I was extremely busy, so I quickly ate at the Yoshinoya along the Kandai Highway and headed to my next job. The Toyotama Minami store is the Yoshinoya with a black sign that has table seats. In recent years, Yoshinoya doesn't seem that delicious, but I still can't stay away from their beef bowl. It's like the relationship between a husband who is abusive and his wife that you see in movies, haha. I almost always order the regular size beef bowl with an egg. This time, I also got miso soup. I'll ask for extra shichimi pepper and pickled ginger. Then, I'll pour beaten raw egg over it to complete the set. Oh no, Yoshinoya beef bowl is still good. Not that great, but good.

Morning. In other words, the morning beef set. Accidentally ordered the large portion haha. Changed the clam soup for ¥829. It's almost the same price as a special large set at Donburi Taro... I don't go there often so I'm splurging a bit, but I can't resist experiencing the synergy with the clam soup.

I received a shareholder benefit voucher from Yoshinoya Holdings, so I decided to visit this place that I can easily drive to. I parked my car in the parking lot and entered the store to find a bright ordering counter similar to fast food chains like McDonald's or KFC on the right side. The seating mainly consists of tables with a few counter seats, which was quite different from the Yoshinoya I knew, where there were only U-shaped counter seats. You can help yourself to tea, chopsticks, pickled ginger, etc. from the self-service counter. On this day, I ordered the following (all prices include tax): ・Karaage Gyudon (regular size/635 yen) ・Salad set (195 yen) A combination of karaage and beef bowl♡ I had seen on TV that Yoshinoya's karaage was delicious and had been curious about it. There are limited stores that offer karaage, and the Nakano Kitaguchi store, where I often get takeout, doesn't have it, so I finally got to try the karaage♪ I wanted miso soup, so I added the salad set, but the Karaage Gyudon also came with fresh vegetables. Personally, I don't need the grass, so I would prefer more karaage or beef bowl instead. I could choose between sesame or soy sauce dressing. The beef bowl was consistently delicious♡ Yoshinoya is definitely better than Matsuya. The karaage was... not bad, but not particularly special either. On the positive side, it was crispy and light. On the negative side, it was a bit tough. I still prefer the karaage from Karaage Koshi no Karaage. I visited again on another day... ・Cheese Gyudon (regular size/588 yen) ・Salad set (195 yen) My first time trying a topping at Yoshinoya♡ Personally, I prefer the melted cheese, but you can't go wrong with cheese and meat, and it was really delicious (*´艸｀) If I visit this store at a different time, I might be able to bring my little one along too♪ Thank you for the meal!

On December 13, 2022, I visited Yoshinoya located on Route 7, one of Tokyo's major arterial roads. The parking lot had designated no-smoking areas, and they accepted credit card and PayPay payments. I had plans to go to Shinagawa from my office, but first, I stopped by Yoshinoya at the Toyotama Minami branch for lunch. I used a Line coupon to get a 30 yen discount on the Gyudon (beef bowl) priced at 624 yen. The setup at this Yoshinoya was more like a fast-food restaurant, where you order at the counter and then wait for your food at your table. The Gyudon I received seemed different from the photo, with a taste that was too sweet and flat overall. Personally, I think Yoshinoya's Gyudon is tastier than Matsuya or Sukiya, but when it comes to other menu items, I prefer Matsuya. I probably won't order this particular dish again, but I still love Yoshinoya. By the way, have you heard of an anime called "Yama no Susume"? It's about a high school girl who discovers a passion for mountain climbing, and I found it to have a lot in common with "Yuru Camp," an anime about high school girls camping. They even had a collaboration project on Twitter a few years ago. "Yama no Susume" focuses on climbing Mt. Fuji, while "Yuru Camp" is about camping while enjoying the view of Mt. Fuji. Both series lack significant romantic elements, which I found a bit unusual but endearing. The main characters in both shows are reserved, and I realized they share the same voice actress. It's interesting how similar they are. That's all for this long message. See you later!

At the end of last year, I tried the "Ukyo Don" for the first time. The name comes from the creator's name. I think this is what a beef bowl originally was. However, when you start adding various ingredients, the taste becomes standardized, and it may overshadow the uniqueness of our chain.

