apktoget — Let's go

There are countless fantastic aspects of Japan and Korea, but one cultural difference that captivates foreigners is the incredibly stocked convenience stores. Rather than just offering an old pie and some egg and lettuce sandwiches, convenience stores in Japan and Korea boast a vast selection of affordable snacks and meals. It appears that 7-Eleven in Australia is now closing this gap by offering the ultimate on-the-go snack — onigiri.

For budget-conscious travelers (like myself) exploring Japan and Korea, convenience stores provide one of the most cost-effective ways to eat. After my latest trip in April, I even wrote an entire article about how I thrived on eating convenience store onigiri for breakfast every single day.

That’s MEEEEEEEE.

So imagine my delight when I found a Reddit post stating that Aussie 7-Eleven had included the humble onigiri — otherwise known as Japanese rice balls — in its offerings.

This development is apparently due to 7-Eleven Australia being acquired by the Japanese-owned 7-Eleven International.

“Japanese stores … are the gold standard across the global network. Their presentation, store standards, and operations are seamless, and we have much to learn from them,” Chief Executive Angus McKay mentioned during a KPMG seminar, according to Delicious.

“For several years, we have been striving to transition from being solely a chips and chocolate retailer.”

McKay further noted that there’s a new initiative at 7-Eleven to offer more fresh food and drinks. Yummo!

We still have a long way to go until our 7-Eleven shelves look like this Japanese perfection though. (Image: Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

While this onigiri update is fresh news to me as a Sydney local, it seems Melbourne has enjoyed onigiri in stock for some time. Lucky them!

Currently, 7-Eleven offers three classic onigiri flavors: Chicken Teriyaki, Spicy Tuna, and Sweet Chilli Salmon. I’ve tried the Chicken Teriyaki and Spicy Tuna, and they’re fantastic. Do note that the Spicy Tuna isn’t spicy; it’s more of a tuna and mayo combo.

Each onigiri is priced at $3.70, which is pricier than in Japan, but still reasonable.

I sampled the Chicken Teriyaki and Spicy Tuna flavors for breakfast. Delicious! Feel free to check it out below if you’re curious.

As someone who’s both gluten-free and a fan of onigiri, having another convenient snack option at the servo is a real treat. Huge thanks to 7-Eleven for making this a reality.