(As of August 31, 2022) I visited Monbetsu at the end of July during a holiday. This time, I stayed in Abashiri but decided to drive to Monbetsu for a change. Last time I visited Monbetsu, it was still cold and rainy, so I only made a round trip between Abashiri and Monbetsu. However, the weather was pleasant this time, so I decided to try out some take-out food from a few places and enjoy it outdoors. - Where is the restaurant located? The restaurant is about a 4-minute walk from Monbetsu Bus Terminal. I drove from Abashiri using Route 239 and followed the navigation instructions from around Monbetsu City's Okhotsk Forest Park. The surrounding area is a two-lane road with no traffic lights, and the Welfare Council building nearby serves as a landmark. The restaurant itself is just a corner of a building with a sign that says "Onigiri Taro," so it's easy to miss for first-time visitors. - How crowded was it and what was the interior like? I visited on a Saturday just before 1 pm. Many reviews mentioned that popular items tend to sell out after lunchtime, so I didn't have high expectations. When we arrived, some locals were just leaving, indicating that locals often come to buy lunch. The interior had no tables, just a showcase with onigiri for take-out only. As expected, some menu items were sold out, and the remaining onigiri choices were limited. - What are the recommended menu items? They offer about 8 types of onigiri priced at around 100-130 yen, which is quite reasonable. The size is similar to convenience store onigiri, if not slightly larger. They also offer pickles as a side menu for 70 yen. Based on various reviews, I decided to order the Gomoku onigiri as locals seemed to enjoy it. I wanted to try the seared tarako or salmon, but they were sold out due to popularity. I ended up buying Gomoku, Tuna Mayo, Sesame Kombu, and Bonito Flakes. I also bought pickles as a side dish. - Summary I went in the early afternoon, so the seared tarako and plum onigiri I wanted to try were already sold out. It seemed like they only made around 30 of each menu item, so it's best to buy your desired item early. All the onigiri were packed with rice and had a simple filling. The handmade onigiri were almost the same price as convenience store ones but with a more homemade feel. It's a recommended spot for when you're craving onigiri for lunch or want a casual take-out option. For more details, please check the blog link below: http://kimura.li/memo/?p=33955

- Five-ingredient rice ball: $120★★☆ [Product introduction / Kimura's memo] *First, we tried the popular five-ingredient rice ball, which had hijiki seaweed and finely chopped chicken inside. It gave the impression of a perfectly seasoned rice ball. - Salmon rice ball: $120★★☆ [Product introduction / ameblo Tigu's dining diary in Okhotsk] *I purchased my favorite salmon and the classic five-ingredient rice ball, one of each. They were neatly shaped triangles, easy to eat, and delicious. - Other information * No dining area. * No complimentary water. * No complimentary wet towel. * No restroom. * No charging available (no outlets). * Customer service is average. * Cleanliness and interior setting are average. * Shoes do not need to be removed when entering the store. * Crowdedness varies depending on the season and time, but there was no waiting to enter or pay at the register. [Store introduction / Kimura's memo] * A local homemade rice ball shop that has become rooted in the community, where locals come by car for takeout only.

A rice ball shop near the drinking district in the city of Monbetsu. Since the hotel I stayed at was room-only, I bought rice balls here for breakfast. The exterior and interior of the shop had a traditional feel. It's unclear if they don't make many to begin with or if it was past peak hours, but there were few rice balls in the showcase. I ended up buying "salmon" and "bonito flakes" from the remaining selection. The price was 120 yen per piece. The rice balls were triangular in shape and slightly smaller in size compared to convenience stores. They were just average, but I felt like the flavor was diminished from being pre-made, so I wished they would provide freshly made ones if possible.

For breakfast, I had the mixed rice ball and grilled fish here. It's been a while since I last had it, but the mixed rice ball here is really delicious. I usually eat convenience store rice balls, but as a resident of Monbetsu, I always come back here.

◼️ Basic Information □ Area: Hokkaido > Abashiri, Shiretoko Shari, Kitami, Monbetsu □ Genre: Onigiri □ Tabelog Rating (as of 2019/03/05): ★3.07/7 reviews [1st out of 4 restaurants] ◼️ Details □ This is an onigiri specialty shop located in Monbetsu City, Hokkaido. □ Monbetsu City has a population of 22,000 and is a town facing the Sea of Okhotsk. □ Along with Abashiri, it serves as a base for winter drift ice tourism, with the drift ice sightseeing boat "Garinko II" in operation. □ On this day, a record-breaking cold wave was hitting the area, and I was worried about not having enough food, so I decided to buy some here. ◼️ Visit Details □ Visiting Time: Around 5:00 PM on a weekday □ Reservation: Not required □ Crowdedness: No wait at the register [no waiting time] ◼️ Review by Nishijima Hyogo □ Food/Taste: ★3.0/ Well-formed and tasty □ Cost Performance: ★4.0/ Affordable at 120 yen per piece □ Overall: ★3.4/ If you want onigiri in Monbetsu, this is the place to go! (3.25) □ Recommended: Gomoku (120 yen) For more details on each item, please refer to the description below.

