Glica Crispy Chicken Pretz: I've had Pretz before in the states but never any meat-flavored versions. Pretz are essentially very thin and crispy breadsticks. This pack comes with two sealed snack packs. Flavor-wise, the crispy chicken sticks tasted mostly of lemon actually, which I suppose is a common side for fried food but I expected way more chicken flavor. If I were to taste them blind, I would guess they were a salted lemon flavor. Overall, not particularly good. 2.0/5.0
japanese inegaya glica crispy chicken pretz 2.0
Calbee Cheddar Cheese Crisps: These are puffed corn chips, similar in texture to fried shrimp chips you get from certain types of Chinese restaurants. In other words, they have a type of crispy-styrofoam-like texture rather than resembling potato chips or crisps. Overall, the cheese flavor is so-so; I definitely didn't like it enough to buy it again. 2.5/5.0
japanese cheese chips calbee cheddar crisps 2.5
YBC Aerial Cheddar Flavored Chips: I really like the texture of these light and crispy chips from Japanese junk-food manufacturer YBC. They consist of nugget-shaped chips that are multi-layered and irregularly shaped, giving it a very unique texture. The cheddar flavored ones have a milky and creamy flavor that is common among cheddar-flavored Asian snacks, which is less salty and sharp than American cheddar-flavored snacks. Overall, I still like it for the texture but prefer the roe-flavored chips I previously reviewed. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese junkfood ybc aerial cheddar flavored chips 3.5
Kirin Sekai Kitchen Salty Litchi Drink: A surprisingly refreshing and balanced drink that's like an Asian version of salted lemonade. The salt takes a bit of the edge off of what could otherwise be very sweet litchi juice in the same way that salted lemonade doesn't taste salty. Has a milky semi-translucent color. Worth a try! 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese inegaya kirin sekai kitchen salty litchi 3.5 drinks
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
Nico Black Sesame Donut: This was a donut I purchased about two months ago in the Azabu-Juban neighborhood of Tokyo. The small stand, selling donuts to go, has a menu of small soybean-flour-based donuts dusted in flavored sugar. The soybean flour gives it a uniquely texture more similar steamed bread than American fried donuts. Flavored sugar is also not overly sweet but also easily identifiable as black sesame. A little bit pricy for the size, at least by Japanese standards (a little over $3 for the donut), but... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended azabu azabujuban japanese nico black sesame donut 3.5