*NB - Shake Shack prices from Ebisu branch We detail how much some of classics at these fast food chains cost here in Japan. At the time of writing there were three branches in Japan, all in Tokyo. Shake Shack are fairly recent movers and, err, shakers on the Japan fast food scene. As for Wendy’s, in 2015 they teamed up with Japanese fast food chain First Kitchen to become Wendy’s Fist Kitchen, so I’m no longer sure which sub-heading they fall under. Taco Bell, at the time of writing only has franchises in Tokyo. Fans of Burger King will have to really keep eyes peeled or do some planning. They’re all here - McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Lotteria (although this comes from South Korea), Taco Bell, Shake Shack … Wendy’s!Ĭertainly McDonald’s and KFC are an ever present and very popular in Japan. Either way, we believe that, at the very least, the cost information below will serve a reasonable guide to the cost of fast food in Japan. It maybe that franchise operations in Japan are afforded a certain degree of autonomy thus resulting in price variations. We can't be sure that these prices are standardised nationwide. Most of the cost information here has been garnered from homepages. Where sets are not available we've detailed some of the costs for side dishes (typically concentrating on coke and fries). Where sets are available we've detailed as such. Sizes are "regular" or "medium" unless stated otherwise.
Rather than detail entire menus we've taken what we believe to be the "classic" item on offer for each fast food chain. So it is then, that in our own tribute to the oft asked price-comparison, "How much is a Big Mac in (insert country here)?", we add our answer on behalf of Japan and throw in a whole bunch of classic dishes from some of Japan's most popular fast food restaurants. In short, one is never far away from fast food in Japan. If these aren't enough, there are those fast food joints in Japan that have added their own glossy sheen to classic Japanese staples. Ever the proud nation when it comes to food, Japan has countenanced these Western chains with its own interpretations of what constitutes a burger, fries and coke. So it is then, that all the soggy meat between soggy bun specialists have established a base of operations over here. Fast food was designed for Japan, a nation whose populace is constantly pressed for time. The point being that fast food thrives in this country.
This despite the fast food chain having had its fair share of scandals in recent years here in Japan. This expat's lunch-break-from-work McDonald's throbs on a daily basis with office workers looking to down a fast lunch.