Thousands of tourists are flocking to the Japanese island of Okinawa to try the famous pork and egg 'sandwiches' from Pork Tamago Onigiri, a restaurant selling over 3,000 handmade 'pork egg onigiri' daily. The dish, described as the latest 'soul food' in Japan, consists of nori seaweed, rice, soft fried eggs shaped in a rectangle, and lightly grilled spam patties.
Owner Katsuaki Kiyokawa was inspired by his mother-in-law after she served him the snack. Dissatisfied with convenience store onigiri options, he opened his first store at Makishi Market in Naha. He has since expanded to two more locations at Naha Domestic Airport and the American Village in Chatan.
Customers can choose from optional add-on ingredients including miso, plum, deep fried fish or shrimp, pork cutlet, stir fried carrot, and tofu. Prices range from ¥280 to ¥450 (about AU$3.90 to $6.25) per rice ball, depending on the ingredients selected.
The local cuisine is exclusive to Okinawa and cannot be found on mainland Japan. Queues stretch out the door daily at all three stores.
