Yes, I know it's, like, the most foreigner thing ever, but I didn't get to try McDonald's the last time I was here and their spring menu — a.k.a. the Teritama series — is out now, so I had to get it this time. (Surprisingly, even my mom was hellbent on trying McDonald's here. Every time I asked her what she wanted to eat, she would think for a minute and then say, "McDonald's?")
Seaweed Salt & Buttered Mashed Potato with Bacon Teritama Burger
Seaweed Salt & Buttered Mashed Potato with Bacon Teritama Burger
Shrimp Filet-O
Shrimp Filet-O
Matcha Kuromitsu Warabi Mochi Pie
Matcha Kuromitsu Warabi Mochi Pie
First up, the Seaweed Salt & Buttered Mashed Potato with Bacon Teritama Burger. (There are 4 burgers in the Teritama series, but this sounded the most interesting and is apparently new for this year, so that's the one we went for.) Put simply, this was not good. Firstly, there is way too much teriyaki sauce. It gets everywhere and your hands will get sticky, whether you're holding it with the wrapper or not. Secondly, the teriyaki sauce — which is mildly sweet and slightly garlicky — just doesn't go well with egg. I know this was the whole point behind the Teritama series, but it just doesn't jive to me. (Seems like it's just popular enough to bring back for a month every year, but not enough to put on the permanent menu.) Thirdly, the mashed potato has a strange aftertaste (probably that seaweed salt) that really, really doesn't go well with the sauce. Basically, the flavours here are just not cohesive. Great in theory, but not so much in execution. (My mom agreed.) I will say, however, that the quality of the ingredients and the portion sizes are incredibly impressive. The patty, the egg, the bun, even the lettuce, are all superior to what you can find in North America. 4/10
But the Shrimp Filet-O... Oof, Japan doesn't even know how good they've got it at their McDonald's with just this one sandwich here. It's like the Filet-O-Fish, except a fried shrimp patty instead of fish, and Big Mac sauce instead of tartar sauce. And the shrimp patty isn't just made up of shrimp paste. There are full-on big chunks of shrimp in there. Like the Teritama burger, this sandwich is deceivingly hefty, too. In Canada, I'd need at least one combo with an extra sandwich to get full. Here, one combo is the perfect amount. Ironic that the McDonald's portions in North America are smaller than in Japan. (Yes, I was indeed extremely full after this meal.) 9/10
Finally, for dessert, another limited springtime release: the Matcha Kuromitsu Warabi Mochi Pie. The first bite was okay, but quickly became way too much. The mochi with kuromitsu — a Japanese black sugar syrup that is similar to molasses — inside a deep-fried shell were way too rich and heavy together. And the flavour of the kuromitsu overwhelms everything else — you can barely taste the matcha in the crust, and it becomes too sickly sweet. The kuromitsu warabi mochi and the matcha pie would be good separately, but like the Teritama burger, just do not go well together. Go for the classic apple pie instead. There's a reason why it's a permanent item. 5/10
My conclusion from this very, very small sampling: I need to try more of the permanent menu items in Japan.
McDonald's
2 Chome-5-3
Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward
Osaka, Japan 〒542-0085
+81-06-6214-5101
Be First to Post Comment !
Post a Comment