Pork Yankees

Sandwiching savory grilled Spam and fluffy folded omelet inside rice and nori, pork tamago onigiri is a beloved Okinawa classic designed for satisfying, handheld eating. At Pork Yankees in Shinagawa Ward's Koyama neighborhood, the lineup ranges from the straightforward plain style, highlighting the base ingredients, to an array of customized fillings. Diners can pick familiar staples to match their mood, including sweet andansu miso, takana pickled greens, kombu, or spicy pollock roe mayonnaise.

For a heartier meal, the shop turns to more substantial fillings. Highlights include tender, slow-simmered soki spare ribs, a taco-meat option, crispy goya bitter melon tempura, mozuku seaweed tempura, and sweet carrot shirishiri. Each parcel is packed thick enough to make a substantial bite, served wrapped in paper so you can eat straight into the generous layers.

Pairing an order with a light bonito broth soup filled with mozuku seaweed rounds out the meal nicely. Drinks like sanpincha jasmine tea and citrusy shikuwasa juice help keep the finish clean and refreshing.

Counter seating makes dropping in alone for a freshly made rice ball simple and casual. In addition to takeout and delivery options, Pork Yankees offers value set menus designed for sharing across groups.