Onigiri are often a grab-and-go snack at convenience stores, but eating a warm rice ball in a restaurant setting is almost unheard of in Singapore.

Onigiri Gon, a new onigiri specialty store, has recently opened at Fortune Centre — the unassuming mall known for vegetarian eateries, affordable food spots like Yat Ka Kan Dessert and Japanese izakayas like Ume San 100.

It’s run by Fukuoka-born Chef Takamasa Suzuki, a former operations director under the Shunsui Group, where he oversaw concepts like the seven-time-Michelin Guide restaurant Shunsui, Kyuu by Shunsui (now permanently closed), and Sakedokoro Eizaburo, an izakaya on level three of Fortune Centre.

He opened Onigiri Gon after noticing the lack of a dine-in option for enjoying freshly-made onigiri.

The store caters to around 12 diners each time. Diners get a front-row counter seat to watch Takamasa handcraft each onigiri – together with the minimal Japanese interior, Onigiri Gon offers an intimate, izakaya-style atmosphere.

Although the space is small, the menu is rather extensive – with more than 20 different toppings at various price tiers.

Starting at $4.90, toppings include ume and konbu. The $5.90 tier offers a wide variety of proteins, such as sake (salmon flakes) and spicy tori kara (spicy chicken karaage). It’s followed by the $6.90 tier with more unique fillings such as hotate wasabi (soy wasabi-marinated sashimi scallop) and unagi kabayaki.

The premium selection includes ikura at $10.90, as well as otoro zuke (soy-marinated bluefin fatty tuna) and wagyu sukiyaki, both priced at $12.90 each. All of these toppings can be added on for an extra cost between $1.50 to $5.50.

Diners can opt for their onigiri set meals (from $13.90), in which they can choose two onigiri from the $4.90 price tier. The sets are served with miso soup and a choice of pickles.

Onigiri Gon is open from Monday to Saturday 11:30am-4pm, closed on Sundays at 190 Middle Rd, #01-18 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979

Bangkok’s viral banana cake Bake It Babe opens in Singapore on Desker Road

Three Chinese dessert spots in Singapore we’ve been loving recently, and what to order when you visit