Located in the Shotengai shopping street of Keisei Tateishi, I happened to have some errands in the area and decided to have lunch here. There are various dining options nearby such as Tenya and izakayas. The average price for lunch around here seems to be around 500 yen (including tax) for a budget meal and 600 yen for a regular meal. Since I wasn't very hungry that day, I opted for the mini-sized beef bowl. The restaurant has ample space inside, allowing for a relaxed dining experience while following COVID-19 precautions. Unlike when I was younger, even a regular-sized portion now leaves me feeling quite full, so having a mini-sized option available is much appreciated. Overall, it was another satisfying meal! (^o^)v

Last time, this Georgian dish called Shkmerli hot pot was a hit with customers due to word of mouth, even though it was sold as a guerrilla-style limited-time offer at the store. The response was so overwhelming that it has now made a nationwide comeback! Georgia, as in the old name for Georgia, right? I'm not really familiar with Georgian cuisine, but I'll jump on the bandwagon for trendy things (^◇^;) It's great that you can eat such a heavy dish in the morning at a 24-hour chain store. I came to eat it for breakfast. You purchase a meal ticket at the touch panel ticket machine on the left side as you enter. There are set meals and rice sets, with the difference being whether a salad is included or not. The prices are not that different, so I chose the set meal, and of course, I went for the free extra-large rice promotion. Recently, it seems that renovated Matsuya stores have become self-service style. After purchasing the meal ticket, you wait for your number to be called, and when it's called, you go to the pick-up counter to get your meal. Even the water is self-served using the water dispenser in the middle of the store. The dish is served hot, as it has been simmering since early morning! Now, how does it taste... The first impression is that the smell of garlic is strong. I doubt there are many people who would eat this and then go straight to work in the morning. The appearance is like a cheese-filled stew with a strong garlic aroma. The ingredients seem to be only chicken and sweet potatoes. It might be good with regular potatoes too, but I guess this is the standard. This pot, reminiscent of cheese fondue, makes you want to try it with various ingredients. The rice that is mixed in afterwards turns into a risotto-like dish and is delicious! Foreign cuisine seems hit or miss in terms of Japanese taste preferences, but it would be appreciated if they continue to offer dishes from around the world like this in the future. Also, there was an unfamiliar sudachi dressing labeled as limited time offer, when did they start offering this? In contrast to the rich flavor of Shkmerli, this dressing was quite light and refreshing, making it a good reset option.

My favorite set meal arrived at Matsuya! So, I'm going to eat a hearty meal in the morning. By the way, this shop has been renovated without me noticing. The counter seats are now along the wall, so the staff no longer bring the food in front of you. Instead, you have to go pick it up when your number is called on the ticket. Even after finishing the meal, you have to take the dishes to the return counter yourself. Is this what they call work-style reform? The pork teppanyaki takes a while to cook properly, so I kept getting passed by others in line. After being passed by 3-4 people, my number was called and I went back to my seat to eat! Now, as for the taste... The thick pork meat has a strong punch of garlic sauce, which is quite amazing. It's a taste that's hard to describe. I like to mix the sauce into the rice and enjoy it. The meat has just the right amount of fat, and it goes really well with the sauce. By the way, there seems to be a campaign for free extra large rice, but the extra-large portion was also free. I feel like I got a good deal.

I had breakfast at Matsuya, located in the arcade in front of Keisei Tateishi Station, just a 1-minute walk away. I arrived around 8:30 in the morning and the place was crowded, with all three table seats inside full and half of the counter seats taken. I ordered the most affordable breakfast item on the menu, the "Choose Your Small Side Dish Tamago Kake Gohan" (290 yen), from the ticket machine. It was served in about 5 minutes and included rice, premium mini beef dish, raw egg, and miso soup. For those who only want to eat rice, it's great, but for those like me who want to eat rice with side dishes, the amount of side dishes is a bit lacking, so some creativity is needed. - First, I ate the beef dish with the rice as a side dish. You can also try adding the sesame dressing provided to the beef for a different taste. - Once the beef dish is finished, I used the provided pickled ginger to make a "Pickled Ginger Rice Bowl." - After enjoying the pickled ginger bowl, I mixed the raw egg with soy sauce to make "Tamago Kake Gohan." - If there's still leftover rice, the final option is to pour the miso soup over it to make a "Nekomanma." I have tried some of these methods, and it's really enjoyable to think about while having breakfast.

