McDonald's

Rice "buns"

I recently took my daughter to McDonald’s.  I’d been gluten-free for only about a month, and I’d read that their french fries are cooked in a separate fryer from breaded items like Chicken McNuggets, so I figured those would be safe.  In my jacket, I had also hidden a homemade bun made from rice flour.

I was planning to put a QP on one of these

When I ordered, the young woman at the register was very confused by my order.  I didn’t think it was a language barrier issue, because I can usually make myself understood, and my daughter (born and raised in Japan) was standing right next to me.  Anyway, the manager was summoned, and she told me I could in fact get sliced onions on the burger.

Onions?  I explained my situation again, and ordered my burger, with…

No bun. バンズぬき。banzu nuki.

I don’t need/want the bun. バンズいらない。 banzu iranai.

I can’t eat bread, so just the hamburger. パンを食べれないから、ハンバーガーだけ。 pan-o taberenai kara, hanbaagaa dake.

The manager took a moment to think, and then told me,
This is a hamburger restaurant.  If I don’t put it on a bun, it’s not a hamburger.

I was a little sad, a little shocked, and a little ticked off.  We left, and haven’t been back since.  I suspect that another manager might’ve been a little more open-minded.  I also probably could’ve explained myself a little better (パンを食べれない literally means I can’t eat bread, but in everyday Japanese, I think it’s usually taken to mean I don’t like bread).  And finally, special requests just seem to be frowned upon in Japanese society.  Anyone who’s lived in Japan, even for a short while, has probably heard the phrase 出る釘は打たれる, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.  Instead of Yes, we can, you’re more likely to hear No, we can’t.

I’ll probably go back to McDonald’s someday and try again, but it won’t be anytime soon, and definitely not until they figure out how to get their Android app to work on all phones.  It doesn’t even start on my phone!  In the meantime, I’ll go to Mos Burger (read about my experience with the “allergy burger” in a future post) Hamazushi (but I’ll bring my own soy sauce). 

I should mention that I have been to Costco twice, and haven’t had a problem (just a few quizzical looks) when ordering a hot dog without a bun.  I’ve also brought homemade GF bread to eat it with.  Next time, I might try some cornbread.