UniGirl: A Hidden Gem for Authentic Onigiri in Orlando

This is the talk of the community lately. Been a mission to find the time to come here before they sell out. First come first serve. When it's gone it's GONE and they close shop for the day. Located in Tien Hung market along with BahnMi boi and KaiKai, Uni girl really holds its weight here. For shop hours you need to check their Instagram story the night before. I got here 5 minutes early and there was already a substantial line forming (great sign) by the time 12:00pm rolled around the line was almost out the door and by 12:13 while waiting in line a few items were already selling out, crazy! What you see is what you get. The onigiri rack sits up front with all the flavors for the day. Seeming to range around 3-6 dollars. I got 4 onigiri, the flavor of the day which was Beef Sukiyaki, One of the most popular, Spicy miso crab, a more traditional miso salmon and then fried chicken flavor. With tip it totalled out around 22 dollars. 22 dollars for onigiri? I've spent worse at Conventions before, and the quality here blows that out of the water. My flavor rankings are probably 1st place Fried chicken. 2nd beef sukiyaki 3rd spicy miso crab 4th miso salmon. I didn't expect to love the fried chicken one MORE than the spicy miso crab. I LOVE crab. But the flavor and sauce and texture just hit right. And the flavors and textures in the beef sukiyaki were phenomenal. Tender beef, onions, and sweet sauce and prominent shiso leaf. Very good. The miso crab fell short for me because I tasted more of a tangy citrus flavor than "miso" and at 6 a pop being one of their more expensive onigiri, the amount of crab was lacking. BUT! it was REAL crab. So that's nice. The miso salmon ranked last not on anything bad it's just a very simple basic onigiri. All 4 were very good. I highly recommend coming here a few minutes early and eating your onigiri as soon as you get them so your nori doesn't get too soggy. Glad to finally make it here. Great quality food. Fast service, friendly and knowledgeable service and clean and efficient set up. No complaints.

Tucked away inside an enclosed marketplace, this little booth is a true hidden gem. Around 5 PM, the place really comes alive—packed with people who clearly know where the good eats are. The setup is super cute and gives off major Japan vibes, like you’ve stepped into a bustling side street in Tokyo. Seating is very limited, so it’s best for grab-and-go. I tried both the shrimp and beef, and let me tell you—the shrimp stole the show. It was bursting with flavor and cooked perfectly. The sticky rice was shaped in such a way that it reminded me of the kind you see in anime—adorable and nostalgic at the same time. One downside: parking can be a nightmare during peak hours. The lot is small, tight, and getting in or out can be a bit of a hassle. But honestly, the food is worth the trouble. If you’re nearby and craving something flavorful, fast, and a little whimsical—this spot is definitely worth checking out.

I arrived on a Sunday just before opening and waited about 20 minutes before arriving at the counter. Considering there were at minimum 50 people in line ahead of me, I had no problem with this and actually consider this a fantastic wait time. The staff was very friendly, patient with a first-timer, and offered eight or nine flavors of fresh onigiri to choose from. They were being made and sealed in the back as quickly as they were being sold! The rice was fresh, soft, and perfectly complimented each of the fillings I tried. I'm looking forward to bringing my husband!

We went in the afternoon this time, and it was not that bad; only a couple of people were in line. I tried the fried oysters and the fried squid. Both of them were so good with their sauces. Get there early because five minutes before they opened, the line wrapped around to the curry place. But they were really good! I tried a beef sukiyaki; it was sweet, and it was definitely my favorite. I also got the eel, shrimp tempura, and conbini fried chicken ones. The eel one was pretty good, and the shrimp was good, too. The chicken one was a little spicy.

