For many western travelers, a surprisingly common habit when going to a new country is to find a local McDonalds. I am definitely guilty of this myself!

It seems very counterintuitive. Why go to the other side of the world to have the kind of forgettable fast food you could have had at home? But, just as many Japanese take instant noodles or other comfort foods with them when they go abroad, there can be an anchoring sense of familiarity to something, even if it isn't great at the best of times.

But the good news is, Japanese McDonalds has many things to set it apart as well! The Teriyaki Burger or the "Samurai Mac" with soy sauce can be reliably found at any time, but depending on when you visit you might find the "Moon-viewing" Tsukimi Burger with egg, the Macaroni and white cream croquette (!) Gurakoro Burger, or even a Cherry Blossom flavored Pie! In the past there have been various takes on "international" flavors, like New York and Texas themed burgers that invariably focus on extra meat, as well as Kebab and Taco-flavored burgers. Rare dipping sauces such as Black Garlic, Setouchi Lemon Tartar Sauce, Cheese Curry and even Takoyaki Mayo can make simple nuggets feel more exotic as well.

As a bonus, Japanese McDonalds prices are very favorable to similar portions in the US or Europe!

Nowadays, with translation apps and a boom in foreign visitors, the old phenomenon of a language barrier and not knowing what to order at Japanese Restaurants is less common, but it can still be a relief to step into somewhere you know exactly what to expect, and all the more so if it has its own special twist that reminds you that you are in Japan.

Finally, anecdotally I find the staff working at McDonalds in Japan work to a higher standard than anything I have been familiar with in Western countries, where to a large degree a lack of effort is accepted and expected from staff, since its "just McDonalds". The famous Japanese work ethic and attention to quality shines through here, meaning that even with an identical order it is more likely to be made correctly and with care.