Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

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9 Comments Leave a Reply FAQs

Tamago sando, or egg salad sandwiches, are extremely popular in Japan – they even had a short run of tamago sando flavored potato chips! All of the combini (convenience stores) carry them, and as of late, there have been fancier tamago sando popping up too. But, if you want to keep it classic, just head towards the cooler in 7-11 or Lawson’s and pick up one of those ubiquitous soft and squishy triangles filled with a simple egg and kewpie filling.

The bread is cloud like, the filling the perfect balance of savory and salty, and together, the parts create a whole that is extremely nostalgic. People who know, just know, egg salad sandos are where it’s at. David Chang knows. Anthony Bourdain knew. Egg salad is a thing and it’s here to stay.

I always eat a tamago sando (or 8) when in Japan and this time, since we came home with a whole loaf of shokupan, I decided that we were gonna make our own. I went with a simple classic filling of medium-hard boiled eggs, kewpie mayo – absolutely essential – and a generous sprinkle of salt. Added in a couple of jammy eggs for a bit of visual contrast and boom, instant egg salad sandwich heaven. So nice to have a little taste of Japan, right here at home :)

PS – I based this guy off of Konbi’s famous egg salad sandwich. Still haven’t had one, but soon!

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (3)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (4)

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (5)

Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe
makes 1 sandwich


  • 4 large eggs
  • salt, to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons kewpie mayo, or to taste
  • 2 slices fluffy white bread, crusts trimmed

Remove the eggs from the fridge as your bringing your water to a boil.

Prepare an ice bath with a large bowl of cold water and ice.

Bring a pot of water to rolling boil, then turn the heat down and gently add eggs in, with a slotted spoon. Turn the heat back up to medium high and maintain a simmer for 7 minutes. Remove 2 of the eggs, and leave the remaining 2 eggs in for another minute and a half.

Plunge the eggs into an ice bath to cool down. Peel the eggs: Gently tap the wide end of the egg on the countertop, then flip around and tap the pointed end. Gently roll the egg and peel, under running water, if it helps.

Cut the 7 minute eggs in half and set aside. Place the remaining two eggs in a bowl and use a fork to crush with the mayonnaise and a sprinkle of salt until a rough paste forms. Taste and adjust the kewpie mayo and salt.

Spread an even layer of egg salad on one slice of bread then arrange the cut eggs on the salad, nestling in gently. Top with the remaining slice of bread, then cut into three, being sure to cut perpendicular to the yolks, so when you turn the sandwich, you see the yolks.

9 Comments

  1. Emma says:

    May 29, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I didn’t realize just how much the kewpie mayo would transform my standard egg salad sandwich. It’s a little sweeter than other mayonnaise I’ve had, but in combination with the eggs, it’s absolutely scrumptious.

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 2, 2019 at 10:21 am

      hi emma,
      isn’t it amazing how different it tastes even though it is just mayo?! thanks so much for trying out the recipe :)

  2. Karen says:

    June 3, 2019 at 6:36 am

    I made it for lunch today. It was so cute and absolutely delicious

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 3, 2019 at 6:43 pm

      yay! so happy you made it and liked it :)

      Reply

  3. Lilium Beau says:

    June 19, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    I can’t wait to try this as soon as my kewpie mayo comes in from Amazon! I’m planning on serving these for an afternoon tea. I was wondering if there is a traditional side? Would like to offer something other than chips. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      June 20, 2019 at 10:25 am

      hi lilium,
      anything goes – they don’t usually have a traditional side! i like your idea of them for afternoon tea, just some other sandwiches maybe? or a salad?

      Reply

      1. Lilium Beau says:

        June 20, 2019 at 7:07 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Konbi’s Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich: Tamago Sando Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

Why is Japanese egg sandwich so good? ›

What makes this sandwich so unique is the type of bread used. It is not ordinary sliced white bread! Traditionally, Japanese milk bread is used which is a super soft melt-in-your-mouth white bread. The slices are also a bit thicker because of how fluffy they are compared to normal white bread.

What is the Anthony Bourdain egg sandwich? ›

Even the late Anthony Bourdain enjoyed what's better known as a Tamago Sando so much that he dubbed it “insanely delicious and incongruously addictive” in an episode of Parts Unknown. But aren't we talking about just a sandwich here? Boiled egg, mayonnaise, and some butter smashed between two pieces of white bread?

