Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch

On the last day of my visit to Tokyo in the summer of 2024, I went to Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch for a late breakfast. I had been here once before, but it was temporarily closed to support the new store in Haneda Airport. So, this visit was a revenge visit for me, and this time I was able to use the restaurant without any problems. How was this restaurant, which is independent from Onigiri Bongo, a very popular restaurant in Otsuka?

The hospitality is comparable to that of Onigiri Bongo… On one holiday morning after 9:00 a.m., the queue length and waiting time at Onigiri Konga’s Kamata branch were as follows…

I arrived at Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch at around 9:15 a.m. on this particular day, and at this point, there were five customers waiting in line to enter the store. I was a little surprised to see five people in line so early in the morning, but I took it easy and thought, “Well, there’s only five of them… I’m sure I’ll be able to eat in no time! I took it easy and got in line at the end of the line.

But this line didn’t seem to be moving forward. It was probably the slowest line I have ever seen at a restaurant. In the end, it took about 30 minutes from the time I started waiting in line to the time I was able to enter the restaurant. So, when you go to this restaurant, you should be prepared for the possibility that the waiting time may be longer than the apparent line.

However, once inside the restaurant, I understood the reason for the long wait. The restaurant has only six seats at the counter. The restaurant had a simple atmosphere with no particular decoration, and was run by three young staff members. However, these staff members were really wonderful and considerate. If I were to describe them in one word, they treat you like a family member who has returned home after a long absence. It makes me feel very relaxed. I didn’t feel rushed at all during the meal, and the female customers felt at ease eating their large onigiri at their own pace. This atmosphere and hospitality are on the same level as the famous restaurant Onigiri Bongo…this was the most pleasant experience for me.

Three onigiri and miso soup set at Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch… How does this new onigiri specialty restaurant supervised by Otsuka’s famous Onigiri Bongo taste?

Let me introduce the onigiri I ordered at Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch. I chose three types of onigiri, including a seasonal menu item. The price, including tax, was 1,250 yen, including miso soup with tofu…

After about 10 minutes of waiting, the onigiri arrived in front of me. Each onigiri is huge. Eating three onigiri of this size would fill a normal person up…

Tuna with mayonnaise (350 yen)

Let’s start with the classic onigiri ingredient, tuna mayonnaise. It is not arranged in any particular way, and as you can imagine, the flavor is straight-forward, but the seasoning is a bit strong… but don’t worry, it is not too strong, just within the range of personal differences. It is very important to be able to eat regular menu items as expected…

Negi Shio Pork Lemon (400 yen)

Next on the limited-time-only menu is the Negi Shio Pork Lemon. This summery menu item is made with chopped pork with little fat and dressed with chopped green onions and lemon juice.

Egg yolk in soy sauce (400 yen)

And then there is the soaked Egg yolk in soy sauce, which was one of the most popular menu items at Onigiri Bongo. The yolk soaks up the soy sauce flavor and sticks to the rice grains, creating a rich version of takikake gohan (TKG). It is as good as Onigiri Bongo’s egg yolk soaked in soy sauce, and is a must-try for TKG fans.

Looking at the price alone, you may think it’s expensive, but the size of each rice ball is more than double that of a convenience store rice ball, and the skill with which the rice balls are made is evident. In particular, the delicate grip of the onigiri is not crumbly when holding it in the hand, but when putting it in the mouth, the grains of rice will melt……the delicate grip is not inferior to that of Onigiri Bongo’s onigiri.

One last thing to add: you can have as many free refills of this miso soup as you like. This will surely fill you up no matter how hungry you are, right? So, I highly recommend Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch. Thinking back to the lines at Onigiri Bongo, I think it is rather a good place to visit while the lines are still small.

Examples of other menu items at Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch (prices include tax)

• Muscle roe 650 yen
• Beef sukiyaki 450 yen
• Bolognese 450 yen
• Shiokara (salted fish) 400 yen
• Fried chicken with mayonnaise 400 yen
• Takana 350 yen
• Raw cod roe 350 yen

Open year-round for takeout! To get to Onigiri Konga Kamata Branch, walk 3 minutes from the nearest station, Keikyu Kamata Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line.

Onigiri-Konga Kamata Branch is closed every Monday for eat-in, but is open on Mondays for takeout and Uber Eats only. Onigiri can be eaten sitting anywhere, and the year-round availability of takeout is appreciated. There is a park near the restaurant, so as long as the weather is nice, there is no reason to insist on eating inside. It seems that you can also make reservations by phone for take-out, so if circumstances permit, please consider using the take-out service. Now, here are the details of the restaurant…

From JR Kamata Station, it is an 8-minute walk.