Japanewse beef bowl "Gyu-don=牛丼" is one of the most popular foods in Japan since they are low-priced and delicious.
Many Japanese eat beef bowls casually, however it may be difficult to get them for most of foreign travelers due to a shortage of English instructions in restaurants.
So, I try to explain how to get Gyu-don in Japan for foreign travelers who plan to visit Japan.
There are some large beef bowl chains in Japan.
・Yoshinoya (吉野屋)
・Matsuya (松屋)
・Sukiya (すき屋)
The procedure for getting Gyu-don is a little different depending on chains.
For example, pay first then eat at Matsuya, while eat first then pay at Yoshinoya and Sukiya.
In this page, I will explain Yoshinoya case.
Yoshinoya Yurakucho branch located near Yurakucho station is one of the most popular Yoshionya branches.
It is difficult for family to sit down together.
Here is basic procedure to get Gyu-don at Yoshionya.
(1) Enter the Yoshinoya restaurant and find a seat to sit down.
(2) Sit down and wait for a staff. There is a menu plate on the counter, however it is written in Japanese only.
(4) The staff asks you which kind of bowls or meals you want. All you have to say is "Gyu-don, Nami" which means beef bowl, normal size. If you are very hungry or addicted to Gyu-don, you need to say "Gyu-don, Oh-mori" which means beef bowl, large size.
(5) If the staff can understand your order, he or she tells a kitchen staff to cook. To specify the size of beef bowl is very important. A staff will continue to ask you until he/she understand which size you want.
(6) A beef bowl will arrive within a few minutes. You may be surprised how quickly cooked.
Chopsticks are stored in the box on left part of the above photo.
White object in center is sheets of paper which we can use to clean something.
You can put vineger-tasted ginger "Beni-Shouga" on your Gyu-don.
It is stored in the right box on the photo.
You can also put spicy red powder on your Gyu-don as you prefer.
Of course they are not charged.
It is stored in the right box on the photo.
You can also put spicy red powder on your Gyu-don as you prefer.
Of course they are not charged.
(9) After finish, prepare Japanese Yen in cash for your payment following the receipt. Your receipt should be already put beside your Gyu-don. If you are not sure how much is, a 1,000 JPY bill is enough. Credit cards are not available.
(10) Stand up and wait for a staff. Don't go out without payment.
(11) Pay cash to the staff. Your mission is completed. Congratulations!
