Sohonke Mehariya Shingu Honten

Mehari-zushi, oval-shaped rice balls wrapped in pickled takana, has been a popular soul food in the Nanki area around Shingu City for a long time. It is said that it was originally a staple in the lunch boxes of people working in the mountains and by the sea. It has gained popularity as a convenience food in recent years due to its wild flavor, a combination of pickled takana and rice, and its beautiful appearance that does not lose its shape even after a long time.

There are various theories about the name’s origin, but the most popular one is that it was called “Mehari (eyes wide open)” because people were surprised by its flavor and size. Soy sauce is commonly used to flavor rice, but there are many variations depending on the restaurant, such as using vinegar or pickled plums as ingredients.

Sohonke Mehariya was founded in 1962 and is known for being the first to commercialize Mehari-zushi. The main restaurant is in Shingu, and another branch is in front of JR Wakayama Station. Their unique feature is adding chopped pickled takana stems in the rice and flavoring it with a secret soy sauce-based sauce. Note that the Mehari-zushi are made by hand with hot rice after each order is placed, so you can enjoy warm Mehari-zushi like nowhere else. The flavor will be absorbed and changed if you let them rest for a while. You may want to eat some of it in the restaurant and take some out to enjoy a different flavor.

The Otameshi set (1,350 yen), which includes Mehari-zushi, kushikatsu (fried pork on sticks) and tonjiru (pork miso soup), is recommended. Mehari-zushi (4 for 640 yen) can be taken out.