All-you-can-eat Whoppers

Burger King in Japan has some new menu items…such as:

The "Steakhouse" burger

and some others new items on their menu:

But more surprising is the special campaign that Burger King Japan will be running from 2011 November 1st to 15th.
It’s the “B”iKing ワッパー　おかわり自由 (“All-you-can-eat Whoppers”) special.

「バイキング」 ("Biking") is Japanese for "Smorgasbord"...and, when written as "B"iKing it looks like an abbreviation for "Burger King".

If you want to try the All-you-can-eat Whopper deal, you must go to a Burger King in Japan between November 1st and 15th (2011) and buy a Whopper set meal…then you can as many free Whoppers as you can eat within thirty minutes.

Do you like the Whopper? Will you be trying this deal?

Would you buy any of these?

I wrote a post before about some of the unique “Japan only” flavors of “Kit-Kat” chocolates in Japan (Click here to read it).

Well, as Kit-Kat Japan often does, they have introduced a few new flavors recently:

 

"Big Little Strawberry Kit-Kat"

 

"Maccha Assort" (6pcs of "Green Tea Kit-Kat" and 7pcs of "Milk Green Tea Kit-Kat")

 

"Yubari Melon Kit-Kat" (Yubari is a town in Hokkaido, Japan famous for it's melon)

Kit-Kat Japan isn’t the only company in Japan that offers unique “only-in-Japan” products.
Some others are Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Pepsi-Cola, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger King.

Currently, Burger King Japan is offering two new styles of their “Whopper” sandwich in Japan:
the “All Heavy“, which has extras of all of the condiments on the sandwich…at no extra charge (¥420), and the “Meat Monster“, which has an extra hamburger patty, bacon and chicken…this one costs almost double the normal cost of a “Whopper” (¥820).

Burger King Japan's "All Heavy" Whopper and "Meat Monster" Whopper

Do any of these look good to you?

Pizza Burger

I wrote a post about how, for many people in Japan, “Christmas dinner” = Kentucky Fried Chicken.

It’s been that way for years.

And I also wrote another post about how McDonalds in Japan is offering a special chicken meal set for Christmas this year in attempt to take some of the lucrative X-mas chicken-dinner market from Kentucky Fried Chicken of Japan.

Well, it seems that Burger King Japan has decided to jump on the bandwagon.

But rather than try to compete directly with Kentucky Fried Chicken (which would probably be a futile attempt since if Japanese people don’t prepare their own X-mas dinner they almost inevitably have chicken from KFC), Burger King Japan is offering a “NY Pizza Burger Set” as their holiday set.

The huge Pizza Burger (which meant to shared by six or so people) can be ordered 単品 (singularly, without the “set”) for ¥1,680. Or a single burger “slice” can be bought for ¥320.

But the entire “Holiday Set” can be purchased until 2010 December 30th for ¥2,980.

This set comes with one Pizza Burger (serves six), a salad, an order of “BK Chicken Tenders”, an order of “BK Cheese Bits”, and an order of onion rings.

Rodeo Whopper

It’s already been three years since Burger King re-entered the Japanese market.
(Wendy’s hamburger chain is also currently trying to re-enter the market here since they left last year).

To commemorate their three-year anniversary, Burger King Japan has a new “Whopper” sandwich with three patties, American BBQ sauce and onion rings.
It’s called 「ロデオワッパー」 (the “Rodeo Whopper“).

And for three weeks (until 2010 July 20), the first 30 people at each Burger King in Japan each day who orders a “Rodeo Whopper” will only have to pay ¥330 (rather than the full price of ¥790*).

*(Actually during this three-week campaign period, until July 20th, the “regular” price of this three-patty Whopper burger is reduced to ¥690).

A one-patty “Rodeo Whopper” can be purchased for ¥450.
And a “Rodeo Whopper Jr.” costs ¥580 for three-patties or ¥340 for one-patty.

To tell the truth, I think the Burger King Whopper is a good burger. But I don’t buy one often, I don’t like to pay that much for fast-food. A “normal” cheeseburger for about ¥120 is all I need.
But even when I want to buy a “Whopper” burger, I wouldn’t choose this “Rodeo Whopper”. I think the BBQ sauce and onion rings make it look unappetizing. (I do like onion rings, though.)

Does Burger King have the “Rodeo Whopper” on the menu in your country? Have you tried it?

タワーチーズバーガー

I wrote a post last October about Burger King Japan’s Whopper 7, which was a giant burger that Burger King in Japan offered for a limited time that had seven patties.

(Click here to read that post).

Well, now they’ve been outdone by the hamburger chain ロッテリア (Lotteria Japan).

At Lotteria you can buy the 「タワーチーズバーガー」 (“Tower Cheeseburger“).

