If you want to eat onigiri (rice balls) in Okinawa, start here! 10 popular picks by area

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Po-Tama Naha Kuko Kokunaisen Tochaku Lobby Ten is a specialty shop for pork tamago onigiri (pork and egg rice balls), made Homemade to order.

The shop has table and counter seating, and you can use it for Takeout or eat in.

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Pork tamago onigiri (rice balls with pork and egg) is an Okinawan soul food made by sandwiching pork luncheon meat and tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet) with rice and nori (seaweed).

At this shop, you can enjoy Po Tama, made with original pork luncheon meat that uses 100% Okinawa-produced pork and contains no preservatives or coloring agents.

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The “goya (bitter melon) tempura” includes goya, an Okinawan vegetable, along with a special soy sauce tare and freshly shaved katsuobushi (bonito flakes).

Frying the goya makes its distinctive bitterness a bit milder, and the light crisp texture is also said to be very good.

Photograph:グルメハンター・酔いどれ天使

Parlor Hoshigaoka Pottama Kokusai-dori Ten is a shop that offers a wide variety of Okinawa specialty pork tamago onigiri (pork and egg rice balls), and it is located along Kokusai-dori, the main street lined with souvenir shops and restaurants.

There is a simple eat-in space on the first floor of the building, and guests can also use the spacious area on the second floor.

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The popular menu item "Pork W" is a dish packed with pork flavor, with two slices of luncheon meat inside.

Reviews also said that the saltiness of the meat and cheese blends nicely with the egg, mayo sauce, and shiso (perilla) inside, making it very tasty.

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The "mentai mayo" is a pork tamago onigiri rice ball topped with mentai (salt cured and seasoned Alaska pollock roe) and mayonnaise (a condiment mainly made from eggs and vinegar).

Other unusual options, such as "unagi no kabayaki (grilled eel glazed with sweet soy sauce)," are also recommended.

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Onigiri-dokoro Shuri Nanamusubi is located near the entrance to Shurijo Park, where the ruins of Shurijo (Shuri Castle), an iconic symbol of Okinawa, stand.

The shop offers table seating and terrace seating, making it a nice place to relax with pork tamago onigiri (rice balls with pork and egg) and cafe menu items.

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For the rice in the onigiri, you can choose either genmai (brown rice) or white rice. The genmai in the "Oni-Po" shown in the photo is said to have a nice slightly chewy texture and a toasty flavor.

"Oni-Po" gets its name from "oni" from onigiri and "po" from pork.

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The "W Pork & Tamago Oni-Po" is a simple yet filling menu item. The salty, meaty flavor of the Spam is mellowed by the tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet).

The menu also includes oni-po with added twists such as tacos and goma kombu kelp.

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Onigiri-ya Enmusubi is a hotel restaurant on the 9th floor of Glory Island Okinawa Sobe.

The stylish interior features a bar counter and table seating. There is also a spacious veranda-like area outside, giving the place an open and airy feel.

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At this shop, the popular item is onigiri (rice balls), where you can choose your favorite fillings from a wide range of options.

The menu has an interesting lineup of fillings, including Japanese ingredients and cheese. The balance of filling, rice, and nori (seaweed) is said to be just right, and the way the onigiri is shaped is also done to just the right firmness.

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For the onigiri set on the menu, you can choose the number of onigiri and the fillings, and it comes with one kobachi (small side dish) and a soup.

The photo shows the Kanno Set, which includes two onigiri with your choice of fillings, six kinds of Homemade kobachi, a soup, and dessert.

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"Ishigakijima Pork Tamago Onigiri Senmonten Tama-ya" is located on Ishigakijima (Ishigaki Island), southwest of Okinawa Honto (Okinawa Main Island).

Because it is located near Ishigaki Port, it is used by many customers, including locals.

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The onigiri (rice balls) are made only after an order comes in, so people love that they can eat them freshly made.

The menu lineup offers a wide range of variations, from standard fried items to limited quantity specials.

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The classic “Pork Tamago” pairs the salty taste of Spam with the soft texture of tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), bringing out the goodness of the rice.

