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Onigiri Onibe is located in the financial district of Honolulu and is open from 7am to 2pm on every day except Sunday when they are closed. At 12:30pm on a Saturday, the line was snaking out the door and was about 30 minutes long. The inside of the store combines a sleek, concrete, brutalist aesthetic with traditional Japanese wood motifs. You order with the cashier when you get to the front of the line. Unfortunately, they were sold out of a handful of items such as the egg yolks when it was our turn to order. There is a counter with about 10 or so seats that are first come first serve for dine-in, and lucky for us, some spots freed up as soon as we finished ordering. We took our seats at the counter with envious eyes peering at us from the line, which still coiled and twisted inside past the front door. Shortly after, our onigiris were presented to us. We each got two, neatly laid out on stone plates with the nori unwrapped to display the fillings and remain crisp. They were delicious. The rice was fluffy and perfectly seasoned. My personal favorite was the beef sukiyaki with shiso leaf. I believe this usually comes with an egg yolk, but they were out as it was later in their service. I also really liked the tuna mayo and crab mayo. We ate quickly and made space for the next wave of guests. I definitely think that eating inside the restaurant made the experience a bit nicer, so if you're able to grab a seat, you should definitely take it. I'm glad that we found time to visit Onigiri Onibe. I think that the wait may deter me from a second visit, but it was definitely worth a try.
Ordered takeout via the Clover app and my takeaway was ready a few minutes before the approximate time. I requested three onigiri - musubi means essentially the same thing just locally appropriated and generally referring to blocks of rice with non- traditional toppings like Spam. Also, got the Oroshi Ponzu Karaage. In obverse order, the karaage was excellent, fried with the skin...very crispy. Grated daikon and citrus soy sauce were in separate containers. Interior meat was tender enough. I had the Kombu Shiso, Ume, and Beef Sukiyaki onigiris. All were very good with one quibble being the Ume spread was too salty and I had take some of it out. Modifications are available, e.g. you can add an egg. I can't speak for the quality of the rice...I didn't see any brochure that stated the type of Japanese imported rice that they use. I neither have the sophisticated palate nor the finicky preference for premium rice. Interior has a counter for a quick sit-down lunch or breakfast. Hours are 700a till 200p every weekday. Saturdays are from 1000a till 200p; closed on Sundays. Parking: good luck it is Downtown. Their storefront is on Alakea Street, next to Baker Dudes.
To our knowledge, there is no parking attached to the building. But there is a lot nearby. Because this place is so delicious, lines are long, but pretty efficient. There is a small bar for seating if you want to eat in, but not many seats available. Service is fast. If you want fresh egg, please note that there is a limited amount per day.
The onigiris here are legit! My wife and I stopped by Onigiri Onibe on a Saturday morning at 10:07 a.m. -- a few minutes after they had opened, and every seat had already been taken. It wasn't until 20 minutes later did the first round of diners vacate their seats so we could sit down. Ordering is at the counter. Honestly the only negative I have to say about my experience at Onigiri Onibe is the standoffish, curt attitude of the man taking orders at the counter. I definitely felt un-welcomed, and it felt like they did not want to be there either. In any case, the food itself is simply spectacular, rivaling freshly made onigiris I've had in Japan. We ordered four onigiris in total: a beef sukiyaki with fresh egg yolk, beef miso shiso, smoked salmon with cream cheese, and a mentaiko with fresh egg yolk. Additionally, we also ordered the oroshi ponzu karaage, which comes with four pieces. We were plenty full after sharing all these items. Of the onigiris we ordered, the beef sukiyaki with egg yolk was my favorite. Be forewarned -- the onigiris with egg yolk ones are MESSY to eat; you'll definitely want a few napkins nearby. It should goes without saying, but the flavors are so vastly different from onigiri to onigiri. The variety in saltiness, richness, and even sourness can vary greatly; you'll definitely want to try a few. If you're not ordering sides, three should be plenty for a meal. I would recommend coming hungry so you're able to truly appreciate the quality of the rice: they make it a point here to cook the rice over clay pots, and this labor-intensive process really produces great end results: every grain of rice is perfectly cooked. Of the karaage options, the one with yuzu is definitely one I'd get again. With the lemon wedge squeezed over the top, you get a wonderful burst of citrus that cuts through the richness of the juicy chicken thigh that's been fried to perfection. The skin is insanely crispy and has a beautiful golden brown color to it. Unlike your typical karaage chicken, the one here seems to be rolled up chicken thigh. I've never seen this technique before, but it's honestly some of the most moist and tender pieces of chicken I've ever had. I can see how this place can get insanely busy during the work week when the downtown area is full of office workers. That said, if you come on an off-time, the experience is quite pleasant and the wait isn't that long. This is pretty out of the way from Waikiki but if you're in this area, it's 100% worth checking out.
