10 Must-Try Foods at Lawson in Japan

Wondering what tasty treats you should try at Lawson in Japan? You’re in the right place!

Lawson isn’t just another convenience store. It offers delicious snacks, meals, and desserts that locals genuinely enjoy.

Here are 10 must-try foods at Lawson to help you find your next favorite snack.

They’re perfect for a quick bite or a satisfying meal during your travels around Japan! 😊

1. Karaage-kun

Karaage-kun Overview: Small pieces of juicy fried chicken, tender and flavorful inside.
Crispy Texture: Coating is crispy and light, not oily or heavy.
Flavor Choices: You can choose from several flavors including Regular (mild chicken flavor), Red (spicy), Cheese (mild cheese taste), Lemon (refreshing citrus), and special limited editions like Mustard Mayo.

Serving Size: Each box includes 5 bite-sized pieces, ideal as a quick snack.
Fun and Practical Packaging: Comes in a cute chicken-themed box with a toothpick, easy to enjoy while exploring.
Local Favorite: Karaage-kun is one of the most popular snacks at Lawson convenience stores throughout Japan.

Personal Experience: The one I tried and enjoyed was the Regular flavor, which has a simple and satisfying chicken taste.
Prices:
- Regular: ¥259 (tax included) (roughly $1.80)
- Red (Spicy): ¥259 (tax included) (roughly $1.80)
- Cheese: ¥259 (tax included) (roughly $1.80)
- Lemon: ¥259 (tax included) (roughly $1.80)
- Mustard Mayo (Limited Edition): ¥278 (tax included) (roughly $1.90)

2. L Fried Chicken (L-chiki)

Crispy and Juicy: L-Chiki has a crispy outer coating with tender, juicy chicken inside.
Flavorful Seasoning: It’s nicely seasoned, savory, and similar to familiar fried chicken flavors.
Flavor Choices: You can choose between “Regular” (classic taste) and “Hot” (spicy version for extra heat).

Easy-to-Eat: It’s boneless, so you can conveniently enjoy it on-the-go without any hassle.
Personal Experience: I tried the “Regular” flavor and enjoyed its classic, delicious taste.
Prices:
- Regular: ¥248 (tax included) (roughly $1.70)
- Hot (Spicy): ¥259 (tax included) (roughly $1.80)

3. Lawson Premium Roll Cake

Fluffy Cake: The cake is soft, light, and airy, made with quality ingredients, giving it a gentle texture you’ll enjoy.
Smooth Cream Filling: Rich, fresh cream at the center, creamy yet not overly sweet.
Flavor Options: Occasionally, you might find special versions, such as strawberry flavor, depending on the season.

Easy to Eat: Soft and light, it tastes even better when you enjoy it chilled.
Mild Sweetness: Sweet enough to enjoy, but not overly sugary or heavy.
Price: ¥227 (tax included) (roughly $1.60)

4. NL Drinking Yogurt

Refreshing Flavor: Smooth yogurt blended with real fruits, slightly sweet and tangy without being overly sugary.
Smooth & Creamy: Easy to drink, with a smooth and creamy texture similar to a fruit smoothie.
Real Fruit Pieces: You’ll find small pieces of actual fruit mixed inside, adding a nice chewy texture.

Flavor Choices: Strawberry, Blueberry, Aloe, Banana, Green & Gold Kiwi, Red & Green Apples and Golden Pineapple.
Something Different: This drinkable yogurt is popular at Lawson and a fun way to experience unique Japanese convenience-store treats.
Prices:
- Strawberry, Blueberry, Aloe: ¥165 (tax included) (roughly $1.10)
- Banana, Green & Gold Kiwi, Red & Green Apples, Golden Pineapple: ¥178 (tax included) (roughly $1.20)

5. Hokkaido Milk Cream Cake Roll

Soft and Chewy Cake: The cake has a soft texture with a slight chewiness, similar to mochi, making every bite enjoyable.
Creamy Milk Filling: The filling is made from fresh Hokkaido milk. It tastes creamy, rich, and pleasantly sweet.

Unique Texture: The cake’s chewy, mochi-like texture is different from regular cakes, giving you a unique eating experience.
Quality Ingredients: It features premium Hokkaido milk, known for its tasty and creamy flavor.
Easy to Share: The roll comes conveniently cut into 6 pieces, perfect for snacking or sharing with friends.
Price: ¥343 (tax included) (roughly $2.40)

6. Lawson Twin Big Cream Puff

Two Cream Fillings: You get a combination of whipped cream and custard cream inside a soft pastry.
Whipped Cream: It has a smooth texture, mild sweetness, and a gentle milky flavor.

Custard Cream: This cream is richer, with a thick, creamy texture and a tasty vanilla flavor.
Soft Pastry Shell: The pastry is fluffy, soft, and goes well with the creamy fillings.
Quick, Tasty Snack: A simple and tasty option to experience a typical Japanese convenience store dessert.
Price: ¥138 (tax included) (roughly $1)

7. Tenkaippin Cup Ramen Noodles

Famous Ramen Brand: Tenkaippin is well-known in Japan for delicious ramen with rich chicken broth.
Creamy Chicken Broth: You’ll enjoy a thick, creamy broth with a satisfying chicken flavor, similar to the ramen served at Tenkaippin restaurants.
Soft, Flavorful Noodles: The noodles are thin, soft, and absorb the broth, making every bite tasty.

Traditional Toppings: It comes with real ramen toppings like pork slices, bamboo shoots, and green onions, giving you extra texture and taste.
Appetizing Aroma: You’ll immediately notice a tasty aroma of chicken and garlic, making it very appealing from the first moment you open it.
Genuine Flavor: This cup ramen was specially created with Tenkaippin to taste very similar to their popular restaurant ramen.
Price: ¥356 (tax included) (roughly $2.40)

8. Pork Cutlet Sandwich

Crispy Pork Cutlet: You get a thick pork cutlet that’s crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Soft Bread: The bread is fluffy and soft, soaking up the flavorful sauce.

