Are greasy American foods like burgers and cheesestreaks popular in Japan?

Question

Are the Japanese big fans of our deep fried eating style? Things like burgers, onion rings, the philly cheesesteak, french fries, fried mushrooms, and fried whatever else. Is there a lot of food like this in Tokyo?

Answer 1

No, not the Western way. There are a few TGIFridays and the like, and some English pubs, and they will have the usual fried foods. Theres McDonalds too.

But generally no it is not a part of the everyday diet. Japanese have a fried food called tempura but its different and the portions are smaller, and thats not a part of the everyday diet either.

Answer 2

It's the novelty of American products in Japan. It's across the board, not just food.

Answer 3

I don't know about cheesesteaks but for rest, yes. Many fast food chains in Japan sell American style food. A&W hardly exists in America anymore save selling cans of root beer but the chain in Okinawa is alive and well. Japanese have loved fried food since Portuguese taught them tempura.

Answer 4

There are plenty of fried foods in Japan and Tokyo, especially in bento boxes and curry stalls, where there is tempura and pork and chicken katsu (fried pork) very often. Fried octopus balls can be found at stalls as well.  KFC is very popular and Mos Burger, the Japanese burger chain, has french fries and other fried items. The difference is that these are not the staples of the Japanese diet, unlike in the US.

Answer 5

Modern day Japanese kids far prefer American-style fast food over traditional Japanese cuisine. As a result, their rates of heart diseases, obesity & other medical problems are on the rise substantially. Ironically, on the other hand more Americans are seeking healthier lifestyles by incorporating elements of Mediterranean & Japanese diets.

Answer 6

Wow ... You have no IDEA of the world..

Japanese have deep fried Shrimp sea foods  and an abundance of vegetables..for centuries..

this Question is wacko...

Beef is largely imported and MacD's is very popular...

I think Taco Bell and KFC,,,  Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are there..

Answer 7

Burgers are popular in Japan - from the ubiquitous "Hamburger Steak" (basically, salisbury steak, sans gravy), to McDonalds, and even Japanese burger chains like Lotteria (which is TONS better than McDonalds).

Fried food in general is popular in Japan - fried fish and tempura (lightly battered vegetables or shrimp which is then fried) are two examples of popular fried food.  French fries and onion rings are available too - at restaurants, in grocery stores, etc.  

It's also important to remember that Tokyo specifically has a lot foreigners in it, so there is a lot of non-Japanese food to be had there.  If you go outside of Tokyo, however, things are a bit different.  Even Osaka, Japan's 2nd largest city, doesn't have nearly as much foreign food available compared to Tokyo.  I had a friend who lived near Osaka and would get really bad cravings for tacos - even Taco Bell.  Unfortunately, Mexican food isn't that popular in Japan - Taco Bell gave it a try, but closed.  So I'd buy those  Taco Bell dinner kits from the grocery store here, and ship them to him.