Located in downtown area. Always long line but it's definitely worth it. The staffs are friendly and attentive. Since I'm working in downtown so I always go there for lunch. My favorite: Spicy Tuna Mayo & Spam Must order: Chicken Karaage Prices: reasonable I also tried their Tonkatsu-Don and it was delicious. Come and support local small businesses.
An onigiri is Japanese "fast food' - convenient and inexpensive. An onigiri is Japanese "slow food" - seasonal and fresh. An onigiri is Japanese "soul food' - warm and comforting. Onigiri Onibe is all of the above. Start with their rice being cooked in earthenware donabe. Their thicker and porous clay wall and double lid construction provide excellent heat distribution and a pressurized steam-tight environment. The earthenware absorbs moisture during cooking, but releases moisture back as the pot cools, providing better heat retention than any commercial cooker. The slow heat up of the donabe brings out natural sweetnesss and fluffy and glossy grains. The nori is dry and crisp. The nori will crackled if you bite into the onigiri within the first minute you receive it. The warm rice will slowly moisten the nori but it will still be a clean bite after the crispness is gone. Onigiri. Handmade to order, fast, fresh, and very warm. There is a whole range of savory toppings ranging from vegetarian, pescatarian, and unabashed meat eating. If you don't choose one that already comes with an egg yolk you can simply add it on. One onigiri, with your choice of topping(s) is cheap eats. Add in a bowl of hearthy and filling tonjiru, and you have the makings of a quick inexpensive meal. Don't overlook the pleasure of a plain salted onigiri. Order it with chicken karaage - nicely coated and freshly deep fried with crisp skin and moist thigh meat. Nanban style if you want creamy karaage, or ponzu oroshi w lemon if you want nice acid to cut through the fat. Now you have a full meal. Pre-made take-away is available. Leave that stuff for the hungry downtown office workers on short lunch breaks. order at the register and eat everything at the sit down counter. No frills. You must pay for any beverage. But food made fresh and nicely plated is beautiful fast, slow, soul food.
A friend of mine wanted to try this place out, and as I'm normally working during the weekday, luckily I had 1 day off to visit during their lunch hour. We parked in Ali'i Place which I've found the cheapest in that area. You can also try your luck at the post office metered lot as well. Got there just before the rush, to which they had many different onigiri options to choose from. There are also ready to-go bentos on the countertop as well. Make sure that you order first, before grabbing a countertop bar seat. Note that the seating is very tight, and the chairs are high, to which as I'm 4ft 11" it took a little maneuvering to get in and out of the seating area. Also note that the establishment gets very warm, with little to no air conditioning. Nevertheless, we received our food quickly and efficiently with 4 workers + 1 cashier on duty. The fried chicken and stewed meat curry were a little too salty for my liking. The onigiri were delicious to which I personally don't care for nori, but enjoyed this version! My friend had the tonjiru and mentioned it was authentically flavorful.
Came here to try it out. At first It thought there was a long line outside to order, but it was just people waiting for their order. I went inside and there was a shorter line of 2 people waiting to order and pay. They have some bowls and takeaway items for quick pickup. I ordered the marinated egg yolk with mentaiko. It took about 10 min to get my two orders. The orders came hot and packaged nicely. The flavor was super yummy and tasted just like Japan! 10/10! Reasonable price as well. I'll definitely be back the next time i'm in the area. Parking: Parking downtown is difficult. You could possibly park at the post office and then walk a block over.
The musubis are delicious! I ordered the salmon mayo and beef miso with egg (I don't remember the name) but they were both delicious. They also serve karaage chicken and other dishes but the two musubis alone were already so filling! I can't wait to try more. They make it fresh when you order.
After seeing this place pop on my feed, I decided to check it out as a lighter breakfast option. Seeing as it is in downtown, parking can be challenging and limited. We went on a Monday also and saw that their hours were until 2pm. As you walk in, there is a sign that tells you to order before getting seated. Upon looking inside, I'd say that there is less than ten seats so it is definitely more of a grab and go type of establishment. Me and my husband both ordered kakuni and yakiniku with egg yolk. We also ordered a tonjiru and an order of chicken nanban. I honestly contemplated ordering a third onigiri but I am very glad we didn't. It was surprisingly very filling and the rice was perfect. I love loved how tender the kakuni was and the egg yolk was jammy and flavorful. Tonjiru was rich and comforting and had lots of root vegetables that made it very filling. Lastly, chicken nanban was perfect. I also thought it was interesting how they rolled them so you could have the crispy texture all throughout each piece. The tartar was tart, sweet and creamy. I always order chicken nanban when I have the chance because it is my favorite and Onigiri Onibe did not disappoint! I will definitely return when I am back in the islands!
