The Gurakoro Burger is a seasonal item added to McDonald’s Japan’s winter menu every year. This year, they are releasing a new rich beef stew flavour on December 2 for a limited period.
“Gurakoro” is a portmanteau of the Japanese words for “gratin” and “korokke,” the latter being the Japanese version of a French croquette. The Gurakoro burgers are crunchy on the outside and melty on the inside. They first appeared at McDonald’s Japan in 1993 and have returned every winter since, popular for its combination of the Gurakoro patty which is filled with creamy ebi, cabbage, a special korokke sauce, and an egg sauce, all squished between a toasted bun.
Gurakoro Burger | ¥340
The burger was created with a new recipe in 2019 that makes the flavour richer. The number of egg yolks used for the egg sauce was also increased, as was the spiciness of the korokke sauce.
Beef Stew Gurakoro | ¥390
This year, McDonald’s Japan is adding a beef stew sauce made with a combination of red wine and demiglace sauce. Added to this is mustard, creating a delicious flavour that goes hand in hand with the creamy gratin korokke.
Information
Gurakoro / Beef Stew Gurakoro
Running: December 2, 2020 – Early January 2021
Available: McDonald’s Japan (Select branches not participating)
Official Website: https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/gracoro/
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On January 13, McDonald’s Japan released a colorful music video on YouTube featuring two of the biggest J-pop mega-hits of the last year! The remix combines Ado’s Odo and asmi’s PAKU with the familiar sound of the French Fry buzzer. A rhythm game using this song will also be available on TikTok starting on January 30! In March 2019, the McDonald’s French Fry buzzer became a popular theme on TikTok with over 150 million views. This remix may not be what most people expected, but it’s incredibly catchy and might make you hungry at the same time. Check out the McDonald’s Fry Buzzer Remix at the link below!
The neon-drenched music video features 3D models of both Odo-chan and PAKU-chan along with the three French Fry Brothers hanging out at an incredibly colorful and futuristic McDonald’s restaurant. Be sure to check out the rhythm game coming to TikTok for a limited time starting January 30! Information
McDonald’s Fry Buzzer Remix
Available: January 13 – late March 2023
Official Site: https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/ -
LDFS Co. Ltd., which operates six cafes and brands in Tokyo, has opened a new location! The company currently operates THE GREAT BURGER, a gourmet burger shop in Harajuku, The Little BAKERY Tokyo, and GOOD TOWN DONUTS. Now, they’ve brought the old-school burger store Jennifer Seven to Harajuku! Jennifer Seven is a combination general store and burger store that sells apparel, kitchen items, and groceries. While it may seem like a general store with a coffee stand at first glance, the back door opens to reveal a secret burger shop! The innovative location will serve simple burgers, not the hearty and massive gourmet burgers available next door at THE GREAT BURGER.
General stores are found in rural America and carry a wide range of daily necessities, much like a yorozu-ya in Japan. Jennifer Seven sells original apparel, sundries, and goods with a vintage flare, as well as tableware and other items from the U.S. In addition, guests can find unique food items like handmade jellies and jams, fresh fruits and local veggies, natural wines, small gifts, and plenty more. The drive-thru coffee stand attached to the store sells GOOD TOWN COFFEE, and Chinese-American steamed buns are also available at the Harajuku location! Each classic burger will come with simple and tasty ingredients, including the beef patty, ketchup, mustard, original burger sauce, pickles, and onions. The restaurant’s simple interior features white and vintage wood with blue-grayish green accents and was designed by the owner himself, inspired by diners and school cafeterias in rural America. Come enjoy a classic burger at this secret burger joint! Information
Jennifer Seven
Location: Jennifer Seven
J-cube C Building 1F (6-12-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
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On August 5, McDonald’s Japan will begin selling some summer-only sweets! The McShake Doraemon Ramune and Doraemon Choco Banana Pie items are based on a summer festival, and the packaging will feature adorable Doraemon imagery. These treats will bring back memories of summer festivals, with popular flavors like chocolate banana and ramune. Each sweet will be available in a total of six newly-designed packages, so you might need to buy a few until you get your favorite character!
