Taste comparison⁉️ What a wonderful set with a quick decision on sauces - mustard and spicy sauce. I tried dipping by switching them. Spicy nuggets‼️ It's great◎ The spicy sauce was unexpectedly spicy Ψ(￣∇￣)Ψ but it's good in its own way. I hope this taste comparison set becomes a regular item✋

I rarely eat McDonald's limited-time menu items twice, but I couldn't resist getting the Shinta Tatsu Chicken Nanban Special again. I visited the McDonald's near JR Noda Station. I ordered the Shinta Tatsu Chicken Nanban with a large size of Red & Black Double Pepper Shaka Shaka Potatoes and an Apple Float drink. I was given a number tag and waited at my seat. It's nice to be able to wait at the table. At the most frequently visited McDonald's in Sannomiya Center Street, you are usually left waiting until your order is ready. I waited at a window seat on the second floor. From the window, I could see JR Noda Station on the Osaka Loop Line. Unlike the Yamanote Line in Tokyo, the Osaka Loop Line doesn't have any railroad crossings. Trains heading towards Wakayama or Nara also stop at the same platform as the loop line trains. You can't just assume that if you miss your stop, you can just go around again. Before I knew it, I could end up in Wakayama or Nara Prefecture. It's debatable which prefecture would be worse. My order arrived. I got the Apple Float drink. It seems like there's more tartar sauce on the Chicken Tatsu Tatsu than before. The tartar sauce goes really well with the chicken. The buns are really fluffy. I made the Shaka Shaka Potatoes. The Red & Black Double Pepper was spicier than I imagined. The powder is quite red and leaves a tingling sensation on the lips.

It is located directly above Tamagawa Station, rather than JR Noda Station. It is located at the Tamagawa 4-chome intersection. It is convenient as it is open 24 hours a day and has seating on the 2nd floor. I like the "Mac Dog Grill" available only in McDonald's, with sweet buns that have a unique taste.

I went to Tamagawa Station on the Subway Chitose Line, not on JR. I found the restaurant right after going up the stairs to the ground level. By the way, there was also a Mister Donut nearby, and I thought, "There are a lot of fast food restaurants at Noda Station." It made me envious because there are no fast food restaurants at my nearest station. We were eating at a table near the entrance, and my train-loving son got excited every time a JR train passed by. If you have a child who loves trains, they could spend a lot of time here.笑

Noda Station is just a short walk away. After visiting the Osaka Central Wholesale Market, I always end up following a routine of stopping by McDonald's for breakfast on my way back. I eat a hearty meal in the morning and feel ready to tackle the day. McDonald's never disappoints. It was delicious.

McDonald's is McDonald's no matter where you eat it. It's often a topic of conversation, but I always enjoy eating it.

I don't usually post content like this, but I've compiled a summary of my records from March to April 2018. Despite saying that hamburgers are junk food, I end up eating them for breakfast or lunch because they are convenient. I also use them as a place to take a break and adjust my schedule. So, I try to eat different things if I'm going to eat them anyway. Recently, I've tried the following: - Bacon Egg McMuffin - Cheeseburger - Mac Breakfast - Chicken Crisp Muffin - Egg McMuffin I always pair them with hot black coffee. Noteworthy is the Mac Breakfast, which offers a breakfast-style meal but is basically a hamburger. However, the scrambled eggs are fluffy and plain, and they take some time to prepare after ordering. They are worth trying as they are not seasoned, allowing you to add your preferred flavor with the salt and pepper provided. I can't remember when I first went to McDonald's, probably around 10 years ago, but when I tried the Cheeseburger for the first time, I was amazed by the flavor combination of the patty, cheese, and pickles. It was a taste I had never experienced before in my diet. How do they come up with these recipes? It's like the "Ebi Avocado" sushi at a revolving sushi restaurant; the combination of ingredients creates a new taste, truly a world of "drawing flavors." In the Korean drama "Jewel in the Palace," there is a line that I found interesting. It's a great expression, and the Japanese translation is excellent. Such expressions are a kind of invention. In episode 13, Lady Han tells Jang Geum, who has lost her sense of taste, "You have two abilities necessary for cooking. One is your cooking intuition. Some people are naturally gifted with a sense for cooking, while others work hard to measure the taste with a ruler. You have both the hard work and the natural sense for cooking." "The second is the ability to draw flavors. When you combine one ingredient with another, you can predict how the two will harmonize and improve or worsen the taste. That ability is what we call the ability to draw flavors." I know it's an old drama, but I'm rewatching it. I don't particularly like Korean dramas, but "Jewel in the Palace" and "Feast of the Gods" are worth watching, especially for their focus on food.

