After watching Satomi Ishihara's commercial, I decided to try the Mini Fire dish. The meat was tender and delicious, although the meat around the bones was a bit difficult to eat neatly. The spiciness of the Fire was just right for me, but some may find it too mild. The pink pickles that come with the dish may not be to everyone's liking, so it's best to mention if you don't want them. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

Visited around 7:00 am on November 30, 2022 (Wednesday). The restaurant is located a 2-minute walk from the south exit of JR Akabane Station on various JR lines, under the elevated JR line. Right at the entrance is the cash register, with about 10 counter seats in a U-shape to the right, and table seats in the back. At the far back on the right, there is a vending machine selling takeout food tickets, and takeout customers were ordering at the two dedicated order machines at the back right of the entrance. They would specify the takeout items, bring the order sheet to the cash register, pay, and then receive their order. Just before I posted this review, the restaurant had 8 reviews and an average rating of 3.03. There were 8 customers in front of me and 6 behind me. The restaurant was operated by about 3 staff members, both male and female. As I was dining alone, I sat at the counter. I chose the grilled fish breakfast set, which had been raised from 400 yen to 450 yen, a 50 yen increase. At "Matsuya," the grilled fish breakfast set had been raised by 100 yen, from 490 yen to 590 yen. As we approach the end of 2022, price increases continue at major restaurant chains, and in February 2023, there will be a significant price increase for food sold in supermarkets and convenience stores, which may reduce the number of people eating out. In April 2023, beer and wine are expected to see a maximum price increase of up to 40%. I selected "Salmon Breakfast 450 yen (tax included)" and chose a regular serving of rice and miso soup. The price varies depending on the size of the rice and the soup selection. The food was served 1-2 minutes after ordering. I always wonder how they heat up the grilled fish. The volume of rice seems to vary each time. If they had an automatic measuring device like the Shinagawa Konan Exit store, I think a consistent volume would always be provided. The grilled salmon was more generous compared to major beef bowl chain stores. The side dish was simmered hijiki with burdock, suitable for this season. The miso soup contained chopped green onions, wakame seaweed, and chopped fried tofu as ingredients. It had a rich flavor and was tastier than Matsuya's miso soup (laughs). The seasoned seaweed also goes well with breakfast. It's a bit sad that there was no pickled vegetables, but no beef bowl chain stores offer pickles at any of their stores. I heard that young people don't eat pickles and leave them all behind. Since it's not pickled in rice bran but in a light pickling solution, there is no smell. However, if you want to add it, a side of pickles costs around 90 yen, so I consult my wallet and decide to pass (laughs). The total cost for this day was 450 yen. Thank you for the meal. ---------- Revisited on November 24, 2022 Visited around 7:00 am on November 24, 2022 (Thursday). I ordered the "Homemade Bacon and Egg Breakfast 390 yen (tax included)" that went on sale from 9:00 am on November 16, 2022. I have eaten it many times since it went on sale. While the prices of grilled fish and beef have increased, it's nice that many restaurants have kept the prices of bacon and egg dishes the same. I'm still puzzled about how they cook the fried eggs at Sukiya without a hot plate. Probably they use a commercial microwave. That's why you probably can't order eggs cooked to your liking. The cut lettuce is sometimes disappointingly wilted. But having fresh vegetables for breakfast is much appreciated. The total cost for this day was 390 yen. Thank you for the meal.

I wanted to try eating cheese gyudon while drinking alcohol, so I visited the restaurant. I chose the cheese gyusara because I didn't need rice. The combination of pickled ginger, cheese gyusara, and bottled beer was excellent. It might be nice to have it at home too. How do you order extra sauce using the touch panel at each store?