This is a limited-time menu that has been revived! I was told that it would be gone by the beginning of May, but luckily they were still selling it so I tried it. I bought a meal ticket and sat down, and my food arrived quickly. It's from Matsuya, so it comes with miso soup which is nice. The curry plate is separated, with bite-sized pieces of chicken and a lot of onions. The curry is on the spicy side, and there's plenty of sauce so you can pour it generously. It's pretty tasty, but eating the rice and chicken together is a bit challenging because of the large pieces of chicken. You have to open your mouth wide to eat it! Who knew that the downside of having lots of chunks in your curry would be this? You never know until you try it!

I visited Matsuya on the first day of the three-day weekend in November. I ordered the Sausage and Egg set meal for 400 yen, which came with sausage, fried egg, seaweed, pickles, and a side of beef bowl. The cost performance was amazing for only 400 yen. However, I wish they had an option to change the miso soup to pork miso soup for an additional 100 yen. When I visited in January on a Saturday morning, I found out that they actually have the option to change to pork miso soup for 180 yen. Even though it was slightly more expensive than I hoped, the total of 580 yen was still satisfying. In April, I tried the Salmon set meal for 450 yen on a Saturday morning, and it was the perfect breakfast. In May, on a Sunday morning, I had the Negi-Tama Gyudon, which was simply delicious. Lastly, in April on a Saturday morning, I tried the Beef Yakiniku Don (with pork miso soup) for 700 yen. It was a bit pricey for Matsuya's standards, but it was incredibly delicious!

Having curry at Matsuya in between work is truly an oasis. They're open on January 1st, which is great.

I ordered the seasonal limited eggplant and leek flavored soy sauce hamburger. I had never tried the combination of hamburger and eggplant before, so I decided to order it. The hamburger had fluffy white leeks on top, which went well with the hamburger. However, there was surprisingly little eggplant, and it was not cooked through. It seemed like it was warmed up in the microwave, so overall it didn't feel very warm. But the main part, the hamburger, was delicious. The set also came with a salad, and it was nice to be able to choose my favorite French dressing from the counter. It was a unique service to have miso soup included for free.

The restaurant is located right after you leave the station and enter the arcade in front of the station. It's a place where you won't get wet in light rain. Inside the restaurant, there are counter seats and table seats. I ordered the Premium Kimchi Stew Set with Mini Rice. The set comes with raw egg and pickles. The kimchi stew is made with tofu and meat, with just the right amount of spiciness that goes well with the rice. When you pour the raw egg over it, the spiciness becomes just right, and the rice tastes even better. Although this set doesn't come with miso soup, the stew is perfect for warming you up on a cold day. But I still feel happy when there's the classic miso soup available.

