Itsu Can NEVER Do What This Japanese Takeout Does - Natural Natural

Before anything else, yes, I went out at 8:00 in the morning for a Japanese takeout shop. And yes, there was an Itsu a near where I live. But this shop does something chains simply can’t replicate, and it’s the reason I travelled across the city to see it for myself.

What survives when franchises take over a neighbourhood?

Ealing is full of expanding chains, but somehow there is a family-run Japanese supermarket that has stayed steady. It’s small, extremely organised, and feels like a place built with routine rather than trend. But the real discovery sits right next to it: a compact takeout counter that focuses entirely on fish.

Where in London can you find 50 types of seafood before 8AM?

This shop puts out more than 50 varieties of seafood every morning, along with over 100 different cuts prepared on-site. Everything is brought in daily, filleted in the back, and displayed before they open the door.

The immediate question is how a shop like this exists in the middle of Ealing. The answer is simple: a large Japanese community lives in the area, and the demand for familiar ingredients is strong enough to support a specialist supply chain.

The owner previously ran a sushi takeaway in Fukuoka, and opened this space to meet the needs of Japanese residents in London which means everyone else now has access to cuts that major chains never carry.

Why travel for a takeout shop at all?

The seafood was not the only motivation. This is Day 35 of highlighting small businesses that operate without large marketing budgets, and this shop fits that mission clearly. It serves a community, relies on craft, and has quietly built a following without any advertising.

What else is inside that people never talk about?

Beyond the seafood, the supermarket offers more than 100 Japanese drinks.

And you can have a tasting. There is a menu that has a type of sake and some side dishes that goes well with the drink.

I got oden for it, and I thought it would be just ok, but I was surprised how good it was. They also give you a small piece of octopus <3

You can try a tasting flight of three for £10, which makes exploring unfamiliar bottles easy without committing to a full drink.

How many sushi types can fit into one platter?

If you want a full spread, they also prepare a sushi platter with four pieces each across 18 different types of sushi for £100 (also they offer £80 platter).

It is designed for sharing and gives a wide look into the range of fish the shop handles daily.