There were three Japanese chains I wanted to try on this visit. All three of these chains now have a presence in the United States.
CoCo Ichibanya 株式会社壱番屋
Specializes in curry rice dishes
CoCo Ichibanya is a famous curry specialty restaurant in Japan. Being that Coco Ichibanya is worldwide, let me know if you’ve been to a Coco Ichibanya before and what was your favorite curry. I’ll leave the location of the Coco Ichibanya we visited, but this restaurant is everywhere in Japan. So be sure to stop by and visit to try some amazing curry.
Pepper Lunch ペッパーランチ
Specializes in sizzling plate lunches
Pepper Lunch was created in 1994 by chef and inventor Kunio Ichinose, who wanted to serve quality fast food without hiring a chef. He devised a method using hot metal plates that are heated to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 Celsius) by an electromagnetic cooker. The raw meat with vegetables and/or rice are then placed on the plates, where they cook in front of the customer. The meat can be eaten rare or well done, depending on the customer’s preference. The meal is then mixed with a choice of either the special honey brown sauce (Amakuchi) or garlic soy sauce (Karakuchi).
Yoshinoya 吉野家
Specializes in Gyūdon
Yoshinoya (𠮷野家) is a Japanese multinational fast food chain, and the second-largest chain of gyūdon (beef bowl) restaurants. The chain was established in Japan in 1899. Its motto is “Tasty, low-priced, and quick”.
Great concepts, inexpensive, and hit the spot when I was looking for something quick!
