Today, I went to Matsunoya Nakano store. I had the limited menu item called "Yurinchi" (oil-drenched chicken) fried chicken set. It is a Chinese dish where fried chicken is topped with a soy sauce-based sauce. The slightly spicy fried chicken really whets your appetite. It was delicious.

Located near the north exit of Nakano Station, along Nakano Street. It is close to the intersection with Waseda Street. It is situated across from Yayoiken, next to Matsuya which is part of the same group, and in a row with Sutadon, all of which are similar in price range chain restaurants in the area. I think there was another Matsuya along this street? There are four Matsuya group stores in the vicinity of Nakano Station along Nakano Street, from north to south: Matsunoya, Matsuya, Matsuya, and Matsuya. There used to be a Matsunoya at the rotary near the south exit of Nakano Station, which I occasionally used after visiting the library, but it closed due to redevelopment around the station. My family wanted to go to Matsunoya, so we used the one near the north exit. As soon as you enter, there is a ticket machine and a hot water dispenser next to it. There are many solo diners, and the turnover of customers is fast, but with only one ticket machine for the Matsuya group, it can be difficult to use, leading to a line forming behind. On the left side after entering, there are counter seats, and on the right side, there are several 4-person table seats. In front of the 4-person table seats, there are partitions so that you cannot see the faces of the customers sitting opposite. When two customers use a table seat, should they sit facing each other, sit diagonally across, or sit side by side? Will other customers be able to sit opposite if they sit side by side? The use of these table seats felt difficult as there were no specific instructions from the restaurant. It might be easier if they just had all counter seats, considering that group customers at Matsunoya probably don't sit at tables for a long time chatting. I intended to order from both the app coupon menu and the regular menu, but when I scanned the QR code of the coupon first, only the coupon-compatible menu options appeared on the screen, causing confusion with the line forming behind. As a result, I randomly ordered the pork cutlet set and miso soup. Matsunoya used to feel like it had a really good cost performance, but when I visited in July 2023, the cutlet seemed slightly smaller.

I visited for lunch on a regular day. The restaurant I wanted to go to had a waiting line, so I went to Matsunoya instead. I had the pork cutlet set meal for 590 yen. It's a self-service restaurant, so when your number is called, you go to the pick-up counter. The pork cutlet was just the right thickness. It's not too fatty, but crispy and delicious. It's amazing that you can eat a tonkatsu for this price at a chain restaurant! I might prefer the medium-thick sauce.

I had the top quality pork cutlet bowl this time after having the regular one last time. To be honest, I couldn't really tell the difference between the two with my own taste buds. Both were delicious. So, from now on, when I order a pork cutlet bowl, I'll go for the regular one instead of the top quality. It's a bit cheaper too.

I was very hungry and craving meat, so I tried the tonkatsu and rosukatsu at Matsunoya for the first time. I also got the oyster fry set for 890 yen. It was a hearty and quite delicious meal. The meat was good quality and not tough at all, despite some comments saying it was. The breading was also tasty. Maybe a bit too salty though. The cost performance is excellent!

The New Year's sale at Matsunoya's third round started on 1/25, so I tried eating at the local Nakano store after a long time. This time, the sale involves QR codes being distributed on Twitter that will make eligible items discounted when scanned at the ticket machine. I ordered the basic "Tartar Chicken Cutlet" (tax included 500 yen) with extra rice. After about 10 minutes, my number was called and I went to pick up my order. Unlike the Negishi store I usually go to where the staff brings the order to you, at this Nakano store you have to pick it up yourself. The portion of rice was huge as expected when I opted for extra rice. The chicken cutlet wasn't particularly large, compared to the tonkatsu I had recently which was bigger. It was easy to chew and tasted delicious, especially with the generous tartar sauce. For 500 yen, it was definitely worth it. The amount of shredded cabbage seemed less than at the Negishi store, but it was okay. I topped half of it with sudachi dressing and the other half with carrot dressing, both of which were really tasty. The extra rice was quite a lot at 350g, so next time I might go back to the regular portion. The miso soup was a bit salty. After finishing my meal, I returned the tray and left the restaurant. Overall, when comparing, I feel like the Negishi store I occasionally visit has higher quality. The staff serves and clears the table for you, and there seems to be more cabbage served. I feel bad for making these comparisons since I only come during the one coin sale, but anyway, it was a delicious meal.

