There are countless restaurants in Japan, and it would take lifetimes to try everything out! To help you figure out where to eat in Japan and where to go for different Japanese dishes during your time in Japan, here are the most popular Japanese chain restaurants for you to check out! You can find these restaurants in many neighbourhoods in Tokyo and other big cities across Japan. When in doubt, visit one of these places for a delicious meal!
Before we start, note that we have a whole other article covering the best ramen chains in Japan, so we won’t discuss ramen here. If you’re looking for ramen, you will love what you’ll find in this blog.
One of the best ways to explore Tokyo is to visit the local areas and immerse yourself in the local culture. If you want to explore local areas, we have created scavenger hunt adventures personalised to your interests, filled with fun facts, clues and puzzles. If you’re curious, you can check out the games here! Check out the Flip Japan Games here! |
Find out more about different Japanese drinks, Japanese beers, the special strong zero you can get in Japan, and how to prepare for a night out in Tokyo. If you want to learn more about Japanese food, check out different fusion dishes, yakitori, types of ramen, and ramen chains.
Japanese Chain Restaurants
Izakaya Chains
We can’t talk about where to eat in Japan without mentioning izakayas. These are the places where people go to hang out, get drinks, and share small plates of food. Here are some of the most popular izakayas in Japan.
Torikizoku
“Tori” means “chicken,” and as the name suggests, they serve chicken here. Although they mainly serve yakitori, which is chicken on skewers, they also have appetisers, side dishes, rice, noodles, and desserts. Everything at Torikizoku is around 300 yen (3 USD) per dish. The quality and the portions are great, making it the go-to spot for people who want to enjoy a few skewers while having drinks.
If you cannot decide what to eat, here is an overview of the all the different types of yakitori you will find in Japanese izakayas.
Yakitori Center
Yakitori Center is another popular yakitori izakaya. Besides yakitori, they offer many side dishes as well as meat dishes other than chicken. They have a lot of seasonal specials happening all the time, with fusion dishes and all-you-can-drink deals. They also run lucky draw campaigns, where if your skewer sticks have burnt markings on them, you get another plate of skewers for free. The price is a little higher than Torikizoku, but the range of dishes you can get here is also more extensive.
Isomaru 磯丸水産
Isomaru is a huge chain that specialises in seafood. You can get fresh seafood here for a good price, and the quality is exceptionally high. From sashimi to grilled seafood and baked seafood, you can get everything here. Most of the restaurants are open 24 hours, making it a great place to go at any time. We recommend you try the crab miso shell, which goes great with sake.
Ikkyu 一休
Ikkyu is another great izakaya chain restaurant that runs special discounts and promotions nearly every day of the week. Especially on weekdays, you will find deals to get drinks at heavily discounted prices. They have everything from seafood, sashimi, sushi, yakitori, fried food, and much more. They also offer special Japanese drinking games for you to play with your group.
Sushi Restaurant Chains
Good quality sushi can be found in many places, even convenience stores! Even if you are unsure about sashimi, many places offer fusion sushi and other interesting types of sushi. Let’s check out the popular Japanese chain restaurants where you can go to eat in Japan.
Sushiro スシロー
Sushiro is incredibly popular because of its cheap prices for delicious sushi. It is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. The seasonal menus are constantly changing, so you won’t get tired of the variety available here.
Kura Sushi くら寿司
Kura Sushi has a huge range of sushi options. They offer a large number of discounted sushi sets and a variety of popular desserts. Kura Sushi holds regular campaigns with special sets featuring seasonal fish. One special thing about Kura Sushi is that every five dishes you eat at the table give you a chance to win a small prize, from a small gachapon to a free dish of sushi.
Hamazushi はま寿司
Sushi at Hamazushi is sold for 100 yen (excluding tax) and 90 yen (excluding tax) on weekdays. There are 90 types of sushi, as well as side dishes like miso soup, udon, salad, and cakes. Many of the Hamazushi stores operate as conveyor belt sushi restaurants, but some operate as regular sushi stores.
Kappa Sushi かっぱ寿司
Kappa Sushi is a popular conveyor belt sushi chain restaurant and is favoured by adults and children of all ages. The price per dish is 100 yen, except for some menu items, and the side menu is extensive, including takoyaki, fried foods, ramen, steamed rice, and fried potatoes. They also offer some all-you-can-eat options.
Tempura Restaurant Chains
Tempura might seem simple—just deep-fried seafood or vegetables, right? When you have good tempura, you will be able to tell the difference in the dough, the texture, and the taste. Check out these tempura chain restaurants for some affordable yet delicious options when deciding where to eat in Japan!
