You'll definitely become a fan! The dazzling world of grilled rice balls

My challenge of eating and reporting on rice balls every day has now surpassed 270 days! Yay!!
The reason I've been able to eat and introduce various rice balls for 9 months is entirely thanks to all of you who read this.

However... the situation in the world has changed significantly due to the impact of the novel coronavirus. A state of emergency has been declared, remote work has spread, and people have started refraining from going out. Naturally, opportunities to eat at home have increased. I'm sure you are all in the same boat.

That's where the dilemma of what to have for a meal comes in. Everyone must be looking for something that is "easy, simple, never gets boring, and yet delicious."

I thought that the hints for this might be in the notes I've written so far!
So I decided to compile them at this time.
(Restaurants are in a difficult situation due to the impact of the novel coronavirus. I also think it would be great to actually go to a rice ball shop, eat there, and support them!)

So, what kind of rice balls should I introduce?
For rice balls, there are those wrapped in seaweed, as well as various types like ten-musu (tempura rice balls) and Spam musubi.
As those who read this series might know, actually... there is one type of rice ball I am most focused on right now.

That is, grilled rice balls!

Many people might have the image that "grilled rice balls are simple rice balls made by a grandmother in the countryside."
However, that is not the case.
Recently, new types of grilled rice balls are increasing rapidly, overlapping with the good old-fashioned grilled rice balls and creating a new category.

So, let's get started right away.

Selected by a fan-base designer who has introduced rice balls for 270 consecutive days: "You'll definitely become a fan! The dazzling world of grilled rice balls!"

Together now—LET'S grilled rice balls!

1. Fluffy! Cafe grilled rice balls in Osaka

Fuji Onigiri Cafe (Taisho) Grilled Rice Ball
[Day 233 of appearance]

A cafe located in an arcade street in the Taisho district with a lovely smiling staff.
They use precious 'Moshio-mai' rice from Oki Island, grilled with sesame oil until fluffy and delicious!

2. Evolved grilled rice balls with plenty of mayonnaise

Kongariya (Shinagawa Station) Mentaiko Takana Mayo Grilled
[Day 223 of appearance]

A shop inside Shinagawa Station with many types of grilled rice balls. An exquisite grilled rice ball where mayonnaise wraps around the spicy cod roe and pickled mustard greens!

3. Forbidden Butter Soy Sauce Grilled Rice Ball

SHIBARAKU (Aoyama) Butter Soy Sauce
[Day 140 of appearance]

That forbidden way of eating that appeared in Oishinbo is now a grilled rice ball!
It's simple, but absolutely delicious!

4. The grilled rice ball from a famous Yokote Yakisoba restaurant is salmon!

Kuidaoraku (Yokote City, Akita Prefecture) Grilled Rice Ball
[Day 90 of appearance]

The grilled rice balls from this famous Yokote Yakisoba restaurant in Akita Prefecture are also exquisite!
Grilling a salmon rice ball and lightly brushing it with miso...

5. The shock of deep-frying! Miso overflowing and melting

OMUSUBI CAFE (Daikanyama) Deep-fried Brown Rice Miso
[Day 225 of appearance]

I never knew that deep-frying a rice ball could make it so fragrant, piping hot, and delicious.
This is highly recommended!

6. Perfectly round grilled rice balls from the northern land!

Robata Uosen (Obihiro) Grilled Rice Ball
[Day 169 of appearance]

A grilled rice ball from a robata-yaki restaurant in Obihiro, Hokkaido. Eating a freshly grilled, perfectly round rice ball while it's still hot is the best!

7. Discovered in Asakusa! Meat-wrapped grilled Kiritanpo

Kometanpo (Asakusa) Meat-wrapped Soy Sauce Tanpo
[Day 236 of appearance]

A meat-wrapped rice ball using chewy Kiritanpo found in Asakusa. It's exquisite!

8. For the sophisticated you, grilled miso rice ball.

Risaku (Sendagi) Grilled Miso
[Day 245 of appearance]

Both of this shop's two types of grilled rice balls are exquisite. Served with coconut curry soup for a sophisticated touch.

9. Deep-fried nori! A pork rice ball in a different dimension.

Pork Tamago Onigiri Main Store (Chatan) Fried Po-Tama
[Day 176 of appearance]

A new sensation rice ball where you deep-fry the nori and use it to sandwich the rice!
The shop's location might be the most stylish in the world for a rice ball shop.

Please check out the extra edition too! The burger series you can eat at shops nationwide.

Extra Edition 1: Mos Burger's Yakiniku Rice Burger

[Day 255 of appearance]
The originator of the rice burger! Mos Burger. I was surprised by the tender yakiniku overflowing from it!

Extra Edition 2: McDonald's Gohan Burger

[Day 239 of appearance]
McDonald's Gohan Burger is a new sensation with a hamburger patty and crisp lettuce!

Afterword

Thank you for reading until the end!
Actually, there were still many more grilled rice balls and other delicious rice balls that I couldn't introduce.

I hope you will also read the main series.

Due to the influence of the novel coronavirus, the situation in the world has become even more difficult. It is said that eating out in the Tokyo metropolitan area is also difficult. Even so, I would like to continue this challenge as far as I can.

The world of rice balls, Japan's identity food, is so much deeper than you think.

That was a delicious meal!

Please feel free to check out this collection of recommended rice balls as well!