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 Ironhouse Steaks
want to meet at fmd_good Common Place
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Shinjuku Convenience Store Mystery
yeah that daily yamazaki is def a vibe outlier even for shinjuku. the one on the corner of meiji dori across from the park's shinjuku gate is usually the same way, the staff there are almost always older guys who just want to get you through fast. if you want to see a really different energy, walk over to the lawson near the shinjuku gyoenmae station exit, the cashier there is this chatty college kid who'll ask if you found everything ok and sometimes recommend snacks. that silent treatment is more about the location than the chain itself imo
The Daily Yamazaki near Shinjuku Gyoen has a weird energy because it's wedged between the park entrance and a bunch of quiet residential streets, so the staff often match that slower pace. I've had the same silent nod treatment from the afternoon guy there, he's just not one for the standard "irasshaimase" script. If you want the polar opposite, walk five minutes to the FamilyMart on Yasukuni Dori, the night crew there will greet you like you're an old friend.
nah that specific daily yamazaki has always been like that tbh. it's right by the garden's back gate where most people are just grabbing a quick bite before walking in. the one on yasukuni dori near the station is way more standard with the usual greetings and small talk. if you want a proper silent convenience store experience though try the ministop in the basement of that office building on gaien nishi dori, those workers are basically ghosts lol
load 5 more replies
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.