In this chain, sometimes they offer dishes with colorful vegetables like this. I can't remember when was the last time, but it's been a while so I decided to try it. It seems like it will make a good photo too. Oh, the slight hint of garlic is nice. It goes well with the clam soup. However, just because it's colorful doesn't mean it's only for women. There used to be a version with just these vegetables in a unique shape, but I'm not sure if it's still available this time since in self-service restaurants you can't take your time to look at the menu. But based on the receipt, it seems like it's considered a topping, so you can freely combine it with anything you like.

I highly recommend this place, but I must apologize because the okra menu item is seasonal and has already been discontinued. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Before the price increase, the morning beef set. As a second reason why beef bowls are popular this year, I have a deep-seated fear that the impact of that war will have various repercussions, and I have been worried that beef will become an unattainable luxury for the poor. In a rapidly changing world, I need to break the bad habit of saving drafts for months (^_^;). Did the prices go up after all? By the way, now (2210) this content would cost ¥642. Still, I recommend trying the change to clam soup. The deliciousness that spreads when you eat the beef bowl followed by clam soup is amazing.

This time, there are two notable topics for five meals: Pork bowl x Clam soup: While the clam soup was not quite satisfying, how about with a pork bowl? Unfortunately, it still felt lacking. The refined taste seemed to be a disadvantage, as it couldn't match the umami level of the meat. N Stamina Super Special Bowl ¥932: Oh no, what have I done? This product even comes with extra rice for seconds, with a calorie level exceeding 2,000 kcal. It's a mega size with 2M in the unit of thousand, so if you could get through a day with just this, it might lead to a gentle diet. Shall we try it out, the unprecedented Yoshinoya Diet? If I wrote a book about it, it would sell well and I'd be living the good life!... Just kidding, the story of the new product, the parent and child bowl, is available at another store.

This month, I visited a self-service style restaurant twice. It's a bit awkward to shape the pickled ginger yourself, so it's better to just pile it in the middle like Matterhorn. Even though it doesn't look similar. After the first cup of tea, the second visit had the same set but was ¥51 cheaper! I thought there might have been a mistake, so I asked the owner, and she explained that they had started a promotion of 10% off breakfast and dinner set meals. Sorry for using a poster image from another branch!

Located along the Kanna Seven, this restaurant has a large parking lot despite the heavy traffic in the area, making it convenient for customers. I stopped by for the first time and found the spacious interior to be very calming. You order at the counter, and when your food is ready, a bell rings to let you know. The familiar look of the "Yoshinoya" chain was comforting. The flavor of the beef bowl was just as I remembered, a taste that appeals to everyone. I also had a salad this time. It's great to have a restaurant like this with a large parking lot along the Kanna Seven.

In March, I've been enjoying this morning clam soup set twice. I've been thinking about experimenting with themes like "Clam soup might go well with pork bowl," but I'm stuck in the "curse of knowing it's delicious" and can't seem to expand my horizons. I suggested a triangular meal with this menu in the section for other branches, hoping people would experience the wild synergy that comes from going from beef bowl to clam soup.

The way the pickled ginger is served at our self-service style restaurant in February is a bit messy, as there are no boxes on the tables and it is only placed in two service areas. It's convenient for the restaurant and helps control consumption, but it can be a bit chaotic. You can also help yourself to the tea cups without having to ask. Other than that, the combination of the rich beef fat and the flavorful clams was delightful as always, making for a satisfying meal experience!

The idea of using red ginger to resemble a mountain is interesting. But Mount Fuji? That would be too much and the restaurant might not appreciate it. It's just meant to be like a mountain, so anything too fancy would spoil the beef cutlet.

I tried the new curry at Yoshinoya, which was supervised by Karigari Curry from Kanda. I had the new Karigari Beef Curry for 547 yen, which is a combination of curry and gyudon on one plate. The gyudon part was good quality, but the issue was with the Karigari curry sauce. It was spicy, but had a unique flavor of spices that I didn't quite like. It felt a bit like Chinese herbal medicine to me. I would rate it 2.7 out of 5. Personally, I prefer Matsuya's Beef Curry. Thank you for the meal.

