Gyudon Life: Why I’m a Yoshinoya Ride or Die For Life

I really can’t express just how happy Yoshinoya in Japan makes me but I’ll try.

Maybe it is because I have fond memories of patronizing this fast food gyudon (beef and rice bowl) chain my first Chinese New Year in Beijing when it was the only thing open (that and KFC). Maybe it is because it is there for me while working odd hours with clients in the U.S., leaving me a rather rushed eating window between 11 PM and 12 AM some nights. Maybe it is because they just make a high-quality, bang-for-your-buck, hearty meal that is delivered with enthusiastic service and care. 

I am a Yoshinoya ride or die. For life. My last three months living in Osaka, Japan have solidified this ten times over. I have eaten at Yoshinoya, at minimum, bi-weekly (sometimes tri-weekly) for the last three months. I know it well and it will always have a special place in my heart and belly.  

If you are a Sukiya or Matsuya (competing gyudon chains in Japan), consider this an open invitation for hand-to-hand combat. 

If you are unfamiliar with exactly what Yoshinoya is or what you can expect when walking through the doors here or are curious exactly what makes this fast food chain one of my most frequented (possibly most frequented) spots in all of Japan – read on!

What Exactly is Yoshinoya?

Billed as the second largest Japanese gyudon (牛丼) chain in all of Japan (after Sukiya), Yoshinoya is almost 130 years old. Yes, that’s right. It was established in 1899. Yoshinoya eats, sleeps, and breathes its motto, “Tasty, low-priced, and quick.” Yoshinoya even duked it out in a price war with McDonald’s in the early 2000s after introducing a USD 3 beef bowl.

You can always spot Yoshinoya from a distance thanks to its iconic orange sign with black or green lettering. The logo was designed to look like a bull horn but I’m not sure I see it. Let me know in the comments if you see anything that resembles a bovine. And, there are over 1,000 domestic locations in Japan (3,000+ worldwide) so I would bet good money that if you walk along any major street, you’ll stumble upon one rather quickly. 

You can also find a handful of 24/7 stores across Japan, with the bulk of them typically remaining open until 11 PM to 1 AM (give or take) at night. To hone in on whether a store near you is open 24/7 (or find their hours), I recommend using the Yoshinoya Store Locator. 

A fun fact about Yoshinoya in Osaka – the first franchised Yoshinoya was opened in Shinsaibashi in the early 1950s. So you know when you are at a Yoshinoya in Osaka, it is going to be good. 

How Ordering at Yoshinoya Works

I’m not quite sure of what percentage of Yoshinoya restaurants have rolled out electronic tablets for ordering (almost reminiscent of a large game boy) but I would throw a number at roughly 40-50% of all Yoshinoyas I posted up at for a meal in Japan (my Japan stint included Yoshinoyas in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto). 

The other 50-60% of Yoshinoya’s offer counter-style ordering, which is a simple point and a thumbs up (for the non-Japanese speakers like me out there).  

Tablet-style ordering is rather intuitive and made simple with English language support. I do have to brag that I navigated the tablet Japanese menu solely based on the pictures the other day to order (this is actually nothing to brag about because the pictures make it quite obvious what you are eating).

My home court was/is the Yoshinoya Otemae, about a seven-minute walk from Osaka Castle/Temmabashi Station and a five-minute walk from Tanimachi 4-chome metro station – a 24/7 Yoshinoya joint fully equipped with tablet ordering.   

Address for those in the neighborhood: 2 Chome-7-6 Tanimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0012.

The Yoshinoya Staff: Late-Night Legends

While the header only implies that this is for the late-night staff, this section extends to all of the Yoshinoya staff. From the morning crew to mid-day team members, to the late-night legends, the staff at Yoshinoya are top-notch professionals who show up, put on a friendly face, and work diligently. 

Upon entering the store you’ll be greeted with a symphony of ‘irasshaimase’s’ from both the front and back of the store (actually, this is true at almost all Japanese restaurants). You’ll then quickly receive a complimentary glass of ice water and it is time to hit the eating races. 

One thing (among many) that I admire about Japanese culture and work ethic is that no matter the profession, day, or elements at play, there is always a baseline of respect and cordiality shown by the staff. I think this is an important takeaway that we all can learn from. 

It’s human nature to have a bad day or bring a less-than-ideal version of ourselves to work (I’ve done this many times). However, this doesn’t accomplish much and always seems to lead to a further descent into frustration, stress, or malaise. 

Yoshinoya staff has never been anything but extremely friendly, polite, prompt, and professional in my 25+ trips to locations in Japan and I think it really is to be admired. To be able to set aside whatever problems may be plaguing a person that day and treat every single customer with a baseline of respect really shows the character and ethos of the workers that they hire. 

As I said above. Legends.

