Pork kimchi (Bongo) onigiri
A home version inspired by the shop filling named above. The shops do not publish their recipes; these quantities are this site's own. This page makes one filling, then shapes and serves it. Start with plain cooked Japanese short-grain rice: rice cooking, hand shaping and all shop fillings →. The filling preparation time below excludes cooking the rice.

Step by step
Filling
1Pork kimchi
high~5 minFor this step
- Pork belly, thinly sliced80 g
- Kimchi, chopped and squeezed80 g
- Sesame oil (pork kimchi)1 tsp
- Cut the pork belly into 2 cm pieces. Fry it in the sesame oil over high heat until it browns, about 2 minutes.
- Add the squeezed kimchi and fry 1 minute more, until the pan is dry. Wet kimchi soaks the rice and the onigiri falls apart. Let it cool.
Shape by hand
2Shape them shop style
~2 min eachFor this step
- Cooked rice, from the onigiri page480–720 g (120 g each)
- Kosher salt (for your hands)a little for each onigiri
- Have the cooked rice ready, covered, and cool it only until comfortable to hold. Wet your hands and rub a little salt over both palms.
- For each onigiri, put about 60 g rice in your palm, make a well and add a heaped tablespoon of filling. Cover with another 60 g rice and gently close the rice around it. Save any extra filling separately.
- Cup the rice from below with one hand. Bend the other hand into a roof, press gently to make a corner, turn a third of a turn and repeat. Keep it loose: press only enough to hold together.
Finish

3Wrap and serve
For this step
- Nori strips4–6
- For the shop-style finish, set a little of the same filling on top so you can see what is inside. Leave the top uncovered by nori.
- Wrap one strip of nori around the base and up the sides just before serving. Eat within the hour while the nori is crisp. The sliced example shows the inside; cutting yours open is optional.
Based on: Hidden Japan Gems — Onigiri Bongo menu · MICHELIN Guide — Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku · Asakusa Yadoroku (official) · Nigihaya, Kyoto (official, Japanese) · Togoshi-ya (official, Japanese)