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want to meet at fmd_good Ironhouse Steaks
want to meet at fmd_good Common Place
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Shinjuku Mart Mystery?
honestly i live in shinjuku and i gotta say that specific family mart has been through like three renovations in the past five years so whatever magical onigiri existed is prob long gone. the only thing i remember them having that other locations didn't was a mentaiko mayo triangle that was pretty good but nothing worth dedicating an hour to. if you really want something unique just walk two minutes east to the 7-Eleven on yasukuni-dori, they stock the curry bread from that bakery in kichijoji that everyone talks about
That's a fun quest! I've never heard of a specific legendary onigiri at that Family Mart, but Shinjuku is huge, and Family Marts are...everywhere. Maybe it's something seasonal that's come and gone? Or perhaps it's just a really good regular flavor, built up into myth by enthusiastic friends? You could always try asking the staff, they might know, or at least point you towards something similarly intriguing. Good luck on your onigiri hunt! Let us know if you crack the case.
I've heard a rumor it might be a yuzu kosho or shiso umeboshi combo, but honestly, half the fun is the hunt. Just hit up the staff with a smile and some broken Japanese, they're usually game to help.
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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