Onigiri Bongo
Onigiri Bongo things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Street food shop specializing in onigiri, or seaweed-wrapped rice balls, with fillings like cod roe.
attractions: Sunshine Aquarium, Sunshine City Prince Hotel, Togenuki Jizoson Koganji Temple, APA Hotel Sugamo Station, Sugamo Jizodori Shopping Street, Togenuki Jizoson Koganji Temple, Sunshine City Bunka Kaikan Bldg., Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alta, World Import Mart Bldg., NAMJATOWN, restaurants: Sugamo Tokiwa Shokudo Honten, Sōsakumen Kōbō Nakiryū, Wagyuittoyakiniku BouYa Otsukaten, Menya Imamura, Kitaotsuka Ramen, Fight Gyoza, Kitchen ABC, Tokiwa Shokudo, Atelier Sekka, Kasthamandap（カスタマンダップ） 大塚店
Ratings
Description
Street food shop specializing in onigiri, or seaweed-wrapped rice balls, with fillings like cod roe.
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A Hidden Gem for Onigiri Lovers! I stumbled upon Onigiri Bongo while exploring the streets of Tokyo, and I'm so glad I did! This quaint, unassuming shop serves some of the best onigiri I've ever had. Standout Features: 1. *Fresh & Delicious Fillings*: From classic salmon to unique options like spicy tuna and pickled plum, every onigiri is carefully crafted with love. 2. *Perfect Rice*: The triangular-shaped rice balls are cooked to perfection, with just the right balance of firmness and fluffiness. 3. *Cozy Atmosphere*: The intimate, 10-seat shop feels like a hidden oasis amidst Tokyo's bustling streets. 4. *Friendly Staff*: The owner, Bongo-san, is warm and welcoming, eager to share recommendations and stories. Recommendations: 1. Try the *Spicy Tuna Onigiri* - a game-changer! 2. Pair your onigiri with a refreshing *Mugicha* (roasted barley tea). 3. Visit during *lunch hours* for a delicious, filling meal. *Details:* - Price Range: ¥500-¥1,000 (~ $5-10 USD) - Language: Japanese (but Bongo-san speaks some English) Will I Return? Absolutely! Onigiri Bongo has become my go-to spot for onigiri in Tokyo. Tips for Visitors: 1. Arrive early, as seating is limited. 2. Don't be afraid to ask Bongo-san for recommendations. 3. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and savor every bite! Rating Breakdown: - Food Quality: 5/5 - Atmosphere: 5/5 - Service: 5/5 - Value: 5/5
Vaibhav SinghVaibhav Singh
00
Decided to stop by on a Tuesday after lunch hours hoping there wasn't that long of a queue. I was wrong. The turnover rate is quite slow and I ended up waiting about 3.5 hours. Be sure you wear proper shoes because my feet ended up hurting till the next day! I hope they change the system to a ticketing system because waiting 3-5 hours for onigiri is a little outrageous. But I'm glad to see it was mostly locals lining up. The onigiri is good, and the portions are much larger than the ones you can find at a convenience store. I expected the rice to be better, also it just fell apart after a couple bites. The filling is generous so I'm happy about that. 2-3 onigiri is probably enough, I decided to pig out and get 4 because why not after waiting 3.5 hours 😂 they're quite filling. I got the salmon roe, marinated egg, uni karage, and the yakiniku one with sweetened Miso. They were honestly all good, I think a pro tip is adding extra of a different topping to get a mix of flavours. The people before and after me both did that. Worth the wait? I'm not sure because afterall, it is just onigiri? If you can tough out the wait go for it, just don't expect too much. I'd probably return if they changed the system, but I wouldn't wait over 3 hours again.
Jay SonJay Son
50
We arrived to queue up at 10:30 (opens at 11:30) and got in 3 hours later. It was quite cold waiting outside, so they went out to give hot tea to people waiting in line - except that we were not offered any tea, yet the guests waiting right in front of us and behind us were offered, while we were outright skipped (and no, none of them specifically asked for tea, it was offered by the staff). English menu is available, but I would recommend looking online at the website for the full menu with pictures and decide on what to get beforehand, and write it down in Japanese on the phone for them. When we did get in, and we had ordered to the best of our ability in Japanese, the level of hospitality increased and we were offered refills on soup and tea by the other staff members (not the one serving tea outside and handling the queue). The onigiri was definitely delicious (way better and bigger than convenience store onigiri, that is) and with the amount of choices you will definitely find something you will like. If you are able to call Japanese phone numbers, you can order takeout by calling - phone opening hours seem to be the same as the store itself, as they took the phone whenever it rang while we were inside.
