Japanese Egg Sandwich (Tamago Sando) たまごサンド (2024)

With egg salad tucked between slices of white bread, Japanese Egg Sandwich (Tamago Sando) is a timeless snack you can find in every convenience store in Japan. The creamy filling is bursting with a rich egg-yolk flavor and the shokupan slices are soft and pillowy. Some claim it‘s the absolute best egg salad sandwich they’ve ever tasted!

Sandwiches are not a new thing in the world of Japanese cuisine, but they seem to behaving their moment right now. One particular sandwichthat makes it to international stardom, which honestly took me by surprise, is Tamago Sando (たまごサンド).

It is basically the grab-and-go Japanese egg sandwich that is sold everywhere at conbini (sometimes spelled as konbini; コンビニ; convenience stores) in Japan. Have you tried it before?

I finally understood its popularity when I found out the legendary Anthony Bourdainglorified Tamago Sandoover Twitter. “Inexplicable Deliciousness” were his words. Now, let’s take a look at how to make the best egg sandwich at home!

What is Tamago Sando?

Japanese egg sandwich Tamago (たまご) means eggs and sando is short for san-doh-itchi (サンドイッチ)—sandwich in Japanese. You probably heard of both words from Onsen Tamago, Tamagoyaki, Tamagotchi (the nostalgic toy!), and Katsu Sando or Wanpaku Sando from my blog.

The egg sandwich is pretty much a homey snack to the Japanese because we all grow up eating it. It is a modest, low-maintenance, convenience store sort of food. I don’t exactly know when tamago sando became so popular internationally, but I’ve been seeingit on the menu of trendy cafes and restaurants in the U.S.

EvenJust One Cookbook readers tell me how much they miss the egg sandwich from 7-Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson convenience stores in Japan. Only $2 for each sandwich! You can’t beat that.

What’s the Difference between American and Japanese Egg Sandwich?

In comparison to American-style egg sandwiches, Japanese egg sandwich is a lot simpler.Usually just mashed boiled eggs between the bread. There is no cheese, no mustard, no onions or lettuce, no ham or bacon. It’s as pure as an egg salad sandwich can get. I actually do like theAmerican-style egg salad sandwich too and I’d say both versions have their own unique flavors.

Key Ingredients for Japanese Egg Sandwich

So what’s all the fuss about the Japanese egg salad sandwich? I think you can say it stands out because of these characteristics:

1. Shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread)

Tamago sando always uses soft and pillowy Shokupan (Japanese Milk Bread). The sandwich bread is sweet, milky with a nice bounce, and the crust around the Pullman is completely removed so you get the perfect soft texture of a sandwich.

2. Kewpie Japanese Mayonnaise

And of course, the mayo. Tamago sando uses Japanese mayonnaise (with Kewpie mayonnaise being the most recognizable) which gives the egg filling an extra tang and creaminess. If needed, you can use American mayonnaise, but the flavor complexity can be quite different. Many Just One Cookbook readers told me that they won’t go back to American mayonnaise after trying Japanese mayo.

It’s worth grabbing a bottle of Japanese mayonnaise at your local Asian grocery stores (available on Amazon too). Otherwise, you can try my homemade recipe.

3. Eggs

Needless to say, eggs are the main ingredients in the egg salad sandwich, and the taste of eggs totally shines through. There is something about Japanese eggs. They are fresh and the yolk is almost orange, and they are so darn delicious. In the US, you can certainly procure some quality eggs from your local farmers’ market orgood-quality free-range eggs.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Quality eggs
• Shokupan (Japanese milk bread)* – homemade or store-bought from Asian bakery/grocery stores
• Salted butter
• Seasonings: sugar, salt, black pepper, milk, Japanese mayonnaise

*Substitution: If you really couldn’t find Japanese milk bread, you could use brioche or soft white bread.

Overview: Cooking Steps

1. Boil the eggs (can be prepped in advance).
2. Peel and mash the eggs. Add all the seasonings and mix well.
3. Assemble the egg mixture over the bread slices.
4. Cut the crust off for the standard presentation and serve.

It’s really as simple as that.

The Secrets to Making Perfect Egg Sandwich At Home

I want to throw in a few cooking secrets to make the perfect tamago sando at home. You may think the 7-Eleven egg sandwich is perfect, but if you look at the label on the sandwich, the ingredients are full of preservatives.To make the truly perfect and healthy homemade Japanese egg sandwich at home, here are my tips:

• Use older but quality eggs, not the freshest eggs, if you want to peel the shells easily.
• Add milk for a creamy and smooth texture
• Don’t be afraid to add salt. For a simple dish like this, salt plays an important role in bringing out the flavors.
• If you want your sandwich to taste very much like the 7-Eleven version, add a tiny bit of sugar for some sweetness. Otherwise, you can skip it.
• Don’t skip the butter. It acts as a waterproof barrier so the bread stays dry, not soggy.

If you are used to eating the 7-Eleven egg sandwich in Japan, this homemade recipe will make you very happy. It is good with coffee or tea, but even better if you enjoy it with a cup of royal milk tea.

More Japanese Sandwiches You’ll Love

• Japanese Fruit Sandwich (Fruit Sando)
• Wanpaku Sandwich (The Ultimate Layered Sandwich)
• Katsu Sando (Pork Cutlet Sandwich)
• Egg Salad Sandwich
• Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 1, 2019. It’s been republished with additional blog content on April 5, 2023.