If you order this burger, you pay the basic price of a cheeseburger (¥160) and then an additional ¥100 per patty that you want added.
Up to a total of ten patties can be on your “Tower Cheeseburger“.

Lotteria's ten patty "Tower Cheeseburger"

But if you order the full ten patties, they’ll give it to you at a reduced price of ¥990 (rather than the full ¥1,060).

I didn’t try Burger King’s “Whopper 7” so I definitely won’t be buying a ten patty one either!
But a double cheeseburger costs ¥260 and a triple cheeseburger costs ¥360…

The double burger would be alright...but even a triple is too much, I think.

“American Quarter Pounder” or “World Whopper”

I wrote about McDonalds Japan‘s “Big America” Quarter-Pounder burger campaign.
(Click here to read it).

They offered the “Big Texas Burger“, then the “New York Burger“, and then the “Hawaiian Burger“. Now they’re offering the final one…the “California Burger“.

Well, to compete, Burger King Japan is selling four different 「世界の美味しさとてつまなくデカイ！ワッパー」 (“World’s Delicious Giant Whoppers“).

 

Rather than a different flavor burger for four different U.S. states, like McDonalds Japan is selling, Burger King Japan‘s new “Whoppers” are four different flavors from four countries.

From 2010 February 1 – 18, they sold the “American flavor 「バーベキューワッパー」 (“BBQ Whopper“),
and then from 2010 February 19 – March 4, they sold the “Malaysian flavor” 「ブラックペッパーワッパー」 (“Black Pepper Whopper“).
Currently they are selling the 「スパイシーイタリアンワッパー」 (“Spicy Italian Whopper“).
And the final one will be the “Japanese flavor” 「てりやきワッパー」 (“Teriyaki Whopper“), which will be offered beginning 2010 March 19.

Burger King Japan has had unique Whopper burgers before…
Click here for my post about their “Bourbon Whopper“, and
Click here for my post about their “Whopper 7“.

Bourbon Whopper

I wrote a post last October about the Whopper 7 burger at Burger King Japan.
(Click here to read it.)

I also mentioned in that post that Burger King in Japan sells Heineken Beer.

Well, now Burger King in Japan has begun selling the “Bourbon Whopper“.

The Bourbon Whopper is, as the name implies, as “Whopper” burger* with bourbon whiskey in the sauce.
*(The “Bourbon Whopper Jr.” is also available.)

This ad from Burger King Japan says that the Bourbon Whopper costs ¥450 (about US$5.00) and the Bourbon Whopper Jr. costs ¥330 (about US$3.68).

Also, in addition to Heineken Beer, Burger King now sells “Highball” cocktails…which is bourbon whiskey with either cola or ginger-ale.
They’re charging ¥350 (about US$3.90) for a “Highball“.

A “set-meal” with both a Bourbon Whopper Jr. and a Highball cocktail costs ¥500 (about US$5.57), and is only available after 5:00PM.

Obviously, only persons aged 20 or older** can purchase these burgers and drinks.
**(The legal drinking age in Japan is 20).

Also, the ad above shows Burger King Japan‘s special limited-time only discount price on the 「てりやきワッパーJR」 (“Teriyaki Whopper Jr.“) from ¥330 to ¥240, and 「BKフライドチキン」 (“BK Fried Chicken“) from ¥230 to ¥150.

Wendy’s is leaving Japan

The U.S. fast-food chain 「ウエンディーズ・ハンバーガー」 (Wendy’s) opened their first store in Japan in the 銀座 (Ginza) area of Tokyo in 1980.

A "Wendy's" shop in Tokyo

It was operated by the Japanese department store company Daiei until the chain began losing them money in 2002…then the hamburger chain’s Japanese stores were sold to the Japanese company Zensho.

Zensho owns the franchise rights to a number of restaurants in Japan. Mostly Japanese restaurants, but they also own the U.S.-based Mexican-food restaurant “El Torito Japan” and the American family restaurant “Coco’s Japan“, as well as Wendy’s Japan.

Their main focus is the popular chain of 牛丼 (beef-on-rice) restaurant 「すき家」 (Sukiya).

The Zensho company has been losing money with Wendy’s and has decided to end it’s franchise contract with the hamburger chain this month.

So that means that by 2009 December 31, the “Wendy’s” hamburger chain will no longer be in Japan.

Wendy’s is currently looking for another Japanese franchise partner so that they might be ale to re-enter the Japanese market.

It reminds me of Burger King‘s experience in Japan.
Burger King originally came to Japan in about 1999 but only offered a limited-menu…due to that and the fact that their prices were high compared to McDonalds, Burger King was forced to exit Japan in about 2001.
But, after researching the Japanese market, Burger King reopened their stores in Japan a couple years ago.

