Itadakimasu Onigiri & Bar

Right next door to cult sando slingers Sandoitchi, the team has opened a second act—and this time, rice is the headline. Itadakimasu Onigiri & Bar has taken over a narrow Oxford Street shopfront and turned it into a Japanese onigiri and wine bar that moves with the day.

By late morning, the counter is lined with neatly wrapped onigiri, each one shaped to order using premium Japanese rice selected for its texture and fragrance. Fillings span the classic to the playful: tuna sharpened with yuzu, grilled scallop, unagi with tamago, crispy prawn, even an Okinawa-inspired “taco” combination layered with cheese, corn and crunch. 

The set menus are where the kitchen stretches out. Inspired by regions across Japan, they bring together warm onigiri, katsu (think whiting fillets or eggplant topped with creamy egg salad), miso soup loaded with pork or tofu and vegetables, sesame-dressed greens and house pickles. The Hokkaido set leans into seafood: grilled scallop tucked into rice, sweet crab folded through another —a nod to the produce the team has sourced and studied on trips through Japan.

The drinks list is just as strong. Japanese beers, saké, yuzu spritzes and highballs sit alongside a curated wine edit. Throughout the morning, matcha, hojicha and house sodas (salted plum with brown sugar is the move) keep things bright.

The name “itadakimasu” (said before eating in Japan as a gesture of thanks) anchors the space. It’s all about ceremony and intention: respect for the farmers, the sea, the hands in the kitchen. And if you’re already loyal to Sandoitchi, this is the natural next stop. 

Image credit: Itadakimasu Onigiri & Bar | Instagram