Samurai Mac Burgers at McDonald’s Japan

Growing up in Melbourne as a small boy, I knew Japan for two things. One was ninja, the secret assassins and spies of feudal Japan who were skilled in the use of swords, shuriken and scaling hooks. The other was samurai, the elegant and noble protectors of Japan. Back in April, when McDonald’s Japan announced they were going to introduce two new samurai burgers, you can bet I was excited.

McDonald’s Japan have been teasing our taste buds for many years now with interesting limited-edition and seasonal burgers such as the Tsukimi Burger in fall and the Gratin Croquette Burger in winter.

The new Samurai Mac Burgers were created to capture the spirit of the samurai warrior with their Japanese flavours. They come in two different varieties which are designed to represent different samurai factions.

The “Wild Faction” is represented by the Roasted Soy Sauce Style Double Thick Beef Burger, while the “Self-Indulgent Faction” is represented by the Roasted Soy Sauce Style Bacon Tomato Thick Beef Burger.

The Roasted Soy Sauce Style Double Thick Beef Burger 

This is a mouthful to say and it is certainly a mouthful for the actual mouth with two thick and juicy 100-percent beef patties, two slices of rich cheddar cheese, and a crisp sliced onion with a savoury roasted soy sauce style sauce all sandwiched in a poppy seed bun.

The Roasted Soy Sauce Style Bacon Tomato Thick Beef Burger 

This mouthful also contains a thick 100-percent beef patty with smoked bacon, fresh tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, sliced onions, and white cheddar cheese with a savoury roasted soy sauce style sauce all sandwiched in a poppy seed bun.

The Taste Test 

Unfortunately, due to the State of Emergency in Japan because of the coronavirus, we could only get the take-away version of the “Self-Indulgent Faction”. The star of the show is definitely the savoury roasted soy sauce style sauce on the burger, which really brings out the Japanese flavours. The thick juicy beef patty is enhanced by a hint of garlic which adds a nice tone and doesn’t overpower the rest of the flavours. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would not hesitate to have it again.

The Campaign Ambassador 

The campaign ambassador of the new burgers is actor, Masato Sakai, who has played several samurai characters in the past on TV shows. He is most famous for playing samurai warrior Sanada Yukimura in the NHK Taiga Drama, Sanada Maru in 2016.

Available for a Limited Time Only 

The new Samurai Mac Burgers will be on the McDonald’s Japan menu for a limited time only from 8 April until mid-May. You can pick one up for 490 yen (USD$4.50) but hurry as time is running out.

Source: McDonald's Japan