I wrote a post about some of the American and European companies that are doing business in Japan…click here to read it.

Whopper 7

Microsoft recently began selling their latest operating system in Japan called Windows 7.

And for one week (2009 October 22 – 28), they are running a joint campaign with Burger King Japan to promote “Windows 7“.

Until October 28th, Burger King Japan is selling an original burger called the “Windows 7 Whopper“!

What, you may be wondering, makes the “Windows 7 Whopper” different from the regular Whopper burger?

Well, it has seven burger patties!

Seven patties on one burger sandwich! That’s mad!

I’m sure they’ll sell many of these monstrosities. Mainly to people who want to try it for the novelty value before the campaign period ends and Burger King Japan stops offering it.

I won’t be buying it. Besides the fact that I have no interest in even trying to eat that much hamburger in one sandwich…there’s also the fact that the price for the thing is ¥1,450* (about US$15)!

* (The regular price is ¥1,450…but Burger King Japan will be selling the “Windows 7 Whopper” to the first thirty customers everyday who order it for ¥777.)
Here’s the ad for it:

"Windows 7 Whopper" available at Burger King in Japan until 2009 Oct 28.

While I was looking at Burger King Japan’s website, I noticed that they have Heineken Beer on their menu!

Burker King Japan sells beer

It says in the ad that a can of Heineken Beer costs ¥400. And you can buy a 「ハイネケン・コンボ」 (“Heineken Combo“), which is a side menu item and a can of beer, for ¥500.
Or if you buy any of the Burger King combo sets, you can change the soft-drink for a Heineken Beer for an additional ¥150.

I know that the Japanese fast-food chain “Freshness Burger” has beer on their menu…but I haven’t eaten at Burger King in quite a while. Now that they have beer on their menu, too…maybe I’ll visit a Burger King again soon (but I won’t be getting a “Whopper 7“)!

(Click here if you want to read another post I wrote about the spicy summer campaigns at Burger King and other fast-food restaurants in Japan.

And click here if you want to read my post about McDonalds Japan‘s menu.)

Fastfood Summer Campaigns

Today was a beautiful clear day, and the sounds of 蝉 (cicadas) could be heard…but it was also very hot and humid!

Definitely summer in Japan.

Alot of people like to eat spicy food in the summer. Supposedly it helps cool you off.
Whether or not that’s true, I’m not sure…but I like spicy food (especially with beer! 🙂 ).

Many fast-food chains in Japan are offering special items on the menu for the summer only. Alot of those items are spicy.

I already mentioned Lotteria‘s new burger (and special money-back guarantee) in an earlier post (Click here to see it.)

◆ McDonalds Japan is offering a 「ヨーグルト味 McShake」 (“Yogurt flavor McShake“) for only ¥100.

「ヨーグルト味 (Yogurt Flavored) McShake」

◆ McDonalds Japan also has Spicy Juicy Chicken sandwiches. They offer two flavors 「ブラック・ペッパー」 (Black Pepper) and 「赤とうがらし」 (Red Chili).

Spicy Juicy Chicken (Black Pepper or Red Chili)

◆ MOS Burger has a campaign that says: 「夏はチキンとスパイスだ！！」 (“Summer is chicken and spice!!”).
They’re offering two spicy chicken sandwiches this summer too. 「ホットチキンバーガー」 (“Hot Chicken Burger“) with salsa, and 「カレーチキンバーガー」 (“Curry Chicken Burger“).

MOS Burger's "Hot Chicken Burger" & "Chili Chicken Burger"

◆ Wendy’s Japan is also offering two chicken sandwiches this summer. One is 「和風」 (“Japanese style”) and the other is 「洋風」 (“Western style”). Their campaign poster says: 「ふたつの夏チキン、PLEASE!」 (“Two (types of) summer chicken, please!).
The “Japanese” sandwich is 「おろしチキンサンド」 (“Grated Radish Chicken Sandwich“) and the “Western” one is 「サルサチキンサンド」 (“Salsa Chicken Sandwich“).

"Japanese" or "Western" style chicken sandwiches. Which would you choose?

◆ Burger King has introduced the Angry Whopper to Japan in time for the summer. I heard that Burger King in the U.S. already had this burger…but the Japanese one is a bit different—customized to Japanese tastes. For example, the U.S. version has bacon and the Japanese version doesn’t…and U.S. one and the Japanese one have different sauces from each other.

This burger has ハラペーニョ (jalapeno peppers) and you can choose how many jalapeno peppers you want on the burger…from level one which has four peppers up to level five with twenty peppers!

Burger King Japan's "Angry Whopper"

Burger King America's "Angry Whopper"