TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- With Japan under fire for plans to expand its whaling program, a fast food chain is offering a new product aimed at using up stocks from past hunts -- whale burger.

The 380 yen ($3.50) slice of fried minke whale in a bun went on sale on Thursday at Lucky Pierrot, a restaurant chain in the port city of Hakodate on Japan's northern-most island of Hokkaido.

"The taste and texture are somewhere between beef and fish," said chain manager Miku Oh.

"People in Hakodate have a long history of eating whale, so customers are looking forward to trying it."...