Any North American has those memories of long road trips with the family, stopping in at a convenience store on the side of the road and eating some sad-looking sandwiches or stale bags of chips. But if we were kids in Japan, our experience would have been MUCH different. Convenience stores in Japan are a wonder. They are a mecca of some of the best food for low prices I’ve found anywhere in the world. Before various trips to Japan, people would always ask me, “isn’t Japan expensive?” And while there are some aspects of travelling in Japan which are costly, food is definitely something you can do on the cheap.
One of the ways to do so is to eat at convenience stores or konbins as they are nicknamed in Japan. While this might sound unappetizing, you need to TRUST ME and find out for yourself how delicious convenience stores in Japan really are.
If you’ve never been to a Japanese convenience store before you want to look out for one of these three names either: FamilyMart, 7-Eleven and Lawson. There are many other smaller chains but these are reliably the best options to find the most outstanding food options!
Since these are such large national chains most have comprehensive English labelling on a lot of their products. So even if you can’t read the package, you can check the white printed sticker label. These have listed the English ingredients so you can better understand what’s inside.
Download my Japan Konbini Checklist to help find all my favourite items. It’s a fun way to make a challenge out of your adventures.
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner (or even just snack time) there is always the perfect thing to enjoy! So dine on!
While I do love going to the local coffee shop for your morning brew, you’d be amazed to find how incredible Japanese convenience store coffee is! Usually, right near the front of the store or beside the counter, you’ll find these large, self-serve coffee bars. You can get everything from a black coffee to a steamed latte at a FRACTION of the cost of those fancy cafes. They even have pre-packed cups of ice for your iced coffee if that’s your favourite way to enjoy your morning brew. I was addicted to these when we came in the summer. The coffee was shockingly smooth and not in the least bit bitter so it can perfectly be enjoyed over ice.
One of the popular things which Japanese people seem to love is coffee in a can. Canned coffee was invented in the 60s and a quick and convenient way to start your day. It was invented by Ueshima Coffee Co and started off mainly being served from vending machines all over the country (which is still a popular way to find it today). The coffee became so beloved that you can find it pretty much anywhere these days not just in vending machines. Konbinis have entire fridges and shelves dedicated just to the canned coffee. They come both hot and cold in as many flavours and blends as you can imagine. Canned coffee is definitely not my favourite of the konbini options but a must-try at least once if you’re visiting Japan.
In select Lawson stores, you’ll also find a new feature called Machi café. This is Lawson’s own version of the McCafe. These shops sell exclusive, premium brews but at the same low prices you’re used to. They are still self-serve (as most Japanese people prefer the direct nature of self-serve), but the quality and variety are slightly more complex. They are also served in some of the most beautifully designed cups, which rotate throughout the season. You can get regular coffee, but they also have unique specialties like roasted green tea lattes, coffee jelly, jasmine lattes and more!
If coffee isn’t your thing, then fear not, the konbini still has plenty to offer you. If you’re a tea drinker, you’ve stepped into paradise. Lining the store’s shelves and fridges are dozens upon dozens of teas in easy to carry to-go bottles. They have cold tea in the fridge section, but there is also a hot counter for the brewed teas in bottles. Japan seems to sweeten their tea quite a bit, so if you’re looking for one without too much sugar, be sure to check the labels and sugar content. While green tea is doubtlessly the most popular flavour you can also find milk teas and unique flavours like barley and jasmine.
If caffeine is your sworn enemy, you have GOT to try one of the many yogurt or smoothie drinks they have instore. These mini cups are beautifully packaged and just sweet enough to feel like a treat but not too sweet to feel like you can’t indulge in some pastries later. Some of these even come with tapioca balls in the bottle, which feels like a breakfast bubble tea.
While Japan doesn’t have a staple breakfast food, a fantastic pastry item I discovered while pouring through the shelves are Mochifuwa Pancakes. These are pre-filled with syrup and butter and gush out once you take a bite. You get two pancakes per package, and they are insanely moist! They are such a great breakfast item to grab to eat as you go or to throw in your bag for a brunch-time snack. You can also try the famous dorayaki pancake, which is the same pastry but filled with red bean paste instead of syrup.