Where does the name Tamago Sando come from? ›

Tamago sando, or egg salad sandwich, is without a doubt one of the most popular sandwiches in Japan. If you've been to Japan, you might have tried one in a convenience store like 7-11, Lawson, or Family Mart. It is an iconic Japanese sandwich that everyone loves!

What is an egg and cheese sandwich? ›

Grilled Egg & Cheese Sandwich– Creamy scrambled eggs are topped with colby jack cheese and chives and then sandwiched in between two slices of buttery toasted brioche.

Is it OK to eat egg sandwich everyday? ›

Eggs have gotten a bad reputation as being bad for heart health, but a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that eating up to one egg a day is not associated with an increased risk of heart disease and may even reduce the risk of stroke.

Is egg sandwich healthy or unhealthy? ›

Eggs. Eggs are a good source of protein and contain a range of vitamins. You might be wary about egg sandwiches if you have raised cholesterol but the cholesterol in egg yolks isn't really the problem.

What was Anthony Bourdain's best egg sandwich? ›

Even the late, great food critic Anthony Bourdain (RIP) was a fan and documented his love of the Lawson egg sandwich in the Okinawa edition of 'Parts Unknown'.

What is the egg sandwich in Okinawa? ›

Pork Tamago Onigiri is an Onigiri-Sandwich with a slice of grilled SPAM and fried egg. You can find this “soul food” at every convenience store and Bento shop in Okinawa. This Onigiri was unique both in shape and in the ingredients, and quickly became one of my favorite foods after relocating to Okinawa.

What is a Charlie Brown sandwich? ›

House-made peanut butter, Cheddar cheese and brisket. Topped with bacon. On a roll.

What does Japanese tamago mean in English? ›

The word "tamago" means egg in Japanese, and the word "yaki" means to be cooked over direct heat.

What does tamago translate to in English? ›

The word “Tamago” actually means “egg” in Japanese, or “Tamagoyaki,” a Japanese omelet dish.

What is a Sando Japan? ›

These sandos (the Japanese name for sandwiches) are made from simple ingredients like Japanese milk bread filled with pork cutlets, eggs, or fruit, and offer quick and delicious meals that even people like Anthony Bourdain appreciate.

Is it healthy to eat eggs and cheese together? ›

For example, eggs typically are eaten with other foods high in salt, saturated fat and cholesterol, such as bacon, cheese and butter. These foods are known to increase heart disease risk and should be eaten sparingly. Most healthy people can eat up to seven eggs a week without affecting their heart health.

What is it called when you put an egg on a sandwich? ›

An egg sandwich is a sandwich with some kind of cooked egg filling. Fried eggs, scrambled eggs, omelette, sliced boiled eggs and egg salad (a mix of chopped cooked egg and mustard and mayonnaise) are popular options. In the last case, it may be called an egg salad sandwich. Egg sandwich.

What kind of cheese is best for an egg sandwich? ›

CHEESE: Sliced cheddar, pepper jack, Colby jack, Swiss, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack are all great. Choose something that melts well. EGGS: Fried is our favorite. Scrambled, poached, or hard-boiled will work too.

What is special about Japanese eggs? ›

Japanese eggs typically have an expiration date of two weeks. This means that they can safely be eaten raw for two weeks, and still eaten if thoroughly cooked after the two weeks. This is unlike other countries, which indicate an expiration date based on the assumption that the eggs are not eaten raw.

Are Japanese eggs healthier? ›

Japanese Eggs That Are Safe to Eat Raw

In other countries, eating eggs without cooking them is considered a bad idea, because of the risk of salmonella infection or other bacteria. In Japan, eggs are specially checked to make sure that they are safe to eat raw.

What is the most popular sandwich in Japan? ›

The Irresistible Appeal of the Tamago (Egg) Sandwich

The same survey revealed that the most popular sandwich filling in Japan is egg, with one in four respondents naming it as their favorite. The delicate balance of the fluffy bread and egg salad creates an irresistible combination that appeals to many.

Why does Japanese mayo taste so good? ›

It's slightly more sweet and less acidic than American mayo because it contains rice or cider vinegar rather than distilled white vinegar. Japanese mayo is also a bit richer due to the incorporation of egg yolks, unlike American mayo which uses whole eggs.

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