Omusubi Gonbei

It’s such a nice cute shop/eatery in midtown. The location is super convenient. Only one street south of the Grand Central Terminal. I tried their nigiri for the first time. I got salmon, spicy tuna, shrimp, chashu, and mentaiko ones. The size was perfect. You can tell from the generic shapes that they are most likely hand made. Overall, it’s a little bland. Good thing was that they cook the rice perfectly, and after chewing slowly over and over, you can taste the naturally sweetness of the rice. They also put somewhat generous amount of stuffing inside. I also got a spicy fried chicken don and a box of sushi. The spicy fried chicken was indeed quite spicy. The flavor was nice. The chicken pieces were also nicely cooked. It was about average. The sushi was actually surprisingly nice. I got it because of the after 7pm sale. All sushi was 15% off. The box I got had salmon roes, salmon, tuna, some kind of white fish, cooked shrimp, and eel. It also came with tuna and salmon rolls. It was pretty delicious. It’s not only a takeout spot. There is a ramen restaurant hidden inside. It’s also like a bodega selling goods imported from Japan, including cosmetic products, fresh produce, drinks, and snacks. It’s such a cute shop. I’d like to come back and try their other items.

The store is small yet carries so many different things. I went with my friends on a picnic and we grabbed all the things we wanted to try. I saw this place on social media and the food looked tasty (it did not disappoint). The space was clean and the prices are reasonable. I’ll definitely be going back!

Amazing selection of delicious handmade Onigiri and a wide assortment of bento-style food items plus snacks, drinks, the freshest Japanese seafood selection and various Japanese supermarket items. 10/10 value for your money!

Went here for the first time for lunch. I was very crowded but the staff managed to maintain the place moving in a fast and orderly manner. Had a bento box which was good. Will continue coming here to try other Japanese goodies.

Came early in the morning around 8 AM, and they weren’t fully stocked yet—but I grabbed the only vegan option I saw from the onigiri section, and it was a 10/10! Super fresh and flavorful. Can’t wait to come back when they’re fully stocked to try more.

I went here to get onigiri after craving it for around a week. The food I ate here was SO GOOD. First, the store isn’t too far of a walk from the Grand Central station when you go inside the store looks to be pretty small, and although it is small it’s bigger than when it first appears. The photo shows I ate while I went around in Manhattan. I got shrimp tempura, ume, eel, salmon, chashew pork (I’m unsure of the spelling), spam musubi I believe it’s called, and some more stuff. Almost everything I bought was under 5$ and came up to 34$. And I can stay without a doubt that the food is most definitely worth the money. The shrimp tempura was delicious. The ume I believe it is, wasn’t really my thing but that’s not the fault of the food. The staff were very nice and that store was very clean and well taken care of. Normally, I don’t write reviews for places I’ve gone, but this is how good at this spot is I had to write about it. One thing I want to really highlight is the takoyaki octopus balls, they were near the middle of the store I was curious so I got them. now, of course, this is up to personal taste for but for me these things literally had me yelling with how good they were and I’m not even joking. The texture was very nice. It was chewy. The sauce was good. The stuff that was on It was delicious. The inside had like a small piece of octopus in it. All around one of my favorite things for that store and will definitely be buying the next time I go. 10/10 this store is fantastic.

Went there today around 11am. Staff are very friendly, but the food is dirty. Bought 4 rice balls, when I eat them I saw something in the rice balls. See the pictures attached. I use chopsticks to make it look clear and then moved it to another rice balls to take pictures. What if I didn’t see it and eat it by accident?? Won’t be back again!

The EWR shuttle stops right outside this little gem of a shop, and it's always my first and last stop in NYC. I usually have a couple of onigiris (kombu and mentaiko this time) and sit in Bryant Park for a bit. The ladies are constantly making fresh onigiris and I’ve never had a stale one. I have also tried their sushi, daifukus and other treats and Japanese soft drinks, and it’s just a place of comfort.

Reasonably priced Onigiris for the midtown area! There are many different flavors and they range from $3-6. Service is quick. The store is usually pretty packed during lunchtime but they try to get the lines moving quickly.