Yoshinoya has been promoting their karaage (Japanese fried chicken) recently, and they have introduced some new menu items. I usually only eat beef bowls at this chain, but sometimes I get tempted by the new items displayed digitally. The karaage rice bowl with oil-drenched chicken: Wow! The portion size looks big, especially the side of the bowl, but there are only 3 pieces of karaage stacked on top, and the rest is just cabbage. The karaage is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and it's hot, which adds to the texture. However, I felt like there wasn't enough karaage, and I ended up with extra rice. The flavorful sauce helps make it easier to finish the cabbage rice, but I wish there were 4 pieces of karaage. There might have been an option to add more, but the price was already over 600 yen, making it seem expensive compared to the beef bowl.

Visited Yoshinoya around 11:40 on a public holiday. This Yoshinoya was self-service, which was a new experience for me. The interior was completely different from a typical Yoshinoya, with a calm atmosphere in black, white, and gray tones. There was a drink bar similar to a family restaurant. The front had a counter, and there were table seats in the back, both separated by acrylic boards. First, I ordered at the register and paid. They gave me a beacon, and when it beeped, I went to pick up my order. It was like a food court system. One inconvenience was that the condiments and pickled ginger were only available at one spot next to the pick-up area. It was lunchtime, but the store was not crowded, with about 20-30% of the seats filled. I ordered the Beef Yakiniku Set for 712 yen including tax and the drink bar for 162 yen including tax. The taste was reliable and comforting. The yakiniku set came with a raw egg, so I poured it over the remaining beef on rice to enjoy it like a donburi. The salad was shredded cabbage and carrots with a dollop of mayonnaise. The drink bar had cola, melon soda, Calpis, orange juice, oolong tea, hot coffee, and iced coffee, similar to a family restaurant.

Yoshinoya offers a variety of options like Neva Toro, Black Curry, Rizap, Karaage, and Ginger Pork, but for me, it's always the classic Beef Bowl, pickles, and miso soup. I don't have any interest in trying anything else. I've been loyal to the Beef Bowl for fifty years. After trying it again at the Koenji Toyotama branch, I realized that the quality is quite high. It can be compared to the branches in Yurakucho and Shinjuku South Exit. The cleanliness and hospitality are top-notch. It may sound cliché, but when it comes to Beef Bowls, Yoshinoya is the best.

Tonight, I went to Yoshinoya for the first time in a while. It's a self-service restaurant, so you pay first. When your order is called, you go to pick up your food. It's a bit of a hassle because there's nothing on the table, so you have to bring back chopsticks, pickled ginger, shichimi (spice), and tea along with your food. I ordered the "HAPPY GYU YEAR!!" special, which included a beef side dish for only 29 yen (excluding tax), a regular beef bowl for 352 yen, and pickled vegetables for 108 yen. The call came in just 2 minutes. Fast! I went back to my seat and enjoyed the extra beef beef bowl. Mmm, I really like the flavor of this beef bowl sauce. Yoshinoya is the best for beef bowls. Oh, I forgot to ask for extra sauce, but it's still delicious. The beef side dish for 29 yen is an amazing New Year's gift. Thank you for the meal.

Tempura? Karaage? Sukiyaki? Various dishes displayed on the storefront sign. To me, it's like, "Huh? What's that?" The silent man orders the extra-large beef bowl with extra broth. That's the way to go. Add an appropriate amount of pickled ginger, top it with rice, pickled vegetables (a must), miso soup (a must), and sprinkle shichimi pepper on everything before vigorously eating until the bottom of the bowl is visible. After finishing, leave promptly without looking back. That's the proper way for a man at Yoshinoya, I suppose. I still remember seeing Yoshinoya frequently on TV commercials when I was a kid. It said "80 years devoted to beef bowls." Now it's 120 years. Well, I'm getting older too. The day may come soon when I walk under the shop curtain with my grandchildren. By then, I'll probably be an old man who can't even eat an extra-large bowl anymore. Haha.