If you are planning to travel to Japan, then it would be good to know if your favorite fast-food brand is ever-present in the country, competing with the local chains. The best part is to try the unique brand products they serve that are only available in Japan.
Table of Contents
- Japan's local fast-food chains
- Foreign fast-food brands in Japan
- Japan's unique take on famous brands
- Summary
Japan's local fast-food chains
With Japan’s rich culture, it is inevitable that their culture seeps through its local cuisine. Local Japanese cuisine is most known for its rich flavor and unique taste that one can only experience in Japan! Let’s take a look at a number of popular local Japanese fast food chains that both locals and foreigners frequent.
MOS Burger
Mos Burgers are patterned from Western burgers where these burgers are typically loaded with a lot of toppings such as bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes. And they are definitely generous with the sauce as people often use the leftover sauce to coat their fries in! These burgers also have Japanese flavor infused to it with Mos Rice Burger Shrimp Tempura as well as original flavors like the famous Mos Yasai Burger which consists of fresh vegetables sandwiching the meaty patty, topped with original Aurora sauce.
Yoshinoya
Yoshinoya is considered as one of the most popular fast food chains in Japan as they serve their specialty - beef bowls. This fastfood restaurant attracts a wide variety of enthusiasts from all walks of life, popular among both Japanese locals and foreigners alike! It helps that Yoshinoya has English translations that makes it easy for foreigners to order. Because of its popularity, Yoshinoya branched out to the US and other Asian countries. If foreigners want the most authentic beef bowl experience, Japan is the place to be!
Freshness Burger
Whatever type of burger, whether big or small, name it, and Freshness Burger probably has it! Freshness Burger’s menu offers a wide variety of burgers, a variety of hotdog sandwiches, pasta, desserts, and healthy vegetarian meal options. They have flavorful, unique pasta alternatives like eggplant and bacon combo, or for seafood lovers like shrimp and asparagus option, or how about a different choice like peperoncino with clams and broccoli. They are also known to serve good coffee and a wide array of condiments to compliment your burger.
Matsuya
Considered a fierce competitor of Yoshinoya, Matsuya is a fast food restaurant that also serves hot beef bowls, as well as their famous curry dishes and other dishes with grilled meat options on rice. Because of its popularity, Matsuya has fanned out to 800 branches across Japan. The limitations in English translations make Matsuya a more popular choice for Japanese locals. But worry not because Matsuya fast-food chains have provided touch-screen vending machines with pictures in several locations offering languages like English and Korean as well as the menu in English and Korean online. You can order and choose your favorite hot beef bowls pretty easily!
Writer's Pick
Foreign fast-food brands in Japan
There are also a lot of foreign fast food brands which have infiltrated the Asian community, and Japan is no exception. While there are more foreign fast food brands already established their market in Japan, let’s take a look at a chosen few, and see how Japan weaved its culture (and flavor) into these popular brands.
McDonald's
McDonald’s is considered a staple fast food branch in almost any country. While the Japanese branches offer the typical Western menu of burgers and fries, they also have original Japanese versions of popular menu items. For example, the classic McDonald’s burger has an oriental version with teriyaki sauce instead of ketchup and mayo. Other burger varieties include Ebi-Shrimp Fillet-O burger which features a huge shrimp sandwiched inside the usual burger, and Tsukimi burger, or the ‘moon-viewing’ burger, which is a limited edition burger in McDonald’s where ingredients include smoked bacon sandwiched between the patty and a runny egg.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
The classic KFC chicken also makes an appearance in most other countries, including Japan! KFC in Japan offers a side of fries instead of the usual mashed potatoes for any KFC chicken combo meal order. The biscuits are also sweet as they are served with maple syrup. Also, KFC is one of the most popular fast food chains during the Christmas season, as a typical Christmas meal includes fried chicken! So if you’re in Japan around Christmas, make sure to reserve your fried chicken early as there might not be any on the day of!
Mister Donut
These classic donuts are also present in Japan - but with a twist! The regular circle-shaped donuts appear a tad bit more creative with Japan’s “pon-de-ring” donut, which is a curvier and chewier version of these classic donuts. Japan also offers interesting donut flavors apart from the usual chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. You can get flavors such as green tea if they happen to be offering it at the time. Mister Donuts also serves food and tapioca drinks, so your experience isn’t just limited to donuts!
Subway
The Subway fast-food franchise is famous for its cold-cut sandwiches where hungry customers can mix and match the bread, meat, and toppings to their hearts (and stomachs) content. Japan introduces new flavors in the sandwiches by providing shrimp meat into the menu. It also adds a variety of distinctly Japanese flavors to the toppings such as teriyaki sauce. What’s more is aside from the typical soda and juice to complement the sandwiches, Japan also offers soda floats!
Japan's unique take on famous brands
Japan is not only famous for its local brands or by adding local flavor to Western fast-food chains, but Japan is also known for adding cultural characteristics to popular food merchandise such as the following:
Kitkat is a well-loved chocolate bar popular across the globe. In Japan, there are a variety of flavors that can only be bought in the country. Make sure to try out unique flavors such as Nihonshu (Japanese Sake), Sakura Matcha, Baked Pudding, and Iwaizumi Yogurt!
Japan’s Starbucks offers a larger rotation of limited time edition frappuccino flavors not offered elsewhere (such as Shuwatto Strawberry Frappuccino and Butterscotch Coffee Jelly Frappuccino) and as a special treat for the Cherry Blossom season - a sakura-themed frappuccino every March! People line up to get the new limited edition flavors as well as the Starbucks goods that come with each season or location!
When one thinks about soda, Coke always comes into mind. Japan is considered a fastest-moving and inventive market, and Coca-Cola has innovated this staple beverage into interesting varieties. Some of these are limited time offers, such as Vanilla Float or Coke Peach, or the buzzworthy Coca-Cola Coffee Plus! But others have lasted due for example, Coca Cola Frozen Lemon, classic Coca Cola frozen in a pouch with a hint of lemon and Coca Cola Energy - a Coke energy drink! Japan also has regional novelty packaging and collectible bottles from each prefecture and other famous locations as well as for different seasons!
Summary
Japan can still be considered a classic country that values tradition above all else. While the western influences in the food industry are present anywhere in the country, Japan finds its way to infuse their culture and distinctive flavor for a uniquely Japanese experience. While in Japan, make sure that you experience at least some of the varied and exciting local fast food brands. Plan for your ultimate Japan food trip - it's an amazing adventure!
