The Wild Wendy’s Burger You Won’t Find In The US

Inside Wendy’s, there are two beasts: One that is very aware that some of its customers want it to recapture its former glory, and one that wants to stretch its menu to its limits. We’ve seen both play out in recent weeks. On one hand, the restaurant chain has been busy bringing back its nostalgic yellow packaging, to the delight of many. On the other, the T-Rex burger has reared its head once more. It’s a fairly balanced operation, it’s fair to say, no?

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Wendy’s has been leaning into the latter inclination internationally, too. Last month, Wendy’s Japan dropped a pretty left-field burger that I really want to try.

Wendy’s NY Tsukimi Mochi Burger

At the end of August, Wendy’s First Kitchen in Japan revived its Tsukimi Mochi Burger lineup for 2026. This menu first dropped in 2023 and has since appeared yearly to mark tsukimi (or otsukimi), a harvest moon festival that took place on September 25 this year. Tsukimi literally translates to “moon viewing.”

Wendy’s NY Tsukimi Mochi Burger is made with either one or two burger patties (there’s also a spicy chicken fillet version), egg, cheese, bacon, and a fried piece of chewy mochi. The whole thing is then finished off with a tangy, creamy sauce. It also comes in a Jr. version. 

There’s a fair bit of symbolism at play with this burger: In Japanese folklore, the moon’s dark patches are imagined to have been a consequence of a rabbit pounding mochi, while eggs are also seen as representative of the moon. Indeed, tsukimi burgers are fairly common around this time of year – McDonald’s Japan also featured one on its menu – but generally speaking, they usually just have a fried egg added to them. It’s the mochi I’m curious about here: would it not overwhelm everything else in the burger? 

Now, That’s Balance

Apparently not! While it’s a little tricky to find more in-depth reviews of this sandwich, I unearthed a couple of social media posts, both from this year and last, in praise of it. Apparently, the mochi adds a real heartiness to the burger that works, and Wendy’s doesn’t skimp on it, either. It also looks as though it’s not on the super-chewy side, and that you can get a decent bite through it. I get the sense that it would be similar to a bean patty, but a touch more glutinous, and with less of a spice-forward flavor. I doubt it’ll be available internationally any time soon, though.