Kimuraya Red Bean Bun: This small but popular bakery is right near the Ginza metro station, offering a variety of Japanese / french breads and pastries. Their speciality appears to be inexpensive miniature buns that cost 150¥, under $1.50; sized like dinner rolls and coated in amaranth, its shell is slightly browned and overall tastes largely neutral in flavor with red bean filling (they also offer different types of fillings). Overall, it's more like sustenance than something to be enjoyed, given its inexpensiv... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese ginza bakery kimuraya red bean bun 3.0
Ito En Vivit's Chiba Pear Soda: Even with lockdown measures (which I guess as of several hours ago have been lifted in Tokyo), I tried to take a daily walk to a vending machine to try something new. However, I stopped doing that about a month ago as I was running out of desirable options and was worried I might get diabetes. I got this from a discount vending machine having previously had the peach version of this line of sodas. The pear version tastes like a concentrated, slightly more balanced ramune, but still very swee... (read more) 3.0/5.0
drinks vendingmachine japanese itoen vivit's chiba pear soda 3.0
Doritos Mexican Taco tortilla chips: I wasn't expecting to write a review of this bag of Doritos; its familiar red packaging made me believe it was Nacho Cheese flavored, and honestly I was feeling kind of embarrassed that I was homesick enough that I was missing Frito-Lays. Unexpectedly, though, these are actually "Mexican taco" tortilla chips, with a significant line flavor combined with and chili and cumin powder seasoning. It definitely doesn't taste like nacho cheese and had no discernible cheese flavor. I personally pref... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese junkfood doritos mexican taco tortilla chips 3.0
YBC Levain cheese sandwich crackers: I think the texture of cheese Ritz crackers is probably controversial, with it's fluffy texture and vaguely mild cheddar flavor, but I've always enjoyed it. These Japanese YBC crackers are similar but with a crispier, flakier cracker base; the cheese flavor is otherwise similar The bag comes with two individually wrapped stacks. Decent everyday snack. 3.0/5.0
japanese inegaya ybc levain cheese sandwich crackers 3.0
Meiji Tanpact Cheese Biscuit with Milk Chocolate: I think I'm naturally sensitive to packaging design given my interest in visual design, but being in a foreign country where I don't know the language further deepens my reliance on food photography to make purchasing decisions. When I saw this box of biscuits, I assumed that they were plain crackers with a one-sided chocolate coating. It was only when I got home that I saw the smaller image underneath the product name showing 3 types of cheese (what appears to be blue cheese, gouda, and br... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese inegaya meiji tanpact cheese biscuit milk chocolate 3.0
Ichigaku Carrot juice with ginseng : This bottle of carrot juice retains much of the pulp of fresh carrots, giving it a slightly grainy texture. The juice has been slightly flavored with ginseng and lemon. I was hoping it would either be more sweet or more carrot-y; overall, it's not particularly good or bad. 3.0/5.0
japanese juice drinks ichigaku carrot ginseng 3.0