The fried eggs were supposed to be soft-boiled, but they were rock hard. Both of them were overcooked. This ruined my morning and made me quite angry. Additionally, the restaurant was not clean, with leftover food left out and a drunk person sleeping inside. Overall, the Nogata branch is a failure as a dining establishment. I urge Matsuya Foods headquarters to take this feedback seriously and make immediate improvements. This message comes from Shuichiro, a loyal Matsuya customer of over 40 years.

It was the end of 2003 when the import of beef from the United States was stopped due to BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease. In 2004, various beef bowl chains released alternative products, and among them, Matsuya's pork bowl seemed to be quite popular. The pork bowl at that time was simply a substitution of pork for beef in the beef bowl, so the taste was somewhat unsatisfying. However, if I remember correctly, the initial price was 290 yen including tax, and since it was Matsuya, it came with miso soup. In other words, it secured a certain position as a meal that could fill you up for less than 300 yen, regardless of the taste. But with measures taken against mad cow disease and the resumption of beef imports, the beef bowl also made a comeback. There was no longer a need to continue the substitute pork bowl, and it was discontinued in 2011. That pork bowl made a comeback in February 2022. I tried the pork bowl/regular (350 yen including tax). The ingredients were the same as before, only pork and onions. The seasoning seemed to be richer and sweeter compared to before, but since it was over 10 years ago, my memory is a bit vague. Personally, I think this seasoning is still more suitable for beef, and if I were to have pork in a bowl, I would prefer a pork ginger bowl or a ginger pork bowl. Now, what kind of year was 2004 when the pork bowl was at its peak? The Yomiuri Giants had Horiuchi as their manager for the first year. They acquired players like Koyama and Rose, who hit many home runs, but they also allowed a lot of runs and finished in 3rd place. ONE PIECE was transitioning from the Skypiea arc to the Water 7 arc. There was also the Long Ring Long Land arc, which no one really understands why it was included. No one had iPhones yet, and people were listening to music on iPods with the click wheel. And back then, Tabelog (a popular restaurant review website in Japan) didn't exist yet (it was launched in March 2005). I wonder what I was using the vast amount of time and some money that I now spend on Tabelog for back then.

Thick-cut pork yakiniku set meal. I personally prefer thin slices, but how do people feel about this thick-cut version at Matsuya Foods? Are they saying things like, "Oh, Matsuya, the thick-cut is really the best! Thank you!"? As someone like shuuichiro who has no intention of expressing gratitude, I always think, "Just bring back the thin, cheap feeling ton-tei quickly. That thin one with plenty of ponzu sauce on top, mixed with rice, is the best!" But this set meal comes with a generous serving of fresh vegetable salad and miso soup for only 650 yen. It's just a personal opinion, but I think Matsuya is really working hard and is positioned quite high in the restaurant industry. Whenever it's served, I always mutter in my heart, "All this for 650 yen, thank you Matsuya." Especially with the fresh vegetable salad, being able to consume so many vegetables is not only making adults healthier but also contributing to a longer life. The white dressing also assists in the intake of fresh vegetables. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare should definitely commend Matsuya Foods.

Creamy Shukumery Nabe Set Meal - 790 yen The steamy cream hot pot is filled with melted cheese and a strong garlic flavor, with chunks of chicken and sweet potatoes inside. It comes with a salad and miso soup, making it a well-balanced meal. The garlic flavor is more dominant than the salt, but the chicken doesn't seem to have absorbed much flavor. Overall, it's not bad, but I think Matsuya's beef bowl is still better.

The title may sound strange, like "Having an Origin Bento at Matsuya?", but of course that's not the case. I went out to eat the original curry, which is highly rated by most reviewers on Tabelog. I have been to this restaurant before, but only a few times. I used to visit the location along the Koshu Highway in Nogata, going there every three days late at night. I'm not sure until when they served the Origin Curry, so I'm not sure if I have tried it before. This time, when I tried it, I didn't think "Ah, this taste is familiar!" so I guess my favorite curry is the current one. However, the current curry is surprisingly salty. I wonder if it's because of changes in my health? Going back to the original curry, it is milder and the medicinal herbs are more subtle. It can be said to be suitable for everyone. I also added shichimi spice to tune it up! Wait, this tastes like the flavor I remember... haha.

