Title "2023 GW Western Japan Touring Day 5, Familiar Dark Curry" On the 5th day of the 2023 GW Western Japan Tour, I arrived in Osaka earlier than I thought. I reached Osaka Shin-Imamiya around 12:30. After checking in at the hotel, I decided to walk to Nihonbashi since I hadn't walked in the past few days. I arrived at Tokyo Chikarameshi around 13:41. There were about 6 customers in the shop with around 3 staff members. While the grilled beef rice bowl is a popular choice, this time I decided to try the curry. The curry in a regular portion cost 500 yen, and the salad was 100 yen. It arrived in 3 minutes after ordering! The evaluation is out of 10 points based on taste and cost performance. Salad (set for 100 yen): 6 points It was just shredded cabbage and corn with a little dressing from the table. Miso soup: 5 points The miso soup was a bit watery with only green onions and seaweed as ingredients. Curry: 7 points Served on a flat plate, it consisted of rice, curry, and fukujinzuke. The rice portion was normal to slightly large, and the curry was dark and light, giving a sense of familiarity, as if I had eaten it somewhere before, maybe at Matsuya, Sukiya, or Yoshinoya during their black curry period. It wasn't very spicy, so I added some spice from the table. Overall evaluation: 7 points It was reasonably tasty and relatively cheap, so it might be a good choice once in a while. They also have grilled beef curry, so I might try that next time...but before that, I should try the grilled beef rice bowl! I suddenly realized that I haven't eaten it at Chikarameshi for a long time. After that, I had some errands in the Nihonbashi area. Then I walked around the Minami area and back to Shin-Imamiya. I took a bath at Irifune Onsen and had dinner. (2023.5.6)

While strolling around the neighborhood, I stumbled upon this original beef bowl restaurant located on a corner near a crossroad. About 10 years ago, there were several branches around Shinjuku Station, both on the east and west sides. Feeling nostalgic, I decided to step in. I visited on a Sunday around 11:30 am, and the place was moderately busy with 12 customers already seated and 8 waiting in line. I ordered their signature dish, the "Original Grilled Beef Bowl (regular size) (500 yen)", which was served in about 3 minutes. The beef slices were grilled and coated in a slightly spicy sauce, giving them a savory and rich flavor. The rice was a bit firm, but it paired well with the beef and sauce, offering a delicious taste of nostalgia. The complimentary miso soup was a nice touch. Although it seems that there are no longer any branches in Tokyo as the name suggests, I hope they can keep up the good work. Thank you for the meal! 🍲

On this day, I discovered the Tokyo Chikara Meshi, which has already disappeared in Tokyo. I decided to go in and try it out. It operates on a food ticket system. It was around 2:00 PM but the place was already full. The set meal allows for rice refills. I chose the simple option of grilled beef bowl. The water is served in paper cups and there is barley tea available. The miso soup has wakame seaweed and has a light taste. The grilled beef bowl is essentially a beef bowl with grilled meat. The meat is slightly firm with a good chew, and the sweet and salty sauce goes well with the rice. Thank you for the meal.

It used to be a chain store found all over the country, but now there are only two locations in Chiba and here. Whenever I go to Nihonbashi at lunchtime, I inexplicably crave it. This time, I chose the kimchi stir-fried beef. The taste is delicious, but I felt like there was a bit less kimchi.

