Convenience Store Oden in Japan: How to Order & Menu
Tokyo Mate
🍢 Complete Guide to Ordering Oden at Japanese Convenience Stores!
From ordering phrases for daikon and konjac,
to 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart menu comparisons with prices and seasons,
Essential winter Japan travel information.
🍢 Why Japanese Convenience Store Oden is a Winter Must-Try
When the cold winds start blowing during your Japan trip, the first aroma that comes to mind is the savory katsuobushi (bonito flake) broth spreading as you open a convenience store door. Convenience store oden is the ultimate healing food for winter Japan travel.
But when it comes to actually ordering, “I wanted to try it but gave up because I don’t speak Japanese." “I just grabbed something but it wasn’t my style." Many travelers have these experiences.
That’s why today we’re sharing everything you need to know for ordering oden at Japanese convenience stores even as a first-time visitor: 📌 Oden ordering phrases in Japanese, 📌 Popular menu items like daikon, konjac, and age-mochi (deep-fried mochi), 📌 Differences between 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart oden and complete menu charts
- all the essential information for travelers! 😋
1. When Do Japanese Convenience Stores Sell Oden?
Japanese convenience store oden is often a seasonal limited menu item. Don’t be surprised if you visit in summer and wonder “Why isn’t there any?”
🗓️ Sales Period
- Usually mid-September ~ April of the following year
- Varies by region and store (colder regions like Hokkaido and Tohoku tend to start earlier)
💴 Average Price Range
- 100-150 yen per piece
- Approximately ¥1,100-1,600 with tax included
💡 Recent Trends
- Due to stricter hygiene standards, open-pot oden next to cash registers is disappearing, and “packaged oden” sales are increasing.
- 7-Eleven still has the highest proportion of hot pot oden for reference!
2. Japanese Ordering Phrases & Must-Try Menu Items
The easiest way to order is pointing with your finger, but if ingredients are hidden in the broth, you’ll need to say the name!
🍢 Top 5 Menu Items for Korean Palates
| Rank | Japanese | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Daikon | Daikon (大根) | Must-try! Deeply infused with broth |
| #2 Egg | Tamago (たまご) | Perfect combination with oden broth |
| #3 Shirataki | Shirataki (しらたき) | Chewy texture, low calorie |
| #4 Konjac | Konnyaku (こんにゃく) | Bouncy texture, basic menu item |
| #5 Mochi Kinchaku | Mochi Kinchaku (餅巾着) | Mochi inside tofu pouch! Popular for texture and flavor |
🗣️ Real-Life Ordering Conversation (Just Show These Key Phrases!)
Calling staff: Sumimasen, oden onegaishimasu (Excuse me, oden please.) すみません、おでんお願いします。
When ordering: (Point with your finger) Kore kudasai (This one please.) これください。
Extra broth please: Tsuyu ōme de onegaishimasu (Extra broth please.) つゆ多めでお願いします。
Mustard please: Karashi tsukete kudasai (Mustard please.) からしつけてください。
📌 Tip. Grab your favorite condiments (free):
- Yuzu-kosho (ゆずこしょう): Spicy and refreshing yuzu pepper seasoning
- Neri-karashi (ねりからし): Sharp yellow mustard
- Aka-miso dare (赤味噌たれ): Rich red miso sauce
3. Convenience Store Comparison (7-Eleven vs Lawson vs FamilyMart)
Japanese convenience store oden has slightly different broth flavors and ingredient styles by chain. Visit according to your preference!
✅ 7-Eleven
7-Eleven oden has the most distinct and rich broth flavor based on katsuobushi and kombu.
The style has a subtle sweetness that’s easy for beginners, with high praise for ingredients like daikon and eggs that need good broth absorption.
Fast ingredient turnover means there’s “no failure” - it’s that reliable.
- Recommended for: ✔️ Prefer deep dashi aroma ✔️ Like rich broth oden ✔️ Travelers who value daikon and egg quality
✅ Lawson
Lawson oden has less sweetness than 7-Eleven, with clean and light broth as its characteristic.
Especially strong in texture-focused ingredients like shirataki, konjac, and tsukune (chicken meatballs).
Well-stocked ‘low-carb’ lineup for health-conscious diners makes it popular for those on diets or wanting a light meal.
- Recommended for: ✔️ Prefer unsweetened, light oden ✔️ Enjoy texture-focused menu like shirataki and konjac ✔️ Those watching their diet
✅ FamilyMart
FamilyMart oden has clear broth and light taste, making it easy to eat lightly.
