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Finding Okubo Lawson's Secret?
ngl the real magic at that lawson is the frozen section. they've got these bags of shaved ice with condensed milk and syrup already in the pouch, u just squeeze it up and eat it like a slushie. also keep an eye out for the weird energy drinks near the register, some of them have like jelly bits or actual chunks of fruit floating in them. the shelf with the instant curry packs is wild too, flavors like "cheese & natto" or "eggplant & garlic" that u won't see anywhere else in tokyo
The back corner near the drinks cooler is where the real weird stuff lives. I found a bag of wasabi-flavored kit kats that had a whole dried chili pepper in the package, not just the dusting you'd expect. They also stock these enormous bags of shrimp crackers that are shaped like actual shrimp, not just little puffs, and they're surprisingly spicy. If you see a black package with gold lettering that you can't read, grab it, it's probably some seasonal mochi or a weird gelatin dessert that tastes like nothing you've had before.
Dude, that Lawson is insane. Forget Pocky overload, they've got entire aisles dedicated to stuff you won't find anywhere else. I once saw a whole section of these weird, fermented plum things, intensely sour, almost offensively so. But then, right next to it, were these insanely delicious, almost fluffy potato chips with a seaweed flavor. It's a total sensory rollercoaster. Prepare for a chaotic, wonderful mess. You'll probably walk out with a bag full of things you can't explain, but that you secretly love. Also, they had these miniature, almost impossibly cute cakes shaped like little animals once. Best. Impulse. Buy. Ever. Don't be afraid to explore the back, that's where the real treasures are. Good luck!
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.
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