Rice Burger

Rice burger is the Japanese version of one of the most famous fast food products in the world – the omnipresent hamburger. Instead of traditional wheat buns, this Japanese dish uses pressed rice patties made with plain rice, eggs, and cornstarch. The patties are pan-fried or grilled in order to create a firm shell which holds the rest of the ingredients together. The filling, however, does not necessarily correlate to the one of the traditional hamburger, and can consist of a variety of authentic and local ingredients and dishes. It usually includes seafood tempura, teriyaki chicken, or grilled meat, but there is also a number of vegetarian versions. The rice burger first appeared in 1987, when the fast food franchise MOS Burger, a local version of the standard American fast food eateries, introduced it to the Japanese market. The first version, which is no longer offered, was made with daikon and tsukune (Japanese-style meatballs). Since the introduction of the first rice burger, the new fast food creation has been an instant success in Japan. With the expansion of the company, rice burger continued to gain popularity in other Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and it has recently even been introduced to Australia. Although there are numerous other fast food items served at the MOS chain, rice burger is probably the most famous and the most controversial item on the menu.