Known for their cheap and delicious food conveniently accessible from anywhere in Japan, it’s easy to put together a tasty combini dinner!
Entrée – Miso Soup
There’s nothing like a bowl of hot savory soup to get the salts in before the main course.
Japan’s combinis (convenience stores) have a huge selection of instant soups, noodles, and curries that can be made in-store on demand.
They typically cost anywhere between 100–200 yen (0.70 – 1.50 USD) and are super easy to make (just add hot water)!
Japan is known for its iconic miso soup, made from dashi stock (dried fish and seaweed) and miso paste (soybeans, salt, and koji rice).
They typically come with additional ingredients such as tofu, bamboo, or, in my case, green onions.
I prefer this variant of miso soup as I’m not big on salads and vegetables, so it helps me sneak in some greens in my diet.
If you’re dining inside the convenience store, look out for the hot water dispenser and make your soup on the spot!
Starter – Takoyaki or Pizza Roll
If you’re feeling particularly hungry, I’d recommend getting a starter item in addition to your entrée.
There is so much variety you could choose from for this item, but for the authentic Japanese cuisine experience, I’d recommend getting your hands on some ready-made takoyaki.
Takoyaki is a Japanese dish originating from Osaka, consisting of flour, egg, and small pieces of octopus.
Baked into small fun-sized balls, they are topped with a special barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, fish flakes, and seaweed powder.
For just 450 yen (3.25 USD), you can buy a whole 10-piece tray of takoyaki, complete with sachets of sauce, a microwaveable tray, and toothpicks which are used as utensils.
If you’d rather have a more “Western-style” starter, then I’d recommend this delicious margherita pizza roll.
Available for approximately 250 yen (1.80 USD), they can be heated on demand by the combini staff and enjoyed immediately.
Consisting of mozzarella cheese and ripe tomato sauce wrapped in a loaf of soft pita bread, this pizza roll packed a real punch, much like a whole pizza condensed into a compact wrap.
Main – Bento Meal Or Shrimp Rice Gratin
“Bento” may translate to “lunch box,” but many of these are also designed as dinner meals.
For about 650 yen (4.70 USD), you can grab one of these bentos with a generous helping of rice, protein (typically fish, chicken, or beef), and vegetables topped with a delicious flavorsome sauce.
There are so many choices when it comes to Japan’s dirt-cheap bentos, making it an appealing choice for anyone putting together a combini combination for dinner!
Again, I feel the need to include a “non-Japanese” option for those not too fond of the cuisine.
Fortunately for such people, Japan is quite enthusiastic about European cuisine, so you’ll typically find pasta varieties, burgers, hot dogs, and other Western-style dishes at the local combinis.
Surprisingly, my first time trying the French dish known as gratin was at a Japanese convenience store!
This shrimp rice gratin was absolutely delicious and filling, comprising a cream cheese topping on a bed of rice with shrimp and seaweed sprinkled on top.
Again, you can have this dish microwaved on demand and enjoy it in-store!
Available for less than 500 yen (< 3.60 USD), this incredibly tasty dish is available at most combinis and offers a delicious alternative to your standard Japanese cuisine.
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
