Anytime I visit Tokyo, I cringe whenever I see a family of American tourists walking into a McDonalds. You’ve spent all that money and come all this way to experience another culture and yet you eat American food — and not even good American food. If you want burgers, eat at a Japanese chain like Freshness Burger or Moss Burger.
But the truth is, I’ve done the same thing. I tell myself that because I was living there and not just visiting, it was okay to escape the local cuisine sometimes in favor of something more familiar. And even though the quality is poor, it’s still comfort food. It’s what I grew up with. As a kid, eating at McDonalds was a treat. Or better yet, waiting for my father to bring home a steaming bag of hamburgers and french fries. Thick, icy cold shakes. Apple pies. It will always be an important part of my childhood.