At McDonald's, I usually just drink morning coffee and occasionally have a breakfast menu item. This time, I decided to try something different and went for the limited-time McNuggets. I used to avoid McNuggets unconsciously after a certain incident, but seeing other students around me enjoying them made me want to give it a try. I opted for the 5-piece McNuggets since I didn't need the 15-piece discount. The highlight was the sauce, which was also limited-time. I had a hard time choosing between the "Dream Lobster Sauce" and the "Luxurious Cheese Fondue Sauce," but ultimately went with the Lobster Sauce. It had a good flavor and the McNuggets turned out to be surprisingly good. Maybe I should have McNuggets once in a while. Thank you for the meal.

In Osaka, I went to McDonald's for the first time! On the first day of Osaka Night, I ended the day by getting a Deluxe Cheese Beef Burger to go! It was not because it was especially delicious that I wrote about it, but simply because I was happy to have visited McDonald's in Osaka! In Kumamoto, I often go to McDonald's as the last stop after visiting 7 different locations! It's scary how habits work, as I find myself walking in as soon as I spot one. By the way, it seems like McDonald's has switched back to a more upscale direction recently, with them constantly creating slightly more expensive burgers. But the classic McDonald's meal will always be timeless!

Influenced by a McDonald's showdown in Osaka and a favorite reviewer, I am now eating a chocolate pie at a nearby McDonald's. This morning, a different cashier was at the counter, probably a part-time worker. I ordered a small black coffee and pointed to the triangular chocolate pie on the menu. I tried to pay with a combination of cash and points, but the cashier said it wasn't possible. So, I paid with points only and enjoyed the pie in the empty second-floor seating area. It was tasty, and I think the black one is better than the white one. Overall, it was a good experience.

I usually don't post reviews unless it's really special, but I've gathered a few things to review. Here are two reviews: 1. Osaka Beef Cutlet Muffin (Tried on 8/25/2017) I tried the "Osaka Beef Cutlet Muffin" from a place that had both Tokyo Roast Beef and Osaka Beef Cutlet options. It felt like I hadn't really had authentic beef cutlet in Osaka, as the one I had seemed more like a beef menchi katsu. It felt like they were just coating a hamburger patty and frying it. So, I still feel like I haven't truly had beef cutlet in Osaka. 2. Heehonhohehohai (Tried on 10/4/2017) I usually have coffee at this place every other day and occasionally have breakfast there as well. I usually go for the S-sized black coffee and sometimes get the Sausage Muffin Combo for breakfast. Recently, they had a new item called "Heehonhohehohai" on the menu, which I had to try out of curiosity. It was basically a stick pie with bacon and potato paste inside. The name was quite unusual, but the dish itself was okay. The old man at the counter has a nice smile, which adds to the experience.

Recently, I have been stopping by McDonald's for coffee time often, and I rarely use it for meals or snacks. The 100 yen for a cup of coffee is very attractive. The flavor is decent, so I go there to take a hot break. One day, I went to the first-floor counter, and I ordered the same thing as always: "Hot coffee, small size, black." I always say this like a mantra to the staff at the counter. Lately, I also leave my Rakuten point card along with the 100 yen coin in the metal cash tray next to the counter. When I order as mentioned above, the staff at the counter just repeats the order, and there is no need for any further questions about the size or the card, making it easy for me to receive my coffee. Also, there are no unnecessary extras like freshener provided, reducing waste. Depending on the store and timing, they might even hand over the cup directly without issuing a waiting number receipt. However, this time an exception occurred in the order sequence. "I'm sorry. The register is currently broken, so the point card cannot be used," they said. When I heard that, I remembered that the same thing happened last month. I reluctantly accepted that I wouldn't earn a point, and retrieved my point card. Then, the staff handed me a small piece of paper along with the receipt. (Huh? Is the coffee free?) It turned out to be a voucher for a free coffee. Although it had an expiration date of about a month, it was quite generous. I took the coffee and went to the second-floor eat-in area. I looked around at the other customers just to be sure, but it seemed like no one else had received the same voucher, so it wasn't just a simple register malfunction. It seemed like there was a problem with the point card system, and this voucher was prepared for those who tried to use it. Just one point, but customer satisfaction can improve with a small gesture like this. If this time, like last month, there was just a "cannot be used" situation without any compensation, it would have bothered me in the back of my mind. And if it happened a third time, accumulating customer dissatisfaction, it might turn into a sudden outburst of complaints. McDonald's, with its means to prevent this, is a world apart from some other family restaurants.

