Big America is back

About two years ago, McDonalds Japan offered, for a limited-time, four original burgers that were collectively known as “Big America“.
Individually they were the “Texas Burger“, “New York Burger“, “California Burger” and the “Hawaiian Burger“.

Click here to read the post that I wrote about them.

Then, about one year ago, “Big America” returned to Japan with four new original burgers. These four were called “Big America 2” as a group.
They consisted of the “Texas 2 Burger“, “Idaho Burger“, “Miami Burger” and the “Manhattan Burger“.

The “Texas 2 Burger” and “Miami Burger” were, by far, the best of the eight “Big America” burgers, in my opinion.

Click here to read the post that I wrote about “Big America 2”.

And now McDonalds Japan is offering, for a limited time, the third set of “Big America” burgers.

The first one being offered is the “Grand Canyon Burger“. It’s available now at only two McDonalds locations in Tokyo…but it will available all over Japan from 2011 December 26 until 2012 January 4th.

Then, they’ll be selling the “Las Vegas Burger” starting in late January (2012).

Then, in mid-February (2012), the “Broadway Burger” will be on the menu.

And finally, starting in early March (2012), the “Beverly Hills Burger” will be available.

Some other limited-time menu items coming to McDonalds in Japan include:

"Blueberry Cream-cheese Pie" (starting 2012 Jan 4)	"Creamy Ranch" McNugget sauce (starting 2012 Jan 4)
"Maple Custard Pie" (starting early Feb 2012)	"Spicy Buffalo (Wing)" Chicken McNugget sauce (starting early Feb 2012)
"American-Cherry" Milkshake (starting early March 2012)	"Sweet and Sour" Chicken McNugget sauce (starting early 2012)

What unique menu items does McDonalds offer in your area?

Hooters in Japan

Do you know the Hooters American restaurant chain?

They are restaurants well-known for spicy “Buffalo-Wing” style chicken and beer served by pretty young waitresses dressed in tight T-shirts and short shorts.

They also have televisions showing sporting events such as football or baseball games.

Sports on TV, Buffalo Wings, beer and sexy waitresses. It’s not difficult to see why this chain is popular…at least with men.

Actually the original Hooters restaurant opened in the early ’80s in Clearwater, Florida, USA…in the neighborhood where I grew up.

Well, after years of negotiations, Japan’s first Hooters restaurant will open tomorrow (2010 October 25) in Tokyo, Japan.

Hooters, Tokyo will be located in the upscale Tokyo neighborhood of 赤坂 (Akasaka).
The address, if you want to go there, is: 東京都千代田区永田町2-14-3 赤坂東急プラザ2F (2nd Floor of the “Akasaka Tokyu Plaza” in 2-14-3 Nagatacho).

The “Akasaka Tokyu Plaza” is full of luxurious stores and restaurants. Not the type of place where you’d normally find a Hooters restaurant!
I feel more comfortable in downtown “blue-collar” neighborhoods and stores. That’s the type of place Hooters is. They serve spicy chicken wings and beer. And the staff are dressed in tight T-shirts and shorts.
The restaurants in places like the “Akasaka Tokyu Plaza” are the types of places that you find in the “Michelin Guide”.

The girls in the front row of this photo are "Hooters Girls" from various Hooters in America who came to Tokyo to train the staff of Hooters Tokyo (who are all the girls behind the front row).

I heard that beginning next year, if this first Hooters in Japan proves popular, they plan to open more restaurants in other high-end areas of Tokyo such as 銀座 (Ginza).

There are many American chain restaurants in Tokyo such as Hard Rock Cafe, Outback and T.G.I. Fridays, so I always thought that they should open Hooters here…but I would’ve thought they’d choose an area in Tokyo such as 新宿 (Shinjuku) or 池袋 (Ikebukuro).

Anyways, I won’t be eating at Hooters in Japan for the same reason I don’t eat at Hard Rock Cafe, Outback or T.G.I. Fridays…the food isn’t so great and the prices are too high.

Besides, my wife makes better “Buffalo Wings” chicken than I’ve ever had at any Hooters before! 🙂

How about you? Do you like “Buffalo Wings”? Do you eat at “Hooters”? Would you visit the “Hooters” here in Tokyo?