おにぎりカフェ利さく

Tokto, Sendagi. March 2024.

Come here if you want to have an inexpensive light meal in Yanesen - the name for the overlapping Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi neighborhoods. There are lots of take-away onigiri places in Tokyo but Yanesen has several places where you sit for meal with onigiri as the main. Onigiri Risaku is probably one of the best of the bunch.

If you exit Sendagi metro station from the Chiyoda line you are on the area's main street, Shinobazu-dori. Just walk to your right and you will come across the cafe. There may be a morning queue because this is an excellent and inexpensive asa gohan meal. Simply get in the queue. Someone will come out to ask how many in your party, and probably your name. Inside, there is a four seat counter, a two top, and 3 four top tables.

When you enter you see several large brown bags of rice from various farmers. They take their rice seriously. They offer more than two dozen ways to have your onigiri and this is not fast food. Each meal is carefully assembled to order so expect a wait

The onigiri are priced from 180 to 360 yen. A basic onigiri set - there are four options - is only 600 yen. A couple of larger sets with a bowl of rice is 850 yen. At these prices they are very popular.

If you are going to tour the very walkable Yanesen area then this is a sensible start for a mid morning breakfast. You're going to be very happy with the price, atmosphere, and quality of the rice.

Found a discrete breakfast place nearby that serves onigiri. Great set meals at a good price. Probably one of the best miso soup I've ever had that comes with the onigiri. The presentation was beautiful. Loved the typical handwritten menus on the wall with a cute drawn picture.

This place was great! The waitress was super nice and their menu is in English! If we ever are in the area again we will be back. Thank you so much!

Great little onigiri shop in Yanaka, near Nezu station. Went here because almost all other restaurants were closed for the holidays. The atmosphere was very cozy and calm at around 10am, and was perfect for breakfast before exploring the neighborhood. The server was nice and could speak English very well. There were no other tourists besides me.

I ordered the breakfast set menu, and chose to have 2 onigiri with tea. The onigiri were simple, as they all are, but very satisfying and filling. The tea was also very good. It cost 500 yen--a great deal.

Overall, a nice surprise that seems to have remained under the radar. I would definitely return here if I am in the neighborhood again.

I had a nice time here. everything was in english and the waiter spoke very well. The riceballs were great too!