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In recent months, Japan has been rocked multiple times by a potato shortage. Some might say “rocked” is too strong a word, but how else can one describe the collective simultaneous rumbling of unsatisfied stomachs across the country as fast food giants like McDonald’s and Mos Burger were both forced to suspend French fry sales?
French fries are now back on the menu, but the illusion of an infallible pipeline of potatoes into Japan has been shattered, and continuing global uncertainties mean that the crisis can’t be called truly over yet. But as optimists know, behind every crisis is an opportunity, and it could very well be that the threat of future fry shortages has the potential to spur humanity to an even higher plane of hamburger side-order bliss.
How so? Starting next week, Burger King Japan will be offering combo meals consisting of a hamburger, drink, and ramen.
The tempting combination is called the Daitai Potato, or “Sorta Potato,” Set, since it aims to provide the salty, starchy satisfaction of a bag of French fries despite its spud-less status. Instead of fries, the Daitai Potato Set will provide you with a bag of Baby Star Dodekai Ramen, a crunchy dried ramen noodle snack that’s popular enough to be a big seller on its own, even without the added incentive of a flame-grilled companion burger.
To clarify, at the moment, Burger King hasn’t suspended French fry sales, nor has it announced any definite plans to start rationing in the immediate future. Because of that, substituting ramen for French fries is a zero-additional-cost option for customers purchasing a King Value combo meal.
▼ The nine King Value combos range in price from 550 yen to 650 yen.
Those opting for the ramen side will also receive an “I supported the King” sticker. Granted, it’s just a sticker, but still, getting a prize for eating ramen is a pretty rare opportunity.
The Daitai Potato Set becomes available on May 16, for a limited time. And should you find yourself too full to finish all your Baby Star, remember that dried ramen noodles also make for a pretty tasty ice cream topping.
Source: Burger King via IT Media
Images: PR Times
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- As McDonald’s Japan restricts French fry sales, rival boosts its fry sizes by 25 percent, for free
-- Round 2 of the ramen ice cream rumble – This time with real ramen! 【Taste test】
-- Lotteria wins us over with two amazing new potato chip burgers
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2022/05/12/burger-king-japan-is-offering-dried-ramen-instead-of-french-fries-in-its-combo-meals/
11 Comments
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snowymountainhell
Seems just another excuse to gradually cut portions while raising prices on consumers. If we look closer at their paid advertising here, we can see price differences in chosen headline photo (from 2019) and this article’s 2022 “King Value” Combos (4th photo) starting at ¥550 (“¥60-¥140 off”?)
snowymountainhell
Yes Casey, Japan’s fast-food potato famine has been ‘spuddering’ on and off for the last three years, first due to some heavy domestic rains and then later, global shipping issues.
shogun36
Going from fries to chips is like going from 60 to 0 in less than 4 seconds.
Who wants that?
If you’re gonna give alternatives, give us chicken nuggets or maybe some French toast sticks or something.
Get outta here with your chips.
Charlie Sommers
Doesn't sound that strange to me. Many times I have eaten Frito corn chips with my burger and found it to be a satisfying combination.
snowymountainhell
Went in today to survey Japan’s current ‘crisis’ and the substitute offered firsthand. Consistent with most packaged foods in Japan,
the actual oversized-bag & low-volume of contents for the price offered was a flat as the 2D image photoshopped above in front of the Coca-Cola fountain glass.
And, you can ignore the article’s laughably unrealistic portrayal of overwhelming abundance:
“And should you find yourself too full to finish all your Baby Star, remember that dried ramen noodles also make for a pretty tasty ice cream topping.” -Verdict: Hard PASS on getting these at BK.
snowymountainhell
Still, do love BK’s flame-broiled taste and consistent quality of the imported Australian or North American meat. Agree with @Aly Rustom above. It’s “Cheaper” to just save your fries money (for now)
or
spend it on the takeout cheeseburger or Teriyaki burger BK’s offering for a limited time for only ¥200.
Japanadian
Ohhhh Burger King just change your name to something else already before this American chain becomes unrecognizable much like McDonald’s “Donald’ McDonald”—because Ronald is too hard to pronounce smh yeah can I get the lazy “lamen” setto please so I can also spend more money to get fat by buying additional ice cream to sprinkle that crap on!! Fire the BK Japan goofball who came up with this dumb idea…but a burger only bring it home make your own fries
Aly Rustom
I usually only get the burger from the King. Cheaper.
Tom San
No, thanks.
buffalo
mac was doing tofu nuggets for a stint. they were dope and heathy i believe.
GBR48
'French fries' are not proper chips. Luckily, proper chips are often found as street food at Japanese festivals.
I remember having some very nice chip-alikes made from (I think) puffed rice, in Nakamise street. They were really delicious and would be an obvious alternative.
Fried sweet potato cubes might be interesting.
As for 'Baby Star Dodekai Ramen' - sprinkle some salt, salt and vinegar or cheese and onion flavouring and, voila! - Pasta crisps.