Le NIGIRIZ is a quiet counterpoint to the sushi-heavy narrative of Japanese food in Montréal. Tucked into the Plateau, the café is the work of Junpei Iwakiri (Ramen Nakamichi), who wanted to spotlight something far more common in everyday Japan: the onigiri. These hand-pressed rice balls, wrapped in seaweed and filled with ingredients like tuna mayo or umeboshi, are a staple of convenience stores and home kitchens across Japan—but rarely get their due here. With help from assistant manager Takumi Uyama, Junpei built a space that channels both Kichijoji and Mile End: modest, creative, and people-first. The name itself fuses “nigiri” (to grasp, in Japanese) with “riz” (rice, in French), grounding the concept in both cultures. Alongside the onigiris, the menu includes small Japanese plates, executed with care and priced accessibly. Hand-drawn art from a friend of the owner adds to the café’s unpretentious charm.