Yummy and cheap onigiris that are made to order. I got the beef sukiyaki with egg yolk, mentaiko with egg yolk, and smoked salmon. My favorite was the mentaiko - salty and very flavorful. Service was very friendly too. The restaurant is very small with only about 8 seats so you may have to take out. Also parking is very difficult.
Don't pass this place!!! It's small inside so you made need to take your food to go, but it's a good thing they have so many portable options. My friend and I were lucky enough to snag two counter seats and the staff were quick, efficient, and friendly. The spicy tuna was fantastic with delicious warm rice. The chicken karaage was next level, probably the best I've had (not just Hawaii either). They have a variety of soft drinks and teas if you need a beverage to round out your meal. Overall, it's not too expensive either. Whatever you do, just go and definitely get an order of chicken karaage. You can get two pieces or four so even if you are out solo, you can enjoy. read more
Great onigiri here. First time here and we planned on sitting inside. The seats are limited.. Maybe 8 to 10 seats. You actually need to order with the cashier first before taking a seat at the counter. We placed our order and we sat down. Most people who came in were to go orders. It was about 11 am so we beat the rush. Anyways, our onigiri arrived.. One was the salmon anf the other was their special of the day which had an egg in it. Both were fresh and great, but i liked the egg one the most. Get any egg one! The place is small and parking can be difficult due to the downtown location, but overall a good place to try and come back to. read more
Onigiri Onibe is located in the financial district of Honolulu and is open from 7am to 2pm on every day except Sunday when they are closed. At 12:30pm on a Saturday, the line was snaking out the door and was about 30 minutes long. The inside of the store combines a sleek, concrete, brutalist aesthetic with traditional Japanese wood motifs. You order with the cashier when you get to the front of the line. Unfortunately, they were sold out of a handful of items such as the egg yolks when it was our turn to order. There is a counter with about 10 or so seats that are first come first serve for dine-in, and lucky for us, some spots freed up as soon as we finished ordering. We took our seats at the counter with envious eyes peering at us from the line, which still coiled and twisted inside past the front door. Shortly after, our onigiris were presented to us. We each got two, neatly laid out on stone plates with the nori unwrapped to display the fillings and remain crisp. They were delicious. The rice was fluffy and perfectly seasoned. My personal favorite was the beef sukiyaki with shiso leaf. I believe this usually comes with an egg yolk, but they were out as it was later in their service. I also really liked the tuna mayo and crab mayo. We ate quickly and made space for the next wave of guests. I definitely think that eating inside the restaurant made the experience a bit nicer, so if you're able to grab a seat, you should definitely take it. I'm glad that we found time to visit Onigiri Onibe. I think that the wait may deter me from a second visit, but it was definitely worth a try. read more
Ordered takeout via the Clover app and my takeaway was ready a few minutes before the approximate time. I requested three onigiri - musubi means essentially the same thing just locally appropriated and generally referring to blocks of rice with non- traditional toppings like Spam. Also, got the Oroshi Ponzu Karaage. In obverse order, the karaage was excellent, fried with the skin...very crispy. Grated daikon and citrus soy sauce were in separate containers. Interior meat was tender enough. I had the Kombu Shiso, Ume, and Beef Sukiyaki onigiris. All were very good with one quibble being the Ume spread was too salty and I had take some of it out. Modifications are available, e.g. you can add an egg. I can't speak for the quality of the rice...I didn't see any brochure that stated the type of Japanese imported rice that they use. I neither have the sophisticated palate nor the finicky preference for premium rice. Interior has a counter for a quick sit-down lunch or breakfast. Hours are 700a till 200p every weekday. Saturdays are from 1000a till 200p; closed on Sundays. Parking: good luck it is Downtown. Their storefront is on Alakea Street, next to Baker Dudes. read more
To our knowledge, there is no parking attached to the building. But there is a lot nearby. Because this place is so delicious, lines are long, but pretty efficient. There is a small bar for seating if you want to eat in, but not many seats available. Service is fast. If you want fresh egg, please note that there is a limited amount per day. read more
