Which “Convenience Store Curry” Is the Best? Introducing the “Ultimate Choice” Selected by Four Experts
Lawson has an extensive lineup of products created in collaboration with renowned restaurants, but…
The “Great Convenience Store Curry War” is getting fiercer every year. In Part 1, we introduced recommended convenience store curries selected by convenience store expert Shinji Taya and Takahisa Inoue, representative of the Curry Research Institute. Now, the discussion turns to the ultimate curry, ranked number one in both taste and value.
Seven-Eleven, which dominated the bento category, is also demonstrating unrivaled strength in the chilled pouch category.
“The flagship product of the popular ‘Gold’ series, ‘Gold Beef Curry’ (429 yen), is a staple—and it really is delicious. It has a flavor reminiscent of what you’d find at a luxury hotel, with a nice spice kick and beef that falls apart tenderly. The flavor is perfectly balanced with aromatic vegetables and bouillon, making it a versatile option that pairs well not only with rice but also with pasta and bread” (ibid.).
“Gold Beef Curry” is more than 100 yen cheaper than the bento-style “Slow-Simmered Pork Curry,” and even when paired with rice cooked at home, the total cost comes in under 500 yen. If you can enjoy hotel-quality curry for less than 500 yen, the effort of microwaving it at home is well worth it.
The main competitor to this “Golden Beef Curry” is FamilyMart’s “Ultra-Delicious Beef Curry with Tender Beef” (450 yen).
“Last year, we revamped the recipe from a version containing beef and potatoes to one featuring beef only. It’s a gourmet-style dish packed with three large chunks of beef.It’s a rich, European-style curry that features the aroma of curry powder—loved by people of all ages—and the deep, complex richness derived from fond de veau. The beef is tender, and every bite makes you feel like you’re indulging in a luxury treat,” says Mr. Maruyama (mentioned earlier).
However, this product costs 450 yen for a 180-gram package, while “Golden Beef Curry” costs 429 yen for 223 grams. Although it offers a satisfying flavor, it must be said that Seven-Eleven has the edge in terms of value for money.
On the other hand, Lawson is competing on “brand value”—something the “Gold Beef Curry” lacks.
“Lawson offers an extensive lineup of products created in collaboration with renowned restaurants. In particular, the ‘Sapporo Soup Curry Supervised by GARAKU’ (462 yen) is outstanding, with the textures of the chicken thighs, carrots, and lotus root really coming through.
While retort-packed curries use pressure cooking for long-term preservation—which causes the meat to shrink and the vegetables to disintegrate—chilled pouches aren’t pressure-cooked, so the ingredients retain their shape.“This dish harmonizes the Japanese-style umami of bonito flakes and kelp with a secret dash of fish sauce and the aroma of authentic spices—it pairs perfectly with rice,” says retort curry expert Masaaki Metori.
Which curry is the ultimate choice, ranking first in both taste and value?
Is “Sapporo Soup Curry, Supervised by GARAKU”—which fully leverages the brand power of a renowned restaurant in a way that “Golden Beef Curry” doesn’t—the champion of the chilled pouch category? However, the “ultimate bowl” that combines overwhelming value for money with the brand power of a renowned restaurant was, as expected, found at 7-Eleven.
“The ‘Gold Butter Chicken Curry’ (429 yen) is probably number one. You can expect great things the moment 7-Eleven decides to feature an Indian curry in its ‘Gold’ series—a line they’re very confident in—but you also can’t overlook the fact that they’ve teamed up with ‘Eric South,’ a renowned South Indian restaurant known for creating numerous hit products.
The flavor—with its just-right tomato acidity and harmonious blend of spices—is so impressive that you can’t help but admire it as a product supervised by a renowned restaurant.
With three bone-in chicken drumettes included, simply transferring it to a plate makes you feel like you’re dining at a restaurant right in your own home. And yet, the price is in the low 400-yen range—it’s nothing short of astonishing. It also pairs perfectly with the separately sold ‘Chewy Naan (2-pack)’ (246 yen),” said Mr. Maruyama (mentioned earlier).
Seven-Eleven has achieved consecutive victories in both the bento and chilled pouch categories. While there aren’t many standout products in their retort pouch lineup, the “Chunky Vegetable Curry” (246 yen) is exceptional.Not only can you get half your daily vegetable intake from this single dish, but even though it’s a retort curry where vegetables tend to break down easily, the textures of the lotus root and fried eggplant are preserved, giving it an exceptionally satisfying mouthfeel.
“Lawson’s ‘Shinjuku Nakamuraya European-Style Curry’ (258 yen) is a retort curry that lets you savor the rich depth of beef, but it’s actually seasoned with soy sauce and kelp for a Japanese-style flavor, making it a perfect match for udon.“It’s a great choice when you’re tired of rice or bread and want a change of pace,” says Mr. Taya (mentioned earlier).
Lawson also sells many other high-value retort curries, such as the “Beef Curry with Rich Beef and Vegetable Flavors” (125 yen), but it was FamilyMart—driven by a burning desire to dethrone 7-Eleven—that succeeded in developing the “ultimate bowl” that’s addictive once you try it.
“The ‘Spicy Keema Curry with Distinctive Roasted Spice Aroma’ (358 yen) is a masterpiece.It uses a blend of two types of ground meat—chicken and pork—and features a complex flavor with a powerful burst of cardamom. As mentioned earlier, retort curries are pressurized and heated for long-term preservation, which normally causes the aroma of spices to dissipate.
However, with this product, you can experience the aromas of cardamom seeds and mustard seeds in a multidimensional way. While it’s a bit pricey for a retort curry, I’m impressed that a product with this much character is now available at convenience stores frequented by people of all ages and genders,” said Mr. Inoue (mentioned earlier).
The title of “The Ultimate Bowl” was ultimately shared by 7-Eleven and FamilyMart.
From the July 17–24, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*
PHOTO： Kyodo News