Wendy’s First Kitchen - Shinjuku South Entrance — Restaurant in Tokyo

Yes, it's yet another fast food review—but Wendy's First Kitchen near Shinjuku South Exit absolutely delivers. Phenomenal burgers, some of the best fries in Japan, and consistent flavor elevate this beyond your typical grab-and-go. A few quirks like tight space and vape-friendly seating downstairs slightly mar the experience, but the quality of the food alone earns this spot a solid 5/5.

Full Review: Wendy’s First Kitchen – Shinjuku South Entrance ⭐ 5/5 – Fast food done right, again, and this time in the heart of Shinjuku.

Ah yes—another fast food review. You may roll your eyes, and frankly, I don’t blame you. After all, Tokyo is a culinary playground, a nonstop parade of culinary marvels from hole-in-the-wall ramen joints, to soulful mom-and-pop shops, and tucked-away food trucks with cult followings. So why am I back here, reviewing a Wendy’s?

Because Japan does fast food differently—and Wendy’s First Kitchen, especially at the Shinjuku South Entrance, is another glowing example of what happens when American comfort food gets the Japanese treatment of care, consistency, and culinary precision.

Let’s start with the food, the real reason you're here. The Baconator I ordered was phenomenally satisfying—juicy patties, melty cheese, crispy bacon, and a soft, well-toasted bun that held up through the very last bite. No over-grease, no limp lettuce disasters—just a well-executed burger with the heft and flavor to compete with any gourmet joint serving “premium” beef at double the price.

And then… the fries. I’ve said this before in my Roppongi review, and I’ll say it again: Wendy’s fries in Japan might just be the best I've ever had. No exaggeration. Piping hot, crispy without being over-fried, salted to precision, and best of all—they still taste like potato. The texture, balance, and bite are so on-point, I’d return just for them. Again, only Nim’s Pizza comes close for top-tier fries, and that’s a different genre entirely.

Now, let’s talk about the experience. This particular Wendy’s does come with a few caveats, none of which ruin the visit but are worth noting:

The ordering and pick-up area is, unfortunately, quite tight and cramped, a common flaw in central Tokyo branches. It gets the job done but lacks breathing room—especially during peak hours.

Seating was a bit of an adventure. The third floor was closed during our visit, which pushed us down to the B1 level. While we found space easily enough, we quickly noticed… vaping was allowed indoors. For a country that’s relatively strict about cigarette smoke in public dining areas, this came as a bit of a surprise. And frankly, not a pleasant one—breathing in chemically-sweet vape clouds while trying to enjoy your fries is not exactly a bonus flavor pairing.

That said, the staff were polite, the food was prepared fresh, and everything was served quickly and with care. The customer service, true to Japan’s standard, was impeccable—professional, courteous, and never rushed, even when the crowd built up.

Despite the few environmental issues, I walked away with the same thought I had at Roppongi’s branch: “This is how fast food should be.” Clean, consistent, and unapologetically satisfying. If you’re in Shinjuku and need a quick bite that won’t disappoint—or if you’re craving something familiar done exceptionally well—this Wendy’s is a safe and solid choice.

Verdict: Highly recommended. Just maybe grab a seat upstairs…...

It’s self ordering via machine, i choose English as the language. I ordered the avocado chicken burger with add on fries and drink. Cost me about jpy1.5k.

It’s a newly launched burger so I tried. Burger - normal but bbq sauce I think make it salty and with alittle avocado spread. That’s jpy720 without set. Burger isn’t hot at all. Like just put patty into burger that’s all. Fries - I use whatever doesn’t need me to topup jpy. It’s ok Drink - I pick sprite /7up as it’s Pepsi which I tasted in Tokyo was the most horrible Pepsi. So I pick sprite as safe choice.

The atmosphere petty relax. Some background music to block some customers chatting while dining.

Probably I won’t eat this again since the price is almost same as eating at a small scale restaurant. There is a lift as dining is 2nd and 3rd floor. So luckily I don’t have to climb stairs with my shopping bag on the narrow stairs. By the way need to pay for dripping suave. I didn’t see any chilli or tomato...

Mid cheese burger, both slices of cheese weren't melted. Asked them if they could cook it more, and they said the cheese doesn't melt. Clearly, other photos from other customers shows it does indeed melt. On the menu, the cheese is at least melted, both slices were just slapped on. Theres two more customers behind me. It wouldn't hurt if they can take 15-20secs to cook it more. Please do better in the future. I do not recommend dining here unless you need to charge your phone and plan on getting anything other than a...