JPN: Family Mart (ファミリーマート) [Oden & Chinese Buns]
Where Chinese bun and Italian pizza meets!
Before I move on to the things I had in the second part of the trip in the Kansai region, I'd like to introduce some of the freshly made snacks you can get in Family Mart, which already has a total of more than 10,000 outlets in Japan alone. There is one outlet which is conveniently located inside Hotel Sunroute New Sapporo where I stayed in.
Oden ¥525 (~S$6.50)
Taste: 8/10
Oden is a winter dish comprising various ingredients stewed in a light dashi (Japanese stock made of fish and kelp) broth. Each of the five items we took is priced differently:
- seaweed wrap (昆布巻) : ¥85 (~S$1.05)
- chicken stick (鶏つくね串) : ¥105 (~S$1.30)
- pounded fish cake (はんぺん) : ¥105 (~S$1.30)
- vegetable beancurd patty (新がんも) : ¥110 (~S$1.05)
- rolled cabbage (ロールキャベツ) : ¥120 (~S$1.05)
Indeed, the soup was lightly flavoured and comforting. I particularly enjoyed the pounded fish cake which was soft and sweet on the palate. The beancurd patty had seven types of chopped vegetables inside, including gingko nuts.
- seaweed wrap (昆布巻) : ¥85 (~S$1.05)
- chicken stick (鶏つくね串) : ¥105 (~S$1.30)
- pounded fish cake (はんぺん) : ¥105 (~S$1.30)
- vegetable beancurd patty (新がんも) : ¥110 (~S$1.05)
- rolled cabbage (ロールキャベツ) : ¥120 (~S$1.05)
Indeed, the soup was lightly flavoured and comforting. I particularly enjoyed the pounded fish cake which was soft and sweet on the palate. The beancurd patty had seven types of chopped vegetables inside, including gingko nuts.
We also shared two Chinese buns (中華まん), which fillings weren't at all Chinese in nature. Haha...
Curry Bun (カレーまん) ¥100 (~S$1.20)
Taste: 8/10
For its price, I was delighted to find out that the bun was airy and moist. There wasn't any part of it which was hard. The curry filling was just a little bit spicy, containing bits of carrots, potatoes and onions.
Pizza Bun (ピザまん) ¥110 (~S$1.35)
Taste: 8/10
The pizza bun was rich in sweet tomato sauce, which was balanced in flavour by four different kinds of cheese which weren't too overly salty.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Next time I should try the oden from other convenience stores. Pika's advice: There are many varieties of Chinese buns available, but some of them are only available in certain outlets. Have fun finding them!
Family Mart
(ファミリーマート)
Nishi 6 Chome, Minami 2 Jo
1F, Hotel Sunroute New Sapporo
Chuo, Sapporo
Japan
(Twenty Four / Seven)
*Prices quoted are nett prices.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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