Today, I’m reviewing Soft Salad (ソフトサラダ), one of the most famous Senbei (Japan’s Savory Umami Rice Snacks) in Japan.
It’s a long-selling salty rice cracker that’s been around since 1970 and is still popular today.
Product Summary
| Cooking Method | Baked |
| Hardness | ★☆☆☆（Level 1: Soft） |
| Flavors | Salt |
Product Information
| Product Name | Soft Salad (ソフトサラダ) |
| Manufacturer | Kameda Seika (亀田製菓) |
| Quantity | 20 pieces (2 pieces × 10 packs) |
| Price | Reference price: 200–250 yen |
| Where to Buy | Almost any supermarket, drugstore, convenience store in Japan |
Package & Individual Wraps
The package features red as the base color, with deep navy used for the key selling points, where it describes their commitment to the salt.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the colors used on senbei packages are actually patterned.
Once you notice this, looking at them becomes even more interesting and gives you a fresh perspective.
Each individual wrapper contains two crackers.
The back of the package features trivia about senbei, and the content varies on each individual wrapper.
Ingredients & Other Information
You can check the ingredients, allergen information, and other details on the back of the package.
| Main Ingredients | Non-glutinous rice, vegetable oil, starch, salt, bonito extract powder, etc. |
| Allergy Information | soy |
Flavor & Texture
They are made with high-quality Japanese salt. It’s not just salty; as you chew, you can taste a mild umami beneath the surface.
It’s not an intense, obvious flavor, but rather a subtle one that makes you think, “Wait, this is actually really good. What is this?”
This never-boring flavor is so addictive that before you know it, you’ll find yourself reaching for a second or even a third bag!
Here’s the cross section. Can you tell how fine-textured and crispy it looks?
True to its name “Soft,” these crackers have a light, crispy texture that almost melts in your mouth. They are soft enough for everyone from children to the elderly to enjoy.
Size
Each cracker is about 7.5 cm wide.
They’re a decent size, but light enough that you can finish them pretty easily.
If you like soft-type senbei, I also recommend these:
