"I purchased 4 onigiri from the shop called Kisuzu. They had mushroom tempura, large shiso leaf, lotus root tempura, eggplant miso, and pickled radish. The onigiri are small in size but come in a variety of flavors. The mushroom tempura is the best, but the large shiso leaf and lotus root tempura are also delicious. The eggplant miso is amazing, and I was lucky to get the last pickled radish one. All the onigiri are delicious, maybe because they are small and well-balanced. From a housewife's perspective, these flavors are impossible to replicate. There may be a line, but it moves quickly. They sell out by 7:30, so if you want to choose, go by 10 am. They may close by 11 am, so be aware. The shop is located along Heiwa Park in Itabashi-ku."

A takeout specialty tempura shop. Bought 6 pieces for 600 yen, paid in cash. Shrimp tempura, squid tempura, fried chicken tempura, bamboo shoot rice, mixed tempura, vegetable tempura, a total of 6 pieces. Bought for lunch. The handmade tempura is bite-sized and easy to eat, as always, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

A takeout-only tempura rice ball shop. I ordered four and paid in cash, 400 yen. As always, they are handmade with a moist seaweed and sweet rice, delicious ingredients, and the crispy tempura and soy sauce dip have a rich flavor. It's really delicious! With each bite, the flavor continues to linger. Thank you for the meal.

A takeout specialty rice ball shop. The glass case displays about 20 varieties of rice balls, with popular ones like vegetable tempura and mixed tempura already sold out. Each rice ball costs 100 yen, so purchasing 5 costs 500 yen. The rice balls are served cold, but the flavors are even more pronounced and delicious. The crispy tempura coating locks in the natural sweetness of the ingredients, and a touch of sauce or salt enhances the flavors. The seaweed is moist and adds a nice aroma. Overall, every rice ball is a winner! Handmade food is truly delicious. Thank you for the meal!

Located a 7-8 minute walk from Kita-Itabashi Station North Exit on the Tobu Tojo Line is a rice ball shop called "Kisuzu." According to other reviews, this shop was opened by the younger brother of the owner of "Suzuki," a rice store in Nakajuku. I visited on a spring day around 11:30 on a weekday, and there were only 5 types of rice balls left in the showcase, with 1-2 pieces remaining of each. I purchased the Eggplant Miso, Shiitake Tempura, Grilled Cod Roe, and Salmon Roe rice balls, all priced at 100 yen each. They were small and round in size. A line suddenly formed behind me, and by then, only 3 types were left. The shop's operating hours were as follows: "7:30-9:30 in the morning, with a 30-minute break, then from 10:00 until sold out." It seems like they sell out by lunchtime. I didn't see this information on Tabelog! You really have to come early in the morning... The nearby park was in full bloom with cherry blossoms. I resisted the urge to have a picnic and instead took the rice balls home for breakfast. The hand-pressed rice balls were firm and shiny, indicating they were freshly made. The rice could have been a bit softer, but I imagine it's even more moist when freshly made. The fillings were flavorful, with a slightly strong taste. The Tempura was a bit too strong for my liking, and I felt it didn't quite harmonize with the rice. Perhaps a bit more salt in the rice would be better. The Eggplant Miso had plenty of sweet miso inside, which paired well with the rice. It seems more like a place for locals rather than a destination for visitors. If I were to visit again, I would go earlier for a wider selection.

There are a variety of delicious options available, all of which can be eaten in one bite. The moist nori flavor is excellent, and the rice has a perfect level of sweetness that pairs well with the ingredients. A truly satisfying dish.

There is a wide variety of delicious options at affordable prices, although the portions are slightly small. It's a great place to try different dishes, and it may be especially appealing to women.

Once you try the onigiri here, you'll definitely pass on convenience store onigiri!

