Must Buy’s in Japan (if you live outside of Japan)

I go back to Japan around once a year to see my family, and before I go back to Canada, the land with limited or over priced authentic Japanese food, there are some items I always buy before leaving Japan so I can still have some cheap tasty Japanese food when I come back. 

From left:

Instant Curry - You just need to boil some water in a pan and put the silver packaged curry inside the boiling water for around 5 minutes. You then take the silver package out, cut the package open and wala! Hot Japanese curry will come oozing out!

Cheese Fondue - Now this requires a tiny bit of prep work, but all you need is some milk and one sliced cheese (if you want the extra cheesy flavor). Put all of those ingredients in a pan with the cheese fondue mix, heat, and you’re done! I know cheese fondue is not a Japanese dish, but this cheese fondue is fast and simple :)  

Mabo Tofu (tofu with spicy sauce) - This is a Chinese dish, but very popular in Japan. I don’t have the patience to make the sauce, so this item gives me a pre-packed sauce that I can just mix in with diced tofu’s in a pan for a quick spicy dish. Goes very well with rice. 

There are a lot more Japanese instant food items I usually bring back, but since I already ate most of them, I’ll have to wait until my next trip back to Japan for some more pics. :( Can’t wait! 

Black Curry Bagel - Junoesque Bagel

This bagel is black because squid ink is mixed in with the curry dough and then sprinkled with parmigiana cheese. 

Junoesque’s feature bagel for the month of August.

It sort of looks like a chocolate donut with some crushed nuts doesn’t it? 

Available at chain stores across Japan. 

Pudding and Pancakes - Pastel 

Good morning everyone! How about something different this morning? 

Add a nice bouncy pudding to your pancake to spice things up!

These pancakes are available at Pastel restaurants across Japan. 

Premium Vanilla Pudding - Sweets Magic 

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiich vanilla pudding available for purchase online with Japan from Sweets Magic store. The vanilla bean bits in the pudding and the black cup makes it look very tasty. 

Fuu Fuu Spaghetti - Groovy (lol)

“Fuu fuu” is an expression Japanese people use when they are cooling down a hot dish by blowing on it. 

I don’t know why this restaurant’s name is Groovy, but it sure makes me want to this fuu fuu oven baked pasta! Sorry to be cheesy..damn..that makes it even cheesier because of the picture. Oh well..I’m having my Saturday sugar rush right now.

Available at Groovy restaurants across Japan (Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba).  

Fruits Mille-crepe & Fruits Tarte - Pastel 

These fruity delights are available from Pastel restaurants across Japan. 

Pumpkin Pudding - Yellow Pumpkin (company name)

Just as the name says, pudding in a pumpkin! 

I can already imagine these two foods being a nice match. Drizzle some caramel sauce and it’ll be fantastico.

Available at the Yellow Pumpkin store in Nisshin City, Aichi-ken; also available for purchase online within Japan. 

Chicken Tatsuta Burger - McDonalds

Available since August 12, 2011 for a limited time, Japan’s beloved burger is back. 

This chicken burger has a hint of soy sauce in the chicken patty, making it one of the most hit burger series in Japan. <10 burgers sold every second!>

Available at all McDonalds in Japan. 

Snoopy Roll Cake - Yellow Pumpkin (company name)

Available with chocolate cream or strawberry cream. 

You can purchase this cake at the Yellow Pumpkin store at Nisshin City, Aichi-ken; also available for purchase online within Japan. 

Mickey Mouse 3D Cake - Patisserie Ginza Sembikiya 

Now where should I eat first? And how are those big Mickey ears held up?

This Mickey is covered with chocolate and vanilla whip cream. The inside is made of chocolate sponge cake mixed with bits of chocolate chips. 

Available for purchase online within Japan. 

Follow Up Post - Black Fondant Chocolat (Posted July 11, 2011)

It’s my father’s birthday soon, and I wanted to give him a present. 

The problem was, I currently live in Canada and he lives in Japan. 

Therefore, I decided to purchase one of the cakes I posted on my blog, the Black Fondant Chocolat cake, which is also available for purchase online to send it to my home in Japan…and wala! The cake was delivered in less than a week. The process was very simple too. You can even select the time range you want the item to be delivered. 

I also thought I can use this opportunity to show you what the actual cake looked like compared to the picture shown on the website. 

Overall, my parents told me that the cake tasted delicious, especially when they dipped the marshmallow and banana into the oozing chocolate. 

Ginza Fruit Jelly - Patisserie Ginza Sembikiya

The white jelly you see in the back is made from pear; the other white jelly you see in the front is made from grapefruit. 

The rest from left to right: Blueberry, Kiwi, Cherry and Mango. 

Just what you need during a hot summer. Refreshing and calorie-wise. 

Available for purchase online within Japan. 

Lady Bug Mango Roll Cake - Yellow Pumpkin (company name)

I guess this roll cake doesn’t have any pesticide on it ;) Yay to organic!

This cute roll cake with lady bugs crawling all over has mango bits and mango cream rolled inside. 

Available at the Yellow Pumpkin store at Nisshin City, Aichi-ken; also available for purchase online within Japan. 

Takoyaki Donut - Mister Donut

Sorry(?) everyone, there is no “tako” (octopus) in this donut. 

Donut with takoyaki sauce, bonito flakes and parsley. 

Available at Mister Donut stores across Japan. 

Ginger Lemon Bagel - BAGEL & BAGEL

WEIRD! But looks refreshing! 

August’s feature bagel at BAGEL & BAGEL. 

Available for a limited time at the BAGEL & BAGEL stores across Japan.