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The culinary landscape has transformed significantly in the past century, witnessing a surge in the emergence of numerous fast-food chains. While fast food is commonly perceived as less healthy, that's not always the case. As our lives become increasingly hectic with age, the appeal of fast food lies in its convenience and quick service. Let's now explore the fast-food scene in Japan.
Fast food in Japan holds a distinctive position, reaching a level of excellence. Surprisingly, even gas stations are renowned for offering convenient and freshly prepared food options! Whether you prefer a sit-down experience or are simply satisfying a specific craving, we've got your needs covered. Let's delve into the world of Japanese fast-food chains.
They are everywhere in Japan, and their menus are usually relatively cheap! And don’t underestimate the quality of those foods, it’s cheap but still delicious which makes it the best way to save money during the trip. Here is our list of popular fast food restaurant chains in Japan!
Gyudon - Beef bowl
Gyudon - Beef bowl
Gyudon, a quintessential Japanese soul food, harmonizes the delectable blend of sweet and spicy stewed beef atop a bed of rice. Restaurants present a spectrum of gyudon variations, ranging from the simple and classic to the distinctive and seasonal offerings. Engaging in friendly competition, three major gyudon chains vie for supremacy in taste and menu uniqueness. Additionally, these chain restaurants provide convenient takeout options.
Yoshinoya stands as a worldwide gyūdon chain, extending its reach beyond Japan to global locations. Famed for its flagship product, gyūdon, Yoshinoya maintains a consistent flavor profile, unwaveringly dedicated to delivering the same delectable taste. Complementing its renowned gyudon, Yoshinoya offers equally crowd-pleasing options like butadon (pork bowl) and beef kalbi bowls (beef rib bowl).
Sukiya is a gyudon restaurant chain found nationwide, holding the title of the largest number of gyudon chain restaurants in Japan. Sukiya's standard gyudon is renowned for its delectable taste and affordable pricing, presenting various sizes from mini to extra-large. This popular system allows you to pick your preferred size, enhancing the dining experience.
Matsuya stands out as one of the renowned gyudon chain restaurants in Japan. The signature menu item, "Gyumeshi," boasts a rich, sweet flavor that proves irresistible once you take the first bite. Beyond gyudon, the restaurant features a diverse menu including curry, udon, and limited-time set meals.
Japanese Curry
Japanese Curry
Japanese curry, typically paired with rice, boasts a flavor distinct from its Indian counterpart, rendering it almost akin to an entirely different culinary experience. Originating in India, the birthplace of curry and rice, it found its way to Great Britain before being introduced to Japan by British individuals during the Meiji period. Today, it consistently holds a place at the pinnacle of Japanese favorites, securing its spot as a beloved and enduring dish.
CoCo Ichibanya, affectionately dubbed "Coco Ichi," is a renowned Japanese curry chain that has extended its reach beyond Japan to countries like the U.S., the U.K., and China. What sets CoCo Ichi apart is its unique advantage — customers can tailor their curry experience by customizing spice levels, quantity, toppings, and even the type of roux. With such flexibility, finding a curry to suit your preferences is a delightful guarantee at Coco Ichi.
Go Go Curry is a renowned curry chain with a predominant presence in Ishikawa Prefecture and Tokyo. The attention-grabbing gorilla logo featured both outside and inside their establishments adds to its distinctive charm. Go Go Curry is celebrated for its unique Kanazawa Curry, characterized by a dark, thick roux that imparts a rich and flavorful profile. The standout on their menu is the signature dish, Loin Cutlet Curry, a hearty and delicious serving of curry and rice topped with a substantial loin cutlet.
Hamburger
Hamburger
Hamburgers, a quintessential American fast food, gained immense popularity in Japan since the arrival of McDonald’s in 1971. McDonald's, along with other American chain restaurants, has established a strong presence and is widely enjoyed by the local populace. In addition to embracing international chains, Japan has also cultivated its own unique hamburger chains over the years.