Fresh Cabbage: A layer of crunchy cabbage adds freshness to every bite.
Delicious Sauce: It comes with a tasty sweet and savory sauce from Maisen, making the sandwich extra flavorful.
Only at Lawson: You can buy this sandwich only at Lawson, made together with Maisen, a popular pork cutlet shop in Japan.
Price: ¥495 (tax included) (roughly $3.40)

9. Ohayo Jersey Milk Pudding

Creamy Milk Taste: You’ll enjoy a creamy, rich milk taste from high-quality Jersey cow milk, known for its delicious, smooth flavor.
Perfectly Sweetened: It’s lightly sweetened, so you can fully enjoy the natural milk flavor without feeling it’s too sweet.
Smooth and Silky: The pudding has a smooth, silky texture and melts easily in your mouth.
Two Delicious Layers: There’s a creamy pudding base topped with soft milk cream, creating an extra smooth and tasty experience.

Made with Jersey Milk: The pudding uses premium Jersey milk, which comes from a rare breed of cows in Japan, famous for their richer and creamier milk.
Popular Treat: It’s one of the most popular convenience-store desserts in Japan.
Exclusive to Japan: Since it’s mainly sold in Japan, trying this pudding is a tasty experience you might not easily find elsewhere.
Price: ¥192 (tax included) (roughly $1.30)

10. Egg Sandwich and Fruit Sandwich

a. Egg Sandwich

Taste and Texture: The bread is soft and fluffy, filled generously with smooth, creamy egg salad.
Must-Try Reason: It’s a local favorite that’s easy to enjoy for breakfast or as a quick snack while exploring.
Price: ¥279 (tax included) (roughly $1.90)

b. Fruit Sandwich

Taste and Texture: The bread is soft and filled with fresh slices of fruit like kiwi, pineapple, and peach, combined with light whipped cream. It tastes sweet and refreshing.
Must-Try Reason: It’s a tasty and unique snack that lets you enjoy fresh Japanese fruits conveniently. Perfect if you want something sweet while traveling.
Price: ¥408 (tax included) (roughly $2.80)

Good Pick #1: Koshian Daifuku

Mochi Skin: The outer layer is soft, chewy, and easy to bite into, giving you that satisfying mochi experience.
Sweet Filling: Inside is a smooth, gently sweet red bean paste made from quality Hokkaido azuki beans.

Great Texture Combo: Thin mochi outside with creamy red bean paste inside, giving a nice soft-chewy feel.
Traditional Taste: This snack lets you enjoy an authentic and simple Japanese sweet, perfect if you’re new to local treats.
Easy to Share: Each piece is individually wrapped, making it convenient to share or save some for later.
Price: ¥208 (tax included) per bag with seven bite-sized pieces (roughly $1.40)

Good Pick #2: Melon Pan with Salty Butter

Sweet and Salty Topping: The crispy top has a lightly sweet taste balanced nicely with a hint of salt.
Soft Bread Inside: When you bite into it, you’ll find the bread fluffy, soft, and moist.

Buttery Flavor: The bread contains delicious fermented butter, giving each bite a pleasant, rich buttery taste.
Interesting Taste: It offers a tasty twist on Japan’s traditional melon pan, combining sweetness with a touch of salted butter.

Loved by Locals: It’s very popular in Japan, so trying it gives you a taste of what locals enjoy.
Price: ¥160 (tax included) (roughly $1.10)

Good Pick #3: Doramocchi (Red Bean Paste and Whipped Cream)

Pancake Shell: The pancake is soft, chewy, and a bit stretchy like mochi. It’s not fluffy like regular pancakes.
Filling: Inside you’ll find smooth whipped cream that’s lightly sweet, along with sweet red bean paste.

Unique Blend: It mixes traditional Japanese red bean flavors with creamy whipped cream, giving you a tasty and unique snack experience.
Popular Snack: This is a favorite among locals and regularly recommended as one of Lawson’s best convenience store desserts.
Price: ¥200 (tax included) (roughly $1.40)

Good Pick #4: Thick Pork Cutlet & Fried Chicken Bento

Pork Cutlet: The pork cutlet is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It’s juicy without being too greasy.
Fried Chicken: The fried chicken is crunchy and juicy, marinated in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for extra flavor.
Fresh Cabbage: The shredded cabbage is crisp and fresh, helping balance the heavier fried items.

Rice and Sauce: The soft white rice pairs perfectly with the meats. The sauce provided has a tasty sweet and savory flavor.
Two Popular Items: You get to try both pork cutlet and fried chicken in one convenient box.
Satisfying Portion: It has a generous amount of meat and rice, so you’ll definitely feel full.
Price: ¥697 (tax included) (roughly $4.80)

Good Pick #5: Yoshimuraya Pork Bone Soy Sauce Cup Ramen

Rich Broth: You’ll enjoy a thick, flavorful broth made from pork bones and soy sauce. It has a satisfying savory taste.
Chewy Noodles: The noodles are medium-thick and chewy, perfectly soaking up the delicious broth.
Authentic Toppings: The ramen comes with slices of tender pork, spinach, green onions, and seaweed, making it taste like genuine ramen from a restaurant.
Bold Flavor: This ramen has a strong, salty taste, ideal if you prefer richer ramen.
Famous Brand: Made in collaboration with Yoshimuraya, a popular ramen restaurant from Yokohama known for delicious ramen.
Easy to Make: Just add hot water and wait about 5 minutes. It’s quick and easy to prepare anytime.
Price: ¥348 (tax included) (roughly $2.40)