One of my favorite parts about traveling to Japan is the food.

I genuinely love to eat, and even though I’m not always the most adventurous (thanks to my lack of gallbladder), it’s still fun to try new things when I can. Over time, I’ve learned what works for me, what doesn’t, and which places are always worth a return visit. Part of the joy is mixing a little curiosity with comfort food—and, of course, making sure I hit all my must-stop favorites!

Arriving too late for a sit-down dinner, my first stop was of course Family Mart.

If you haven’t heard, even the Convenience Store sandwiches in Japan are top-notch, and Family Mart has some of the best! My go-to favorites include

  • Teriyaki chicken and egg: 
    • A mix of egg salad and some deliciously moist cuts of Teriyaki chicken, topped with soft-boiled eggs, it’s the perfect late night snack! 10/10.
  • Toasted egg and cheese: 
    • Though cold, the toasted bread still has a crunch to it. They are perfect for breakfast sandwiches. 09/10.
  • Ham and cucumber: 
    • A mix of thinly sliced ham and cucumbers with just a pinch of wasabi, these sandwiches are great for both lunch and breakfast! 10/10.
  • Ham cutlet sandwich: 
    • I expected these to have a crunch to them (the ham is breaded). They did not – but it was only a slight disappointment, they still tasted fantastic. 6/10.
  • Cheese Bites: 
    • These are delicious! Bite-sized balls of deliciousness!

When it comes to sushi, I made a few different stops during this trip, but my absolute favorite by far is Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. It’s reasonably priced, you get a lot for what you spend, and half the fun is that even when you’re waiting on your order, there’s always something tempting rolling by on the conveyor belt. So you can always try something new! It’s easy, fun, and—most importantly—delicious.

  • Garlic Ponzu Salmon
  • Seared Salmon with Miso Cream Cheese
  • Tamago
  • Umidare beef ribs
  • Aged tuna
  • Onion salmon
  • Aburi cheese pork ribs
  • Aburi shrimp cheese
  • Aburi cheese salmon
  • Aburi shrimp mayo gratin style
  • Authentic hamburger steak

One thing I do try to avoid is eating something I can get at home. However, I did make an acceptation with McDonalds.

  • HiruMac Double Cheeseburger
    • Fluffy buns, a thick cut of beef, and fresh fries was a delicious first choice.
  • HiruMac Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich
    • A Japanese exclusive, it was a bit messy, but absolutely delicious!
  • Roasted Soy Sauce Egg Bacon Burger
    • This was tasty, but one thing my stomach didn’t appreciate.
  • Oreo McFlurry
    • It was wonderful to find a McFlurry machine that wasn’t broken. These were delicious!

With two of the members of timelesz (So Matsushima and Hara Yoshitaka) the spokespeople for Uber Eats Japan, a friend and I placed an order Japanese curry before we watched COUNTDOWN CONCERT 2025–2026 STARTO to MOVE on Netflix. We decided on Japanese Curry from Curry House CoCo.

  • Chicken Cutlet Curry
    • Lightly seasoned breaded chicken with curry mixed with cheese and mushrooms.

I’ve never had Japanese curry before. It was delicious!

Cinnabon is another favorite, and while it something I can get in the states, there’s isn’t one close to me. So, I always have to piece or two of cookies-n-cream deliciousness. The same with Shake Shack. I love their milkshakes so it’s a must-stop.

Speaking of deserts, the various convince stores also refuse to disappoint. Hi-Chew is a go-to for candy with cherry, green apple, and grape being some of my favorites. There’s also a multitude of Kit-Kat flavors.

Even the soda tastes different (in the best way) with Pepsi being my top choice.

One of the things I’ve noticed about eating in Japan is that, no matter how much I eat (and I do eat a lot) due to healthy-style preparations, the removal of junk, and all the walking I do – I still manage to lose weight.

Founded by Tadashi Okura, the father of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT idol Tadayoshi Okura, Torikizoku is a chain of izakaya restaurants that offers a variety of drinks, and food items, specializing in yakitori.

  • Chicken Meatball with Cheese
    • Meatball skewer with yakitori sauce and cheese made of mincedchicken. You can detect a hint of shiso herb. Juices spread throughout your mouth with every bite.
  • Chicken Meatball
    • Meatball skewer withyakitori sauce madeof minced chicken.You can detect a hint of shiso herb. Enjoy the full-bodied flavors of minced meat and lard.
  • Grilled Thigh & Leek Salt
    • Chicken thigh skewer with salt.(thigh meat skewered with pieces of leekin between)The sweetness of the leek stands out， complimenting the fragrant aroma.
  • Chicken Tempura with Plum Sauce
    • Tenderized chicken thigh tempura served with shiso-flavored plum sauce.

Even with all the deliciousness at my fingertips, my top favorite is Hidakaya as it was the first place I went to eat on my very first place in Japan, and I always get the same thing – a half-order of fried rice with a side of egg-drop soup. It’s simple, yet delicious.

The food is always one of my favorite parts about Japan. I’ve only been back a few days and I’m already craving a Family Mart sandwich. Guess I’ll have to go back!

There will be more soon so…

Stay Tuned!