Renowned for its gastronomy, the Land of the Rising Sun is equally famous for its fast food ! Wildly popular, its quick-service restaurants offer traditional dishes adapted to the express dining format…  Kaitenzushi, sushi chains, gyūdon, udon, and ramen establishments: here are the Japanese fast-food spots where you can grab a bite between sightseeing!

Yoshinoya (the historic Japanese fast-food chain)
   

Yoshinoya is one of the three oldest gyūdon (rice bowls topped with sliced beef) chains, with its first opening in 1899! Since then, this fast-food restaurant has continued to attract food lovers thanks to attractive prices and a varied menu selection.

Beyond its signature dish, Yoshinoya also offers karaage (fried chicken pieces highly prized by the Japanese), sukiyaki (vegetable and beef hot pot), and donburi (generous rice bowls served as complete meals). The restaurant is renowned for its generous portions.

Hanamaru
   

Hanamaru is a chain dedicated to udon, thick noodles typically served in broth or topped with tempura (Japanese-style fried items). Since opening its first restaurant in 1989, Hanamaru has expanded beyond Asia – but unfortunately not to Europe…

During your trip, take the opportunity to sample the specialties of this fast-food restaurant, recognized for its affordable prices (around €5) and its "school cafeteria" atmosphere much appreciated by locals! You can taste the famous kake udon (broth flavored with kakejiru, mirin, and negi).

Matsuya
   

Matsuya is another major name in fast food. Founded in 1966, this gyūdon chain operates over 800 restaurants across Japan! Beyond rice bowls, you can enjoy delicious kâre (curry specialties) as well as numerous soup recipes.

You also have the option to order a traditional Japanese breakfast (a succession of small savory dishes featuring rice, proteins like eggs or salmon, and pickled vegetables such as cucumbers or radishes known as Tsukemono). Expect around €2 for a bowl of broth and €5 for a full meal.

Sukiya
   

Want to try a teishoku (a traditional set meal composed of several small dishes served on a tray)? Head to Sukiya! The chain also offers gyūdon (for less than €4), chicken or tuna donburi, as well as one of the most popular dishes in Japan: shogayaki (ginger pork). A fast-food restaurant less rushed than its competitors, where it's pleasant to take your time savoring the specialties of Japanese cuisine…

Tenya
   

Do you passionately love tempura? The Tenya chain is perfect for you! For less than €8, you can enjoy all sorts of fried items (shrimp, eggplant, pumpkin… even fried oysters!). You'll also discover tendon: tempura served over rice.

If you want to vary your choices, you can also order soup or soba (buckwheat noodles) instead of rice. Tenya also offers spicy dishes on 10 heat levels (extremely challenging starting at level 5 if you're not used to eating spicy food)!

Kappa Sushi
   

Kappa Sushi is a kaitenzushi, a restaurant where sushi pass before you on a conveyor belt. The first of its kind opened its doors in 1958 in Osaka. Since then, many establishments have adopted the concept…

Established in 1973, Kappa Sushi is today the fourth largest kaitenzushi chain!  On the menu? A wide variety of sushi, chawan mushi (delicious savory custards made with dashi), as well as numerous noodle dishes and desserts.

You select sushi as they pass before you. Side dishes or more specific items are ordered via a touch screen.

Marugame Seimen
   

Ramen is a beloved specialty of Japanese cuisine that you'll also find in fast food establishments. During your visit, you'll notice many Marugame Seimen locations where you can enjoy delicious noodle dishes topped with soft-boiled eggs!

Ramen is the most consumed dish in the country… If you want to learn about its history – and taste its different recipes! – head to Yokohama to visit the museum dedicated to this traditional popular dish.

A tip? Don't hesitate to participate in a cooking class in this unique venue!

CoCo ICHIBANYA
   

Known as Coco-ichi by locals, CoCo ICHIBANYA is a fast-food chain specializing in curry dishes. Customers create their own meal, choosing portions, spices, and toppings – about forty variations in total!

Dishes can be made with meat or seafood, as well as scrambled eggs, natto (fermented soybeans), or cheese. CoCo ICHIBANYA also offers numerous side dishes (skewers, croquettes, fried items, etc.), as well as udon.

Audrey Denjean

Audrey DENJEAN

A web content writer specializing in SEO, Audrey Denjean uses her writing to serve English-speaking travelers. Through her blog articles, she explores what gives a country its soul – its iconic sites, its cuisine, its traditions, its history... Her goal? To convey far more than tourist information, but to describe an atmosphere, to share anecdotes that make each country unique and inspire, after each read, a desire to venture out and explore the world.