Ok, now, don’t get me wrong, recommending an egg salad sandwich from a convenience store anywhere else in the world might seem like a death wish. But Egg Salad Sandwiches in Japan are one of the most fantastic food items in the country. Honestly, if I could choose just five things to eat in Japan, this would make a list! Foodie legend Anthony Bourdain himself is coined as saying they are “unnatural, inexplicable and delicious.” The bread used in all konbini sandwiches is soft as a pillow and correctly served with the crusts cut off.
The actual egg salad is creamy beyond belief. They make sure to remove a lot of the egg whites from the dish, making it less healthy, but it sure makes it taste better! These are the definition of umami and I’m not ashamed to say I ate one every morning! There is much discussion about who makes the best egg salad sandwich and I think everyone has their own preference, mine is Lawson but let me know what’s yours!
If egg sandwiches aren’t your bag, you need to try one of the sweet cream sandwiches. These are perfect as a gourmet breakfast option. Cream sandwiches are served inside the same fluffy white bread but are filled with various fresh fruit and light as a feather whipped cream. There are even seasonal specialties depending on the time of year. The strawberries and custard version is a favourite for Valentine’s Day. But my personal top pick is the blueberries and cream.
The classic breakfast food for many Japanese people is Onigiri. Onigiri is a rice ball formed into a triangle and traditionally wrapped in nori (seaweed). The nori wrapping provides a great cover so your hands don’t get covered in sticky rice. The rice ball is filled with various flavours—everything from tuna, mayo and shrimp, egg and pickled plum. The pickled plum flavour is meatless and an excellent option for vegans. While being vegan in Japan might be more difficult, it’s definitely not impossible and this is a fantastic choice for vegan eating. My personal favourite variety is the Mentaiko. Mentaiko translates to “spicy cod roe.” It’s not too spicy but has the perfect salty kick to get things started in the morning.
Despite their thin stature, Japanese people LOVE sweets. Walking into a konbini, you are immediately overwhelmed by the giant aisles FULL of pastries. Many of the pre-packaged sweets are still super fresh and brought in daily from mega bakeries. One of the traditional items to grab for breakfast is a melon pan (aka “melon bread”). There is no real melon in melon bread. It’s named as such for the hard texture on the top of the soft bun, which resembles a melon’s skin.
If you would prefer a hot pastry, head to the counter to pick up one of the freshly made donuts. These darling creations are so soft and airy they almost melt in your mouth. Donuts are hugely popular in Japan and although there are lots of donut shops, the ones in the konbinis are honestly just as good!
If you’re coming to Japan, you need to be ready to eat your weight in ramen. And while there is no competition with the freshly made noodles at local ramen shops, the sheer variety and low-cost instant-ramen options are hard to beat at the konbini. Just walk into the store and down the ramen aisles. Yes, sometimes there is more than one aisle dedicated only to instant-ramen. But don’t worry, you won’t have to trek back to your hotel to get hot water. Every konbini has a hot water station near the front door. You can use their electric boiling water dispensers to make your instant ramen. There are also microwaves should that be required. The ramen station also has everything you need to eat your meal, from chopsticks to spoons and even tables and chairs should you need to eat right there and then.
To really jazz up your instant-ramen, head to the fridges at the back of the store, where you can find a myriad of side dishes to add to your lunch. One of my favourite things to add to my ramen is a soft boiled egg. These can be purchased for 60 yen and plopped right into your soup. Bamboo shoots and bean sprouts are another great addition to upgrade your ramen. They also lots of different kinds of wakame (seaweed), both pickled, dried and fresh to add in there. You can throw pre-cooked meat, fish, pretty much whatever your heart desires to make your own custom ramen!
A great side dish for lunch is the Chinese steamed buns that you can find at the front of the store. These come with fillings like pork, spicy curry, bean paste, Thai shrimp, even pizza! Pizza might sound weird but trust me, the Frankenstein creation is surprisingly delicious! These are little hot pockets of heaven and make for a great lunch on the go.
One of the most simple and yet delicious lunches you can have is a Tonkatsu sandwich. Tonkatsu is a pork cutlet, which is literally sandwiched between two slices of that iconically soft bread, shredded cabbage and a thin layer of Japanese mayo. You can choose to warm this up in the microwave or just eat it right out of the bag. Either way, stunningly delicious!