The onigiris here are legit! My wife and I stopped by Onigiri Onibe on a Saturday morning at 10:07 a.m. -- a few minutes after they had opened, and every seat had already been taken. It wasn't until 20 minutes later did the first round of diners vacate their seats so we could sit down. Ordering is at the counter. Honestly the only negative I have to say about my experience at Onigiri Onibe is the standoffish, curt attitude of the man taking orders at the counter. I definitely felt un-welcomed, and it felt like they did not want to be there either. In any case, the food itself is simply spectacular, rivaling freshly made onigiris I've had in Japan. We ordered four onigiris in total: a beef sukiyaki with fresh egg yolk, beef miso shiso, smoked salmon with cream cheese, and a mentaiko with fresh egg yolk. Additionally, we also ordered the oroshi ponzu karaage, which comes with four pieces. We were plenty full after sharing all these items. Of the onigiris we ordered, the beef sukiyaki with egg yolk was my favorite. Be forewarned -- the onigiris with egg yolk ones are MESSY to eat; you'll definitely want a few napkins nearby. It should goes without saying, but the flavors are so vastly different from onigiri to onigiri. The variety in saltiness, richness, and even sourness can vary greatly; you'll definitely want to try a few. If you're not ordering sides, three should be plenty for a meal. I would recommend coming hungry so you're able to truly appreciate the quality of the rice: they make it a point here to cook the rice over clay pots, and this labor-intensive process really produces great end results: every grain of rice is perfectly cooked. Of the karaage options, the one with yuzu is definitely one I'd get again. With the lemon wedge squeezed over the top, you get a wonderful burst of citrus that cuts through the richness of the juicy chicken thigh that's been fried to perfection. The skin is insanely crispy and has a beautiful golden brown color to it. Unlike your typical karaage chicken, the one here seems to be rolled up chicken thigh. I've never seen this technique before, but it's honestly some of the most moist and tender pieces of chicken I've ever had. I can see how this place can get insanely busy during the work week when the downtown area is full of office workers. That said, if you come on an off-time, the experience is quite pleasant and the wait isn't that long. This is pretty out of the way from Waikiki but if you're in this area, it's 100% worth checking out. read more
Located in downtown area. Always long line but it's definitely worth it. The staffs are friendly and attentive. Since I'm working in downtown so I always go there for lunch. My favorite: Spicy Tuna Mayo & Spam Must order: Chicken Karaage Prices: reasonable I also tried their Tonkatsu-Don and it was delicious. Come and support local small businesses. read more
2 days ago
Sooooo good, devoured musubis without taking photos.... was that goooood! Note, they packaged take out very nicely even with instructions on how to wrap musubis. More than worth it! Your tummy will be haPPppYyyyYYy!!!! read more
An onigiri is Japanese "fast food' - convenient and inexpensive. An onigiri is Japanese "slow food" - seasonal and fresh. An onigiri is Japanese "soul food' - warm and comforting. Onigiri Onibe is all of the above. Start with their rice being cooked in earthenware donabe. Their thicker and porous clay wall and double lid construction provide excellent heat distribution and a pressurized steam-tight environment. The earthenware absorbs moisture during cooking, but releases moisture back as the pot cools, providing better heat retention than any commercial cooker. The slow heat up of the donabe brings out natural sweetnesss and fluffy and glossy grains. The nori is dry and crisp. The nori will crackled if you bite into the onigiri within the first minute you receive it. The warm rice will slowly moisten the nori but it will still be a clean bite after the crispness is gone. Onigiri. Handmade to order, fast, fresh, and very warm. There is a whole range of savory toppings ranging from vegetarian, pescatarian, and unabashed meat eating. If you don't choose one that already comes with an egg yolk you can simply add it on. One onigiri, with your choice of topping(s) is cheap eats. Add in a bowl of hearthy and filling tonjiru, and you have the makings of a quick inexpensive meal. Don't overlook the pleasure of a plain salted onigiri. Order it with chicken karaage - nicely coated and freshly deep fried with crisp skin and moist thigh meat. Nanban style if you want creamy karaage, or ponzu oroshi w lemon if you want nice acid to cut through the fat. Now you have a full meal. Pre-made take-away is available. Leave that stuff for the hungry downtown office workers on short lunch breaks. order at the register and eat everything at the sit down counter. No frills. You must pay for any beverage. But food made fresh and nicely plated is beautiful fast, slow, soul food. read more
2 months ago
A friend of mine wanted to try this place out, and as I'm normally working during the weekday, luckily I had 1 day off to visit during their lunch hour. We parked in Ali'i Place which I've found the cheapest in that area. You can also try your luck at the post office metered lot as well. Got there just before the rush, to which they had many different onigiri options to choose from. There are also ready to-go bentos on the countertop as well. Make sure that you order first, before grabbing a countertop bar seat. Note that the seating is very tight, and the chairs are high, to which as I'm 4ft 11" it took a little maneuvering to get in and out of the seating area. Also note that the establishment gets very warm, with little to no air conditioning. Nevertheless, we received our food quickly and efficiently with 4 workers + 1 cashier on duty. The fried chicken and stewed meat curry were a little too salty for my liking. The onigiri were delicious to which I personally don't care for nori, but enjoyed this version! My friend had the tonjiru and mentioned it was authentically flavorful. read more
2 months ago
Came here to try it out. At first It thought there was a long line outside to order, but it was just people waiting for their order. I went inside and there was a shorter line of 2 people waiting to order and pay. They have some bowls and takeaway items for quick pickup. I ordered the marinated egg yolk with mentaiko. It took about 10 min to get my two orders. The orders came hot and packaged nicely. The flavor was super yummy and tasted just like Japan! 10/10! Reasonable price as well. I'll definitely be back the next time i'm in the area. Parking: Parking downtown is difficult. You could possibly park at the post office and then walk a block over. read more