Freshness Burger, a high-quality hamburger chain predominantly found in the Kanto area, sets itself apart with a slightly higher menu price that resonates well with customers. The key to its popularity lies in the commitment to using the freshest ingredients for their burgers. Their classic burger, a staple and crowd-favorite, boasts a satisfying combination of a juicy meat patty, crisp pieces of fresh lettuce, and a slice of tomato.
Mos Burger, an originated-in-Japan hamburger chain, is renowned for its signature offering, the Mos Burger. This classic hamburger strikes the perfect balance with a thick slice of tomato, a special meat sauce, and a juicy meat patty. Enjoyed over an extended period, Mos Burger has become a timeless favorite, celebrated for its unwavering and delicious consistency. Adding to the allure, the menu features over 20 sauces, spanning from traditional to exotic and specialty options.
First Kitchen, a restaurant chain, offers a diverse menu featuring a range of American dishes, including burgers, fries, pasta, pizza, and fried chicken. Notably, First Kitchen has partnered with the American fast-food chain Wendy's, providing a combined dining experience that is certainly worth exploring!
Sushi
Sushi
Sushi stands as a quintessential representation of Japanese cuisine, embodying simplicity with its combination of fresh seafood and vinegared rice. Among the popular choices are kaiten sushi, conveyor belt sushi restaurants, where you can relish 2 pieces of sushi on a plate for only 100 yen (~$1). These kaiten sushi chains, in addition to a delightful array of seafood, offer a diverse selection of unique sushi options, including variations with meat.
For a delightful sushi experience at an affordable price, Sushiro is the ideal destination. With most items on the menu priced at less than 150 yen, you can indulge in delicious options like tuna, salmon, and shrimp for around 100 yen per plate. Beyond sushi, popular side dishes such as ramen, karaage, and desserts are also available. Sushiro, known for its conveyor belt dining, has expanded its offerings with takeout-only shops throughout Japan.
Kura-sushi has recently become a sensation in Japan, captivating audiences with its commitment to providing safe and delicious sushi. Notably, Kura-sushi stands out by avoiding major additives like chemical seasoning, artificial sweeteners, synthetic color, or artificial preservatives in their extensive array of 200 seasonings used in their restaurants, ranging from sushi ingredients to soy sauce.
Adding a touch of whimsy, one of the most distinctive features of Kura-sushi is the gachapon game that offers a chance to win toys. After enjoying five plates of sushi, you can place them in a slot for an opportunity to play the game. If luck is on your side and you win, a delightful small toy awaits!
Gyoza
Gyoza
Gyoza (餃子, gyōza) are dumplings featuring a filling of ground meat and vegetables encased in a thin dough. Also recognized as pot stickers, gyoza originated in China and have gained immense popularity in Japan. The traditional gyoza filling typically includes ground pork, nira chives, green onion, cabbage, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil. However, creative gyoza shops have innovated with a variety of other imaginative fillings.
Japanese restaurant chain renowned for its gyōza and other offerings from Japanese Chinese cuisine, boasts an extensive presence with over 700 restaurants in Japan. These establishments are either owned and operated by the parent company or operated as franchises by independent owners. Each Ohsho restaurant, regardless of ownership, provides the standardized Ohsho Grand Menu, thoughtfully illustrated with photographs of all the dishes. Additionally, each location crafts individually curated set menus tailored to its unique offerings and character.
Bento boxes
Bento boxes
A bento (弁当, bentō) is a Japanese-style single-portion take-out or home-packed meal, typically enjoyed for lunch. Beyond Japan, this culinary concept is widespread in other East and Southeast Asian cuisines, notably in Chinese, Korean, Singaporean, Taiwanese, and more, owing to the prevalence of rice as a staple in the region. The term "bento" is derived from the Chinese term "biandang" (便當, pinyin: biàndāng), signifying "convenient" or "convenience."
