Seven-Eleven’s Fresh Noodles Pack a Punch—FamilyMart and OK Enter the Generic Jiro Arena

An anomaly in “Generic Jiro”

The hearty microwave-type ramen known as “Generic Jiro” has become a best-selling item at convenience stores. While each chain has developed its own evolution, our research made it clear that Generic Jiro is showing new developments.

With fresh noodle types that require different preparation and cooking, and even being offered in supermarkets, the influence of Generic Jiro is expanding beyond convenience stores. We focus on these products showing a new movement and report on their momentum and spread!

[Part 1] “Tasting! Which is the Ultimate ‘Generic Jiro’? Giant Pork Seven vs. Famous Store FamilyMart vs. Harmonious Lawson” is here

 

Seven’s “Fresh Noodle Jiro” Is Too Ferocious

7-Eleven started selling fresh noodles, which is unusual for convenience stores. They also began selling the extra-thick noodles and dedicated soup essential to Jiro-style ramen, showing their full commitment.

The noodles have a rough, chewy texture unique to fresh noodles. The soup is a lightly emulsified type with more liquid fat and a strong soy sauce punch, creating a flavor that can be described as almost violent when combined with the noodles.

Meanwhile, the large pork slices (2 slices, 84g total) are salty and tasty, adding volume and extra punch to the ramen. Even with plenty of vegetables like bean sprouts, the flavor remains robust. Topping with garlic elevates it to a level that can justifiably be called ferocious. With bean sprouts and garlic added, the total cost is around 700 yen, making it a reasonable price considering satisfaction.

FamilyMart × Senrigan: “Maze Soba” with Back Fat Guilt

Supervised by Tokyo’s popular G-style restaurant Senrigan. Oil noodles and maze soba, standard types of soupless ramen, are becoming a staple even in convenience stores.

This maze soba features thick noodles with a chewy, elastic texture that pairs well with the garlic-infused soy sauce. The signature spicy fried tempura bits from Senrigan add a zesty accent, creating harmony with garlic, back fat, and chashu toppings. It is hearty and satisfying.

FamilyMart also sells “Ramen-so Rekishi wo Kizame Supervised Soupless (Maze Soba)” and appears to be pushing the maze soba line, making future developments worth watching.

Seven × Tomita: Cup Noodles with Garlic Destruction Power

This is a cup-yakisoba-style maze soba, a 7-Premium product at 7-Eleven. The finished dish has an intense black pepper and garlic aroma. The noodles are thick and square with a chewy texture. The punchy sauce has a strong flavor that dominates the noodles, making it suitable to eat with onigiri or similar. The aroma, spiciness, and strong flavor leave a powerful impression.

Discount chain “OK” goes all out with Jiro-style ramen

Purchased at the supermarket OK, famous for “High Quality, Everyday Low Price.” The straight, square noodles have a rough texture but a slightly soft finish. The soup is pork-bone-forward and mild, with strong garlic enhancing the flavor. Toppings include large pieces of pork belly and plenty of vegetables, giving it the signature OK-style volume.

Shocking “Bean Sprout Only” Cup Noodles

A hearty cup noodle released at the beginning of ’26. It has a strong garlic punch and aroma, creating a significant impact, yet uses mystery meat for toppings, keeping that classic Cup Noodle feel. The key feature is that the packaging actively promotes bean sprouts as a topping.

Jiro-style ramen is defined by its generous vegetables (mainly bean sprouts), but achieving that volume in a cup noodle is difficult. This straightforward decision is bold. When topping with microwaved bean sprouts, the strong soup enhances depth of flavor. Eating it while adding bean sprouts creates a satisfying experience. This might be less about eating noodles and more about eating bean sprouts with seasoning.

A 40-something Reporter Takes on the Uric Acid Challenge

From microwave noodles to maze soba, fresh noodles, and cup noodles, the spread of Generic Jiro has become wide-ranging. It’s no longer just a trend or movement—these ramen varieties have fully become a staple, thanks not only to the original’s popularity but also to the corporate effort of each manufacturer.

Grateful to be able to enjoy Generic Jiro easily anywhere in Japan, the reporter—now in his late 40s and whose triglycerides and uric acid levels hit a personal best (or worst?) each year—plans to continue researching and tasting these ramen while keeping health in mind, anticipating further evolution, leveling up, and expansion.