CharactersGoodsConbini MondayFood & DrinkPhotosLiving in JapanOutdoors & SportCultureShibuyaTrains & TransportTravelShoppingMarketingTechBuildingsPhoto storiesMy stamp bookArchivesAbout

Supermarket Lunch in Kyoto

Shibuya246 · · 6 photos

The bento shelf: salted salmon (680 yen), anago tempura on rice (800 yen), a Western-style bento with napolitan spaghetti (750 yen) and sweet-and-sour pork (680 yen).Photo dataCameraApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxLensiPhone 12 Pro Max back triple camera 5.1mm f/1.6Focal length5mmAperturef/1.6Shutter1/162sISO40Taken8 Jul 2022, 14:20
The bento shelf: salted salmon (680 yen), anago tempura on rice (800 yen), a Western-style bento with napolitan spaghetti (750 yen) and sweet-and-sour pork (680 yen).

Lunchtime in central Kyoto, and instead of a restaurant, the deli counter of a supermarket. Japanese supermarkets make a huge range of ready-made food every day, from full bento boxes to small tubs of side dishes sold by weight, and deciding what to have can take longer than eating it.

The deli corner here is called おかず (okazu), which simply means side dishes, and everything has a price card in front of it.

Sauce katsu on rice, harusame noodle salad with ham, pasta and potato salad sets, and pumpkin omelette quichePhoto dataCameraApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxLensiPhone 12 Pro Max back triple camera 5.1mm f/1.6Focal length5mmAperturef/1.6Shutter1/81sISO32Taken8 Jul 2022, 14:20
Sauce katsu on rice for 650 yen, a ham and glass noodle salad, a three-salad set, and pumpkin omelette quiche.
Trays of nigiri sushi in plastic packs, decorated with small yellow chrysanthemumsPhoto dataCameraApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxLensiPhone 12 Pro Max back triple camera 5.1mm f/1.6Focal length5mmAperturef/1.6Shutter1/136sISO32Taken8 Jul 2022, 14:20
Packs of nigiri sushi, each with a little chrysanthemum on top.
Rows of sushi roll packs in a chilled displayPhoto dataCameraApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxLensiPhone 12 Pro Max back triple camera 5.1mm f/1.6Focal length5mmAperturef/1.6Shutter1/120sISO32Taken8 Jul 2022, 14:20
Or sushi rolls, if you'd rather eat with your hands.
Side dishes sold by weight: simmered chicken liver, dried radish, hijiki seaweed and okaraPhoto dataCameraApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxLensiPhone 12 Pro Max back triple camera 5.1mm f/1.6Focal length5mmAperturef/1.6Shutter1/726sISO32Taken8 Jul 2022, 14:21
Side dishes sold by the 100 g: simmered chicken liver, kiriboshi daikon (dried radish), hijiki seaweed and okara.
Vegetable side dishes: pickled crunchy vegetables, komatsuna with fried tofu in vinegared miso, zucchini with sesame, and marinated horse mackerelPhoto dataCameraApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxLensiPhone 12 Pro Max back triple camera 5.1mm f/1.6Focal length5mmAperturef/1.6Shutter1/818sISO32Taken8 Jul 2022, 14:21
More by weight: crunchy pickled vegetables, komatsuna with fried tofu in vinegared miso, zucchini with sesame, and horse mackerel nanbanzuke.

In the end it is hard to go wrong, and it costs a lot less than eating out. For more supermarket food, see Japan Supermarket Dinner and Supermarket Food in Japan, and the bento and sushi pages in the food guide.

I took these photos in July 2022 and only got round to posting them in 2026.

Related posts