Hotto Motto is a takeaway bento chain operated by Plenus under the concept of offering to a wide population freshly made, hot, boxed meals that are delicious, comforting, reassuring and prepared with care. "Hotto" has the double meaning of "hot" and "hotto-suru" (to feel relieved). Our symbol mark features a shiny grain of rice, which embodies Hotto Motto's commitment, philosophy and pride in the rice it serves. The brand's key colors represent healthy and active daily living, the warmth of freshly prepared hot food, and the warmth of human hearts. The operation of our Hotto Motto shops nationwide is driven by a passion for the pursuit of enjoyable food.
Don-Buri
Don-Buri
In Japan, besides Gyūdon, there are numerous rice-bowl dishes collectively known as donburi. The flavor profiles of these dishes vary, determined by the diverse ingredients generously poured over the steaming hot rice.
A bowl of tempura served on hot rice is known as "tendon." Specialty restaurants often charge over 1,500 yen for this dish. However, at Tenya, one of Japan's premier tendon chain restaurants, you can savor the delightful combination of crispy battered tempura and hot rice for around 500 yen. Additionally, the option for takeout is available, allowing you to enjoy this harmony wherever you please.
Nakau, among the most beloved donburi chain restaurants, consistently delights customers with its diverse selection. The standout menu item at Nakau is the oyako-don, a rice bowl featuring a topping of cooked chicken and egg (oyako signifies a parent and child in Japanese). While Nakau is renowned for its oyakodon, it doesn't stop there, offering a range of other delectable options like Katsu-don (a cutlet rice bowl), Curry, and Kaisen-don (sushi bowl).
Udon and Soba
Udon and Soba
Soba consists of buckwheat noodles crafted by grinding buckwheat seeds into a powder, kneading it with flour and water, and then boiling the mixture. On the other hand, udon features thick noodles made with flour. Both varieties are highly popular in Japan, often enjoyed with hot dashi soup stock or iced water. Here are some of the best chain restaurants in Japan to relish soba or udon.
Hanamaru Udon, a prominent udon chain, originated from Kagawa Hanamaru Udon in Kagawa Prefecture, renowned as "the Kingdom of Udon." Adopting a self-service style, the chain effectively maintains affordable prices. Despite the economical pricing, Hanamaru Udon remains committed to delivering an authentic taste, achieved through meticulous ingredient selection and a genuine noodle dough kneading process.
Fuji Soba, a soba chain restaurant strategically situated in numerous train stations across Japan, adopts a standing concept, although many establishments provide seating options for a more relaxed dining experience. This setup caters well to the fast-paced lifestyle of busy business individuals, ensuring a swift turnover. Remarkably, the standard menu items are affordably priced, typically around 300 yen, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a quick and budget-friendly meal.
Much like Hanamaru Udon, Marugame Seimen stands as a nationwide udon chain, presenting delightful udon through a self-service system. A distinctive aspect of Marugame Seimen is the careful in-store preparation of their noodles, ensuring the enjoyment of fresh udon at any given time. Among their signature offerings, "Kama-age Udon" takes the spotlight—a hot udon served in a wooden vat (normal size) for 290 yen. Opting for tempura as an additional topping comes highly recommended.
Family restaurants
Family restaurants
Family-friendly restaurants catering to children often feature diverse and reasonably priced kids' menus. The ambiance in these establishments tends to resemble that of an American diner, offering a broad spectrum of cuisine options ranging from Italian to Japanese.
Saizeriya stands out as a highly popular chain of family restaurants in Japan, known for offering affordable yet decent Italian cuisine. The menu features budget-friendly options, with pizzas priced between 400 to 500 yen and pasta ranging from 400 to 700 yen. This affordability makes it a favored choice not only among families but also among students and young individuals.
Summary
Summary
Every fast-food place has its own special things that make people like it. Some places give discounts to help you save money. And if you want to eat at home instead of the restaurant, many places let you take the food with you. In Japan, there are lots of fast-food options that are not expensive and some are even good for you. Which one do you want to try the most?
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