Wendy’s back in Tokyo

I wrote before that Wendy’s, the American fast-food hamburger chain, closed all of their stores in Japan two years ago.

And then, as I wrote in another post, they announced last March that they would be re-opening their stores in Japan beginning in autumn (2011).

But, about a week after that announcement, the 2011 March 11 earthquake struck northern Japan and caused Wendy’s Japan to delay their re-opening.

Well, Wendy’s first store in Japan since they closed all of their stores here almost exactly two years ago will open tomorrow (2011 December 27th).
It is located in 表参道 (the Omotesando area of Tokyo) on the famous 「表参道通り」 (“Omotesando-doori“) road.

Their menu will include “regular” Wendy’s items…but it will also have some “only-in-Japan” things such as a “「フォアグラ・ロッシーニ」 (Foie Gras Rossini Burger)” and an “「アップル＆ナッツ・チキン・サラダ」 (Apple & Nut Chicken Salad)“.

Personally, French food isn’t one of my favorites. I don’t think I’ll be trying the “Foie Gras Rossini Burger”…but I do like Wendy’s chili!

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?

Happy Birthday, Colonel

September 9th is the birthday of the late Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of the American fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken.

カーネル・サンダーズ (Colonel Sanders) died in 1980 at the age of ninety. But if he were still alive, he would turn 121 this Friday.

Colonel Sanders and his Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants are popular in Japan…especially at Christmastime. Many KFC restaurants in Japan have life-sized statues of Col. Sanders out front.

Most Japanese people think, though, that Colonel Sanders first name is actually 「カーネル」 (Colonel). They have no idea that his name is actually Harland Sanders and “colonel” is a rank in the military (the Japanese equivalent is 「大佐」).
And, also, Kentucky Fried Chicken is often shortened to “KFC” in America…but in Japan, it’s normally called 「ケンタッキー」 (“Kentucky“) for short.

Click here to read the post I wrote last year about the 40th anniversary of KFC in Japan. That post also has links to other posts I wrote that tell about the popularity of KFC at X-mas in Japan and also about the “Curse of the Colonel“ in Japanese baseball.

Anyways, to celebrate Colonel Sanders’ birthday, Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan is offering a set called the 「カーネル・バースデー・パック」　(“Colonel Birthday Pack”), which has three “Original Chicken” and three “Colonel Crispy” chicken, for ¥990 until 2011 September 21st.

The special price of ¥990 was chosen for this campaign because Colonel Sanders birthday is the ninth day of the ninth month (September 9th).

One coin cola at McD’s

Last Friday, McDonald’s in Japan began a campaign for the hot weather of summer.

From now until Thursday, 2011 August 18, all 炭酸ドリンク (carbonated soft drinks) will only cost ¥100 (about US$1.24) for any size (small, medium or large).

So, if you’re in Japan and you like Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Canada Dry, Fanta Grape Soda, or 「Qoo すっきり白ブドウ｣ (“Qoo White Grape Soda” with 20% juice) you can buy any of them at McDonalds for “one coin”.

Personally, I like the ¥120 (about US$1.49) free refill hot coffee at McDonald’s Japan. Actually though, I get the coffee even cheaper! I often pick up some McDonald’s discount coffee tickets for only ¥50 at one of the many “discount ticket shops” in Japan.

McDonalds Japan 40th anniversary

McDonalds opened their first restaurant in Japan in 1971. So this year (2011) is their 40周年 (40th anniversary) in Japan. (That means I came to Japan before McDonalds 20周年 (20th anniversary) here! Hard to believe.)

The sign says "Makudonarudo (McDonalds) Hamburger"

For their 40th anniversary, McDonalds Japan is currently offering the “Big America 2” burgers that I mentioned in an earlier post.

They’re currently offering the third one (out of four)…the “Miami Burger“.

The “Miami Burger” looks good. I’ll probably try it.
The “Texas 2 Burger” and the “Idaho Burger” have already been on the menu…the “Texas 2” was quite good. I didn’t try the “Idaho Burger” though.

In addition to the “Big America 2” campaign, McDonalds Japan is also offering Chicken McNuggets for only ¥100 (about US$1.20) this week for their 40th anniversary.

And if you use your cell-phone to access the McDonalds Japan cell-phone coupons page (only in Japanese), you can get both Chicken McNuggets and a medium-size drink (I prefer hot coffee…which has free refills, by the way) for only ¥200 (about US$2.40).

Next week, instead of McNuggets, the “Filet-o-fish” will be discounted to ¥100.

The breakfast menu is also having specials for McDonalds anniversary.
From now until the end of March, a different breakfast sandwich and drink set will only cost ¥200 for two-weeks each.
Currently, the “Salad Marinade Muffin” and drink is only ¥200. Then the “McHotdog“, “Egg McMuffin” and “Filet-o-fish” will be discounted one-at-a-time for two weeks each.

