When somewhere new comes along that literally blows your socks off, you want to shout about it from the rooftops. So here goes.
Lunch at Mizu Japanese Izakaya in Bicester was one of the most exciting meals we’ve had in a long time, from the moment we stepped into its exciting interior, its calming reverence was impressive from the word go.
‘it was a seriously inspiring meal, dazzling actually in its delivery and accomplishment’
From the first sip of saki; clean, light and dangerously delicate, to the last vivid spoonful of matcha yuzu cake, it was a seriously inspiring meal, dazzling actually in its delivery and accomplishment.
But then why were we surprised? Mizu Japanese Izakaya has been sucking up a lot of airtime recently, winning BEST INTERNATIONAL in the OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2025 THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2025 winners announced after epic night at The Ashmolean to celebrate Oxfordshire’s incredible hospitality industry and making big waves around Oxfordshire since the adorable Barry FU opened up in April 2024.
‘Aesthetically Mizu Japanese Izakaya ticks all the boxes’
Well versed in hospitality, nurturing his talent in Hong Kong at 1881 Heritage, The Royal Garden, INAGIKU and Ta-ke Japanese Restaurant, he’s returned to Oxford where he studied, choosing Bicester for its burgeoning potential, and finally opening his own place.
Our lunch there this week proved his immense skillset and vision. Aesthetically Mizu Japanese Izakaya ticks all the boxes – sleek, refined, modern and at odds with its surroundings on Sheep Street in Bicester, it’s an oasis and culinary haven waiting to grab you.
‘Barry Fu and his team understand that Japanese food can be intimidating, and are keen to impart their extensive knowledge in a friendly and helpful way’
And boy does it deliver. Barry Fu and his team understand that Japanese food can be intimidating, and are keen to impart their extensive knowledge in a friendly and helpful way, delighted to be of service, while refusing to bastardise Japanese food, but show it off to the best off their ability in this refined space.
So this is the real deal, and while aficionados might struggle with some of the rarer dishes, Barry guides you through the options, making a few suggestions based on what we liked. And we went hell for leather.
First the home-made green and white curled seaweed crisps served in cornets, which were nothing like we expected. A bit like the saki, they were crisp, light and clean, nothing overtly tangy or fishy and we finished the lot.
Then the Mexican taco fusion salmon & spicy tuna sushi tacos with avocado, cucumber and Japanese mayo, so elegantly served, topped with Tobiko fish roe and mini crispy rice balls.
Then the eight piece omakase nigiri (£28), a style of sushi where quenelles of rice are topped with a slice of differing raw fish, resplendent to see, the attention to detail, and finesse, stopping us in our tracks.
‘For sushi to excel, the freshness of the fish is everything, and here the quality shines through’
For sushi to excel, the freshness of the fish is everything, and here the quality shines through. And so we paraded through the glistening scallop, salmon belly, yellow tail tuna, sea bass, sushi prawn and squid, dabbing a bit of bright green wasabi or fresh ginger on as we went.
My dining companion couldn’t quite believe his luck, as we worked out way through the seaborne offerings: “This is on another level. It’s like the fish is made of butter. I don’t even have to chew it,” he said in disbelief. “This place is ridiculous.”
And the ridicule carried on; the more familiar yazai gyozas – pan-fried vegetable dumplings with soy Chin-Kang vinegar – which were bouncy and crispy at the same time, the pert little parcels brimming with goodies, the sauce rich and zingy.
‘I’d have picked up the bowl and slurped the whole thing down, had I not been on my best behaviour’
We’d have ordered more if we’d have the time, but then the ramen bowls arrived. For once a dish we were au fait with but here taken up a level. Found on the lunch menu, the Tonkotsu ramen (£15) – pork broth with BBQ char-sui (marinaded pork), woodier mushrooms, bamboo shoots, spring onions, onset egg and black garlic oil – was creamy, fragrant and light, the pork sliced thin, succulent and sweet, the egg boiled just so, the thin noodles lurking in the bottom. I’d have picked up the bowl and slurped the whole thing down, had I not been on my best behaviour.
And the more innocuous sounding yaki soba noodle stir-fry with pak choi and mixed vegetables, ginger pickles and sesame seeds (£16) which again came up trumps; vibrant, zingy, without being gloopy, the flavours and tastes singing, we demolished it with our chopsticks. More, more, more.
‘Mizu is ridiculous. Ridiculously good, ridiculously accomplished, ridiculously memorable, ridiculously novel’
Almost on a rampage we moved onto the puds, unexpected in both texture and taste. The mochi (£8) here presented in three flavours – matcha, mango passion and lemon yuzu, the delicious glutinous covering, like a cross between marshmallow and jelly, masking the ice cream inside. Little moments of heaven.
The Fuji lava cake (£8) – chocolate sponge with a molten centre was a must, delivering on rich chocolatey delight, and the matcha yuzu cake which came as a oblong of bright green spicy sponge; piquant with layers of yuzu’s citrus offering, immaculate to behold, gone in seconds.
‘What an immense privilege it is to have mizu here in Oxfordshire then’
Lunch finishes at 3pm, so we reluctantly departed back into the rain, the immersive experience that is Mizu Japanese Izakaya fading like a dream.
And my friend was right, Mizu is ridiculous. Ridiculously good, ridiculously accomplished, ridiculously memorable, ridiculously novel. What an immense privilege it is to have it here in Oxfordshire then. Shouting from the rooftops accomplished. An impeccable meal.
Mizu Japanese Izakaya is at 73 Sheep Street Bicester OX26 6JS. It is open Tuesday – Sunday for lunch and dinner. https://www.mizuizakaya.co.uk
