Welcome to the launch of NYC Konbini Kitchen! Today, we’re diving straight into the essentials: What defines an “iconic” Japanese snack?
Taste Testing the Icons: Pocky, Dorayaki, and Senbei
For many of us, the answer includes treats seen everywhere—from Pocky making a cameo in anime to watching a Japanese vlogger enjoy fresh Dorayaki or Senbei in a remote village. While we might not be trekking through the mountains for a fresh bite, our challenge is to find and review these cultural touchstones right here in New York City.
Join us as we explore the enduring appeal of these legendary snacks, sourced straight from our favorite local Japanese and Korean convenience stores (konbini) and markets in the NYC area!
Our Chocolate and Strawberry Pocky Experience
You know, I think a lot of people romanticize Pocky because of anime and conventions, but sometimes I wonder if it’s any good?
I like eating the chocolate-flavored Pocky when I want something sweet but don’t feel like making brownies or cookies. It hits the spot, but there is not enough chocolate on the wafer-thin sticks to fully satisfy me.
Strawberry Pocky is a lot creamier than the chocolate, and also melts faster on a hot day. It has a good Strawberry flavor, although you can tell it’s artificial, and when you get to the end of the stick, the biscuit texture actually complements the strawberry (unlike the chocolate ones).
I’ve tried other flavors in the past besides the two mentioned above, and they all suffer from offering a little bit of flavor mixed with the sticks, ultimately overpowering any taste towards the end.
Taste Test: Yuki no Yado Senbei Crackers and More
I don’t know if these crackers are really that good, or if it’s because I have a fond memory attached to them that I like them so much. Senbei are traditional Japanese rice crackers.
Usually, they are served as-is, but Yuki no Yado are topped with a sweet sugary frosting that gives these senbei a unique umami flavor. Even the name reflects the topping, as “Yuki” means snow and yado means “abode”, so in essence, the name of these crackers is home covered in snow to reflect that quaint feeling of being snowed in on a winter’s evening.
As for my fond memory associated with these, I had these senbei along with oi ocha tea at my first-ever Japanese conversational Cafe many years ago. This was when I was just getting into conventions and just before I started college, and years before working at the Japanese cultural center.
It was held by the local chapter of the national “JNTO” Organization and was meaningful because it was the first time outside of conventions and online that I got to meet others who were just as passionate about Japanese culture as I was.
All these years later, I still remember that evening. As a matter of fact, Yuki no Yado and Oi Cha green tea are the first things I bought from the Japanese convenience store near the Japanese cultural center when I started working there.
Diving into the Red Bean Paste: The Dorayaki Review
These particular snacks are: Doraemon Dorayaki Pancake with Red Bean Paste – 3 pack (with collectable stickers). I absolutely adore dorayaki, or anything with Japanese adzuki beans (or red bean paste). This ‘anpan’ is a little soggy, but it’s strangely comforting.
There is a thick glob of koshian bean paste (adzuki bean mixture with some beans still intact) placed directly in the center between the pancakes.
The dorayaki is sweet, but not too sweet. Honestly, I wish there were more than 3 that came in this pack – I could definitely eat a lot more in one sitting, haha.
Have you tried any traditional or iconic Japanese wagashi before? If so, what is your favorite snack?
Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Japanese Snack reviews!
☆ In Asian Spaces ☆ Ephesians 6:12 ☆
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