When Kaoru talks about onigiri, she talks about her childhood in Tokyo. About her mother, who tucked the filled rice balls into her school backpack, and about those small moments that taste like home. It’s this passion for onigiri that Kaoru Iriyama and Maxim Streletzki want to share with others at Oka, their small restaurant on Oranienburgerstraße. Here, freshly shaped onigiri are prepared in front of you, perfect for a quick lunch break, a snack on the go, or dinner on the way home. The name Oka, meaning “gentle mountain”, says it all: a place to arrive, calm and grounded, where tradition meets modern hospitality. At the entrance, you can already get a glimpse of what’s on offer. If you can’t decide, start with the classics like salmon & salmon roe or tuna mayo. Vegan options such as miso peanut or spicy avocado are just as convincing. Especially charming is the long bar. Take a seat at the counter and watch the team shape the onigiri before handing them across to you. If you’re in a rush, simply take them to go. Sides and drinks are deliberately kept to the essentials. The perfect lunch combo is two onigiri, edamame, and soon miso soup. To drink, there’s cold green tea (a staple during my travels in Japan), matcha, yuzu lemonade, or Pocari Sweat. To sweeten the evening, find matcha and yuzu mochi on the menu. And whether sweet or savory, fish or vegan, among warm wooden tones and welcoming hosts, every rice mountain reveals just how much craftsmanship and passion goes into it.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Oka, Oranienburgerstr.72, 10117 Berlin–Mitte; map
@oka.onigiri
