japanese (361)
Sort by
Img 0988

Calbee Jagarico Double Cheese: I've favorably reviewed Jagarico potato sticks before on this blog but a quick recap – they are tubular, crunchy potato sticks that have a concentrated potato flavor I've found to be the closest to french fries of any off-the-shelf snack. I really liked how this Double Cheese flavor had a creamy mild cheese flavor that's quite different than the more assertive cheddar flavor you find on American cheese-flavored snacks. The packaging says it's a combination of cheddar and cream cheese, whic... (read more) 3.5/5.0

recommended hmart japanese calbee jagarico double cheese 3.5
Img 8598

Calbee Sukiyaki JagaRico: I love the crunchy Japanese potato snack JagaRico, which is a staple in any convenience store and comes in many different flavors. I hadn't seen the Sukiyaki one before, though, and found it especially addictive. It has a meaty, roasted flavor reminiscent of soy and shiitake, inspired by the hot pot dish typically consisting of sliced beef, mushrooms, onions, and other vegetables. JagaRico more generally is a nice option when you're looking for a potato snack with more bite than a crispy po... (read more) 3.5/5.0

recommended japanese potato calbee sukiyaki jagarico 3.5
75957187 bfac 44e3 b8e9 3f2a219c0d65

Kitkat Matcha Kitkat: I’ve probably had surprisingly few KitKats in Japan despite it being the dominant market for unique seasonal flavors, so I’m always grateful when they are gifted to me and I have an excuse to try one I haven’t had before. The matcha KitKat has a waxy coating that seems like it’s probably white chocolate based, rather than milk chocolate. The flavor was more nuanced than I expected - not just a standard matcha-flavor taste but a little more bitter than the typical. I think my overall take on... (read more) 3.5/5.0

recommended candy japanese kitkat matcha 3.5
Img 3113

KitKat Peach KitKats: I was gifted this bag of Japanese peach KitKats from a friend, purchased originally from Berkeley Bowl (the best grocery store in the country!!). The mini KitKats are individually wrapped, and the normally chocolate coating is a pale pink color. I expected this to be really sweet, but it’s surprisingly well balanced, with a tangy and tart ripe peach candy flavor. The rest of the KitKat is the familiar wafer crisps of the iconic candy bar. Definitely worth a try! 4.0/5.0

recommended candy japanese kitkat peach kitkats 4.0
Img 3087

Calbee Takoyaki Balls: Puffed corn snacks coated in a sweet and savory seasoning blend that tastes just like takoyaki sauce (sort of like Japanese Bulldog sauce or Worcestershire sauce, deep in umami). In other words, it doesn't taste like seafood but just the sauce that typically coats the normally octopus-filled balls. Undoubtedly a substantial amount of MSG. Purchased from Uwajimaya, but actually a product of Thailand. 3.0/5.0

uwajimaya japanese calbee takoyaki balls 3.0
Img 1696

Yoku Moku Rolled Cigares: In Japan, there is a very strong culture of giving gifts to people you work with. There were several times when I found myself purchasing gift boxes from depachika, the underground food courts in Japanese malls, where you can find everything from boxed chocolates, rice crackers, cookies, and candies in beautifully ornate boxes. I would usually browse all the stalls before picking a few I thought looked the most delicious (which was both very hard, because there were so many options, and qu... (read more) 4.0/5.0

exception cookies japanese uwajimaya yokumoku rolled cigares 4.0