After years of hype, the Japanese-style egg salad sandwich has lastly landed within the U.S. For many years, culinary vacationers have raved about Japan’s konbini sandos: smooth, crustless, impossibly clean-looking little sandwiches that in some way style higher than they’ve any proper to. 7-Eleven Japan virtually turned the common-or-garden egg salad sandwich right into a cultural icon. Now 7-Eleven U.S. is taking its shot. I purchased a number of of the sandos on the brand-new 7-Eleven in Flagami (4501 NW seventh St, Miami).
Earlier than we go any additional, sure, the Kewpie brand is entrance and heart on the packaging. And sure, that could be a huge a part of the enchantment. Kewpie mayo isn’t just mayo. It’s a taste folks romanticize, and 7-Eleven is aware of it.
A First Take a look at the U.S. Model
Proper out of the container, the sandwich appears the half. Thick milk bread, smooth edges, tidy filling, and that huge pink KEWPIE MAYONNAISE sticker asserting they didn’t low cost out on crucial ingredient. It’s clearly impressed by the Japanese unique, however no person ought to anticipate an ideal duplicate.
What Is Totally different from the Actual Japanese Tamago Sando
The Japanese konbini model makes use of shokupan, an ultra-soft, barely candy milk bread with the crusts trimmed off. It’s half texture, half nostalgia. The U.S. model? The bread is smooth, however it’s American smooth, not that dreamy, cloudlike shokupan. And the crusts? Nonetheless there.
The filling is the place issues come closest. It’s creamy, yolk-forward, and unmistakably Kewpie-powered. However the flavors play it safer than the variations in Japan: milder, sweeter, much less depth. The Japanese originals have a cleaner egg taste and a smoother texture.
My Trustworthy Overview
I lastly tried the 7-Eleven Japanese Fashion Egg Salad Sandwich, and right here is the reality: it’s respectable, however nowhere close to the paranormal, life-altering chew folks swear by once they speak concerning the variations in Japan. Don’t get me fallacious, I might crush a few these with out pondering twice, however my Mother’s egg salad (her recipe) nonetheless wipes the ground with it.
The bread is smooth sufficient, however it’s American smooth, not shokupan smooth. And sure, the crusts are nonetheless on. Spell damaged proper there. The filling has that acquainted Kewpie richness, however the taste performs it secure. It’s creamy, a bit candy, and completely nice, simply lacking the depth and precision that make the Japanese originals so addictive.
Nonetheless, for one thing pulled out of a refrigerated case subsequent to the remainder of the chilly sandwiches, it’s shockingly good. On the nationwide convenience-store curve, this could be one of the best egg salad sandwich you should purchase within the U.S. On the Japanese konbini scale, it’s not even in the identical weight class.
The Backside Line
The U.S. lastly has entry to a Japanese-style egg salad sandwich. That alone is price noting. And seven-Eleven deserves credit score for not butchering the concept. However you probably have eaten the actual factor in Japan, you already know: it is a tribute act, not the headliner.
A strong grab-and-go possibility? Completely.
A alternative for the unique tamago sando? Not an opportunity.