Visited on the morning of March 9, 2022, around 7:59 am. The restaurant is located a 3-minute walk from the south exit of JR Akabane Station on various JR lines, under the JR elevated tracks, next to "Gyoza no Osho". The system involves seating at a table, ordering via a tablet device, calling a staff member after dining, and self-checkout to reduce contact with staff, especially considering the era of COVID-19. The tablet device is convenient once you get the hang of it. For elderly customers who struggle with it, the staff assist by suggesting familiar orders using their handheld POS system. The restaurant had 8 reviews with an average rating of 3.01 points before my review. There were 6 customers when I arrived, with 5 more coming in later, and 1 person for takeout. The restaurant was run by 2-3 female staff members. As a solo diner, I sat at the counter and ordered the "Tamago Kake Gohan Breakfast" for 280 yen (tax included). It came with rice, miso soup, nori seaweed, a raw egg, and simmered hijiki seaweed. Adding an extra raw egg cost 50 yen, and changing to pork miso soup cost 100 yen, all at reasonable prices. The previous visit had "Iwashi Tsumire Soup", which was no longer available this time. Instead, there was an option to add "Asari Soup" for an additional 100 yen. The clam soup was priced at 190 yen individually, without specifying the origin of the clams, likely imported. With rising food prices due to COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict, dining out may become more expensive, potentially affecting those with stagnant incomes. From April 2022, wheat flour will increase by over 17%, requiring price adjustments in food items to avoid losses. I had the clam soup with 11 clams, clearly farmed due to their appearance. The meal was served promptly, and the soy sauce for the Tamago Kake Gohan was a nice touch. The breakfast sets with salt-grilled salmon or mackerel remained affordable at 400 yen including tax. However, future price hikes are expected, especially for items like salmon and mentaiko due to reduced imports from Russia. I paid 380 yen for my meal that day.

Visited on the morning of February 16, 2022, around 7:59 AM. The restaurant is located a 2-minute walk from the south exit of JR Akabane Station, under the JR elevated railway. It is a restaurant belonging to the Zensho Group, which offers limited-time seasonal menus, which is nice. In February 2022, they introduced a new menu item called "Iwashi Tsumire Soup". Just before I wrote this review, the restaurant had 8 reviews with an average rating of 3.03. There were 4 customers when I arrived and 3 customers came in after me. The restaurant was being run by 3 female staff members. I usually have the grilled fish set meal here. Unlike other chains, Sukiya offers both salmon and mackerel options for only 400 yen including tax, which is great. I opted for the "Tamago Kake Gohan Breakfast for 280 yen (tax included)". I also decided to add the seasonal "Iwashi Tsumire Soup" for an additional 100 yen (tax included). The breakfast set includes rice, miso soup, nori seaweed, raw egg, and simmered hijiki seaweed. It's a good value for the price. The Iwashi Tsumire Soup came with 3 fish balls and plenty of spinach, but it lacked a bit of impact. It would probably cost around 200 yen if ordered separately. The rest of the set, including rice, raw egg, nori seaweed, and hijiki seaweed, was as good as always. I also tried changing to pork miso soup for an extra 100 yen (tax included) the next day. The pork miso soup contained pork, onions, taro, carrots, and was topped with plenty of chopped green onions. However, the amount of ingredients seemed a bit lacking. It's a decent deal for the price, but I wish it had more ingredients like the Matsuya Group's miso soup. Side dishes like beef or pork can be added for 120 yen each. However, items like natto for 90 yen or cold tofu for 130 yen seemed a bit expensive. The salad for 160 yen also seemed overpriced for its content and portion size. The grilled mackerel and grilled salmon were both delicious. Looking forward to the eel being available for sale again. Eel is best enjoyed in the winter, not during the summer. The seasonal simmered hijiki seaweed is made from soybeans and is perfect for practicing how to use chopsticks. It's quite challenging to eat. If you don't make any mistakes with additional dishes, you can have a cheap breakfast here. The 400 yen grilled fish set meal is one of the cheapest options among major beef bowl chain restaurants. The total bill for the day was 380 yen. Thank you for the meal.

Visited on the morning of January 6, 2022 (Thursday) around 8:05 am. The restaurant is located a 2-minute walk from the south exit of JR Akabane Station on various JR lines, under the JR elevated tracks. Right next door is "Gyoza no Osho Akabane Store." It's a convenient 24-hour operation. There are counter seats and table seats available, with many customers opting for takeout. At the time of my review, the restaurant had 8 reviews with an average rating of 3.03. There were about 5 customers already there and 6 more came in after me. The restaurant was being run by 3 staff members, both male and female. As I was dining alone, I sat at the counter. Looking at the breakfast menu, I noticed some price changes due to the year-end. The beef bowl had increased from 350 yen to 400 yen, and the breakfast menu also saw some price adjustments. The "Tamakake Breakfast" went from 250 yen to 280 yen, and the grilled fish breakfast went from 390 yen to 400 yen. The slight price increases were within an acceptable range. Interestingly, 30 years ago, a beef bowl at Yoshinoya was only 400 yen for a regular size, which seemed incredibly cheap back then. It's surprising that the price remains the same after 30 years, considering the significant price hikes in other advanced countries during the same period. Japan, once ranked second as an economic power after the US, has now dropped to 16th place. It's disappointing to see Japan lagging behind in terms of economic prosperity. I placed my order using the touch panel system to minimize contact with staff, a common practice in many eateries. I selected the cheapest option, the "Tamakake Breakfast" for 280 yen (tax included). It came with rice, miso soup, raw egg, seasoned seaweed, and simmered hijiki seaweed with lotus root as the side dish. The hijiki seaweed was a nice addition. The "Salmon Breakfast" for 400 yen (tax included) included rice, miso soup, seasoned seaweed, salmon, and simmered hijiki seaweed. Despite a 10 yen price increase, it was still a great deal compared to similar offerings at other chain restaurants. The "Mackerel Breakfast" for 400 yen (tax included) featured rice, miso soup, seasoned seaweed, mackerel, and simmered hijiki seaweed. It's rare to see grilled mackerel as a regular menu item at major beef bowl chains. Each breakfast set also offered the option to switch miso soup for tonjiru (pork miso soup) for an additional 100 yen, which I might try next time. My total bill for the day was 280 yen. Thank you for the meal.

