Bento Friday: Suica Bento from JR

Happy Friday!
Japanese Railway will sell limited edition food items featuring their mascot Suica Penguin this month. There will be Suica penguin bread and Suica penguin bentos! So cute! (It's not bento Friday yet but it is too cute not to post this)

Suica penguin bread is made with cocoa powder and chocolate and custard cream filling. They are 400 yen for two and come in a super cute take-out box too. Bentos are 1,050 yen each and have a variety of food. There will also be ICOCA character bentos in addition to Suica bentos during the campaign period (March 18th to March 27th.)

For all Suica items on Yahoo Japan auction, check out the list.

Source: Entabe

Pineapple ramen restaurant sells Coffee Ramen

There are a lot of ramen restaurants with all assortments in Japan, but this particular ramen shop in Ogikubo area of Tokyo, called Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine, is specialized in pinapple ramen, and now they also sell coffee ramen for limited-time only.

Now they sound awfully weird, but let's take a look at their staple menu: pineapple ramen.

Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine's original pineapple ramen was created because of its owner's love for pineapples.

A quarter of broth is made of pineapple juice, and it contains no meat in it at all, except for some fish base. Thus, it is a very healthy, low-calorie alternative to generally fatty, greasy ramen dishes.

That's pretty impressive already, but they won't stop there. 

Great ramen has to come with great ajitsuke-tamago (seasoned boiled eggs) to be called perfect.

Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine's boiled eggs are, as you might guess, also pineapple-flavored!

Boiled eggs, usually soaked in soy-based sauce, are instead infused with pineapple juice, leaving dessert-like freshness in your mouth when you take a bite.

As if pineapple ramen is not strange enough, the restaurant occasionally sells special dishes with special weird ingredients for limited time too.

Coffee ramen is one of their latest special menu. It is a ramen dish consisting of rich, fish-base broth topped with powdered coffee, nori seaweed, onions, and chashu pork.

Now this ramen is, according to a review by RocketNews writer, really, really strong and bitter.

While fish-base broth and coffee topping create shocking bitterness to the dish, onions and chashu pork add hints of sweetness to balance it out.

The owner of the shop suggests that if you don't like black coffee, you can add creamer and sugar to ramen. It is weird to think about mixing dairy and sweetener to ramen, but it doesn't wreck the flavors and actually adds richness to the soup.

Ramen is topped with powdered coffee

In the past, Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine has sold Chocolate Ramen for Valentine's Day, Strawberry Ramen, Papaya Ramen, Mixed Fruit Ramen, Cilantro Ramen, Pumpkin Ramen for Halloween... the list goes on. If you ever get bored with normal ramen, you know where to go!

Check out ramen you can get from Yahoo Japan Auctions.

You can check Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine's latest ramen announcements on official Twitter account.

Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine is located at:

1F Nisshin Plaza

3-12-1 Nishi-ogikubo-minami

Suginami-ku, Tokyo

Official Website 

Source: RocketNews24

Mayonnaise Gourmet, Avocado Shrimp, and more from Pizza Hut's Seasonal Menu

2013 is Pizza Hut's 55th anniversary!

To celebrate the occasion, Pizza Hut Japan introduced its new menu items staring March 4th to June 9th, available limited time only.

There are 6 new items added to Pizza Hut:

1) Avocado Shrimp

Although Domino's Japan has been selling pizzas with avocados and shrimp toppings as its regular menu item, Pizza Hut's got its own version too now.

These avocados are spiced up with herbs and pureed into special sauce, adding creamy richness to juicy shrimps. 

2) Rich Formaggio

For serious cheese lovers! 

On each piece of this pizza is topped with a big chunk of camembert cheese. It is covered with fresh mozzerella, cheddar, parmesan, and tomatoes for extra refreshing flavors. 

3) Wild Garlic

If you don't mind stinking up the room with the smell, here's a pizza to scare off any vampires. Wild Garlic pizza is topped with tons of cloves of garlic. Accompanied by pepperoni, bacon, italian sausage, and hint of black peppers, it'll for sure satisfy your taste buds.

4) Thick Cut Teriyaki Chicken

Each piece of this pizza has a thick-cut teriyaki chicken. And of course, mayonnaise. Japanese people love to put mayonnaise on everything. It is also topped with corns.