2 months ago
Quick spot for a grab and go or sit down onigiri. Parking can be tricky but worth it. Food was 10/10 and customer service was super friendly. Onigiri were simple, filling and made fresh! read more
1 month ago
The musubis are delicious! I ordered the salmon mayo and beef miso with egg (I don't remember the name) but they were both delicious. They also serve karaage chicken and other dishes but the two musubis alone were already so filling! I can't wait to try more. They make it fresh when you order. read more
After seeing this place pop on my feed, I decided to check it out as a lighter breakfast option. Seeing as it is in downtown, parking can be challenging and limited. We went on a Monday also and saw that their hours were until 2pm. As you walk in, there is a sign that tells you to order before getting seated. Upon looking inside, I'd say that there is less than ten seats so it is definitely more of a grab and go type of establishment. Me and my husband both ordered kakuni and yakiniku with egg yolk. We also ordered a tonjiru and an order of chicken nanban. I honestly contemplated ordering a third onigiri but I am very glad we didn't. It was surprisingly very filling and the rice was perfect. I love loved how tender the kakuni was and the egg yolk was jammy and flavorful. Tonjiru was rich and comforting and had lots of root vegetables that made it very filling. Lastly, chicken nanban was perfect. I also thought it was interesting how they rolled them so you could have the crispy texture all throughout each piece. The tartar was tart, sweet and creamy. I always order chicken nanban when I have the chance because it is my favorite and Onigiri Onibe did not disappoint! I will definitely return when I am back in the islands! read more
1 month ago
Yummy and cheap onigiris that are made to order. I got the beef sukiyaki with egg yolk, mentaiko with egg yolk, and smoked salmon. My favorite was the mentaiko - salty and very flavorful. Service was very friendly too. The restaurant is very small with only about 8 seats so you may have to take out. Also parking is very difficult. read more
Sometimes effort goes a long way... Case and point, Onigiri Onibe We visited here on a weekend and it was busy. Located on bustling Alakea street, this small business puts out some high quality food. The kitchen for this restaurant is open, so you can see everything being made by hand The first thing you may notice, is the gigantic old school rice pots. You can tell a lot of effort went into planning the rice cooking area and how they would assemble and make the food. While we waited in line, two of the numerous large rice pots were finished cooking and that means two new rice pots went onto the fire....lot of heavy work. There is a small area for seating inside...maybe eight or so seats. The great part about dining inside is the instant gratification of eating right away....#crispynori. Your food comes out on nice earthenware plates and the soup comes out in warm bowls. We ordered: Shrimp crab nigiri Yuzu salmon nigiri Beef sukiyaki with fresh egg yolk nigiri Tonjiru soup Oroshi ponzu chicken Karaage Everything was delicious You could taste difference in the nigiri, because of the fresh rice...truly comfort food in one bite! The salmon and crab nigiri were delicious. Great texture to the crispu nori and soft, perfectly cooked rice. I didn't get a bite of the sukiyaki one because my wife liked it so much she devoured it! The tonjiru was a thinner version of the soup, but still rich tasting. The soup was jam packed with meat and vegetables and was pretty hearty. The oroshi ponzu chicken karaage was our favorite. Juicy, crispy, and full of flavor, this chicken was so addictive. I feel like strategic ordering of an extra nigiri just for this dish might also be a win...especially to sop up all the seasoned daikon. So tasty! Please dont make the embarassing mistake I did. When in line, it appears there is additional seating upstairs, but in fact it is there storage/office space area. I went up and quickly realized there was no seating up there...and an employee had to come get me to tell me there wasn's seating up there...so embarassing! We will definitely be back for more...so delicious! read more
5 months ago
The line wasn't that long when I went with my boyfriend. The service was quick, but we had to wait a little while (15-20 mins) to get seats. It's a very small place, so most people get take-outs. But the food was delicious! They plate it so nicely and cute, too. Our favorite was the spicy mentaiko onigiri and the kombu onigiri. read more
Came here from TikTok with very high expectations and they fulfilled it! The rice was perfectly made (tender and piece-y) and the to-go packaging was so well done. I really liked the chicken teriyaki because the flavor wasn't like your generic supermarket sauce, but rather more refined and smokey. The karrage was also so crispy, juicy, and well-seasoned. It was almost a burst of vinegar fried chicken flavor. Smoked salmon: 6/10 Spam: 9/10 Chicken teriyaki: 9/10 Pork: 7.5/10 read more
3 months ago
Located in downtown so there is no parking right in front and street parking is difficult. We did find a parking lot a few blocks away but had to circle a few times. Nonetheless totally worth it. When we got there, they were not busy, but that line grew pretty quickly. The beef sukiyaki with the egg yolk was definitely the winner. Would go back for this over and over if the parking was easier. read more
