- Introduction: Japanese Supermarkets are “Food Theme Parks”!
- First, Grab These! Japan’s Frozen Food “BIG 3”
Introduction: Japanese Supermarkets are “Food Theme Parks”!
Hello! I’m Ken, the editor-in-chief of Tokyo Insider Guide.
If you’re traveling to Japan, there’s one tourist spot I definitely recommend visiting: the “Frozen Food Corner” of a supermarket.
“Frozen food = cheap, just okay taste”… that common perception doesn’t hold true in Japan. Today’s Japanese frozen foods have evolved into “gourmet dishes” that are as delicious as restaurant meals, packed with astonishing technology and innovative ideas. On TV shows like “Job Tune,” top chefs seriously review products from convenience stores and supermarkets, often marveling at their high quality… it’s an everyday occurrence!
After reading this article, with just a microwave or simple cooking, your lodging will transform into a delicious Japanese dining table. Come on, open the freezer door and explore this food theme park!
First, Grab These! Japan’s Frozen Food “BIG 3”
Among the many products available, I’ll introduce the “Three Sacred Treasures” that enjoy immense popularity among the Japanese public and are highly rated by professionals.
① King of Fried Rice: Nichirei’s ‘Honkaku Itame Chahan’ (Authentic Fried Rice)
This is a legendary product that dominates the sales of frozen fried rice. The factory replicates the high-heat stir-frying motion of a professional chef, achieving the fluffy, individual grain texture of rice that is difficult to make at home. Just heat it in the microwave, and you can enjoy the authentic taste of a Chinese restaurant.
② Revolutionary Gyoza: Ajinomoto’s ‘Gyoza’
This product revolutionized Japanese dining tables with its groundbreaking technology: “No oil, no water, no lid required” for cooking. Just arrange them in a frying pan and heat, and anyone can easily make beautiful, crispy-winged gyoza. It’s truly a testament to Japanese technological prowess.
③ The Ultimate Karaage: Ajinomoto’s ‘THE★® Karaage’
Even though you just heat it in the microwave, the coating is crispy, and the inside overflows with juicy meat. With a specialized flavor of garlic and ginger, it’s perfect as a side dish for rice or a snack with beer.
Restaurant-Quality Experience! Genre-Specific Ultra-Delicious Main Dishes
You’ll surely be surprised with “This is frozen?” as we introduce slightly more luxurious, specialty store tastes.
Pasta: Nisshin Seifun Welna ‘Ao no Dokutsu’ (Blue Grotto) Series
Featuring rich and authentic sauces like “Bolognese” and “Crab Tomato Cream,” the appeal lies in their specialty-store quality. The convenience of having the pasta and sauce integrated into a single tray, eliminating the need to transfer to a plate, is another reason for its popularity. There are also retort pouch sauces available, so if you have equipment to boil pasta, be sure to try those too.
Hamburger Steak: Seven Premium Gold ‘Kin no Hamburg’ (Golden Hamburger Steak)
Among Japan’s convenience store “Seven-Eleven” private brands, the “Gold” series represents the highest tier. The rich demi-glace sauce, simmered slowly, and the savory meat flavor as if grilled on an iron plate are praised by professionals as being on par with Western-style restaurants. This is a retort pouch product, not frozen food, so please look for it in the retort pouch corner of Seven-Eleven.
Ramen: Kinrei’s ‘Omizu ga Iranai’ (No Water Needed) Series
An astonishing technology where noodles, soup, and ingredients are frozen together in a three-layer structure. Just put it in a pot and heat, and you can create authentic, restaurant-quality ramen without the hassle of boiling water.
【Trending on SNS!】Slightly Niche Specialty Store Flavors
Enjoy “Konamono” in Your Room: TableMark’s ‘Takoyaki,’ ‘Okonomiyaki,’ etc.
Osaka’s soul food, Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, can now be prepared with just a microwave if they’re frozen. They even come with sauce and bonito flakes, allowing you to enjoy the taste of Japanese street food right in your hotel room. For “konamono” like Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, TableMark is overwhelmingly recommended!
Phantom Delicacy: Muji’s ‘Kimpap (Korean-style Seaweed Roll)’
MUJI’s frozen foods are actually a genre with many enthusiastic fans. Among them, this Kimpap became a legendary product that is consistently out of stock due to its incredible deliciousness, with word spreading online. If you find it, I highly recommend buying it immediately.
Great Supporting Roles & Sweets for Your Dining Table
Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Ball): Nissui ‘Ooki na Ooki na Yaki Onigiri’ (Big Big Grilled Rice Ball)
One of Japan’s soul foods, grilled rice balls brushed with soy sauce. When heated in the microwave, the fragrant aroma of soy sauce that wafts up is irresistible.
Imagawayaki: Nichirei ‘Imagawayaki (Azuki An)’ (Red Bean Paste)
A quintessential traditional Japanese snack. Just heat it in the microwave, and you can enjoy hot, fluffy dough with elegantly sweet red bean paste. It’s the perfect Japanese sweet to soothe your tired body. As introduced on their official Instagram, changing the flavor is also fun! Try arranging it to your liking.
Ken’s Final Advice: How to Identify Cooking Methods
Don’t worry if you can’t read Japanese on the packaging. You can figure out the cooking method by looking at the icons.
- “Microwave” icon: Just heat in the microwave.
- “Frying pan” icon: For cooking in a frying pan.
If you’re still unsure, you can easily translate the cooking instructions by using Google Translate’s camera function on the back of the package. Please try Japan’s technologically advanced frozen foods with a sense of adventure!
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