Conbini Boys

This week, we’re bringing you a public service announcement about how to stay cool at the conbini. Last year, we recommended a number of items, but this year we walk you through each of our own strategies for keeping cool. The chiki wars are still in high gear, and in a heated segment, Matt and Mike talk about the merits of craft beer. Last year's "Keeping Cool at the Conbini" Watch us on YouTube...

In this week’s episode, we take two trips to Hokkaido with 7-11 and Lawson. We review FOUR new chikis. Mike tries a Sugoonigiri from New Days. And Matt pumps Tim Horton’s.    Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Watch us on YouTube Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we take a look at some replies to a tweet that asked you to choose your go-to main dish, beverage, and snack from the conbini. In the winners and losers, we both take aim at the question of “what is a good summer item?” Finally, we investigate Family Mart’s new style of store, otherwise known at the Famima concept. Watch us on YouTube Check out the Newsletter See dumb stuff on Twitter B...

In this week’s episode Mike and Matt take a trip to Hawaii with 7-11. Mike wonders whether it’s safe to eat shelled shrimp. And Matt reviews his local Dunkin Donuts following its renovation. Join the conversation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Subscribe to the newsletter: https://conbiniboys.substack.com/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EpP7cWDPLKw Buy us a chiki: https://www.buyme...

This week, we’re looking at father’s day, and trying to unravel a mystery about why there are so few father themed items at the conbini. We check out a bizarre cheese and Chiki release, revisit a spicy chicken sandwich, and take a look at a truly incredible collaboration between pizza chips, fish and cheese. Watch us on YouTube Check out the Newsletter See dumb stuff on Twitter Buy us a Chiki Get...

This week we take a look at two interesting campaigns, one featuring matcha flavored sweets, and the other featuring all the varieties of cold noodle dishes Japan has to offer. In the winners and losers segment, Matt picks up probably the worst sandwich we’ve ever seen, and Mike picks up a mystery item that the two try to solve. Finally, in "At the Gemba", we at long last take a look at some items...

In this week’s episode, we discuss 7-11’s Trattoria Open campaign — a celebration of Italian cuisine. The chiki wars heat back up with smoked fried chicken. We stare down a spam sandwich from Lawson and Mike reviews the Super Chuhai from FamilyMart.   Listen to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conbini-boys/id1506381271 Join the convo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Su...

This week, we’re happy to introduce our brand new Conbini Newsletter. We fill you in on the good news, and then discuss a recent experiment where certain conbinis have opened their bathrooms up to the public. We check out an Okinawan themed karaagekun, talk burgers, curry ramen, and American dogs, and finally Mike catches us up on Family Mart’s attempt at the egg McMuffin. Watch us on YouTube See...

In this week’s episode, we discuss an Okinawa-themed campaign at 7-11, check out a tartar sauce karaage-kun, mourn the struggles of Daily Yamazaki, and meditate on ice cream. Join the conversation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5KDYMm5IMaU Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

This week we take a look at the Famichiki Frappe, an imaginary item that Family Mart introduced as an April fools joke. And so of course, we take some time to imagine some of our own wacky April Fool’s style items, and come up with some pretty interesting things. To round out the show, we visit Matt’s Munchies, where Matt walks us through a number of incredible pairings of snacks and another feel...

In this week’s episode we take a look at a Children’s Day Kabuto cake, dive into an Okinawa-themed campaign, question skid marks on a 7-11 gratin, and review FamilyMart’s crispy chicken. Join the dumb conversation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_NaYAFruWTg Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

This week we take a look at two exciting campaigns coming out of 7-11, with the “choi happy” sweets campaign, and another focused on the cuisine of Kyushu. Matt and Mike collide during the winners and losers segment, opening up a debate over the strength of Japanese paper, and “At the Genba” Mike introduces the greatest melon pan that the two have ever seen. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on T...