So tasty that we immediately wanted to order more afterwards! These onigiris are on the smaller side but pack a punch - if you're only ordering onigiris and not the sides, then get at least ~3 or 4 for a comfortable lunch. Anything with the seasoned egg yolk is delicious, though my favorite was the mentaiko egg one. I know some reviews mentioned these onigiris have too much rice, but I thought the ratio was actually just right. We ate dine-in at the counter and enjoyed eating these hot and fresh. Fun spot for a casual and quick lunch! read more
After reading about this place, my son wanted us to try it and even though its a bit of a drive I met him here. Since I used to work downtown right in the area, it was easy to find on Alakea Street. After reading other reviews, I parked at the post office and walked over since I know how difficult parking is to find. The shop itself is like walking into a place in Japan and after talking to one of the staff, they said they have another location in Fukuoka. We were happy to hear that since we often go to Fukuoka to visit! We ordered several musubi to take out. A couple of spicy tuna, miso beef, and my son got one of the egg ones. Take out they wrapped the onigiri (without the nori) which kept the nori nice and crisp. All three were delicious, the rice was especially good. After reading other reviews, I want to come back and eat there, it's such a gorgeous place, and want to try the miso soup! read more
7 months ago
Small storefront with several counter top seats. Ideal for the grab and go downtown lunch crew due to the limited parking options. When you enter you're warmly greeted and can choose between the premade musubis and bento/bowls or ordering freshly made musubis off the menu. You'll be impressed by the stone pots in various stages of rice cooking, a testament to their craft. I chose to order off the menu and tried three different musubis. The smoked salmon with yuzu cream and a sprig of dill was good. The spicy mentaiko was actually spicy! But my favorite was the miso beef with egg yolk. I got them to go and the packaging was neat with the seaweed packed separately from the rice. I had to assemble the egg yolk on top too which was a tad tricky but eventually it looked like a scrumptious umami bursting ball of deliciousness. The beef is salty and the yolk is creamy, absolutely stunning. I read a previous review stating the rice balls kind of fall apart and I did notice the rice is a bit looser than other places but the grains are just so delicate and perfectly cooked they don't "stick" like your house rice cookers would do. Overall, worth a trip downtown just for the yolk Musubis alone. The price is fair for the quality averaging about $3-5 each. read more
Onigiri Onibe is such a gem in downtown--parking can be tough, but if you work in the area, it's the perfect grab-and-go spot for breakfast or lunch. I'd been seeing their egg yolk musubi everywhere and finally had to try it. Service was quick with an eat and go feel. The space is small but cute, with a few seats if you want to dine in. Every onigiri I've tried so far has been consistently good--fresh, well-seasoned, and satisfying. And if you're eating in, pairing your onigiri with their miso soup or tonjiru really hits the spot. read more
8 months ago
Finally got to try this place after seeing it on social media! I was really drawn to the egg yolk musubis, and they did not disappoint. My favorite is definitely the beef sukiyaki with fresh egg yolk. The musubis are large in size and very filling! I found the egg ones to fall apart quite easily, but they are still tasty nonetheless. I was told they don't do phone orders, so you can order online (ex: Clover), but if you'd like the egg ones you must order in person. Parking is really tricky here. I had someone wait for me along Bishop St, while I hopped out to order. Overall, this place is a really nice treat! I've never had egg yolk musubis like this before, so I'd definitely be back for more. read more
Wow! I have been on a mission to try as many onigiri in Hawaii as I can! This place is a standout. I saw it online on ig while planning my hawaii trip and knew I had to go. The place is mostly setup for grab and go. There's a few grab and go Musubi and bento bowls. If you have the time, I highly recommend ordering a made to order onigiri. The fresh clay pot rice and hot Musubi is just a superior experience! I tried mentaiko shrimp tempura and mentaiko egg. The shrimp tempura and shiso leaf together had an amazing flavor. I loved it!! The mentaiko egg was super Delicious but very messy. As soon as I bit into it, the eggs yolk got everywhere! It was very umami and salty, I would def get it again. There is a small dine in area but it seems to get fairly crowded.. the price was fairly inexpensive especially considering that you can watch a guy making your Musubi! read more
4 months ago
While I visited Hawaii, I came back twice because it was THAT memorable for me. The crisp nori, the warm and fluffy rice, and the toppings all paired so well for a delicious and cozy meal. Seating is quite limited if you wanted to dine in but we came on weekdays and it was totally fine. Also, they do takeout and it looks like it was packaged pretty well. Service was quick, since I don't think it takes too long make Onirigi. I will miss this place when I go back to the mainland... read more
10 months ago
