12 Japanese convenience store foods, and what they taste like
Japanese convenience stores, called konbini, sell fresh food that many visitors end up eating every day: rice triangles, soft egg sandwiches, fried chicken, simmered oden and sweet buns. Most of it is mild, savoury or gently sweet. Here are 12 things you will find in almost every store, and what they taste like.
Rice and sandwiches
1. Onigiri おにぎり
A triangle of rice wrapped in crisp seaweed, with a filling in the middle such as tuna mayonnaise, grilled salmon or pickled plum. Mild and comforting; the filling sets the taste. Pickled plum is very sour and salty.
2. Egg sandwich たまごサンド
Soft white bread with a creamy egg mayonnaise filling, crusts removed. Soft, creamy and gently sweet, often a surprise favourite.
3. Inari sushi いなり寿司
Sushi rice packed into pouches of fried tofu that were simmered in a sweet soy broth. Sweet, savoury and juicy.
4. Yakisoba bread 焼きそばパン
A soft hot-dog bun filled with fried noodles in a fruity, savoury sauce. Sweet-savoury and filling: carbohydrates in carbohydrates.
From the hot counter
5. Fried chicken (karaage) 唐揚げ
Bite-size pieces of marinated chicken, deep-fried, sold warm by the counter. Juicy, garlicky and crisp.
6. Oden おでん
A winter favourite: eggs, radish, fish cakes and tofu simmered in a light broth, picked one by one from a pot. Gentle, savoury and warming.
7. Steamed bun (nikuman) 肉まん
A fluffy white steamed bun filled with seasoned minced pork. Soft, slightly sweet dough with a savoury filling.
Bakery and sweets
8. Melon bread メロンパン
A sweet bun with a crackly cookie crust on top, named for its look, not its taste. Sweet, buttery and crunchy on top, soft inside.
9. Custard pudding プリン
A small, wobbly custard pudding with caramel sauce. Sweet, smooth and caramel-rich.
10. Daifuku 大福
A soft ball of rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste, sometimes with a strawberry inside. Chewy, stretchy and gently sweet.
Drinks
11. Bottled green tea 緑茶
Cold green tea, usually without sugar. Grassy, fresh and slightly bitter. Not sweet.
12. Matcha latte 抹茶ラテ
Green tea powder with milk, sold cold in bottles and cups. Creamy, grassy and mildly sweet.
All 12 at a glance
| Food | Taste |
|---|---|
| Onigiri | mild and comforting |
| Egg sandwich | soft, creamy and gently sweet, often a surprise favourite |
| Inari sushi | sweet, savoury and juicy |
| Yakisoba bread | sweet-savoury and filling: carbohydrates in carbohydrates |
| Fried chicken (karaage) | juicy, garlicky and crisp |
| Oden | gentle, savoury and warming |
| Steamed bun (nikuman) | soft, slightly sweet dough with a savoury filling |
| Melon bread | sweet, buttery and crunchy on top, soft inside |
| Custard pudding | sweet, smooth and caramel-rich |
| Daifuku | chewy, stretchy and gently sweet |
| Bottled green tea | grassy, fresh and slightly bitter |
| Matcha latte | creamy, grassy and mildly sweet |
Which of these would you like most?
A list tells you what each one tastes like. Taste10 tells you how much you will enjoy it. Photograph a shelf, a label in Japanese or a whole menu, and see what fits your own taste, with the reason why.
Taste10 is in testing. Want to try it early? Get in touch.
Questions and answers
What should I try first at a Japanese convenience store?
An onigiri with tuna mayonnaise or grilled salmon and an egg sandwich are easy, popular first choices. Fried chicken from the hot counter is a favourite too.
How do I open an onigiri wrapper?
Pull the tab marked 1 down the middle, then pull the two sides off, marked 2 and 3. The seaweed stays crisp because it is kept apart from the rice until you open it.
What is the sour red filling in some onigiri?
Umeboshi, a Japanese pickled plum. It is very sour and salty, and a classic filling that surprises many first-timers.