7-Eleven Japan has announced the second installment of its “Cross-Japan! Regional Soup Tour” campaign, themed around delicious local soups from all across Japan. Featured this time in this heartwarming winter project is “Soup Curry,” the soul food pride of Sapporo, Hokkaido.
What’s more, this edition is supervised by “Suage,” an immensely popular soup curry specialty shop with its main branch in Sapporo. The prospect of enjoying the authentic taste of a famous restaurant easily, anytime and anywhere, has been generating significant buzz even before its launch.
Supervised by Sapporo’s Popular Restaurant “Suage”! A Soup Curry Crafted with Care
What is “Soup Curry,” Anyway?
First, let’s explain a little about “Soup Curry.” This unique dish is said to have originated in Sapporo, Hokkaido, in the 1970s. Unlike the thick, gravy-like curry typically served with rice, it is characterized by a thin, spice-infused soup filled with large, chunky cuts of vegetables and meat.
Numerous specialty soup curry restaurants exist within Sapporo, each competing with their unique flavors by innovating with spice blends, broths, and ingredients. It has now become known all across Japan as a representative local gourmet dish of Hokkaido.
“Suage” is one of the most famous of these specialty shops. Its name, which means “plain deep-frying,” hints at its signature style: deep-frying vegetables without batter to maximize their natural umami and sweetness. This technique has earned it a great reputation, captivating fans from locals to tourists alike.
A Masterfully Crafted Bowl, Available at Your Convenience Store
The “Suage-Supervised Soup Curry” now available at 7-Eleven is a product that faithfully reproduces the taste of this popular restaurant.
The price is 398 yen (429.84 yen including tax), and it will be released sequentially at 7-Eleven stores all across Japan starting from Tuesday, November 25th.
The Commitment to the Soup
By slowly and carefully sautéing onions and tomatoes, the natural sweetness and deep richness of the vegetables are brought out. A delicate balance of 12 different spices is then added, creating a complex soup with a rich aroma that unfolds the moment it enters your mouth.
The Commitment to the Vegetables
Recreating Suage’s greatest feature, the “suage” (plain deep-frying) technique. By deep-frying the vegetables, excess moisture is removed, and the umami of each ingredient is condensed. You can clearly taste the individual flavors of the ingredients like potatoes, carrots, and pumpkin.
The Commitment to the Chicken
The chicken, one of the main stars, is slowly marinated in several types of spices and seasonings, making it incredibly tender and juicy. Furthermore, it is grilled over an open flame to add a fragrant aroma.
This is an authentic bowl that we recommend not only to fans of “Suage” but also to those who have never tried soup curry before.
Hokkaido Area Exclusive! The Unshakeably Popular “Hearty Butajiru”
Along with the soup curry, something we definitely want you to check out at 7-Elevens in Hokkaido is this “Hearty Butajiru (using Hokkaido pork).”
“Butajiru” (also called “tonjiru”) is a miso-based soup simmered with pork and lots of vegetables, and it’s an extremely popular home-cooked dish in Japan. In fact, 7-Eleven values these regional food cultures and sells 12 different varieties of butajiru all across Japan.
Among them, this Hokkaido-exclusive “Hearty Butajiru” is the No. 1 most popular item in the prepared-foods category. As its name suggests, in addition to Hokkaido-grown pork, it features ingredients like daikon radish, carrots, and the very Hokkaido-esque “potato,” which are larger and more plentiful than in other regions.
The price is 328 yen (354.24 yen including tax). It’s so satisfying it deserves to be called a “soup you can eat,” making it perfect for a meal on a busy day. When you visit Hokkaido, please be sure to give it a try.
The “Regional Soup Tour” Campaign to Travel Through Japan’s Flavors
This “Cross-Japan! Regional Soup Tour” is a campaign scheduled to continue up to a third installment. It aims to let customers feel like they are traveling all across Japan while just being in a convenience store by offering items supervised by famous restaurants and beloved local hot pot dishes in an easily enjoyable format.
As the weather gets colder, why not warm your body and soul with an authentic regional soup that you can easily enjoy from a Japanese convenience store?
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