The world of pastries is constantly evolving, especially when it comes to croissants. In the last two months alone, we've reported on flat croissants, crookies, and even Costco's hotly debated churro-croissant-meets-orange roll concoction. But these sweet treats pale in comparison to the latest mashup that's a delightful fusion of East meets West: the onigiri croissant. This new hotness combines the buttery flakiness of a croissant with the savory fillings of a Japanese onigiri, creating an explosion of flavor and texture that embraces tradition and innovation in equal measure.
Onigiri Croissants Are Slowly Becoming A Global Phenomenon
The onigiri croissant first made waves at Le Levain Bakery in Singapore, but it's quickly becoming a global sensation. At Tenacious Bakehouse in Sydney, crispy combinations include seafood and veggies, octopus wasabi, curry chicken, and spicy tuna and mayo, which TikToker @adrianwidjy calls "super yummy."
@adrianwidjy Finally this is in Sydney! Been wanting this #onigiricroissant or #cronigiri since it went viral in Asia! They have 3 types and super popular so get them early if you want them! #PlacesInSydney #tenaciousbakehouse #koreanbakery #sydneybakery #pastry #croissant #darlinghurst ♬ Bam Yang Gang - BIBI
In Seoul, South Korea, Nudake Sinsa serves up top-rated onigiri croissants with seriously creative flavors. Menu favorites like the Pollack Roe kick traditional Japanese onigiri filling up a notch with the addition of pollack roe cream cheese and pollack roe mayo syrup. Another reported fan favorite is Nudake's Kimchi version, served with bacon and zesty kimchi seasoning. Side note: the brand's animated videos are worth the follow on Instagram alone.
Onigiri Croissants in the U.S.
In the U.S., Cafe W Bakery & Desserts in Flushing, NY, has also embraced this culinary mashup, adding it to their menu of Asian-French fusion delights. Cafe W prefers the term "onioissant." I don't care what you call it - I just call it delicious (obviously), and I can't wait for this trend to make its way to Arizona (yes, we have amazing food here, too!). Cafe W currently has two varieties, each seemingly giving a nod to Eastern and Western influences. Its pollack roe and mayo combination honors the traditional onigiri influence, while the bacon, chive, and cream cheese (how can you go wrong?) version plays to America's love for a smoky, creamy flavor profile.
What Makes the Onigiri Croissant So Good?
If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for all things croissant, but these pint-size bites really have my attention. I want to try each and every flavor mentioned here and love the concept. Is it a little gimmicky? Sure. It's really just a tiny croissant stuffed with endless combinations of creamy deliciousity. But I have to believe that the petite nature of the onigiri croissant offers the perfect filling-to-crunch ratio in just a couple of bites that leave you wanting more. After all, that's the hallmark of a good dish - and this delicious mashup is taking the world by storm one flaky, savory, delicious bite at a time.
