World Famous Beef Bowl
Let me call this week as my Japanese Food Trip week. I have visited around four Japanese fast foods, two of which were mystery diner assignments. That means I ate free, full to the rim, in exchange for my observations as plain customer and at the same time, critic.
Yoshinoya is not part of my assignment but the usual personal indulgence. I always go to their branch in SM Megamall because this is just beside Powerbooks and I miss eating Gyudon (beef bowl) from time to time.
Store Background
While the Philippines was busy fighting for its independence from Spain in 1899, the Japanese family-owned store called Yoshinoya opened in the fish market of Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Yoshinoya’s beef bowl business is more than a century old venture. But they are still pretty much around with hundreds of branches scattered from east to west. In 1975, they opened their first US restaurant in Denver, Colorado. In 1977, Yoshinoya in Japan reached 100 branches.
The first Yoshinoya in the Philippines opened in 2001. The franchise was granted to the Century Canning Corporation. (Yup, the century tuna company.)
What’s On My Order Slip
Yoshinoya has a variety of affordable food choices from salads, side dishes, bento boxes, rice bowls to party sizes they call Jumbo Plates. Prices range from P99 to P155 But for someone who just came off work and looking for a nice dinner outside home (meaning me), a regular Gyudon beef bowl at P72 will suffice.
Service Factor
It was almost 8PM when I arrived at Yoshinoya branch in SM Megamall Bldg A. There wasn’t that many people in the counter when I came in. I was greeted with the famous QSR scripted line “Good evening, Ma’am.” I placed my order for one regular beef bowl. The counter crew suggested drinks but I ordered for water. Like in any quick service restaurants, my order arrived in less than 5 minutes. Quick, isn’t it?
Yummy Meter
Beef was cooked well with white onions and broth. It was a filling meal at a good price as far as my stomach is concerned. But it did lack the tangy taste a Komoro Soba Gyudon has.
Facilities Check
The dining place was about 70% occupied. Those who came in to eat were tired individuals who just got off from the usual 8 to 5 corporate battle. Everything was in place and in order. By the way, they have already replaced their usual Yoshinoya paper placemats with mesh tray liners you often see in Jollibee these days. Saving trees? Maybe.
