If you are in a hurry in Kichijōji or want to have a picnic at Inokashira Park, visit Omusubi Gonbei (おむすび権米衛) at Kichijoji Station’s south (park) exit. The rice ball shop chain offers rice balls in various flavors, and some of them are vegan and/or gluten-free!
Table of Contents
- About Omusubi Gonbei
- What Kind of Rice Balls Are Available at Omusubi Gonbei
- Our Visit to Omusubi Gonbei
- Omusubi Gonbei’s Business Hours and Access Information
About Omusubi Gonbei
Omusubi Gonbei’s motto is increasing rice consumption to contribute to Japan’s agriculture. Based on this kind thought, an extensive rice ball menu was created.
Because the deliciousness of a rice ball largely depends on the quality of the rice, the rice ball shop is particular about the rice used. Freshly milled rice is shipped directly from the production area to each of their stores. This ensures that the oxidization of the rice is minimized and the aroma of the freshly harvested rice can be tasted.
In addition, much attention is put into cooking the rice. Thus, Omusubi Gonbei’s rice balls don’t harden when chilled! Instead of using a mold, the rice balls there are all handmade, which makes them even more impressive. Once you have tried their rice balls, it won’t be hard to understand why the locals line up for them. But don’t worry. The wait won’t be too long!
The best thing about Omusubi Gonbei is that they can customize your rice ball to a certain degree. For example, while they reckon their rice balls taste best when cold, they can use freshly cooked rice to make your rice ball upon request. If you don’t want your rice ball sprinkled with white sesame or salt added or wrapped in seaweed, they can also accommodate that request!
What Kind of Rice Balls Are Available at Omusubi Gonbei
Omusubi Gonbei also offers vegan and gluten-free rice balls in addition to seafood and meat flavors. Check their allergen menu HERE to confirm which filling is vegan/gluten-free. You can translate the webpage by using Google Chrome’s translation function at the right of the address bar.
If you don’t speak Japanese, the shop has an English menu on which you can select the flavor you want.
The rice ball chain’s shop in Kichijōji has a small dine-in space. If you want to enjoy the rice balls there, secure your seats before queuing up to order. Chopsticks, cold water, and wet tissue are all available.
Tip: If the flavor you want isn’t on the shelf, ask the staff if they can make it for you. We had our Brown Rice Konbu rice ball freshly made!
Our Visit to Omusubi Gonbei
Because Omusubi Gonbei opens at 7 am, we visited it for breakfast to start our day – Japanese style. The shop would always have a small queue whenever we walked past it during our three days in Kichijōji, so we decided to try it out on the third morning.
Although there were a few people in front of us, we were able to place our order within three minutes. Because it wasn’t possible to tell which rice ball is vegan, we asked the staff. They quickly brought us the English menu, and the vegan and gluten-free ones were clearly marked.
We asked for the Ume Hijiki Genmai (diced pickled plum and Hijiki seaweed) and Kombu Genmai (simmered kelp). The last photo in the IG post shows what they look like. Although the Kombu Genmai wasn’t available on the shelf, the staff quickly made one for us anyway.
We had our rice balls taken away because we didn’t know if Hattifnatt had vegan savory light meals. So, the original plan was to finish the rice balls as we waited for the cute cafe to open. The Ume Hijiki Genmai was adequately seasoned, and the brown rice was chewy, which we loved. The kelp inside the Kombu Genmai rice ball was slightly too salty for us, but the saltiness was largely balanced out by the freshly cooked brown rice.
Overall, we will definitely revisit it whenever we visit Kichijōji. It is a convenient spot to grab a snack or a meal!
Omusubi Gonbei’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Omusubi Gonbei opens from 7 am to 9 pm.
- The shop is two shops away from Kichijoji Station’s Park (South) Exit’s escalator.
Other Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Kichijōji
Kichijōji in Tokyo has many amazing cafes and restaurants, but many don’t cater to a vegan diet. Fortunately, there are still a couple of places for us vegan and vegetarian to visit. Most still offer meat and vegan options, perfect for those traveling with non-vegan families and friends!
So refer to our article on Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Kichijōji for other options!
Discover the Attractions in Kichijōji
Now that you know where to go for a tea break, it is time to discover the attractions in Kichijōji. The neighborhood rated “The Most Desirable Area to Live in Tokyo” is great for almost everything. It is also where the famous Ghibli Museum is located!
So, for more ideas of what to do in the area, refer to our Kichijōji article!
