Snow Ball Rice Ball — Restaurant in Austin

My friend and I used to visit this place frequently, usually opting to get the rice ball with their milk boba combo. Upgrading the drink to boba cost an extra dollar but it felt worth it. Recently however we ordered the boba and for some reason it just tasted off, different than their usual boba. Not sure exactly what went wrong in making it, but no big deal we thought we just need to let them know and get it replaced. My friend has some social anxiety so after working up the courage she walks up and talks to the cashier who gets the manager. The manager tells her no she can't get a replacement. Confused and feeling a bit humiliated my friend sits back down. At this point I think maybe there was a miscommunication, maybe the manager thinks that my friend just doesn't like it, so I decide to go up and maybe clarify what the issue is. I talk to the cashier again who said that no she can't replace it because of what the manager said. I ask then if maybe we can just get a refund for the price of the drink? The cashier leaves to go ask the manager. The manager doesn't even come out again to talk to me but instead just tells the cashier that no we can't get a refund either. At this point I'm just stunned and clarify again that we can neither get a refund, nor a replacement, to which the cashier confirms. I've never had this happen at any restaurant I've been to. I tell them that the boba milk tea does not taste good and that'll I'll have to just throw it out to which the cashier just shrugs. I end up throwing away the milk tea and leaving. I appreciate the cashier trying to work with us, but sadly the manager really did not leave her many options. I'm sure their drinks probably only cost a dollar to make, but they still decided not to remake it and instead lost some regular customers.

TLDR: They messed up on making their boba tea and weren't willing to replace or remake it. Cashier did what she could but manager didn't give her many options. While their rice balls might be great, their customer service leaves a bad taste in my mouth in more...

Snow Ball Rice Ball is a wonderful place to grab a quick bite or beverage. Their menu features delectable rice balls, known as Onigiri, that are filled with mouth-watering ingredients, as well as rice rolls. Onigiri or rice ball can be described as balls of rice that are typically filled with savory and flavorful ingredients. From this basic form, they can be enhanced by being wrapped in nori, which is dried seaweed, or dressed in black sesame seeds and various other seasonings. Onigiri can also be grilled to give them a delicious smoky flavor. Additionally, Snow Ball Rice Ball offers an extensive drink selection, ranging from teas, boba and smoothies.

During my visit, I indulged in the grilled salmon rice ball, spiced tuna rice roll, spicy salmon rice roll, and shrimp rice ball, accompanied by a refreshing mango bubble tea (my all-time favorite). The freshness and quality of the food, as well as the made-to-order drinks, were exceptional. My husband and i chose combo 1 and 2 and an unagi premium roll. In one word, the food was awesome!

If you're on the lookout for a charming food joint, or like me, craving some seriously delicious Onigiri, then Snow Ball Rice Ball is definitely worth a visit!

To top off the meal, I also had the mango bingsu as dessert. In Korea, Bingsu is a classic dessert that is particularly popular during the summer season. This sweet treat consists of finely shaved ice that is infused with a variety of delicious flavors, including milk, chocolate, and yogurt. I loved it so much that I forgot to take pictures. It...

I've been depleting my body of rice lately so my craving for onigiri's sprouted.

Like before, I ordered the Fried Chicken and Soft Shelled Crab. Out of the two, I highly recommend the Crab. They put a little bit too much eel sauce on both, but I still enjoyed it!

This place used to be called Snowy Village but has undergone a lot of rebranding. Onigiri's used to be their side thing but I guess it's their speciality now. They still have Korean-styled shaved ice on their menu, with all the same flavors. There's also a large selection of teas and smoothies, but I'd recommend going to 85 degree, Feng Cha, or Ding Tea for boba. I usually get the Mango Shaved Ice but I wasn't sure if the mangos were sweet (neither did the cashiers) so I got the Green Tea Shaved Ice this time. It was good but not as great as I remembered. It was on the less sweet side, which is what I prefer these days.

Overall, these are affordable little snacks that are fun to eat. I come here when I miss Japan. It definitely doesn't hit the same but an onigiri at Rice Ball is cheaper than a...