Japan's Most Delicious Chicken is from Family Mart
Japan's Most Delicious Chicken is from Family Mart
Overview
In this livestream episode, John Daub tackles a classic Japanese convenience store debate: which fried chicken is better, 7-Eleven's Nanachiki or FamilyMart's Famichiki? Standing near Tsukishima Station in Tokyo during Golden Week, John conducts a live taste test, comparing the texture, flavor, and juiciness of both iconic snacks. While he lives in Japan and has access to home cooking, he acknowledges the cultural significance of these "roller hot dogs" of the konbini world.
Beyond the chicken showdown, John takes viewers on a walk through Tsukishima's famous Monja Street. He observes the rapid changes in the neighborhood, noting the replacement of old Showa-era nagaya (row houses) with modern apartment complexes. He encounters local mascots, discusses the impact of the pandemic on small businesses, and shares insights on where to find authentic food versus tourist traps.
The episode also references a previous trip to Miyazaki, where John experienced high-quality jidori (local chicken), setting a high bar for convenience store options. Throughout the stream, he interacts with viewers, answering questions about thrift shopping and emergency numbers, while delivering his final verdict on the chicken battle.
Highlights
- 00:21 John introduces the Nanachiki vs. Famichiki showdown.
- 02:32 First taste test of Nanachiki: oily and bready.
- 03:30 Famichiki taste test: smaller, thicker, and juicier.
- 05:10 Detailed comparison of packaging and price (220 yen).
- 07:10 Reference to Miyazaki's high-quality jidori chicken.
- 08:21 Walking down Monja Street during Golden Week crowds.
- 09:21 Discussion on neighborhood gentrification and nagaya removal.
- 14:02 Encounter with Enyan, the monjayaki mascot.
- 17:07 Final verdict: Nanachiki wins on juiciness and spice.
- 18:02 Explanation of Japanese emergency numbers (110/119).
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00 Intro: Nanachiki vs. Famichiki challenge.
- 02:30 Tasting Nanachiki (7-Eleven).
- 03:30 Tasting Famichiki (FamilyMart).
- 05:00 Packaging and price comparison.
- 07:00 Miyazaki chicken reference.
- 08:00 Walk to Monja Street.
- 09:00 Neighborhood changes and construction.
- 13:00 Viewer Q&A: Thrift stores.
- 14:00 Mascot encounter.
- 17:00 Final chicken diagnosis.
- 18:00 Emergency numbers and police mascot.
- 20:00 Food recommendations: Katsudon and Chicken Nanban.
- 22:00 Pandemic impact on local businesses.
- 26:00 Closing thoughts and next episodes.
Japan Travel Tips
- Convenience Store Chicken: Both Nanachiki and Famichiki cost around 220 yen ($1.75). They are great late-night snacks or quick meals.
- Emergency Numbers: Dial 110 for police and 119 for fire/ambulance in Japan (reverse of US 911).
- Tsukishima Visit: Visit Monja Street for authentic monjayaki, but avoid main street tourist traps like Bambi for smaller portions. Look for off-street family spots.
- Thrift Shopping: For vintage clothing, head to Harajuku or Shimokitazawa rather than Tsukishima.
- Golden Week: Expect crowds during this holiday period; signal strength for livestreams may vary due to congestion.
- Melon Pan: Avoid chain store melon pan; seek out small local bakeries for better quality.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Nanachiki (ナナチキ): Portmanteau of "Nana" (Seven, from 7-Eleven) and "Chiki" (Chicken).
- Famichiki (ファミチキ): Portmanteau of "Fami" (FamilyMart) and "Chiki".
- Monjayaki (もんじゃ焼き): A savory teppanyaki pancake famous in Tsukishima, similar to okonomiyaki but runnier.
- Nagaya (長屋): Traditional wooden row houses from the post-war era, often torn down for modern development due to earthquake safety concerns.
- Jidori (地鶏): Local or free-range chicken, often considered higher quality than standard broiler chicken.
- Kawaii (可愛い): Cute; used to describe the local mascot Enyan.
- Golden Week: A collection of four national holidays within seven days, one of the busiest travel periods in Japan.