Tendon Tenya 天丼てんや
Tendon Tenya is a tempura fast-food chain restaurant that offers speedy meals. They use special tempura powder to maintain quality and efficiency. The tempura bowl here is popular, and you can get tempura shrimp, squid, pumpkin, and more with rice, soba, and/or udon. Despite being quick and cheap, this is a delicious option that attracts many people daily.
Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi 天ぷら新宿つな八
Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi opened in 1926 and is one of the most famous tempura shops in Tokyo. Using traditional skills and methods in making tempura along with carefully selected ingredients, the tempura here is authentic. Make sure to sit at the counter, where you can see the tempura chef carefully make the food and serve you one tempura at a time.
Tensuke 天助
Tensuke is a well-known tempura restaurant in Koenji, just a few stops from Shinjuku. They are famous for their tempura egg. With your tempura sets, you will get a huge variety of daily specials like tempura fish, shrimp, and vegetables. This restaurant is small, only seating around 10 people, so make sure to come early to avoid waiting in line.
Curry Rice Restaurant Chains
Japanese curry is sweeter than other types of curry and is typically eaten with rice. Most curry restaurants in Japan are relatively affordable and quick. Check out these curry chain restaurants for what to eat in Japan.
Coco Curry
One of the most famous Japanese chain restaurants is Coco Curry. They offer one basic type of curry with many different toppings to choose from, including roast beef, cheese, scrambled eggs, and tempura shrimp. You can also select your preferred level of spiciness, although if you are accustomed to spicy food, even the spiciest level here may not be very hot.
Go-Go Curry
Go-Go Curry is another popular curry chain restaurant in Japan. The curry here is thicker and richer than at Coco Curry. The portions also tend to be larger, and the most popular dish to order is deep-fried meat cutlets with curry.
Okonomiyaki/Monjayaki Restaurant Chains
Okonomiyaki is said to have originated in Osaka, while Monjayaki originated in Tokyo. Okonomiyaki has a flour base, giving it a more solid texture, whereas Monjayaki has a runnier consistency.
Okonomiyaki Dotonbori
Okonomiyaki Dotonbori is a popular Japanese chain restaurant offering all-you-can-eat okonomiyaki and steak, with the concept of “deliciously healthy.” The classic style is the unique okonomiyaki famous in Dotonbori, Osaka. You can also try fusion-style okonomiyaki made with ingredients like plums, tomatoes, cheeseburgers, and more.
Tsurugashi Fugetsu
Tsuruhashi Fugetsu is another popular Japanese okonomiyaki chain restaurant. Besides okonomiyaki, they offer a rich selection of sake snacks. Their most popular menu item is called Fugetsu-yaki, a mix of squid, pork, prawns, beef, and a variety of other ingredients. This is an excellent okonomiyaki that you should definitely try.
Yakiniku Chains
Yakiniku is BBQ grilled meat, sometimes including seafood and vegetables. It is incredibly fun to enjoy this meal with friends or family. Despite the affordable price, the quality is usually good. Because of the strong focus on meat, if you don’t like meat or don’t eat meat, you might want to avoid yakiniku.
Anan
Anan is a great yakiniku place that offers some of the cheapest and most delicious options you can find. In Anan restaurants, you grill your meat on charcoal, bringing out the freshness of the meat and adding a bit of a delicious aftertaste. When ordering individually, each beef plate costs around 3-5 dollars, and chicken costs less. The quality of the meat isn’t the best you can get, but it’s not bad at all.
All-you-can-eat at Anan costs as little as 1900 yen (around 19 dollars) for 100 minutes. You can pay an additional 1,300 yen (around 13 dollars), and for 30 dollars, you will get all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink!
Gyugaku
Gyukaku is another great yakiniku option. It is one rank higher than Anan and costs a little more, but provides amazing deals with their all-you-can-eat options. The all-you-can-eat options start at 2,980 yen (around 30 dollars). They have two more options, one with aged beef and one including seafood. If you are on a budget, the first option already offers some great meat for your meal, so you don’t have to worry about paying more. Each branch is also a little different, so make sure to check out your options.
Jojoen
Jojoen offers a more high-end style yakiniku. It is a take on Korean yakiniku with Korean dishes in addition to yakiniku. The price varies depending on the store, and some of their locations will make you feel like royalty. Their menu features an incredible selection of Japan’s famed wagyu beef and other sumptuous ingredients.