It's been so long that I almost forgot when was the last time I visited. This time, I tried the katsudon for ¥630 for the first time. Surprisingly, it was delicious. For this price, the taste was unbeatable. Matsunoya's system has changed a lot. They now have a touch panel ticket machine where your number is displayed on the monitor. An estimated time is also provided next to your number. The interior has also changed significantly.

The menu is extensive for the price, and the food is quite delicious. While there are other places where you can get larger and juicier fried horse mackerel for 850 yen, the taste here is sufficient. Additionally, it seems that at the Nakano branch, you can have unlimited refills of rice and miso soup as a special service. Personally, I prefer Matsunoya over Katsuya because of their tasty fried horse mackerel.

At Matsunoya Nakano store, a 6-minute walk from Nakano Station North Exit, they are offering a Unagi (eel) and Pork Cutlet Bowl with Miso Soup set for 1,090 yen. This menu was introduced 3 days ago and it's a dish I was looking forward to as I had never heard of Unagi and Pork Cutlet Bowl before. Matsunoya, which used to be located near the South Exit of Nakano Station, has closed down, so I went to the one near the North Exit. I arrived at 3 pm and there was 1 customer before me and 5 customers after me. I ordered using the ticket machine in the restaurant and received my meal in less than 10 minutes. Contrary to my expectations, the Unagi and Pork Cutlet Bowl had the pork cutlet placed on top of the rice with the Unagi on top of it. It was a pleasant surprise, but I felt a bit disappointed that the Unagi sauce didn't reach the rice. The taste was good, with the Unagi being the highlight while the rest tasted like a regular Pork Cutlet Bowl. Overall, it was a satisfying meal!

On Friday night, I was busy and returned to my local area Nakano at 23:50. I hadn't eaten dinner yet. I could have just gone home and gone to bed, which would probably have been the best for my body, but I started craving something unhealthy. I wanted to eat tonkatsu! Not from a convenience store, but a proper tonkatsu meal! However, it seemed difficult to find one at midnight, until I found Matsunoya, which was open 24 hours. I was a little flustered using the ticket machine, as I wasn't used to it. The restaurant was quite crowded. I was surprised to see so many people eating tonkatsu at this time of night! They didn't have thick-cut pork, but they had a two-piece pork loin set. I chose the classic pork cutlet set! The set was served fairly quickly. It was a simple meal, but I was satisfied to have it at this hour. After enjoying my meal, I had my usual moment of regret, wondering why I was eating at such a late hour. Thank you for the meal!

The katsudon at Matsunoya is cheap and delicious, so I go there occasionally to eat. This was my first time at this location. It's a Matsunoya without counter seats. When I walked in, the atmosphere felt a bit dark and gloomy... It was somewhat narrow, with only one ticket machine. There seemed to be one person in the kitchen and one in the dining area. Even though there weren't many takeout or delivery orders, the service was slow, and clearing tables after customers left was also slow. It seems like they might be short-staffed during lunchtime. Matsuya has been increasing self-service locations, and maybe Matsunoya should consider that too, especially at this particular location. The staff are trying their best, but they seem busy and not able to pay attention to everything, so you rarely hear a welcoming greeting. It might be just me, but the katsudon tasted a bit bland and not very delicious. There is another Matsunoya at the south exit, which has a brighter and nicer atmosphere, so if I crave katsudon in Nakano in the future, I'll go there instead.

I did it... Confession time! A mysterious dish that makes everyone confess, that's "Katsudon"! But don't worry, it hasn't done anything wrong. A few years ago, there was a Katsuya restaurant near Nakano North Exit, but after it closed down, whenever I crave Katsudon near Nakano Station, Matsunoya is the only choice left. Matsunoya's "Pork Cutlet Bowl" is only 590 yen for a regular size! It comes with miso soup, and the amount you get is amazing for the price. Katsudon is a dish where pork cutlet is simmered in a sweet and savory broth and topped with egg, so the taste is usually reliably delicious. Matsunoya's "Pork Cutlet Bowl" is always there for me, and today it was delicious as always! Thank you for the meal!

"Add 500 yen to change to pork miso soup with the morning set. In Nakano where there is no Sukiya, this is the best Japanese breakfast option. The quality of the pork miso soup is inferior to Sukiya. I tried both the homemade sauce and the normal sauce, but didn't feel much of a difference. Thank you for the meal. I will use this place often."

