When it comes to onigiri, or Japanese rice balls, the image of a triangular-shaped ball of rice comes to mind. But did you know that Okinawa onigiri, commonly found in convenience stores and bento shops in Okinawa, looks totally different? It is elongated, much like a sandwich, and contains spam, an Okinawa staple.

Now you do, and you can even try it at Nippon Bite’s latest outlet! Debuted in July 2023 at Hillion Mall as Onigiri Planet, Nippon Bite has opened a second outlet in June 2024 at Tampines 1.

Inspired by Okinawa’s love for spam and made with Okinawa Takana rice, Nippon Bite serves Okinawa onigiri with distinctive fillings like fried chicken and fried prawn, and sauces like mentaiko and honey mustard that captivate your palate. With as many as 12 flavours to choose from, some of the must-try onigiri are Crispy Chicken Katsu ($6.90), Grilled Mentaiko Scallops ($6.90), and Ebi Tempura ($6.90).

The Crispy Chicken Katsu, which is very tender, juicy, and well-marinated, comes with a selection of three types of sauces: the popular mentaiko, the tangy honey mustard, and the nutty peanut butter.

The Grilled Mentaiko Scallops are nicely torched and charred, bringing out the umami of mentaiko but not taking away the natural sweetness of the scallops.

You can also make it a combo set by topping up $2.50 for an additional side and/or $1.50 for a drink. The sides include Mentaiko Fries, Honey Mustard Fries and Creamy Croquette, while the drinks include Honey Lemon, Green Tea and Black Tea.

National Day Special

From 5 to 11 August 2024, all Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel in uniform can get a free ebi with the purchase of any onigiri!

Final Thoughts

Nippon Bite’s Okinawa onigiri makes a fast and easy meal, especially when you’re on the go and prefer a fuss-free takeaway. Vegetarians can also savour their onigiri with options like Creamy Croquette, Truffle Mushroom, and Plant-Based Luncheon Meat. It’s a bonus if you love spam in rice balls.

Nippon Bite
Location: 10 Tampines Central, #B1-K13 Tampines 1, Singapore 529536
Opening hours: 10:30am - 9:30pm
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*This was an invited media tasting.

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