There are many famous chain restaurants in Japan where you can enjoy the same delicious food no matter where you go in the country. The appeal of chain restaurants is that you can choose what you want to eat from a wide range of dishes at a reasonable price. For this reason, they are so popular that some people come to Japan just to visit famous chain restaurants.
In this article, we will introduce 6 famous chain restaurants that are popular with foreigners. Please read to the end and use this as a hint to enjoy Japanese food culture.
■Introducing 6 famous Japanese chain stores popular with foreigners
We will introduce 6 famous chain restaurants that we recommend in this book.
・Tenka Ippin (ramen)
・Marugame Seimen (udon)
・Yayoiken (set meals)
・Torikizoku (yakitori)
・Yoshinoya (gyudon)
・Sushiro (sushi)
We have also included detailed information on each restaurant’s particularities and how to order, so please find the famous chain restaurant you want to visit.
Enjoy the rich soup that is unique to Japan at “Tenka Ippin”
The ramen at Tenka Ippin is characterized by the soup, which the founder insisted on making by boiling chicken bones and over 10 types of vegetables for a whole day. The rich soup has a refreshing aftertaste that is addictive, and there are even Japanese people who go there every day.
There are also condiments such as mustard miso and mustard garlic on the table. You can add these to your ramen to find your favorite flavor.
There are many Tenka Ippin restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka, so you can easily drop in when you are sightseeing. Please call out to the staff to place your order.
All the menu items are 370 yen! If you want cheap and delicious yakitori, go to “Torikizoku”
Torikizoku is a Japanese-style pub that specializes in yakitori. All the menu items, from yakitori to drinks, snacks and rice dishes, are 370 yen including tax, so you can order with peace of mind. There are no cover charges, seating fees or late-night fees at Torikizoku, which are usually charged at Japanese pubs.
Because freshness is important for yakitori, at Torikizoku each skewer of domestically-produced chicken is grilled at each restaurant. The rice cooked in the pot and served in individual portions is also delicious. Also, at izakaya it is common to order several dishes and share them with everyone.
At Torikizoku, you place your order using a tablet while sitting at your table, so you can take your time and choose your menu at your own pace.
If you want to try Japan’s soul food, udon, try “Marugame Seimen”
The udon noodles at Marugame Seimen are smooth and chewy, and very filling. The noodles at Marugame Seimen are made by “noodle chefs” who are stationed at all of the company’s branches. The noodle chefs wear uniforms with a dark blue stripe, so be sure to look out for them.
At Marugame Seimen, the “bukkake udon” is very popular. Try eating it with a raw egg, a way of eating that is unique to Japan.
Marugame Seimen is a place you can drop in at any time during your sightseeing. Once you’re inside, please join the queue and order at the counter. The tempura and rice balls are also authentic-tasting, not just the udon.
Enjoy a set meal that is unique to Japan”Yayoiken”
Yayoiken is a chain restaurant where you can enjoy a set meal (teishoku) based on the traditional Japanese meal of one soup and three side dishes. It was established in 1886 and has a long history, and it is said that Katsu Kaishu, a Japanese samurai, visited the restaurant at that time.
At Yayoiken, they are particular about serving freshly-cooked items such as omelettes and grilled fish, even when the restaurant is busy. They also incorporate the food culture of various regions of Japan into their seasonal menu. This is one of the reasons why the restaurant is so popular, as you can enjoy meals from all over Japan while you are sightseeing in places like Tokyo.
At Yayoiken, you buy your meal ticket from the ticket machine near the entrance. You can ask the staff for a free refill of rice.
“Yoshinoya” is the place to go for delicious, cheap, quick gyudon
Gyudon was invented in Japan over 100 years ago. Yoshinoya is such a byword for gyudon that it is often referred to simply as “gyudon”. The food is prepared and served very quickly, and during the daytime on weekdays, many office workers come to the restaurant.
Yoshinoya’s gyudon is characterized by its simple sauce-marinated beef and onions, and the rice that has soaked up the sauce, and it can be eaten easily. Many foreigners are surprised by the tenderness of the meat and the way the flavor has soaked in.
At Yoshinoya, it is common to order from a staff member after taking a seat. However, since 2016, more stores have been increasing the number of stores where you order at the cash register and then carry your order to your seat yourself.
If you want to enjoy sushi in a casual setting, try “Sushiro”
Sushiro is a conveyor belt sushi chain started by sushi chefs in Osaka who wanted to make delicious sushi available to as many people as possible in a casual setting. The cost performance of conveyor belt sushi chains is good, and some foreign residents in Japan even go several times a week because it’s cheaper than buying sushi at the supermarket. The sushi chefs are real connoisseurs of the ingredients they use, and they are particular about everything from the rice and wasabi to the tea and soy sauce.
At Sushiro, you place your order using a touch panel once you have taken a seat. Most of the sushi is served on plates with two pieces on each plate, so please try a little of a variety of fish while controlling the amount you eat.
■Why famous Japanese chain stores are popular with foreigners
At famous Japanese chain restaurants, you can easily experience Japanese food culture. Only at famous chain restaurants can you enjoy the same flavors that local Japanese people eat on a regular basis.
Here we will explain in detail why famous Japanese chain restaurants are popular with foreigners.
The wide range of menu items makes choosing fun
Famous Japanese chain restaurants have a wide range of items on their main menu. This means you can eat a variety of dishes depending on your preferences or mood on the day. Furthermore, many restaurants offer seasonal menu items, so even if you visit many times you won’t get bored, which is another reason for their popularity.
Most tables are equipped with condiments and seasonings, so you can enjoy your own favorite toppings. Also, recently, there are more and more famous chain restaurants that allow you to order using a tablet, so even if you are not familiar with Japanese, you can order at your own pace while looking at the pictures and English explanations, so you can relax.
You can enjoy high-quality, reasonably-priced meals anywhere in the country
Another reason why famous chain restaurants are so popular is that you can enjoy high-quality, reasonably-priced meals anywhere in the country. There is very little difference in taste between branches of famous chain restaurants, so you can enjoy the same great taste wherever you go in Japan.
There were also many reviews saying that the ingredients used by famous chain restaurants were of good quality. You can feel the Japanese people’s diligence and their desire to have people eat delicious food cheaply and to their heart’s content.
■Summary
Famous Japanese chain restaurants are so popular that some people come to Japan just to visit them. The reason for this is that they have a wide range of menus to choose from, and you can enjoy eating high-quality meals at reasonable prices anywhere in the country.
Many famous chain restaurants not only offer low prices, but also serve food quickly, and they are constantly striving to improve the quality of their ingredients and to create flavors that will keep customers coming back for more. Enjoy Japanese food culture at your favorite chain restaurant!
【Q&A】
Q. Which chain restaurants are popular with Japanese people?
A. McDonald’s, Yoshinoya, Saizeriya, and Gast are popular with Japanese people. McDonald’s in particular is popular with people of all ages. Many people look forward to the seasonal menus that are unique to Japan.
Q. What time can you go into a Japanese chain restaurant?
A. It varies depending on the chain and the area. Many of the sushi restaurants and udon noodle shops introduced in this article are open from around 11:00 to 21:00. On the other hand, izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) like Torikizoku are open until around 1:00 in the morning, and gyudon (beef bowl) restaurants start serving from around 7:00 in the morning as part of their “morning service” and are open until around 24:00.
