★Notice★ Today, on September 2nd at 5:00 PM, the broadcast of the program recorded the other day will start. It will be a nationwide broadcast on BS Nippon TV Shopping, featuring Hikaru Kousei and Maezono Wagamama Sanmai Gourmet - Around Kyushu and Tohoku (first broadcast). You can find the program on the BS Nippon TV schedule for September 2nd (Saturday) at 5:00 PM. BS channels are free to watch like commercial channels, and there will be repeat broadcasts, so please make sure to watch it. The reason for heading to Yoshinoya There were a few reasons for going to Yoshinoya that day. First, I needed to have a quick lunch before a meeting. There was a coupon available. I had a paypay coupon that was expiring that day. And, there was the need for a rematch... So, those were a few reasons for choosing Yoshinoya. Oyakodon Rematch. Actually, the first time I tried Oyakodon last year, it was quite disappointing ⇒ it was just too bad. However, I had heard some people saying it was delicious. So, I thought, let's give it another try during the promotion period. So, I went to Yoshinoya. Oyakodon (regular) for 547 yen With a Yoshinoya coupon, it was 30 yen off, making it 517 yen. Additionally, I got 27 yen back in paypay points. So, the actual cost was 490 yen. By the way, when you order Oyakodon, they ask if you want it regular or large. At Yoshinoya, when you order large, you usually say so from the beginning. But this time, when they asked if I wanted it large, I realized they must have customers who prefer it that way. It was different from last year. The Oyakodon that was served was different from the one I had at the Toyooka branch last year. The egg was quite runny, and the overall appearance was quite dark. I thought maybe the sauce was on the richer side. When you think of Oyakodon, it's quite different from Nakau in appearance. The egg was quite soft. I wonder if it's better to finish it with a half-cooked egg? The egg was runny but not raw like last year. The sauce was quite generous, and it was mixed with the egg. The chicken pieces were large. As for the ingredients, there were onions and chicken pieces intertwined. The chicken pieces were slightly larger. They seemed to be cut larger than at Nakau. When you chewed on them, they were firm yet tender. The onions were cooked to a soft texture. Overall, it was on the sweeter side. The seasoning was on the sweeter side overall. It had a quite rich flavor. It was a bit different, maybe like sukiyaki-style, that kind of feeling. However, it was clearly different from the Oyakodon I had last year. I felt that this year's version was much tastier. Goes well with pickled ginger. Since the sauce was sweet, I decided to try putting pickled ginger, which is a must for Gyudon. And... it was quite a good combination. It worked really well. It was a nice touch. It was my first time trying pickled ginger on Oyakodon, and it was good. If I have the chance to try Oyakodon again next time, I'll definitely add it. So, although this Oyakodon was completely different from last year's, it's still unclear if this is the right way to go. Thank you for the meal. ⇒ ◇ So far, Nakau has the upper hand in Oyakodon ◇

Accommodation was at Dormy Inn. I didn't have breakfast here. I checked out after taking a morning bath at 8:15. It's about a 5-minute drive from Dormy Inn along 4th Street. I arrived around 8:20. I had confirmed on Tabelog, but the ordering system had changed, and now you order at the reception counter, receive a buzzer, and pick up your order when it buzzes. I personally preferred the old way of ordering with a tablet while sitting and having the food brought to you (I understand there are various reasons like labor costs). Anyway, I placed my order. I ordered the Ham, Egg, and Natto set meal for ¥437 (with regular rice) and a side of salmon for ¥239. I took the buzzer to my seat, and it buzzed after about 3 minutes, so I went to pick up my order. Water, chopsticks, and soy sauce were self-serve. I was happy to see green onions served with the natto. The miso soup with seaweed was lightly seasoned, perfect for breakfast. The salmon was also lightly salted and tasted good. I enjoyed eating the natto first, mixing it with the rice and then topping it off with the half-cooked egg yolk, creating a kind of egg over rice dish. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

