サカキシンイチロウ
I wanted to eat a Wendy's hamburger for the first time in a while, so I came to the Wendy's First Kitchen Shinjuku Minami-guchi store near Shinjuku Station South Exit. This chain store has a long history, starting in Japan in 1980, so it's been about 40 years. It's unusual to see a chain store with so many twists and changes in ownership. Especially when Suntory acquired First Kitchen four years ago and it became Wendy's First Kitchen, I was surprised. A small chain with only a few stores swallowed a brand with over 100 stores, showing the power of money. Mergers and acquisitions, capital alliances, these money-driven industry reorganizations have become commonplace, symbolized by events like this. Outside the store, there was a poster for the "USA Bacon Classic Burger" which claimed "America is hooked!" I wondered how good this burger could be, considering that movies with similar claims like "America cried" are often mediocre. The self-checkout area with a large screen around the register. I ordered and soon the burger arrived. The buns were oval instead of round, the patty was thick and square, and it was filled with cheese, tomato, lettuce, and crispy bacon, making it heavy and appetizing with the smell of grilled fat. I had French fries and chili beans on the side, accompanied by iced tea. In the past, Wendy's used to have a salad bar and served breakfast early in the morning. I used to work out in the morning at a gym in Shinjuku, eat plenty of alfalfa, toast, and chili beans for breakfast, and then head to work. This was my routine in my 20s. So, American culture was close to me through Wendy's. It's nostalgic. Especially the chili beans, which were one of Wendy's signature dishes that I liked. The beef mince had a crunchy texture with plenty of kidney beans. It came with spicy oil that added a spicy and American aroma when mixed in. In the past, it had a stronger cumin seed aroma, more like Mexican flavor. Well, that's okay, it can't be helped. When I dipped French fries into it, the chili flavor mixed with the oil's aroma, making it delicious. I wanted to sprinkle plenty of cheddar cheese and turn it into chili cheese fries. It's my favorite. It's a beef patty with a chewy texture. It's not juicy, but has a chewy texture. It makes you feel like you're eating American-style steak. The buns stick a bit to the roof of your mouth. The texture of the patty mixed with the volume is so delicious. The aroma of bacon, the acidity of the pickles, and the texture enhance the American flavor. I love this taste, and before I knew it, it was already satisfying my stomach. I lick my fingers... Thank you for the meal.