Nichirei Cheese waffles: Probably meant for kids, I was nonetheless intrigued by the idea of cheese-filled waffle sticks and grabbed this bag from the frozen aisle as I was waiting in line at Aeon. They're a bit bigger than fish sticks but definitely portable and easy to heat up in the microwave. Surprisingly, the texture of the waffles is pretty decent, and it has a fluffier, softer consistency than the crispy waffles you might make in an iron, but the same familiar eggy flavor. The cheese is very minimal and mild,... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese frozen aeon nichirei cheese waffles 3.5
Nezu No Pan Apple Ginger Bread: A warming mix of apple and ginger that reminds me of autumn back home. The ginger is pleasantly spicy and candied, and the bread is spongy and moist. Eating these mini loaves maes me feel like a giant, as they're about the size of bread you might see in a kitchen playset for kids. I liked this flavor but I would rate it as third behind the mugwort and lemon poppy bread I had tried previously, probably because the apple and ginger flavor combination is not quite as unique. 3.5/5.0
recommended tokyo bread nezu nezunopan apple ginger 3.5
Ginza Akebono Sakura Mochi: The first time I had sakura mochi, pink mochi wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf, it was from Fugetsu-Do in Los Angeles, I was surprised by the sweet and savory combination. The leaf is typically pickled and has a concentrated salty flavor that can catch you off guard if you're used to the mild and sweet anko-filled dessert. This version of sakura mochi was purchased from the Ginza sweets shop Ginza Akebono, where I had previously tried their strawberry-covered mochi. The chewiness of the m... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese ginza tokyo ginzaakebono sakura mochi 3.5
Morinaga Strawberry aloe yogurt: I will miss aloe yogurt, with it's combination of tangy loose yogurt and chewy, juicy aloe cubes. While it seems like the soft-on-soft textures might not be a match, they are unexpectedly harmonious. This strawberry version has the typically sweet berry flavor you'd expect alongside small pieces of strawberry. I like it as much as the original -- it's definitely a standard snack you can find anywhere, but it's dependably good. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese aeon morinaga strawberry aloe yogurt 3.5
Meiji My Style Apollo Strawberry Chocolate: These are fun conical chocolate strawberry snacks that I discovered, through my research, are meant to resemble Mount Fuji, which makes them extra Japanese. About 3/4 of the cone is a pink strawberry chocolate, and the last quarter is a milk chocolate base. The chocolate has a satisfying snap, and the strawberry is also nicely tart, though overall it's definitely on the sweet side. I can see how if I grew up eating them, they could easily have become a nostalgic favorite. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese meiji my style apollo strawberry chocolate 3.5
Long Chips Cheese Mashed Potato Snack: These are quite literally long chips, made of mashed potatoes rolled out into thin long sheets (the entire length of the packaging), fried in oil, and seasoned with a cheese powder. They're super crispy and a bit fragile, given how thin they are, but their unique shape and texture makes them an ideal cross between a cracker and a chip. Kind of like Pringles in terms of fried potato flavor, but the cheese is also uniquely not cheddar -- it tastes a bit like Swiss and parmesan combined. The... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended nautrallawson lawson chips longchips cheese mashed potato snack 3.5