Top 10 food products to try in a combini in Japan

The combini, convenience stores in Japan, are very convenient and offer a wide range of dishes. But what to choose?

The combini, super convenient convenience store, wide selection of products
Top 10 food products to try in a combini
1- Onigiri
2- Bento
3- Nikuman – Pizza man
4- Karaage
5- Oden
6- Itoen tea drink
7- Melon pan
8- Kit kat
9 – Instant noodles
10 – Ice cream

The combini, super convenient convenience store, wide choice of products

The combini or konbini コンビニ are small convenience stores in Japan that offer many services, such as withdrawing money, paying rent or bills, sending packages… The combini are small but offer a wide range of food and beverage products that change according to the season and the region.

As a tourist or a Japanese resident, you will immediately adhere to this concept because combini are open 24 hours a day and you will find them at least every 100 meters in the big cities. Moreover, the products offered are really good, affordable and typically Japanese.

The combini also have a reading corner, hot drinks, a microwave, cutlery and a kettle to eat instant noodles. As you can see, it’s very practical! You will certainly want to taste everything, so here is a selection of food products to taste absolutely!

Top 10 food products to try in a combini

1- Onigiri

Onigiri are rice balls mixed with various ingredients (fish, furikake (Japanese seasoning), umeboshi (salted plums)…) wrapped with nori seaweed in round or triangular shapes.

I find that the onigiri in combini have a very pleasant taste, the Japanese rice is round and a bit sticky, the seaweed is lightly seasoned and you have the choice in terms of taste. Everything is written in Japanese, but even if you pick randomly, you will never be disappointed. You will recognize them as you go along because on the front they have a different color. Moreover, they are laminated so they are easy to carry for the day. They will make an easy snack to take away as well as the onigirazu, from the onigiri family and the tamago sando that can be found in every combini in the Japanese sandwich department.

2- Bento

bento
Bento are very varied and complete meal trays to take away. You can have Japanese rice with fried schnitzel, sushi platters, noodles or spaghetti bolognese, salads etc… The bento is very convenient and popular, do not hesitate to ask the counter to heat up the dish for you. The vendor will also give you disposable Japanese chopsticks, shoyu soy sauce, wasabi and tissues to wipe yourself.

3- Nikuman – Pizza man

You will find at the counter white and yellow buns kept warm in a machine. The white buns are mostly with meat “nikuman“, some are with sweet red beans “anko“. The yellow ones are pizza man, salty buns with a tasty bolognese sauce inside that looks like a pizza topping!

Feel free to head over to the counter, you’ll see plenty of food items kept warm. The first time I ate them, I loved them right away! At the right temperature, they are soft and delicious. To be enjoyed right away!

4- Karaage

Karaage are fried meat or fish fritters. You can find them at the counter, either hot or in trays. At first sight, we were disappointed because the frying is kept all day long. We thought that the karaage would have softened but not at all this one remains crunchy and delicious! A must try!

5- Oden

Oden is a kind of donut on a skewer dipped in a broth, like a pot au feu. You will usually find them in winter in Japan. You can also find oden with fish, vegetables, tofu… You can also find it in Japanese restaurants as a Japanese fondue called nabe.

6 – The itoen tea drink

Itoen tea drink is typically Japanese, you will find it everywhere. The Japanese accompany it with a meal so why not try it? This drink is not bitter and has a pleasant taste of green tea. It is true that it goes well with bento.

Don’t hesitate to try other Japanese drinks like calpis for example.

7- Melon pan

This time we present you a sweet product : the melon pan. A round bun, light in the mouth and a bit crunchy on the outside. You have several tastes, green tea, cream but what we prefer is plain and slightly sweet! It is a real favorite! By the way, the best ones are in a bakery in the Asakusa district in Tokyo, it is called “Kagetsudo“. Go there, you won’t regret it!

8- Kit kat

It is only in Japan that you will find Kit Kat with the most amazing tastes, with matcha green tea, cherry, strawberry, apple etc… Depending on the combini, the seasons and the prefecture, you will always find different ones.

9 – Instant noodles

In the combini, you will have a large choice of instant noodles. With curry, yakisoba, tempura etc… with ramen, udon, yaki udon… You have something for every taste and a wide choice of Japanese brands!

10 – Ice cream

In summer, combini offers all kinds of ice creams, Italian ice, ice in a jar, popsicles and often by the piece. Moreover, the brand Haagen-dazs proposes in Japan multiple very original tastes (with melon, with mochi, with green tea…) only present in this country.