Tsukimi Burger 2016 McDonald’s Japan

The seasonal Tsukimi Burger is back for autumn 2016 in Japan with a brand new addition to the “tsukimi” family.

The Tsukimi Burger (月見バーガー) is named after the famous Japanese tradition of tsukimi (月見) or moon viewing, which is a festival honoring the bright autumn moon.

The Tsukimi Burger has been around for a few years now, first making its first appearance way back in 1991. It has been a popular seasonal favourite ever since and comes back every year in some form or the other. Check out last year’s edition of the Tsukimi Burger. It traditionally contains a beef patty, smoky bacon, a poached egg and a special Aurore sauce made up of ketchup mixed with Japanese mayonnaise. The poached egg in the burger is said to resemble the autumn moon with the egg yolk representing the bright autumn full moon and the egg white the white sky.

This year it is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the brand new “Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger”.

The Tsukimi Burger 

The Tsukimi Burger is the original and some say best version of the burger. It contains a juicy beef patty, smoky bacon, a poached egg and special sauce all in sesame topped buns.

The Cheese Tsukimi Burger 

The Cheese Tsukimi Burger is the best in our opinion and is pretty much the same as the original above, with the addition of cheddar cheese, which makes it better.

The Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger 

The brand new Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger is similar to the original but contains a slice of ham instead of bacon, cheddar cheese, and is inside buttery, fluffy, round moon-shaped buns made with fresh cream.

The Taste Test 

We at Japan Australia are huge Tsukimi Burger fans, so just had to try the brand new “Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger”. How was it? It was OK! The addition of ham instead of bacon was a minus in our opinion and the buttery soft fluffy buns were good, but give us the original sesame topped buns any day of the week. Overall it was good, but we think we will just stick to "The Cheese Tsukimi Burger" from now on as it is definitely the best in our humble opinion.

Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger Set

Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger Box

A look at the Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger

Under the skin of the Full Moon Cheese Tsukimi Burger

The Tsukimi Burger series is available from August 31st until the first week of October at McDonald’s restaurants across Japan. Prices for the burgers vary depending on the region of Japan.

McDonald’s Japan Website

The Tsukimi Burger Lineup for 2016

Tsukimi Burger 2015

The Tsukimi Burger is back for Autumn 2015 in Japan! Currently available at McDonald’s restaurants across Japan, it is a sure tell sign that Autumn has finally arrived here in Japan.

Autumn is considered a time in Japan to enjoy delicious season food, cooler weather after the summer heat, and koyo (紅葉) which is viewing of the colourful Autumn leaves. The Tsukimi Burger It is only available for a limited time during the early Autumn and made its appearance back on the menu again in early September. It will remain on the menu until early October.

The Tsukimi Burger has been around for a few years now, making its first appearance way back in 1991. It has been a popular seasonal favourite ever since and always comes back in some form or the other every year. It traditionally contains a beef patty, smoky bacon, a poached egg and a special sauce (ketchup mixed with Japanese mayonnaise).

The Tsukimi Burger (月見バーガー) is named after the famous Japanese tradition of tsukimi (月見) or moon viewing, which is a festival honouring the bright Autumn moon. The poached egg in the burger is said to resemble the Autumn full moon with the egg yolk representing the bright Autumn full moon and the egg white the white sky.

In 2013 McDonald’s released a new addition to the Tsukimi line-up with the Chicken Cheese Tsukimi Burger. In 2014 it was the Kinoko Tsukimi Burger featuring mushrooms. What will it be in 2015?

This year in 2015 they have released two new Hokkaido cheese versions of the Tsukimi Burger to go along with the original Tsukimi Burger. The new additions are the Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger and the Chicken Tsukimi Hokkaido Cheese Burger.

Tsukimi Burger 

The original and some say best version of the burger contains a beef patty, smoky bacon, a poached egg and special sauce.

Original Tsukimi Burger

 

Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger 

The Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi is the same as the original Tsukimi Burger with the addition of Hokkaido cheddar cheese.

Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger

Chicken Tsukimi Hokkaido Cheese Burger 

The Chicken Tsukimi Hokkaido Cheese features a crispy chicken patty along with smoky bacon, Hokkaido cheddar cheese and special sauce.

