The Ultimate Guide to the Onigiri Rice Balls
If you’ve ever stepped inside our grocery store, you already know our store is a haven for authentic Japanese snacks, grocery staples, and hard-to-find treats. But if you walk into our restaurant, there’s one section you absolutely cannot skip: our fresh grab-and-go baskets with authentic Japanese onigiri.
We make our onigiri fresh every single morning. Because we hand-craft them daily using perfectly seasoned white rice and a variety of traditional and modern fillings, they move fast and fly off the shelves! We wrap them up using a clever packaging method so the nori seaweed stays shatteringly crisp until the exact moment you're ready to take a bite.
Whether you’re an onigiri aficionado or trying one for the very first time, here is the complete breakdown of every flavor we make for you fresh every morning at Maido!
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The Crowd Pleasers: Seafood & Mayo Flavors
Combining flaky fish with rich, umami-packed Japanese mayo is a match made in heaven. These are some of our most popular daily creations:
Tuna Mayo: The undefeated king of modern onigiri. It’s creamy, savory, and the perfect introduction to Japanese rice balls.
Spicy Tuna: Want a little kick? We add just enough heat to our classic tuna-mayo blend to wake up your taste buds. It also has a popping texture with the masago roe.
Salmon Mayo: If you prefer salmon over tuna, this offers that same rich, creamy texture but with a distinct, buttery salmon flavor.
Tarako Caviar with Mayo: A massive hit among our regulars. This features tarako salted cod roe blended with creamy mayo, yielding a thick, deeply savory seafood flavor that is incredibly satisfying.
Grilled Salmon: A timeless, classic option. It’s just pure, flaky, beautifully seasoned grilled salmon packed inside salted white rice. (Gluten-Free)
Salmon Wasabi: Savory salmon paired with a sharp, clearing punch of Japanese horseradish. It’s got a great, mild bite to it. (Gluten-Free)
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The Plant-Based Picks: Vegetarian & Vegan Flavors
Onigiri is inherently a fantastic option for plant-based eaters, and we make sure our vegetarian and vegan-friendly selection is just as delicious and satisfying.
Plain (Salted): Don't overlook the simplicity here. It’s just high-quality, perfectly cooked Japanese white rice, lightly salted, and wrapped in crisp nori. It's pure comfort food. (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Kombu Seaweed: Stuffed with tsukudani kelp - seaweed that is simmered down in soy sauce and mirin. It’s sweet, salty, and packed with deep umami flavor. (Vegan)
Pickled Ume: The ultimate traditional choice. It’s filled with umeboshi Japanese pickled plum, which delivers an intensely sour, salty, and sharp flavor that cuts perfectly through the sweet, mild rice. (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Avocado with Soy Sauce: A smooth, buttery modern creation that pairs fresh avocado with a classic splash of savory soy sauce. (Vegan)
Avocado with Wasabi: Our creamy avocado with soy sauce base, elevated with a pungent pinch of green wasabi heat. (Vegan)
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Insider Tips for Your Next Visit
Timing is Everything: Because we make them fresh every morning and they fly off the shelves, timing your visit is key. Come in before lunchtime for the best selection of flavors before they sell out! (Sometimes, certain flavors sell out right after we open our store, so the earlier the better.)
The Wrapper Trick: Our fresh onigiri come in a special plastic film that keeps the seaweed completely separate from the moist rice. Follow the numbered pull-tabs (1, 2, 3) on the packaging when you open it to ensure your nori stays perfectly crisp!
What’s your go-to onigiri flavor? Head down to Maido, grab an onigiri, and find your favorite today!
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There are a lot of food items, housewares, stationery, and gifts available at the store and our online store, Maido! Kairashi Shop, where you can place your order for shipping or store pickup! Happy shopping. :)
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