5) Pizza Hut Mayo Gourmet

Speaking of mayonnaise, this one has name mayo in its name even. Pizza Hut Mayo Gourmet pizza comes with sliced sausage, bacon, green asparagus, onions, mushrooms, fresh sliced tomatoes, italian tomatoes, and lots of garlics. Take in lots of veggies to make up for eating mayonnaise-covrered meal!

6) Spring Party 4

Can't decide which one to choose from?

Spring Party 4 is a pizza that has 4 separate sections of different toppings: Avocado Shrimp, Thick Cut Teriyaki Chicken, Pizza Hut Mayo Gourmet, and Pizza Hut's staple Idaho Special (which is topped with diced Idaho potatoes) 

For anyone who bought above item, you get complimentary Hut PON, rolled pizza doughs filled with either cheese or chocolate. 

Also, as part of Pizza Hut's spring campaigns, they'll be giving away either Rilakkuma pizza cutter, or a Rilakkuma pizza tray, when you order Rilakkuma Original 4 Pizza (pizza with 4 different flavors - Tuna Mild, Idaho Special, Bacon & Asparagus, and Meat Trio.) Pizzas come in Rilakkuma boxes too!

Hmmm... some of them I'm not sure if they'd be actually tasty or not... but if you are one of the adventurous sorts, you know where to go for interesting pizza selections!

Sources: KFC Group Japan, GIGAZINE

Japanese Curry Rice Championship 2013 Kick-off!

Hungry for hearty, delicious Japanese-style curry rice? 

Curry rice is one of the most popular food among Japanese people. 

Let's see how hungry you really are with Go Go Curry's eating contest! 

From February 25th, popular Kanazawa-style curry chain restaurants Go Go Curry kicked off its annual curry eating contest. The rule is simple, whoever finishes two plates of curry rice and yelled "Go Go Curry!" at the end in shortest time  will be the winner. Four selected winners from Japan will be invited to New York, where Go Go Curry US branches are located, to compete in its world championship. 

For people who just want to enjoy the taste of curry without rushing, check out Yahoo Japan Auction to try some authentic Japanese-style curry and related products. 

Here's a video of a couple of contestants who finished their challenges in 2:43 and 4:29.  

Japanese can eat when they are committed!

Source: Rocket News 24

Kentucky Chicken Rice- KFC Japan's Latest Heart Attack Awaits

A new offering from KFC in Japan is coming February 7th- the "Chicken Rice Burger"- sandwiched between two fried pieces of chicken is a rice patty. 

Top it off with some mayo, tomato sauce and cheese and you have yourself a "burger"  It is only 450 yen and a mere 580 calories. Nom Nom Nom!  

Via Walker Plus

Evangelion and Curry- Nom Nom!

Since I unintentionally had a food post everyday this week, I decided to keep it up today with news of the Evangelion and curry special! Which curry do you want to try??   

Evangelion on Yahoo Japan Auctions

Tofu Trickery!

Gourmet Buffet Olympia located at the Hotel Hankyu Osaka boasts the largest buffet in Kansei and this holiday season they decide to play with their food!

Big plate of tofu??

Nope! It is a cheesecake- yummy! They do top it with some green onions though, which I find a little weird...?

Via

Pepsi White Christmas

A new Pepsi winter flavor is hitting shelves in Japan- called Pepsi White but actually has a bit of tangerine flavor!  It does not release until December 11th, so hopefully we will be able to find some to give away on blog again!

Such adorable packaging for Christmas!!

Pepsi via ABC News

Be sure to check out all the special Japan Pepsi flavors on our blog:

Salty Watermelon Review
Mont Blanc Pepsi Review

Baobab Pepsi Review

Azuki Pepsi Review

Blue Hawaii Pepsi Review

Haagen-Dazs Japan's Purple Sweet Potato Ice Cream

In celebration of Fall, Haagen-Dazs Japan is releasing a purple sweet potato flavored ice cream!

The Okinawan sweet potato is a purple sweet potato common in Asia, but in the US usually only can be found in Asian markets (and Hawaii!)

I wonder how the ice cream tastes?  I think I may have to ask Rinkya Staff to try! I bet it is good!!

