Cheap restaurant / eat-in fastfood chain - rating/opinion
Jan 19, 2019, 11:28 pm
#16
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I think people who like it see it as a burger. Not sure about the curry comparison although what is meant is crystal clear. It pales so severely in comparison to the plethora of extraordinary burger places here that I cannot quite get it. Seems to be a leftover passion from when people were young maybe?
Jan 19, 2019, 11:30 pm
#17
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Jan 20, 2019, 1:02 am
#18
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Out of all the budget chain places on my list, the only thing close to a must-have when I visit Jpn is Gindaco. Gindaco, Starbucks, Vie de France, RF1 and maybe Omusubi Gonbei are about the only widespread chain brands I try to seek out on every visit (I only included Gindaco in the discussion up to this point, because the other places are not eateries). I used to have to have MOS and Doutor, but those have sunk down on my priority list. I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like the standard for budget food in Jpn is getting lower, outside of ramen and gyoza and Gindaco.
Jan 21, 2019, 1:49 am
#19
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Took me a while to remember the name of the chain restaurant we used to eat at occasionally when we were based in Yoyogi. Still do, have taken LapChild (she still has the “Thomas Tankin” purse she was given with her meal)
Ootoya. They have branches all over, but I still find the Yoyogi one particularly convenient.
That was OK. I’ll choose it over Denny’s and Royal Host. Useful choice when you need to eat outside of the conventional lunch time.
Looks like this if anyone is by Yoyogi station and needs to fuel up
https://www.cookdoor.jp/dtl/1060011667/
Ootoya. They have branches all over, but I still find the Yoyogi one particularly convenient.
That was OK. I’ll choose it over Denny’s and Royal Host. Useful choice when you need to eat outside of the conventional lunch time.
Looks like this if anyone is by Yoyogi station and needs to fuel up
https://www.cookdoor.jp/dtl/1060011667/
Jan 21, 2019, 2:01 am
#20
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Took me a while to remember the name of the chain restaurant we used to eat at occasionally when we were based in Yoyogi. Still do, have taken LapChild (she still has the “Thomas Tankin” purse she was given with her meal)
Ootoya. They have branches all over, but I still find the Yoyogi one particularly convenient.
Ootoya. They have branches all over, but I still find the Yoyogi one particularly convenient.
My favorite fast food chain is Tendon Tenya. They aren't everywhere, but in enough of my go-to neighborhoods to be convenient.
Jan 21, 2019, 2:19 am
#21
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Edit to add - here it is https://www.ootoya.com/menu/detail/002864.html
Will have to check out Tendon Tenya. Between that chain and Hageten I will have Tokyo covered.
Last edited by LapLap; Jan 21, 2019 at 3:26 am
Jan 21, 2019, 11:27 am
#22
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Doutor for food or just drinks? I have yet to have a matcha latte back home that is the equivalent from there, and a regular latte is almost as good. Even JPN Starbucks doesn't quite match it imo.
Jan 21, 2019, 6:50 pm
#23
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Ootoya looks good. I've seen them all over, but I've never thought to try them. I like miso katsu once in a while, and the menu says they have it there.
Doutor for drinks. I've had sandwich there before... was not good. I used to buy their maccha latte thinking it was good until I realized Starbucks' was better. Doutor's maccha tastes more artificial to me and, after one sip, the foam goes and you're just drinking maccha milk. The one at Starbucks tastes like more authentic maccha (although it's probably pricer, too) and you have a better chance of getting a drink that stays foamy, although it also depends on who's making it. If you're there right now, you should try their seasonal black sesame latte (goma goma latte) which is an unbelievable drink.
I get iced coffee at Doutor, which I think is really good, but the standard for iced coffee in Jpn is quite high and these days you get great iced coffee at konbini for less.
I get iced coffee at Doutor, which I think is really good, but the standard for iced coffee in Jpn is quite high and these days you get great iced coffee at konbini for less.
Jan 21, 2019, 9:40 pm
#24
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So you were visiting the same Ootoya branch. The fried oysters was one of the main reasons I’d go back too.
Edit to add - here it is https://www.ootoya.com/menu/detail/002864.html
Will have to check out Tendon Tenya. Between that chain and Hageten I will have Tokyo covered.
Edit to add - here it is https://www.ootoya.com/menu/detail/002864.html
Will have to check out Tendon Tenya. Between that chain and Hageten I will have Tokyo covered.
I've never been to Hageten and it looks a bit nicer than Tenya. Tenya is really no frills with a ticket machine and self-service water and cleanup station. Seems they're trying to get ahead of the labor shortage.
Jan 21, 2019, 10:08 pm
#25
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I did a bit of research to see if there had been any innovations lately and noticed that there are Ootoya (not sure if it’s confined only to those heavily used by tourists) that have electronic screen tablets タッチパネル that allow your to view the menu and order in English. It will be interesting to see what kind of data these tablets provide. There is huge potential here for visitors with dietary restrictions to get to explore more food options than they might ordinarily get to.
Jan 21, 2019, 10:14 pm
#26
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Jan 21, 2019, 11:44 pm
#27
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Not to rub it in, but here's a pic. Tastes MUCH better than it looks. I requested no whip cream, though. There are little clusters of sesame floating in there, too. Unbelievable drink.
A major bummer is that I just found out they no longer sell it. This came out the day after Xmas and I last had this just a couple weeks ago before I left Jpn. I was planning to get this as soon as I got off the plane next month. I can't believe they already pulled it. It was so damn good.
A major bummer is that I just found out they no longer sell it. This came out the day after Xmas and I last had this just a couple weeks ago before I left Jpn. I was planning to get this as soon as I got off the plane next month. I can't believe they already pulled it. It was so damn good.
Jan 22, 2019, 1:41 am
#30
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1. Don't forget to consider takeout from department store basement food halls.
2. Another option is yakatori under the tracks (under the JR line just south of Tokyo station).
3. Japanese convenience stores have good Japanese cold food,
4. In many cases, hotel room service isn't out of the question as service/delivery fees might not apply or the service fees can be the same as for food consumed in the restaurant. Of course, with room service, you can order some items from the hotel and do self catering for other stuff like beverages. Look at the pricing details carefully.
5. Similarly, some hotel restaurants might offer various informal/small set meals, sometimes with special offers or discounts for hotel guests or elites.
6. Finally, there are always the vending machines.....
2. Another option is yakatori under the tracks (under the JR line just south of Tokyo station).
3. Japanese convenience stores have good Japanese cold food,
4. In many cases, hotel room service isn't out of the question as service/delivery fees might not apply or the service fees can be the same as for food consumed in the restaurant. Of course, with room service, you can order some items from the hotel and do self catering for other stuff like beverages. Look at the pricing details carefully.
5. Similarly, some hotel restaurants might offer various informal/small set meals, sometimes with special offers or discounts for hotel guests or elites.
6. Finally, there are always the vending machines.....