Koikeya Strong Grilled Seafood Potato Chips: Koikeya has a line of STRONG potato chips, I guess indicating that they're bolder than regular potato chips. The ridged style is thinner than Ruffles, and more generally, I find that Japanese potato chips don't have the same substantial bite that American potato chips tends to have. This flavor reminded me a little bit of shrimp chips but it definitely had a slightly richer flavor, the type you get from imitation crab sticks. It was pretty decent but not one I find myself drawn to purchasi... (read more) 3.0/5.0
potatochips junkfood japanese lawson koikeya strong grilled seafood potato chips 3.0
Luna Vanilla Yogurt with Summer Hyuganatsu Citrus: This brand of yogurt comes in 3-packs, all with a different primary-colored label. Unfortunately, my inability to read Japanese made it impossible to know what those colored labels meant, but this particular yellow one shows a bear hugging a large yellow-colored fruit resembling a pomelo, which I assumed to be the flavor. Only after doing some research after I got home did I find that the fruit is a Hyuganatsu, which is a type of Japanese citrus hybrid between a yuzu and pomelo. I was sur... (read more) 3.0/5.0
yogurt japanese inegaya luna vanilla summer hyuganatsu citrus 3.0
Suntory Melon Pop Soda: I'm not sure what I expected from this atomic green soda, somehow even more neon green than Surge, the height of artificial soda in America. But I think I was craving some variety after not drinking any interesting beverages for some time. I purchased the bottle from a 100¥ discount vending machine. It tastes just as you would expect: super sweet, but not actually tasting that much of melon; more like liquid fruit gummy candy. I've actually just realized that I believe this is the melon ... (read more) 1.5/5.0
avoid drinks japanese suntory melon pop soda 1.5
Oreo Crispy Matcha Rollcake-flavored cookies: I like Oreo Crispy cookies more than regular Oreos - their thinness makes them more snackable and less overwhelming sweet, and I think they have a better ratio of filling to cookie. I wasn't sure what to expect from this Matcha Rollcake flavor, wondering specifically what would make them different than just matcha-flavored Oreos. Buying them did not give me that answer, but I can say that they are enjoyable; the slight bitterness of the matcha filling is a nice complement to the also-bitte... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese cookies oreo crispy matcha rollcake-flavored 3.5
Lotte Crunky Crunch Chocolate: I had been curious about what this popular milk chocolate bar tastes like. Most Japanese chocolate bars are thinner than American bars; Crunky comes in a simple cardboard packaging with the chocolate wrapped in silver foil. The milk chocolate has puffed rice inside that is less crispy than a Crunch bar but has a slightly nuttier taste to it, almost like it's flavored with almonds. It's fairly unremarkable - kind of exactly what you expect it to taste like, which is neither particularly go... (read more) 2.5/5.0
chocolate japanese lotte crunky crunch 2.5
Morinaga 俺の白くま beverage: This cute packaging caught my eye, with a familiar polar bear face I've seen on popsicles everywhere from convenience stores to supermarkets. Though I haven't tried the popsicles before, they seem to feature a variety of fruits along with red bean, all in a milky white bar. The combination of flavors always seemed like they wouldn't necessarily go well together, which is why I hadn't felt a strong desire to try them up to this point. I found this carton in between the milk and yogurt secti... (read more) 2.5/5.0
drinks japanese inegaya morinaga 俺の白くま beverage 2.5