Wendy's launches lobster and caviar burgers in Japan

To celebrate a new restaurant opening in Japan, Wendy's is adding a limited-time line of "premium" ocean themed food items to its menu.

Wendy's Japan is getting ready to open its second restaurant and to commemorate the occasion is adding two new burgers and a salad to its already established premium menu. According to Gawker, there will be three new meals making a debut on Wendy's menus in Japan, which include a Lobster and Caviar burger, Surf and Turf burger and an Ocean Premium Salad. The Lobster and Caviar Burger will feature Canadian lobster on the bun with the normal beef burger, along with a lobster salad, sprinkled with caviar. The Ocean Premium Salad contains lobster, caviar, tomatoes, red onions, avocado and lettuce. These high end menu items come as new additions to an already "fancy" menu. The menu already includes foie gras hamburgers, Iberian bacon burger and Porcini grilled chicken sandwich sandwiches. Brand Eating reports the "Ocean Premium" line burgers cost about "1280 yen or roughly $US 16.28", and the salad is priced at 1580 yen (US$ 20.10). To compare, a Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburger is reported to cost 400 yen ($5.09) in Japan. Wendy's is hoping to differentiate itself in the Japanese market by serving these premium offerings in its fast food options. The company left Japan in 2009 after a dispute with a local partner, however later decided to return. Over the past year Wendy's has been seeking market reentry with a new strategy, as NPR stated in Dec. 2011, "No dollar menu here. The upscale menu comes with upscale prices." And with the addition of the Ocean Premium line, its new fancy menu options keep coming. According to media sources, the second Wendy's establishment will open on Aug. 17.