Good value takeout onigiri and musubi counter in a Japanese grocery store Everything I tried had nice rice texture (not too hard and is still soft) and some onigiris were seasoned too with sweet / savory sauce - meat was pretty good quality too tasted fresh, perfect as a yummy snack or takeout meal! I personally like when the seaweed is softer in the onigiri because it's easier to eat, which is the case here because the seaweed is already wrapped and everything is wrapped again in plastic wrap Spam musubi was solid - I like that it comes with egg too! I prefer the onigiris over musubi though, grilled eel has nice sweet glaze over it and was my fav!

Great spot within the Mitsuwa Marketplace for rice balls! They have every rice ball flavor and combination that you can think of and, more importantly, at a VERY reasonable price - about $3-$4 a rice ball! The lone exception to that price scale is the Bomb rice ball, which is as you guessed is an all-encompassing rice ball with salmon, tuna and kombu. All of their rice balls are neatly and clearly displayed in their display case and the prices of each are clearly marked. Overall, their rice balls are fantastic. They're delicious, compact and you can get a full meal without breaking the bank here.

Great spot to stop in for a snack especially for a long train ride! It's great that they have both their onigiri and a small grocery store so you can pick up a variety of things at the same time. I visited with my family a couple years ago and we picked up some onigiri and snacks before taking the train upstate to visit my uncle. I liked it so much that I did the same thing on a later visit by myself to stock up before taking another train trip. The karaage onigiri is probably my fave but the eel and salmon ones are good too.

Omusubi Gonbei is small counter inside Katagiri Japanese Grocery, which serves onigiri (Japanese rice balls). I stopped by with my mom last week, because we wanted a quick meal on the go while we were out and about in the neighborhood. Stop at the counter, grab a few onigiri (they have tons of flavors) and then get in line. At lunch time (we visited on a Friday), the line wraps around and through the store, but it moved fast. I enjoyed the two I tried, and my mom (who is vegan) enjoyed hers (a Japanese curry onigiri). This is a great place for a lunch on the go; we took ours to some seating nearby and enjoyed an affordable, quick, simple, and healthy lunch!

Wanted to try after reading the great reviews and it dis not disappoints!!! The onigiris are top!!! Full of flavor, sticky and really good in fill (not just rice!) the rice was also flavorful since it got some of the filling sauce. There are plenty of different options to choose from. Definitely a great bite. It is also a japanese grocery store, ramen joint and offers other cooked/un cooked food readt to go (bowls, sushi)

Located inside katagiri grocery, Omusubi Gonbei is a great place to grab a rice ball. I had gone to Hanamizuki Cafe a week before to try their spam musubi and was not impressed, so wanted to try this place to scratch the itch. Came at 12:45 PM on a Sunday and it was busy but the line moved fast. I tried: + Spicy tuna + Spam with egg + shrimp tempura + grilled eel 5 stars for the spam alone. Grilled eel was the next best bite. Also liked the spicy tuna!

Good pricing for the onigiris esp in NYC where everything is usually expensive. A great snack to take to the airport. The spicy tuna and the spam were both really good. The ratio of the ingredients to the rice was perfect. It's made fresh too.

Ordered some onigiris for breakfast. We went to the one inside the Katagiri Japanese grocery store. It was quick and delicious.

This is a small onigiri stall inside of a Japanese market. It's a little hard to find so we went into the building lobby of the address and asked the front desk for directions. It gets pretty packed during lunch but the line moves quickly. I had the char sui pork and salmon which were both so good! Portions are big too. The rice is really soft and the salmon tasted really flavorful (even though I'm sure it's just canned salmon). Great spot if you're in a pinch and want something filling and fairly affordable!

4.5 One of my favorite spots to pick up a quick snack or low key meal. They're located at the front section of Katagiri Japanese grocery directly to the left once you walk in, it's a simple counter with a couple dozen options for rice balls. They have placards denoting what's what and prices, and also a separate single page doc with all the options. The fillings range from traditional vegetarian options like ume (Japanese pickled plum), shiso leaf (perilla leaf which tastes like light mint), marinated seaweed, kakiage (fried tempura), takana (pickled mustard greens), to seafood like spicy salmon, grilled eel, shrimp tempura, fried oysters, to meat like chashu pork and spam. Price range between $2.50 and $4.80 each, very reasonably priced and a good value for the neighborhood. You can pick up at the counter and pay directly at the Katagiri registers. Flavor-wise these are all tasty, the quality is pretty good, rice cooked properly and generous amounts of filling. They don't do the separate wrapper for the seaweed so it's not as dry/crispy as some may like, though I think this allows them to make these onigiri larger than most other takeout onigiri spots in the city.

