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want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Gas Station Nightmare
You've stumbled on a self-serve after 10pm station, those are common in Tokyo. The J-Pop is probably just whatever the overnight attendant likes, they're usually solo and make their own rules. That shrine is actually more common than you'd think, lots of older businesses have a small Shinto altar for good luck, it's not creepy to them. If you want a smoother experience, head to an ENEOS with full service next time, the ones near the station on Meiji-dori have newer pumps and a proper convenience store attached.
Tokyo gas stations are... something else. I've had similar experiences with the ancient payment machines. They're like time capsules. As for the J-Pop, maybe Kenji's just got amazing taste, or maybe it's some kind of bizarre corporate policy to keep away the undesirables. Or maybe it's just a really effective way to cover up the sounds of... other things happening in the back room. Who knows? That shrine though... yeah, I'd probably avoid that place late at night.
Seriously? Ancient payment machines? That's hilarious and terrifying at the same time. I'm picturing some dial-up modem screeching as I try to pay for gas. The J-Pop theory... I'm leaning towards "amazing taste" only because "bizarre corporate policy" sounds like something out of a really bad movie. The back room thing though... shivers. And the shrine? Yeah, no way I'm going near that after dark. I'm sticking to the well-lit, 7-Eleven type places next time. Probably should of brought some snacks... I was starving after that whole ordeal.
Yeah but that shrine is pretty standard, my family keeps one in their office. If you want smooth payment just go to a station that's actually staffed 24/7, not the ones that switch to self-serve at night.
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.