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If you’re like me, you first learned about onigiri through the jelly-filled doughnut meme. Well, prepare to take home some creative takes on onigiri, as the famous Japanese onigiri shop Kyoto Onimaru has opened its first Singaporean outlet in Hougang Mall!
We headed down on their opening day of 11 Jan 2026 and were met with a bustling crowd. It was so crowded that we struggled to get a good shot of the shop’s front for quite a while.
Onigiri is a snack that requires little introduction. You can find it in almost every convenience store nowadays, from cheap gas stations to 7-Eleven, but most varieties in those shops are very similar. Kyoto Onimaru switches up the game with their unique hand-crafted onigiris with completely original flavours you’ve never seen before.
Side note, I was partially confused when I looked up Onimaru for the first time, only to find references to a One Piece character. Please don’t make the same mistake as me, haha.
Feast your eyes upon Kyoto Onimaru’s scrumptious spread of onigiri! I find the presentation to be quite charming, with colourful plates and trays adorning the front of the shop. Ordering is super easy and feels just like grabbing bread from a bakery. Simply take one of the trays on the far left and start placing onigiri on it!
As you can see, every variety of onigiri is unique, from the more classic shapes to special offerings.
Check out the 3 onigiris we took home — Teriyaki Chicken Mentaiko (S$5), Mentaiko Mayo Grilled Pork Egg (S$4.90), and Tenkasu Red Shrimp (S$2.80). I was also intrigued by their Grilled Eel & Shicimi (S$6.50) and Roasted Beef Sukiyaki (S$5.20).
Kyoto Onimaru is already open in Hougang Mall; make sure to check them out if you’re looking for a quick snack or even a full meal if that’s your style!