I'm sorry for the sudden topic, but do you know the song "Okami ni Naritai" by Miyuki Nakajima? Some of you may remember the song when you hear the intro, "Before dawn at Yoshinoya, a city girl with fading makeup~♪". It's not because of this song, but one area that I have always hesitated to venture into is the "Gyudon Big Three" chains of Yoshinoya, Matsuya, and Sukiya. It's not a problem if I'm with someone (I've actually been to Yoshinoya twice!), but as a mature woman, I feel a bit (well, quite) resistant to the idea of eating gyudon alone (not that anyone is watching, haha). This summer, I unexpectedly had the opportunity to make my "Matsuya debut"... On that day, I had a packed schedule from the morning on the Tobu Tojo Line, then transferring to Keisei Tateishi in the afternoon. As expected, my morning work ran late, and by the time I arrived at Tateishi station under the scorching sun, I was already 15 minutes late for my appointment. If I were alone, I would have just run, but that day, I was part of a group activity with clients. Suggestions like "let's just have some bread" were made, but unfortunately, it was a Sunday, and the Tateishi station front shopping street was quiet. I know many "izakaya" and "drinking spots" in the area, but I was useless in times like this (sweat). Then, one of my companions said, "Let's go to Matsuya!" and everyone agreed. With a time limit of 5 minutes, we quickly ordered the "Summer Vegetable Tomato Curry" (490 yen) based on the feeling that we would need energy for the afternoon. While the others ordered gyudon or the tomato curry salad set, I was the first to receive my order. The seasonal limited menu "Summer Vegetable Tomato Curry" is a popular item that has been well-received since its introduction. It is a dish that adds summer vegetables such as eggplant, bell peppers, and zucchini to the tomato curry. It looked more like a stew with lots of tomatoes than a curry (I'm terribly sorry!), but when I tried it, the refreshing acidity of the tomatoes unexpectedly matched well with the curry, which was quite spicy. The summer vegetables like eggplant, bell peppers, and zucchini appeared here and there, adding color to the curry with acidity. It went smoothly into my stomach with a refreshing texture. I was feeling tired from the early start of the day (it was hot!), but this dish was easy to eat and refreshing. It was my first time trying it, and I was impressed by the combination (I'm terribly sorry for the late review!). The only disappointing part was the rice. Of course, considering the price point, I understand, but if the rice had been delicious with this content, I would have given it four stars. We entered and exited the restaurant in about 6 minutes (amazing!). The afternoon work that started 30 minutes late went smoothly thanks to the nutritious "Summer Vegetable Tomato Curry" (haha). Nevertheless, it made me wonder if it's not the kind of place where mature women, let alone three people (!), would visit. Well, the location in downtown Tateishi was fortunate, but conquering the second of the "Gyudon Big Three" felt like an accomplishment (haha). Only one more to go, Sukiya. When will I conquer the third of the Big Three...? There were several restaurant candidates suitable for an anniversary review, but for the "first memorable restaurant visit in life," let's consider this as a good thing (haha).

The night in Tateshina comes early. After 10 pm, the shops start closing one by one. When I come home late at night or feel tired from studying, the first thing I do is lie down on my bed. And then, I usually end up falling asleep. When I wake up, it's already 2 am... I don't feel like cooking at this hour, but I also don't have frozen food. That's when "Matsuya" comes to the rescue. It's located in the shopping street in Tateshina, so I can easily walk there even late at night. Here are some details about Matsuya: - Location: Facing the Keisei Tateshina shopping street. It has an arcade, so it's convenient even on rainy days. - Atmosphere: Similar to other Matsuya restaurants, but being inside an arcade gives a sense of security, especially with 24-hour open shops nearby and a police box in sight. - Ordering: Similar to other locations, you purchase a meal ticket from the machine. The staff will bring your order to your table. They also provide water or tea. - Food: This time, I ordered two dishes together. First, the "Grated Beef Rice Bowl." It had a nice balance of spiciness from the grated radish and ponzu sauce, which was quite delicious. Priced at 380 yen for a regular size. Next, the "Negi-Tama Beef Rice Bowl." The half-cooked egg was cold as expected, but the combination with the green onions was good. It would have been even tastier if the egg was warmer. Also priced at 380 yen for a regular size. - Overall Impression: Matsuya never disappoints in terms of taste for its price. The food is quick but not bad. The staff efficiently follows the manual and interacts with customers in a straightforward manner. Matsuya is a place where you can relax without any pressure, different from Starbucks. It's a place where you can unwind.

Category: Favorite Izakaya (Tokyo) Late night in Keisei Tateishi. There are few open restaurants around here. Since I'm not drunk enough for a second round, I'll have a late-night meal at "Matsuya" near the station. As soon as I sat down, I was instructed to buy a meal ticket from the vending machine. So, even in Tateishi, they use vending machines... Let's wait for the meal to arrive with a bottle of beer (420 yen) as a starter. Today's main dish is diced steak set (690 yen). It's dangerous to have a late-night craving for meat, but let's consider it a sign of improved health. The portion is surprisingly generous. Having steak and beer for around 1,000 yen is something that was unimaginable in the past. Now, let's finish our late-night meal and head back home. Thank you for the meal! "Matsuya Keisei Tateishi Branch" 1-19-6 Tateishi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Azumaya Building 1F