Have you ever wondered if you could eat tasty and filling meals all day using just convenience store food?
I tried it myself in Japan and found out you can easily do it for under $10 a day!
7-Eleven in Japan offers plenty of delicious and affordable options, perfect for travelers or anyone looking for budget-friendly meals.
Here’s exactly how you can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for under $10 (around ¥1,324) in a single day. 😊
1. Breakfast (Total: ~$3.30 / ¥462)
a. Grilled Salmon Onigiri
I started my day early with two Grilled Salmon Onigiri, each costing about ¥138 (roughly $1.00).
Onigiri are popular rice balls made from soft, fluffy rice that’s gently salted and slightly sticky.
Inside, there’s tasty grilled salmon. Each rice ball is lightly toasted, giving a nice smoky flavor.
The texture of the rice is soft and satisfying, and the salmon filling is flavorful and mild, perfect for a quick breakfast.
Onigiri is one of the most common snacks in Japan, enjoyed by everyone from kids going to school to office workers grabbing breakfast.
Eating these onigiri gave me a real taste of everyday Japanese food culture.
They were easy to eat and satisfying enough to keep me full until lunchtime.
b. Meiji Oishii Gyunyu
I paired my onigiri with Meiji Oishii Gyunyu, a fresh whole milk that costs about ¥186 (roughly $1.30).
This milk is widely available at 7-Eleven stores across Japan. It’s creamy, slightly sweet, and smooth without any sourness or strong aftertaste.
The texture is light and pleasant, making it enjoyable to drink cold in the morning.
Meiji Oishii Gyunyu comes in a handy 450ml carton with a twist-off cap, making it convenient for drinking while walking around.
It’s healthier and tastier than typical milk you might find elsewhere, packed with nutrients like protein and calcium.
Together with the grilled salmon onigiri, it made a perfect, balanced breakfast.
2. Lunch (Total: ~$3.10 / ¥447)
a. Nissin Cup Noodles Seafood
For lunch, I went for something hot and quick, Nissin Cup Noodles Seafood, priced around ¥255 (roughly $1.80).
Instant ramen cups like these are everywhere in Japan, and they’re super easy to prepare.
All I needed to do was open the lid halfway, fill the cup with hot water (7-Eleven has hot water dispensers in-store), wait three minutes, and my meal was ready.
This cup noodles seafood flavor is particularly tasty. It has thin, curly noodles in a creamy broth with shrimp, bits of squid, crab sticks, and small pieces of vegetables.
The noodles have a soft yet slightly chewy texture, making each bite enjoyable. The broth is creamy, flavorful, and comforting.
Eating cup noodles at 7-Eleven is simple and convenient. They provide chopsticks, and many locations have seating areas.
After finishing, I easily disposed of the leftover soup at the store’s liquid disposal bin. It’s an ideal quick lunch, especially if you’re traveling or busy sightseeing.
b. Kagome Green Smoothie
Alongside my noodles, I grabbed a Kagome Green Smoothie for ¥192 (roughly $1.30).
This smoothie is a blend of 15 different fruits and vegetables, including kiwi, banana, spinach, and kale. It’s naturally sweet without any added sugar.
The texture is smooth and thick, making it feel filling and nutritious.
This smoothie was a great healthy addition to my meal, providing fiber and vitamins.
It comes in a convenient 330 ml bottle with a resealable cap, perfect for carrying around during the day.
3. Dinner (Total: ~$2.90 / ¥415)
a. Nissin Donbei Kitsune Udon
Dinner was another quick but satisfying meal, Nissin Donbei Kitsune Udon, priced at about ¥255 (roughly $1.80).
Kitsune udon is a popular Japanese noodle dish featuring thick, chewy udon noodles in a slightly sweet, soy-based broth.
On top was a piece of soft, sweet fried tofu, known as aburaage, along with bits of green onion and fish cake.
Preparing this udon was easy. Like the cup noodles at lunch, all I had to do was pour hot water into the cup and wait a few minutes.
The noodles absorbed the delicious broth nicely, and the fried tofu was flavorful and comforting. It’s a simple yet classic Japanese meal that’s both filling and tasty.
b. Namacha Green Tea
To drink, I chose a bottle of Namacha green tea for ¥160 (roughly $1.10). Namacha is a famous bottled tea you’ll find in nearly every convenience store in Japan.
It’s unsweetened, mild, and refreshing, with a clean and natural green tea flavor.
Drinking it cold was particularly enjoyable after the warm, savory udon.
Other Delicious 7-Eleven Foods You Can Try
If you’re looking for other options, 7-Eleven offers plenty of delicious alternatives:
a. Sandwiches
Chicken Cutlet Sandwich (¥410.40, roughly $2.90) is filling and tasty with breaded chicken, cabbage, and sauce.
For dessert, the Fruit Sandwich (¥453.60, roughly $3.20) filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit slices is sweet and refreshing.
You can also try the Egg Sandwich (¥248, roughly $1.70), made with creamy egg salad filling that’s mildly sweet and savory, sandwiched between soft, fluffy white bread.
b. Bento Boxes
Bento boxes are convenient meals ready to eat, usually including rice, meat or fish, vegetables, and tasty side dishes.
They’re priced from ¥400 to ¥600 (roughly $2.80–$4.20), making them perfect for affordable, satisfying meals.
c. Ippudo Akamaru Shinaji Hakata Tonkotsu
For ramen lovers, this instant ramen cup (¥354, roughly $2.40) offers a deliciously rich and creamy pork broth.
It features thin, chewy noodles, tender pork slice (chashu), crunchy wood-ear mushrooms, green onions, and aromatic garlic oil.
The included red miso paste adds a gentle spice and deep flavor, making it taste almost as good as dining at an actual ramen restaurant.
d. Nissin Mouko Tanmen Nakamoto Spicy Ramen
If you enjoy spicy food, this instant ramen cup (¥260, roughly $1.80) is perfect for you.
It contains thick, chewy noodles in a flavorful miso broth with a satisfying spicy kick.
The toppings include soft tofu cubes, crunchy vegetables, and special garlic chili oil.
This ramen cup is inspired by Mouko Tanmen Nakamoto, a famous Tokyo ramen shop, allowing you to experience authentic spicy ramen conveniently at 7-Eleven.
My Experience and Recommendation
Eating at 7-Eleven in Japan for a day showed me how tasty, affordable, and convenient these meals can be.
You don’t have to spend a lot to experience authentic Japanese food culture. Everything I chose was easy to find, quick to prepare, and surprisingly delicious.
If you’re traveling on a limited budget or want to stretch your money further, consider mixing some of your meals with affordable choices from 7-Eleven.
You’ll save money while still enjoying tasty, convenient, and satisfying food.
Next time you’re in Japan, give this 7-Eleven food challenge a try. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also have fun discovering some of the best convenience store foods Japan has to offer.
