Washoku Guide
Cities/Chicago/Donburi/Onigiri Kororin
Chicago · Donburi · casual

Onigiri Kororin

JapaneseOnigiriRice BallsGrab and GoJapanese Convenience StoreCitywide

Founded in 2020 by Tokyo-born graduate student Yuta Katsuyama, Onigiri Kororin produces authentic konbini-style Japanese rice balls using a machine imported from Japan, now available at more than 60 grocery stores and university campuses across Chicago.

Price
¥
Area
Citywide (60+ store locations)
Since
2020
Owner
Yuta Katsuyama
Onigiri Kororin — authentic japanese restaurant in Chicago, Citywide (60+ store locations)
Plate № 48
Editorial placeholder
About
Onigiri Kororin was born from a simple longing: Yuta Katsuyama, who grew up eating onigiri in Tokyo and came to Chicago for an Illinois Tech graduate program in 2018, couldn't find the convenience-store rice balls he missed. In July 2020, during the pandemic, he launched the business from his personal car — the "Onigiri Shuttle" — delivering freshly made rice balls to parking-lot pickup spots around Chicago. The company name derives from the Japanese folktale "Omusubi Kororin," and the production uses a specialist onigiri machine imported from Japan to achieve the precise rice-packing pressure of traditional konbini onigiri. Flavors blend traditional Japanese fillings (ume, salmon, negi miso) with creative Chicago-inspired combinations (pork belly, corn cheese pepper). Today, Kororin onigiri are available at over 60 retail locations, including University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago campus, and independent grocers throughout the city. Katsuyama was featured by Illinois Tech, ABC7 Chicago, and DePaul's campus newspaper for pioneering the category in Chicago.
Neighborhood & visiting

Onigiri Kororin sits in Citywide (60+ store locations), one of Chicago's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. The house does not publish an online booking link; call ahead to secure a seat, especially on weekends. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional donburi restaurants often close between service periods.

Why it's on Washoku Guide
  • Founded by Tokyo-native Yuta Katsuyama, who imported an authentic onigiri-making machine from Japan to replicate the precise texture of konbini rice balls.
  • The business name comes from the Japanese folktale 'Omusubi Kororin,' reflecting deep personal and cultural connection to the Japanese rice ball tradition.
  • From a single-car delivery startup in 2020 to 60+ Chicago retail locations — the city's first and most widespread authentic Japanese onigiri brand.
  • Featured by Illinois Tech, ABC7 Chicago, and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois as a landmark Chicago Japanese food entrepreneurship story.

Grab-and-go brand with no fixed sit-down restaurant. Products at 60+ Chicago grocery stores. Also offers catering. Founded 2020 from a pandemic-era food startup.

Links
Website →Map →Instagram →

More authentic donburi in Chicago

Other authentic cuisines in Chicago

Browse by cuisine in Chicago:KaisekiSushiTeppanyakiIzakayaYakitoriRamen

Authentic donburi in other cities

Frequently asked

About Onigiri Kororin

Is Onigiri Kororin an authentic japanese restaurant in Chicago?
Yes — Onigiri Kororin is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese in Chicago: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused donburi format.
Where is Onigiri Kororin located?
Onigiri Kororin is located at 135 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, Chicago, USA in the Citywide (60+ store locations) neighborhood.
Do I need a reservation at Onigiri Kororin?
Onigiri Kororin does not publish an online reservation link. Walk-ins may be possible, but for popular donburi restaurants in Chicago we recommend calling ahead.
What is the price range at Onigiri Kororin?
Onigiri Kororin sits in the ¥ price range — typical for japanese of this format in Chicago.
Keep exploring
All Japanese restaurants in Chicago →Donburi in Chicago →Authentic donburi worldwide →All cities →