I had breakfast at Matsuya and Sukiya, so today I tried Yoshinoya for a change. I was planning to compare breakfast options at different gyudon (beef bowl) chain restaurants, but Yoshinoya's breakfast menu was natto set, and I don't like natto, so unfortunately, I had to give up on that. Instead, I ordered the limited-time oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl) for 547 yen. I used a LINE coupon for a 50 yen discount, so it cost me 497 yen. I received my order in the store and sat down. The egg was half-cooked and runny. It was topped with green onions, not Mitsuba. The chicken was tender and didn't have any unpleasant smell. It was a delicious meal. I tried something other than gyudon for the first time at Yoshinoya. Next time, I'll go back to having gyudon.

While on the move, I got hungry so I stopped by Yoshinoya at Kitasenju Station. Before entering the store, you have to order and pay at the window counter. It's written outside, but if you're not careful, you might not notice it at first. I ordered a large beef bowl with extra sauce. It was past 2 pm, so there weren't many customers inside. I was called up right away after entering the store and received my beef bowl. I sat down, but as expected in this type of restaurant, the tables were dirty. There were no dusters to wipe the tables, which was a bit disappointing. Also, there were dishes left behind by the previous customers. During slow times, it would be nice if the staff checked the store a bit more. The beef bowl itself was delicious, but finding these little things that bother you can take away from the enjoyment. Thank you for the meal.

A store located inside the Tobu Kita-Senju Station ticket gate. It was my first time visiting. I appreciate that they are open until close to midnight. The store has seating, but it's a bit small overall. On Friday around 10pm, there were few staff members and it seemed quite busy. On this day, I had the usual beef bowl with no broth.

I have used this restaurant for breakfast twice recently when transferring at Kita-Senju Station. The first time, I had the Morning Gyudon Set with a large portion of beef bowl, less rice, and a small salad. The second time, I had the Grilled Fish and Gyudon Set, which came with grilled salmon, salad, miso soup, and a small portion of beef. The price was 635 yen including tax. The taste was consistently good at Yoshinoya, and I was satisfied with my breakfast. Since it's located inside the station, I could easily hop on the subway to my destination. Thank you for the meal!

I visited Yoshinoya in the morning wanting to have a quick breakfast. I was considering places like Tenya, Marugame Seimen, Fuji Soba, Matsuya, and Komoro Soba, but ended up choosing Yoshinoya. I ordered a regular beef bowl for 448 yen and added an egg for 85 yen at the outside cashier. As soon as I entered the store, my order was ready! The beef and rice were piled up so high that I couldn't see the rice underneath, and the onions were generously topped with green onions. The taste was delicious. Yoshinoya is my favorite among the beef bowl chain restaurants. I sprinkled some red pickled ginger and shichimi pepper, and finished the meal in no time. The total cost was over 500 yen. I realized once again that prices have gone up.

Sometimes I crave for food like: Rāmen, house-style rāmen, Jiro-style (inspired), standing soba at the station... and Gyudon~♪ Lately, I've been wanting to try something different, which is to eat Gyudon in Sukiyaki style by dipping it in beaten eggs. Of course, enjoying it with a beer~♪ Recently, I've been watching YouTube and reviews, and I couldn't resist trying it out (laughs). Gyudon (regular size) 547 yen, egg 74 yen, draft beer (medium size) 387 yen, 30% off for individual stores -117 yen, total 891 yen. I don't know why the draft beer was 30% off, but lucky me! However, it was a bit disappointing that they didn't have bottled beer... The shop uses a system where even for dine-in, you order and pay at the window outside, then wait at the pick-up counter inside with a printed number slip. When I received my order, there was another slightly disappointing moment... They served Malt's beer!? This wasn't my preference, so I felt a bit down (tears). The draft beer was also small, and the Gyudon didn't look very large. Putting that aside, let's dig in! First, I ate the Gyudon without dipping or adding anything, and washed it down with beer. "Delicious, Gyudon from Yoshinoya is the best after all." I've been favoring Matsuya over Yoshinoya recently, but deep down, I'm a Yoshinoya fan (laughs). After a couple of bites with shichimi and red pickled ginger, my beer ran out. Now, it's time to try eating Gyudon in Sukiyaki style. I beat the egg well, dip the Gyudon in it, and... "Oh, this is good indeed!" Rather than pouring the beaten egg over the Gyudon, feeling the taste of the egg directly enhances the deliciousness. It's like enjoying a touch of luxury Sukiyaki style while eating, making it more enjoyable to take a bite of the rice with the egg. Towards the end, with only rice left in the bowl, but also some beaten egg remaining, I add a bit of red pickled ginger and sprinkle some shichimi. It feels like falling into the illusion of eating two dishes? Silly thoughts aside, I'm completely satisfied with this, and I think this way of enjoying it is great! I might continue this way of enjoying it when I visit Yoshinoya during train rides for a while (laughs).

