For me to drink anything more than a beer out of an American convenience store – or in Berlin, a Spätkauf (late night shop) – is very unusual. OK, maybe a Reese’s peanut butter cup, if I’m feeling indulgent.
But to actually EAT food from inside a 7Eleven? Day-old hotdogs? Microwave burritos? Please! I have some standards!
But convenience stores in Asia – Lawson’s, Family Mart, Mini Stop and the international granddaddy of convenience stores, 7Eleven – is intriguing, if not exactly haute cuisine.
I am currently in Saigon, where convenience stores are even more ubiquitous than they are in Kyoto, which is really saying something. But I started collecting photos of foods in Kyoto, so I’ll note that while Saigon adds the chain GS25 – which offers a number of excellent locally-made drinks based on interesting fruit and teas – most of this will focus on foods available in Japan.
It’s not, for the most part, fresh food – I would still be hesitant to buy anything much more complicated than a pork bun – if one is on the go, or on a budget, the packaged food available in convenience stores is pretty spectacular. At the very least, one can do a little cultural deep dive without chowing down on snails, chicken feet or balut (fertilized duck eggs) in Saigon – or the dreaded (by me) Japan “snack” natto.
I stopped by a 7Eleven last week, as I often do, and went a little wild with my shopping. Given that nearly everything I looked at was in the 75-300 Yen ($.50-$2) range), I felt little need to constrain myself. So I didn’t.
Although there are a number of good desserts – I found an amazing chocolate “cake” that could make me give up Reese’s forever – but the choices here go well beyond the classic “Do I get the Twinkie or the chocolate donut?” choice. “Ham and cheese sandwich or microwave burrito?” is a choice, it’s true, but so is aged cod roe and potato salad (pictured) or even some animal parts that you’re not going to see anywhere in a US grocery.
What follows are just a few of the more intriguing choices I found in just one 7Eleven:
Now, I personally prefer tongue when it’s called “Lengua,” but honestly, a meat by any other name would feel as soft. It wasn’t as good as you’d get in a proper Mexican restaurant, but as a snack, it was just slightly chewier, and had that distinctive tongue feel, as it were.
Or perhaps you’re more in the mood for…gizzards? Maybe charcoal-grilled? I haven’t had them, but I like the packaging…
I can hear my vegan friend (I stay clear of those people for the most part) saying, “No no NO!!!” Veggies, please! And OK, well, bonito broth isn’t quite vegan, but…perhaps an exception can be made? Surely, seaweed and tofu make up for a little fish broth?
And while I’m sure that there are some preservatives, and probably some sugar, and perhaps too much salt in all of these, on their face, they are remarkably healthier as well as tastier choices than ANYTHING one might find in an American convenience store.
7Elevens in Saigon offer onigiri (rice balls), too, but the Home of the Onigiri (Japan, not 7Eleven) still wins on sheer variety of choices.
And yes, there are vegetarian options, though the Japanese – who do amazing things with vegetables – don’t seem very doctrinaire about animal vs. plant products.
Or pumpkins? Pumpkins are widely used in other countries, including Germany, it’s a shame that most Americans limit them to pie filling…
This one didn’t draw me – the word “gristles” just does make me want to chow down – but I am willing to bet I’d be surprised. I mean, I haven’t had anything in Japan that didn’t taste good - again, apart from natto!
And of course, there’s dessert, chocolate being a big favorite in Japan, as it is nearly everywhere. But there are also a lot matcha (green tea) flavored candies, and I take full advantage of those whenever possible. I even forgo chocolate on occasion.
Didn’t try the chocolate corn puffs…but how could they not be delicious?
Or if you want to get a bit fancier (oh, I did!), this was a tasty confection, for less than $2.
And honestly, these were just a few of the choices. I have a lot of pictures, but Substack files fill up quickly. I may post a few more, but at least this gives you an idea of what’s available. Now I’m off for dinner – at a proper restaurant. I may have to do some photos of real food while I’m here.
In the meantime…onward!
Speaking of Japanese convenience stores....
https://petapixel.com/2024/04/26/town-to-make-mt-fuji-view-worse-because-of-misbehaving-tourists/
I admire your lifestyle and your ability to eat such a variety of food. So not me but I have a wonderful time reading about your adventures😘