In July, in the Otsuka area of Tokyo, the most crowded restaurant is probably this one, Onigiri Bongo. The store always has a long line, sometimes with about 100 people waiting before opening. It's usually crowded at lunchtime, but not as much in the evening. One day, we passed by and saw only about 10 people in line, so my wife suggested we try it. However, the line didn't move as quickly as we expected. In the end, we waited a little inside the store and after about "1 hour" we finally got to eat. I ordered the Egg Yolk Soy Sauce Onigiri for 400 yen, Peanut Miso for 350 yen, Mentaiko Mayo Cream Cheese for 450 yen, and Tofu Soup for 200 yen. The Egg Yolk Soy Sauce Onigiri was delicious and met my expectations. The other onigiri were also good with fluffy rice, great rice flavor, and seaweed aroma. The Tofu Soup was surprisingly tasty, so I had a second serving. My wife ordered the Egg Yolk Soy Sauce Onigiri for 400 yen, Spicy Mentaiko for 350 yen, and Tofu Soup for 200 yen. She was very happy with her choices. Overall, my wife was very satisfied as it was a restaurant she wanted to visit. The male staff at the restaurant worked tirelessly, making onigiri quickly and efficiently. It was impressive to watch, but even with their speed, the orders couldn't keep up with the demand. It's a tough job. I will visit again if the line is shorter. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I had some free time so I visited the famous onigiri specialty store called Bongo in Otsuka. I've always wanted to try this place, but I was hesitant because it's known for having long lines, sometimes up to 5 or 6 hours. When I arrived around 10:20 am on a Monday, there were already about 12 people in line. Oh well, they only have 10 seats so I knew I wouldn't make it in the first round. If you want to get in on the first round, you should come around 10 am. While waiting for the store to open, they offered warm tea, which was much appreciated on a chilly morning. The store opened around 11:25 am, and the first group of people went in. About 15 minutes later, I was able to enter the store. I had already decided what to order by checking their website, so I ordered the minced meat and egg yolk onigiri, salmon onigiri, and chicken mayo onigiri set (1300 yen) with a side of miso soup with tofu (100 yen). The onigiri was served in about 5 minutes. They were quite large. I started with the minced meat and egg yolk onigiri, which was sweet and savory, complemented by the creamy egg yolk. The onigiri itself was fluffy and delicious, but very soft, making it a bit difficult to eat as it crumbled easily. The salmon onigiri was more traditional, but the way it was shaped made a difference in taste. The miso soup was also tasty. I was full after eating three onigiri. But paying over 1000 yen for onigiri, I'm not sure how I feel about that. Thank you for the meal.

I found out about this restaurant many years ago, probably from seeing it on TV. I always thought it would be interesting to visit the place known as the best onigiri (rice ball) in Japan. Recently, I saw it on TV again and decided to finally go there. When I arrived at the place around noon, I expected there to be a long line because of its popularity, but there were only 5-6 people waiting. However, when I looked across the street, there was a line of about 30 people with a guide directing them. I reluctantly joined the line, which was probably the first time in my life I lined up for onigiri. I waited for about 30 minutes, but the line hardly moved, and it seemed like it would take at least another hour to get inside. It started raining, but luckily I had an umbrella in my backpack that I had never used before. Everyone around me also had umbrellas, showing they were prepared for the weather. The guide brought out plastic umbrellas for us, but no one took them. Inside the restaurant, I struggled to decide what to order from the extensive menu, so I ended up ordering the top 3 onigiri and a tofu miso soup set. The onigiri were surprisingly expensive, but they were delicious and quite large. After finishing eating, I felt satisfied and considered trying more items from the menu, but I realized it would be never-ending and expensive. I decided to stick with the top 3 choices for that day. Overall, it was a memorable experience, and I would definitely like to visit again if I have the chance, although I am not sure if I can handle waiting in line for 2-3 hours.

On a rainy night, I got off at JR Otsuka station and decided to visit Bongo. The landlady seemed lively and that's great to see. Bongo used to be a hidden gem in an alley next to the streetcar station over 30 years ago. It has since become a popular restaurant, known worldwide. It has moved a couple of times, from the old location near the cancer research center in Otsuka to its current spot. This time, there were about 10 people waiting, which wasn't too bad. On sunny days, the line can get really long, making it hard to get in. I ended up ordering the grilled cod roe, natto rice ball, namako miso soup with mushrooms, and pickled vegetables mix. The grilled cod roe was cooked well-done, although I prefer it rare. I used to think raw cod roe was the way to go at Bongo, but now I'm not so sure. The natto rice ball was a classic choice for me, with a nice kick from the chili pepper. The namako miso soup came with a generous serving of seaweed, turning it into a dark miso soup. And the pickled vegetables mix was a must-have accompaniment to the rice ball. I really want one of Bongo's teacups for myself. (≧∀≦)