This place has some of my favorite omusubis. They are tasty, filling, and very reasonably priced. My favorite one is the scallop. I also love the spam musubi. It's great for a snack or a light meat. It's also conveniently located next to the train station

Superb restaurant. The staff balanced quickness, efficiency, kindness and skill. The spices are perfect. Prices make sense and people are friendly. The pricing is reasonable, menu choices are simple, and the food delivers. I couldn't imagine better execution.

Just a a 5 minute walk away from Grand Central station. we came in from the airport and was looking for a quick food to grab and this caught our attention. A japanese grocery store that offers omusubis and even ramen. the sweet lady gave me her Recommendations, I went w/her recommendation and had the 'bomb' and it was really good. Would come back when I'm in New York!

I had no idea that Omusubi Gonbei would be inside this incredible mini Japanese mart! On top of all of OG's options, there are so many other foods that are ready-to-eat and a marketplace to boot. From my one visit it looks like a great place to pop in, grab a snack or small meal, and pop back out. But there is a small counter where hi can quickly enjoy the food you purchased. During peak hours, the checkout line can almost reach the back of the store but it goes by fast and it's well worth the visit! I tried an assortment of Omusubi and each was very affordable. Even a few pieces totaled to be cheaper than any fast food meal, and way tastier. Everything is clearly labeled and priced. If I'm ever on this side of the city again I'll definitely be back for more.

Really nice, quick, affordable lunch spot. I got three onigiris (kelp, oyster and egg) and chicken karaage, and they came out to $15.20. The food was tasty, I'd definitely be back. There is no seating other than a little bit of standing room/standing ledges by the ramen spot behind the cashiers. The spot is in a cute little Japanese market that sells other goodies, worth checking out even if just for the market.

Stopped by here for lunch and so glad I did! Soooo many options and great price. Flavors were so good there was a lot of filling.

If you love a classic rice ball with various fillings to start your morning, as an afternoon snack, or late night bite, this is the spot for you. I already have one location that I go to for rice balls but this is going to be my second spot to get rice balls. The reason for it is because it's made on the spot (I usually come in the morning when it is being made) and they offer a variety of fillings with no frills, your classic rice balls. My personal favorite is the Karaage Ball because they are generous with the fried chicken filling and you can't go wrong with a fried chicken rice ball. This is technically a supermarket or mini mart with indoor seatings. So it's quite lively with shoppers and people eating in this one space which adds to the experience. The rice ball section is the first thing you'll see when entering and the lady who took my order was kind and packed my order neatly. This is a bit of tucked away/hole in the wall kind of spot since it is nearby Grand Central Station. Highly recommend finding it and trying it out for yourself while in the area or leaving Grand Central Station

I first had Omusubi Gonbei in Mitsuwa Market in Fort Lee. When I randomly found out they had a closer location in midtown I was so happy. I literally took the LIRR here twice this year to get a bunch of spam musubi's and other rice balls for my family and I. The location is close to the trains and LIRR, the variety of rice balls and Japanese products in the market section was plenty even though it's a small store. Can't say that the workers were friendly but I got what I wanted and I'm happy.

I'm so glad this is available as an affordable option in the area. Food in this area can get pretty pricey. Thankfully the selection here is all priced well. If you go before the lunch rush, there's a big selection of flavors. My favorite are the nitamago and shrimp tempura. I like to pair my selection with miso soup to complete my meal. The rest of the grocery has different cooked foods, ramen and Sushi. I find the other selection is a bit expensive and not really worth it. Just stick to the musubis and onigiris and you'll be happy!

A nice japanese convenient store known for its onigiris. They are well priced ($2~4) for their size and made fresh daily.

The first onigiri / rice ball I've had in NYC was at Osumubi Gonbei, and boy did I start off strong. Pros: quick and easy grab and go counter with many options to choose from, prime location just a block away from Grand Central, and starts from $2.20 per ball up to less than $5. Don't get me wrong-it's still a rice ball at the end of the day, but prob of the better ones you can get.