In this week’s episode, we take a look at the long-awaited emergence of new 5% chuhais, sippable Godiva chocolate pudding, and Mike tries a Famichiki sandwiched between a maple syrup nikuman. Join a dumb conversation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rKYZ3E-MGic Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

It’s a jam packed weak at the conbini. With Valentine’s Day coming to a close, we look ahead to White Day, and also 7-11’s Asian Gurume Fair. Matt reviews a new chicken sandwich from a fast-food place in the states, and to close it out, we read a story about how Famichiki grease is being used to power public buses. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on Twitter Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsl...

In this week’s episode, Mike describes an apocalyptic scene at his local conbini. We talk pig ears, yakiniku-sauced karaagekun, choux cream stuffed with brownie, and Donald-Trump-styled beer foam. Join the dumb conversation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RINalS5yE7M Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Year everyone! We’re back after a very long break. We talk about what we were doing while we were off, and then jump right back into the conbini, where we look at Ehomaki and Valentines day. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on Twitter Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

In this week’s episode, Mike and Matt record together for the first time in the United States. They step away from Japan and discuss some of America’s icons like Royal Farms and Costco, they celebrate the Au Jus summit, and they encourage everyone to buy a new TV.    Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I3j7-fy1AAA Read dumb stuff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbiniboys Get full access to Conbin...

This week, we’re talking about the Conbini Boys America Tour… that’s right, Mike’s back in the states, and looking forward to meeting up with Matt. They discuss their agenda, with exciting things like eating Prime Rib, going to Sheetz, and checking out the TVs at Best Buy on the docket. In conbini related news, it’s a crazy week in the Chiki wars, where we see maybe the highest number of new chiki...

In this week’s episode we look at a Nikuman campaign out of Daily Yamazaki and a Creamy Milk campaign out of Lawson. We celebrate the arrival of more bones in the Hot Box. And we mourn the arrival of more rice burgers. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on Twitter Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we take a look at the Extreme Cheese Festival from Family Mart, which promises lots of new items with lots of cheese. Matt picks up an amazing, sweet potato themed winner, and Mike finds a loser that shows that there are somethings that even the conbini doesn’t do well. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on Twitter Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/s...

In this week’s episode, we take a look at the Christmas menu lineup from FamilyMart, Lawson, and 7-11. Mike reviews the PariPari chicken. And we fall in love with a pie cake hybrid from 7-11. Christmas Lineups FamilyMart Lawson 7-11 Matt's Featured Item #1 Matt's Featured Item #2 Mike's Featured Item #1 Mike's Featured Item #2 Chiki Wars Garlic Butter Karaage-kun Crunky Hot Chili Chicken Cheese-in...

This week, we check in on Mike, and see if he was able to hold his lead in the Famichiki tournament to become the king of his conbini. In the Chiki wars, Lawson’s Parichiki makes it’s debut, and in the scoreboard, Family Mart makes a strong comeback. Matt picks up a surprising winner, and Mike’s winner has both Matt and Mike excited for the future of Nikuman. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on...

This week, we take a look at Lawson’s Parichiki, which claims to be an extra crispy Chiki coming out this week. We get an update from Mike about the Famichiki competition, and see if he’s still hanging in at the top of his local store. Finally, Lawson takes some hits in the winners and losers, where Matt picks up perhaps the saddest bento we’ve ever seen. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on Twit...

In this week's episode we check in on Mike's position in the Famichiki Tournament. Lawson launches a nationwide celebration of ramen. The scoreboard heats up with Kimetsu no Yaiba items. And we look at a cake sandwich from 7-11. Famichiki Contest Lawson Ramen Festival Overview Matt's #1 Pick Matt's whacko pick Mike's #1 pick Mike's local pick Chiki Wars Kimetsu no Yaiba Mentai Mayo Karaage-kun Win...

This week, we’re checking in on the Famichiki competition, where competitors battle it out over a month by eating as many Famichikis as they can. The prize: more Famichikis. Matt picks up a bizarre water, and Uchi Cafe continues to be the talk of the town. Watch us on YouTube See dumb stuff on Twitter Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe