Japanese convenience stores, commonly known as “konbini,” have once again announced a special collaboration that’s sure to whet our appetites. This time, Japanese Lawson has teamed up with the incredibly popular ramen shop “Chuuka Soba Konno,” whose main branch is located in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.
This collaboration is a limited-time project available only at Lawson stores in the Tohoku area. Incredibly, this marks the very first time that “Chuuka Soba Konno” has ever supervised a convenience store product. It’s a rare opportunity to easily experience the taste of a famous restaurant known for attracting fans from far and wide.
One of the fascinating features of Japanese convenience store culture is these kinds of collaborations with famous specialty restaurants. In particular, “area-exclusive items” that can only be bought in specific regions are beloved by many as one of the joys of visiting that area. For travelers, it’s a perfect chance to easily enjoy a locally acclaimed flavor without having to wait in long lines.
What Makes “Chuuka Soba Konno” So Captivating?
“Chuuka Soba Konno” is a relatively new shop, founded in 2015 in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata, but its flavor quickly became renowned among ramen fans. Behind its success is the legendary ramen shop “Konpiraso,” located in the same city of Tsuruoka and famous all across Japan.
The owner of “Konno” trained at “Konpiraso,” inheriting its traditions and techniques. While respecting the master’s flavor, the owner developed their own unique improvements, creating a bowl of ramen praised as “something you never get tired of eating,” drawing long lines of not only local residents but also many people from outside the prefecture seeking its taste. Yamagata Prefecture, especially the Shonai region, is known within Japan as one of the most competitive areas for ramen, and “Chuuka Soba Konno” has firmly established its position within it.
Chuuka Soba Supervised by Chuuka Soba Konno
The centerpiece of this collaboration is the “Chuuka Soba Supervised by Chuuka Soba Konno,” a recreation of the restaurant’s signature dish.
The first thing to notice is the chewy, curly noodles. These noodles pair perfectly with the rich, chicken and pork-based soup, which boasts a fragrant seafood aroma. The seafood flavor that spreads the moment you take a bite, followed by the deep, savory umami of the meat-based broth, is truly authentic.
The toppings include juicy meat, aromatic white and green onions, and the indispensable crisp-textured menma (bamboo shoots), making for a very satisfying meal. It’s a dish that truly reflects the development team’s passion for faithfully recreating the restaurant’s flavor. This special ramen will be available starting Tuesday, December 2, 2025, for the Lawson standard price of 646 yen (tax included).
Chuuka Soba-Style Green Onion & Chashu Onigiri Supervised by Chuuka Soba Konno
And you can’t miss the other item: the highly unique “Chuuka Soba-Style Green Onion & Chashu Onigiri Supervised by Chuuka Soba Konno,” which captures the flavor of the ramen in an onigiri (rice ball).
This is a perfect example of the “food reconstruction” that Japanese convenience stores excel at. The rice is cooked using chicken stock, soy sauce ramen soup, and iriko dashi (dried sardine broth) to evoke the flavor of the restaurant’s chuuka soba soup. This ensures that every single grain of rice is thoroughly infused with the delicious umami of the ramen soup.
Furthermore, finely chopped menma is mixed into the rice, so you can enjoy its pleasant texture with every bite. Inside the onigiri, a generous amount of chashu (braised pork) and green onions are packed as the main filling, condensing the satisfaction of a bowl of ramen into a single small rice ball.
Like the ramen, this will also be released on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, with a Lawson standard price of 192 yen (tax included). It’s perfect for enjoying alongside the ramen or as a snack when you’re feeling a bit hungry.
If you plan on visiting the Tohoku region, be sure to stop by a local Lawson to experience this special collaboration that can only be tasted in this area. It’s a rare chance to enjoy the flavor of Yamagata’s prized restaurant without waiting in line. However, as these are limited-quantity items, we recommend checking for them early if you’re interested.
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