Crispy Intestine Snacks
Despite the fact that this new snack is called “Addictive Intestines,” I’m afraid you won’t find me bingeing a bucket ‘o crispy innards while Netflixing my way through a Saturday … Continue Reading Crispy Intestine Snacks
Soft Drink Flavors I Do Not Want To Try
This yogurt-banana mash-up surfs in on the enduring popularity of the local favorite soft drink, Calpis, which inexplicably established sweetened sour milk as a delightful flavor in Japan. Peach Coke … Continue Reading Soft Drink Flavors I Do Not Want To Try
Spot The Elvis
If you’re looking for a country with absolutely zero junk food guilt, you found it. Behold the bagel sandwiches available at this shop I spotted while walking through Azabu Juban … Continue Reading Spot The Elvis
November Can’t Come Too Soon
Somehow, charcoal-flavored cocoa is a vice I’ve managed to avoid acquiring until now, and I feel it’s in my best interests to keep it that way…. • When not avoiding … Continue Reading November Can’t Come Too Soon
Cream Puffs You Can…Drink
Hanging out waiting for a train this spring, my intrepid fellow adventurer and I spotted THIS in a vending machine! Of all the unlikely tastes to come in a can, … Continue Reading Cream Puffs You Can…Drink
Please Tell Me That’s Not Seaweed On My Ice Cream
The sticky rice balls I can handle. I could even get into the slightly gelatinous, traditional mitarashi topping that gets its brown from, uh, soy sauce. But I draw the line at nori. … Continue Reading Please Tell Me That’s Not Seaweed On My Ice Cream
Beautifully Beastly
Rose. Flavored. Yogurt. Let’s all agree that this one ought to have remained a fantasy. • Read a novel set in Tokyo
The Slippery Slope, Illustrated
See, this is where tolerance will get you. Let them get away with putting ginger pickles and fish shavings on pizza, say nothing when your spaghetti comes topped with sea urchin … Continue Reading The Slippery Slope, Illustrated
What’s Purple And Squishy And Tastes Like Thanksgiving?
This time of year, if it’s sweet and purple, it tastes like…WAT? Yes, sweet potato candy (and muffins and ice cream) is a THING, and anything that’s purple in … Continue Reading What’s Purple And Squishy And Tastes Like Thanksgiving?
The Triple-Decker Noodle Burger
Just when you thought America had cornered the market when it came to eating ALL the carbs, Japanese burger chain Loteria one-ups the red-white-‘n-blue with this tri-deck noodle monster. Yes, it’s that … Continue Reading The Triple-Decker Noodle Burger
Tofu X Donut
Mixed Message Food Mash-up Of The Year! Donuts made with tofu! In the interest of science, I felt it was imperative I step up to answer the burning question: does the healthy tofu part … Continue Reading Tofu X Donut
Freshly Fried Potato Chip Sundae
Deep in the labyrinthine dungeons of Tokyo Station lies Tokyo Confectionary Land, where they fry up potato chips before your very eyes! Even if they stopped there, it would have … Continue Reading Freshly Fried Potato Chip Sundae
Spicy Tomato Filled Doughnuts?
Aieeeee, when I saw this on the menu at Krispy Kreme, I knew I’d have to strap on my Try Anything Once Cojones and take one for the team! So … Continue Reading Spicy Tomato Filled Doughnuts?
Yes, Even The Cheese Is Black
I finally tried Burger King Japan’s most recent all-black, all-the-time burger offering, and OMG please don’t look now, but I wolfed it down in record time. It looks pretty weird (especially the … Continue Reading Yes, Even The Cheese Is Black
Chocolate, Strawberry and…Bean Powder?
Okay, buckaroos, it’s time to play Guess That Flavor with these cones of soft-serve goodness I spotted recently in Asakusa! Our first contestants are the lovely blue ice cream on the left, and … Continue Reading Chocolate, Strawberry and…Bean Powder?
What Cookie Is Black And White And Not The Flavor You Think It Is?
Ooo, that square one on the bottom – gourmet Oreo, right? Heh heh heh, only if you’re ready to discover that the chocolate cookie bits have been enhanced by a scoop … Continue Reading What Cookie Is Black And White And Not The Flavor You Think It Is?
When I Said I Wanted Cheese Pizza, I Didn’t Mean THAT Kind Of Cheese!
