Japan Food Series: Lawson Convenience Store Finds in Sapporo
Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa
Table of Contents
Introduction
One of the most enjoyable parts of travelling in Japan is exploring stores like Lawson. These convenience stores (konbini) are everywhere and carry an incredible variety of snacks, drinks, and ready-to-eat meals. They’re nothing like what we have in Ottawa—Lawson elevates even the simplest foods, making them fun to explore. While my site usually focuses on Ottawa food establishments, I wanted to share this special post, which will be one of several Japan Food Series posts, highlighting the unique items I tried from Lawson during my trip to Sapporo.
Coffee
At the convenience stores, they have a wide variety and selection of cold coffee. I decided to try each one of them to see how they tasted and how they compared to each other. I managed to have a different coffee drink for every morning that I was in Sapporo.
Suntory Boss – Smooth Black
A straightforward black coffee with no sugar or cream, offering pure coffee flavour. It was refreshing when served cold, bold without being overly bitter, and a great way to wake up in the morning. After a few days of trying different Boss coffees, this felt like the cleanest version—simple, effective, and enjoyable.
Buy again? No.
Suntory Boss – Rainbow Mountain
This one stood out for its stronger roasted notes. It carried a bit more depth compared to the creamier versions, but still had a pleasant smoothness. A nice middle ground for those who like bolder coffee but don’t want something too harsh.
Buy again? Yes.
Suntory Boss – Italian
Not as creamy or sweet as some of the other Boss varieties, but still satisfying. It leaned more on the strong side, making it a nice option for when you want something that tastes closer to an espresso-style coffee.
Buy again? Yes.
Suntory Boss – Cafe au Lait Original
Creamy and smooth, this was one of the better Boss coffee options. It had a comforting balance of coffee strength and milk sweetness, almost like a dessert drink.
Buy again? Yes.
Suntory Boss – Cafe au Lait
Similar flavour to the original Café au Lait. Rich, creamy, and reliable. Couldn’t tell much difference between this one and the original.
Buy again? Yes.
Kirin Fire Hokkaido Milk
A canned coffee blended with Hokkaido milk. It had a creaminess that set it apart, rich without being too heavy.
Buy again? Yes.
Georgia Santos Premium
A good cup of coffee in a can. Balanced, with a clean taste, though personally I still preferred the Boss line for variety.
Buy again? No.
Georgia Original Coffee
Milder and slightly sweeter than Suntory Boss, but still satisfying. Smooth and balanced, making it an easy everyday option.
Buy again? No.
Georgia Emerald Mountain
A solid choice from Georgia’s line of canned coffees. It had a balanced roast and a slight sweetness, though not as creamy as the Boss varieties. A good pick if you want a change from Suntory.
Buy again? Yes.
Asahi Wonda Gold Low Sugar
A decent canned coffee for those who prefer less sweetness. Still had a bold coffee base, but lighter than the richer Boss options.
Buy again? No.
Cafe Latte
Smooth and creamy, very similar to what you’d expect from a café latte at a shop, but available straight from Lawson’s cooler. An impressive convenience store find.
Buy again? Yes.
Onigiri
While in Japan, I had to try all of the different onigiri flavours they had to offer at their convenience stores. Lawson was no exception to having lots of onigiri to choose from
Beef Kalbi
One of the highlights from Lawson. The beef was tender and flavourful, seasoned with a savoury sauce that paired perfectly with the rice. Easily one of my favourite Lawson onigiri.
Buy again? Yes.
Grilled with Kelp Soy Sauce
Unique compared to the standard onigiri. The kelp soy sauce gave it a savoury, umami punch that elevated the rice. A creative variation that worked surprisingly well.
Buy again? Yes.
Red Perilla with Pickled plum
Refreshing, tart, and slightly sweet, making it a standout option. Another example of Lawson making even simple rice balls exciting.
Buy again? Yes.
Pickled Plum
Another favourite. The rice was soft as always, and the tartness of the plum added a refreshing punch of flavour. A nice variation from the usual savoury onigiri.
Buy again? Yes.
Salmon and Sesame
Classic Lawson onigiri. The rice was fresh and tender, with a nice texture. Every bite had a bit of salmon, complemented by the nuttiness of sesame. Portable, flavourful, and easy to enjoy.
Buy again? Yes.
Snacks
In addition to all of the variety of coffee available at a simple convenience store, it also has a wide selection of unique snacks that I don’t come across in Ottawa, so it was a treat to try all of these different snacks.