A few minutes' walk from Otsuka Station North Exit. Visited on a rainy day after 8 pm and had to wait in line for 30 people ^_^ It's really popular. Waited for about an hour and a half to enter. It was nice to have tea service while waiting. I ordered sake with ikura, pork kimchi with natto, plum with bonito flakes, and nameko mushroom soup. The total was 1850 yen. It's quite a generous portion, so two men can be full with two items, haha. It was delicious.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that everyone knows about the onigiri shop called Bongo. I visited the shop for the first time after it moved locations. I arrived a bit earlier than opening time on a weekday afternoon, around 11:35, and started lining up in the middle of the parking lot next to the shop in Otsuka Ren Street. We finally entered the shop after 14:00. By the time we finished eating and left the shop, it was already 15:00. Mondays are a good day to order the special set, so I got a set with two onigiri and nameko mushroom soup. The nameko mushroom soup was incredibly delicious, with a subtle aroma of trefoil. It was not too spicy and you could taste the richness of the broth. For the onigiri, I chose the popular 400 yen salmon and the beef tendon. The salmon had a slightly strong saltiness, but it paired perfectly with the fluffy rice and generous filling. The beef tendon had plenty of green onions and each bite spread the savory flavor of the beef in your mouth. I wish I had also added the egg yolk pickle. The miso soup had free refills, and even during busy times, the staff would notice when you needed a refill. I ended up drinking so much miso soup with tofu that my stomach was about to burst! Next time, I think I'll try getting takeout instead.

I lined up 30 minutes before the store opened and waited for about 2 hours to get in! It feels like I'm back in my hometown even though I'm in Tokyo... You can choose the ingredients for the rice balls, and I had a hard time deciding. Egg yolk x seasoned ground meat = genius! Every bite leads to the delicious filling, the pinnacle of rice balls. I was already thinking about what to eat next time while I was still eating (lol).

My partner was inspired by a TV show and decided to visit this restaurant. We arrived around 10 pm on a weekday, expecting it to be empty, but they were only offering takeout at that time. To dine in, you need to arrive by 8 pm. It was quite cool outside and it was nighttime, so we decided to wait. There were about 10 people in line, mostly young folks. I was sandwiched between a girl speaking in Kansai dialect on the phone and another girl with a pin badge of her favorite anime character. It seemed like there was an event happening in Otsuka and people were staying overnight. Be careful how you line up, as the neighboring restaurant staff might complain. The staff seemed a bit worried about having enough rice, but it turned out okay. Being a bit of a trend follower, I ordered from the top 10 toppings list, choosing the top 5. 1. Salmon roe + sake - 700 yen 2. Egg yolk + minced meat - 550 yen 3. Pork kimchi + natto - 450 yen 4. Tuna stew + green chili pepper - 450 yen 5. Bacon + cheese - 450 yen While waiting, they served us cold tea, which was a nice touch. The restaurant seemed to have many branches nationwide, similar to the style of Ichiran. After watching the process of making onigiri, we paid and left the shop. The total cost was 2600 yen, which felt a bit expensive. The culprit was the 700 yen salmon roe + sake onigiri. It felt a bit overpriced for an onigiri. The trip back on the tram went smoothly, and we enjoyed the warm onigiri on the way. The rice was Niigata Koshihikari, and it was delicious but a bit salty, especially the salmon roe. When we got home, we tried the other toppings. The minced meat was too sweet, but the pork kimchi + natto was the best. The tuna stew was too sweet, and the bacon + cheese was too salty. I think sticking to one topping, maybe a classic like salmon or cod roe, would be better. Overall, I realized that it's best to eat the onigiri with miso soup on the spot.

I finally had the chance to visit Bongo, a rice ball specialty store in front of Otsuka Station that I've been wanting to go to. I arrived at the store around 8:30 pm on a weekday and there was a line of about 13 people in front of the store. I was finally able to enter the store around 9:40 pm. The atmosphere was very much like a traditional rice ball shop. The service was excellent, with the staff being very friendly. I tried the top two popular rice balls with toppings, as well as the miso soup with mushrooms. The rice ball with egg yolk and minced meat, as well as the miso soup, were incredibly delicious. However, the rice ball with salmon roe had too much roe and was too salty. Overall, the food was tasty, but it's important not to go overboard with the toppings. Thank you for the meal!