I thought I’d seen the pinnacle of Unclear On The Concept when wedges of Camembert started showing up on Japanese pizza, but that was before I spotted this one topped … Continue Reading When I Said I Wanted Cheese Pizza, I Didn’t Mean THAT Kind Of Cheese!
Beer Sandwich
Brewskie on a bun! At first glance, this latest candidate for Strange Sandwiches Of Japan promises to deliver the punch of a nice cold one, but on closer examination, there’s … Continue Reading Beer Sandwich
Haagen-Dazs Veggie Ice Cream?!
From the land of snacks with tentacles and fish bone crackers comes the latest healthy food disguised as a snack: carrot and tomato ice cream! Haagen-Dazs Japan hit the subways with a “secret” poster … Continue Reading Haagen-Dazs Veggie Ice Cream?!
Blue Cafe Latte
Coffee + Milk + BLUE CURACAO? With a LIME on top? I’m still gathering the courage to try the latest entry in this season’s unlikely flavor-combo coffee drinks of Tokyo – partly … Continue Reading Blue Cafe Latte
Cinnamon Roll Blasphemy
In the next round of trade talks with Japan, go ahead and give away the store when it comes to cars, beef and rice, but we need to make one thing … Continue Reading Cinnamon Roll Blasphemy
Tastes Like…?
Green Shower Sparkling Water! Let’s see, this will taste like…what ARE those artfully clustered things at the top of the label? At first I thought PINECONES. I check what might … Continue Reading Tastes Like…?
Green Brownie Sludge Frappucino
You know when you were a kid, and you made the Nobel-prize-winning discovery that if you dumped chocolate syrup into your milk, it turned into chocolate milk? And then you tried it with … Continue Reading Green Brownie Sludge Frappucino
World’s Worst Popsicle
If spaghetti-flavored ice on a stick isn’t the world’s worst idea for a snack, I don’t know what is. But, in an act of supreme self-sacrifice, I tried it, so … Continue Reading World’s Worst Popsicle
Salty Dragonblood Toothpaste
But what I want to know is, how do they KNOW the dragons only ate pesticide-free virgins? Is the blood harvested from organically-certified, knight-armor-free, farm-grown dragons? You can get your very own Toothpaste … Continue Reading Salty Dragonblood Toothpaste
So, What DO Cherry Blossoms Taste Like?
Around cherry blossom season in Japan, the shelves suddenly fill with “sakura”-flavored food. But what does cherry blossom-flavored food actually taste like? I investigate. *Edited, thanks to Little Alex, whose comment … Continue Reading So, What DO Cherry Blossoms Taste Like?
Cherry Blossom Flavored Ice Cream
Naturally, it being the Pink Season, all things must be as one with the almighty sakura. Including…ice cream. And what does this marvel of food engineering taste like? Hmm, good … Continue Reading Cherry Blossom Flavored Ice Cream
Obscure Snack Flavor Of The Day
It’s late, and you’re jonesing for your favorite midnight snack, but someone ate the last of the red beans and then they left the butter out, so now it’s covered … Continue Reading Obscure Snack Flavor Of The Day
For Charcoal-Fresh Breath…
…get thee to the closest Tokyu Hands and get your paws on some Natamame toothpaste! It claims to smite your bad breath in four different flavors: Rose, Aloe (does aloe … Continue Reading For Charcoal-Fresh Breath…
Breakfast For Dessert
In Japan, fish, rice and a shot of slimy mozuku seaweed are what appear bright and early on the breakfast table, and the dessert menu is where you’ll find french … Continue Reading Breakfast For Dessert
Traditional KFC Christmas Dinner, Now With Seaweed!
Lines stretch around the block at every KFC in Tokyo on Christmas Eve, as household minions are dispatched to pick up the traditional holiday fare, but this year they have a … Continue Reading Traditional KFC Christmas Dinner, Now With Seaweed!
31 Flavors Of…Toothpaste?
Now you can fight cavities and have curry-fresh breath too, with this new line of Breath Palette flavored toothpaste! With thirty-one strange flavors to choose from, your teeth can sparkle … Continue Reading 31 Flavors Of…Toothpaste?
What’s Wrong With These Desserts…?
Luscious strawberries…succulent peaches…flaky pastry…fresh whipped cream…all topped off with…PARSLEY. Yes, the fluffy little herb that rocked the 1950s sits inexplicably atop this otherwise tasty-looking fruit tart, and the strangest thing … Continue Reading What’s Wrong With These Desserts…?