I was captivated by the name Komatsuya and decided to visit. As a well-known eel restaurant, Komatsuya is now located in Higashi-Koenji. This particular branch is in Nogata. I was worried that they might have limited regional menu items, but it seems that you can enjoy the same dishes at any branch. Although the portion size may be small, the quality is quite good! It's no wonder, with Komatsuya overseeing things. Perhaps the know-how of Matsuya's wide menu selection is also at play here. In cheap eel dishes at restaurants or fast food places, you often encounter rubbery texture or small bones making it difficult to eat. But you don't need to worry here. The eel is tender without any tough parts, making you truly feel like you're eating eel. While I prefer the beef bowl at another chain, I must say that the eel bowl here takes the prize. Being a bit greedy, I ordered the eel bowl combo, which also includes beef bowl toppings, and it was also delicious. For an additional 160 yen, you can enjoy the beef bowl as well for a total of 990 yen. Of course, the sauces mix together, but let's not worry about the details. They have successfully solved the issue of not feeling full after eating an eel bowl. I am grateful for Matsuya's unwavering efforts in menu development!

I was served a messy gyudon with scraps of meat on it. The staff didn't understand Japanese either. The second time I went, I got a lukewarm hamburger set. It was my first time being so disappointed at Matsuya. And it happened two times in a row. I will never go back.

Eggs, which are said to contain high-quality protein, are cooked sunny-side-up and served with crispy sausages and mini vegetables in the popular breakfast set at Matsuya. It comes with a choice of side dishes. It is proudly featured on the Matsuya Foods official website. There is no room for disagreement, but personally, I don't need green onions and pickles, so if they could lower the price by 50 yen and set it at 350 yen instead of the current price of 400 yen, I would become a regular customer. "I can't afford to spend 400 yen in the morning, I need to save money too," conflicting thoughts arise. The set at McDonald's, the Sausage Egg McMuffin set, is 350 yen, so I am constantly torn between Matsuya Nogata and McDonald's Nogata, causing confusion in my head. Even at forty, I am still lost. (laughs) "But then again, maybe I don't need the classic Matsuya breakfast set for 360 yen. I don't need a raw egg when there's natto." "In that case, I don't need a raw egg, so if they could lower the price to around 320 yen, that would be great." These thoughts keep going round and round as I commute. (laughs)

The Gyudon beef at Matsuya is made with premium beef, and comes with black shichimi pepper. The shichimi pepper has a fragrance of black sesame and sansho pepper, which goes well with both curry and beef bowls. Although it is advertised as Matsuya's original, it is likely a collaboration with a certain company in Kyoto. In any case, this dedication to spices is very welcome. When dining in the restaurant, miso soup is also provided as a service, adding to the generous portion. Thank you for the meal.

The Sausage and Egg set meal at Matsuya for 400 yen is a must-try. The head of product planning at Matsuya Foods, located in Nerima Ward, should rename this menu item to "Divine Morning Set Meal." I strongly recommend this change and consider this review complete.

On a regular night, after drinking at Akimoto-ya, my wife and I felt like having some carbs, so we decided to visit Matsuya. It had been a while since we last went there. We bought meal tickets for curry beef (590 yen), raw vegetables (110 yen), and a large serving of bibimbap with pork soup (650 yen). After a short wait, our food arrived. Both dishes did not come with spoons, and when we asked for one, my spoon was dirty and had to be replaced. There were three staff members working at the time, but only one woman seemed to be busy. As for the food, the curry beef had been sitting for a while before it was served, with some parts starting to dry out. The curry at Matsuya was spicy and good, but I couldn't help but feel a slight regret for not ordering the premium beef bowl. We quickly finished our meal and left. The total came to 1,350 yen. Thank you for the meal!

More than thirty years ago, when I was still a high school student, Matsuya's pork yakiniku set meal was a special treat. Now that I'm much older, I also ordered a large set meal with a bottle of beer. The thin slices of pork were grilled and served on top of rice with ponzu sauce. I used to get extra rice with the large set meal, but now that I'm in my fifties, I try to resist the temptation. I also don't pile on the pickled ginger like I used to when I was younger, I keep it moderate. As I finished my meal, I couldn't help but feel like I could push myself a little bit more. Laugh.

