I ate at one in all Tokyo's most cost-effective Michelin-awarded eating places the place my 3-course lunch price $6.50

I needed to eat unimaginable meals, however I additionally had a decent finances. So I turned to a listing of Tokyo’s most cost-effective Michelin eating places.

Though not Michelin-starred, the restaurant has earned Michelin’s Bib Gourmand Award, which implies it is one of many information’s “finest worth for cash eating places.” Primarily, the restaurant is affordable and engaging — precisely what I used to be searching for.

Supply: Michelin Information

The restaurant describes onigiri as rice balls wrapped in seaweed and filled with fillings like salted fish, pickled greens, and dried shrimp.

So on day three of my journey, I headed to the restaurant in Asakusa, a preferred neighborhood in northeast Tokyo.

With its inexpensive value and award-winning standing, I anticipated a crowd, and because it was already 12:30 p.m., I figured my odds of getting a seat have been slim.

As I walked down the road — there wasn’t a line in sight. As a substitute, just a few folks have been mingling outdoors the restaurant’s easy facade.

I popped my head contained in the restaurant, and a number carrying a clipboard greeted me. I braced for unhealthy information. However as an alternative, he took my title, requested me what number of onigiri I deliberate to order, and instructed me to come back again in an hour and a half.

“Do not be late,” he instructed me as I walked away. With 90 minutes to discover, I headed to the Sensō-ji temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, in keeping with Go Tokyo.

Supply: Go Tokyo

The time flew by. As I headed again to the restaurant, I anticipated the scrumptious meal forward. Previous to visiting the restaurant, my expertise with onigiri was restricted to 7-Eleven.

The comfort shops throughout Tokyo have a collection of inexpensive snacks, together with onigiri. I had grabbed one just a few days prior and simply devoured the rice ball.

I knew the Michelin-awarded Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku can be a distinct expertise — even when the costs weren’t far more than 7-Eleven.

As I approached the restaurant, I seen a brand new signal posted on the entrance door: “Sorry … offered out”

I used to be thrilled I had snatched a reservation, and after ready a couple of minutes outdoors, the host from earlier ushered me to a desk.

The restaurant was small. There have been two tables and a bar the place the chef was making onigiri. Collectively, 16 folks might match within the area.

On the bar, a glass case displayed all of the onigiri fillings.

I used to be handed a menu that was as small as the dimensions of the restaurant. The restaurant solely offered miso soup and onigiri, and prospects had a alternative between 18 fillings.

I used to be eating throughout lunch, the place a set menu contains two or three onigiri, a facet of Japanese pickled radish, and miso soup. For 2 onigiri, it prices $5.90 (814 yen); for 3, it is $8 (1,100 yen) with out tax.

I ordered two onigiri and debated which fillings to strive My choices ranged from sake, or grilled salmon, to shirasu, which is boiled whitebait fish. Finally, I selected fillings that I hadn’t tasted earlier than: ueboshi, which is Japenese ume plum that was pickled in salt, and tarako, or salted cod roe.

Inside minutes of inserting my order, a bamboo basket with my first onigiri was positioned on my desk. The onigiri is served one after the other so the seaweed can keep recent and crisp, I discovered.

It was the salted cod roe. After just a few bits of rice and seaweed, the salty fish eggs hit my mouth. The flavors and textures have been balanced and scrumptious. The seaweed was crisp, the rice was moist, and the roe wasn’t overpowering.

The Japanese ume plum onigiri had a steadiness of candy and tart flavors and a texture just like dried prunes. I assumed the flavors have been fascinating, and the bitter plum was not like something I’ve tasted earlier than in a rice dish.