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Oct 7, 2023

Foods you miss most from back home?

I was talking with another expat friend recently about the foods we miss most from back home, and one that I can't seem to get replicated well here is fish and chips! I've tried a few places but there aren't any that have really lived up to what I'd expect in my home country. Curious about what elusive foods you've struggled to find decent substitutes for here!

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genkidesu

genkidesu

Love to travel, interested in J-beauty products and consider myself a convenience store snack aficionado. Navigating the ever-present challenges of expat life, particularly about my TCK's (third culture kids).

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6 Answers

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  • JTsu

    JTsu

    on Nov 20

    So many things have felt this way to me over the years. Most recently it was the chopped beef barbecue sandwich that's practically ubiquitous in my home state but here I can't even find a decent barbecue sauce. This lead me to make my own barbecue sauce and bake thawed mini steaks in my toaster oven slathered in the stuff just to approximate it. It does the job well enough. And I know there are some bbq sauces at import stores but none of them quite taste right to me. McDonald's bbq sauce isn't enough in quantity to do the job right and I'm not going to beg the fast-food chain for extra condiments. I always just end up making stuff myself.

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  • TonetoEdo

    TonetoEdo

    on Oct 7

    When you're in Tokyo, try Malin's for fish and chips. The last time I was at the Hobgoblin in Shibuya, they did a fair approximation of British fish and chips. I've never seen anything like a Scottish meat pie or a sausage roll here.

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  • BigfamJapan

    BigfamJapan

    on Oct 17

    Sausages! Japan's sausages are wurst essentially. I really miss decent pork sausages. The Meat Guy sold (maybe still does) Irish sausages that I tried. Not to knock the Meat Guy, because its an excellent company, but sorry... the were nothing like Irish sausages at all! They were good though, just not the sausages of home.

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  • genkidesu

    genkidesu

    on Nov 20

    @JTsu I've also come to that realization with a lot of things...that sometimes it's easier to just try to DIY! That way you can also taste and tweak things as you go to get it as close as possible, rather than being disappointed (and paying an arm and a leg) at some restaurants/cafes.

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  • helloalissa

    helloalissa

    on Dec 21

    Over ten years ago I really missed foods like kale, romaine, and cilantro... It's silly, but I just rarely saw them in Japan. Now I can find those in most supermarkets. The thing I have to bring back with me or order online is black licorice, haha. Japanese people think it tastes like medicine so I've never seen it sold here. Another one I forgot to buy on my last visit is cornbread mix, but that's something I could attempt homemade if I really feel like it. Have you tried making homemade fish and chips? I'm not into deep frying at home but it seems possible if you have an easy recipe.

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  • JapanRamen

    JapanRamen

    on Jan 15

    All Dressed potato chips.....!!! I can't believe that it is not a thing in Japan! Ketchup chips come second, and Chop Ahoy would be third... all snacks lol

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