If you’re looking for a light dessert, head to the freezer section for some ice cream. If you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll really need one of these refreshing desserts. And it’s the perfect thing to cool down with after all that hot ramen. I’m quite partial to the Yukimi Daifuku, which are a pair of delicious mochi ice creams that come in a variety of flavours. There is always a little section of minature Haagen-Dazs ice creams, often with unique flavours found only in Japan. They had sakura flavoured ice cream when we were there, and it was divine!
Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention Choco Monaka! This is Japan’s answer to the ice cream sandwich. Instead of a cookie, the ice cream and filling is smothered inside a light and crispy monaka wafer. These are super cheap, at only 140 yen a piece!
As the perfect entry to your dinner at the konbini, start off with traditional Japanese comfort food, Oden. Oden originated as a Japanese-style food during the Edo period. The dish starts with a richly flavoured soup, and different ingredients are added to it. This adds more flavour and texture to the soup. Unlike other soups, you can actually pick and choose what items are added into your oden, making it a personalized experience. You can choose from things like fish cakes, grilled meat, daikon rashies, hard-boiled eggs, deep-fried tofu coin purses and seasonal veggies. Oden is a favourite food to eat during the colder winter months, but it is on offer all year round.
Karaage (aka deep-fried chicken) is a classic Japanese dish which you’ll find at all convenience stores. Although you can get karaage everywhere Lawson‘s does it best! They serve their Karaage in both regular and spicy nuggets, but let’s face it, if you want the premium version, you go for the spicy! Lawson’s brand is not only the most delicious (in my personal opinion), but their packaging with that cute little chick is adorable!
In addition to Karaage, Japanese convenience stores have introduced hot Yakitori in the front counter. Yakitori is another traditional Japanese dish. Yakitori are skewered meats, placed on bamboo stick, that are grilled over a charcoal fire. Once finished cooking they are topped with either salt or tare sauce. These are simple and tasty and another excellent starter for dinner.
One of the best ways to enjoy a well-rounded dinner is with a Bento. Bentos have been enjoyed in Japan since the early 16th century. The word bento translates to “packed meal.” The bento selection in convenience stores is immense. They always have the traditional ones, which generally contain some steamed rice, a side of fresh fish or tempura, seasonal vegetables and a small dessert like dried fruit or mochi. There are also complete hot bentos you can get like soba noodles or curry and rice. There are so many different options, but in general, you can try whatever catches your fancy. But avoid anything like Italian spaghetti or other European or American meals. Stick to the local goods.
One of the most beautiful and uniquely flavoured desserts sold in convenience stores are Mont Blancs. These desserts are little cakes with chestnut cream inside topped with the iconic stringy layers of whipped cream. They come in all different seasonal flavours throughout the year, so there is always something new to try! My favourite had to be the sakura & cherry mochi with red bean paste for springtime. As beautiful to look at as it was yummy to eat!
Another one of my favourite colourful desserts is the konbini parfaits. Parfaits are an iconic Japanese dessert. I’m not exactly sure why it became so popular, but my best guess is that it is because they are so colourful and exciting to look at! Even the konbini, parfaits are gorgeously created with layers of ice cream or yogurt, fruit, cookies and cream.
To finish off your dinner, grab a fancy nightcap. Konbinis have EVERYTHING. They are a verified liquor store. Everything from beer, sake, wine and hard liquor – they have it all. And in the most unique flavours and from brands from all over Japan. Even if you don’t drink, they sell tasty non-alcoholic beer. Same great taste but none of the side effects!
Last but not least, grab yourself a vitamin drink for the morning after! It’s especially great to cure hangovers, but they sell various different ones that can “cure” anything from stress to jetlag! If you can’t read the labels (although google translate is a great help with that), just grab whichever ones are highlighted as best sellers or look at what the locals are buying.
I really hope you enjoyed this foodie guide to the best things to eat at Japanese convenience stores! Remember, you can always download our Konbini Checklist to carry with you as you travel across Japan! Let me know in the comments what your favourite konbini food is or any which you can’t wait to try!
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