Marcus Sand (Hero)Marcus Sand (Hero)
30
Please expect to wait for hours in line! This place is very popular even with the locals. I line on a Tuesday at noon and sat down by 5 pm. It is one main chef and two Sue chefs. Please be patient with the staff. They are so nice and attentive when it come to the customers. I had not realized it was cash only till I got to the door. Here I was thinking I would have to get out of line when I was 4 people away from sitting down, they were more than happy to direct to me to a seven eleven around the corner to grab some yen. When I finally sat down to eat, I was greeted with a nice wet towel to wash my hands and a cool, refreshing cup of green tea. I didn't wait long till I had three onigris placed in front of me. It was interesting watching the staff work in the kitchen while waiting for my food. The staff are very efficient on how everything is done. The onigri were super delicious. The rice was so fluffy. Unlike what I've ever had before. When I ordered a spicy filling, it actually had a kick to it, unlike anything else that states it spicy in japan. Walked away full with those 3 onigri! Would recommend if you are patient enough. Overall fantastic experience to visit when in Japan.
Itzel AndradeItzel Andrade
40
DO NOT line up unless you can grab a chair out front immediately. I highly recommend getting take out as customers who did so were in and out quickly. This is the best onigiri I've had for sure but only worth a 30 minute wait. Japanese menus offer different choices(like combination flavor recommendations) compared to the English menu so it's worth trying to translate a Japanese menu. Also not all flavors will be good(not a big fan of cooked salmon and uni), so try asking for highly recommended or most popular for at least one or two. You can take your leftovers to go as well. Again, please dont waste your time lining up, seriously it's not worth it. I know most hyped restaurants in Tokyo require a wait and out of all the hours I waited in lines for Tokyo, this one was the one I most regret. Please dont be like me, these are rice balls, you can only take them so far. We came here on a Thursday at 2pm, waited 2 hours, there was still a decent line at 4 when we left. Dont line up, dont do it, I dont care how much you want to try this, just dont...trust me 🙏.
EE
180
It was worth the wait. The onigiri is delicious and the portions are large. The onigiri pairs nicely with the green tea and miso soup. You get to sit at the counter and see the onigiri be made which makes it worthwhile to eat inside the restaurant. There is an English menu as well. Be prepared to wait in a long line. We waited 2 hrs. We tried to come at an unpopular time to eat- we arrived at 3 pm on Tuesday but we still had to wait for a while. Bring a portable phone charger and watch a downloaded Netflix show/movie to pass the time. It isn’t a restaurant where you can eat and talk since there is a long queue. We tried to be considerate of others waiting in line so my husband and I ate the food and did not talk. As soon as we finished we left. We did have leftover onigiri because the portions are large (2-3 onigiri is very filling and you will be full). They packaged our leftover onigiri to go for take out which was nice! The staff do provide water and tea to the queue which was nice especially in the hot weather!
Esther Lee (estherbunbun)Esther Lee (estherbunbun)
60
Nearby Attractions Of Onigiri Bongo
Sunshine Aquarium
Sunshine City Prince Hotel
Togenuki Jizoson Koganji Temple
APA Hotel Sugamo Station
Sugamo Jizodori Shopping Street
Togenuki Jizoson Koganji Temple
Sunshine City Bunka Kaikan Bldg.
Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alta
World Import Mart Bldg.
NAMJATOWN
Sunshine Aquarium
4.2
(4.2K)Click for details
Sunshine City Prince Hotel
4.1
(2K)Click for details
Togenuki Jizoson Koganji Temple
4.1
(1.6K)Click for details
APA Hotel Sugamo Station
4.1
(1.7K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Onigiri Bongo
Sugamo Tokiwa Shokudo Honten
Sōsakumen Kōbō Nakiryū
Wagyuittoyakiniku BouYa Otsukaten
Menya Imamura
Kitaotsuka Ramen
Fight Gyoza
Kitchen ABC
Tokiwa Shokudo
Atelier Sekka
Kasthamandap（カスタマンダップ） 大塚店
Sugamo Tokiwa Shokudo Honten
4.2
(1.5K)Click for details
Sōsakumen Kōbō Nakiryū
4.3
(1.2K)Click for details
Wagyuittoyakiniku BouYa Otsukaten
4.8
(972)Click for details
Menya Imamura
4.4
(738)Click for details
Reviews
Overview
4.1
(1.5K reviews)
Phone
+81 3-3910-5617
Call
Website
onigiribongo.info
Visit
Deep Dive
A deep dive into Onigiri Bongo
