McDonalds x Mobile Suit Gundam Promotion: Tartar Yurinchi-style Chicken Tatsuta and Japanese Citrus Yogurt Flavor McFizz

 

I have been in Japan for a month, so I have been posting photos from my daily life on Facebook. People have enjoyed my descriptions of food, especially of Japanese-style food at American fast food chains, so I've decided to take the meaning of my Adventuress blog to another level with travel blogging.

Tonight, I stopped in McDonalds directly outside Shin-Koiwa Station. They are holding a promotion for the 35th anniversary of the 1991 introduction of the McDonalds Tatsuta Chicken.

 

Tatsuga-age is a method of deep-frying where meat is marinated in soy sauce and ginger before being coated in potato starch. Traditional tatsuga-age also marinates the meat in sake, but McDonalds does not list the Japanese rice wine in its ingredients list.

The Chicken Tatsuga anniversary is being celebrated using characters and moments from the 1979 mechanized robot anime, Mobile Suit Gundam, as can be seen in the advertisement below:

The 2026 promotion adds a Tartar Yurinchi-style Chicken Tatsuta in a hefty Gunham box. 

Yurinchi is a fusion of the Chinese You Lin Ji (Oil Drenched Chicken) with the Japanese flavor profile of scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic.

The Yurinchi flavor comes in the form of a creamy tartar sauce with lots of savory umami flavor.

The chicken rests on top of a bed of shredded cabbage. The savory profile and crunch of the chicken really does mix well with the mild, earthy flavor of the cabbage. 

Along with the soft bun, it is a real treat for all of your mouth's senses. This is one of those limited time items where it really is a shame it is not on the permanent menu.

Next up is the limited time drink, a McFizz with a flavor profile consisting of Japanese citrus and yogurt.

The cup contains an image from the iconic final shot, or last shooting, of the original Gundam anime. The carbonated drink itself is a blend of sweet and tangy, with a slight sour kick, owing to its blend of amanatsu, hyuganatsu, and yuzu citrus fruits. It also contains a very slight yogurt flavor, which I only noticed in its pleasant aftertaste. It was very refreshing and paired well with the savory chicken.

The last item on my list of dinner items was a bacon potato pie. This was included in one of the Chicken Tatsuga combo meals, so I thought I would give this unique McDonalds item a try.

The pie itself was fried to perfection. It was golden brown, crispy, and flaky.

The inside was pure mashed potato goodness, with plenty of bacon. It is back bacon, also known as Canadian bacon, rather than the browned pork strips called bacon in the United States.

This whole meal was delicious. I continue to be impressed with how delicious and unique fast food from American chains are in Japan.