Food & Drink Guide
- Nanachiki (7-Eleven Fried Chicken): 02:32 Described as oily, bready, thin (likely breast), not very fatty. Later revised to juicier with better spicing.
- Famichiki (FamilyMart Fried Chicken): 03:30 Smaller, thicker, noticeable pepper taste, juicy.
- Karaage: 07:10 General term for Japanese fried chicken, often made with thigh meat (momo).
- Chicken Nanban: 20:33 Fried chicken with tartar sauce, considered "next level above karaage".
- Katsudon: 20:33 Pork cutlet rice bowl cooked in dashi.
- Melon Pan: 10:43 Sweet bun with a cookie crust, popular in Tsukishima.
People
- John Daub: Host and narrator. He conducts the taste test, walks the neighborhood, and interacts with viewers.
- Kanae Daub: John's wife. Mentioned regarding a cake order pickup, but not present in the video.
- Greg Lane: Mentioned as being from Tokyo Cheapo, discussed regarding tourism trends.
- Enyan (Mascot): The local monjayaki mascot encountered on the street. Blue cat-like character with a spatula.
- Andy from Texas: Viewer who commented on stream stability.
- Josie: Viewer who asked about thrift stores.
Key Takeaways
- Chicken Verdict: 7-Eleven's Nanachiki ultimately wins for juiciness, thickness, and spicing, despite Famichiki being the original craze.
- Neighborhood Change: Tsukishima is undergoing significant gentrification, with old wooden row houses being replaced by earthquake-safe apartments.
- Tourism Impact: Post-pandemic tourism is returning, but spending habits have changed; crowds visit top attractions without necessarily spending locally.
- Local Food: Authentic experiences are often found off the main streets, away from tourist-focused establishments.
Notable Quotes
- 00:21 "Nanachiki and Famichiki are very different. 7-Eleven versus FamilyMart."
- 02:32 "Expectations are low. Oily, kind of like Kentucky Fried Chicken spiciness."
- 07:10 "That's hardcore free-range jidori from Miyazaki, the Kobe beef of chicken."
- 14:02 "Kawaii, but he's got a weapon, a spatula. I'm scared."
- 17:07 "Diagnosis: 7-Eleven's Nanachiki thumps Famichiki—juicier, thicker, better spicing, some crunch."
- 20:33 "Locals go off-street for authentic family spots."
Related Topics
- Convenience Store Food Reviews
- Tokyo Neighborhood Walks
- Japanese Fried Chicken Varieties
- Urban Development in Tokyo
- Golden Week Travel
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tokyo #tsukishima #convenience-store #famichiki #nanachiki #fried-chicken #monjayaki #golden-week #street-food #japan-travel #konbini #chicken-review
Full Transcript
00:21 John Daub: Nanachiki and Famichiki are very different. 7-Eleven versus FamilyMart. In this episode, we're trying Famichiki versus Nanachiki. What's up with the chiki? Everybody's been telling me Japanese chicken is really good here. I live here, so there's no reason to go to a convenience store and eat chicken because I have a kitchen. These are basically like the roller hot dogs of the convenience store.
01:06 John Daub: I hope everybody is here. I don't see any comments coming in yet. Are we buffering? Uh-oh, are we having some issues? How can there be lag? I'm right in the middle of traffic here. We keep losing the signal. That was weird. Okay, Andy from Texas says we're fine here.
01:54 John Daub: We have two different kinds of chicken. I was just in Miyazaki, and we had some of the best chicken. This episode is on YouTube—you can see the restaurant on the right. This convenience store chicken is going to be the same as that? You never know, I could be surprised. It's just a piece of deep-fried chicken.
02:32 John Daub: It's old. Expectations are low. Oily, kind of like Kentucky Fried Chicken spiciness. Oily and bready, not crunchy. When you get things right out of the fryer, it's usually crunchy. This is thin, I think chicken breast, not very fatty.
03:30 John Daub: Let me try this one, the competitor—Famichiki. It's noticeably smaller and thicker. Nanachiki vs. Famichiki. For me, this one's better. Noticeable pepper taste. Smaller but thicker, and juicy. I took a picture earlier.
04:30 John Daub: Maybe we can find this character out in the wild. Let's go down the alley. This is the Tsukishima (moon island) area station, not far from where I live.