I entered Yoshinoya at Kita-Senju Station without realizing I hadn't eaten my final dish yet. I had planned to have noodles for my final dish, but I ended up at Yoshinoya because I wanted to drink a little more. I was worried that this store inside the station concourse might not sell alcohol, but I was able to confirm that they do before entering. I ordered a draft beer for 387 yen and a regular beef bowl for 349 yen at the register before entering the store. I enjoyed half of the beef bowl as a snack with my beer, and then I put the remaining half on a small bowl of rice to finish with a mini beef bowl. I appreciated that the draft beer was not served in a slim glass. The beef bowl was quite salty, but it tasted just right when eaten with rice. However, if eaten alone, it might be too salty. Because of this, I ended up drinking more beer than I had planned and had to order an additional glass of beer for 204 yen. I also added a light egg for 74 yen and additional rice for 162 yen. It was a bit of a hassle to go out of the store to pay at the register, so I made sure not to make any more additional orders. I finished my meal by putting the remaining beef bowl on top of the rice for a satisfying end. In this particular store, it's best not to make additional orders because it can be a hassle.

※※Visit on April 4, 2022※※ - Negi-Tama Gyudon (extra large, extra sauce) 1,017 yen - Miso soup 74 yen Located within Kita-Senju Station on the Tobu Skytree Line (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Hanzomon Line), and Chiyoda Line, EQUiA Kita-Senju operated by Tobu Railway has 41 stores across 3 floors. Without leaving the ticket gates, you can shop and dine, and I decided to have a meal at the Yoshinoya EQUiA Kita-Senju store on the 2nd floor near the central ticket gate. Yoshinoya is operated by Yoshinoya Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, established on December 26, 2013) and the EQUiA Kita-Senju store has a stylish black-based background with white text. The logo and lines are in red, creating a fashionable atmosphere. The store is open from 7:00 to 23:00, and there is a combined order counter for eat-in and take-out for transferring customers outside the store. The eat-in space has 28 seats. The clean interior with a white theme ensures that customers do not have to face each other at the counter seats. This time, I ordered the extra large Negi-Tama Gyudon with miso soup. Self-service is available for receiving, water refilling, and returning dishes. The negi and egg are served separately on small plates. The crispy texture of the negi, the spiciness (including shichimi togarashi), the richness of the yolk, and the acidity of the pickled ginger blend well with the sweet simmered meat. I requested extra sauce, but the shop did not pour extra sauce on the dish. By the way, I used a tool to separate the yolk and egg white, with the yolk going on the gyudon, but what do you do with the egg white? I added it to the miso soup this time, but I would appreciate it if you could share your preferred way of using it in the comments.

I tried the bento box that could only be eaten at a shop inside the National Diet Building. The price exceeds 1400 yen including tax. It's not bad by any means, but for this price, it's mediocre. A regular beef bowl is cheap and tasty enough to be worth it, so changing the route suddenly doesn't work. In conclusion, I would rather add 450 yen and go for the Asakusa Imahan's "Hyakunen Gyudon" during lunchtime (1870 yen including tax). If Yoshinoya had made it more affordable with their mass production system, it would have been better. As it is now, Imahan's beef bowl surpasses Yoshinoya's beyond the price difference. Even though they taste the same, if Yoshinoya is cheaper, it's impressive! However, I thought it would be something I wouldn't do again in my lifetime after having the 1000 yen beef bowl at the luxurious Yoshinoya in Akasaka around 1988. [Reference] Using shoulder loin of black wagyu and carefully selected black wagyu of grade 3 or higher to make it the most delicious. Each piece of black wagyu has thickness, and by browning the surface, it enhances the natural aroma of black wagyu fat. The special sauce for black wagyu is carefully seasoned to not be overpowered by the black wagyu fat, with a strong flavor yet refreshing aftertaste, incorporating ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and more. (by Yoshinoya)

