In this edition of my “Japan vs Korea” series, I go over the 5 most notable differences between Japan and Korea’s convenience stores.
Overview
Living in Japan on a working holiday visa, I’ve had the privilege of doing a couple of trips to Korea at a much cheaper price. While I initially had the impression that there would be many similarities between the two countries, I quickly realized that there are more differences between Japan and Korea than I’d initially thought.
One of the major differences is the convenience stores. Indeed, there is a Korean equivalent brand to everything Japan offers, and this in itself was a big surprise as I’d assumed you’d find plenty of Japanese products in Korean combinis and vice-versa.
Overall, I found the overarching differences concerning American influence on Korean food. That’s not to say that Korea has necessarily “lost” its culture, on the contrary, I’d argue it’s been greatly enhanced by infusing traditional food and drink with modern Western global favorites.
On that note, Korean convenience stores seem to offer spicier foods, sweeter drinks, and more potent flavors than Japanese convenience stores, and this is a theme that holds true for all the following segments of this article. In a similar fashion, another theme that seems to hold true is that Japanese convenience stores offer better presentation with their products and overall store layout.
Fried Chicken
Korean fried chicken is notoriously popular around the world for its abundance of strong, potent flavors and extra-crispy layers. On the other hand, Japanese “karaage” (fried chicken) is far more tame, usually made with light seasoning, light batter, and a plain taste.
While I would usually always choose Korean fried chicken over Japanese fried chicken, it’s a different game when it comes to the convenience stores of both countries. In Japan, you can get delicious ready-to-eat fried chicken from the hot section at the front of the store. In particular, FamilyMart‘s very own brand of fried chicken “Famichiki” is absolutely delicious, offering a perfectly crisp exterior, super succulent interior, and an abundance of flavor options.
On the other hand, Korea’s convenience store fried chicken is a bit of a disappointment, only offered as a packaged microwavable meal that is not crunchy at all. To their credit though, they do a good job of maintaining the heavy flavor hit of sweet chili sauces that Korean fried chicken is well-known for.
Onigiri Rice Balls
When it comes to onigiri rice balls, Japan truly excels as the world leader in this type of snack. All Japanese convenience stores and even most supermarkets sell these balls of rice wrapped in salted seaweed and containing a filling, usually salmon or tuna, and sold for roughly 100–200 yen (0.65–1.30 USD).
In Korea, the rice balls tend to have a bigger focus on beef, chicken, and pork options, with a smaller selection of seafood options compared to Japan. Additionally, American influence on Korea really shows in their options for the much larger “3XL” onigiri.
Personally, I have a preference for Korean onigiri as I prefer beef and chicken over seafood. Also, many Korean onigiri come with potent flavors such as sweet chili “gochujang” sauce, often used in one of their national dishes tteokbokki. Of course, they also tend to be less healthy than Japanese onigiri, but dare I say well worth the extra calories!
Egg Sandwiches
Japan’s egg sandwiches are known by all Japan enthusiasts to be a highlight of their trip whenever they visit, and for good reason! The bread is softer than anything I’ve had back home in Australia, and the egg filling is so creamy, smooth, and flavorful that it has you wondering how a simple egg could reach this form.
If that wasn’t enough, all egg sandwiches in Japanese convenience stores have their crusts removed (that’s right, no boring bits!). Sadly, this is not the case with the egg sandwiches in Korea, and the quality of the bread certainly did not live up to the brilliant soft texture of Japan’s sandwiches.
One thing I will give credit to Korea for is they do offer sandwich fillings I’ve yet to see in Japan, for instance, the potato and egg sandwich featured in the image above. Unfortunately, that is not enough to compete with Japan’s plethora of egg sandwich varieties, all coming with the classic creamy egg filling and soft crustless white bread!
Bento Boxes (Lunch Packs)
Again, bento boxes are a phenomenon that has been popularized by the Japanese, albeit because of their fantastic presentation and variety. Not only that, but they are cheap and delicious too!
As we can see in the photo above, the Japanese bento box is so beautifully presented that you feel inclined to buy it on that premise alone. Furthermore, bento boxes are always available at Japan’s convenience stores, as the nation relies on them to stay fueled during their busy work schedules.
In Korea, and I regret to say this, but you don’t always have the luxury of getting your hands on a bento box. They are often in short supply, have very limited options, or are not there altogether! However, if you hit the jackpot like I did on one fateful evening in one of Seoul’s GS25 convenience stores, you’ll find a bento box that is bigger and spicier than anything you’ll find at Japanese combinis!
All-in-all, if you’re a sucker for stronger hits of flavor and don’t mind packing on the extra calories, you’ll probably enjoy the excessive sizes and flavor hits at Korean convenience stores. In contrast, if you value your health more and prefer food that will not upset your stomach too much, but rather, keep you feeling satisfied and clear-headed (and maybe slightly underwhelmed), then Japan’s convenience stores are for you!
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!
