Writer's Selection: Best 5 Convenience Store Chicken Snacks Compared!

Have you ever noticed the hot snacks beside the register when shopping at the convenience store? Of all the hot snacks to choose from, convenience store chicken has by far the most fans. Despite the cheap prices, each convenience store has distinctive characteristics, from the texture of the coating and juiciness of the chicken, to the seasoning. The one thing they all have in common is that they are delicious. Read on for our take on the fried chicken you can buy at FamilyMart, Lawson, 7-Eleven, and Lawson 100.

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1. FamiChiki (FamilyMart)

If you eat this straight after buying it, the chicken will be bursting with umami juiciness the moment you bite into it. This juiciness is the hallmark of FamiChiki so we recommend it for people who prefer moist juicy chicken. It has a nice, crunchy texture on the outside and the black pepper seasoning gives it a spiciness that will whet your appetite.

Price: 180 JPY (incl. tax)









2. L Chiki Umashio (Lawson)

The fried coating of the L Chiki Umashio uses rice flour rather than wheat flour. Fried foods that use rice flour have a light coating, so they have a uniquely light texture and don’t absorb as much oil. The coating of the L Chiki Umashio also has a light texture, so you can enjoy its crunchiness. The perfect amount of saltiness also brings out the tastiness of the chicken. For people who want something spicy, there is also the L Chiki Umakara!

Price: L Chiki Umashio/L Chiki Umakara 180 JPY (incl. tax)









3. Karaage-kun Regular (Lawson)

Karaage-kun Regular has an eye-catching package with a picture of a cute chicken on it. Inside are 5 bite-sized pieces of fried chicken. They are made using whole chicken breast cut into pieces and even though the pieces are small they have the juicy texture of chicken meat. Properly seasoned and snack-sized, this makes the perfect light meal or an accompaniment for drinking sake.
If you like Karaage-kun definitely try out the other variations. There are over 10 flavors, including the slightly spicy Karaage-kun Red. What sets Karaage-kun apart from the rest is that you and your friends can buy a few different flavors and share.

Price: Karaage-kun/Karaage-kun Red 216 JPY (incl. tax)





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4. Nana Chiki (7-Eleven)

The appeal of 7-Eleven’s Nana Chiki is that is has an authentic flavor using 11 different spices. It has an exciting flavor and the chicken meat is plump and juicy. This is a filling snack and you can tell by the crunch of the coating that it has been properly deep fried.

Price: 203 JPY (incl. tax)









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5. 100 Chiki (Red) (Lawson Store 100)

While Lawson Store 100 is a convenience store, it’s also a store where you can buy most of the products for 100 JPY. Even though it\'s a convenience store, it offers a lineup of good-value products. As you’d expect, the 100 Chiki (Red) is also 100 JPY (excl. tax). This is brilliantly good value compared to other convenience store fried chicken.
As the “Red” in the name suggests, this chicken has a strong kick to it, so we recommend it for people who like particularly spicy foods.

Price: 100 JPY (excl. tax)





What did you think? When you’re just a little hungry and only want to buy 1 piece of fried chicken, these convenience store snacks have your back. And there are even more flavor variations than the ones we’ve compared here. They have the perfect taste for a snack, light meal or drinking food. So if you haven\'t had any of these before, be sure to give them a try. They’re totally addictive.



The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

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