As downtown Honolulu has been reawakening with people returning to offices, many of the weekday lunch restaurant spot are now hosting new places. This one has been many different types of food over the years, but the current spot has been making waves on social media so I made an effort to try it. I was expecting lighter fare, but all their items skew towards larger bento boxes and bowls. Inside is surprisingly spacious with a large take and go counter, open kitchen, and bar seating along the left for dine-in. It was busy, but they had plenty to choose from. The special of the day was a taco salad bowl; lettuce, tomatoes, corn, beef, and chips, all over fresh rice. It was a little more than I like to spend on lunch ($15), but worth it for the quality and portion size. They also have bottled drinks. This will most likely become a part of my lunch rotation, it's worth checking out. read more
11 months ago
Huge portions, affordable and satisfying. The musubis are so huge and actually a great light lunch if you settle for just one. I ordered the premade beef, vegetable musubi wrapped in plastic wrap. On first glance the musubi appears indelicate and a little sloppy...shredded meat pickled green vegetables on a scoop of rice..not appetizing on sight but curiously appealing. The first bite was full of flavor..beef perfectly marinated and oh look take a bite of the veggie too all with rice. The tonkatsu is pretty huge with Kubota pork and this dish is worth the $20 price tag. Delicious. Not greasy but fried perfectly. There are sides included with the dish which is nice but the true star is the pork. The negative about this place is the darkness and lack of air conditioning. The musubi ordering system takes a long time. Service is slow. I stood in line behind a group of 4 people still trying to decide what musubis to order. Recommend get the premade stuff if you have a timed lunch. Some people can afford to wait and linger. read more
1 year ago
Delicious! This new spot is right between Podmore and Alakea Steak on Alakea St. I saw a line of people outside one time walking in downtown, and today I decided to stop by to check it out! I can see this place being between 4-5 stars. Four because I feel like there is too much rice relative to the amount of ingredients, but at the same time, it's also reflected in the pricing. If they had put more stuff in the onigiri, then I could see an increase in price. (It doesn't seem to be one of those places where we go there for the best bang for the buck.) And because there's so much rice, some flavors are better than the others. Five because for some options, they would be really tasty, full of umami. I got to try their salmon ikura, and the mentaiko egg. The ikura was fresh, and the salmon was well-marinated. The rice itself was fresh with a good texture, and being as an onigiri, not too hot to handle and not cold to wrap the nori around. But this is the onigiri that I would just rate a 4 because of the lack of sauce and the small amount of ingredients; I feel like I was eating mostly rice. On the other hand, the mentaiko egg is a must try! It's so creamy and savory. I'm not sure how they made that egg yolk, but it's cooked to perfection where it's thick and gooey! I would suggest getting any onigiri that has the egg in it! If egg is not your fav, consider getting one with mayo or mentaiko so the sauce can coat the rice and not make it too dry or plain to eat. I think that's how I'll go about my future orders. Also got the tonjiru soup that had thin slices of pork, daikon, carrots, sweet potato and green onions in it. I was hoping I would get a lotus root that's shown in their menu photo but hopefully next time haha. The soup was seasoned well, and it's a good compliment to the onigiri. The staff were very friendly. The lady at the cashier was sweet. One of the dudes who brought out my order to the counter where I was sitting at, brought me a plate and sorta showed me how to wrap it. Pleny to counter seating that could fit at least 10 people, but most people chose to do takeout for a weekday lunch. I also enjoyed the decor with gray textured wall, many red pots of rice in sight in front of wooden panels in a modern kitchen. The line wasn't bad at all before noon and 15-20 mins past noon on a weekday. The order also came out in a timely manner. This can easily become one of my regular lunch spots. :-P read more
10 months ago
Did someone say onigiri? Count me in! Onigiri Onibe recently opened its Alakea Street location this summer, but I knew the hype was real so I waited only recently to try them out. I went during lunch and surprisingly, there were only a few customers ahead of me. I heard wait time for some orders were around 30 minutes or longer so I was quite happy when I only waited for around maybe less than 10 minutes for my take out order. Onigiri Onibe took over the location where Ma'ona Musubi use to be, which is right next to Baker Dudes. Right when you walk in, it look like you just walk into a cute Japanese restaurant. It has an open concept with the left side of the restaurant open for dine in, but I feel like most orders would be take out. It'd be cool to dine in though, as now with the open concept, you can see everyone working hard making orders ready for the customers. Right when you walk in they have already made bentos and bowls for take. They also have ready made bakudan rice balls with assorted toppings that you can take out. Nori sold separately. For the onigiris, it is made to order so you would need to order that separately. I believe nori comes with each onigiri. I ended up getting the shrimp crab mayo with plumb and bonito and the tanaka/mentaiko mayo bakudans. I also order a spicy mentaiko and a shrimp tempura mentaiko. Can you tell I love mentaiko? Both bakudans were very huge and filling. They could barely fit in the nori sheets they provide, but all in all, both were very good and filling. Both onigiris I order were also really good. They weren't as big as the bakudans and could fit neatly in the nori sheets, but both were bustling with flavor. I really hope this place does well because they offer so much flavorful onigiris and I can't wait to try them all. Will definitely be coming back. read more