This morning, I had breakfast at Matsuya. This branch is located at the corner of a shopping street about a 2-minute walk from Nogata Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. Inside the store, there are 9 counter seats on the left side of the entrance and 4.4.4 seats on the right side of the kitchen, making it a somewhat small store. For me, when I go to Matsuya, I usually order the morning set with sausage and eggs or the Kimukaru bowl. These two menu items make up almost 90% of my orders. However, this time, I decided to try the Premium Gyudon (it's about time to upgrade) for 380 yen and the domestic vegetable salad for 110 yen. The operation was handled by two male staff members. The food was served in just 2 minutes. The beef in the Premium Gyudon was chilled and thinly sliced, which I found to be a bit too thin. The seasoning was lighter compared to Yoshinoya. I added the special black sesame roasted shichimi pepper that came with it. This black sesame roasted shichimi pepper has become a staple at Matsuya. Taste-wise, I still prefer the beef bowl from Yoshinoya. The miso soup seemed to be richer than before. Maybe they changed the recipe? I'm not sure. The salad was made with domestic vegetables, and it tasted great with the white dressing. Overall, it was a delicious meal. Thank you.

December 1, early morning - I am attacking the new month starting today! Let's have a fun month ahead. I posted a review after enjoying some delicious soba noodles. Yesterday morning, I checked my photo library and realized that I had visited Matsuya after drinking unfamiliar wine the night before. I had a great time, but I ended up eating a pork teki meal at Matsuya, which I had been wanting to try after seeing a review. The pork teki sauce was spicy and strong, transforming the mild pork into a flavorful dish. I used to get the limited-time pork teki for takeout as a snack for drinking at home. This time, I ended up at Matsuya after a night of drinking. It was past midnight, and I indulged in carbs. It's only the first day of December, and I already indulged in such behavior within 37 minutes. I hope I can make it through this month safely. But Matsuya is convenient, so I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal.

In December, I searched for a suitable restaurant around Nogata Station to have a meal, and I saw posters outside a restaurant advertising "Premium Beef Rice Bowl" and "High-Quality Beef Rice Bowl." Thinking that a chain restaurant would be reliable, I decided to go into Matsuya. Despite the name "Premium Beef Rice Bowl," there is no need to worry about using high-end beef such as Matsusaka beef, Tajima beef, or Sendai beef. Priced at 380 yen, the meat lacked the rich taste of beef and had a dry texture, with few onions, and the broth poured over the rice was less than what Yoshinoya offers. When I got home, I checked Matsuya's website and saw the "6 Premium Features of Matsuya," including the "Matsuya Black Sesame Roasted Seven Spice" which complemented the beef bowl well. The miso soup contained fried tofu and wakame seaweed, but the lack of flavor in the fried tofu made it hard to distinguish it with eyes closed. The miso soup was slightly strong in flavor, which may be divisive among customers. It was a cold day, and hot oolong tea was served immediately upon entering the restaurant, but some may prefer green tea or hojicha instead.

September 2014 Saturday afternoon drinking party. Today, we gathered at the north exit of Nogata Station at 11:00. When everyone's faces were gathered, it was reported that the first place of the day, "Nogata Shokudo," was supposed to open at 11:00 according to the Tabelog information, but it was actually 11:30. If this was Ikebukuro or Akabane, we would have plenty of options to go for a 30-minute wait, but unfortunately, this is Nogata. Following the leader, we took a lap around the station, returned to the front of the station, and finally arrived at Matsuya. Even though we didn't order gyudon, it was relatively empty and there were empty tables, so it should be fine, right? We couldn't find the gyudon on the ticket machine, so we ended up ordering two beers, potato salad, and kimchi! Can four adults get away with ordering like this? (laughs) We also got some plates and made the table lively with free pickled ginger. Now, it's 11:30. Let's move to the next place. The staff here are like angels, smiling and thanking us. We bow our heads in gratitude! <m(__)m>

My wife and daughter went back to their parents' house, leaving me with a temporary bachelor life for a night. I wanted to have a wild time, but work and errands got in the way. As I searched for a place to eat dinner, I came across Matsuya and thought, "I haven't been to this kind of place since my daughter was born." Despite feeling a bit lonely, I decided to be more adventurous and positive about being alone. So, I went into Matsuya and bought a bottle of Asahi Super Dry beer and a beef bowl. As I sipped my drink at the counter, I couldn't help but feel lonely in various ways. I thought about getting a beef bowl or kimchi stew later, but the loneliness got to me, so I gave up and bought some snacks at a convenience store for a home drink instead. Maybe dining alone here isn't the best idea. It might be better to come with a group of drinking buddies next time and have a great time together.

The bowl was only half filled with broth... This happened twice. Since it became "premium," the amount of meat is disappointing and the taste has become overly sweet, not necessarily more delicious. I wish Matsuya had stayed the same. Personally, I recommend getting the special size with less rice. It's great for savoring the meat. Also, it depends on the individual working there, but please stop putting too much broth...haha. It was hell because the broth became overly sweet after becoming "premium."