"It's not really a secret, but today I didn't have any small cash on me, so I casually said 'with points' when I ordered my usual 'Hot coffee, small size, black'. When I checked the receipt, I noticed that I had used 100 points and earned 1 point, with 5000 points available for use. The interesting thing I found out this time was that even when using points, points are earned at the same rate as cash payment. I don't remember this happening with similar cards, so it was quite refreshing. This means that the Rakuten Point Card can be used almost like cash (credit card). There is a limit of 5000 points per transaction and not many places accept it yet, but at least it's a convenient and cost-effective card to use when having coffee at McDonald's. One point may seem insignificant, but every point counts."

- Yaki Kobe Sannomiya's new Yaki, which I learned about from a poster at McDonald's, didn't quite understand what makes it special, especially since it's so cheap (200 yen). The onion sandwiched with lettuce was surprisingly tasty, but that was about it. Cheap products are only worth their cheap price. - R Point is currently running a campaign at McDonald's in Osaka. They are distributing points at the store and apparently offering a 5x point bonus. It's not clearly stated on the receipt, so I'm a bit skeptical, but it is Rakuten after all. The information about earning and using points was unclear or vague, so I had to supplement it with online information. - When you purchase items for sale, you will earn 1 point for every 100 yen spent (including tax). You can use up to 5,000 points per purchase at Rakuten Point Card member stores. Currently, my Rakuten points exceed 10,000, so I can live a "0 yen life" at McDonald's for a while. That's the only benefit.

The name "University Potato" is said to have originated from the fact that university students in the Kanda area of Tokyo (a student town) preferred to eat it during the Taisho to Showa periods. Another theory is that in the early Showa period, students from Imperial University made and sold this to raise money for tuition fees, hence the name. However, according to the manufacturer of University Potatoes, Taito Hyogyo (Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo), there was a sweet potato shop called Mikawa-ya in front of the red gate of Imperial University, which sold honey-coated sweet potatoes in the early Taisho period, becoming popular among students and leading to the name. Mikawa-ya operated in front of the gate until 1940 (Showa 15). It is also said that the area around Takadanobaba, where Waseda University is located, is the birthplace of University Potatoes. The University Potato is a regular McDonald's French fry with "University Potato sauce" poured over it, and the sauce is the type that you pour yourself. The dedicated container, which looks like it contains ketchup or dressing, has sauce and sesame seeds in it. Even after squeezing out all the sauce, it still feels like there's not enough, and there's quite a bit of sesame seeds left in the container, so in that sense, the quality is low. Well, you could say it's a unique item.

"Japanese McDonald's announced that they will be offering their traditional "100 yen coffee" for free from January 16, 2017, for a limited time of 5 days, at all stores between 7:00 am and 10:00 am, without the need to order any other items. However, it is now evening so I just paid the 100 yen and went up to the second floor to relax and enjoy my coffee. This store has a counter and seating for about 15 people on the first floor, but the main eating area is on the second floor. The second floor has seating for about 15 pairs of two, 3 groups of four, and a counter by the window for 6 people. Since it was newly renovated last year, it is a bright and clean space where various people spend their time in their own ways. Most people are eating while using their smartphones. There are also groups spread out with reference books, printouts, and notebooks, seemingly studying. And there are even couples who don't seem to mind the surroundings and openly show affection. It creates quite an enjoyable atmosphere. As for me, I sipped on my 100 yen coffee, connected my iPad to the Wi-Fi, and watched a rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling) video on YouTube. It was quite a performance. Hmm, I wonder if this coffee really tastes better now? Oh well, it was a nice treat. Thank you for the meal."

In the fall of 2015, the "Soft Twist Tower Size" appeared with a very eye-catching sign. It looked like it was more than twice the height of a regular soft serve, giving a sense of value, but there was a slightly concerning description. Although most people probably ignored it, I, being sensitive to discrepancies, felt a bit puzzled. On the day I saw the sign, I only took a photo of it and didn't enter the store. Since I pass by the store every day, I thought I could always get it whenever I wanted, and I convinced myself that no one really wants to see a middle-aged man buying such a sweet treat. Before becoming a reviewer on Tabelog, I used to post on simple posting systems and Twitter (I still use them now), and when I uploaded the photo of the sign, I received comments saying "We should verify if it really becomes that tall when bought." So, out of stubbornness, I had to get it. Plus, I had planned to buy it eventually, and it was probably a limited-time menu, so I didn't want to regret not satisfying my curiosity before it disappeared. By the way, this McDonald's store, which is called "Mac" in Osaka, has been renovated twice since I started living nearby 1.5 years ago. The exterior hasn't changed much, and the layout of the visible first floor counter and compact eat-in space seems unchanged. The store has the common two-story structure, with the second floor dedicated to eat-in (I was surprised when I saw a McDonald's with 3 or 4 floors in the Kanto region a while back). They probably renovated the second floor, but it hasn't been accessible after the second renovation. Before the first renovation, the second floor had sofas and was quite a relaxing space in some areas, where high school girls would hang out, but it became a regular table and chair setup after the renovation, which was a bit disappointing. I'm curious about what the second floor looks like now. So, I eventually got the Tower Size. As I half-expected, it didn't turn out to be a tower like the photo sample. Well, that's how it goes. Isn't it more cost-effective to just buy two regular 100 yen soft serves? A comment pointed out after I uploaded the photo. Quite right. I wonder what the "store exclusive" label meant. Maybe it required skilled staff to make it satisfying, and only stores with certified staff could display this sign. But that's just a guess. On a different note, I decided to do some work at McDonald's during morning hours. This kind of situation is best suited for stores with ample seating and a second-floor eat-in area, where I can stay for a long time without causing trouble (within limits). However, why don't they have regular hamburgers on the morning menu? They only have muffins, which are not tasty. They actually take away moisture from your mouth, so you can't eat them without a drink. I don't like this type of food, which is why I'm not good with bread. Especially sandwiches, like muffins, require hydrating while eating, or they won't go down my throat. I occasionally have them for breakfast at home, but I always have to have a carton of milk next to me and refill my glass while eating. (I love milk) Another thing. I always have doubts about this cup salad. It looks like it's easy to eat in a cup shape, but it seems like there's a catch. The instructions say to "pour dressing, cover, and shake well," but when you actually do it, the dressing and the leaves that it adheres to end up solidifying at the bottom of the cup, while the top remains mostly undressed. I've experienced this a few times, but I still can't get an even mix.

Around 6:00 PM on October, I was in the vicinity of Noda Station on the JR Loop Line. I quickly stopped by McDonald's (*´ω｀*). I tried the Squid Ink Burger for the first time using a coupon for 290 yen. It's quite filling and has a good texture. The sauce doesn't have the bitterness of squid ink, which makes it delicious. The crispy onions add a nice touch, and the patty and cheddar cheese have a strong presence and taste great. The gray bun looks strangely appetizing (*´艸｀*). I also had a small size Coo drink for 100 yen, which I like for its light and delicious taste. Taking photos with a digital camera at McDonald's is embarrassing, so I quickly took a picture. If you're in the area of Noda Station, be sure to check out McDonald's too (*´艸｀*).

[Mon, February 11, 2013] Visited McDonald's JR Noda store after VIE DE FRANCE Noda store. Located at 3-12-18 Noda, Fukushima-ku, Osaka. Sat at a table on the 1st floor near the entrance. Ordered an apple pie and the classic coffee. Used a free coupon received from McDonald's Higashi-Osaka Iwata store. Spent the afternoon at McDonald's. [Thu, December 15, 2011] Visited McDonald's JR Noda store. Located at 3-12-18 Noda, Fukushima-ku, Osaka. Tried the special chicken wing tempura and charcoal-grilled chicken set. The store is near Kanpa JR Noda store and Fukumiya Noda store. The 2nd floor has a cozy atmosphere with sofa seating by the window. Ordered the Big Mac LL set, always a satisfying meal with generous portions. Also received a McDonald's exclusive Coca-Cola glass with a design from the can. Enjoyed the occasional visit to McDonald's. Next stop, Takoyakiya Kiri.

I stopped by this cafe in JR Noda to pass the time while waiting for something. The second floor has a row of counter seats by the window, table seats in front, and comfortable sofa seats for two people (7 sets). The sofas were super comfortable. The tables are not low like Starbucks, making it easy to eat. The view of the circular line from the window is nice. The sound of the train is soothing. I ordered an iced cafe mocha and enjoyed the cafe atmosphere. If it were closer, I would come here frequently!