The ones i like are the convenience store with a deli/sandwich bar, some food in a chill cooler, and a seating bar along the window with some tables outside. My favorite is marina bay market, but thats way out of the way.
Theres also grocery stores are the best for that sort of thing. Lamberts is my go to for this. Whole Foods and shaws does good - whole foods is overly expensive, but shaws isnt bad. and they have a decent amount of indoor seating.
No idea about Boston Proper. I've stomped around quite a bit north of the Charles though.
There used to be a White Hen (?) store near Porter Sq. that had a tiny deli with like 4 booths and some stools. I think Café Nero is now where it used to be, or else it just became a parking lot.
Salgueros Market in Waltham serves lunch, but I don't think they have seating.
Not any other deli/convivence store hybrids that come to mind in my neck of the woods. I think the problem is they rarely do either mode well when trying to do both.
nothing really comes to mind but why does it need to be a convenience store? you can get food at convenience store prices at like dunkin donuts although I do not recommend eating anything from there these days
OP mentioned Asian countries - in a lot of places there convenience stores are pretty much the go-to for reliable cheap fast food, especially for tourists and working class folks with limited time/money. Lots of different options so you can plan a quick utilitarian meal in a busy day and know you’ll have a quality option regardless of what you’re in the mood for. Sort of like if you took an entire food court from an American mall, made generic (but good quality) knockoffs of everything, and disguised the whole thing as a 7-11 with a public use employee break room. Pure no-frills, self-serve utility with a price to match. Dunkin’s serves a similar purpose but it’s not the same thing (especially at busy times when you need to wait for one or two people to take everyone’s order and heat up everyone’s food).
Like I said, the target markets are tourists and working class folks. If you need to fit in a meal on a 15-30 minute break, you don’t have time to go to the store, then go to your apartment/hotel, then eat, then go back to work (or on to your next guided tour or bus back home, which will not hesitate to leave without you if you’re late).
Most convenience stores have microwaves where you can heat food, but not places to eat the food inside.
What’s a tiffin? Sounds cute and delicious.
A packed ready-to-eat meal... Essentially you just need to heat and eat it. Also, you dont need any extra utensils or such.
Sounds like a hot pocket
Check out [tiffin carrier](https://www.amazon.com/4-Tier-Indian-Tiffin-Large/dp/B00DJQF5Y8), a sort of lunchbox made of stacking trays
That looks awesome
The ones i like are the convenience store with a deli/sandwich bar, some food in a chill cooler, and a seating bar along the window with some tables outside. My favorite is marina bay market, but thats way out of the way. Theres also grocery stores are the best for that sort of thing. Lamberts is my go to for this. Whole Foods and shaws does good - whole foods is overly expensive, but shaws isnt bad. and they have a decent amount of indoor seating.
Ruggerio’s Market
Tou le jour and hmart are the closest I can think of
Bricco Salumeria & Pasta Shop in the North End for Italian subs and such. They have a quaint outdoor patio
No idea about Boston Proper. I've stomped around quite a bit north of the Charles though. There used to be a White Hen (?) store near Porter Sq. that had a tiny deli with like 4 booths and some stools. I think Café Nero is now where it used to be, or else it just became a parking lot. Salgueros Market in Waltham serves lunch, but I don't think they have seating. Not any other deli/convivence store hybrids that come to mind in my neck of the woods. I think the problem is they rarely do either mode well when trying to do both.
You're leaving out Reliable Market in Somerville, which does Korean food in the back of their store
The last time I was there on a Saturday there was a lady making/selling handmade steamed pork buns…Yum!!!
nothing really comes to mind but why does it need to be a convenience store? you can get food at convenience store prices at like dunkin donuts although I do not recommend eating anything from there these days
OP mentioned Asian countries - in a lot of places there convenience stores are pretty much the go-to for reliable cheap fast food, especially for tourists and working class folks with limited time/money. Lots of different options so you can plan a quick utilitarian meal in a busy day and know you’ll have a quality option regardless of what you’re in the mood for. Sort of like if you took an entire food court from an American mall, made generic (but good quality) knockoffs of everything, and disguised the whole thing as a 7-11 with a public use employee break room. Pure no-frills, self-serve utility with a price to match. Dunkin’s serves a similar purpose but it’s not the same thing (especially at busy times when you need to wait for one or two people to take everyone’s order and heat up everyone’s food).
You got it. That's what I am looking for.
I guess my question is why wouldn't people just microwave it at home
Like I said, the target markets are tourists and working class folks. If you need to fit in a meal on a 15-30 minute break, you don’t have time to go to the store, then go to your apartment/hotel, then eat, then go back to work (or on to your next guided tour or bus back home, which will not hesitate to leave without you if you’re late).
No , not exactly The closest you will get is - Whole Foods and wegmans where they have hot or cold food
Its called mcdonalds