Fast Food & Japan

Interesting...
KFC Japan's marketing could even go Kenturkey for Thanksgiving...someday.

Btw I like Burger King's french fries, but felt what I had in Japan were different from, say, those of BK in UK.
 
The last few times i went to mcdonalds, their fries were undercooked.
I used to enjoy fast food fries but not so much anymore recently.

Mcdonals petit pancakes are nice though.
 
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I too prefer the original fries at KFC to current one they just changed to.
I like fries being somewhat thicker with skin.

My mom used to make a reservation for KFC and pick it up on the Christmas Eve when I was a kid.
Line was very very long. We waited in line patiently, finally picked it up, brought it to my grand parents house with lots of other Christmas dishes, ate a lot of food there and walked in cold to church for midnight mass. That was my family tradition.
Days we didn't have many western dishes in a country side I am talking about.
KFC fried chicken is definitely one of the most popular Christmas dishes in my memory.
 
I'll hit up KFC every now and again but I just can't swing McD's anymore unless its a real emergency.
A year or so back I bought a container of fries and let them go to room temperature... they tasted like soggy plastic.
I also used to hit up morning McD's every once in a while too but I always felt kind of gross afterwards.

Its strange because I am far from a health nut and eat lots of conbini food and other more-or-less fast foods (cheap Chinese takeout, cheap ramen, shokudo curry, etc) but something about McDonald's just feels off...
 
Mornings M-W-F Dotour breakfast coffee w/ a set A (生ハム something) ...there's a cute girl (sometimes) w/ a nice smile at the counter.
Sometimes BK ... or walk to Harajuku to get a burrito.
 
wtf... Shake Shack in Ebisu still has a ridiculously long line. Thought it would have cooled off by now....

I realize it's the weekend... But....
 
Not a fan of fast food in Japan.

  • Wendy's back in the day was grease soaked so OK when drunk but not otherwise. Didn't bother with their reboot.
  • MosBurger is crap all around. Cant stand the mixed pork & beef taste of the burgers and the sauces don't agree with me
  • First Kitchen also crap.
  • Freshness Burger is also not tasty again due to the mixed pork and beef used to make the burgers.
  • KFC doesn't taste like KFC in the US. Spice mix is different and more bland for the locals and the Japanese version of "crispy" is far from it, just another soft mess for a culture that likes to gum its food. At least they have biscuits.
  • McDonalds is McDonalds, same world wide. Their Japan special menu items? Meh.
  • Burger King: I'm glad they came back to Japan after a long absence but don't eat there much. Its OK though. I like the onion rings.
 
A bunch of people I know are crazy for Mr. Donuts for some reason.. Not sure why.

This may be a cultural thing, but when I think of Fast Food, I include all the chains already mentioned, both Western and domestic (McDs, Mos, etc.) but I would also think Coco Curry and the various Gyu-donya (Matsuya & Yoshinoya) and frankly, not to be insulting as I love ramen, but most of those places as well, gourmet and labour intensive as they may be.

So, by that definition, in addition to the late night konbini grabs, I guess I'm a fan of a bunch of fast food places! :p
 
Stumbled across this article today:

http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Wendy-s-Japan-eyes-rebound-under-McDonald-s-alumnus

It's an old article now, but I hadn't seen it till today.

Wendy's was in Japan when I moved here and then closed up all of there locations not too long after i arrived. Then, it was brought back again by a local business man which saw a new style of Wendy's open up in Omotesando and then followed by a Roppongi location.

Now... they are back to suck-mode (and have been for awhile) since mixing shops with Wendy's and First Kitchen.

- I used to like the Wendy's Chili Burger
- I still love Frostys (and Chili-cheese fries!)

Anyway... my go-to fast food for right now is Shake Shack. McDonald's is a (dead) last resort... Burger King and Carl's Jr. are 'ok' every now and then.

What's everyone's take on fast food these days? (those that partake in the gluttony of grease and fried things...)
If what you are saying is true, I will go to Tokyo just to eat there, I did it with Taco Bell.
 
Not a fan of fast food in Japan.
  • KFC... At least they have biscuits.

Gads no! What passes for KFC biscuits in Japan are an abomination. Gimme savory buttermilk biscuits, not these maple-covered pastry shell donuts they sell here.
 
Gads no! What passes for KFC biscuits in Japan are an abomination. Gimme savory buttermilk biscuits, not these maple-covered pastry shell donuts they sell here.
I don't disagree. But this being Japan beggars can't be choosers. Also the "maple" syrup is optional after all.
 
Being from LA originally, as many know we have a ton of variety too. Good places come and go but while in Japan, I enjoy the Japanese places since I'm not here for long period of time like some of you. Skipping all western food usually the norm for my colleagues and I.
 
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