Chocolate Corn Snack
Crispy corn puff coated in chocolate. Crunchy, sweet, and fun to eat, though not particularly special. A light snack for when you want something chocolatey but not heavy. Not my favourite though.
Buy again? No.
DARS Milk Chocolate
A creamy, rich milk chocolate that melted smoothly. Simple, classic, and delicious. Can’t say anything bad about it.
Buy again? Yes.
Fruit Gummy – Muscat Grape
Strong grape flavour with a juicy quality. The gummies were chewy but soft enough to feel pleasant, delivering a candy that tasted close to real fruit. We made sure to get the texture rating of 2 out of 5 (found at top-right) so that it was super soft to eat. Anything above 3 for us was too firm and not what we’re looking for when buying gummies. Can’t say I’ve ever tried muscat grapes before but from my experience, the flavours from these candies are quite close to the real thing.
Buy again? Yes.
Fruit Gummy – Purple Grape
Similar to the muscat version but slightly bolder. Sweet and chewy, with a flavour that lingered. Another solid Lawson candy find.
Buy again? Yes.
Haribo Peach Gummies
Pleasantly sweet with a peachy flavour, though the texture was inconsistent. Some pieces were too firm compared to others. I’m seeing more and more variety of Haribo snacks in different stores now.
Buy again? Yes.
Roasted Chocolate Peanuts
A fun snack that delivered exactly what the name promised—chocolate paired with roasted peanuts. The peanuts added a toasty flavour and crunch, while the chocolate brought sweetness to balance it out. One of my favourite snacks on the trip. For some reason, I couldn’t ever find simple chocolate covered peanuts but this was a great surprise.
Buy again? Yes.
Lotte Crunky Crunch Chocolate
Crunchy texture with a satisfying chocolate flavour. This one stood out for being simple but very enjoyable.
Buy again? Yes.
Lotte Macadamia Chocolate
One of the standouts for me. Smooth chocolate paired with buttery macadamia nuts—hard not to enjoy. A great snack for nut lovers.
Buy again? Yes.
Lotte Meshed Chocolate
A chocolate bar with an interesting mesh design, though the look didn’t add much to the taste. Flavour-wise, it was solid milk chocolate. Not really what I expected and only really ate it because it was there.
Buy again? No.
Meiji Kajyu Gummy Orange
Bursting with citrus flavour, almost like biting into a real orange. The chewy texture was perfect, making this one of the better gummy options. I miss eating this snack.
Buy again? Yes.
Mentos – Grape
A flavour I don’t often see in Canada. Chewy, fruity, and refreshing, with a flavour close to grape juice. Texture was just as I expected in Mentos.
Buy again? Yes.
Pocky – Chocolate Matcha
A great twist on the classic Pocky. The biscuit sticks had that familiar crunch, while the matcha chocolate coating gave a subtle bitterness and depth.
Buy again? Yes.
Potato Chips – Calbee Salt
Classic Calbee potato chips with a light salt seasoning. Crispy, airy, and addictive, though the flavour was very basic compared to their more creative flavours. The texture was really good and addicting. Reminds me of kettle chips.
Buy again? Yes.
Pringles – Caribbean
An unusual flavour compared to what I’m used to. The chips didn’t quite deliver the crunch of regular Pringles and had a strange BBQ-like aftertaste. Not my favourite.
Buy again? No.
Sandwich – Vegetable mix
A simple convenience store sandwich from Lawson, but done well. The bread was incredibly soft, and the vegetables inside were fresh. It wasn’t complex, but it made for a quick, satisfying bite. Tasted as expected.
Buy again? No.
Two types of Melon
Simple and refreshing—two kinds of melon packaged neatly together. Sweet and juicy, the kind of light snack that works perfectly on a hot day.
Buy again? No.
Tokachi Red Wine
An unexpected find at Lawson. The wine had a decent body and a nice fruitiness, though not something I’d seek out again. It was a unique novelty, but convenience store wine isn’t really Lawson’s strength.
Buy again? No.
Final Thoughts
Lawson truly showcases why Japanese convenience stores are so special. From onigiri and sandwiches to canned coffees and unique sweets, everything felt like it was made with more care than what we’d normally find at home. While my Ottawa reviews usually focus on local restaurants, this post is part of a special Japan series to share the kinds of everyday foods that make travelling in Sapporo such a joy.