“This Is the Best Burger Ever!” The debate among the three experts lasted over two hours… Carefully selected based on taste and value!
[Part 2] The Outcome of the Seasonal “Tsukimi” Showdown, Where Every Chain Is Putting Its All Into It
A wave of change is sweeping through hamburger chains as well. Affected by inflation, the “Big Mac” and “MOS Burger” have both seen their prices rise to 500 yen (single-item price including tax; the same applies below) since the start of this year. At the end of March, Lotteria closed its doors after 54 years in business.As the industry enters a turning point, which burger is the “strongest” in terms of taste and value for money? The “Three Sages”—Mitsuhiko Suda, a food and beverage producer; Junnosuke Nagahama, a food journalist; and Takao Shigemori, a food analyst—engaged in a heated debate.
It’s Not Just About Size
—Please include Burger King as well.
Shigemori: Burger King’s “Whopper” has a reputation for being huge and a bit pricey, but the quality is also high. My top pick this time is the “Avocado Whopper ” (890 yen).Patty, onion, tomato, and avocado. With every hearty bite, a variety of flavors burst forth, creating a delightful experience in your mouth.
Suda: Avocado is a tricky ingredient for chain restaurants to handle. If it’s too unripe, the flesh is tough; if it’s too ripe, the quality deteriorates. It’s not cheap, yet the pit is large and the edible portion is small.
Nagahama: There aren’t many chains that offer avocado as a regular menu item, are there?
Suda: The effort we put into including it has paid off big time. The rich yet fresh avocado balances out the heavy flavor. It’s a clever product design.
Nagahama: I recommend the “Quattro Cheese Whopper ” (890 yen). The harmony of the four cheeses is exquisite. It’s not just rich—you can also sense a refreshing quality, allowing you to enjoy the complex flavors of the cheese.
Suda: Their cheese-based items are great, too. The “ Double Whopper Cheese Jr.” (760 yen) may be a smaller “Jr.” size, but it’s still satisfying and offers good value for the price.
——What about standout items from other chains?
Suda: I’ve been keeping an eye on Freshness Burger. Although there weren’t any notable developments after it became part of the Koro Wide Group in 2016, there’s been an increase in store reopenings since around last year. The chain was founded in Shibuya, Tokyo, in 1992. I get the impression they’re returning to that image of an “American artisanal burger joint” from back then.Their signature “Freshness Burger” (560 yen) is a classic burger with meat sauce and thick-sliced tomatoes—it’s exceptionally well-crafted.
Nagahama: My recommendation is the “Garden Salad Burger” (560 yen). It’s packed with vegetables, and the tangy marinated purple cabbage adds a nice accent. The bun is made with chestnut squash kneaded into the dough, giving it a subtle sweetness.
Suda: “By making the bun slightly sweet, we bring out the character of the meat. Even though it’s a vegetable-forward item, it helps balance the overall flavor.”
Nagahama: I’d also like to recommend the “Salted Lemon Chicken Burger ” (580 yen). Since the chicken is fried to order, it’s incredibly juicy. Pairing it with a sauce made from Setouchi lemon peel paste gives it a refreshing finish.
Suda: Freshness has burgers that cost over 1,000 yen, but they also offer a selection in the 500-yen range, so it’s actually quite accessible to the average person.
The Ultimate “Tsukimi”
If you’re looking for a hearty chicken burger, KFC’s“Chicken Fillet Burger ” (440 yen) is definitely worth considering. It’s a long-running favorite that’s been on the menu since ’83. The juicy chicken fillet, with its distinctive spice blend, is a testament to KFC’s quality.
——Various chains release “Tsukimi Burgers” as a fall tradition, but which one is the best?
Suda: MOS Burger’s “Tsukimi Focaccia” is in a league of its own. The egg is simply superb. If you’re particular about the bun, then Zetteria’s “Exquisite Tsukimi Burger” is the one.
Nagahama: I basically agree, but I’d also like to add Komeda Coffee Shop’s “Otsukimi Full Moon Burger ” (870–940 yen) to the list.
Suda: That’s true. It’s incredibly hearty, and I think a lot of people go for that one.
Nagahama: The egg omelet is slightly firm, and the flavor balance is excellent. Komeda bakes its own bread in-house, so the quality of the buns is high. It can easily hold its own against chains that specialize in hamburgers.
Suda: The patty isn’t bad either.
Shigemori: When it comes to “Tsukimi Burgers,” McDonald’s is famous, but compared to these three, it falls a bit short. Considering price and quality, the “Tsukimi Focaccia” is probably the best.
Suda & Nagah ama: No objections!
——Let’s wrap this up. Which one is the best burger among these chains?
Shigemori: I’d go with Barkin’s “Avocado Whopper.” It’s not just that they used avocado—which is notoriously tricky to work with—but the execution is top-notch. The avocado is cut neatly, and it’s big and makes a real statement. The tomato really stands out, too. The patty is thick, making for a hearty, substantial Whopper.
Suda: It’s hidden behind the avocado, but there’s actually quite a lot of tomato in there, isn’t there?
Nagahama: I’d go with Mos Burger’s “Tobikiri Cheese.” The patty—made with 100% domestically produced beef—sticks out of the bun, and the cheese is melt-in-your-mouth.
Suda: The aroma when you open the wrapper is wonderful, too. I’m casting my vote for the “Tobikiri Cheese” as well. It’s a classic combination of patty, bun, and cheese, and I really appreciate that they’ve managed to create something this good.
Shigemori: I think it’s a product worthy of being called the “strongest.”
After a heated debate, the “Best Tsukimi Burger” was named the “Tsukimi Focaccia ~Golden Cheese Sauce~,” and the “Best Burger” was named the “Extra Special Cheese ~Hokkaido Cheese~,” with Mos Burger winning by a landslide, leaving its rivals far behind.
From the October 16, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”