On December 23, 2021, the price of Gyudon at Sukiya will increase to 400 yen. I noticed that in December 2021, the Suki Pass was discounted by 80 yen instead of the usual 70 yen, which seemed a bit higher. I decided to eat it before the price increase, so I got off at Akabane on my way home the day before the increase. There was a notice about the Gyudon price increase posted at the store. That day, there were more takeout customers than dine-in customers. I took a picture of the 350 yen price and left the store. The next day, the same Gyudon would cost 400 yen, but it was a good meal. Thank you. <Infection prevention list> Hand sanitizer: ✔️ Ventilation: ✔️ Social distancing: ✔️ Partition, seat spacing Staff wearing masks: ✔️ Temperature check at the entrance: None

Visited on August 18, 2021, at around 6:58 am. The restaurant is located a 2-minute walk from the south exit of Akabane Station on various lines, under the JR elevated tracks. Right next door is "Gyoza no Osho". There are many major izakaya chain stores under the elevated tracks, but very few are open in the morning. The system was to order on a tablet terminal and then pay using a self-service automatic settlement machine after eating. When seated, the staff provided cold water, but otherwise, the design aimed to minimize contact between customers and staff. This allows even those worried about infection through contact to order and eat with peace of mind. Prior to my review, the restaurant had 7 reviews with an average rating of 3.03. There were 5 customers when I arrived and 8 when I left. The restaurant was run by 2 male staff members. Just at 7 am, it seemed to be shift change time as two young male staff members arrived. I'm getting more used to ordering via tablet. The breakfast menu had changed since my last visit. While they still offered salmon and mackerel breakfast sets, the contents had changed. The raw egg was replaced with nori seaweed. The option to change the raw egg to pickles was no longer available. The mayo-potato side dish had changed to seasonal simmered hijiki. The tamago-kake breakfast costs 250 yen including tax. But considering that it includes rice, miso soup, nori seaweed, simmered hijiki, and raw egg, all for 250 yen, the value for money is excellent. At other beef bowl chain stores, a grilled fish set costs over 490 yen, making this 390 yen set a great deal. The deluxe set, for an additional 160 yen, includes raw egg and natto. However, spending over 500 yen on breakfast is tough for someone on a tight budget. Maybe I'll try "Unagyu" tomorrow. Good eel might bring me back for more visits. The total bill for this day was 250 yen. Thank you for the meal.