The limited-quantity “Chikina” contains a stir-fry of karashina (mustard greens) and tuna.

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Founded in 1957, Kinjo Kamaboko serves highly original onigiri (rice balls) made with kamaboko (fish cake).

One of its charms is the local shop atmosphere that is loved by people in the area.

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This shop makes Yaeyama kamaboko (traditional fish cake from Ishigaki Island). Their kamaboko is made by kneading together white fish paste and whole egg, then deep-frying it.

For their signature onigiri (rice ball), Okinawan-style takikomi gohan called juushii is wrapped in kamaboko.

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Kinjo Kamaboko (fish cake) Black Jushi is a rice ball made with squid ink mixed into kamaboko (fish cake).

Inside the kamaboko is jushi (Okinawan seasoned rice) with a dry curry flavor, made with ukon (turmeric) from Ishigakijima (Ishigaki Island).

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Seto Shoten is a shop inside Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal that is easy to drop by on a whim.

When heading to (Each) remote island, some customers stop in to buy onigiri (rice balls) and bento (boxed meals). Inside the shop, you can also buy special products from Ishigaki-jima (Ishigaki Island).

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The photo shows a filling pork tamago onigiri (rice ball with pork and egg) packed with a thick Japanese omelet. The simple flavor of luncheon meat and mayonnaise, along with its Homemade feel, is said to make it really tasty.

They have also sold pork tamago onigiri with tuna mayo flavor and onigiri filled with chicken tender cutlet.

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They also have juushii, rice cooked with ingredients such as carrots and hijiki (seaweed), along with dashi.

It is also a good idea to share different kinds of onigiri (rice balls) with friends and family and compare the flavors.

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Niginigi is an onigiri rice ball shop set in a Ryukyu Kominka (traditional Okinawan house) with a distinctive red tile roof.

The restaurant is in the center of the city, yet it has a relaxed atmosphere where you can take your time. Seating options include counter seats facing the garden and Semi-private room zashiki (tatami seating).

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The onigiri (rice balls) are said to be made with branded rice from Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture, the hometown of the owner.

The restaurant’s care in selecting ingredients shows in details like using "Ishigaki no Shio" made from 100% seawater for the salt and high quality nori (seaweed) from Ariake.

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For lunch, they recommend the set menu that comes with onigiri (rice balls) and Okinawan dishes.

The yaeyama soba (Okinawan noodle dish) in the photo is a noodle dish based on pork bone broth. You can choose the onigiri in the set from several kinds of toppings.

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Kujira Shokudo is located in Miyakojima City, known for its beautiful sea so striking it is called Miyako Blue.

The clean interior has the feel of a stylish cafe. The restaurant closes once items sell out, so it is best to visit early.

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The menu centers on pork tamago onigiri (rice ball with pork and egg), with fillings ranging from classic options to unusual ones.

The “Miyakojima no Niku Miso” is an onigiri menu item created in collaboration with a well-known local shop. The sweet and savory niku miso, the salty taste of Spam, and the gentle sweetness of tamagoyaki are said to go well together.

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"Shiso-taku" is said to be a refreshing onigiri rice ball made with shiso leaves and takuan (pickled daikon radish).

Sets that come with an onigiri rice ball plus tonjiru (miso soup with pork) or Kara-age (fried chicken coated in flour and deep-fried) are also popular.

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A・DA・N Onna no Eki Ten is a restaurant located in Onna no Eki Nakayukui Ichiba, where you can buy Okinawa specialties, in Onna, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture.

There is a shared eating space in front of the restaurant with other restaurants.

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The "Pork Tamago Onigiri" is said to have a great balance of fillings, rice, and nori (seaweed). Some reviews even say they could eat as many as they wanted.

In addition to rice ball options, the menu also includes items such as "Tacos Sand".

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The striking black rice ball is called "ika-sumi juicy (squid ink mixed rice)." It has a gentle flavor, with the aroma of squid ink softly spreading.

The simple "juicy onigiri (mixed rice ball)" is seasoned just right and is also popular with children.