Shabu-Shabu Chains
Shabu-shabu is the perfect meal, especially when it is cold outside. This dish typically includes a lot of vegetables along with meat, rice, and/or noodles, making it a healthy option.
Shabuyo
Shabuyo is one of the cheapest and most popular shabu-shabu Japanese chain restaurants. It offers all-you-can-eat delicious meat and fresh vegetables. In addition to the regular menu, Shabuyo provides limited-time all-you-can-eat menus, changing things up for its customers. For those who are interested, they also offer an all-you-can-eat sushi option.
Onyasai
Onyasai is a popular shabu-shabu restaurant that offers high-quality meat at an affordable price. Depending on the set you choose, you can enjoy their all-you-can-eat options, which come with different types of meat and vegetables. You can select from their wide range of broths, as well as seasonal items, including broths and vegetables.
Udon and Soba Restaurant Chains
Udon and soba are less well-known than ramen but incredibly delicious and usually healthier. You can find affordable to more luxurious options at different Japanese chain restaurants. Check out one of these places when deciding where to eat in Japan.
Fuji Soba
Fuji Soba is a udon and soba chain restaurant that you can find in many places, especially around business districts. It is a fast-food-style restaurant that is quick and incredibly cheap, while the quality is surprisingly good. They serve soba and udon either cold or hot, with simple toppings and side dishes. They are usually open 24 hours, making them great places for people to visit at any time of the day.
Hanamaru Udon
Hanamaru Udon is a step up from Fuji Soba, with more toppings, including tempura seafood, tempura vegetables, and sometimes inari sushi for you to choose from. It is also a Japanese fast food chain restaurant, and here, they only serve udon. It is a popular place for both Japanese people and foreigners to visit.
Tsurutontan
Tsurutontan is known for being a fancy udon place with huge bowls of udon. When I say huge, they are bigger than your head! They have a udon factory that creates their own style of udon, and they offer a wide range of broths, from traditional Japanese broths to fusion broths. Besides udon, they also offer equally tasty side dishes, including sushi, sashimi, rice dishes, salad, and more.
Gyudon Restaurant Chains
The ultimate fast food! Donburi is basically toppings on rice. The toppings can range from beef, pork, or chicken with different garnishes and ingredients. You might have even seen some of these Japanese chain restaurants overseas!
You simply can’t talk about donburi without mentioning the big gyudon chain restaurants, including Matsuya, Sukiya, and Yoshinoya. Although they are all slightly different, with their own menus and styles, they all offer the signature gyudon.
Nakau
Nakau is another big Japanese fast food chain restaurant where you can get a lot of quick Japanese dishes including donburi, soba and udon for very cheap. The portion tends to be a little small so if you are curious to try out different dishes, go ahead and get more than one dish for yourself.
Tonkatsu Restaurant Chains
Tonkatsu is a deep-fried cutlet, usually pork. It is quite heavy, so you typically get cabbage on the side with your set. Check out these tonkatsu chain restaurants.
Katsuya
Katsuya is a popular Japanese fast food chain restaurant that specialises in tonkatsu. You can get simple and delicious tonkatsu on rice here, usually served with miso soup. It is great if you are looking to grab something cheap, quick, and delicious.
Wako
Tonkatsu Wako is known as the first tonkatsu chain restaurant in Japan that started the trend of serving tonkatsu with all-you-can-eat rice, cabbage, and miso soup. You can get different sets, from the traditional deep-fried pork to deep-fried seafood, vegetables, and various seasonal menus.
Enjoying the Culinary Delights in Japanese Chain Restaurants
There are many options when it comes to deciding where to eat in Japan. While exploring small restaurants and bars can be a thrilling culinary adventure, it’s always comforting to know that reliable Japanese chain restaurants are available everywhere. These chains offer a consistent quality of food and are often open 24 hours, making them convenient for any time of day. Additionally, many of these chains have expanded internationally, bringing a taste of Japan to various parts of the world.
Which one of these Japanese chain restaurants is your favourite? Let us know in the comment section below! Your feedback and experiences are valuable to us and our community of food lovers.
Stay tuned for more information about Japan travel, Japanese culture, moving to Japan, living in Japan, Japanese language, and more.
Find out more about the different Japanese drinks, Japanese beers, the special strong zero you can get in Japan, and how to prepare for a night out in Tokyo. If you want to find out more about Japanese food, check out different fusion dishes, yakitori, types of ramen, and ramen chains.
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