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Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

theguardian.com

31–40 of 78 posts

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#31

Having never had one, are onigiri filled with anything? I think of eating something that's basically entirely rice and wonder where's the protein? It seems to just be all simple carbs, which feels like a setup for an insulin spike and sugar crash.

Yes they’re usually filled with some kind of filling. Often a fish or meat filling.

They’re essentially like a dumpling.

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#32
post #28
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I fell in love with them when I visited Tokyo and I was pleasantly surprised to find them in a lot of grocery stores in Paris recently. Unfortunately, we don’t seem to get them in the UK at least not in the big supermarkets.

I haven't seen any in supermarkets, but bought two in a shop in central London recently and it cost £9, which is eye watering compared to Japan 7-Eleven prices.

Damn, and I thought 3€ a piece was a lot.

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#33
post #31

Having never had one, are onigiri filled with anything? I think of eating something that's basically entirely rice and wonder where's the protein? It seems to just be all simple carbs, which feels like a setup for an insulin spike and sugar crash.

Yes they’re usually filled with some kind of filling. Often a fish or meat filling. They’re essentially like a dumpling.

Oh so more than just what’s on top? Neato.

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#34
post #13

My wife is opening a drive-thru restaurant which serves these (among other Asian foods like musubi and lumpia and such). Pricing as of now looks like $3 a pop, which is comparable to the pricing at the local Mitsuwa. Convenience store onigiri in Japan are of course generally a lot cheaper (especially with the current exchange rate). https://www.tsunagujapan.com/16-top-selling-items-at-lawson-...

Where at?

Bolingbrook, IL. As of now - opening date seems like late Nov., but of course we're new to the resto business and there's a learning curve on all of the non-food bits of it.

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#35
post #11

I love onigiri, but over here in Europe they are still pretty niche, and by niche I mean expensive. It's basically a sandwhich, right? Only that it costs 5-10x more.

In France you can find them in supermarkets for EUR 3.50 apiece.

They're also super easy to make yourself, just some rice, any kind of filling, and half a sheet of nori to wrap it.

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#36
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes they’re usually filled with some kind of filling. Often a fish or meat filling. They’re essentially like a dumpling.

Oh so more than just what’s on top? Neato.

When I make them at home I usually stuff them with teriyaki chicken

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#37

I know that there's been rumblings of 7/11 in the USA spinning up more food options with an eye to how things are done by its parent in Japan, but it really can't come soon enough. Get a move on! 7/11 in Japan with its onigiri is amazing and I'm desperate for these style of convenience stores with their options to make their way over here to USA and Canada.

7/11 in Australia, which is generally terrible but was acquired by the Japanese operator of 7/11 last year, recently rolled out onigiris nationwide after a successful trial in Victoria. So there's hope yet!

How are they?

I'm in California -- I love the konbinis in Japan, and while 7-Eleven's recent announcements to offer more konbini-like food and experience sounds great, I fear it's going to fall far short of the mark because I think it's a combination of ingredients, supply chain, and employee processes and practices. Like, all those things need to be on point to deliver a quality onigiri or egg salad sandwich, and I don't have a whole lot of confidence in the US-based 7-Elevens to deliver without massive changes.

(And to be clear, I don't think there has been any mention of onigiri appearing at US-based 7-Eleven, they have have announced better/different prepared sandwich offerings)

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#38

I know that there's been rumblings of 7/11 in the USA spinning up more food options with an eye to how things are done by its parent in Japan, but it really can't come soon enough. Get a move on! 7/11 in Japan with its onigiri is amazing and I'm desperate for these style of convenience stores with their options to make their way over here to USA and Canada.

Would you pay $6.99 for a onigiri?

Sure they're ~120 JPY-240JPY. But it wouldn't be the same price. Plus would they really sell them in the USA?

Same for more of the other options, I don't see it really happening. There's a reason hotdogs, nachos and whatever else they offer in USA is the norm. That's what the market takes and settles on and even then, it's over $5.

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#39
post #31

Having never had one, are onigiri filled with anything? I think of eating something that's basically entirely rice and wonder where's the protein? It seems to just be all simple carbs, which feels like a setup for an insulin spike and sugar crash.

Yes they’re usually filled with some kind of filling. Often a fish or meat filling. They’re essentially like a dumpling.

tuna plus mayo and umeboshi (tart, pickled plum) are my two favorite onigiri stuffings

Re: Japan's humble onigiri took over lunchtimes around the world

#40

Having never had one, are onigiri filled with anything? I think of eating something that's basically entirely rice and wonder where's the protein? It seems to just be all simple carbs, which feels like a setup for an insulin spike and sugar crash.

When I was in Japan for a while you could get them filled with all sorts of things. The most common I recall were tuna and mayo or chicken with teriyaki sauce or soy sauce and they're delicious. I'd have one or two a day.
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