It's about a 5-minute walk from Nakano Station North Exit along Nakano Street towards Arai Intersection. There is also a South Exit, but this time I went to the North Exit. I was craving tonkatsu and happened to find this place. The restaurant has table seating and a counter facing the kitchen, with space for about 25 people. There are partitions for COVID-19 measures at the counter seats. Payment is made through a touch panel ticket machine where you purchase your meal in advance. They also accept QR payments and electronic money. I ordered the Roast Pork Cutlet & Asparagus Cheese Roll Cutlet set for 690 yen. The cheapest option is the Roast Pork Cutlet set for 550 yen, which comes with rice and miso soup, making it quite a good deal. With prices like this, you might want to add some toppings. The meal arrived in about 5 minutes. The Roast Pork Cutlet was nicely fatty and the breading was crispy and delicious. It would have been even better if the pork cutlet was a bit thicker, but for 550 yen, I was satisfied. The Asparagus Cheese Roll Cutlet, on the other hand, was a bit disappointing as I couldn't really taste the cheese, asparagus, or the pork's flavor. The rice was freshly cooked and delicious. I would like to try their Chicken Cutlet, Curry, Udon, Hamburger, and other menu items as well, as they have a wide variety of options.

Matsunoya, a tonkatsu restaurant under the Matsuya Foods group, recently released a Cajun chicken cutlet set meal. I couldn't resist the temptation of the spicy mapo tofu pork cutlet set meal and ended up revisiting for a revenge. This time, I ordered the chicken cutlet instead of the pork cutlet! The Cajun chicken cutlet set meal comes with a special spicy sauce made with chili peppers and garlic. The flavor reminded me of the sauce used in Matsuya's delicious tomato hamburger. The chicken cutlet wasn't dry, and the Cajun sauce was tasty.

After 11 PM, it's hard to find places to eat in Nakano, but chain restaurants provide reliable options. Today, I reluctantly went to a chain restaurant and was pleasantly surprised to find my favorite mille-feuille cutlet on the menu. It was both filling and delicious, with quality that didn't feel like it came from a chain restaurant. I was completely satisfied with this dish.

When you think of Matsuya Foods, you might think of a curry chain restaurant, but Matsunoya also serves up some delicious curry. It's thin and spicy, with a clear curry flavor that you can't find at other chain restaurants. This time, I was a bit surprised. I ordered the special hamburger curry, and the hamburger has a crispy coating. The coating absorbs a lot of curry, so the hamburger is covered in curry and has a new texture. The price is a bit higher compared to Matsuya, but the quality justifies it. This bold approach is hard to find at other chain restaurants.

"I'm not shy to say that Matsuya is a curry restaurant, but when it comes to its affiliate Matsunoya, I think of it as a tonkatsu restaurant. Although they do have curry on the menu, it doesn't have the same level of dedication as Matsuya and leans more towards a general appeal. However, Matsunoya has stepped up their game with a new dish - Spicy Soup Curry. Curry with tonkatsu!? You might be surprised. Normally, tonkatsu curry has a thick, rich curry to maintain the crispy texture of the tonkatsu. However, there are also delicious tonkatsu curry places that have a lighter curry. In the past, there was Monsnack, and nowadays, there is Hanjoaka, for example. Matsunoya's tonkatsu curry with a lighter curry is more of a chewy texture than soupy. It's quite different from the typical Hokkaido soup curry. It's not thick, and it's not like Matsuya's curry either. It has more vegetable flavor than Matsuya, and the spiciness and saltiness are mild. The curry is delicious on its own. When combined with the tonkatsu, it's also delicious. Since it's a tonkatsu restaurant, I added a little special tonkatsu sauce to the tonkatsu, and when combined with this curry, the flavors complement each other perfectly, resulting in a satisfying tonkatsu curry. Considering it's priced at 650 yen, it's quite impressive. There are certainly more delicious tonkatsu curry dishes out there, but for this price range, I highly recommend it. I'm not sure how long this menu item will be available, so I recommend trying it soon!"

Junky pork cutlet curry! Matsuya's curry with a lot of fatty cutlet on top. The rice portion, which should be normal, was actually quite large. The curry tasted just like Matsuya's curry. The crispy cutlet is topped with it and eaten. The cutlet had too much fat, making it spicy towards the end. Maybe sticking to the set meals here is more reliable?

At 530 yen, you can't complain about this quality. It's not dramatically delicious, but the batter is crispy, the meat is thick, and the cabbage is fluffy. The rice and miso soup are included in the price, which is good value for money.