Chicken Tsukimi Hokkaido Cheese Burger

The Tsukimi Burger has long been a favourite of ours at Japan Australia, so we had to head over the our nearest McDonald’s to test out the new Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger. 

The Taste Test 

The new Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger certainly didn’t disappoint and we really liked the addition of the Hokkaido cheddar cheese which was really creamy. Eating the burger was like being reacquainted with a long lost friend. Ah, Autumn is finally back in Japan and this cooler weather is just another sign that the long hot summer in Japan is finally over for another year.

Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger Set

The simple wrapping of the Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger

The Hokkaido Cheese Tsukimi Burger Unwrapped

Prices for the burgers vary depending on the region of Japan. The Tsukimi Burgers are only available for a limited time, so hurry on in if you want to give them a try.

McDonald’s Japan Website

McDonald’s Japan Halloween Burger

McDonald’s Japan has joined the club by releasing a black burger for Halloween. Hot on the heels of the recent Black Kuro Burger from Burger King Japan comes the new Ika Sumi Burger from McDonald’s.

McDonald’s own dark burger is just in time for Halloween. The burger is called the “Ika Sumi Burger” or Squid Ink Burger, and is its Goth burger to rival that of Burger King.

They have also released a new chicken burger which features Camembert cheese, and a new McFlurry with pumpkin sauce.

Here is a brief description of each Halloween menu item.

The Ika Sumi Burger (Squid Ink Burger) 

The Ika Sumi (Squid Ink) Burger features two beef patties, cheddar cheese, and crispy fried onions, with a special yellow smoky & spicy Chipotle sauce. The burger also contains a black squid ink sauce. All this yumminess is contained within buns dyed with black sesame seeds. The black for Halloween is meant to represent a black witch, which plays mischief on the burger.

You can pick one up at your local McDonald’s Japan restaurant for 370 yen (USD$3.40).

Halloween Ika Sumi (Squid Ink) Burger

The Camembert Chicken Burger 

The Camembert Chicken Burger is the second Halloween burger and features a chicken fillet, lettuce and creamy white Camembert cheese sauce. All within standard white buns. Very scary! The white of the burger (buns and cheese sauce) is meant to represent a white ghost, with the burger dressed up in a white ghost costume.

This burger also sells for 370 yen (USD$3.40).

Halloween Camembert Chicken Burger

Pumpkin Oreo McFlurry 

The third item on the Halloween menu is the Pumpkin Oreo McFlurry. It features pumpkin sauce in the regular oreo cookies & cream vanilla ice-cream Oreo McFlurry. You can try it for 276 yen (USD$2.55).

Halloween Pumpkin Oreo McFlurry

The Taste Test 

Of course, we had to give one of these a taste. It is almost Halloween after all. We headed to our local McDonald’s and ordered a Squid Ink Burger. I know what you are all asking. How did it taste? Well…..it was pretty good. The burger looks awful, but tastes just like a regular McDonald’s burger. The first thing that hits you is the smell of the fried onions as you open up the box. The ika sumi sauce tasted alright and wasn’t too overpowering. The burger had a good spiciness to it due to the Chipotle sauce. The buns were a slight disappointment. Yes, they were dark, but I wouldn’t call them black. Maybe a dark shade of brown is a better description.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience, but it is not something that I would be ordering again.

McDonald’s Halloween menu will be available until the last week of October.

Halloween Ika Sumi (Squid Ink) Burger Set

Special Halloween Box for the Ika Sumi Burger

The black or as I say dark brown buns of the burger

A peep inside the burger

McDonald’s Japan Website

Black Kuro Burgers from Burger King Japan

Burger King in Japan is Back in Black with the release of a new line of Kuro (Black) Burgers that look very interesting. You may remember that we posted about the Black Ninja Burger last year. These new burgers take the dark side even further with the addition of black cheese. Yes, that’s right, black cheese!

The burgers come in two varieties, the Kuro Pearl and the Kuro Diamond. Kuro (黒) means black in Japanese and these burgers certainly live up to their name with a selection of black coloured ingredients.

