Convenience stores in Japan can sometimes catch first-time visitors off guard with surprisingly high quality food, whether it be exquisite egg sandwiches or the ready to serve ingredients to put together a gourmet meal. Sometimes the mood calls for for the junkier options of the hot food section by the counter at the counter to hit the spot, however.

Steamed buns, curry bread, and various chicken nuggets are some of the most popular offerings available at the hot food sections located near the register, but among them there's one option that should be at the top of your list if you haven't gotten one from a Japanese convenience store before: a corn dog!

"Wait, a corn dog? What's so special about that?" you might say, and it's a fair question. In Japan corn dogs are the standard hotdogs on a stick deep-fried in a thick batter of cornmeal that they've come known to be with no particular flavor variation--the only real difference is that they are called "American Dogs" or occasionally "Big American Dogs." There is one crucial and game-changing way they are served at convenience stores, however, that you'll notice if you look to the right of the corn dog picture above...

...this magical and way to fun to use sauce packet!

The tiny condiment packet contains two small and separately packaged services of ketchup and whole grain mustard, as you can see when you flip it over.

Their incredible convenience comes in how you actually use them to apply the condiments to the corn dog. First, flip it over so that the label is facing the corn dog...err, American Dog, and the visible part of the sauce packet is facing you.

Then, squeeze the packet with a simple pinch of your fingers, touching the separate sauce packets together. Both mustard and ketchup will be released in even streams at the same time, and you can evenly drizzle both on top of your American Dog in an even flow that's just so fun to control--like so!

It's a simple concept, but so much smoother than using individual sauce packets. Granted, if you're only wanting one sauce it's a bit wasted, but the combo packages really do make the whole American Dog experience easier when eating on the go. Not to mention, the act of symmetrically and neatly applying the sauces as you squeeze is quite therapeutic! These kind of packets aren't unique to convenience stores, either. If you order a side salad at McDonald's, for instance, your dressing will come in the same kind of squeezable packet.

They come in quite handy at home to apply on other things too, so if you're in Japan, you may want to pick up a few American Dogs and save some sauce for later in your stay!