McShake Doraemon Ramune
The McShake Doraemon Ramune features the nostalgic flavor of ramune and a creamy texture. Two types of ramune flavors were used to create a taste that will keep you coming back for more, and citrus flavors were added to create a refreshing flavor perfect for summer. This tasty treat is available in three versions–Doraemon, Nobita, and Gian. Doraemon Chocolate Banana Pie
The Doraemon Chocolate Banana Pie consists of a crispy pie crust packed with banana filling and a rich chocolate sauce. Fans of Doraemon can grab this pie in three different sleeves–Dorami, Shizuka, and Suneo. ※Product images for illustration purposes only. Actual products may vary. Happy Meal
Round 1: August 5 - August 11Round 2: August 12 - August 18 In addition, Doraemon-related items will be packed with every Happy Meal starting August 5. -
McDonald’s Japan locations with ‘McCafe by Barista’ areas will begin selling special spring treats for a limited time starting April 6, 2022. Customers will be able to grab the ‘Strawberry Uji Matcha Frappe’ and the ‘Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart.’ McCafe by Barista invites guests to enjoy high-quality frappes and smoothies. The Uji Matcha Frappe was added to the regular product lineup in June 2021, and features a mellow matcha flavor. The Strawberry variant is coming back for the first time in three years. The Mont Blanc Tart is a new addition, and is a perfect treat to enjoy with this popular frappe!
Strawberry Uji Matcha Frappe: ¥490
The Strawberry Matcha Frappe mixes together the full-bodied flavor of matcha together with sweet and sour strawberries. It includes both a strawberry paste made from whole strawberries and a strawberry whipped cream at the bottom. The drink is topped with more strawberry whipped cream and a sprinkling of matcha powder. The refreshing taste of the strawberry sauce coupled with the whipped cream serves to elevate the great flavor of the Uji Matcha even more.Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart: ¥390
The Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart is made with Uji Matcha batter, Uji Matcha whipped cream, white bean paste, and green tea cream. The refined sweetness is complemented by the mellow aroma and slight bitterness of Uji Matcha. How would you like to enjoy these treats beneath the cherry trees?Information
Strawberry Uji Matcha Frappe
Uji Matcha Mont Blanc Tart
Available: April 6 – Mid-May, 2022
Available at Participating McDonald’s Japan Locations with ‘McCafe by Barista’
Official Site: https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/
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McDonald's Japan will start selling the new Sakura Mochi Pie starting March 23, 2022 for a limited time only. The new pie is inspired by sakura mochi, a traditional wagashi sweet popular during spring.
Sakura mochi is typically made from mochi rice cakes filled with a sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf. The McDonald's pie is filled with azuki red bean paste and a chewy, sakura-flavored mochi that features bits of pickled sakura leaves. The packaging will also feature spring designs and each pie costs just ¥150. They will be available until mid-April. -
Starting March 4, McDonald’s locations in Japan are selling two new Happy Meals inspired by Pokemon and Tabekko Dobutsu! Each Pokemon set includes a Pokemon Mezastar tag, allowing kids to battle and catch Pokemon using tags. Five original tags featuring popular characters like Pikachu and Piplup will be available, as well as Legendary Pokemon like Palkia and Arceus! In addition to tags, kids will also be able to play games using Pokemon names on a special Shiritori sheet included with each meal.
Tabekko Doubutsu is a classic Japanese snack, much like animal crackers in the west. This is the first time these characters are appearing at McDonald's. The lineup includes five varieties of McDonald's original coloring pages and stickers featuring familiar characters such as Lion, Bunny, and Elephant. Each sticker also includes the name of each animal in Japanese and English! ©2022 Pokémon. ©1995-2022 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. Developed by T-ARTS and MARV©ギンビス Information
Happy Meal ‘Pokemon Mezastar’
Happy Meal ‘Tabekko Doubutsu’
Available: For 2 weeks starting March 4
Where to Get: Participating McDonald’s Locations Nationwide
Official Site: https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/menu/happyset/