Onigiri Gorichan おにぎり ごりちゃん

I am a massive onigiri enthusiast, although my encounters with them have mostly been limited to convenience stores or as a final course to end a meal. However, this time, my friend knows my love for onigiri and suggested me toto explore a dedicated onigiri restaurant in Osaka – Onigiri Gorichan おにぎり ごりちゃん, and let me assure you, it resulted in an absolute feast for the taste buds! Their menu system is rather accommodating: they provide one menu detailing individual ingredients and another showcasing the most popular combinations (a real lifesaver, especially when the mercury breaches 30°C and my brain switches to energy-saving mode).

Following my udon, I was suggested by a friend to this nigiri place near by, when I arrived I noticed a queue forming with six individuals ahead of me. I naively assumed it would be a quick wait. Little did I know, I found myself standing in line for over 40 minutes, all for the noble cause of securing three onigiri for takeaway. In hindsight, I’m perplexed as to why the process of crafting three onigiri necessitates such a substantial chunk of time, particularly when those six people ahead of me weren’t lining up for takeaway, but rather to relish their onigiri in-house.

Eventually, the moment of onigiri triumph arrived. Carrying my precious cargo, I hopped into a taxi and hastened back to the hotel. And, lo and behold, the onigiri retained their piping-hot state!

The lineup included:

• Salted salmon roe & Grilled salmon
• Egg yolk pickled in soy sauce & Flavored ground meat
• Spicy cod roe & Pickled Mustard Leaf

This marked my inaugural encounter with such generously stuffed onigiri. Believe me when I say all three lived up to every ounce of your imagination’s expectations. Curiously, these onigiri evoked a feeling of comfort and sheer elation within me. Looking back, I should have perhaps indulged in a few more to-go selections! To all fellow 飯桶 out there, this place simply cannot be missed if you are in Osaka.

Address: 1 Chome-5-20 Nakazaki, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0016, Japan