Meidai Nigirimeshi: A 24-Hour Onigiri Spot Beloved by Locals and Tourists!
Let us introduce you to some local gems to make your trip unforgettable. At LIVELY HOTELS, our curators go beyond the typical concierge role, offering insider tips and personalized recommendations to enhance your journey.
At UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO, we’ll help tailor your experience, from must-see attractions to hidden culinary treasures.
This time, we’re spotlighting “Meidai Nigirimeshi,” a cozy 24-hour onigiri shop nestled at the west corner of Susukino Market—a perfect spot for a delicious bite anytime!
If you live in Sapporo, many of you may have seen the line in front of the store.
There has been a flood of TV interviews, and the name recognition is now nationwide!
The restaurant is so popular that there is a long line of tourists in the morning, and the wait can sometimes be an hour. If you want to buy without lining up, we recommend visiting in the early afternoon.
The rice balls are made fresh after receiving your order, so there is no need to make them in advance.
Piping hot oden and motsu (intestine) stew are lined up inside the takeout counter.
Meidai Nigirimeshi actually has a wide variety of menu items other than onigiri.
All soups such as oden and pork soup are also available for takeout.
This is a nice service here in cold Hokkaido.
There are about 50 types of onigiri ingredients!
Furthermore, there is a system where you can choose between salt rice balls and soy sauce rice balls.
Many people may not be familiar with soy sauce onigiri, but just like regular salt nigiri, it is a type of onigiri that is squeezed with soy sauce applied only to the surface of the onigiri, and in fact, this rare soy sauce is used in famous nigiri-meshi. Nigiri seems to be more popular.
It seems that the most popular item for a long time has been the cod roe butter soy sauce nigiri, which is the signature nigiri-meshi menu.
▲(Left) Oyako salmon and salmon roe salt nigiri / (Right) Tarako (cod roe) butter and soy sauce nigiri
As soon as I received the order and started making it, it was completed in a flash.
The rice balls are made quickly and fluffy, and the nori seaweed sticks tightly to them, making them look delicious.
It seems like everyone has been practicing quite a lot.
Made with hard rice with less water content, it may look larger than a typical onigiri, but it comes apart so fluffy that it’s surprisingly easy to eat.
The balance with the ingredients is exquisite, and soy sauce onigiri, which is generally not well-known to most, may look salty. That’s what I thought, but since the rice was white inside, it had just the right amount of salt and the flavor of the soy sauce, which was fresh and went perfectly with the cod roe and butter.
At night, it seems to be crowded with local customers, with many people using it to finish up after drinking in Susukino’s downtown area or for midnight parties.
There are counter seats for eat-in, so it’s a comfortable atmosphere even for solo customers.
Cream stew was introduced as a hidden popular menu loved by locals.
It seems that when it first went on sale, it was a limited-time menu only available during the winter season, but it has become so popular that there are constant requests throughout the year, and it has now become a standard menu that can be eaten all year round.
This Hokkaido-style corn stew has a rich, creamy flavor, and is a must-try for tourists.
▲They also have a full menu other than rice balls, such as pork soup with lots of ingredients, oden, and cream stew.
Even in the cold Hokkaido, you can eat the same flavor anytime you want 24 hours a day.
Here you’ll find the deliciousness that warms your heart and body, and is loved by locals and tourists alike.
Why not come and visit us at least once?
Meidai Nigirimeshi
Location: Susukino Market, 4-11-1 Minami 6-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Phone number: 050-5488-8035
Business hours: Open 24 hours
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO
Enjoy the extraordinary feeling of a lodge and the comfort of home at a hotel. Unwind Hotel and Bar Sapporo is a sophisticated lifestyle hotel with a rustic and chic atmosphere.
<Facility overview>
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO (UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO)
Location: 289-111 Minami 8jo℄5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
Access: 4 minutes walk from Nakajima Koen Station on the Namboku Line