My Go-To Meal at Yoshinoya (Or Maybe More Appropriately ‘Feast’)

If you have read any other posts on my blog (or just read my bio), you’ll know that I live in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is my home. I love it. But one of the biggest issues I run into (and friends also encounter) is the inability to sometimes offset a large expenditure day. Actually, maybe this is just me. 

Meals seem to add up quickly for me in Hong Kong. Yoshinoya is the perfect counterbalance to a day of spending in Japan that might be a bit more indulgent – without sacrificing quality. 

The Stamina Bowl: For 9-5’ers, Marathon Runners, & Generous Late-Night Lovers

Take my go-to meal at Yoshinoya – the ‘Stamina Bowl’, a protein-packed rice bowl with beef, pork, chicken, special garlic sauce, and poached egg, served with an additional side of rice. I typically add to this and throw on another poached egg, order of beef and onions, and round things off with 2 pieces of karaage (fried chicken) or a small plate of kimchi. The total cost? 

1,536 yen or USD 10.81 (at the time of publication). In Hong Kong, I sometimes even struggle to order an Aperol spritz for sub-USD 10. This is a feast. An affordable feast. And it is no surprise that Yoshinoya is beloved by Japanese and foreigners from all walks of life. There is a certain quality and comfort delivered at this price point, which sets this apart from traditional fast food back in the U.S. (where I’m born and raised). 

It could be just me but I somehow walk out of Wendy’s and McDonald’s in the U.S. at a minimum USD 15 to 20 poorer, for a meal that somehow leaves me feeling unsatisfied and hungry several hours later (I sound like an absolute monster writing this).

The ‘Stamina Bowl’ always makes me chuckle to myself when I order it as I then create an elaborate story of why I need extra stamina for the night or the next day. 99.99% of the time, my life requires no stamina but I enjoy imagining myself loading up with one of these bad boys before solo trekking Mt. Fuji in the dead of night, preparing myself for consecutive ruckus love-making sessions with a Victoria’s Secret model, or engaging in hand-to-hand combat with a Sukiya or Matsuya die-hard. 

The beef, slightly sweet and chewy, the pork, a slightly salty and savory taste, the chicken, there to absorb most of the garlic and soy/teriyaki sauce. Mixed together with a poached (or raw) egg on top and you have a creamy, rich, bowl of goodness. 

My pro tip with the ‘Stamina Bowl’ is that because it comes with a side of extra rice you have several options. Choose wisely. You can (a) either take the normal, bland route and mix it into the ‘Stamina Bowl’ in front of you to double up on the rice per bite ration, or you can (b) order a separate side of beef (or any other protein) and a second poached egg to have before you a deconstructed beef bowl – which you then mix together. I always take the latter.

While the karaage is never my favorite (since we are after all in Japan, the land of karaage) and I find can vary in taste based on who was working that day (some saltier than others, some slightly overcooked), it is a formidable side that ticks off that fried chicken craving. I sometimes pair it with my gyudon (beef bowl) and poached egg to level it up. 

Pale Ale Travel Musing: Maybe this is more of a warning – I just found out the ‘Stamina Bowl’ is over 2,000 calories. This is either a blessing or a curse. I’m more inclined to think of the former.

Yoshinoya Also Serves Draft Beer

You heard (read?) me. Granted, most of the time I am so exhausted after a long day of work and client calls that the last thing I am thinking about is beer (yes, rare for me, I know). But I have occasionally had the Yoshinoya staff fire up a few draft beers for me to unwind for the night. Yes, that’s an iced mug. Iced mugs for draft beers is why I am big on Japan.

In the two or three locations where I’ve actually imbibed, I’ve encountered both Suntory (one of the four major breweries) and Orion beers on draft (the Okinawa-headquartered heavyweight). I’m not sure there is any one major beer brand partnership and would imagine that it just simply varies per location.

Other Menu Favorites at Yoshinoya

There is no shortage of options when it comes to customizing a meal or feast to fit your tastes at Yoshinoya. For god sake, Yoshinoya even has an unagi (eel) bowl. 

Some other favorites of mine include their ‘yakinikudon’, a higher-end beef bowl that is sweet, glazed, and simmered beef over a bed of rice, Japanese-style beef curry, for those seeking out a rich, hearty broth for those cold days in winter, and a plethora of sides like miso soup and kimchi (yes, I mentioned this above but it isn’t pictured in my grainy photos). 

Sukiya Enthusiasts Need Not Comment

Just kidding. As you can tell, I’m extremely passionate about Yoshinoya. 

It has been that friend to listen to me after a tough day of work. It has been the fuel that has powered some of my best runs in Japan (I highly recommend running around Osaka Castle at night!). It has been a constant and plinth of stability in my life that has seen several stretches of volatility and impermanence. 

At the end of the day, all I need is Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Yoshinoya ‘Stamina Bowls’. If you are a die-hard Yoshinoya patron or another ardent gyudon supporter, I’d love to hear from you in the comments with what your go-to meal is and why you like it! 

Eat well,

Big Body