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

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 are egg sandwiches so good in Japan? ›

Good ingredients make all the difference

In Japan, high-quality fresh eggs with orange yolks are used in making the eggy spread. While these have the same nutritional content as those with yellow yolks, eggs that have an orange yolk are known to have a richer mouthfeel and a deeper flavor when eaten.

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 is a Japanese egg salad sandwich—tamago translates to “egg” and sando means “sandwich.” Tamago sando puts a uniquely Japanese twist on the classic Western-style egg salad sandwich with Japanese mayonnaise, Japanese milk bread, and sometimes scallions, rice vinegar, or even a whole soft-boiled egg.

Is egg sandwich hot or cold? ›

An egg sandwich is a sandwich made with some type of cooked egg as the primary ingredient. It is a popular breakfast or a light meal food, and can be served hot or cold. Egg sandwiches can be made with a variety of different types of eggs, including fried, scrambled, poached, and boiled.

Is egg sandwich healthy or unhealthy? ›

It's high in protein, vitamins, and minerals which provide numerous health benefits like weight management and energy boost throughout the day. Moreover, it's budget-friendly and easy to make with various recipes to suit different tastes.

Why do eggs in Japan have less salmonella? ›

Eggs in Japan are safe to eat raw because health and safety rules require chickens to be vaccinated and regularly tested for salmonella. The hygiene rules for keeping chickens are also very strict. This allows to minimize cases of salmonella to close to zero. It is not zero, but it's extremely rare.

What was Anthony Bourdain's best egg sandwich? ›

Anthony Bourdain waxed poetic about the Lawson Egg Sandwich in the Okinawa episode 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 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 mean in Japanese? ›

The word “Tamago” actually means “egg” in Japanese, or “Tamagoyaki,” a Japanese omelet dish. It is a basic staple in Japan. In fact, Japanese people eat this dish several ways – in the morning for breakfast or as a complementary ingredient in their bento boxes or sushi.

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.

What condiment is good on an egg sandwich? ›

Mayonnaise, hot sauce, mustard, cheese spread, chutney or even pesto will work great as a sandwich spread.

Why is an egg sandwich called a banjo? ›

Within the military, it is widely known as an 'egg banjo' because when it is eaten, egg yolk usually squirts onto the eater's shirt/jacket, typically resulting in the person raising their sandwich out of the way, to approximately ear height, while they attempt to 'strum' the yolk mess from their shirt with their free ...

How long can egg salad sandwich sit out? ›

How To Store Egg Salad Safely. Also, once you've made the egg salad, remember the two-hour rule: Throw out any leftovers that have sat out for more than two hours.

Why are eggs so popular in Japan? ›

The demand for eggs in Japan is so high that the poultry population is almost equal to the human population of 120 million residents. With eggs that are farmed with strict standards and marked for taste, it's no wonder that eggs here are delicious, nutritious and a popular addition to many meals.

Why does Japan have better eggs? ›

So what is different about Japanese eggs? In Japan, extensive measures are taken to ensure that eggs are safe to eat raw, even without breaking the shell. For instance, highly advanced machines are used to clean the eggs, check their quality, sort them by size and package them.

Why is Japanese breakfast so good? ›

The benefits of traditional Japanese breakfast meal

This is due in part to the fact that Japanese food often incorporates healthy ingredients such as fish, tofu, and vegetables. In addition, Japanese dishes focus on using fresh, seasonal ingredients and sticking to simple preparations.

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