Visit date 2018.3.30 I had been curious about it for a while. I come to Rumoi every month, but I always see it (laughs) However, it's hard to tell if it's open or not from the outside appearance... so I always just passed by (laughs) Today, I decided to go in boldly♪ Ding-a-ling【Welcome!】Oh, good♪ There were people inside (laughs) Inside, there were onigiri lined up in an old showcase. It was close to 3pm, so there were not many left... I bought these three.【Bonito flakes 120 yen】【Grilled cod roe 130 yen】【Salmon 120 yen】They wrapped them carefully in paper. When I tried to pay, a local kid came in and said, "Oh! There's no more grilled cod roe!"... Sorry, I already bought it (laughs) It seems like the kid's mother bought all the remaining onigiri, but... I felt a little sorry. (laughs) Well, the weather was nice so I went to the port and ate them, the sea felt great and the deliciousness of the onigiri doubled (laughs) I'll buy again next month (laughs) Thank you for the meal♪

Since transferring to my local town of Monbetsu, I have been frequenting this place. This popular shop serves perfectly shaped triangular onigiri that have maintained the same delicious taste since I was a child. My favorite is definitely the "gokoku" onigiri. The seasoning is light and elegant, reminiscent of a flavorful five-grain rice dish. It's a rare find in Monbetsu, open for business from early in the morning. I hope this cherished shop continues to thrive for years to come.

◆November 2013◆ Located right next to my childhood home in Rumoi, this longstanding onigiri specialty shop was a favorite of mine back in the day. Feeling a sudden craving, I decided to revisit the shop after 30 years. They offer around 10 types of onigiri, each priced at around 120 yen. I've always loved the "gobou" (five ingredient) onigiri, which I used to enjoy as a snack when I was in elementary school. Unlike the trendy fluffy onigiri, these are firmly shaped into triangles and packed tightly with rice, almost like "okowa" (a type of rice dish). The texture is chewy, similar to mochi rice. While the taste itself is just a regular onigiri, for me, it holds irreplaceable memories. Even after 30 years, the onigiri at "Onigiri Taro" remains unchanged, and I am completely satisfied.

There is a popular onigiri shop that I found on the map. When I arrived, the taxi driver brought out three onigiri. I asked if lunch was just three onigiri, and when I went inside, there were only four mixed onigiri left. I asked if they only had mixed onigiri, and the owner said there were only two plain onigiri left. I ordered a salmon and mixed onigiri, as well as some grilled chicken. I asked if they would run out by 1 o'clock, and the owner said they were fully booked for the day until 3 o'clock. The flavor of the mixed onigiri was subtle, but I enjoyed the refined taste. The salmon onigiri had flaked salmon, which was a bit disappointing, but overall it was delicious. The onigiri seemed to be made using a machine rather than by hand, but the texture was perfect. I would definitely like to try it again.

The next day, I went to Onigiri Taro with my friend for an early morning car loading and for me, as I tend to overeat at breakfast buffets and end up feeling sluggish afterwards. It was past 4 PM, and there were only a few types of onigiri left to choose from. My friend got the Gomoku and Shake ones for 120 yen each (I didn't ask for their opinions or take a photo, sorry). I chose the Konbu for 120 yen and Yaki Tarako for 130 yen. Since we were going to eat at different times, we asked for them to be wrapped separately. The next morning, after dropping off my friend at a certain place, I warmed up the onigiri in the hotel microwave and enjoyed them in the room. The Yaki Tarako had a perfect texture with the fish roe cooked just right and the saltiness was just enough. The Konbu had a slightly sweet seasoning with konbu tsukudani mixed in. Oh, konbu in onigiri works too! I'll have to try that next time. Both onigiri were neatly shaped in triangles and packed tightly, so the amount of rice was more than it appeared. However, when unwrapping, quite a few rice grains stuck to the paper or wood wrapping, which reminded me of the superstition from the time when rice was precious - "if you leave rice grains, your eyes will go blind." As someone from the last generation raised on such beliefs, it pains my heart. For those who are tired of convenience store onigiri and tend to overeat at buffets, this onigiri from Machi is perfect. Thank you for the meal!

In Memanbetsu, there is a specialty takeout rice ball shop called Onigiri Taro. The rice balls sold at this shop are neatly shaped into triangles. Moreover, the owner's skill in wrapping the rice balls is excellent, showing that they have been dedicated to making rice balls for decades. Even though there are various rice balls sold for 100 yen at convenience stores nowadays, there is something mysteriously appealing about Onigiri Taro's rice balls that makes you want to eat them.

This is a takeout-only onigiri (rice ball) shop located in the central area of Monbetsu. When staying at a hotel for the first time, one often wonders about breakfast. Hotel breakfasts are usually lacking in excitement, but that's understandable as most guests are not looking for something adventurous in the morning. I, on the other hand, tend to wander around unfamiliar towns in search of an interesting breakfast. However, in rural areas, the success rate of this quest is usually low. I often end up eating convenience store onigiri or skipping breakfast altogether. In Monbetsu, a town facing the Okhotsk Sea, I searched for breakfast and stumbled upon this shop called "Onigiri Taro." They specialize in takeout onigiri and offer around 10 different types in the morning. I bought a slightly more expensive one called "sujiko" and enjoyed it with tea back in my hotel room. The onigiri was packed with rice and had a satisfying weight to it. It was a successful and delightful breakfast experience in Monbetsu.

I then headed to "Onigiri Taro" after visiting Marusen Kobayashi Food Store. It's located just a couple of traffic lights down to the right. The small shop has a few tables and chairs on the left side where you can sit and eat. They offer around 8 different types of onigiri, so the selection is a bit limited. The onigiri are all shaped uniformly due to being made in molds, giving them a neat and beautiful appearance. I bought salmon, sea chicken, bonito, and mixed onigiri, along with the fried fish cakes I purchased earlier, and enjoyed them together. Since they are molded, they are firm and dense to eat, rather than fluffy and soft. You can really feel the rice when eating them. Although there isn't anything particularly unique about them, it feels like a nostalgic and comforting local onigiri shop.

I forgot to take a picture of the main onigiri... I chose the "Gomoku" for 125 yen and the salmon for 125 yen. It's a good deal, right? I was also interested in the "Sujiko" for 155 yen, but I had just eaten Sujiko from the Seicomart's Hot Chef the day before. I want to try the Sujiko next time!