This place is a hidden gem in Downtown. My hubby wanted to try it out after seeing a video on IG. I wasn't really feeling it as onigiri is good, but it's never my go to for a meal. Walking in, the staff were warm and welcoming. You can order at the counter or you can buy the premade items to go. There's a counter seating area as well. I wanted fresh egg and the recommendation was the beef sukiyaki. Guys, I'd say it's so worth it! The flavors are delicious, the nori is strong enough to hold the rice and the egg is so good. My hubby liked his ikura and mentaiko. I would come here again if I was in the area, but I personally wouldn't go out of my way to come here. read more
Good quality onigiri . It's made to order, so the rice is always fresh! Each morsel of the rice is soft and fluffy. I like getting their onigiri anything with the fresh egg yolk, it adds a fudgey and rich taste. I also recommend getting their karaage chicken. Each piece is huge and not dry. I like how it's not overly battered. It's very well marinated. As for dining-in, seating is quite limited so I usually do take-out. read more
The hype is real! I'm a born-and-raised local who's not really a fan of rice. I don't have a rice cooker on my counter. And I certainly never crave musubi. Until now! Twice in a week I found myself walking to Onigiri Onibe for their magical, mouth-watering musubis. I went the first time because my foodie work daughter suggested it and posted a tempting photo of their mentaiko egg musubi. I also picked up a couple for coworkers and thought 'at least I could say I tried it.' But that first bite of the mentaiko spicy takana onigiri had me asking (out loud), "Why is this SO good?!" It was the delicate rice laced with the creamy, briny mentaiko topped with the crunchy, spicy pickled cabbage that made my tastebuds explode. It was inexplicably inspiring. I also tried the smoked salmon with yuzu kosho cream cheese. I expected it would be smoky. But I didn't expect it to be so beautifully balanced with notes of pepper and citrus. Two days later we were back, and I HAD to get me another mentaiko and spicy takana onigiri. I wondered if it was going to be as delicious as I remembered (you know from 48 hours ago). On the second go around, my hand-held, finger-licking-good lunch made me utter the words, "This musubi speaks to my soul." My pretty, little, foodie work daughter enjoyed her pretty, little rice balls as much as I did. She just wasn't as dramatic about it. She already suggested going back next week. Well, she won't have to twist my arm... Because it's a review, here's some info on more than just the food. Onigiri Onibe has a half a dozen counter seats but it's primarily a grab-and-go restaurant. They have a few mixed musubi options available at the front counter if you happen to be in a hurry. But don't hurry! Wait the 10 or 15 minutes or so to get your made-to-order musubi's--rice from Japan cooked in stone pots and transformed to taste-bud tantalizing morsels in the open kitchen. The cashier and musubi runner are very courteous and efficient. They deliver your numbered order, just wait outside (or inside if there is room) and they come to you. They offer 40 different flavor combinations ranging from a simple salted to a creative carbonara choice. Also, as a pescatarian, there are many options that suit my no-land-animals preference. Two musubis satisfy my appetite and even if you get the most expensive ones, you'd still have a downtown lunch under $10. They give you the nori separately so some assembly required. The wait and work are worth it!! As I write this review, I'm thinking of what two-musubi combination I'm having next (week)! Onigiri Onibe you make this not-rice-loving lady dream about your musubi's. But luckily I just have to take a five minute walk from the office to make my onigiri dreams come true! read more
Takeout lunch from Downtown Honolulu, Hawaii... Our friend, Irene, told us about the new place next to Podmore and Baker Dude's on Alakea Street: Onigiri Onibee. Each musubi is made freshly and with care. That's why there's a bit of a wait. Inside, I didn't feel any air conditioning... it was really hot for me - even though I sat at a counter seat. I saw an air-conditioning unit, but I didn't feel it. Service was polite and efficient! Prices seemed reasonable for the shrimp/crab/mayo and ikura/salmon onigiri! When I finally sat down later, at a place with air-conditioning, both musubi kind of fell apart. I used the crisp nori (packaged separately) to grab the rice and ingredients and squeezed everything together with my gloved hand. I don't know if i would return because I don't like paying for parking. (I actually walked from my credit union.) Irene parked at the metered stalls in front of the post office and walked about a block. Support small local businesses! read more
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Monday - Friday: 7AM - 2PM Saturday: 10AM - 2PM Sunday: Closed
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Onigiri Onibe - japanese - Updated July 2026
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