Today, I had an appearance and meeting with Madam Kero at Ribel. We discussed the sales performance of the popular Hillmori-ta Donburi currently available at Manyo no Yu, as well as plans for the next project. The meeting took place at Manyo no Yu, but we decided to have lunch at Yoshinoya instead. The new Yoshinoya location is clean and spacious, making it a perfect place for a meeting. We ordered our meals using the unfamiliar self-service system, where you place your order, pay, and then wait for your food to be ready. I ordered the Teppan Gyukarubi set meal for 827 yen after a 50 yen discount with a coupon. The set meal allows for unlimited rice refills. The difference between Teppan Gyukarubi and Teppan Gyukiyaki was explained to me, with Gyukarubi having more fat content. I enjoyed my meal with the flavorful sauce provided. However, I noticed that chopsticks were not provided, and condiments were placed in a common area, which was inconvenient. Despite these minor issues, the meal was satisfying. I also observed that the double meat bowl I ordered was best enjoyed one meat at a time, rather than simultaneously. Overall, the meal was enjoyable, and I left feeling full and content.

I was curious about the summer limited edition "Barley Miso" and "Hiyajiru" at Yoshinoya, so I stopped by on my way home from work. It's been a while since I last visited this store. I remember they renovated in February. It has become a new type of self-service store. This type of Yoshinoya has a bright and cafe-like atmosphere, similar to a family restaurant. The interior is quite clean and nice. I first placed my order at the counter. They had "Gyudon Barley Miso Set" and "Gyudon Barley Miso Bowl" for the Barley Miso, and for the Hiyajiru, they had "Gyudon Barley Miso Hiyajiru Set". I wanted to try both, so I ordered the "Gyudon Barley Miso Hiyajiru Set" (855 yen). When you order a set, you can get a free "large serving" or "refill" of barley rice! I don't usually get a large serving of rice, but since it's been a while since I had barley rice, I went for the large serving. It wasn't too crowded, so my order was ready quickly. I prepared my tea, water, and pickled ginger at the self-service station and sat down. The Gyudon Barley Miso Hiyajiru Set had barley rice with a chewy texture. It was topped with grated yam and okra. The texture was smooth and I kept wanting more. The Hiyajiru was more flavorful and bold than I expected. The sesame flavor was nice. Of course, I had to have the Gyudon too. It had the reliable and familiar taste that I always enjoy. I had a refreshing summer meal with the Barley Miso and Hiyajiru. It was delicious!

Beef and barley rice bowl, large size, 789 yen (tax included). Used a 50 yen discount coupon on the app. It's been a while since I've been to Yoshinoya. I placed my order and paid at the reception, received a buzzer even though there was no one else there, and quickly picked up my bowl at the counter. The system is all self-service, which can be convenient or a bit of a hassle depending on the person. As for the taste, hmm?

Hillmorita's live broadcast ended. After that, I had a meeting for next week. When it was over, it was almost 3 pm. As usual. I headed to the restaurant I usually go to. They were open as expected. I had planned to eat the beef bowl or beef kalbi set meal. However, they had a 10% off promotion for fried chicken. I asked the staff if it applied to set meals as well, and they said yes. So, I changed my mind and ordered the beef bowl and fried chicken set meal for 877 yen. With the discount, it came to 789 yen. The fried chicken was served quickly after ordering, and it was quite big and had a decent amount of filling. However, the taste was a bit bland. The beef bowl had a generous amount of beef, more than the regular beef bowl. I always want to eat this when I go to Yoshinoya. The rice was soft this time, and I had a second helping of regular rice. I will try adding extra broth next time. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