■Order Content Chicken Karaage Set Meal (5 pieces) Tax included 600 yen *Purchase at the ticket vending machine in the store ■Impressions During its peak, there were many stores mainly in the Kanto region, a chain that specialized in grilled beef bowls... but now it seems that only two stores remain, here and in Chiba. In the past, there was a period when they served a crazy set meal with 8 pieces of karaage and 8 fried eggs on top at the Shinjuku store. I visited a long time ago to try the grilled beef bowl, and I remember that the thinly sliced beef kalbi soaked in sweet and savory sauce was delicious in its own way. The sushi restaurant-style pickled ginger instead of the typical red pickled ginger is still a mystery. I visited this endangered store after a very long time. I ordered the karaage set meal at the ticket vending machine in the store. Free rice refill at this price is quite good. The arrival was a very simple set meal with rice, miso soup, karaage, and raw vegetables. The main karaage had a crispy coating and the seasoning was just right, perfect for eating with mayonnaise. This is to be expected since the parent company is Sanko Marketing Foods, which operates izakaya restaurants like "Kin no Kura Jr." The rice and miso soup were nothing special, but they seemed satisfactory to everyone without any complaints. ■Location & Access About an 8-minute walk from Nihonbashi Metro Station towards the electric town intersection. ■Menu Grilled beef bowl, grilled beef plate set meal, grilled meat set meal, curry, karaage set meal ■Interior Counter seats, table seats ■Store Information Location: 3-5-29 Nihonbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City Phone: 06-4393-8262 Business Hours: 6:00-26:00 Closed: None Thank you for reading until the end. Your "likes" and "saving the restaurant" would be greatly appreciated.

Before entering the restaurant, I saw the menu, but when I checked the ticket machine inside, I found out that they don't offer the 8-piece fried chicken set. I was a bit shocked before even eating. I wish they would take measures like removing items from the entrance menu if they are not available. The fried chicken I ordered was delicious. However, I now understand why this restaurant has few customers. First of all, the kitchen is not clean. The entrance door that customers forgot to close is left open. It's chilly in the early spring evening, but they don't bother to close the door even though they can see it's open. The Japanese-looking manager doesn't even give a warning to the foreign staff who cross their arms or lean on the shelves. It's a pity because they are not taught about Japanese culture, so they might end up in trouble without knowing. They mean no harm, it's just a cultural difference, so they should be taught. The foreign staff are very kind and eager to learn. It's a pity not to teach them. This place lacks proper customer service from Japanese staff, despite the delicious food. I will definitely not come back. Thank you for the meal.

At one point, Chikarameshi was a boom, but now there are only 2 stores left in the whole country (which is amazing that they are still running with just 2 stores). I used to like it and went there often when it first became popular, but as it got crowded, the hospitality couldn't keep up and I started to go less. I decided to visit this Osaka Nipponbashi location before it disappeared. It was past 1 o'clock, but the restaurant was full. It's still popular. After waiting for about 5 minutes, I got a seat and ordered the Chikara bowl, which not only had grilled beef but also pork and fried chicken. It was delicious and definitely worth the default price of 500 yen. However, the trend in the restaurant industry is difficult to maintain. The hospitality was still lacking, even though the staff that day was a foreigner. It seems that the training was not thorough. Running a restaurant is indeed challenging.

I tried the grilled beef bowl for the first time. It was delicious with a fantastic sauce. I visited around noon and the restaurant was quite busy, almost full. It is conveniently located in the center of Osaka's electronics district. The customers were mostly middle-aged and older men.

At one point, there was a lot of talk about the grilled beef bowl at Tokyo Chikara Meshi, but the number of stores has been decreasing, and it seems to have disappeared from Tokyo. I decided to stop by while shopping. I ordered the grilled beef bowl regular size for 500 yen and a salad for 100 yen from the ticket machine. The vending machine was a bit difficult to use. They cook it fresh for each order, so it was served hot. It came with miso soup too. There was more meat than I expected, with several slices on top. The flavor was on the strong side, like a grilled meat set meal. I had heard rumors about it, but the rice wasn't particularly delicious, but the strong flavor of the meat made it quite enjoyable.