I walked from 57th street to Gonbei and since it was about 20 min walk... I only did it cause I had the time and it was my day off! Omusubi Gonbei is inside a Japanese mart and when you step in, on your left you'll see Gonbei. The staff are busy consistently making the riceballs and you see it too! They also be frying the shrimp tempura and more. I was a little overwhelmed and first thought it...GET EVERYTHING! haha but of course I did...NOT. I just got 6. I got the spicy tuna with brown rice, the salmon with brown rice, regular spicy tuna, a tamago one (where there's a whole soy sauce egg in it) and two shrimp tempura balls. They are not all for me...obviously but most of them are. For 6 rice balls it totals up to about $17 something. Which is actually very cheap as nowadays, one rice ball can go for about $4-5 and they aren't even that good. You can tell the riceballs here are different, just based off the rice and quality. And charging less is amazing! Let's go one by one on the rice balls. For the brown rice tuna - it was pretty good but I find it has a lot of rice when compared to the filling. This applies to the salmon brown rice as well, although the salmon for me was a bit salty. The shrimp tempura are decent and isn't your usual super battered shrimp. The shrimp is on the smaller size but all good. My favorite one is the tamago one, there isn't too much rice as the rice literally was just wrapped around the boiled egg, which I appreciate. The egg is not overcooked, in it that it's a little jammy, which is my preferred way of eating a boiled egg. The egg is also soy sauced so there is deff flavor and not just plain egg and rice. I would get this again!!! While it seem like there's something I picked on for each of the rice ball, it's just my thing but overall I still enjoyed my riceballs. I would come again as the riceballs are all handmade with love and the prices are great. PLUS they have so many different kids you can choose from. I will come again to try the others and like I said, the riceballs here seems very old school compared to all the ones out there now.

The reviews don't match my experience at Omusubi Gonbei. The food here stands above competitors. The team handles all aspects of service flawlessly. Great food in every way at a great value. That completes my assessment.

Great spot to go for lunch break and quick meal. I got there around noon and the line was fairly long, however the cashiers move efficiently. I've had the eel bowl and chicken curry bowl from here; both were tasty. Beware, the chicken curry bowl has a piece of fried potato that although tasty fooled me into believing it was fried chicken before taking a bite. I really like this place. Although it gives me a grocery store vibe, you'll be guaranteed to get good portions for a great price. Tip: Be sure to come before 12 to escape the busy bustling lunch rush.

This restaurant just came into view and impresses with every dish. Food prices here remain reasonable. Vibrant food presentation matches the fresh flavors. Workers seemed notably cordial and capable. The environment here is well-conceived.

Stumbled this little onigiri place inside Katagiri, a cute Japanese market/grocery shop and picked up some onigiri for the road! The nitamago was my favorite. Its so simple yet something about the soy sauce combined with the semi-runny egg yolk and rice wrapped in seafood was super tasty and comforting. I think the ratio of ingredients to rice was perfect for this one. The grilled eel was also a good one cause it featured a good chunk of fish with a nice teriyaki sauce. The fried oyster was also solid; it was still a little crispy on the outside with a nice spicy mayo sauce. I understand these are rice balls but would still prefer a higher ingredient to rice ratio. Service was quick and you pay at the market's cashier. Prices are reasonable. Definitely a good option for a quick on-the-go snack/meal!

What a delightful surprise!! This little market might be easily missed if you're not looking, but it shouldn't be missed. Their omusubi counter offers a great assortment - I had the grilled eel and the shiso, both of which were amazing - and I snagged a spam and cheese musubi for later. All for less than $10! I had to make a second trip to the register after finding their sushi fridge and candy section. Anytime I can find Pocky sticks is a win!!

Omusubi Gonbei is located inside Katagiri grocery and is right next to the entrance. There were many options to choose from like spam, spam and egg, ume, salmon, karage, unagi, vegetable, seaweed, and many more. I went with my favorite classics and got a spam and egg as well as an Ume. The spam was perfect, salty, the egg was sweet and not too thick. The Ume was sour and delightful next to the rice. Both were purchased for lunch, but I ended up saving the Ume and ate that for dinner. Total was under $7 for both after tax.