They went on sale on 19 September and will remain on the menu for a limited time. Here is a brief outline of the two burgers.

Kuro Pearl Burger (KURO パール) 

The Kuro Pearl Burger features black buns (made from bamboo charcoal), a black pepper beef patty, black cheese (also coloured with bamboo charcoal) and a black Chaliapin sauce (a garlic, onion soy sauce coloured with black squid ink). The Kuro Pearl Burger costs 480 yen (USD$4.40).

Kuro Pearl Burger

 

Kuro Diamond Burger (KURO ダイヤモンド) 

The Kuro Diamond Burger features all of the above with the addition of lettuce, onion and tomato as well as mayonnaise. The Kuro Diamond Burger costs 690 yen (USD$6.30).

Kuro Diamond Burger

Would you be willing to give these a try and turn to the dark side?

Read more on the Burger King Japan Website

Mos Burger French Cruller with Chorizo Sausage

Popular Japanese burger chain Mos Burger has just released a new doughnut burger that is an interesting creation. Called the French Cruller with Chorizo Sausage, the burger or doughnut is a kind of cross collaboration between Mos Burger and Mister Donut. Mos Burger has used the famous Mister Donut French Cruller Doughnut as inspiration for its doughnut pastry like bun for its latest burger.



Japan is certainly no stranger to unique burger creations, especially in recent times with such beauties as the Ramen Burger and Black Ninja Burger.

The concept behind this cross collaboration is that Mos Burger and Mister Donut would both swap menus, and try to come up with some new products based on popular items offered by the other chain. This unique collaboration has been given the nickname “Mosdo”. “Mos” is short for Mos Burger, and “do” is from the nickname of Mister Donut (Misdo).

The creators at Mos Burger come up with the Mos Burger French Cruller with Chorizo Sausage as well as the Mos Burger French Cruller with Berry and Chocolate. Both of these creation use Mister Donut’s popular French Cruller doughnuts as inspiration with the creators at Mos Burger coming up with their own original doughnut pastry bun.

The Mos Burger French Cruller with Chorizo Sausage certainly does look interesting and is unlike anything we have seen before. Sandwiched in between the original French Cruller buns is a spiral-shaped chorizo sausage, hot chilli sauce, lettuce, onion, tomato and mayonnaise. The burger costs 390 yen (USD$3.80) and will be available for a limited time until early July.

The Taste Test 

Japan Australia was intrigued enough in order to head down to our local Mos Burger to try this unique creation out. We ordered the French Cruller with Chorizo Sausage and we weren’t disappointed. The burger was actually pretty good and the flavour combinations awesome. The spicy chorizo sausage was one of the best we’ve had in Japan and went well with the spicy chilli sauce which had a distinct Mexican flavour to it. The doughnut buns were good and not sweet as we expected them to be. They were very light and flakey which unfortunately made it difficult to eat the burger without the buns breaking up all over the place. This was the only let down of the burger.

If you don’t mind getting your fingers a little dirty then definitely give this new burger a try.

French Cruller with Chorizo Sausage

A little peak inside the French Cruller with Chorizo Sausage

Mos Burger Japan website 

Tonkatsu McBurger McDonald’s Japan

McDonald’s Japan earlier this month introduced its latest creation called the Tonkatsu McBurger. It went on sale from May 7 and features Tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet) which is a popular meal here in Japan. They have used a blend of both fine and coarse breadcrumbs to coat the pork cutlet giving it a crispier coating. The pork used is rosu (ロース) or pork loin, which is soft and juicy. It comes with shredded cabbage, which is the traditional accompaniment to a Tonkatsu meal in Japan. The burger is also topped with mustard and McDonald’s own special sweet Tonkatsu sauce, which contains grated onion, carrot, tomato and apple. All of this goodness is contained within bran buns.

