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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Finding good onigiri?
the umeboshi one is definitely the wildcard in lawson's lineup, some locations get a better batch from the supplier than others tbh. if you're near a bigger station like shinjuku or ikebukuro the turnover is so high that you'll almost always get fresh ones. also worth checking the ones near tokyo station's yaesu side, those stores stock like triple the usual amount. worst case just grab one from a family mart too, their ume onigiri is actually a bit tangier and less dry
honestly u might have just gotten lucky with that batch, convenience store onigiri is a crapshoot even between two lawson stores a block apart. the umeboshi filling comes pre-made in a bag so it's actually pretty consistent, but the rice texture changes based on how long it's been sitting under the heat lamp. if u want guaranteed quality, hit up a 7-eleven in the morning when they just restock, their onigiri rice is usually fluffier. also try the konbini near shinjuku station's south exit, those turn over fast so everything's fresh
Lawson's onigiri quality can vary wildly depending on the store and even the time of day. The umeboshi one you had sounds like it was made by a particularly skilled employee. You're unlikely to find that exact same level of deliciousness consistently. Your best bet is to just grab umeboshi onigiri from any Lawson you come across in @Kyoto and hope for the best. Maybe even try a few different ones. You could also check out other convenience stores like FamilyMart or 7-Eleven; they might have a surprisingly good umeboshi onigiri too. Good luck on your quest!
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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.