The last time I visited 7-Eleven was way back in the early 80s when I lived with Obaachan in Waimanalo and it was mainly after spending long hours in biochemistry or nutrition lab to simply purchase a foot long chili dog and boiled peanuts for my late evening meal. But since then, all of my food and prepped meals are purchased at the neighborhood supermarkets. Then late last year, the Dining Out section of the StarAdvertiser featured catered items that could be ordered then picked up at your local 7-Eleven and the centerpiece of the story was a large tray of fried saimin. Maybe it’s time to re-visit 7-Eleven…
Fried Saimin Pack $3.19
For $1.40 more, the Fried Saimin is also available in a larger size about the size of your usual bento container. Both are garnished with sliced kamaboko, thin slices of scrambled egg and slices of ham (likely from the same ham used in sandwiches) instead of char siu. The noodles were fresh, not frozen and had the distinct flavor of saimin – one of my pet peeves is fried saimin that simply tastes like chow mein or fried noodles – I also enjoy chow mein but expect a dish labeled fried saimin to taste like a dry fried version of saimin. I placed 7-Eleven’s Fried Saimin just below my standard, Sekiya’s in both taste and because it wasn’t garnished with green onions which I feel should be the primary garnish for fried saimin. The Fried Saimin is also available as a catered item that you can pick-up at various locations with 48 hours of lead time. The Ohana Pack is $10.99 and is advertised as serving 4 to 6 while the Platter is $23.99 and is advertised as serving 10 to 12 – both are pictured as garnished with green onions and my guess is that because sliced raw green onions can go south relatively quickly, they are only used for pre-paid orders. But I will be returning and likely ordering both in store and catered… unless I’m already in Kaimuki near Sekiya’s…
Jumbo Garlic Chicken Musubi $3.29
Teriyaki Spam Musubi $1.79
I rarely purchase Spam musubi ever since I sold my condominium and Star Markets closed. Back then, I would walk to Star Market every Sunday to purchase the Sunday newspaper along with a Spam musubi from their deli. Though I didn’t set the deli’s specifications on its creation, it was made exactly the way I would make it at home. First, cut only 8 slices from each can: no 10 slices per can or even more! Then pan fry each slice on both sides until brown with a slight crisp then lightly simmer in a thick teriyaki sauce – without the browning, Spam tastes more like Prem or Treet. Finally pack rice on each side of the Spam so that the luscious sweet-salty teriyaki sauce permeates the rice on two sides. And hand form the Spam musubi, no Plexiglas molds.
But since then, I only purchase Fried Chicken musubi from Foodland Kailua (Kaneohe doesn’t dip their chicken in teriyaki sauce) on those rare occasions that I’m picking up wine at R. Fields Kailua. But 7-Eleven in Kaneohe can now fulfill those musubi needs as the Garlic Chicken musubi may actually be a step above the version at Foodland Kailua. Whenever you purchase any cooked rice-based product such as musubi or sushi that’s in the chilled section, a real concern is rice that starts drying to the point where you feel you need to cook it again. The Jumbo – and it is jumbo – Garlic Chicken musubi was warmed in my home microwave per the labeled instructions and because it’s wrapped, the rice was as soft as freshly cooked rice. And the garlic chicken would have stood out on its own as the protein in a plate lunch. If you do sample the musubi, don’t make the mistake I made by unwrapping it after microwaving (mainly to get a photo) as the chicken is sliced so after the first bite, the musubi simply disintegrates onto your plate. Keep it wrapped while consuming opening the wrapper just enough for the next bite.
I also had to sample 7-Eleven’s version of the Teriyaki Spam musubi if nothing more than to compare it to that long-lost Star market Deli spam musubi. The Spam was a little dried likely by over sauteing so I would opt for the jumbo musubi for an additional $1.50.
Pork Hash $4.59
This item is also offered in the Ohana Pack via 7-Eleven’s catering service ($12.99 for 15 pieces) and available as Shrimp Pork Hash both in store and catering for the same prices. Compared to pork hash purchased from the usual venues, they are smaller, about the size of frozen shumai found in the supermarket frozen section. They also aren’t as juicy as pork hash found at your favorite dim sum or Chinese restaurants. That being said, they still are tender and flavorful and a bit leaner (likely why they aren’t as juicy) making them guilt free. Even Ms. S enjoyed them as much her usually take-out from our neighborhood Chinese restaurants.
Ham and Cheese Sweetbread Sandwich $3.49
I had to sample this sandwich found in the heated case after a local vlogger waxed poetic about the sandwich. Basically, Texas toast cut slices (1-inch slices) of sweetbread are griddled then a thin slices of ham, American cheese and scrambled egg are placed between the toasted sides then schmeared with a bacon mayonnaise. Therefore, this sandwich is all about that bacon mayonnaise with a touch of ham. The cheese, egg and sweetbread just play minor supporting roles in this sandwich.
Teriyaki Chicken Manapua $5.19 for a three-pack
I intended on purchasing the standard char siu version since life hasn’t been the same since both Libby’s and Char Hung Sut closed as they both filled their bao with the drier, flaked char siu filling. But alas, on two separate visits, only the teriyaki chicken, curry chicken and lup cheong were offered. So I eventually do have to return just to see what type of char siu filling 7-Eleven uses. But in the interim, the Teriyaki Chicken manapua was very good and contained more filling than many other manapua and even after being refrigerated for 3 days, 45 seconds in the microwave wrapped in waxed paper brought the bao back to pillowy goodness. In fact, Ms. S asked me to purchase more manapua if I needed to make additional stops for this column.
Salmon and Tofu with Multigrain Rice $5.99
A 3 to 4 ounce portion of tender salmon with four cubes of teriyaki glazed fried tofu, steamed broccoli all on multi-grain rice. Perfect for a lighter lunch with the only negative was the overcooked broccoli. Given that pre-packed bento at the supermarkets usually cost between $6.99 to $9.99 and usually aren’t available as soon as the supermarket opens, the 7-Eleven variety are a good and convenient deal.
Thumbs Up
In the words of Ah-Nohld, “I’ll be back”. Since I rarely visit Market City Shopping Center (and Sekiya’s), 7-Eleven will be my go-to for fried saimin (we’ll see if their Ohana Pack does feed 4 to 6 or simply two Ryan’s). And since I only visit R. Fields in Kailua about once monthly, 7-Eleven will also be my go-to for assorted jumbo musubi as Foodland Kailua only offers the teriyaki or plain fried chicken musubi whereas 7-Eleven also offer mochiko chicken and fried fish jumbo musubi. And I still must sample their char siu manapua to see if it can replace my beloved versions at Libby’s or Char Hung Sut… plus extra manapua for Ms. S…
Comments