The Tonkatsu McBurger

More About Tonkatsu 

Tonkastu (豚カツ) is a popular dish in Japan and is actually a modern dish that was inspired by Western cuisine. It first made its appearance in Japan during the 19th century inspired by Western style food that was being introduced to Japan during the Meiji Era. It can be found as a single dish in Japan and is also used as a popular sandwich filling (katsu sando), or in a Japanese style curry (katsu karē). The sauce served with Tonkatsu is also very Western tasting and is similar to a thick Worchestershire sauce.

Japan Australia posted a Tonkatsu Recipe a few years back, which you can check out here: Tonkatsu Recipe.

We even have a local specialty here in Gifu/Nagoya called Miso Katsu, which is Tonkatsu served with a special miso sauce.

You can pick up a Tonkatsu McBurger for 399 yen (USD$3.90), or a value set with a drink and French fries for 699 yen (USD$6.90).

The Tonkatsu McBurger is available for a limited time only, so hurry on in if you would like to give this a try.

The Taste Test 

Japan Australia being a huge fan of Tonkatsu had to give this new burger a try. What did we think?
The Tonkatsu was crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. We liked the mustard sauce with the Tonkatsu, but the original Tonkatsu sauce was a little too sweet for our liking. It needed more of a bite to pack a stronger punch. Overall, we really liked this tasty burger and wouldn't hesitate in ordering it again. 

We ordered a Tonkatsu McBurger value set for 699 yen

 

The simple styling of the Tonkatsu McBurger

A close up of the Tonkatsu McBurger

The Tonkatsu McBurger under the skin

McDonald's Japan Churros

We also tried one of the new McDonald's Japan Churros called McChurros. They come in two different flavours ~ Cinnamon Sugar or Maple Syrup. We tried the Cinnamon Sugar. The Churros comes with a packet of Cinnamon Sugar which you sprinkle on the Churros. The Churros itself was really good, but we were disappointed with the Cinnamon Sugar. It didn't really stick to the Churros and lacked flavour. I wish we ordered the Maple Syrup instead, which comes in a packet where you can dip the Churros in rather than try and coat it. The McChurros is available for a limited time only, and cost 159 yen each (USD$1.56).

McChurros with Cinnamon Sugar

McDonald’s Japan Website

 

McDonald’s Japan Avocado Burger

McDonald’s Japan is offering a new limited edition avocado burger that is surprisingly good. The burgers come in three varieties: Beef, Chicken and Ebi (Shrimp). All the burgers feature large chunks of avocado and Italian style ciabatta bread. The beef version contains a spicy wasabi soy mayonnaise sauce, while the chicken and shrimp contain a Cobb salad style sauce.

The burgers went on sale April 17th and cost around 399 yen (USD$3.90) each. They will be available through late May.



The Avocado Beef features sliced onion, large chunks of avocado, a slice of cheddar cheese, two rashers of bacon, a grilled beef patty and is topped with a wasabi soy mayonnaise sauce.

The Avocado Beef

The Avocado Chicken features large chunks of avocado, a slice of cheddar cheese, a crispy fried chicken patty and is topped with a spicy, creamy Cobb salad style sauce.

The Avocado Chicken

The Avocado Shrimp features large chunks of avocado, a crispy fried shrimp patty and is topped with the same spicy, creamy Cobb salad style sauce as the Avocado Chicken.

The Avocado Shrimp

All three of the burgers are contained within slices of floury Italian style ciabatta bread. This is certainly a step up from the usual plain old buns used by McDonald’s.

The Taste Test 

Japan Australia being a huge fan of avocado had to give this new burger a try, so we headed to our local McDonald’s to test it out. We decided on the Chicken Avocado Burger as chicken and avocado is an awesome combination. It got off to a great start with the burger coming in some pretty attractive packaging. We weren’t disappointed and the burger was pretty good, but not quite as spectacular as we hoped for. The floury ciabatta was very good but the avocado pretty much dominated all the flavour and that was all we could taste. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to our high expectations. I’d like to give the beef version a try to see if it is any different.

Avocado Chicken Set for 689 yen (USD$6.90)

The Avocado Chicken comes in some pretty attractive packaging

A close up of the Avocado Chicken

The Avocado Chicken under the skin

Have you given these a try? If so, what did you think?

McDonald’s Japan Website

McDonald's Japan Avocado Burgers