FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Kensuke Hosomi) is launching "Mala Cheese Nikuman" for 184 yen (198 yen including tax) from January 6, 2026 (Tuesday), and "Black Vinegar Subuta" for 397 yen (428 yen including tax) from January 13, 2026 (Tuesday) at approximately 16,400 FamilyMart stores nationwide. These products are part of the private brand "Famima-ru KITCHEN" and were developed under the supervision of Chef Komoda Kinya, known as the "Master of Sichuan Cuisine," as part of the company's ongoing commitment to one of its five key concepts: "Your Happiness."
The 7th Installment of Chef Komoda's Supervised Series Features the Series' First Chinese Bun from the Sichuan Master
Chef Komoda Kinya is a leading Chinese cuisine chef in Japan who serves as the owner-chef of the hot pot specialty restaurant "Fire Hole 4000" and executive chef of the creative Chinese restaurant "4000 Chinese Restaurant." He is also renowned as a master of Sichuan cuisine.
Since 2023, FamilyMart has had Chef Komoda supervise various products, and the delicate, deep flavors of Sichuan cuisine's aroma, numbing spice, and umami created through Chef Komoda's unique vision have received high praise from many customers. The series has exceeded 4 million units sold (as of the end of November 2025), making it a highly popular series.
For the 7th installment, the series debuts its first Chinese bun—a winter staple—with "Mala Cheese Nikuman," which combines the stimulating mala flavor originating from Sichuan Province, China, with rich, umami-filled cheese that appeals to Japanese tastes. This authentic, addictively spicy bun is a hallmark of Chef Komoda's supervision.
Additionally, the packaged prepared foods lineup welcomes "Black Vinegar Subuta," featuring tender pork thigh meat coated with a black vinegar sauce that blends Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar, Chinese soy sauce aged wine (laojiu), grape juice, and more—a classic Chinese dish making its debut.
Please enjoy this authentic Chinese cuisine packed with Chef Komoda's attention to detail.
Comments from Sichuan Cuisine Master Chef Komoda Kinya
For the Mala Cheese Nikuman, while centering on the stimulating "mala" characteristic of Sichuan cuisine, I layered the richness of cheese and the umami of Japanese-style dashi to create a flavor you won't tire of until the last bite.
For the Black Vinegar Subuta, I focused on the vinegar blend and heat application to ensure the black vinegar's acidity doesn't dominate, allowing the fruity notes and richness to spread naturally.
Product Details
Product Name: Mala Cheese Nikuman
Price: 184 yen (198 yen including tax)
Launch Date: January 6, 2026 (Tuesday)
Sales Region: Nationwide
Description: A Chinese bun featuring numbing spicy mala and stretchy cheese. Japanese-style dashi and koji miso add umami within the spiciness. The sweet, chewy dough enhances the mala spiciness. Enjoy this authentic Chinese flavor. *Limited quantity.
Product Name: Black Vinegar Subuta
Price: 397 yen (428 yen including tax)
Launch Date: January 13, 2026 (Tuesday)
Sales Region: Nationwide *Okinawa Prefecture launches January 20, 2026 (Tuesday)
Description: Sweet and sour pork featuring tender pork thigh meat and a black vinegar sauce that blends Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar, Chinese soy sauce aged wine (laojiu), grape juice, and more.
*Images are for illustrative purposes.
*Prices shown include 8% consumption tax for reduced tax rate items.
*Product availability may vary by store.
FamilyMart aims to be an indispensable place that goes beyond convenience, connecting with each customer like family while staying close to local communities under the motto "You, Konbini, FamilyMart."
Reference Information
About Chef Komoda Kinya
Owner-chef of "Fire Hole 4000" and executive chef of "4000 Chinese Restaurant." He serves as an instructor at culinary schools and cooking classes and makes numerous appearances at events and on cooking programs.
Winner of the gold medal in the individual hot dishes division at the 2004 World Chinese Cuisine Competition (Guangzhou, China)—the first Japanese to receive this honor.
About Famima-ru
Over 1,000 Product Varieties in the Private Brand "Famima-ru"
Famima-ru encompasses "Famima-ru" for processed foods, snacks, daily necessities, and beverages that "enrich daily family life"; "Famima-ru KITCHEN" for prepared foods, frozen foods, bento, sandwiches, and other ready-to-eat items that "support family dining"; "Famima-ru Bakery" that makes "eating enjoyment easily accessible anytime"; "Famima-ru Sweets" that provides "healing and rewards for everyday life"; and the premium line "Famima-ru PREMIUM" that offers "high-quality deliciousness with particular attention to ingredients and production methods." Together, these lineups feature over 1,000 varieties.
The Meaning Behind the "Famima-ru" Name and Logo
"Immediately recognizable as a FamilyMart private brand product"
- Uses the word "Famima-ru" and FamilyMart's brand colors
"Conveys FamilyMart's confidence in recommending this quality"
- Design expressing FamilyMart's "double circle" quality in safety, security, environmental responsibility, and deliciousness
"Understandable to people of all ages and genders"
- Smile mark (logo that ranked first in consumer surveys)
*Survey name: Product Brand Survey
Host: FamilyMart
Survey participants: 10,000 men and women aged 15 to 79
Survey date: March 17, 2021
Famima-ru Concept
For everyone's daily life,
"Delicious ◎ Happy ◎ Reassuring ◎."
That's Family Quality.
Quality and lineup we can confidently recommend to our valued family members. A private brand that brings smiles to everyone from children to seniors, delivering a bit of happiness to everyday life.