Renewal Open I visited a restaurant that had been closed for a while but recently reopened after renovation. I couldn't tell much difference from the exterior. The drive-thru sign was there before, right? It has changed. It has completely changed. It's now self-service. I used to love the old system at Yoshinoya with the counter in a U shape and the staff shouting orders. But maybe that system was outdated. And when I first experienced self-service at the Toyooka store, it was disappointing. However, the newly renovated interior is clean and bright. But this means they have reduced staff. There were more staff before, right? "Please place your order first." I know. I know. I know. But Yoshinoya used to be a place where you could take your time with the menu. "Please place your order first." I know!! "Welcome, what would you like to order?" I was called... Oh, I haven't decided yet... But there's a sign that says "New." I tried the fried chicken that I had before when it first came out. I didn't really like it, but has it changed? That's also on my mind... "New Iron Plate Beef Kalbi!!" "New Iron Plate Beef Yakiniku." These are good, but what's different? It doesn't say... The seating has changed too. Before, there was a counter on the right and booth seating on the left and in the middle. But all the booths are gone now. The right side has single seats, and the left side has tables that can be moved. Wait, did they reduce the number of seats? I went to get pickled ginger. Right next to it, there's tea and water. Of course, you have to serve yourself. So, you have to go back if you forget something like pickled ginger. I accidentally sat in the farthest seat on the right for single diners. Oh, there are drinks there. But it's a paid drink bar. However, they also have pickled ginger and shichimi there. I recommend the farthest seat on the right for single diners. I was interested in both Gyudon and Yakiniku, so I found a set that includes both on the menu. And with a coupon on the app, I got a 50 yen discount. Plus, you can get free rice refills with the set. So, I asked for a large serving first. It's sizzling. It's cooked over solid fuel, sizzling as it comes out. So, the bread was quite hot. I touched it and it was really hot. But they're still cooking it. I suddenly realized that it was burnt. It was sizzling quite a bit. So, I flipped it over and, as expected, it was burnt. Well, it's within an acceptable range, but it seems quite difficult to control the heat. Or should I dip it in something? I dipped it in the sauce, but should I pour it over? Pour it and let the bread cool a bit? I'll try pouring it next time. I'm sure there will be a problem with what to do when the sauce burns. First serving. Just a little bit of this and that. Since you can get a refill, I always want to get one. I started with the Kalbi bowl. But it's so delicious that the rice goes quickly. You can get unlimited rice refills with the set, but upgrading the Gyudon to a large serving costs 187 yen more. A bowl of rice costs 184 yen by itself. I always wonder why it's only for the set. Maybe it's because of the price difference? But I want to eat Gyudon and have a large serving. For those who want that, I think it's better to get the Gyusara set for 624 yen and then get a refill. It's only an additional 110 yen for a large serving. Yoshinoya magic. So, I got a refill. You have to get it yourself. Place your bowl at the dish return counter and get a refill. They ask if you want a small, regular, or large serving. But I also thought about this. The seating area...

I visited this restaurant as it recently opened. I was happy before because I could place my order using the touch panel after being seated, but now it has changed to a self-service system where you order first when you enter the store and then pick up your food yourself. It feels a bit lonely during the evening after work, but I understand that this is the way things are heading as this popular rice bowl restaurant has made the change. As part of the dining experience, we must also handle serving the food ourselves. The taste is still delicious as always. I also received a coupon, so I will be going back soon!

"Yoshinoya" in Asahikawa, just the two of us. Yesterday we went skiing and stayed overnight in Asahikawa. The hotel is nice, but it's a repeat visit and we didn't include breakfast. We found out that Bikkuri Donkey is open 24 hours, so we planned to go there. But my wife said, "I'm not going." Did she really say that??? She's sleeping. I replied, but I'm not sure if it was her decision or not. It's a hassle to take out the car and put it back, so I looked up if there was anything nearby. There isn't anything close, but there's a Yoshinoya within walking distance. It's much better than taking out the car. As I walk, I use voice input to write a draft, which is a good use of time. I wonder if they have curry at Yoshinoya. I walk carefully, trying not to make my sore feet worse. I make sure not to slip and fall. It's a bit late to mention, but the shopping park is not an arcade. There's a light snowfall, and after walking about 1 km, the snow starts to accumulate on my hat. It's cold, but there are no people out like in Susukino, and I don't see any stores open all night. There are a few people walking, and they are careful with their steps. It was so cold. The horizontal walk was longer than the vertical walk. My ears are freezing. I knew I had a poor sense of direction, but my position is vague. A gentle Western music plays in the background. The curry arrived in just 3 minutes. It's a dark curry with gyudon toppings. It's surprisingly delicious when eaten together. However, when eating them together, the hot curry becomes lukewarm. The rice is also lukewarm. Isn't the rice cold? I'm a takeout guy, so I often hear, "You won't know until you eat at the restaurant." But isn't it a waste to be told that the rice and beef are lukewarm? By the way, they say "2.5 times more onions" on the sign. Was it less before this? It was delicious. Let's serve it hotter. I'm grateful for the warmth. I'm sweating now. Now I feel like I can walk without feeling the cold for a while. I'll walk back a little faster.