If I eat fast-food, I usually choose McDonalds because of their ¥100 – ¥200 menu items, cell-phone coupons, and “bottomless” coffee.
If I want to spend more than a few hundred yen on lunch, I’ll go get “real” food.

Go! Go! Asia!

Besides the western (mostly American) fast-food chains that are in Japan, there are number of Japanese original fast-food chains. Most of them are actually much better than McDonalds and Burger King.

Probably the most popular Japanese chain is MOS Burger.

Their name is  頭字語 (an acronym) for Mountain, Ocean, Sun.

I have eaten at MOS Burger many times. Their food, although a bit expensive, is quite good.
I didn’t know before though that the Japanese hamburger chain MOS Burger has restaurants in other countries around Asia.

Currently MOS Burger is having a special campaign at all of their stores in Japan and across Asia.
This campaign is being called “Go! Go! Asia!”

Now until early February, MOS Burger is offering a new limited-time-only grilled chicken burger as a part of their “Go! Go! Asia!” campaign.

It’s called 「塩バターチキンバーガー」 (“Salt Butter Chicken Burger“) with ペッパー風味 (pepper taste).
The burger has a grilled chicken patty covered in salty butter sauce with crispy French Fries on top.

Kind of unusual. It might be good but I don’t eat at MOS Burger very often so I probably won’t be trying it.

How about you? Does this burger look good to you? Would you try it? Have you ever eaten at MOS Burger in Japan…or in another country?

In Japan, the price for the 「塩バターチキンバーガー」 (“Salt Butter Chicken Burger“) is ¥360 (about US$4.30).

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.

McDonalds bargains in Japan

From yesterday (2010 October 15) until next Thursday (2010 October 21), McDonalds in Japan are giving away free cups of coffee for one hour each day this week from 6:00PM – 7:00PM.

McDonalds Japan also has a number of “¥100 Menu” and “¥120 Menu” items that include such deals as a hamburger, small coffee and ice cream for ¥100 each and things like a cheeseburger for ¥120.
Well, starting last month, a new item has been added to the ¥100 Menu…a small size 「マックシェイク・バナナ」 (“Banana Milkshake”).

バナナ マックシェイク (Banana Milkshake)

I remember the Banana Milkshake was on the menu at McDonalds Japan about six years ago…and now, starting last month, it’s back on the menu.

Does McDolads in your country offer Banana Milkshakes? Have you tried one? What did you think of it?

Also, McDonalds Japan is currently offering four new chicken sandwiches…one at a time.
These sandwiches are collectively called “iCon’ Chicken”.
The current one is 「チーズフォンデュ」 (“Cheese Fondue”).

In late October, the “iCon’ Chicken” will be changed to “German Sausage”, then in early November it’ll be “Diavolo”, then in late October they’ll sell the “Carbonara”.

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edit: Please click here to read a comment I added to this post about McDonalds coupons.

McDonald’s cell-phone straps

In America, key chains are popular (at least they were when I lived there. Are they still popular there?).

Key chains aren’t popular at all in Japan. Here, 携帯電話ストラプ (cell-phone straps) are very popular.

I wrote a post about “Samurai cell-phone straps” and another post about “Snoopy cell-phone straps”.

I had meant to write about the cell-phone straps that McDonalds in Japan began offering last July but I didn’t get around to it until now.

Unfortunately, if you want one of these straps it’s too late now. The campaign has recently ended.
I thought the straps were a good idea and they were fairly popular. They looked just like McDonalds burgers, fries, coffee and apple pie…but they’re too big, in my opinion.
I wouldn’t put one on my phone. I have a strap on my phone but it’s nothing like these.

To get one of these “McDonalds Food Straps“, you had to order a large size value meal set and a strap would be included with the set…during the campaign period.

Would you put one of these on your cell-phone? Do you already have one? Which one do you like best? Does McDonalds offer things like this in your country?

KFC Japan is 40

The Kentucky Fried Chicken fast-food chain started their operation in Japan in 1970. So this year is Kentucky Fried Chicken, Japan‘s 40th anniversary.

They are offering some specials to commemorate the occasion.

When I was growing up in America, I didn’t really like Kentucky Fried Chicken.
It had an image of being greasy, inferior fast-food.

But Kentucky Fried Chicken (or simply “Kentucky“, as it’s often referred to in Japan) is popular in Japan.
For good reason…their food and service is much better in Japan than it is in America.

At Christmas-time in Japan, it is popular to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.
(Click here to read a post I wrote about X-mas in Japan…including photos of KFC‘s X-mas set-meal.
And click here to read about a Japanese baseball team’s “Curse Of The Colonel (Sanders)“.)

In Japan, Kentucky Fried Chicken has, among other things, delivery service,

a breakfast menu,

and 「レッドホットチキン」 (“Red Hot Chicken“).

How is Kentucky Fried Chicken where you live? Do you like Kentucky Fried Chicken? Have you tried it in Japan? How does it compare to KFC in your country?