Visited on the evening of July 20, 2021 (Tuesday) around 7:00 PM. The restaurant is located a 2-minute walk from the south exit of JR Akabane Station on various JR lines, under the elevated tracks. Orders are placed using a tablet device on the table, and payment is made self-service at the register just to the left of the entrance, minimizing staff contact. With the ongoing spread of the new coronavirus, it seems like our way of life will not be the same for the next few decades. At the time of my review, the restaurant had 7 reviews and an average rating of 3.03. There were about 15 customers already seated and around 10 waiting. Additionally, there were about 5 takeout customers. The restaurant was being operated by about 3 staff members, both male and female. This was my second visit of the day, following breakfast. With the Tokyo Olympics approaching, both Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures have restricted alcohol sales in restaurants and urged people to refrain from going out. While many are transitioning to telework, I continue to commute to work daily. As a solo diner, I sat at a 2-person table since the counter seats were filled. I ordered the "Unagi Beef and Clam Soup with Pickles Set" for 990 yen (tax included). The unagi bowl alone is 790 yen, upgrading to unagi beef costs 890 yen, and adding clam soup and pickles brings it to 990 yen. It seemed like a good deal, so I chose the higher-priced option. Matsuya also started selling unagi bowls from July 20. I visited to compare, and confirmed that Sukiya's unagi is indeed the best among beef bowl chains. The meal was served in about 5 minutes, consisting of a bowl with unagi and beef, clam soup, pickles, and sansho pepper. The unagi was plump and had a decent thickness, without any strange smell. It was well-prepared. Unlike other beef bowl chains that only offer unagi around the midsummer day of the Ox, Sukiya sells unagi bowls for a long period from winter to around September. Oh, was it Yoshinoya that offers them year-round? The beef portion had an excessive amount of onions, which seemed unnecessary. The total bill for the day was 990 yen. Thank you for the meal. On July 20, 2021 (Tuesday), I revisited the restaurant for breakfast, 12 hours before the previous visit. There were 2 customers ahead of me and 5 behind me. The restaurant was operated by 3 staff members, both male and female. I sat at the counter and ordered the "Salmon Breakfast" for 400 yen (tax included) with pickles instead of raw egg. The set included rice, miso soup, grilled salmon, pickles, and mayonnaise potatoes. It was a bit disappointing that seasoned seaweed was not included. Considering the price of 400 yen including tax, it was reasonable. Sukiya is the only major beef bowl chain that offers not only grilled salmon but also grilled mackerel. As a big fan of mackerel, I truly appreciate this restaurant. This year, due to the spread of the new coronavirus, restaurants in the Tokyo metropolitan area are not allowed to serve alcoholic drinks. I don't have the patience to wait for unagi to cook without having a drink for 30 minutes to an hour. Even if it's commercial frozen (chilled) food, as long as it's reasonably priced and tasty, I am satisfied. Maybe this year, I'll try unagi from supermarkets or small sushi restaurants. After all, we will be refraining from going out for at least a month. The total bill for the day was 400 yen. Thank you for the meal.

Visited around 7:22 am on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. The restaurant is located a 2-minute walk from the south exit of JR Akabane Station, under the elevated structure walking towards Higashi-Jujo. It's next to Gyoza no Ohsho Akabane branch. As you enter, there is a self-service register on the left, with a counter seating area of 7 seats to the right, 4 counter seats facing each other, and 8 two-person table seats in the back. The kitchen is on the left side of the entrance. Ordering from the menu is done using a tablet device placed on the table. Payment is also self-service, minimizing contact with staff, which is suitable for the current COVID-19 situation. Recently, there has been a significant decrease in reviews on food review websites due to the stay-at-home requests. As a solo diner, I sat at the counter and ordered the "Grilled Mackerel Breakfast" for 400 yen, opting for pickles instead of raw egg. The breakfast set included rice, miso soup, grilled mackerel, mayo potato salad, and pickles. The set was satisfying for the price, and the miso soup was generously filled with seaweed and chopped fried tofu. Most other customers, especially men over 60, seemed to prefer the natto breakfast set. There were fewer female customers on this day. The total bill for the day was 400 yen.

I went to Akabane. I was interested in the "Garlic Sprout Gyudon" at Sukiya, so I went to Sukiya Akabane Minami-guchi store. I sat at the counter seat. There were no tablet devices in this store, so I placed my order directly with the staff. Garlic sprouts, deliciously spicy sauce, were placed on top of the beef bowl. I enjoyed the crunchy texture of the garlic sprouts while eating the beef bowl. Among Sukiya's seasonal limited-time menus, I thought this one was a hit. Thank you for the meal.

On my way back home from an outing, I decided to make a pit stop at Akabane Station before heading home. I was patrolling around the south exit of the station when a new menu caught my eye. I was intrigued and decided to check it out. I sat at the counter table and looked through the menu. There were many options, but I was drawn to the new menu item called "NY Pork Bowl." I placed my order and the delivery was quick. The dish consisted of thinly sliced smoked pork and sliced onions on top of rice, all covered in a wasabi-flavored mayonnaise sauce. The pork had a strong salty flavor which paired well with the wasabi mayo sauce. The sliced onions also complemented the sauce nicely. I enjoyed combining the smoked pork, onions, and rice together in each bite. It was a delicious meal. Thank you.

