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How good is the meat?
yeah the other reply summed it up well but one thing i'll add is that convenience store meat is actually pretty decent for what it is if you're just making something quick. the gyudon beef packs from 7-11 or FamilyMart are thin slices, pre-seasoned, and work great for a 5-minute stir fry. not gourmet but way better than what you'd get from a gas station in most countries.
for butchers, if you're in Tokyo and want something specific like dry-aged or game meat, head to Niku no Yamato in Nakameguro. they do a lot of specialty cuts and the staff speak some english. pricey though, expect like 3000 yen for a decent steak. Hanamasa is cheaper but more of a warehouse vibe.
honestly unless you're a grassfed purist, just grab whatever looks good at the supermarket. the marbling on even the mid-tier stuff is insane compared to what i used to get back home. chicken is fine but nothing special, stick to thighs not breasts if you want flavor
fwiw the meat quality in Tokyo is more about consistency than anything else. even the cheapest pork from OK Store is gonna be clean and well-trimmed, no weird smell or sinew. i've been buying their 198 yen packs of pork shoulder for years and it's always solid for stir fries or tonkatsu.
one thing that surprised me is how good the frozen meat is at places like Gyomu Super. their frozen lamb shoulder slices are actually from New Zealand and perfect for jingisukan. and the frozen chicken thighs come individually wrapped so you can just grab one out of the bag. way more convenient than fresh tbh.
if you want something specific like grassfed, check out the import section at National Azabu in Hiroo or Nissin World Delicatessen in Azabujuban. they carry Australian grassfed beef but you're paying a premium, like 4000 yen for a pack of steaks. honestly most locals just don't care about grassfed, the marbling on regular japanese beef is already so good
one thing nobody mentioned is that even the cheap supermarket ground meat here is surprisingly clean. like, no gristle, no weird bits, and it doesn't smell gamey at all. i've had 100 yen packs from Life supermarket that were totally fine for tacos or keema curry. the fat content is usually higher but that's just how japanese cooking works.
for actual pasture raised chicken, there's a place called Hikari Farm in Shibuya that does it but you gotta order ahead and it's like 2500 yen for a whole bird. not something you'd buy every week. honestly most people here just eat pork way more than beef or chicken anyway. tonkatsu and buta no kakuni are everywhere and the quality is consistently good.
if you're staying at an airbnb with a kitchen, hit up a Gyomu Super for bulk frozen stuff. their frozen beef tongue slices are legit and cheap. just don't expect any grassfed labels, that's not how the system works here.
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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.