Gyudon atsu no omori (extra-large beef bowl) at Yoshinoya @ Kitasenju on July 29, 2021 (Thu) Just in time for lunch during a transfer, I stopped by Yoshinoya inside the Ekimachi Kitasenju at Tobu Line Kitasenju Station for the first time in 3 years. I ordered and paid for a Gyudon atsu no omori, raw egg, and miso soup set for a total of 744 yen, and then picked up my order and found a vacant seat inside the restaurant. Pouring the raw egg over the extra-large beef bowl, it looked like this. Yes, it was delicious. This is definitely the best. Thank you for the meal. (^^) You can check out my previous visit here!

I wrote a disappointing review last time. However, it's not a chain that I dislike. I wanted to create an opportunity to make up for it somehow. Oh, I'm so hungry. It's been 10 hours since I had breakfast at 4 o'clock. After writing so much about not going again, why am I eagerly visiting this place? Well, it's convenient, that's why! The Negi-Shio Gyu-Kalbi set meal is 657 yen (excluding tax) although it looks like a good deal on the menu. But you get salad and miso soup included, even though it's Yoshinoya! And you can get a large rice portion for free! This trend of late-night dining is becoming more common, right? This late meal means I won't need dinner! The dispenser pack makes it less messy, which is convenient. Salad is essential for an old man like me who considers nutritional balance! Now, onto the meat! There's plenty of green onions, but it's not bad. Maybe because it's salted kalbi? At this price, it's a good option for a summer menu. Will I come back again? Thank you for the meal.

Let's have dinner here. I don't have the energy to cook at home. It's the usual Ekimachi Kitasenju. Oh, a new menu? It's pay-first here. Beef Black Curry (regular) for 598 yen. Compare it to the first picture. What's different? There's no meat on it. Is this just regular black curry? Did it melt from being stewed too long? That can't be right! But did it get cheaper if you showed your T-Card for the salad set? Considering nutritional balance, vegetables are necessary. I wanted to eat meat though. Meat, meat! Give me meat! And with that, thank you for the meal. There won't be a next time.

What is dangerous? You'll understand if you read it. When you're short on time, Yoshinoya is handy. One thing that sets it apart from other restaurants is the pre-payment system. Once you pay and sit at the counter, your order arrives in less than a minute! It's super fast! Having partitions is really nice. However, I'm always afraid of touching the handrails or straps even on trains, so I hesitated to touch them here haha. The Gyudon Beef Curry costs 598 yen (excluding tax). I received the curry, but the tax exclusion is not appreciated haha. The curry is like a mix of Gyudon and curry rice. It's not as good as Matsuya, but Yoshinoya did a pretty good job. However, retort curry is tastier haha. Well, that's fast food for you. So, I tried to eat it quickly. But, something terrifying happened (sweat). The beef in the Gyudon is hard to cut. In other words, it's hard to chew, so there's a risk of curry splattering on your shirt! It's unnecessarily elastic too haha. It's more dangerous than curry udon! They can't afford to provide aprons. Don't rush when eating it! The taste is okay. Bonus: Food-related quirks. Whenever food splatters, it always seems to land on the crotch of your pants, why is that? Handwashing quirks. Why does the sensor faucet always splash right on the crotch of your pants when you least expect it? Why, why, why, why! Be careful with hand soap too haha. That's all, thank you. Bon appétit. Haha, just random thoughts.

I bought a takeout set called "Pokemori Set" for 547 yen at a place inside Kita-Senju Station, in response to the question "What do you want to eat on the way back?". The person wanted the "Pokemori Set", so I bought it and brought it back home, filling the train with the smell of beef bowl (^_^;) Well, what he actually wanted was not a beef bowl, but a Pokemon figure. The set included a drink, a pocket-sized beef bowl, and the long-awaited figure for 547 yen. Whether it's expensive or cheap... I think it was good, as my child was overjoyed with the figure of Rhydon that came with it (^^) Ignoring the pricing, I think it was a good purchase (^^)

I had a regular beef bowl at Yoshinoya in Kita-Senju Station, followed by all-you-can-drink and all-you-can-eat. After that, I went to another all-you-can-eat restaurant for a final meal and drinks. I should have just had my final meal at the first restaurant, which also served Chinese food and noodles. Changing locations just led me to eat more. It's like when you climb a ladder, you end up drinking more. Eating a beef bowl as a final meal makes it taste better than having it for lunch. I must be losing my mind, but it happens every time.

