All Our Favorite Musubi in Honolulu

Humble to loaded, white or brown, these rice balls fuel our foodie team at all hours of the day.

August 14, 2025

Frolic Hawai‘i Team,

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Gohan

If musubi made to order with fresh, warm rice make you swoon, those at Gohan may knock you out. It’s the toppings and fillings—grilled saba, aromatic and juicy inside its rice cocoon, and pliant, warm unagi, still roll-your-eyes good eaten hours later—that make the difference. No dried-out salmon flakes or lonely umeboshi fillings here. Sit at the counter if you can, to watch creations come together. Prices run a dollar or two higher and you might have to wait in line, but it’s worth it. —Mari Taketa, Frolic Hawai‘i editor

I’m with Mari—Gohan’s musubi are the best in town. And my favorite is the yuzu ikura. It’s everything that makes this special, the rice quality, crisp nori (packaged separately) and generous ikura. Unlike most musubi, where one isn’t enough for a meal, this one is more substantive and filling. Gohan in general is a special place, where even simple things like musubi and handrolls are deliberately elevated. —Diane Seo, HONOLULU editorial director

Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1314 S. King St., Mō‘ili‘ili, @gohan.hawaii

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Komedokoro M’s

I’ve covered musubi in Honolulu for the last six years, and Komedokoro M’s has remained at the top of my list for most of that time. My fave is the chicken and gobo musubi, a take on an earthy kamameshi. Komedokoro M’s might have a challenging parking situation and limited hours, which would prevent most from seeking it out, but for us tenacious few, it’s an oasis for oishii onigiri. —Thomas Obungen, HONOLULU special projects editor

Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eaton Square, 438 Hobron Lane #107, Waikīkī, @komedokoromshonolulu

Photos: Andrea Lee

Mai Musubi

I’m not big on rice, but I’ll make an exception for a really good onigiri, and I’ve only had really good ones at Mai Musubi. My go-tos are the crunchy plum—dotted with ume bits throughout the rice, which adds more flavor and texture to every bite—and the mentaiko mayo, with its creamy umami and a touch of spice. But no matter what I get, the rice ratio is perfect; every grain feels like it’s meant to be there. —Andrea Lee, HONOLULU digital editor

My, oh, Mai Musubi has MY favorite musubi! You could do a quick grab-and-go, but for me, the made-to-order unagi musubi is my #1 and could be yours too! Savory, sweet and rich bites of unagi wrapped in premium rice and nori to quickly nourish you while waiting at the red light. Make Mai Musubi yours! —Christine Labrador, HONOLULU senior art director

Tuesday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 614 Cooke St. #103, Kaka‘ako, maimusubi.com, @maimusubi

Photo: Gregg Hoshida

Musubi Café Iyasume

When it comes to musubi, I’m a sucker for the truly humble versions. In my top three are ume, salmon and the ever-popular tuna mayo. In Hawai‘i, no one does it better than the Kāhala Mall branch of Musubi Café Iyasume. There is one specific reason for this: salt. The tuna and mayo mixture is well-seasoned, which helps elevate the salad and rice with every bite. It’s so good that I beeline it there every time I’m in the mall (which is pretty often). I’ve tested it against all the other Iyasume branches on the island, only to conclude the Kāhala branch humbly reigns supreme. —Gregg Hoshida, Frolic

Musubi Café Iyasume! I like to grab a bunch on the way to the beach or games. The salmon and the spicy shrimp tempura are our faves. —Donnie Ford, HONOLULU sales

Multiple locations, @musubi_cafe_iyasume

Nana Musubi

If a musubi shop isn’t milling its own rice, the next best is sourced from The Rice Factory. That’s exactly what Nana Musubi does for their white and brown rice onigiri. The toppings are generous, and chashu mayo with brown rice is my go-to. Not only does it taste like a mini donburi, but it delivers on heft and unique flavor. Add on a sheet of crisp nori for the full experience. Also, if your musubi craving hits after dinner, this might be only spot to get one that hasn’t been sitting all day under a heat lamp. —TO

Daily 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 2250 Kalākaua Ave. B1, Waikīkī, @nanamusubi_waikiki

Photo: Gregg Hoshida

Onigiri Onibe

You see the donabe clay pots when you enter this new Downtown craft musubi shop, but the effect doesn’t hit you until you bite in. Onibe’s donabe rice is exquisite, glossy and sweet with just the right chew. It’s loosely packed into generous triangles slathered with one of dozens of topping choices. Mine is miso beef on shiso, with a side of tonjiru pork miso soup. If you have a few minutes, order your musubi and watch it being made (the rice texture is better than the pre-made versions waiting in baskets), then tuck in at the eight-seat counter. It’s an unexpected respite from workaday Downtown. —MT

Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (soft opening), 921 Alakea St., Downtown, @onigiri_onibee_hawaii

Photo: Brie Thalmann

Paradise Poke

Super simple, but suuuuper ‘ono, a ready-made Kaua‘i-style Goteborg musubi is always my first grab at Paradise Poke. A ball of white furikake rice comes sandwiched between two salty, saucer-like slices of Hormel’s spiced beef and pork salami that’s been pan-fried until crispy around the edges. If you want it, you’ve gotta go early though ‘cause they often sell out by lunch. —Brie Thalmann, HONOLULU managing style editor

Multiple locations, paradisepokenuuanu.com, @paradisepokehi

Yasuda’s Fresh Rice at Marukai

I will go to Marukai just to get the Yasuda’s Fresh Rice tuna mayo onigiri. The rice is amazing, and it comes with a fresh sheet of nori that will be crispy when you eat it. —Aaron Yoshino, staff photographer

Daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., 2310 Kamehameha Highway, Kalihi, @marukaihawaii

Read the rest of the series:

All Our Favorite Pizzas in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Burgers in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Matcha Drinks in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Shave Ices in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Sandwiches in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Fried Chicken in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Cold Noodle Dishes in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Fries in Honolulu