I want to eat it every day! Hidehiko Ishizuka of “Honjamaka” recommends “My favorite restaurant chain” – Beef bowl version

Hello, everyone. I am Hidehiko Ishizuka, and while I feel grateful for air conditioners, I can’t sleep when I think about the mechanism of how they can produce cold air by electricity.

Now, I would like to introduce my favorite restaurant chain again. The theme is “Gyudon” (beef bowl).

Yoshinoya” and “Sukiya” continue to evolve

First of all, “Noya” has been my favorite restaurant since I was a child and is marked by its orange sign. It used to be impressive to hear the phrase “Gyu-don hitosuji for 80 years” in TV commercials, but I have noticed that it is no longer “hitosuji. Take, for example, the “Gyu Mugi Toro-don” (seasonal product), an evolution of the classic beef bowl. Steady beef, yam and okura (okra) beautifully form their own position on top of the glutinous rice. Stimulate your stamina with these sticky ingredients.

In addition, Noya also sold noodle products. It is “Beef Ball Stamina Mazesoba.” It is made with stewed beef, tenkasu and green onions, and an egg in the center. The most important ingredient is the garlic mashimashi sauce. The outstanding aroma, richness, umami, and satisfaction will get you hooked. The evolution of Noya never stops.

Next is Sukiya. I call it “Dai-Sukiya” with all my heart. Here, too, the gyudon continues to evolve. My favorite is the “Thick and Thick 3 Kinds of Cheese Gyudon”. Dairy products on top of beef – how could they not go well together? Moreover, the cheese is a blend of three different types with calculated taste, aroma, and stretch. The cheese stretches on top of the hot beef bowl. The cheese goes well with both beef and white rice. In addition, when you order this item, they also bring Tabasco. It is also a perfect match.

Sukiya also has an extensive seasonal menu. Summer is full of delightful events, such as the “Unagyu,” which combines eel and beef. By the way, they also have curry. I am a big fan of the “Double Meat Beef Curry. It is filled with plenty of beef, so you don’t have to calculate the rest of the meat as you eat it. If you are not careful, there will be new dishes on the menu again.

Matsuya’s “Beef Meal” I want to eat every day

Next is Matsuya. Matsuya’s affiliated restaurants include “Matsunoya,” which specializes in pork cutlets, “Matsuken Chinese Restaurant,” a Chinese restaurant, “Maikary Shokudo,” which specializes in curry, and “Steakya Matsu,” which specializes in steaks. It is a company that delights people everywhere. Check out the combined Matsuya and Matsunoya stores in some locations.

Matsuya also has a wide variety of menu items, but I prefer “beef rice”. Perhaps it is because since I started going to Matsuya, I had an image that Matsuya equals beef rice.

Here, I would like you to take a look at the Matsuya mark. There are two circles within a circle. This is said to represent beef meal and miso soup. Yes, at Matsuya, when you order beef rice, miso soup comes with it. It is a kindness like that of my parents’ house. I want to eat Gyumeshi every day and never get tired of the taste.

Some restaurants also have a menu called “[Sauce that goes well with Katsu] Loose Katsu Curry. The deep richness and umami flavor will make you want to shout “omee! The katsu is crispy and juicy, and the rice is conditioned to match the curry roux.

We also recommend the “Cold Soup Noodles” at Matsuken Chinese Restaurant and the “Megane Steak” at Steak Shop Matsu. How many artisans does “Matsuya Foods” have?

Although we have written this article on the theme of beef bowl chains, the variations are not limited to just beef bowls. It is a happy restaurant chain that offers a wide variety of food at a reasonable price.

From the October 17, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY