Food
Michelin Guide gyoza in Tokyo: Worthy of the accolade?
Recently, our reporters Go Hatori and Takashi Harada have been taste-testing unusual gyoza from around the country, but little did they know that one of Japan’s most lauded dumplings was hiding right under their noses in Tokyo. Recommended to them by a reader, these gyoza come from Maruyama Gyoza Seisakusho (Maruyama Gyoza Factory) in… Read
Kewpie debuts plant-based scrambled egg substitute for instant breakfast
Kewpie, Japan's leading maker of mayonnaise, isn't just known for their standard mayo. Even just recently, Kewpie has putting twists on their creamy and mellow mayo by releasing smoky mayonnaise intended for drinking snacks, as well as a rich curry mayo spread for toast. The mayo maker's latest concoction doesn't come in… Read
Brownie specialty store Côte Cour adds Orangette Brownie to their summer lineup
If there ever was a place that created the most perfect of treats, it would be located somewhere in Japan. With bakeries, patisseries, smoothie parlors and sweet buffets all thoughtfully and artistically run by artisans and masters of sugar craft, it’s easy to see why this country can be a… Read
Cup Noodle evolves its mystery meat into mystery 'karaage' with fried chicken ramen
Nissin's flagship instant ramen Cup Noodle has seen itself reinvented in many forms during its long run as the go-to for quick noodle cravings, including protein packed "pro" versions and even certified space food. Whether enjoyed on earth or on the International Space Station, however, the constant savory morsel of Cup Noodle's "mystery… Read
Flying beef bowls? Yoshinoya completes drone delivery of its signature gyudon
The phrase “when pigs fly” refers to some sort of theoretically possible, but realistically unfeasible, future situation. But while pigs remain rooted to terra firma, this week beef bowls flew in Japan. On Thursday, Yoshinoya completed a drone delivery of its flagship dish, the gyudon/beef bowl. The airlifted lunches flew through the skies of the… Read
'Beef Candy' blurs the line between sukiyaki and candy
From art candy shop and self-proclaimed “most interesting candy store in the world” Papabubble comes Beef Candy (Gyuniku Kyandi). At first glance it looks an awful lot like some marbled strips of premium meat, but in reality it’s made from little more than sugar and starch. Adding to the general confusion, this hard candy… Read
You can now visit Evangelion’s Misato’s apartment dining room in real-life Tokyo
As a work of science fiction, a lot of the settings of "Evangelion" don’t really exist. For example, Tokyo-3 hasn’t been built yet, and the oceans of Japan haven’t turned blood-red. However, right now there’s a recreation of one frequently seen Eva location that you can visit in the real world: Misato’s apartment.… Read
How to turn FamilyMart’s chicken buns and convenience store snacks into gourmet sandwiches
Fami-Chiki is a popular hot-snack menu item at Japanese convenience store FamilyMart Fami-Chiki is deep fried chicken, crunchy on the outside and super juicy on inside. It comes in a variety of flavors and once you try it, it can be pretty addictive! They recently came up with their own… Read
We buy Vladimir Putin chocolate from the Red Square Russian shop in Tokyo
It’s easy to come across “Western” or “ethnic” food stores in Japan, but what about those looking for Russian groceries? Many will be surprised to know there’s now a store for that, and it’s located in Tokyo’s upmarket Ginza district. ▼ Aka no Hiroba (“Red Square”) is the bricks-and-mortar branch of… Read
Starbucks Delivers: New service expands in Japan with exclusive sets
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit Japan, companies have been rethinking their business strategies, with delivery services now becoming an essential part of daily affairs. Starbucks is one such company working to improve its delivery services, and by the end of June, the chain’s new “Starbucks Delivers” program will be… Read
