Recently there have been so many new 7-11s opening in Kyoto — like too many. Some are replacing historic Kyoto ‘machiya’ townhouses, not a good thing at all for this former architect. As someone who does product development, marketing and some culinary product development, I must admit that I truly love visiting Japanese convenience stores. In the last few years I have seen the three major ones duking it out. Lawson had reigned supreme in my mind but Family Mart was always giving them a run for their money. In the past few years something happened with 7-11. They have seriously morphed into a bank — I paid for my last MacBook Air I ordered from Apple Japan’s online store at 7-11. But their food, especially their 7-11 branded frozen food and sweets have been just rocking. Lawson still has better ‘gohan mono’ (rice things), like onigiri rice balls and so on. But that is about it. Family Mart is getting left in the dust and I think 7-11 has actually displaced Lawson’s envied market position.
Today, as I worked away on prep for the relaunch of OpenKyoto and KyotoFoodie (set for early next year, I needed some lunch — and quick. So, I went over to 7-11 and got some yummies. I got frozen tantanmen noodles (dandanmien), frozen shrimp chili sauce, hot out of the steam case nikuman (baozi pork bun) and warm out of the I don’t know what case, strawberry donut. After 10 minutes of microwaving and boiling, I had a nice meal laid out in front of me. Now, it did benefit from my Chinese black vinegar and my homemade smoked habanero ‘rayu’ chili oil. Oh, I also had a fresh kifir lime leaf that somehow made it to my house from some other country via I don’t want to say how.
How good is Japanese convenience store food? Well, a lot of it I wouldn’t eat, or I might eat once. But still, a lot is pretty darn good. In fact, there is a tantanmen noodle specialty shop in my neighborhood that I go to sometimes. But, 7-11’s tantanmen, which costs about 1/5 the price is better, I am sorry to say. OK, my after purchase flavoring helps some. But still, if 7-11 keeps on it’s current trajectory, they are going to be in the running for a Michelin star I think.