I tried the "Original Grilled Beef Bowl" at "Tokyo Chikarameshi Osaka Nihonbashi Store", but it seemed like a taste more suited for young people. This restaurant is a chain specializing in grilled meat bowls with locations in Osaka and Chiba, with the Osaka Nihonbashi store located in Nihonbashi, Osaka (a bit of a walk from Namba Station or Nihonbashi Station). Inside the store, there is a ticket machine on the left as you enter, with a few 4-person tables by the window in the back, and counter seats in front of the kitchen on the right, giving off a mix of a bowl chain and old-fashioned cafe vibe. The customers were mostly solo male diners. I ordered the classic menu item "Original Grilled Beef Bowl" this time. When I tried it, it was a bowl with thinly sliced grilled beef on rice topped with a sweet grilled meat sauce, blending the sweetness of the beef with the fat sweetness and bitterness of the charred parts, complemented by the sweetness of the sauce. The rice and sauce also paired well, and it had a hearty flavor, so those who enjoy that might like it. At 500 yen for a regular size, it's not too expensive. They also have set menu items like grilled meat and fried chicken (although there were some items on the website menu that were not on the ticket machine in the store). If you're in Nihonbashi or Namba and want to try a grilled meat bowl, why not give it a try? You can watch a short video review here: https://youtube.com/shorts/b9lYMVHErSw

I used to see this place in various locations, but now there are only two stores nationwide. I was surprised. It was almost full during a late lunch on a holiday. It was my first time here, so I ordered the original grilled beef bowl for 500 yen. It had thin slices of meat stacked up, with 6 slices in total. The meat was not particularly tender but not tough either, and it didn't have any unpleasant smell. The sauce was sweet and delicious. With miso soup included, all for 500 yen, it's quite a good deal, isn't it?

I visited "Tokyo Chikara Meshi Osaka Nihonbashi" for lunch for the first time. The restaurant used to have over 100 stores mainly in the Tokyo area, but now only has two stores in Osaka Nihonbashi and Chiba. The original store in Tokyo will also be closing this August. I ordered the original grilled beef bowl (500 yen) from the ticket machine and waited about 10 minutes for it to be served. The beef was grilled with a sweet and savory sauce, making it delicious. It came with miso soup as well. I want to try a different dish next time!

The other day, the first Tokyo Chikara Meshi store in Shinjuku, which was finally opened by Sankou Foods, has closed. At one point, this up-and-coming chain gyudon restaurant had over a hundred stores mainly in Tokyo. Now, only two stores remain, one in Osaka Nihonbashi and the other in a remote area in Chiba. The name of the restaurant is Tokyo Chikara Meshi, but since there are only stores in Osaka and Chiba, it could easily be called Osaka Chikara Meshi. With the loss of the chain, there are no longer the mega merits that come with it, and it is worrisome how long they can last. I usually order the main yakiniku dishes, but this time I tried the Tartar Karaage set for the first time. The Karaage had a well-seasoned taste and was served with a generous amount of tartar sauce. The set comes with the standard 5 pieces for 700 yen, but with the substantial volume, I was satisfied with just 3 pieces. In terms of cost performance, it is unbelievably good.

On September 30, 2022 (Friday) evening, I tried the beef bowl and curry at "Tokyo Chikarameshi Osaka Nihonbashi Store" located between Nihonbashi Station and Ebisucho Station. The menu item I ordered was the "Chikara Donburi - Large" for ¥800. There are three items on the menu with "Chikara" in the name (donburi, set meal, curry), and I decided to go with the default option. Unfortunately, it was not delicious at all. I tried adding Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, garlic, and shichimi to spice it up, but it didn't help much. Currently, there are only three stores nationwide, so I wanted to try it before it potentially closes down. However, the dish was a disappointment. It is not stewed like Yoshinoya, Sukiya, or Matsuya, but rather grilled with pieces of "yakiniku" on top. It also came with two pieces of chicken karaage, which I found unnecessary. Overall, I won't be returning as I found it to be unpleasant. The hygiene standards were average. Taste: ✖️, Richness: ✖️, Value for money: ➖, Disgust level: △△△, Portion size: ○, Customization options: ✖️ (seasonings, sauce, free toppings, rice refill, etc.), Staff and service: ✖️, Chaos level: ➖, Solo diner friendly: ○, Performance: ➖.