*** 4.5 stars *** Located inside Katagiri Market (the entrance is on 41st), there is perhaps the largest selection of rice balls that I have ever seen. I came specifically for the spam musubi, but also picked up an eel rice ball (and wanted to get about 5 others!). For under $8, this was the perfect quick little meal. I have been on the hunt for the best spam musubi in the city and have to say, so far this has been the best. Not too salty as some tend to be, and the perfect amount of balancing sweetness. I don't usually prefer musubis that have egg but in this case I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. I will definitely be back to try some others!

Sweet lady working the front of the house. They have lots of omousubis available. I picked the salmon and the spicy tuna. My tot loved the salmon one and at a lot more than I expected. The spicy tuna was great as well. The rice was warm and puffy. If you can, ask for the non-saran wrapped ones because the rice is not squished. It is much better. Will definitely be getting take out from here again!

Stopped in here for some onigiri based on the stellar reviews. I am not sure what I'm missing, this was horrible. First off, all of the onigiri is left out, not made fresh whatsoever. Room temperature fish is...interesting. I picked the shrimp tempura and the spicy tuna. The shrimp tempura was a mushy mess. 80% rice and a small little soggy shrimp tempura slice. The spicy tuna was the worst though. It's not reaaaally spicy tuna. It's canned tuna with spicy mayo, major letdown. 1 star for price, $3.50 for two onigiri. You get what you pay for, I suppose.

I came for a snack during lunch on a weekday and it was fairly easy to find, located btw Park Ave & Lexington Ave. Once you step into the grocery store, you will see rows of oniguti on the counter to your left. I tried the spicy tuna and salmon. I loved the spicy tuna and the rice was amazing. I'm normally picky with my rice but this was the perfect soft texture and moist without being too mushy. I am definitely coming back just for the spicy tuna. Salmon was disappointing because I had read good reviews but it was just pretty basic. However, I will say there was more filling in the salmon than spicy tuna. But I ate the salmon riceball for the rice, not the salmon. The lady at the counter was very nice. She saw me staring at all the options and asked if I needed any help. I felt a little rushed at the cashier (different lady) but I have no complaints about the quick service.

4.5 stars. Quick, filling, tasty. There is a large variety of premade onigiri here and they are all for a fair price. It's located in a small japanese market where there are many fresh fish bowls. If you're looking for a quick grab and go meal, this place is a good spot.

Came post book club and wanted a small, quick, and affordable snack. I stumbled upon this Japanese grocery store whilst looking for onigiris in the area. Upon entering, there's a plethora of packaged items from onigiris, to sushi, to hot foods. There's even a ramen counter inside the store to feed your noodle soup cravings, and a fresh fish station in the back! I decided to go with safe options - Spicy Tuna ($2.40) and Salmon ($2.70) onigiris, as this was my first time here. One thing to note is that the fish is cooked in the rice ball, which I was completely fine with. However, the fish was pretty salty to me - perhaps it was too much salt or seasoning on it. With the plain, white rice, I just couldn't get past the really salty tuna/salmon. I think it would've been a nice touch if there was furikake sprinkled into the rice as well. For the price I paid, I'm not too upset and I'd give this place another try - perhaps would try something else. Overall, decent spot with tons of options!

So great. Had the hand-wrapped to go, and each variety was delicious and generously filling.

What a wonderful spot! We found this as we were walking around the city. The Chashu pork and Karaage chicken onigiri were both delicious. The market also has a ton of snacks and drinks to choose from as well! It was quite busy on a Friday night but service was quick.

Stopped at Omusubi when I saw that they have onigiri. Grabbed two and asked what I bought after I paid. The cashier got a kick out of it that I didn't even know what I paid for. One was seaweed (delicious) and the other had pickles , radish I believe and it was spicy. I am glad, I was adventurous. I was glad I took the extra step to visit this establishment.

First time visiting this location. Small Japanese market with three venders inside and assortment of Japanese goods. It's very crowded during lunch time so plan evening or morning visit. I shuffled through an intense lunch crowd to get onigiri items but ended up with a few snacks as well. There's an onigiri, sushi, and soup station in the rear of market. Sushi is offered among other ready to eat items. I opted for salmon and oyster onigiri. Decent rice balls but the rice was too mushy. The oyster was my favorite. Snacks picked up were red bean paste, Japanese Belgium waffle, and matcha pocky. The red bean paste is great on a hot day. Mildly sweet but watch out for the powder on them. The waffle was basic but petite. The lines move fast but can get confusing with lunch workers fumbling between the fridge and line. Avoid this location if you don't work in the area. There's limited seating behind cashier by the soup vendor but all purchases are made at cashier in middle of market. Lastly, it's very affordable here for a light lunch or dinner.