Basic menu items like daikon, eggs, and konjac have good overall balance, and the clean broth flavor makes it enjoyable without burden.
Especially good for travelers seeking a simple “soupy snack,” it’s rated as the most universally liked flavor among the three chains.
- Recommended for: ✔️ Prefer light and clean oden ✔️ When heavy broth flavor is too much ✔️ Want to safely choose basic menu items
4. Complete Menu Charts by Convenience Store
While you’re unlikely to fail at any store along your travel route, daikon, egg, konjac, and mochi kinchaku are popular ingredients across all three chains, so these are most recommended for first-time orders.
✅ 7-Eleven Oden Menu List (by price)
- Prices below are pre-tax. 8% consumption tax is added at checkout.
| Menu & Price | Japanese Name | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Konjac 112¥ | Konnyaku (こんにゃく) | Bouncy jelly texture, low calorie |
| Shirataki 112¥ | Shirataki (白滝) | Chewy noodle texture, absorbs broth well |
| Grilled Tofu 112¥ | Yaki-dofu (焼豆腐) | Grilled firm and savory tofu |
| Tsumire 112¥ | Tsumire (つみれ) | Soft fish cake ball |
| Daikon 121¥ | Daikon (大根) | (Must-try) Melts in your mouth with broth |
| Thick Abura-age 121¥ | Atsu-age (厚揚げ) | Fried outside savory, inside soft tofu |
| Grilled Chikuwa 121¥ | Yaki-chikuwa (焼きちくわ) | Cylindrical fish cake with center hole, chewy |
| Ganmo 121¥ | Ganmo (がんも) | Tofu with vegetables fried, absorbs lots of broth |
| Gobo-maki 121¥ | Gobo-maki (ごぼう巻) | Burdock root in fish cake, crunchy texture |
| Chikuwabu 121¥ | Chikuwabu (ちくわぶ) | Wheat-based, chewy like rice cake (Tokyo specialty) |
| Maru-ten 121¥ | Maru-ten (まる天) | Flat round basic fish cake |
| Egg 139¥ | Tamago (たまご) | (Popular) Boiled egg with fantastic oden broth combo |
| Wiener Roll 139¥ | Wiener-maki (ウインナー巻) | Crunchy sausage wrapped in fish cake |
| Satsuma-age 139¥ | Satsuma-age (さつま揚げ) | Fried fish cake with 5 vegetables |
| Hanpen 139¥ | Hanpen (はんぺん) | Soft white fish cake like marshmallow |
| Beef Offal Skewer 167¥ | Gyu-motsu-kushi (牛もつ串) | Chewy savory beef offal (some regions) |
| Tsukune Skewer 167¥ | Tsukune-kushi (つくね串) | Chicken meatball with crunchy cartilage |
| Beef Tendon Tempura 181¥ | Gyu-suji-ten (牛すじ天) | Chewy beef tendon in fish cake tempura |
| Octopus Tempura 181¥ | Tako-ten (たこ天) | Chewy fish cake with octopus |
| Beef Tendon 181¥ | Gyu-suji (牛すじ) | (Highly recommended) Chewy and savory beef tendon |
| Mochi Kinchaku 181¥ | Mochi Kinchaku (餅巾着) | (Popular) Chewy mochi inside tofu pouch |
| Pork Cartilage 250¥ | Buta-nankotsu (豚なんこつ) | Tender boiled pork cartilage (Kyushu/Okinawa) |
✅ Lawson Oden Menu List (by price)
- Prices below include tax.
