Tohato Chestnut Mont Blanc Caramel Corn: I honestly had no idea what flavor this snack was – the leaves on the rim of the packaging seem to indicate a seasonal fall snack, but the illustration of a pie topped with what I thought were strips of bacon and a fried egg made me think I was in for something breakfast-like. It turns out it is supposed to be a chestnut mont blanc, a dessert I haven't had before but consists of chestnut puree piped into vermicelli shaped threads, topped with whipped cream. Tohato caramel corn comes in lot... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese tohato chesnut mont blanc caramel corn 3.5
Koikeya Demonic Consomme Strong Potato Cihps: I wasn't sure of the exact flavor of these potato chips when I purchased them – the packaging features roasted onion, garlic, and chicken wings, all alongside a demo stirring a cauldron of beige-colored broth. I have had other potato chips from this line of Strong potato chips, ridged potato chips claiming to have a more robust flavor offering than normal Koikeya chips. These tasted largely of sweet onion and black pepper to me, and after looking up the actual flavor from the Japanese on t... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese chips koikeya demonic consomme strong potato cihps 3.5
牧場の瓶ヨーグルト 宮崎 ひゅうが夏 : This is the second time I had a hyuganatsu snack, a seasonal Japanese citrus fruit available in the summers. Though I haven't had the actual fruit, the flavor was quite consistent across the two flavored yogurts I've tried. This brand of yogurt came in a very cute glass jar, the type whose rim is small enough that it requires the use of dainty miniature spoon. It was very creamy and quite rich, probably made using full-fat milk, and had a slightly floral, lemon-like flavor. The texture o... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended yogurt japanese citrus 宮崎 ひゅうが夏 3.5
Nissin シスコーン BIG strawberry shortcake corn flakes: Nissin BIG is a popular brand of frosted flake cereal, the equivalent of Tony the Tiger frosted flakes. In Japan, there are much fewer cereal options, always in bags rather than boxes, and less than a handful are aimed specifically towards kids -- in the grocery stores I've been to, the cereal takes up a small fraction of the aisle compared to an entire side that you'd normally find in the states. I've had the standard frosted flakes flavor before, which tastes exactly as you'd expect, but... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese nissin シスコーン big strawberry shortcake corn flakes 3.0 cereal nissinworld
McDonald's McShake x Doraemon Yogurt Shake: Doraemon is a much beloved Japanese cartoon character, a fixture of children's television and merchandising that is pretty impossible to escape in Japan. This year marks the cartoon's 50th anniversary, which has led to many partnerships and exclusive products. McDonald's in Japan currently has a line of celebratory Happy Meal Doraemon toys, but I opted for their special Doraemon yogurt milkshake; a small drink cost 120¥ or about $1 USD. I can't say I've actually had a shake from McDonald'... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks fastfood japanese mcdonalds mcshake x doraemon yogurt shake 3.5
Morinaga Chestnut Cake: The Japanese snack aisle is full of seasonal items, and it looks like we're now in chestnut season, with a variety of chestnut-flavored cakes and desserts. I purchased the Japanese version of Choco Pies from popular brand Morinaga, consisting of a circular cake base filled with a layer of creme and covered in chocolate. Overall, I prefer the texture of Choco Pies, whose cake is less crumbly (most of the individually wrapped cakes in my Morinaga box were not in one piece when opened), and t... (read more) 2.0/5.0
japanese inegaya morinaga chestnut cake 2.0