Yoshinoya – Manger au Japon

Yoshinoya - THE FASTEST GYUDON IN JAPAN

🍚 Introduction to the chain

Yoshinoya (吉野家) is one of Japan’s oldest and most popular gyu-don (beef rice bowl) chains. Founded in 1899, it’s known for its simple, fast, cheap and tasty dishes. It’s a favorite among busy employees and travelers alike.

Nationwide presence

With over 1,000 restaurants across Japan, Yoshinoya is easy to find in all major cities, near train stations, in business districts, shopping malls and even in some airports.

What can we eat?

The signature dish is gyudon: thinly sliced beef simmered with onions in a sweet and sour sauce, served over a bowl of hot rice. You can add eggs or cheese, or choose other dishes such as curry, pork or miso soup formulas.

Order from Yoshinoya

Customers order by filling in a card or via a tablet, depending on location. You can cook ingredients yourself on a small table-side grill, which adds an interactive touch to the experience, otherwise restaurant staff usually drop by regularly to take care of it. The atmosphere is festive, especially in the evening.

What are gyudon?

Gyudon (literally “beef bowl”) is a popular Japanese dish consisting of thinly sliced beef and onions simmered in a sweet and sour sauce made from soy sauce, mirin and sugar, then served over a bowl of hot white rice.

It’s a quick, tasty and inexpensive meal, often served in chain restaurants such as Yoshinoya or Sukiya. It can sometimes be accompanied by a raw or poached egg, pickled ginger or other toppings.

What are donburi (丼もの)?

Donburi (丼もの) are Japanese dishes consisting of white rice served in a large bowl, on which various fillings are arranged. Depending on the variety, it can be stewed beef (gyudon), tempura (tendon), chicken with egg (oyakodon), etc. It’s a simple, complete and popular meal in Japan.

What are teishoku (定食)?

A teishoku (定食) is a complete Japanese meal, usually consisting of a main course (such as grilled fish or breaded pork), accompanied by rice, soup (often miso soup), small side dishes (such as cooked vegetables) and condiments (such as tsukemono, pickled vegetables). It’s a balanced menu, very common in traditional Japanese restaurants.

Personal experience

We went to eat at the restaurant located at the Gojo-Karasuma crossroads on a weekday in June, at around 1pm. The interior of the restaurant isn’t very large, but as it wasn’t full, the staff quickly led us to a table. Inside the restaurant, there was a square-shaped counter in the center, surrounded by individual seats, as well as a few tables along the walls near the crossroads. The clientele inside the restaurant was made up half of singles and half of groups of several people.

A tablet is installed on each table, enabling orders to be placed directly from it. The menu displayed on the tablet can be switched to English, and each dish is accompanied by a photo, so that even foreigners can order with complete peace of mind. The menu is very varied: in addition to the classic gyudon (rice bowl with beef), there are also dishes such as butadon (pork on rice), gyukarubi-don (Korean-style grilled beef on rice), bowls with fried chicken (karaage-don), as well as teishoku-type menus (express formula with side dishes) or grilled eel (unagi-don). There’s something for every taste. There’s also a children’s menu with juice and a toy.

For classic dishes like gyudon, you can customize the amount of rice (more or less) and sauce (more or less) in advance, according to your preferences. If you’re looking for a simple, affordable meal, this could be an interesting option. Note that Yoshinoya also offers a Japanese-style breakfast (with rice, miso soup, grilled fish, etc.). So it’s a recommended option for those wishing to try a Japanese breakfast rather than bread or coffee.

Actual cost

Gyudon (medium size): ¥498
Draft beer (large mug): ¥442×2
Set of miso soup and pickled vegetables (oshinko): ¥217
Fresh vegetable salad: ¥162
Fried chicken donburi with tartar sauce (medium size): ¥729

Total: ¥12,342 ≈ $76.65
(based on an exchange rate of 1 USD = 161 yen)

Basic information

Location: all over Japan, railway stations, urban centers
Average price: ¥500 – ¥1,300
Opening hours: often 24 hours a day or late into the night
Recommended for: quick meals, small budgets, travellers in a hurry
Official website: https://www.yoshinoya.com/