Well, this year as well, I've been eating out... although, it's just the food I had at the end of the year haha. I haven't been doing it lately, especially since there are fewer places open at the end of the year, but this place is always open so you can go there without worries. Before the snow falls... the appearance of the exterior doesn't change. It's just the difference when there's snow or not... but just having snow makes a big difference in how it looks. Well, I couldn't take pictures because of the heavy snow. So, please forgive me for using the pre-snowfall images. The beef bowl set meal... is good, but the set meal is the attraction. The reason being, when you order a set meal, you can have free rice refills. I wonder why that is. Then, why not have free rice refills for the beef bowl alone. I think that would be fine. Why is it that only the set meal has free rice refills? Salted pork bowl I had a pork bowl a while ago. However... it didn't quite meet my taste preferences. Even when they couldn't serve beef bowls due to mad cow disease, the pork bowl they served was delicious, but this time it wasn't that taste. Salted pork bowl... Is it different when it's beef bowl? Recently, there are various toppings like green onions and cheese, but I still prefer the normal way. And of course, with extra rice. But what's the difference between the beef bowl regular size for 569 yen and the beef bowl with extra meat for 632 yen? I still don't understand. Beef plate and green onion salted pork set meal There are three kinds of double meat set meals, with the beef plate being a standard, and the beef short rib and green onion salted chicken short rib also being delicious, but since I have tried them before, this time I tried the green onion salted pork. The beef plate has a reliable taste, like the top part of the beef bowl. There is a single item called beef plate for 369 yen, so when you order a plate, does this come? Or is the portion different again? Let's calculate it later. Green onion salted pork is served in a hot skillet, so please be careful... After being told that, I didn't touch it for a few minutes. However, when I tried the ingredients inside during that time... it wasn't that hot... So I tried touching the skillet... it was actually cold haha, it was a trick to make it seem hot. A single item costs 514 yen, so I tried the green onion salted pork bowl. First bowl. Oh, rice refills are a must for the progress of eating haha. Of course, with extra rice. At first, I tried the green onion salted pork bowl... hmm, the salt sauce tasted like something I've had before. If you've tasted a salt-based dish that effectively uses the power of science, you must have experienced this taste at least once. There was no originality in the taste. By the way, a single serving of rice costs 184 yen, and the extra rice is not mentioned, so it must be free. Beef and pork double bowl I tried the double bowl even though there is a double set meal, there is no double bowl. So, I made one myself. Of course, with extra rice. How should I put it... the beef is overwhelmingly delicious. When you eat them side by side, you can really appreciate the taste of Yoshinoya's beef bowl. The green onion salted pork seemed pitifully lacking in flavor compared to it. By the way... when calculated as a single item, 369 yen + 514 yen + 184 yen + miso soup 74 yen = 1141 yen Plus extra rice refill 184 yen, so it's 1325 yen. The difference with the set meal is 448 yen... I guess the amount of meat is much less when ordered as a single item. However, if you order the beef bowl with extra rice for 635 yen, and if you want to eat a lot, then the beef plate with extra rice for 479 yen + 184 yen for rice = 663 yen, so it's more cost-effective if you have extra rice. I'll try that next time I go. Thank you for the meal. ⇒ ◇ Beef head, changes in amount by staff ◇

The completion level of Yoshinoya is beyond doubt. Is this a limited autumn special set? I ordered the regular amount of meat. I think there is a raw egg to put on top of the gyudon, but I used it in a different way. First, I eat the gyudon, rice, pickles, and miso soup alternately, then finish with the rice. Then I get a refill, which is free. They asked if I wanted a small or large, and I instinctively chose large. After the dish was served, I mixed the raw egg and intentionally made it into a TKG (tamago kake gohan - raw egg over rice). It was indeed delicious, but I should have chosen the small rice portion, as I ended up feeling like my stomach was going to burst. I never seem to learn (bitter smile). The cost performance is also great, it's a mirror of the food industry. Thank you very much m(_ _)m

The combination of green onion chili oil and red pickled ginger is confusing haha. Today, I came to Yoshinoya to eat their delicious curry, but this time it was black curry, which is recommended. I decided to pair it with beef kalbi, which is a fascinating collaboration for me. I also ordered green onion chili oil to add a little more. When I actually tried it, the curry was spicy and the beef kalbi paired well with it. The addition of green onion chili oil, which I wouldn't normally use, was surprisingly delicious. And just to add more, I threw in some red pickled ginger. It turned into a customized dinner.

