Create meetup in Tokyochevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Finding good onigiri?
Skip the combini entirely for a proper onigiri fix. Head to Onigiri Bongo in Minowa, it's a tiny shop run by an older couple that's been there for decades. They make everything fresh to order, and the fillings change with what's seasonal, so you won't see the same salmon twice. It's about a 10 minute walk from Minowa Station on the Hibiya Line.
If you're near that Lawson and stuck in a salmon rut, try hitting up a 7-Eleven instead. Their onigiri selection actually shifts more noticeably, especially the limited editions tied to whatever season it is. I've spotted things like grilled mackerel with yuzu kosho or even a weird but good sweet soy glazed chestnut one in autumn.
For a total change of pace, there's a place called Tawawa in Ningyocho that does onigiri bento boxes. They use different rice blends depending on the filling, which sounds pretentious but actually makes a difference. It's about five minutes from Ningyocho Station on the Hibiya Line, and they usually have a dozen or so options that swap out weekly.
honestly the daily rotation thing is real but it depends on the specific lawson. the ones near office districts stock the same salmon and tuna mayo all week because that's what sells. if you want variety, try the lawson in a residential area or near a university, they tend to experiment more with seasonal stuff like mentaiko or kombu.
but if you're actually near tokyo station, walk over to the basement floor of Daimaru department store. there's a little counter called Onigiri Asakusa that does these hand-pressed ones with stuff like simmered taro or pickled plum + shiso. they're pricier, like 250 yen each, but the rice is actually warm and the nori stays crisp. way better than any combini mystery.
load 1 more reply
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.