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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. 
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. 
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 scallop) and unagi kabayaki. The premium selection includes ikura at $10.90, as well as otoro zuke (soy-marinated bluefin fatty tuna) and wagyu sukiyaki, both priced at $12.90 each. All of these toppings can be added on for an extra cost between $1.50 to $5.50. 
Diners can opt for their onigiri set meals (from $13.90), in which they can choose two onigiri from the $4.90 price tier. The sets are served with miso soup and a choice of pickles. Onigiri Gon is open from Monday to Saturday 11:30am-4pm, closed on Sundays at 190 Middle Rd, #01-18 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979 READ MORE: Inside Tanjong Rhu Pau: How Singapore's best handmade buns are made, and the family behind them Bangkok’s viral banana cake Bake It Babe opens in Singapore on Desker Road |