Haagen Dazs via Walker Plus

Nom Nom Nom Kawaii Cookies!!!

These cookies are made at an adorable Japan cookie shop:

The otters are my favorite!

Visit the Cookie Shop Henteco

How Much Do You Like Pocky?

Do you like Pocky enough to have your very own Pocky suitcase!?

If you do, you are in luck, as the current travel campaign can get you one!

Try bidding here to win a chance! Pocky Japan Travel Campaign HomePage

Just like Pocky and want to try some different flavors that are hard to get?  Search YJ! auctions for Pocky!

Salty Watermelon Pepsi Winners!

We have three winners for the Salty Watermelon Pepsi! Check out our review here!

All winners have been emailed, please contact us within 48 hours or another prize winner will be chosen.

Thank you everyone and look for another contest next month!

KFC Japan- All you Can Eat!

KFC Japan is running a promo this 4th of July- All you can eat in 45 minutes for 1200 yen!

How much do you think you could eat?  One piece a minute?

Everything You Need to Make Taiyaki!

Taiyaki is a fish shaped cake and a very popular tasty treat in Japan.

Although it is fish shaped, it tastes nothing like fish- they can be sweet or savory. Filled with chocolate, custard, red bean paste. Savory can have cheese, sausage and much more!




Pour in the mold (cake/pancake batter), microwave, and VIOLA- a traditional Japanese treat in your own home anywhere in world!

Product Page order via Rinkya Stores



[Japan]
[taiyaki]
[japan food]

Melons Drop In Price But Still Shockingly Expensive!

The infamous auction for the first Yubari melons of the season took place this past Friday and sold for 500,000 yen (nearly $5400 USD)!!

The shock is not the high price tag but rather the huge drop from last year's auction price of 2.5 million yen (nearly $27000 USD)!
Looks like Japan's drop in prices involves every sector!

So why the high price?
Giving expensive fruit in Japan is a prized gift as seen by our prior blog posts: Grapes for A Grand and Square Watermelons!


Via Washington Post


[Japan]
[square watermelon]
[weird japan news]

Japan Makes Playing With Your Food So Much Fun!!

This reminds me of one of my favorite games when I was a kid- Mouse Trap!

In Japan it is for traditional nagashi soumen. You grab the noodles as they go down the cold water slide.

The pipes also break off and act as bowls to hold spices in it to place on the noodles.

8400 yen- tax included- a great deal to make dinner or lunch more exciting with the family! Small commission fee of $17 via Rinkya Stores



Pic above from a traditional restaurant

You can also purchase the real ones used via here but the Bandai one is portable, small and for home use!

Via Impress Watch



[Japan][food from japan]
[bandai]

Shrimp, Mayo, Crab, Oh My- Newest Pizza News from Japan!

The latest wacky pizza from Japan is the masterpiece shown above. Similar to the double roll (the crust made from rolls with oozing cheese)

They have replaced the cheese in the peel off rolls with shrimp and mayonnaise.

One half of the pizza is crab and mayonnaise, the other half is called "Demigura King", which we unfortunately cannot find a description of!

Our staff is refusing to review this pizza, they are too scared to try it!
For the Review the Staff Did do on the Original Double Roll...


Product Page

Pizza Hut Japan Favorites Pizza


[Japan][pizza reviews]
[pizza hut]

Pizza Hut Creates Japan's Favorite Pizza!

Pizza Hut Japan recently ran a survey on favorite toppings in Japan.

The number one winner was Mentaiko & Potato- Mentaiko is roe (fish eggs) from the white fish, pollock.
The second favorite topping is Ebi Chilli (Shrimp and Chili)

To celebrate these favorite toppings of Japan, Pizza Hut will release the "Super Grand Prix 2007" in September.

Half the pizza will be Mentaiko, the other half Ebi Chilli.

Since these are the favorites in Japan, maybe the pizza will be very popular, but the two toppings on one pizza?

We will call Pizza Hut when orders begin and let you know how it goes!

Info

Don't forget to Submit your Entry to our Japan's Weird Food Contest!

Check out Pizza Hut's Double Roll review here!



[Japan][pizza reviews]
[pizza hut]