Fast food in Japan – what is it like? Which are the most popular?

The majority of the Japanese population does not eat lunch at home and instead relies on restaurants or the bento boxes known as obento. In this article, we will look at the most common preferences of the Japanese when it comes to fast food restaurants.

There are thousands of these places in Japan, and many of them belong to large chains. You could say that Japan is one of the great fast-food nations of the world, on par with the United States and India.

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Fast food in Japan

Those who want fast food in Japan can choose from a wide range of options, in addition to the classic fast-food restaurants or burger joints such as McDonald's and Subway.

Because the lunch break is short and a huge number of Japanese eat out, many restaurants are very quick – even the ones serving traditional dishes such as rice, soba or ramen.

You can also go to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant and simply pick the pieces that glide past you, without worrying about preparation or ordering.

Another option is to drop by a konbini (convenience store) and grab a bento or any snack. There is no shortage of fast-food choices in Japan.

What are fast-food restaurants like in Japan?

Have you ever wondered what fast-food restaurants are actually like in Japan? Many fast-food places in Japan use a variety of tricks to speed things up and respect their customers' time.

Some places have a vending machine at the entrance: you pay, get a ticket for the dish you want, hand it to the cook, and just a few seconds later your food is ready.

Other restaurants, such as soba places, let the customer choose what goes on the plate and which sides to add. A few even let the customer put the dish together themselves.

The fast-food market in Japan is worth more than 5 trillion yen a year. The most popular options are the fast food from convenience stores, especially bento boxes.

Besides bento, some other foods are also considered fast food, such as the traditional onigiri; karaage, oden and nikuman are also popular options.

One of the most interesting things about restaurants and fast food in Japan is the sheer variety on the menu – quite different from what many other countries are used to. There are all sorts of ingredients, sauces, seasonings and flavours, seasonal, lavish, or sometimes a little out there.

International fast-food chains are very popular in Japan. The ones that stand out the most are McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Subway and others.

The best part is that they are cheap – often costing less than half an hour's wages.

The best fast-food chains in Japan

Below is a list of the best-known and most popular fast-food chains in Japan:

Yoshinoya – A famous Japanese fast-food chain whose main dish is the iconic gyudon. A bowl of rice topped with beef and chopped onions – it may look simple, but it is delicious. Yoshinoya was founded in 1899 and is considered one of the oldest fast-food chains in the world. The best part is the very affordable price!

Matsuya – Another very popular chain, with more than 1,000 locations. A direct competitor of Yoshinoya, it offers other options such as curry. Among foreign visitors, Matsuya is a bit less well known because many of its outlets do not have English signage.

Sukiya – Another strong competitor of Yoshinoya, with excellent gyudon bowls and more than 2,000 restaurants across Japan. The menu offers many other tasty options, and a miso soup is always available. Like most fast-food chains in Japan, Sukiya is open 24 hours a day. Sukiya also has branches in other countries.

CoCo Ichiban – A large chain of curry-and-rice restaurants. Quick, with plenty of options to enhance your curry – natto, tonkatsu, chicken, and more.

Tenya – A chain of rice-and-tempura restaurants, particularly popular in Tokyo.

Ichiran – Famous for its ramen. To order, you do not have to talk to anyone: just pay at the vending machine, take your ticket and sit at one of the individual booths. And as long as you still have broth in the bowl, you can just signal that you would like a refill.

Japanese fast-food chains for snacks

Freshness Burger – As the name suggests, it offers burgers ranging from small to large, as well as coffee and vegetarian options. The chain is also known for its line of exotic sauces.

MOS Burger – A local answer to the international burger scene, with juicy and flavourful burgers. MOS Burger is a Japanese franchise founded in 1972 in Tokyo.

Lotteria – Founded in Japan in 1972 and expanded to South Korea in 1979. It serves burgers with unusual flavours such as teriyaki or shrimp.

Jef – A restaurant chain from Okinawa whose popular dishes are based on goya, a type of bitter melon.

Pizza-La – One of the largest and most successful pizza chains in Japan. There are many options with unusual ingredients that differ from what we know in other countries, alongside the more traditional ones.

First Kitchen – A popular chain in Tokyo known for burgers, pizza, pasta and fried chicken.

Other fast-food chains in Japan – list

To wrap up the article, here is a list of other fast-food chains that deserve a mention:

• Ajisen Ramen;
• Aoki's Pizza;
• Beard Papa's;
• Dipper Dan;
• Dom Dom;
• Gyoza no Ohsho;
• Hotto Motto;
• Ichibanya;
• Matsuya Foods;
• Mister Donut;
• Pepper Lunch;
• Yogen Früz.

What do you think of fast food in Japan? We always appreciate your comments and shares.