Fast food giant McDonald’s has locations all around the world, each with slight differences to the menus – and one British tourist was blown away by one in Japan
10:17, 19 Aug 2025Updated 10:17, 19 Aug 2025
A British tourist visited McDonald’s in Tokyo, Japan (file)(Image: winhorse via Getty Images)
A tourist who popped into a McDonald’s whilst in Japan was stunned by how different it was compared to British branches. The fast food chain operates across more than 100 nations, boasting over 38,000 outlets worldwide. Each country features subtle variations to cater for local preferences and cultural customs, but for this particular visitor to Japan, it wasn’t the menu that proved most shocking.
Travel blogger Jessica Jayne Turner has been documenting fascinating glimpses from her Japanese adventure. In a recent TikTok video, Jessica revealed what dining at the chain in Tokyo was like, describing it as operating on an entirely “different level”. Examining the self-service kiosk, she discovered numerous items she’d never encountered before. These featured the Bai Shrimp File-O, Bai Teriyaki Chicken Filet-O and a Cheese and Bacon Potato Pie.
McDonald’s fans can also purchase Edamame and Corn as an accompaniment, alongside Shaka-Chicki and Garlic and Cheese Sauce.
Jessica chose to sample some of the “unique” offerings, with her total bill reaching approximately £14.42.
Initially she sampled the Edamame and Corn, expressing amazement at finding such an item on the menu as it appeared “healthy”.
“It actually tastes pretty good but it just feels so strange to eat it at McDonald’s. [I’m] not actually sure how I feel about it,” Jessica continued. Next, Jessica sampled the Shaka Chicken, which she described as “basically like a giant chicken nugget”.
She explained that it comes with a sachet of Cheddar Cheese to sprinkle over it before shaking. “It basically turns into a cheesy chicken nugget. It’s nice and crispy but I’m going to be honest, the cheese does taste a bit artificial,” she admitted.
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However, she praised the barbecue sauce as “amazing” and found the mustard sauce “tasted great”.
She then moved on to the Cheese and Bacon Potato Pie, which she noted bears a resemblance to the Apple Pies available in the UK. “The inside of this tastes identical to a chicken pie. I love the flavour. This is probably one of my favourite things that I got,” she enthused.
The content creator also tried some standard chicken nuggets, which she confessed tasted similar to those in the UK, but she “loved” the accompanying sauces – barbecue and mustard.
After sampling a Big Mac, which she ordered as a backup in case she didn’t enjoy the other items, Jessica rounded off her meal with a McFlurry. The one she chose was generously “smothered” in strawberries and chocolate, and they certainly didn’t “skimp on the toppings”.
Jessica also revealed that it wasn’t just the menu that impressed her about the McDonald’s outlets in Japan – it was “how clean” the restaurants were. “The kitchen actually looks spotless,” she added.
Jessica isn’t alone in her observations. One traveller shared their experience on the Destination Japan Facebook group, stating: “What stood out even more to me was their attention to hygiene. While I obviously don’t know what happens behind the scenes in the kitchen, the way they handle food and maintain cleanliness during serving is very noticeable. Everything from the counters to the packaging felt clean and well-managed, which make the overall experience even better.”
AloJapan.com