In January, before the big fuss about COVID-19, I had a meal in Kita-Senju while transferring trains. I decided to eat quickly here because there was a slightly risky amount of time before going outside the ticket gate. - Spicy Chicken Curry: The strong spiciness that hits you right after you take a bite is refreshing, and the rice went down easily. The dish only had chicken coated in curry, and the portion of rice was a bit small for the price. I think adding some extra ingredients like a half-boiled egg or okra would make a better impression. (2020-01)

Today, I visited the Yoshinoya Ekimae Kitasenju store at Kitasenju Station. As usual, I ordered a small beef bowl for 330 yen and an egg for 71 yen. Is it considered wrong to eat beef bowl with a spoon at Yoshinoya? Maybe I should have ordered pickles for gut health. Thank you for the meal.

Yoshinoya Ekimae Kita-Senju Store Located in the concourse of Kita-Senju Station on the Tobu Line, this restaurant opened on October 1, 2018 (Monday). Initially, it did not attract as many customers, but after a year, it has become quite popular and convenient, with a good turnover of customers. The seating arrangement and self-service system seem to play a role in this. Spicy Chicken Curry - Regular size: 511 yen (excluding tax) You pay at the counter outside, and when your dish is ready, you are called by number. When this menu item was introduced, it was seen as a response to Matsuya, but I finally tried it a few months later. The chicken on top with curry-like sauce does not blend well with the curry, and there is no clear reason to choose this dish. Since it's Yoshinoya, it might be better to go for the beef bowl with a little extra for the same price. The crowds may have been influenced by the campaign to accept electronic money.

EQUiA (Ekia) Kitasenju, located near the central ticket gate of Kita-senju Station on the Tobu Line, is a commercial facility within the station. It opened on December 14, 2017, as part of the station's renovation. The theme of "A step above in quality, Kitasenju Life" was chosen to take advantage of the characteristics of the area around Kita-senju Station, which boasts one of the highest passenger traffic volumes in the country and is experiencing redevelopment and an influx of young people. The facility focuses on attracting stores with high popularity and appeal. Some of the highlights include Los Angeles-style hot dogs, specialty coffee at Gram's Cafe, KINOKUNIYA entrée grocery shop where you can enjoy the quality of Kinokuniya supermarket in a casual setting, and a new concept from the popular dessert shop "Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory" called Cow Cow Kitchen, offering freshly made sweets, making its debut along the train line. On the second floor inside the ticket gate, there is a Yoshinoya Ekia Kitasenju store, a popular beef bowl chain. The store has a slightly stylish feel inside the ticket gate, with counter seats visible to station users on the left side of the sales counter, and glass-separated seats in the back. Visiting around 8 pm on weekends, there were no previous customers at the transparent counter seats. It may take a bit of courage to use this space, so brave souls are encouraged to give it a try. After ordering and paying at the counter, you are instructed to "please wait at your seat." Once seated, you'll find regular power outlets and USB charging ports right in front of you. Beef bowls and USB, quite an innovative combination. After about 2 minutes, I was called from a small window facing the seating area to pick up my "beef bowl set meal and cold sake." If you sit too far back, you may not hear, so it may be safer to stay closer to the sales counter until you receive your meal. Beef bowl set meal (500 yen) - A set meal featuring "gyudon" (beef bowl) that Yoshinoya has been serving alongside since its founding. It includes a regular-sized beef bowl, rice, egg, and miso soup for 500 yen, which is 90 yen cheaper than ordering each item separately. Free rice refills are available from 3 pm to midnight. Cold sake (340 yen) - A locally brewed sake from Kashiwatsuru Shuzo in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. It is crisp and refreshing with a keen chill. A great value for a 180ml serving.

In Kita-Senju, a new Yoshinoya restaurant has opened in the second floor dining area of the Tobu Line station. It operates on a pre-payment system where you order and pay before receiving your food. I ordered a regular beef bowl with a raw egg and miso soup, but they didn't have pork on the menu so I couldn't get the miso soup. The beef bowl cost 380 yen and the raw egg was an additional 60 yen. The restaurant was empty so I didn't have to wait long for my food. The beef bowl was served with lukewarm rice and it felt like a small portion. The taste was also not as good as other Yoshinoya locations I have been to recently.