| Menu & Price | Japanese Name | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Shirataki 120¥ | Shirataki (しらたき) | Slurpable konjac noodles (knot feature) |
| Grilled Tofu 120¥ | Yaki-dofu (焼豆腐) | Grilled outside, firm and savory tofu |
| Ganmo 120¥ | Ganmo (がんも) | Fluffy vegetable tofu tempura soaked in broth |
| Satsuma-age 120¥ | Satsuma-age (さつま揚げ) | Fried fish cake with hijiki and 5 vegetables |
| Tsumire 120¥ | Tsumire (つみれ) | Minced fish ball (Kanto region limited) |
| Chikuwabu 120¥ | Chikuwabu (ちくわぶ) | Wheat-based chewy texture like sujebi (Kanto specialty) |
| Konjac 130¥ | Konnyaku (こんにゃく) | Bouncy texture, low calorie, popular |
| Sausage 130¥ | Arabiki Wiener (あらびきウインナー) | Crunchy thick sausage |
| Grilled Chikuwa 130¥ | Yaki-chikuwa (焼ちくわ) | Cylindrical chewy fish cake with hole |
| Hanpen 130¥ | Hanpen (はんぺん) | Melts in mouth, fluffy white fish cake |
| Egg 135¥ | Tamago (たまご) | (Must-try) Boiled egg soaked in broth |
| Daikon 135¥ | Daikon (大根) | (#1 Popular) Lawson's signature deeply infused daikon |
| Kinu Atsu-age 135¥ | Kinu Atsu-age (絹厚揚げ) | Silky tofu (kinu) used, softer inside |
| Gobo-maki 140¥ | Gobo-maki (ごぼう巻) | Burdock root in fish cake, nice texture |
| Wiener Roll 150¥ | Wiener-maki (ウインナー巻) | Popular menu with fish cake wrapping sausage |
| Mochi Kinchaku 150¥ | Mochi-iri Kinchaku (餅入巾着) | (Highly recommended) Domestic sticky rice mochi in tofu pouch |
| Roll Cabbage 150¥ | Roll Cabbage (ロールキャベツ) | (Lawson specialty) Meat wrapped in cabbage |
| Tsukune Skewer 165¥ | Tsukune-kushi (つくね串) | Direct fire grilled, smoky chicken meatball with cartilage |
| Beef Tendon 195¥ | Gyu-suji (牛すじ) | (Must-try) Chewy and savory beef tendon |
| Okinawa Tofu 130¥ | Okinawa Atsu-age (沖縄厚揚) | Okinawa region limited fried tofu |
| Okinawa Soba 150¥ | Okinawa Soba (沖縄そば) | Noodles to eat in oden broth (Okinawa limited) |
| Okinawa Soki 216¥ | Okinawan Soki (沖縄風ソーキ) | Braised pork rib style meat (Okinawa limited) |
| Okinawa Tebichi 240¥ | Okinawan Tebichi (沖縄風テビチ) | Collagen-rich pig's feet (Okinawa limited) |
✅ FamilyMart Oden Menu List (by price)
- Prices below include tax.
| Menu & Price | Japanese Name | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Thick-Cut Daikon 145¥ | Atsugiri Daikon (厚切大根) | (Must-try) As the name says, thickly cut broth-filled daikon |
| Seasoned Egg 145¥ | Ajitsuke Tamago (味付たまご) | Boiled egg with broth absorbed well |
| Dashimaki Tamago 145¥ | Dashimaki Tamago (だし巻玉子) | (FamilyMart specialty) Fluffy Japanese rolled omelette |
| Shirataki 145¥ | Musubi Shirataki (結び白滝) | Knotted chewy konjac noodles for easy eating |
| Triangle Konjac 145¥ | Sankaku Konnyaku (三角こんにゃく) | Large triangle-shaped bouncy konjac |
| Thick Abura-age 145¥ | Atsu-age (厚揚) | Fried tofu, savory and thick |
| Grilled Chikuwa 145¥ | Yaki-chikuwa (焼ちくわ) | Cylindrical chewy fish cake with hole |
| Gobo-maki 145¥ | Gobo-maki (ごぼう巻) | Burdock root in fish cake, good texture |
| Hanpen 145¥ | Hanpen (はんぺん) | Cloud-like texture that melts in mouth (Kanto limited) |
| Sausage 145¥ | Arabiki Wiener (あらびきウインナー) | Juicy bursting thick sausage |
| Mochi Kinchaku 160¥ | Mochi-iri Kinchaku (餅入り巾着) | (Popular) Chewy sweet rice mochi inside tofu pouch |
| Beef Tendon Skewer 198¥ | Gyu-suji Kushi (牛すじ串) | (Highly recommended) Chewy and tender beef tendon |
📝 Remember These 3 Things for Ordering Japanese Convenience Store Oden!
- Japanese convenience store oden is September~April season! (varies by store)
- When ordering, point with your finger and say “Kore kudasai”, for broth “Tsuyu ōme de (extra)"
- Daikon, shirataki, mochi kinchaku are fail-proof combinations
Don’t miss a bowl of warm convenience store oden this winter on your Japan trip! If you have questions or need additional menu translations, let us know in the comments. Have a wonderful trip! 😊🍢
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