UPDATE 12/29/24: ok, so we’ve now eaten here at least 5 times since our original review, so I feel like I’ve given them ample time to get things going since they first opened. Each time we’ve been back it seems to have gotten a little better. Today, they offered something that immediately caught my attention, which was a sign that read “Hokkaido Uni & ikura” the kind girl at the front said “sir I just wanted to let you know it’s 24 for this one” and I immediately replied I don’t care about that, I want it. Additionally, that was the one onigiri that the chef only makes fresh, rather than all the others which are premade and set out. Now, I’ve only been to Hokkaido once, but I remember 4 things about Hokkaido, it’s cold, it’s windy, and the crab and Uni are MFing good AF. After tasting this, I decided to grant this place all 5 stars. The Uni was silky, buttery and sweet. The Ikura (one of my favorite things in life) burst in my mouth like sweet/salty explosions of delicious umami, coating my soul in flavor. (Jk I don’t have a soul) I can now recommend this place to everyone. Original review: (3 stars) A solid disappointment for the first dedicated onigiri venue in Orlando. Please allow me to start by saying that this review reflects the 2nd day of opening for this restaurant, and we’ve got to assume (hopefully) that things improve. So I’m someone well travelled around the world, and definitely so in Japan and SE Asia. I’m from Oahu Hawaii where Japanese food dominates local food culture. When I heard this place was going to open, I was excited, but kept my expectations tempered. Upon attempt 1 at trying this place it was a fail as the line wrapped around every inch of the venue, and the place was extraordinarily poorly organized, plus the parking situation was abysmal. Today was attempt 2, and we succeeded with only a 30 minute wait despite coming only 15 minutes prior to opening. Parking was a little better today as well. Place has very cute decor, and is modeled after owner’s precious shiva inu. Staff are extremely polite, and seem to be working as quickly as they can, and I expect that only to improve as the business has more time under its belt. We purchased 8 onigiri at a cost average of 4 per piece, which is reasonable since there are no real alternatives in the area to this venue. Presentation is fine, as onigiri is not ever intended to be fine dining and is meant as a quick and easy bite to eat. We ordered onigiri that included unagi, crab, shrimp tempura, tuna mayo, miso salmon. The pieces are on the small side, which is also fine. I prefer this to some of the unwieldy jumbo onigiri I’ve had in places in Tokyo, Bangkok, and even Texas. When it comes to onigiri, small to moderate sized pieces are best. When it comes to flavor I regret to say that the rice itself has very minimal flavor compared to what I’m used to. The protein fillings were all fine, but I was quite let down by the quality and taste of the actual rice balls . My wife shared the same sentiments. Overall, I’d say that at this point in time, this restaurant isn’t on par with onigiri I’ve had at even 7-11 in Japan, not to say that they won’t improve as time goes on. In fact, I’m confident they will. Stay tuned for an update later on to see if it’s any better or not.

Many reviewers talk about the long wait at UniGirl but this was not the case for us. They had an assembly line that seemed like a well oiled machine. The cashier was also very friendly and funny to chat with. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area.

This yummy spot is part of an Asian food hall. Multiple vendors putting out some delish fresh food. UniGirl has various onigiri options available including tuna, salmon, beef, and even doggie treats. Tried one of each flavor and everything impressed.

This place has been on my list for a while now, and it jumped to the top of the best after I experienced the best restaurant in town, Sorekara. Sister restaurants, along with the best noodles in town, Zaru. Not only related to greatness, but internationally recognized now on the Michelin Guide. I had to come check it out. This place takes up a really gorgeous piece of real estate in the Mills Market. Natural looking wooden counters, curtains reminiscent of a Japanese izakaya, just a cool looking spot. In the hour we waited for them to open, the team working hard the whole time, making their signature onigiri. Service was dynamite. Very nice people, many of whom I recognized from Sorekara. Huge smiles on their face, friendly, warm service. The best service in town. As for the food, we only got to try a couple of things, because we tried things from other stalls in the Market. But I wanted to grab one of each and go to town. They all sounded really good. I ended up going with their special, a Hokkaido Uni Onigiri with salmon roe and shiso leaf. It just sounded so good. And it was good! Awesome, white sticky rice Ocean umami to the max with the uni. Fun, salty pops of flavor from the roe. And the slightly minty herbaceous from the shiso. This thing was decadent. Such a delight. Overall, I loved this place, and with how easy it is to grab and go with their normal menu, I see myself coming back here often. Thanks, Uni. See you soon!