A new Japanese street food restaurant has opened its doors in the emerging pedestrian mall of Florentin, bringing authentic onigiri to Tel Aviv's food scene. Onigiri-ya, which opened recently, is making waves with its handcrafted Japanese rice balls, offering a fresh take on Japanese street food.

The restaurant, founded by Yoshi Sato and his wife Sharon, brings 16 years of Japanese culinary expertise to the neighborhood. Sato, who previously worked at Sushi Bar Basel and in the kitchens of Microsoft and Apple, has finally realized his dream of opening his own place serving authentic Japanese street food.

What sets Onigiri-ya apart is its focus on handmade onigiri, a popular Japanese street food that's different from sushi. The menu features several varieties including: - Corn onigiri - Salmon and avocado onigiri - Tuna onigiri - Mozzarella onigiri wrapped in sesame (toasted for a unique cheesy texture) - Vegetarian onigiri with vegetables

Prices range from 21-24 NIS per piece, with the rice balls being notably generous in size. The restaurant also offers additional items like bean noodle salad (35 NIS) and Japanese chicken curry (54 NIS) or vegetarian curry (42 NIS).

The space is designed with a clean, minimalist Japanese aesthetic, featuring traditional Japanese woodblock prints on the walls, handcrafted by Sato himself. The restaurant is currently open Sunday-Thursday 11:30-20:00, Friday 11:00-14:00, and Saturday 11:00-19:00.

Located at Florentin 36, Onigiri-ya represents the first sign of renewal in the area's emerging pedestrian mall, which has recently been painted green and outfitted with seating areas for visitors to enjoy their food.

For those looking to try something different from the usual sushi offerings, Onigiri-ya provides an authentic taste of Japanese street food culture in the heart of Florentin.