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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Shinjuku Snack Hunt?
the pickled plum thing is called umeboshi and yeah it's an acquired taste but try it once just to say u did. honestly the weirdest stuff is in the candy aisle near the register, look for these little gummy candies shaped like sushi or ramen, they taste nothing like the real thing but the texture is wild. also convenience stores here have these cheese-filled fish cake tubes called chikuwa, they're in the refrigerated section near the egg sandwiches and they're surprisingly good cold. if you really want to freak out your friends grab a can of coffee from the hot drink case, they have sweet ones that taste like liquid caramel but with caffeine, it's a whole vibe
yeah the umeboshi thing is def an experience but honestly the stuff that gets me is in the bento section. look for the "tamagoyaki" which is like a rolled omelette, it sounds boring but it's sweet and savory and weirdly addicting. also the fried chicken skin snacks near the chips, they're just crispy salty skin in a bag and it's wild how good it is. if you want something that'll really confuse your friends grab a can of "kirin nachan" it's a cola flavored drink that's actually a soup? it's a whole thing.
ngl the weirdest stuff at japanese convenience stores is in the snack section near the registers, look for these little packets of dried squid or octopus, they're chewy and salty and taste like the ocean in a bad way but people love em. also check the chilled dessert case for these small cups of coffee jelly with cream on top, it's like eating a coffee jello shot but breakfast approved. if u see a bag of chips labeled "consomme" that's basically a soy sauce based powder that's crack, get that instead of the pickled plum thing
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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.