On a regular Wednesday, I arrived at 7:00 pm and started eating an hour and a half later. The staff were all wonderful, asking if I wanted a second serving of miso soup and chatting about the restaurant, making the atmosphere very pleasant. That alone made the wait worth it. I ordered four onigiri because there were too many delicious fillings to choose from: beef tendon and salmon, pork kimchi, dried young sardines with seven spice and egg yolk, mentaiko mayo cream cheese, and miso soup with nameko mushrooms. The beef tendon was saltier than I expected, but all the fillings were unique and satisfying! Personally, my favorite was the dried young sardines and egg yolk onigiri that I had first, as I could really taste the flavor of the rice. The mentaiko mayo cream cheese had plenty of cream cheese, which cheese lovers would adore. The miso soup with nameko mushrooms was a bit light in flavor, but when paired with the stronger flavors of the onigiri like beef tendon, it was just right. Each onigiri was around 170g-200g, and I felt like my stomach was going to burst. The onigiri was fluffy and very delicious. It was a shame that they started to cool down as I ate them one by one. I would like to go back for lunch next time! I think 2-3 onigiri would be just right!

Got off at Otsuka Station. It was my first time coming to the north exit! I was looking for a place to eat and happened to find a popular rice ball shop through a search. I went in alone. When I arrived at the shop, there was already a line of about 10 people in front of the shop, and it was hot. I hesitated about leaving the line halfway, but decided to stay and was able to enter the shop in about 30 minutes with the service of cold tea. While waiting, I was given the menu and placed my order. Maybe because of the heat, I only saw the top two recommended items and ordered those. When I was confirmed the order at the counter, I changed one to a beef tendon one, and the staff kindly accommodated my request - I was grateful! There were many handwritten signs in the shop with rules and information, and it was mentioned that miso soup was free for refills at all times. A surprisingly large rice ball was brought out, and I spent some time thinking about how to eat it. But in the end, I held it in my hand, took a big bite, and sometimes used chopsticks to savor it deliciously. It had been a while since I had eaten my favorite salmon roe! The minced chicken was very sweet but very tasty. When the miso soup ran out, they promptly refilled it at the perfect timing, and when I went for a second refill, they gave me half the portion, but I found it quite difficult to finish it all. I was quite full halfway through, but managed to finish it without leaving any. The rice balls were so big that two were enough to satisfy me! If you want to enjoy three, you need to be a little hungrier. Maybe it was because I had eaten shaved ice beforehand. Just as the online information mentioned that there was a constant line, there was still a long line when I left the shop. I thought I would like to visit again in the autumn or winter season, maybe with someone else. Thank you for the meal.

Otsuka's famous onigiri shop "Bongo" has a wait time of 1.5 hours on weekday nights! It's crazy. Saturdays are the busiest, with some people waiting up to 6 hours. Holidays are also really busy, with a reported 8-hour wait during Golden Week. Why do people line up so much for onigiri here? The taste is delicious.

I think it might be one of the most popular stores in Tokyo. I went at 3pm and waited for 2 hours. The rice ball was very fluffy and had a generous amount of filling. It felt like I was eating a fist-sized sushi rather than a rice ball. It was the best rice ball of my life.

I was very interested in this place and decided to visit on a Saturday night for a drink. When I arrived around 10 pm, they were already only offering takeout. I was given a menu and placed my order. I tried the popular items such as sujiko salmon with egg, minced chicken with egg yolk, mentaiko with shiso and kombu. After waiting for 40 minutes, I paid first and then waited another 10 minutes for my takeout order to be ready. The sujiko salmon was too salty, the minced chicken with egg yolk was too sweet, and the mentaiko with shiso and kombu was just average. The rice and seaweed were delicious, but the strong flavors of the toppings overpowered the taste of the rice, which was disappointing. Initially, I had a good impression of the place and thought they were considerate despite the wait, but I noticed that they were not consistent in their service. For example, they did not offer tea to some customers, made some customers wait inside while others waited outside, and did not have a designated shaded area for those waiting in line. Managing a busy restaurant can be challenging, and while I understand the need to wait during peak hours, there are areas where improvement is needed.

Eating "onigiri" to the point of lining up, even in the scorching heat. At Bongo, I lined up for an hour before opening and there were already about 10 people in line. The heat of the queue under the blazing sun was tough, but I felt the consideration of the shop owner with cold lemon water and loaner umbrellas. Entered at 12 o'clock! (After lining up for an hour and a half, although the menu was already decided, I was a bit hesitant due to other people's orders, but eventually settled on popular items. My friend ordered "seasoned egg, salmon roe, pickled plum, miso soup" and I ordered "salmon roe, seasoned egg with meat miso, salted rice ball." Delicious, enjoyable, everyone sitting at the counter was eating with a smile, which was impressive. The grains of rice were firm, the hardness continued to the throat, the ingredients were plentiful with a strong salty taste, and the softness of the onigiri made it a bit difficult to eat without chopsticks or a plate. I've never eaten this much rice before, I'm so full. The restaurant has been getting more TV exposure and the line is getting longer. I would like to make a takeout reservation and visit again when it's less crowded.

