Yes, Japanese People Eat McDonald's Too. Here's My Breakfast.

My usual breakfast, with a hash brown tucked inside the McMuffin. Photo by author.

I'm Japanese. I write about everyday life in Japan. And this morning, I'm eating McDonald's.

When people think about food in Japan, they probably imagine sushi, ramen, or beautiful traditional Japanese meals.

Well, here's what I had for breakfast today.

McDonald's.

Yes. McDonald's.

And I was very happy about it.

My Favorite McDonald's Breakfast

In Japan, we call McDonald's "Makku" in many parts of the country. In some regions, especially around Osaka, people call it "Makudo."

Either way, we know what we're talking about.

This morning, I ordered one of my usual favorites: a Sausage Egg McMuffin.

But I don't eat it exactly the way McDonald's serves it.

I also order a hash brown.

And then…

I put the hash brown inside the McMuffin.

That's right. I make my own breakfast sandwich.

The crispy potato, sausage, egg, cheese, and toasted English muffin all together?

It's delicious.

And this isn't something I tried just once.

I do it every time.

I'm absolutely convinced I'm not the only person in the world who eats it this way.

Even McDonald's Has a Japanese Side

Of course, McDonald's in Japan also has menu items that reflect Japanese tastes and seasons.

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One famous example is the Tsukimi Burger.

"Tsukimi" means "moon viewing."

In Japan, autumn is traditionally associated with appreciating the moon, and McDonald's celebrates the season with special burgers featuring eggs that resemble a full moon.

And apparently, one round of autumn burgers isn't enough anymore.

They even release a second wave of seasonal items!

I saw an advertisement for a new Hokkaido Potato and Pepper Tsukimi Burger today.

Naturally, I took a photo.

A seasonal Tsukimi Burger advertisement I spotted in Japan. Photo by author.

From my car.

Because apparently, I'm now the kind of person who photographs McDonald's advertisements for an article.

But Today, I Just Wanted My Usual Breakfast

I love that McDonald's in Japan has seasonal surprises.

Sometimes a limited-time menu catches my attention.

But this morning, I wasn't looking for anything special.

I just wanted my usual breakfast.

A Sausage Egg McMuffin.

A hash brown.

And the wonderful moment when I put them together.

Living in Japan doesn't mean every meal is Japanese food.

Sometimes it's just McDonald's.

And sometimes the best part of breakfast is making a perfectly good sandwich even better.

If you put your hash brown inside your McMuffin too, we should be friends.