Battle of black buns: Burger King vs. McDonald’s in Japan

Ikasumi squid ink colors lots of foods long time in Japan

A McDonald’s double cheeseburger that has black buns, and is topped with fried onions, yellow chipotle sauce and yellow cheddar cheese will go on sale at all McDonald’s Japan stores October 8. The special "Ikasumi Burger", colored black with squid ink, is available now at 3 McDonald’s outlets in Tokyo. The contrasting yellow ingredients on a black bun is intended to be a Halloween color scheme.

McDonald’s is also offering its Chicken Fileo on a white bun topped with Camembert sauce.

Mcdonald’s advertising suggests the white burger is a ghost and the black burger represents a black cat or a witch. Both items sell for JPY 370.

Burger King in Japan began selling an all-black "Kuro burger" in early September. The Kuro Diamond Whopper sells for JPY 690, and the Kuro Pearl for JPY 480.

A variety of ika sumi foods can be found at some stores, restaurants and bakeries in Japan. Many recipes for ink-inspired foods are available online.

Ika sumi boom in 2004

During the 2004 ika sumi fad, foods dyed with squid ink included ramen, rice, pasta, yaki soba noodles, sausage, gyoza chinese dumplings, octopus balls, jumbo garlic bread, donuts, gelato, bagels, curry bread, salsa, steamed Chinese buns, cheese, soup, cake, cookies, ice cream, potato chips, salt and pretzels.

Possible new squid ink foods coming soon in Japan

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