Conbini Boys

This week, we’re finishing our tour of B-tier conbinis, and to close it out we’re taking a look at NewDays, the train station convenience store chain. We take a look at the scoreboard, pick our winners and losers where there’s a little bit of controversy, and then talk about another controversial item that keeps popping up, family mart’s Poki Chiki. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.yo...

In this week's episode, we continue our exploration of B-Tier conbini and head over to Poplar, a popular conbini in and around Hiroshima. We take a look back at their history and share what makes them special, notably the option to order a pound of rice in your bento. As always, we run down the new item scoreboard, share our winners and losers, and then head to gemba for another look at the the ta...

This week, we’re continuing our theme of taking a look at some of the smaller convenience stores around Japan. So just just like with Ministop and Daily Yamazaki, this week we’re taking a deep dive into Hokkaido’s pride, Seicomart. The Chiki wars take an unexpected turn when Matt and Mike discover the existence of a mysterious association. We take a look at the scoreboard and pick out our winners...

In this week's episode we continue our deep dive into B-tier conbini and head to Daily Yamazaki, a minor conbini known for its baked goods. We check out the chiki wars and the scoreboard, where Mike takes a shot at Ministop. Then we hit the Gemba where Mike reviews the tarutaru chiki. Check out all the action on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C-gIUUCkEro Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/conbin...

It’s a new year, and we decided to do something new… For the next couple of weeks, we’re going to be looking beyond the Big 3, to some of the other smaller conbinis in Japan. This week, we’re starting with Ministop. We check in with the Chiki wars, where we look at 4 new chikis. We take a look at the scoreboard, pick out our winners and losers, and then check in with Mike for some items from the g...

In this week's episode, we take a look back at some of our favorite clips from the past year:  Unsolved Conbini Mysteries  Famichiki Legendary  Feats of Juice FamilyMart and Choshu Riki Collaboration 7-11 Cheese Dog Conbini Christmas Cake Casey's Conbini Memory The First Chiki Wars Segment Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

After six rounds of brutal matchups we finally crown the champion of the Conbini Tournament - Famichiki - and honor it by sharing four legendary feats of juice. We also look at the new item scoreboard and pick winners and losers. We make a call on a haul and Mike reviews a new Famichiki from the gemba. Conbini Tournament Final Bracket Items we discuss: Mike's winner new item Matt's winner new item...

Happy new year! And what a way to start: we've finally reached the championship round of the Conbini Tournament. From the hotbox division: Famichiki. From the meal division: Tuna Mayo Onigiri. We give our predictions, our thoughts, and look forward to the not so distant future where we can crown the king of the conbini. And that's not all... things are picking up again at the conbini! We pick up o...

In this week’s episode, we preview the Final Four of the Conbini Tournament showcasing each of the division champions that will face-off in epic matchups. Hot Box Division: Famichiki Snack Division: Black Thunder Meal Division: Tuna Mayo Onigiri Beverage Division: Pocari Sweat Get ready for some brutal matchups! We also share our very first Conbini Composition from a listener. Check out the video...

This week we're checking back in on the Conbini Tournament, where the third round has wrapped up and we're into the divisional championships. We celebrate the winners, and then take some time to commemorate some of the losers, who will continue to live on in our hearts. No chikis this week, for the first time ever, but we do take a look at the scoreboard and share our winners and losers as always....

The Conbini Tournament hosted some savage matchups in Round 2. Mike was left shaken to his core by a close battle between Pocari Sweat and Oi Ocha Green Tea, while Matt was left feeling anxious about a Round 3 fight between Canned Coffee and Conbini Drip Coffee.    Outside the tournament, Mike and Matt take a look at two new chikis from FamilyMart and Lawson. The former continues its quest to perf...

In this week's episode we're checking in on the Conbini Tournament, where the first round has finally wrapped up. We take a look at our devastated brackets, talk about some of our favorite matchups from the first round, and look ahead to some of the exciting matches in the upcoming round of 32. We check out some cheesy chikis, spotlight a couple of upcoming conbini items, hear from the Spicy Comme...

In this week's episode, Mike and Matt share their respective Final Fours in the conbini tournament. Matt drops some shocking news about his feelings toward Pocari Sweat, while Mike speculates on the rise of conbini drip coffee. Naturally, they talk chikis. Lawson joins 7-11 and FamilyMart with their Christmas-inspired bone-in fried chicken, then one-ups them with beautifully broiled chicken legs....