A highly rare chain restaurant that has lost in the gyudon competition and now has only a few stores nationwide. The taste is solid and satisfying, making you want to come back regularly, with a good thickness that is easy to eat. It is so popular during lunchtime that there is often a wait. Don't expect much in terms of service. It's a great chain restaurant that I hope can make a comeback like the Dommune hamburger. The grilled gyudon is delicious, but the cheese grilled gyudon is even better. I'm sure other menu items are also delicious.

I had no idea that the popular Tokyo Chikara Meshi, which had over 100 stores, has now shrunk to just 2 stores. I visited one of the precious few stores left in Kansai, and tried their chicken Karaage set meal. It's a popular dish and a national favorite, and I recommend stopping by if you're in the area! #TokyoChikaraMeshi #chickenKaraage #NambaLunch #NihonbashiLunch #600yenLunch

Yanagiya's grilled beef bowl for 500 yen (tax included). I had seen this place in Tokyo before and was curious about it. The thinly sliced shabu-shabu meat was surprising. I'm not sure if it's worth 500 yen though. It makes sense that the number of stores has decreased. It was an interesting experience, like a mix of curiosity and fear. I wish they would greet customers when they come in. I also bought Dashi Douraku for 500 yen (tax included) from the vending machine next to the store. It's the same price as the grilled beef bowl.

If you head east from Namba Station on the Nankai Electric Railway, you will arrive at the electric town of Nihonbashi in about 7-8 minutes. The restaurant is located where there is a large Tamura Peanut sign. The entrance has photos of the menu that are eye-catching. Among the various beef bowl restaurants, this one is a bit different as it serves a standard beef bowl with grilled beef on top, providing a satisfying meal. You can also add reasonably priced fried chicken as a side dish. It is similar to putting grilled meat on rice like in the Matsuya beef yakiniku set meal. Even with a regular portion, there is plenty of meat on top, providing a satisfying eating experience. I almost didn't need the fried chicken (laughs).

Tokyo Chikarameshi was once a rapidly expanding chain with over 100 stores in 2012, but now it has dwindled down to just 3 stores nationwide. I recently visited one of their remaining locations to try their signature dish, the original grilled beef bowl for 500 yen. The thinly sliced beef, which was previously too oily, had improved in taste and texture. It had a unique flavor profile that set it apart from other beef bowl chains, with hints of what seemed like cinnamon (though it's unlikely to actually contain it). Overall, it was a satisfying meal for the price, though I would hesitate if it were priced at 600 yen.

I visited "Tokyo Chikarameshi Osaka Nihonbashi Store" which has been here for a while. I hadn't been here in a long time, so I decided to have lunch. I purchased the "Original Grilled Beef Bowl Regular 500 yen" from the touch panel ticket machine. It came with miso soup and a bonus of one piece of fried chicken, which was a great deal. There are other set meals available, and I regret not choosing one of those as they come with free rice refills. The majority of customers here are solo male diners, and it seems like many of them are regulars. The grilled beef bowl I had after a long time tasted better than I remembered. I later found out that this store is one of the few surviving locations nationwide, which made me hope that they continue to thrive. Thank you for the meal!

I went to "Tokyo Chikara Meshi" in Nipponbashi, Osaka. It seems that there used to be nearly 100 stores, but now there are only 2 stores in Tokyo and 1 store in Osaka. I ordered the Garlic Negi Yaki Gyudon (beef bowl) (700 yen including tax) with a salad set (100 yen including tax). The salad arrived first, and it was very cold, as if it had been in the refrigerator. It took longer for the beef bowl to arrive compared to major beef bowl chains. Although it is called a grilled beef bowl, it felt more like a grilled meat bowl. The sweet and savory sauce covered the rice all the way to the bottom. There were plenty of green onions covering the meat, and garlic chips with a nice garlic flavor on top, which I think paired well with the grilled beef bowl. Thank you for the meal.