Swiss Cheese Chocolate
Why are Japanese sweets makers so unclear on the concept? Is it really that hard? Cream cheese + white chocolate = YES PLEASE. Swiss cheese + white chocolate = NO … Continue Reading Swiss Cheese Chocolate
Squicky Cow Parts Chowdown
Hey, are you ready to grill up some tasty fourth stomach of cow tonight? Or maybe you’d prefer first stomach? Let’s get one of each, to compare! Then for chasers, … Continue Reading Squicky Cow Parts Chowdown
It Looks Like a Burrito. It Says It’s a Burrito. But…
Okay, even though it claims in English to be a HOT & DELICIOUS BURRITO, I should have known that anything resembling a slightly overgrown packet of saltine crackers was going … Continue Reading It Looks Like a Burrito. It Says It’s a Burrito. But…
Cooking With Junk Food
From the test kitchens of intrepid single guys come these taste treats, made solely from junk food obtainable at any corner convenience store! Let’s accompany the judges as they determine … Continue Reading Cooking With Junk Food
Salad Pizza
Now that we’re deep into the dog days of summer, doesn’t the very idea of nomming down a hot slice heaped with stomach-bombing meats kind of make you shudder? Enter…the … Continue Reading Salad Pizza
The Flavor Store
Vanilla? Puh-leese! That’s so last millenium! What about mugwort? Or cherry blossom? Or essence of red bean? If you’ve got a hankering for a cocktail that tastes like violets or … Continue Reading The Flavor Store
Mmm, Charcoal Roasted…Coffee?
Ooo, love that campfire-smoky, sizzle-licious, summer-grillin’ charcoal roast flavor…unless you’re talking about COFFEE. Do you think the namers of this product thought they were marrying the roasty goodness of arabica … Continue Reading Mmm, Charcoal Roasted…Coffee?
Please Tell Me That’s Not Banana Coffee
Oh noooo! It is! Chocolate banana coffee, to be exact, and it’s this month’s special at the Excelsior Cafe. In my humble opinion, those two flavors go together like mushrooms … Continue Reading Please Tell Me That’s Not Banana Coffee
Strange Sandwiches Of Japan
Yes, recently, this kind of corn and mayonnaise sandwich really is being sold in just about every convenience store in Japan. But that’s not the only non-PB&J you’ll find around … Continue Reading Strange Sandwiches Of Japan
Coffee + Beer. No. Just…no.
If anyone ever said to me, “Wow, you two go together like coffee and beer!” I think I’d start dusting off my OK Cupid profile. And it doesn’t stop there. … Continue Reading Coffee + Beer. No. Just…no.
Apple Burger
What’s with the fruit on burgers here, people? I mean, I like apples. And I like burgers. But can we all agree that apples on burgers just does not go … Continue Reading Apple Burger
Would You Like Fries On That?
Your eyes do not deceive you: right there between the mustardy-mayo and the all-beef patty is a honkin’ deep-fried swadge of hash browns. In an attempt to challenge the Gurakoro … Continue Reading Would You Like Fries On That?
Would You Prefer Clam Shells Or Raw Egg On That Pizza?
The mussels and clams on this Asakusa restaurant’s pizza are so fresh, they’re still in the shell! Behold the mixed seafood delight, which, as a bonus, delivers 5000% of your … Continue Reading Would You Prefer Clam Shells Or Raw Egg On That Pizza?
Pancake Mania Strikes Again
The current flapjack craze in Japan isn’t limited to restaurants serving extreme pancakes, now it’s hitting the grocery shelves as well! In a combo that could only have been dreamed … Continue Reading Pancake Mania Strikes Again
What’s Green And Squishy And Not The Flavor I Thought It Was?
Hey, try these gummies and tell me which flavor you like better. Ooo, I love how in Japan there are two flavors of grape, purple kyoho and green muscat! These … Continue Reading What’s Green And Squishy And Not The Flavor I Thought It Was?
Chocolate WHAT Muffins?
Uh-yup. Those would be chunks of sweet potato (skins on) studding that chocolate muffin. Not that I have anything against sweet potatoes. Or chocolate. But together? Let’s not and say … Continue Reading Chocolate WHAT Muffins?
Is That Truffle Cream Sauce, Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?
Why is it that Japanese hot dogs always look so…enthusiastic? Of course, if I were an ordinary “ballpark dog” and suddenly found myself smothered in Porcini Mushroom Truffle Cream Sauce, … Continue Reading Is That Truffle Cream Sauce, Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?
