In a city where lunch is increasingly synonymous with a €15 sourdough toastie, the fact that nothing here tops a tenner is a minor miracle. It allows for the kind of reckless ordering usually reserved for people with expense accounts or those with a total lack of self control.  

The shopfront is unassuming - grey, white, and modern - nestled among heavy hitters like La Gordita and The Green Bench. Dare we say it’s ‘kawaii’, without being saccharine? Inside, it’s a solo diner’s dream: a long wall-facing bench that spares you the indignity of making accidental eye contact with a stranger while you’re wrestling with a pair of chopsticks. The stools even have back support - a revolutionary concept in the world of ‘grab-and-go’, where discomfort is usually the name of the game. 

Behind the counter, the chef’s assembly line smoothly ticks along. You can see the rolls being made fresh - the urge to point like a child in a sweet shop and shout “I want that one” might grab you, and if you act on it - no judgement here. We did the same thing. If you arrive at noon, you’re witnessing the chefs reach flow state. Everything is being prepped, rolled, and tucked into the display cases with precision.

The real star of the show (the Kim K, if you will) is the Inari. For the uninitiated, these are sweet, vinegared rice parcels tucked into pouches of deep-fried tofu. They taste like discovering your ex is balding - satisfying, comforting, and just a little sweet. All of the inari are priced at €3.50, so you can try out a whole rake of them and come away with your wallet still intact. 

The Tempura Prawn & Fig Inari was the winner for us. The crunch of the prawn against the jammy softness of the fig was a textural dream. The tofu pouch, perfectly seasoned, tied the whole sweet-savoury love affair together.

The Mango Chilli Chicken was a tropical holiday in bite-sized form. The mango was ripe enough to make you forget you were in Dublin 2 in January, and the chilli-spiced chicken had just enough kick to keep things interesting.

We also tried out the Seafood Delight Special, to prove to people that we do in fact eat fish. At €3 a pop (or €10 for four), these are the ultimate commitment-phobe bites. Packed with crab, tuna, and salmon, they allow you to sample the high life without being married to a full roll.

Finally, we tried out the Onigiri - they’ve a good bit of weight behind them, and that’s coming from a Meath woman who loves nothing more than a big feed. At €5, the chicken curry version is nearly a meal in itself. They offered to heat it up (and you should absolutely take them up on the offer), turning the seaweed-wrapped triangle into a warm, handheld bite. It’s the kind of food that makes you want to cancel your afternoon meetings and take a nap.

Is it Michelin-star worthy? No. But it is fresh, funky, and fun. It’s the kind of place that London has on every corner and Dublin has been sorely lacking. For the raw-fish-avoidant or the sushi newbs among us, the teriyaki and kimchi chicken options provide a safe, delicious harbour.

The damage: You’ll escape for under €15 with a full belly and your dignity intact.

Go for: The Inari. Stay for the people-watching and the fact that you can finally afford lunch and a coffee in the same afternoon.