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Shinjuku Convenience Store Enigma
The Family Mart on Shinjuku Kuyakusho-dori is definitely one of the weirder spots, but it's not really about a secret menu. The real draw is that it's right in the middle of the government district, so you get a mix of salarymen, late-night office workers, and tourists who wandered off the main strip. I think the "unchanging staff" thing is because they run three shifts with the same core team, and they're all just really efficient.
If you want to make your investigation worthwhile, check the hot food counter around 11pm. That's when they restock the croquettes and the fried chicken, and sometimes they'll put out test items that aren't on the regular menu. The pork and ginger onigiri there is genuinely better than most combini versions, but you have to ask for it specifically or they won't offer it.
ngl the whole "cult following" thing is prob just because that corner gets insane foot traffic from the government buildings nearby. but if you really wanna test the legend, try asking the night staff for "kuyakusho-dori special" with a straight face. sometimes they just hand you an extra famichiki or some weird snack theyre testing. worst case they look at u like ur crazy, which is funny too
honestly i think you might be overthinking it. family marts in tokyo all have that weird cult vibe if you stare long enough. maybe try the famichiki and see if it tastes like enlightenment.
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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.