The time is just before 3 o'clock. Hmm, the options for open restaurants are limited today. Okay, I'll go to this place that is definitely open. It's a place known for its beef bowls. This time I decided to dine in. Last time, I used the drive-thru, but it took forever. I was left waiting so long that I thought I could have ordered and finished eating inside the restaurant. Also, the staff seemed to be in a bad mood. This time, I chose to dine in. It's easier to see the menu this way. Here, you order using a tablet. It's convenient, but a bit hard to navigate. Plus, it's not very user-friendly for older customers. The paper menu with larger photos is easier to read. I'm debating whether to go for the larger size beef bowl, which comes with an extra charge. However, with the set meal, you can have unlimited rice for free. And since you can order using the tablet, you can order without feeling hesitant. But! I've had the regular beef bowl before, and it lacks excitement. I want to try something new. I knew that Yoshinoya offers hot pot dishes, but I've never ordered one before. Hmm, the beef sukiyaki set or the clam and pork kimchi stew are tempting options. The beef sukiyaki set with double the meat is 1017 yen. With a coupon for 30 yen off, it's 987 yen. But there's also an option for a larger size... I wonder if that's for more meat. The larger size costs 110 yen more, while double the portion costs 305 yen more. Which one is a better deal? By the way... I accidentally wrote "larger size" in today's video... Only those who read the blog will know about the mistake in the video. I won't be making scrambled eggs and pouring them over... I won't be doing that, haha. Instead, I'll enjoy the beef sukiyaki style. It gives you the feeling of eating sukiyaki. Dip the egg, then dip the rice, and eat together. And then, enjoy the egg with the rice. Hmm, this is delicious. Despite being a regular at Yoshinoya, this is a new taste for me. The simmering sound gradually fades away... It's hard to convey the simmering effect in a photo. And... before I knew it, the simmering was over. I prepared too much sukiyaki. The short noodles, which are like udon, are surprisingly short. I wonder if that's the correct length... Or did this restaurant just serve really short noodles? Dip these noodles in the egg, and enjoy. This is also delicious. But there's something else I want to do. I want to mix it all together. Hmm, this is the way to go. Mixing it all together adds a whole new level of flavor. It was delicious. Hmm, next time I go, I'll have to decide between the hot pot, set meal, or beef bowl. It's going to be a tough decision. Ah, that was delicious. Thank you for the meal. ⇒ I feel like I want to have another serving of rice.

On 22/01/09, for dinner on my day off, I had a "regular beef bowl for 426 yen & raw egg for 74 yen". It was the second day of a three-day weekend with my wife and daughter away. Before picking them up, I needed a quick meal. So, I decided to go here after a long time. My first experience with Yoshinoya was in April 1988. There was a store near my workplace in Ochanomizu. It was delicious, cheap, and filling. It was a lifesaver for a young, poor salaryman! When I returned to Hokkaido, Yoshinoya had also expanded to Sapporo. During my overtime days at the head office, I was happy they were open late. And when I was on my second assignment to Hokkaido, it was a reliable ally when I didn't feel like cooking. The ordering system has changed from face-to-face to touch panel. The menu has a variety like a family restaurant. Despite changing with the times, Yoshinoya's taste remains reassuringly consistent. It's the same as when I was single and living alone. It's my third year working locally now. Maybe it's time to live alone again? Hopefully... I wish they would transfer me to a town with a Yoshinoya (tears).

I started my journey early in the morning, but before that, I had to eat breakfast! So I went to Yoshinoya, a 24-hour restaurant. I sat at a clean table by the window and placed my order using the touch panel. Since it was early in the morning, there were no other customers. I couldn't decide on a breakfast menu, so I ended up choosing the "Pork Bowl (small)" for 365 yen. The thinly sliced pork in the bowl was tender and delicious, but I forgot to ask for no sauce, so it ended up being too saucy, which made the rice soggy, and I don't like that. I managed to finish it by swapping the rice with my companion's "Beef Bowl". I will definitely remember to order it without sauce next time! Thank you, Yoshinoya Shijo-dori branch.