After work as usual, I got on the train and suddenly decided to get off at Akabane Station. Feeling hungry, I decided to stop by a place that caught my eye after patrolling the area. I ordered the new menu item, "Toro Uma Pork Chinese Bowl with Ginger Soup & Herbal Jelly Set" at a table seat. The delivery was quick. The tray arrived with the Toro Uma Pork Chinese Bowl, ginger soup, and herbal jelly. I started with the ginger soup, which had a strong ginger flavor with seaweed in it. Then I tried the Toro Uma Pork Chinese Bowl, which had ingredients such as bamboo shoots, Chinese cabbage, carrots, wood ear mushrooms, and pork belly in a Chinese sauce. I added some mustard and enjoyed it. I prefer a slightly stronger flavor though. Lastly, I tried the herbal jelly. I'm not a fan of the sweetness of coconut milk, but I managed to eat it because of the bitterness of the herbal jelly. Thank you for the meal.

Eating out - Price difference - Giving up on curry - Beef bowl regular size @ Sukiya / Akabane This is a story from a little while ago, but for lunch on January 19th (Sunday), I went to this restaurant. It's the Sukiya Akabane Minami-guchi branch. I had known about this place for quite some time. I was in the mood for curry, so I decided to visit this place on that day. First, I considered the menu. The curry in regular size was 490 yen. It's a beef bowl menu. The beef bowl in regular size is 350 yen. The price difference was too big, so I gave up on the curry and ordered the beef bowl in regular size. The beef bowl in regular size arrived quickly. It came with just meat and onions on top of rice, following the traditional simple is best style. I added pickled ginger and sprinkled plenty of shichimi pepper, and I was ready to eat. Of course, beef bowls go well with pickled ginger and shichimi pepper. Let's dig in. Yum yum yum. Oh, delicious! The beef bowl always has a great taste no matter when you eat it. The onions are cooked just right. If the onions in the beef bowl were raw, it wouldn't be a joke. The rice soaked in the sauce is also delicious! You can easily eat this alone. Pickled ginger. It's doing a great job. I quickly finished the beef bowl, drinking it down in one gulp. Phew, I'm full. With this taste and portion size at this price, the cost performance is more than satisfactory. I left the restaurant completely satisfied. The end. As of January 2011, the number of meals eaten out (breakfast and lunch only, excluding the company cafeteria) up to this day is 1,206 meals, with an average price: 466 yen per meal including tax.

After work, I got off at Akabane Station on my way home. Before heading back home, I decided to patrol around the south exit of Akabane Station to see if there was anything I could grab to eat. The bars and restaurants seemed lively. I was drawn to a new menu sign. I went inside and sat at a table to check out the menu. There were many options, but I decided to order the new menu item called "Asparagus Cheese Beef". The delivery was quick. The dish had a strong cheese flavor, so it may not be suitable for those who don't like cheese. It also came with Tabasco sauce. I tried adding the Tabasco sauce to change the flavor while enjoying the dish. The dish looked like cheese fondue with the same ingredients as beef bowl. It seemed to have improved from the previous version, with a richer cheese taste. It was a satisfying meal.

On January 6, 2019 (Sunday), I visited a very famous and reputable company called "Sukiya," which is part of the "Zensho" group, located under the JR guard near the south side of Akabane. It seems like lately it's the first thing that catches my eye in the city. I passed by a little before noon and felt like going in, so I decided to have an early lunch. As usual, there was no ticket machine, and payment is done afterwards, which is commendable. However, I think it would be better to reconsider having cash at the register right after entering through the automatic door for security reasons. Completely unrelated, I saw a poster at Gyoza no Ohsho Akabane branch advertising all-you-can-eat gyoza and it caught my interest. I'll have to come back next time (5th photo)!! Now, since I have nothing else to do, maybe I'll have a bottle of beer... The price of a small bottle has changed from 400 yen to 290 yen since 6 years ago. I ordered a medium serving of beef bowl (390 yen) and kimchi (130 yen). The kimchi is a bit more expensive compared to Yoshinoya. The taste didn't have the sweetness hidden behind the spiciness like at Yoshinoya. The beef bowl was served quickly!! I continued eating while drinking beer, but the beef bowl had a significant sweetness compared to Yoshinoya and Matsuya... I started craving rice, but I refrained. The sauce was sweet, leaving a lingering sweetness in my mouth until the end. Even adding pickled ginger and shichimi spice didn't get rid of the sweetness. The curry was spicy and decently tasty... In conclusion, both the beef bowl and beef bowl at Sukiya fall short compared to Yoshinoya!!

I ordered kalbi bowl with miso soup and black oolong tea. It was late at night but not crowded. A few more people came later.

It is located near the south exit (^o^). I had a sukiyaki bowl (^^) It was delicious☆ But it only had one piece of tofu inside (/ _ ; )