This week is episode 30, and it's a big one! For the next six weeks we're going to be holding the first ever Conbini Tournament, where we try to crown the king of the conbini. We talk about the upcoming tournament, take a look at some new items and the chiki wars, and then hear from a caller who shares a memory from their first trip to the conbini. Subscribe to our Youtube 2:34 - Chiki Wars  9:28...

In this week's episode, Mike and Matt talk about yet another Karaagekun flavor, the return of premium bone-in chicken at FamilyMart, share this week's winning and losing new items from the Big 3 conbini, discuss a FamilyMart with a bar, hear from the Spicy Commentator on a new conbini sweet, hit the gemba, and listen to their first caller's conbini memory. Subscribe to our YouTube 1:50 - Chiki War...

In this week's episode, we welcome back one of our favorite members of the conbini boys universe: The Spicy Commentator. We look at some chikis, share our favorites from each conbini, check out a new conbini television drama, and continue on with our look at the history of onigiri at the conbini. YouTube: https://youtu.be/Nb4XuNHZPY8 Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substa...

In this week's episode, the chiki wars heat up with three new chikis from each of the Big 3 Conbini. We share our winners and losers from this week's new items. Mike tells a spooky tale about 7-11's Zaku Chiki from the gemba. And we head to Conbini College to talk about the history of the onigiri. 1:58 - Chiki Wars 8:15 - New Item Scoreboard 8:54 - Matt's Loser: Lawson's Mentaiko Mochi Man 11:03 -...

On this week's podcast, we round out our review of Christmas preorders at the conbini, finishing up with a look at Family Mart. We take a look at a chiki from Ministop, pick out our winners and losers of the week, share some conbini resources, and then take a look at Ministop and their game-changing "partner contracts" with conbini franchise owners. Video version here: https://youtu.be/dW4wQIk1JaM...

We kickoff this week's episode with more vegan innovation out of FamilyMart - meatless nuggets. Then we dive into the New Item Scoreboard , picking winners and losers out of the Big 3 Conbini. The mailbag is back with shoutouts to a few Twitter followers dropping big-time knowledge. We review Lawson's Christmas menu and nearly blow our stacks on the price and size of their Christmas cakes. Mike re...

In this week's episode, we're looking at the start of the Christmas preorder season at the conbini: Christmas cakes, fried chicken, pizza - those Christmas classics, starting at 7-11. We take a look at a few new chikis, take  a look at the scoreboard, and then catch up on an on-going story of conbini franchise owners challenging the corporate offices for the freedom to do business as they please....

In this week's episode, Mike and Matt explore a fundamental part of Japanese culture: eating, sleeping, and watching TV alone in the confine parking lot. They also hit the scoreboard to cover new items out at the Big Three conbini. Mike shares reviews of the Black Pepper Famichiki and the Honey Maple L-Chiki. The show wraps with an exploration of conbini growth since the 60s.  Get full access to C...

In this weeks episode, we're talking burgers. Yes, that elusive, staple item that the conbini has yet to perfect. Is Family Mart's new burger series the answer to our prayers? We'll have to see. While on the topic, we also look at some of our favorite fast food burgers from Japan as well. We check in with the chiki wars and look at two new chikis: a maple syrup chiki from Lawson, and a black peppe...

In this week's episode, we take a deep dive into a conbini staple - the bento box. What are our Top 3 bento boxes? Then we head off to the gemba for a tour of the hot box section. As usual, we take a look at the new item scoreboard and follow up on some conbini news. Get full access to Conbini Boys Newsletter at conbiniboys.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's podcast we make our video premiere! We get accustomed to the new video format and then check out the Chiki Wars and the scoreboard for new releases at each of the conbinis. We take a focused look at the unfortunate phenomenon of the elderly crashing their cars into conbinis, Mike gives a live "At the Genba" review, and then we take a look at some news revolving around Lawson's new s...

In this week's episode, the chiki wars are heating up with all three conbini releasing big-time chikis. Mike and Matt take a look at the new item scoreboard, which has a surprise from Lawson. The Spicy Commentator is back for another sweets review. We make a call on a couple of hauls before heading to the gemba with Mike to hear about the return of 7-11's agetori. Did it bring tears to his eyes? F...