
Now you can get a taste of a famous limited-edition exclusive burger without travelling to Japan.
On 15 April, McDonald’s released the Chicken Tatsuta in Japan for a limited time, with plans for it to be on the menu only until mid-May. As a recurring exclusive, many people in Japan look forward to the release every year, but what if you’re not in Japan to enjoy it?
While that used to be a problem for lovers of the chicken burger, we’ve come up with a hack that’ll have you recreating the burger with ease no matter where you are in the world. Unlike other hacks, which tend to involve complicated steps and hard-to-get ingredients, ours is the ultimate lazy-person’s recipe – once you have the ingredients ready, you can make it in just five minutes.
So let’s get right to it, starting with the ingredients:
- McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
- McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets
- Soy sauce
- Ginger paste (Japanese tube-type is ideal)
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Shredded cabbage
Now for the method, which is so easy even lazy folks like us can handle it.
Step 1. Remove the white fish fillet and tartar sauce from the Filet-O-Fish.
Step 2. Take around three Chicken McNuggets and cut them in half.
Step 3. Spread ginger and soy sauce on both sides of the nuggets (use plenty of ginger).
Step 4. Lightly toast in a toaster (adjust to your liking).
Step 5. Spread mayonnaise and mustard on the bottom bun, then add shredded cabbage, the nuggets, and finally, the top bun.
▼ Chicken Tatsuta, complete!
While it may not look identical to the original Chicken Tatsuta, don’t let that concern you, because…
▼ …the taste is unbelievably spot-on.
With nuggets standing in for the chicken patty, the texture is slightly firmer than the original, but the flavour of the ginger soy sauce is almost identical. Oftentimes, it’s the sauce that really gives a McDonald’s burger its distinct flavour, and our recipe reproduces it incredibly well.
▼ If you prefer video tutorials, this clip will show you how easy it is to complete the hack.
Another key ingredient is the buns, and the ones on the Filet-O-Fish have the same fluffy texture as the ones used for the Tatsuta, making it very close to the original.
The brilliant brain behind this hack is our boss Yoshio Ueda, who loved it so much he got his wife to try it, and when she did she said, “If someone told me this was the newly improved Chicken Tatsuta, I would totally believe them. What a clever idea.”
That’s high praise from a discerning spouse, and it emboldened Ueda to take things one step further, with an additional idea. If you buy the Filet-O-Fish as a set rather than individually, you’ll be able to combine the leftover white fish fillet with fries, giving you a second meal of fish and chips.
This unexpected by-product of the hack is a pleasant, and tasty, surprise that Ueda urges you to try at least once. He didn’t think it would be this easy to recreate a Chicken Tatsuta, and get a bonus meal of fish and chips to boot, so he really thinks others will love the hack as much as he does, especially if you’re outside Japan and yearning for a taste of the Tatsuta, albeit without the anime packaging.
Related: McDonald’s Chicken Tatsuta
Images ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]










McDonald’s Japan brings out a new chicken burger with rice buns
McDonald’s Japan’s new Touch manga collab: Does it really capture the bittersweet taste of youth?
Who wins in a battle of McDonald’s and Komeda Coffee’s chicken tatsuta burgers?【Taste test】
McDonald’s adds wasabi and teriyaki sauces to their Chicken McNuggets in Japan
Are the new shrimp nuggets from McDonald’s Japan better than chicken McNuggets?
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
This train station bento boxed lunch shop has been in business for nearly 100 years
Japanese criminals are now using crabs to hunt for burglary targets
Does one of Japan’s favorite chocolate brands work with the Pringles chocolate hack?
Police cracking down on outdoor seating in Tokyo’s liveliest street market neighborhood[Video]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
A letter from our reporter’s deceased mother arrives at just the right time
Final Fantasy VII’s Tifa’s bar pops up in real-world Tokyo, and we stop by for drinks[Photos]
Japan’s rice warehouse stockpile rate hits record high as consumers, restaurants reject high prices
Woman in Japan breaks into home of complete stranger just to slap him in the face
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Studio Ghibli releases crystal glass paperweights featuring Totoro and the Catbus
Japanese hair salons going bankrupt in record numbers
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Samurai Coffee: Try Edo period coffee once enjoyed by Japanese warriors
Sega opening 65th anniversary store in downtotn Tokyo with deep-cut game merch
Beard Papa goes beyond just matcha with its new premium green tea cream puffs
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
McDonald’s teams up with Touch manga for burgers that capture the bittersweet taste of youth
Thousands Protest McDonald’s Online Speech Policy by Tweeting: “The Chicken Tatsuta is Delicious!”
Shrimp nuggets returning to McDonald’s Japan menu with a special surprise
McDonald’s Japan goes beyond chicken by adding shrimp nuggets to menu
How to make McDonald’s Katsu Curry Chicken McNuggets
How to turn McDonald’s chicken nuggets into tasty katsudon in five minutes【SoraKitchen】
New McDonald’s burgers pay homage to an icon of the kaiju genre
What did Mark Zuckerberg eat at McDonald’s in Japan, and is it as great as he says it is?
We taste McDonald’s Japan’s brand-new garlic burger, shrimp sandwich, and more
Japan super budget dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at McDonald’s?
The most satisfying McDonald’s burger, according to Japanese customers
Ultraman title logo generator set up online by McDonald’s Japan
One Piece x McDonald’s Japan collaboration burgers: Does the treasure taste as good as it looks?
McDonald’s Japan’s new winter menu exclusives: Hot pies and special chicken nuggets
Worried about McDonald’s chicken in Japan? Don’t be! Free McNuggets ease your fears!
McDonald’s releases new “Yakki” burger based on a popular Japanese meal