In Nakano, there is a rice ball shop called "Suzuki" that also operates a rice shop called "Suzuki Yoneden". They also sell tempura rice balls, which are quite popular and often sold out by early afternoon. I used to go there early and even waited in line to buy their delicious products. However, due to moving houses, I visited less frequently. Recently, a new rice ball shop opened near Heiwadai Park in the back alley of Tokiwadai, with a similar name. It turns out that the owner of this shop is the brother of the owner of "Suzuki". The shop is equally popular, and when I went in the afternoon looking for tempura rice balls, the showcase was almost empty except for 5 mushroom tempura rice balls. I bought all 5 without hesitation and found that I could easily eat them all because they were smaller than regular rice balls. The tempura was not too greasy, and the seasoning was just right, making it a satisfying meal. I ate them with some miso soup I had at home, and the mushroom tempura rice balls were a perfect match. I particularly enjoy eating mushroom tempura, especially matsutake mushrooms, and I often buy them in bulk when they are on sale. The tempura is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, providing a delightful contrast in textures. When eaten fresh, I dip them in salt first and then in tempura sauce for a juicy burst of flavor. Shiitake mushrooms are too thick, enoki mushrooms are too watery, and shimeji mushrooms lack a good balance with the oil. At home, I mainly use mushroom tempura for stir-fries, as they pair well with minced meat in dishes like spaghetti bolognese. Although the tempura may lose its crispiness over time, the flavors still blend well with the sauce and rice, creating a delicious combination. The rice ball shop excels not only in cooking rice but also in frying tempura, making rice balls, seasoning the sauce, and achieving a perfect balance with the rice. I know of two other tempura rice ball shops in Itabashi, near the Itabashi City Hall Station, and in Jujo, both of which are also delicious and always in high demand. I hope that large companies do not disrupt the tempura rice ball market with unnecessary changes.

I have been observing the storefront since before July 3, 2014. Finally, I had the opportunity to place an order. I ordered one "bamboo shoot rice ball" from the top left corner, one of my favorites "kombu", and one classic "salmon". Overall, the rice balls are lightly filled with air, so the rice part comes apart as soon as you take a bite. The seaweed wrapped around it has a light scent of the sea, tickling your nostrils, but it is firm so it can be a bit difficult to chew. It was my first time visiting, and there were many fried (tempura, fried chicken, etc.) rice balls displayed. Since one rice ball is only about 3-4 bites, you would need 5-6 to feel full. However, the quality of the rice and the perfect amount of saltiness make it understandable why many people line up to purchase them.

Residential area rice ball specialty shop "Kisuzu". They open early in the morning, so many people buy rice balls on their way to work. I usually pass by on weekdays because I'm in a hurry, but they were open on Saturday afternoon, so I tried it for the first time. This time, I bought salmon, shrimp tempura, and cheese with fish cake. The size is small but they are tightly packed. The fillings have a strong flavor and are delicious. It's nice that they wrap them in paper for you. It's also nice to eat them in the park. Each rice ball is 100 yen, so it's easy to choose and calculate the total. It's understandable why people line up in the morning to buy them.

Whenever you go, there's always a line. Even if you're lucky enough to be first in line, a queue forms quickly behind you. You often see people pulling up in their cars to buy. You also see moms with strollers and kids on bikes. It feels like a shop that is loved by the locals. If they sell out, they close for the day, apparently closing at noon. My local mom friends always tweet, "I went today too," so even though it's a bit far, I made the effort to go. And now I'm already a repeat customer. Honestly, at first bite, my expectations were so high that I thought, "Is it really worth all the praise?" But the more you eat, the more you crave its deliciousness. There are many tempura-style options, but the more traditional ones like mentaiko stand out in terms of taste. Especially delicious ones include squid tempura. Not-so-great ones include shrimp tempura and eggplant miso. I want to try all the flavors! It's delicious onigiri that makes you want to keep coming back.

There is nothing to complain about. The size is like a bale shape, about one size smaller than a convenience store onigiri. Each one costs 100 yen. Men can easily eat about five of them. As for the taste and variety, the rice is cooked to the perfect firmness and has just the right amount of salt. The filling is generous, and it is wrapped in a firm and flavorful seaweed. It's not too soft or too hard when you bite into it. No matter what filling you choose, you'll become addicted to it. There are about 15 types of fillings, including basic ones like salmon, cod roe, grilled cod roe, mentaiko, pickled plum, and bonito flakes, as well as sweet and savory miso fillings like eggplant miso, rice cooked with ingredients, and stamina-boosting options like fried chicken. There are also about 4-5 types of tempura. The varieties change depending on the season. It's just delicious.

Tempura rice balls come in a variety of types, making it hard to choose. My favorites are eggplant, shiitake mushroom, fish cake, and vegetable tempura. They are coated in a tasty sauce that gives them a strong flavor. Some days they may seem a bit salty, but overall they are delicious. In addition to tempura rice balls, they also offer fried chicken, minced chicken, and salmon. It might be more cost-effective than buying convenience store rice balls. They are small in size, so you can easily eat about four in one go. They often sell out before 11 am, so I recommend going around 10 am if you plan to visit.