Before the store opened on Saturday, I decided to get takeout for lunch. I made a reservation on Thursday night to avoid the scary lines on Saturday. On the day of, there was already a long line before opening. I went with a friend and ordered the following: beef tendon with salmon roe and minced meat, pork kimchi, beef tendon with natto, and curry. The curry and minced meat were sweet and gentle in flavor, while the pork kimchi had a stronger taste. Personally, I liked the beef tendon with salmon roe the best. The rice balls were as soft and gentle as rumored. I was worried about getting takeout, but the fluffy texture made it difficult to eat without spilling. The ability to get takeout at the desired time is appealing, so I will definitely visit again.

Visited around 14:15 on Wednesday (during Obon). Even outside of lunch hours, there was a line of about 20-25 people. I thought it would be about an hour, so I prepared myself and lined up. Sat down around 16:08. Waited for about 2 hours. Considering that the previous group of 7 only took about 20 minutes, maybe there were some people who joined in later, or there was a slow period. People who lined up about an hour later also made it to the front of the line, so maybe it was just bad timing? Apparently, they offer tea and salt tablets while waiting in line. (Unfortunately, I didn't get them). Placed my order before entering the restaurant. Got ikura and salmon toppings, egg yolk and minced meat toppings, and miso soup with tofu (you can get refills) inside the restaurant. Also got mentaiko with pickled mustard greens, bacon and cheese, and squid with cod roe to go. The rice balls are fluffy and packed with filling. It's more like they are stuffed rather than just filled. Despite their large appearance, the quantity is not as much, so even those with small appetites could probably eat two. And compared to convenience store rice balls or rice ball shops in train stations, they are incomparably delicious. No matter how you eat them, there is plenty of filling, and the rice itself is delicious. The prices are reasonable considering the amount of filling. I don't want to wait until 2 o'clock, but if I call ahead next time, I can probably get takeout, so I might do that.

I honestly don't understand the point of waiting in line for this long... I started lining up in the evening to avoid the hot hours, thinking it wouldn't be too long, maybe around 30 minutes... But ended up waiting for a shocking 2 hours. The turnover rate was so slow, it was surprising. The most popular dish, the salmon roe, was surprisingly salty. The miso soup seemed like it was mass-produced, with no aroma of dashi. I later realized they were probably trying to cover it up with the seaweed topping... The one with minced meat miso and egg was the most delicious. The mentaiko cream cheese was also tasty but the flavor was too strong.

There is a popular onigiri (rice ball) shop in Otsuka called Onigiri Bongo. I finally got a chance to visit after being curious for a while. There was a line, but it wasn't too long, about 40 minutes. This place only serves onigiri made to order, whether for takeout or dining in. It's not the typical pre-made onigiri style. With the recent onigiri boom, this style has become very popular. Most of the popular onigiri shops with long lines can trace their roots back to this place. The taste is amazing, with nearly 50 different fillings to choose from, making it difficult to decide. I tried the chicken something, tuna with green onions, and something with cream cheese. They were all very filling, and the freshly made onigiri had a fluffy texture that was the highlight. The owner explained that the fluffy texture is achieved by incorporating a lot of air during the making process, which requires a lot of practice. If you can appreciate the attention to detail, you will be very satisfied. The miso soup was also delicious, and you can have refills. The staff were efficient and the service was great. However, I couldn't help but think that eating inside and then transferring the rice into a bowl at the end seemed unnecessary.

In the scorching heat, there weren't many people in line, so I decided to wait. It took quite a while. Along the way, the staff at the shop handed out water and salted candy. I chose egg yolk with minced meat to take away, and also got tuna mayo and raw cod roe. The rice ball was so soft that it seemed like it might fall apart, but it was delicious. Next time, I want to try ordering takeout by phone.

We lined up at 1 o'clock and finally entered the shop. It was nice that they brought us water a few times while we were waiting in line. The onigiri fillings were salted salmon, minced meat, and egg. The large onigiri was packed full of filling and very satisfying. It took a while to eat with chopsticks, but the staff were all friendly and accommodating. I prefer the rice to be a bit more moist. Thank you for the meal.