05:10 John Daub: There was no connection where the chicken was, so I'm doing a part two out here. Should I eat this chicken? This is Famichiki from FamilyMart—thinner, more orange, looks like chicken breast. Next, Nanachiki. Packaging rips in half so no oil on hands. Thicker but smaller, same weight and price, 220 yen, about $1.75. I think 7-Eleven's is juicier, crust more savory. Pretty good, but doesn't compare to the edited episode I just released on the main channel—go check it out.
07:10 John Daub: That's hardcore free-range jidori (local chicken) from Miyazaki, the Kobe beef of chicken. It looks like karaage (Japanese fried chicken)—deep-fried breaded momo (thigh), floured first, then egg-dipped. So good with that sauce, medium soy. Delicious chicken dish at that restaurant.
08:21 John Daub: We're on Monja Street—loads of restaurants serving monjayaki (savory teppanyaki pancake), famous in Tokyo. You can smell it wafting out. Signal's better here among the Golden Week crowds.
09:21 John Daub: There's a famous melon pan (sweet bun) store I live-streamed at—this street has changed a lot. New cement building, entire block redone with a pricey pandemic-era apartment complex. They took down old post-war nagaya (row houses), like shack wood townhouses, two to three stories. Not safe in earthquakes, structural damage from 2011 even in Tokyo. Neighborhood's still changing with more construction.
10:43 John Daub: Wow, so many people. It was incredible at the free-range chicken farm. The farmer invited me to film—when they do that, you know they're doing something right. Here's my favorite metal pump. Konnichiwa. This store's where I get them, but not today—trying to stop sugar.
11:53 John Daub: This street's famous for monjayaki, but the new apartment made shops here new. Old facade, but wider now—no connecting roof. Right side shops brand new, not monjayaki-related. There's a chicken shop that went out of business, couple melon pan shops. Don't get melon pan at the Tokyo chain—go to the small business I showed, way better. This one has chocolate chip pan, apple pie, croissants.
13:29 John Daub: Hey Josie—just binged streams, can't wait to visit. Areas for thrift stores? Harajuku, Shimokitazawa for used clothing, vintage. Bigger market there.
14:02 John Daub: Oh, there's the mascot—he's blue. Is that the monjayaki mascot? Got a moon—Tsukishima station, tsuki means moon. His name's Enyan—monja + nyan (cat sound). Kawaii (cute), but he's got a weapon, a spatula. I'm scared.
17:07 John Daub: Diagnosis: 7-Eleven's Nanachiki thumps Famichiki—juicier, thicker, better spicing, some crunch. Famichiki probably started the craze, it's original. Local poster—every station has community boards, cool designs, culture.
18:02 John Daub: Police mascot—dial 110 for police, 119 fire/ambulance (911 in US). Japan backwards.
18:53 John Daub: Look at this alley, trees, school. Nagaya row houses—many gone for high-rises, real estate pricey, eight-minute bike to Ginza. Showa-era buildings not safe. Koike-san favors tearing down for development, battle over Gaien (Olympic Stadium area) shopping center. We need green spaces.
20:33 John Daub: That katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowl) looks top five—thick slow-cooked pork in dashi over rice. Chicken nanban's there too. Fugu, unagi, sushi promoted, but neighborhood's for monjayaki. Don't go to main street shops like Bambi—small portions for tourists. Locals go off-street for authentic family spots.
22:42 John Daub: Cafes popping up, some new post-pandemic, others out of business in 2020. Businesses coming back, but not the same. Talked with Greg Lane of Tokyo Cheapo—top attractions crowded, people leave without spending. Need more attractions.
24:31 John Daub: Got Kanae's cake here from Instagram post—swoop in on canceled orders. That creepy mascot Mun-Yan (or Enyan) ignored by crowds.
26:03 John Daub: Check the Japanese chicken farm episode on YouTube—leave comments/questions from Only in Japan Go. Favorite chicken dish? Chicken nanban—next level above karaage, ultimate. If you were chicken, chicken nanban?
27:36 John Daub: Beautiful day. Food festivals tomorrow, better signal. Next main channel episode weekend. Final answer: 7-Eleven Nanachiki wins—juicier, thicker, better. Good drunk food like a gyro. Bye!