Chloe Ng

Onigiri are often a grab-and-go snack at convenience stores, but eating a warm rice ball in a restaurant setting is almost unheard of in Singapore.  Onigiri Gon, a new onigiri specialty store, has recently opened at Fortune Centre — the unassuming mall known for vegetarian eateries, affordable food spots like Yat Ka Kan Dessert and Japanese izakayas like Ume San 100.   Photograph: Onigiri Gon via Google Maps   It’s run by Fukuoka-born Chef Takamasa Suzuki, a former operations director under the Shunsui Group, where he oversaw concepts like the seven-time-Michelin Guide restaurant Shunsui, Kyuu by Shunsui (now permanently closed), and Sakedokoro Eizaburo, an izakaya on level three of Fortune Centre. He opened Onigiri Gon after noticing the lack of a dine-in option for enjoying freshly-made onigiri.  The store caters to around 12 diners each time. Diners get a front-row counter seat to watch Takamasa handcraft each onigiri –  together with the minimal Japanese interior, Onigiri Gon offers an intimate, izakaya-style atmosphere.  Although the space is small, the menu is rather extensive – with more than 20 different toppings at various price tiers.    Photograph: Onigiri Gon via Google Maps   Starting at $4.90, toppings include ume and konbu. The $5.90 tier offers a wide variety of proteins, such as sake (salmon flakes) and spicy tori kara (spicy chicken karaage). It’s followed by the $6.90 tier with more unique fillings such as hotate wasabi (soy wasabi-marinated sashimi sca