The wonderful world of Japanese family restaurants deserves to be thoroughly explored, in my opinion. With thousands of eateries and locations throughout the country, family restaurants are a great way to fuel up without breaking the bank. They are not, of course, the sole reserve of families and are often used by solo diners, couples, students and pretty much everyone else. From very reasonably priced breakfasts and lunch time set meals to blockbuster gut-busting dinners, family restaurants are generally brilliant and are also very easy on the wallet. Here is a quick list of the main players in the family restaurant scene in Japan.
Saizeriya サイゼリヤ
The king and queen of all family restaurants is Italian-themed Saizeriya. With an abundance of locations in Japan, Saizeriya is a must-visit when you find yourself looking for a cheap but filling meal. From its best-selling shrimp salad and super-garlicy peperoncino pasta to the hamburger steaks and gallons of cheap wine, it’s a real winner. Ti amo Saizeriya.
Bikkuri Donkey びっくりドンキー
Bikkuri Donkey is a well-known and much-loved hamburger steak chain with an utterly bizarre name which, in English, can be translated to Surprised Donkey. My personal favorite is the curry-burg dish which includes a salad and a huge Hamburg patty covered in a delightful curry sauce. Add some fries on the side, and you my friend, have a meal of champions.
Gusto ガスト
More in the American-style family restaurants similar to, perhaps, Denny’s, Gusto is a favorite with students and those in need of huge portions. With hamburgers, pizza, pasta and much more on offer, it’s a sure-fire winner in every department.
Jonathan’s ジョナサン
Good morning Mr. Jonathan. If I was to personally recommend any dish in this list more than anything else it would be Jonathan’s show-stopper of a breakfast sandwich — the “crispy cabbage bacon and egg sandwich breakfast.” Toasted bread stuffed full of cabbage, bacon and egg with some fries stuck on the side. Add a drink bar (unlimited refills of tea, coffee and soft drinks) and you will be more than satisfied. You will be utterly delirious, in fact.
Bamiyan バーミヤン
More of a Chinese-themed famiresu ファミレス (family restaurant), Bamiyan is also a winner. Dumplings, ramen, stir fry and other culinary beauties, Bamiyan is ideal for family and friends’ dinners. Complement your meal a couple of jokki (draft beers) and will be swinging from the lights before closing time.
Ootoya 大戸屋
One of the only real Japanese teishoku (Japanese set meals) chains on the list, Ootoya is a favorite amongst residents and visitors in search of more authentic and everyday Japanese dishes. Chicken nanban, scallop rice with sweet miso, demi-glace chicken katsu and a host of other goodies are on offer in every Ootoya the land over.
Big Boy ビッグボーイ
Now, I’m not a big admirer of Big Boy. My daughter, however, is particularly fond of its expansive salad bar where she can refuel for hours on end. Big Boy, however, specializes in steaks and all things meat so if you’re an enthusiastic carnivore then this is the place for you.
Royal Host ロイヤルホスト
I like to think of Royal Host as a more aristocratic family restaurant. The servers are clad in beautiful crisp white uniforms, the menu is classy and comprehensive and it has a slightly patrician air. If I may give you my personal suggestion, the club sandwich is superb and stands out from its competitors in the family restaurant field. My daughter usually opts for the French onion soup which has that gooey, cheesy texture perfect for chilly autumn and winter days. I once read that Monocle magazine head honcho Tyler Brûlé is a huge fan of Royal Host, so, for me at least, that reinforces its status as a fairly fancy and upmarket famiresu.
Information
Most cities and towns in Japan have family restaurants and they admirably provide people with reasonably priced meals and drinks. So, if you are looking for somewhere to eat and aren’t too confident in your Japanese-language abilities which come in useful in izakaya or more traditional eateries, then family restaurants with their picture menus which often have foreign-language translations are just the ticket.
