opening in Oxford.

"I'm a vegetarian so I go for the vegetarian dishes."

Spokesman Anthony Eadon said the free lunch launch went well, with 'businesses and students' taking advantage of the promotional offer.

He added the chain expected to employ up to 50 staff and would soon be seating diners over two floors.

On the opposite side of Cornmarket nutritional fast food chain Leon is preparing to open a new branch in a unit on the site of the former HMV store, which closed in 2014.

An opening date has not yet been revealed, but staff have been interviewed at the Kings Centre in Osney Mead and the restaurant is expected to be open before the end of the year.

A spokeswoman said: "We expect to be open in the coming weeks."