I've been in the mood for onigiri lately, and Omusubi Gonbei is so close to my close, and yet I haven't heard of this place before. The store is actually on 41st street, despite its Lexington Avenue address, tucked inside Katagiri. Most onigiri are made fresh, and they usually fly off the shelves. As for this visit, I went crazy with 5 onigiri including The Bomb, Spicy Tuna, Shrimp, Oyster and Salmon. Each onigiri is plentiful and tasty especially The Bomb. It can really give you a food coma. I'm looking forward to trying other fillings!

So many options for onigiri here (pick up and go type of place). No dedicated seating inside since it's at the front of the super market (though there is a ramen spot further inside that has some limited seating). Overall, the onigiri is quite tasty and affordable with slightly bigger pieces than some of the other spots nearby. However, it is heavy on the rice (though there are brown rice opts for those trying to be slightly healthier).

Omusubi went above and beyond helping with a huge order for an event. The food was absolutely fantastic, very well seasoned rice and crowd pleasing flavors. The kakiage ones went very quickly! We loved it. Would for sure go back next time we are in NYC.

Always a pleasure to grab riceballs. I've been asking for all riceballs to be individually wrap as oppose to just putting in the clamshell containers. It is much easier to eat when it's wrapped (cleaner if your hands are dirty and won't get sticky from the rice). To be honest, I usually come here only when I'm in the area (before or after my doctor's appointments). I usually treat myself to riceballs as a reward or "something have to get" when I'm there. If I live closer or is in the area more often, they would probably see me more often than my 2-3 visits a year. They are that delicious and awesome. Wish: I do wish they have the Nitamago riceballs all year (daily) as they are so simple and delicious. But it is always seasonal during this time.

To be fair, I just came back from a trip to Japan recently so my standards may need to be readjusted for "back to reality". With that disclaimer said: the service and ambiance is a non-factor here, but I did find the lovely lady at the counter to be very attentive to my immediate distress over what to get lol. Ended up going for the bomb, spicy tuna, brown curry, and shisho riceballs. The spicy tuna and shisho were pretty good, but the bomb was a bit too heavily flavored for me. The rice was appropriately fluffy and the seaweed texture was great- but something about the bite into the riceball just didn't give me the same texture as what I was expecting. But, still, a pretty good spot that I would go back to.

Everyday, fresh made cooked onigiri, ramen, poke bowls, and sushi and sashimi. You can also find raw pre-cut meat, Kimichi, snacks, and drinks. I would definitely come back for the fresh sushi and cooked onigiri and bento boxes because... well it's fresh fish. And the onigiri and bento boxes are kept hot so it's a good and affordable place for food. Although, it would be a lot more convenient if the owners decided to put more seats and small bar tables so I wouldn't need to walk to Bryant park. I'll be back!!!! Probably once a week

Delicious onigiri. Got the Bomb and it was so good! Nice staff, too! It's within the grocery store right there so if you're trying to find it that's why - not on the sign.

Was a bit hungry and in the area so decided to try out this place. It is inside of katagiri Japanese market and it was pretty packed. The rice balls are really good and also really cheap. Cheapest was $2.80 and there was a perfect amount of rice and filling ratio. I got the charsiu, oyster, and the bomb. They were all really good and the bomb, unsure of what it is, but mine was half salmon and the other half was mushroom (?) . Overall, this is a gem in grand central and definitely worth going if you're craving some rice balls or Japanese goods in general for super affordable pricing!

Yummmmm and affordable sushi and onigiri spot where the customers and staff are mostly Japanese. Food is fresh, quick, and delicious. Great for grab and go. Not a place where you eat there.

Pretty busy traffic on a Sunday afternoon. Tried multiple onigiris, which were quickly made on the spot if the tray was empty. Spicy tuna was simple yet tasty- canned tuna with spicy mayo with nicely cooked and seasoned rice. Eel was also good, soft and chewy texture (unlike the frozen ones found in supermarkets). Much more affordable than the other japanese markets found around Manhattan and Brooklyn.