When it comes to Yoshinoya, I had never tried anything other than their rice bowl dishes recently. So, I decided to try their new menu item, "Beef Hayashi Rice," in a large serving. The sauce was a proper Hayashi rice flavor. However, the ingredients were just onions and thinly sliced beef. In the end, Yoshinoya is all about the "Beef Bowl."

It's the season for beef sukiyaki set meals. This time, I tried the clam and pork kimchi stew set meal that was released at the same time. It was not too spicy and easy to eat. The reason I chose the kimchi stew set meal was to make ochazuke (rice with tea poured over it) as a finishing touch. I added a raw egg and had an extra serving of rice. I added solid fuel, put in the rice, and sealed it with the egg. I enjoyed every last drop of the soup until the very end while it was still piping hot. Thank you for the delicious meal! 🍲

From the drive-thru side. Just a little more patience. In a few more days, it seems that the state of emergency will be over for now. I used this drive-thru too, but this time, I didn't want to skip it. So, I went inside the restaurant. To my surprise, there was no one inside. While I was eating, customers were coming in one after another, but all of them were using the drive-thru. Quite a few cars were coming in. By the way, while I was eating, only one person came inside. I thought it was good, but they were a takeout customer. I was interested in the beef bowl and the beef kalbi set with poke, but I decided to go with the set meal this time. Beef bowl: First, the classic beef bowl. It had a decent amount of toppings on top of the beef bowl. It seemed to be the same amount as a regular serving or even less, but it had a pretty substantial volume. It might have even been more than a regular serving. By the way, can you make it with extra sauce? I think it would be good to eat the beef bowl all at once by putting it on the rice. Beef kalbi: This meat also had a substantial thickness. The gochujang sauce that came with it was also good because it had a sweetness and spiciness that complemented the flavor of the kalbi. There was also a decent amount of meat on it. Since there were no customers eating inside, was it a service? It seemed like a good amount. Double bowl: I decided to put both on top of the rice all at once. This resulted in a completed double bowl, even though there were beef bowl and kalbi bowl separately on the menu. There was no double bowl on the menu. I wonder if there is a reason why it can't be made. However, if it's a set meal, you can make it yourself. Delicious!!! It's delicious to wrap the rice with meat. I took a bite of just the meat first, but it's good to eat the meat and rice together. I finished the rice... Since the large serving was free, I ordered a large serving of rice. However, I ended up with half of both meats left and no more rice. I rarely make a mistake in balancing the amount of rice and side dishes. Well, most people probably don't make that mistake either!! So... the refill appeared!! In a set meal, the rice refill is also free. So, I asked for it. However, there was only a regular serving of rice available for refills. You can eat this and then get another refill... It's a good strategic plan, isn't it? haha. But, when I ate a regular serving on top of the large serving, my stomach started to hurt quite a bit haha. If I had gotten a large serving for the refill, it might have been too much. So, I had a leisurely lunch alone in the restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

Limited to autumn, the "Tsukimi Gyutan Don" features beef, onions, and egg. This combination should be delicious. The raw egg and beef are served separately. Whether you want to put it on top or dip it, it's up to you. The sweet and savory flavor of the raw egg with this hearty dish makes you grateful to be born in Japan.

I visited Yoshinoya based on the limited time offer of selling black wagyu beef rice bowl starting from August 12th. I had checked the reviews on social media beforehand, so my expectations were low. I arrived after 11 am and there were no other customers at the family-style Yoshinoya, which had been open for a few years and was very clean. They had both counter seats and tables for four people, and you order using a touch panel. The food arrived shortly after ordering. The beef was indeed tough, as the reviews had mentioned. It was hard to chew due to the presence of tendons. However, there were occasional pieces of surprisingly tender and delicious meat mixed in. In my case, I got lucky with two pieces of tender meat. It truly felt like a meat roulette. The rice portion felt smaller than expected, and the kimchi and miso soup were just average. It cost less than 1400 yen, so I wouldn't mind trying it again in the future. I left the restaurant thinking that Yoshinoya had improved for the better since my last visit. Thank you for the meal!