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    Onigiri Onibe

    4.4 (104 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Onigiri Onibe Photos

    Business Info

    ONIGIRI ONIBE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Onigiri Onibe

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    Beef sukiyaki, mentaiko, smoked salmon
    Christian C.

    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.

    Interior
    Brennan H.

    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.

    Jillian T.

    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.

    Mentaiko onigiri and a bowl of tonjiru.
    Randy S.

    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.

    Inside
    Stephanie L.

    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!

    Chicken Nanban
    Robyn S.

    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!

    Best combo ever!
    Steven U.

    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!

    Connie T.

    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

    Beef sukiyaki with egg yolk
    Katherine P.

    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.

    Selena Y.

    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!

    Julie U.

    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!

    Miso beef with yolk
    Melissa W.

    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.

    Mj S.

    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.

    Clay pot rice + kitchen!

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    8 days ago

    Waited 25 minutes for 2 onigiri. While 5 people who ordered after me received their orders.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Onigiri Onibe

    What is the business hours?

    Monday - Friday: 7AM - 2PM Saturday: 10AM - 2PM Sunday: Closed

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    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    4.3(4.2k reviews)
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    I've been coming here since I was a kid, which honestly made this whole experience even more…read moredisappointing. Came for dinner with my husband and daughter and somehow ended up witnessing the most dramatic recovery mission over an apple juice box imaginable. The oldest Asian hostess forgot to give us a kids menu, which was whatever. We ordered our daughter a regular entrée and just asked for it on a kids plate. Later, the same lady brought over a kids apple juice box. I told her multiple times we didn't order a kids meal or drink, but she insisted it was "okay." A few minutes later, after realizing she was wrong, she came back to our table, reached directly over my daughter's food, and took the juice box out of her hands without apologizing. I understand correcting mistakes. I do not understand snatching beverages from toddlers like the restaurant is operating on razor-thin juice margins. At this point we should've just gone to Tonkatsu Tamafuji. That place has literally never failed us once. I still don't understand why not communicate with us, I could have offered to pay for the juice.

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    TL;DR This might be…read moremy favorite Japanese restaurant in town. Undisputed soba champion. ----- I'm surprised I haven't written a review for i-naba yet. This place has been a staple for my family ever since we moved back to O'ahu a few years ago. Bottom line? The soba noodles here are utterly fantastic. They are, in my humble opinion, the best on the island, and some of the best soba noodles I've ever had. I don't think anywhere else in Honolulu comes close. You come here to eat soba. Period. In addition to the soba being phenomenal, the other offerings at i-naba are also similarly great. Their tempura in particular is outstanding. I typically order the Jumbo Shrimp Tempura Bowl & Soba or the Dx Tempura Bowl & Soba. Plus an upgrade to a large size soba! The tempura is sooo good. It's crispy, light, and airy. The jumbo shrimp is especially succulent and tender. And the ingredients are always perfectly seasoned with the sweet and savory house sauce. Yummmy! If you're looking for the best soba and awesome tempura, this is your spot!!!

    Everytime I asked my Japanese clients which Japanese restaurant they enjoyed most in Honolulu,…read moreInaba consistently came up. And now I know why. I finally had lunch here a couple weeks ago and damn was my tempura and soba set broke da mout. The soba is housemade with a chewy consistency that I love. I had it cold with the dipping sauce and wow wow wow. So good. My friends suggested I get the shrimp and vegetable tempura as well which amazingly stayed crispy the whole time I savored each bite. Probably 30 minutes. Light crisp batter on perfectly cooked shrimp and veggies. Damn it was good. The service was great as well and I cannot wait to go back. Nice warm atmosphere and there's a free parking lot. It gets busy during lunch and dinner, so get there early or make a reservation. Enjoy!

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    Great Japanese fusion restaurant with interesting dishes!…read more We ordered the quail eggs, corn, unagi ochazuke, blue cheese shishito peppers, and watercress salad. The peppers might not be everyone's cup of tea but it was certainly unique and interesting. The ochazuke was a favorite! Service was great and ambiance was cozy. Pretty busy on a Friday night. Although I miss their honey toast, I still love their new menu!

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    Just an opening 11/15/25. The restaurant was filled within minutes. Featuring Yelp Elite All Star Donna O.

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    4.1(645 reviews)
    1.0 miKaka'ako
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    This review is overdue, but I absolutely had to share it because I was so impressed with Rinka's…read moredinner menu! I used to think the dinner menu was a bit too expensive compared to the lunch menu, but after tonight..., I believe it was worth it. The variety of Dinner Sets were all sooo amazing! The portion sizes were awesome, and the flavors/freshness of the food were all outstanding. Did I mention how the portion sizes were amazing? Yup Everything tasted great..., and I really mean everything! It's hard to find a casual/semi-upscale Japanese restaurant like Rinka. Our server was very kind and helpful because it was our first time dining with Rinka during their Dinner service hours. I got to try a piece of the Bluefin Tuna Toro sashimi and it was WOW! WOW! WOW! Appetizers were fantastic as well! Great for sharing and tasting different items. This is a place I'd want to introduce to my friends and family for a great dining experience and a higher quality food selections. Very satisfied with our dinner service on this night!

    My friend and I had dinner at Rinka bc I had a $100 Resy benefit on my credit card. In addition, I…read morehave had good experiences with Resy restaurants. Positives: Our waitress Hailey was super nice; The food came out quickly; Clientele was all locals, including a fair number of J clients Negatives: The tables are tiny and the seats are low. The table was as wide as my body. We had a hard time squeezing the food on the table. One of the ladies that sat on the inside had to hang out quite a bit outside the width of the table bc she was too close to her friend; Secondarily, even a woman a foot shorter than me said the chairs were low (I'm 6'2"); None of the food had a wow factor and it seemed expensive. Our tab was $157 for four items inc 2 beers b4 tip; 3.5 Stars overall bc of the good service. I will likely not return bc of the small seats and just ok food.

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    Inside seating

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    Musubi Cafe Iyasume - Teriyaki spam musubi, egg + eel + avocado musubi, spam + egg + bacon + avocado musubi

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    4.5(5.4k reviews)
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    Having that high rating with over 1500 reviews was certainly intriguing. We're lucky we stayed…read moresuper close and bumped into this Musubi cafe. It's busy since relatively early in the day but ordering process was seamless and they got the order pretty quick. Your number would be called when everything's ready. Their menu was rich that you had tons to pick from. Price was decent for the size as well. Our picks were the salmon ikura and spam shrimp avocado. Both were so good and our highlight would certainly be how they nailed the sauce.

    The original flagship location is a completely different experience from the quick grab and go…read morestyle of their other outlets. Expect a super long queue that can easily stretch to nearly an hour, but the massive selection and convenience store charm still make it a classic destination for a local staple. Spam Musubi (4/5): The sheer variety on the menu ensures there's something for everyone, whether you want a classic quick beach snack or an easy meal to take to the airport. Once you finally place your order at the counter, the kitchen staff works incredibly fast to get your food bagged, hot, and ready to eat within just a few minutes. Logistics Tip: Because the wait time here can be substantial compared to the smaller satellite locations, budget at least 45-60 minutes for the line during peak hours. On the bright side, this spot functions like a full convenience store, giving you plenty of fun local merchandise and cute spam themed souvenirs to browse while you wait for your turn to order.

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