Expert Reveals Hidden High-Value Menus at Famous Chain Restaurants

—Any recommendations for hamburger chains?

Suda: Burger King’s “King Meal Whopper Cheese Jr.” is for people who want to eat heartily. Burger King’s Whopper (burger) is large, so even the “Jr.” size is substantial. Small French fries, 5-piece chicken nuggets, a drink, and an apple pie for 850 yen is almost unfair. With the free option “All Heavy,” increasing vegetables and sauce by 1.5× balances taste and nutrition.

Shigemori: Burger King surpassed 300 domestic stores in October, and it has become easier to see in many places. Ease of access to stores is also a high point. I would like to recommend the classic, Mos Burger’s “Mos Burger” (single, 470 yen). Mos prepares it after ordering, so you can enjoy the burger hot until you finish. At the end, sipping the leftover meat sauce from the wrapper lets you enjoy the aftertaste.

Suda: I do that too (laughs). For that price, the quality of that sauce is wonderful.

Nagahama: In this season, McDonald’s “Gracoro” (single, 440 yen~) is also delicious. You can enjoy three textures: crisp coating, crunchy cabbage, and creamy gratin.

Yagyu: Speaking of McDonald’s, “Chikichi (McChicken Cheese)” (single, 250 yen~) has the best combination of fillingness and taste in the low-price range. If you are seeking cheapness, this is it.

—How about family restaurants?

Yagyu: Saizeriya’s lunch menu “Diavola-style Hamburg Steak” is essential. Available until 3 p.m. on weekdays, with soup and rice for 600 yen. Rice can be upsized for +50 yen or downsized for -50 yen. Similarly, weekday-only but without time restriction is Gusto’s “Gusto Fit Menu 2.” You select 3 items from 39 mini-sized menu items, with a drink bar and unlimited soup refills. Prices vary by store, but 990–1,090 yen is exceptional.

Nagahama: You can remove the drink bar and have a glass of wine instead. With so many options, Yagyu-san, what would you order?

Yagyu: I almost always order the “Fried Chicken (5 pieces).” Its cost-performance is top-class among selectable items.

—Other excellent chain menu items?

Shigemori: Komeda Coffee Shop’s “Morning Service.” Prices vary by store, but with a “Komeda Blend” coffee, you get bread and one item like a boiled egg. Being a café, the relaxed environment is also a benefit.

Nagahama: Yakiniku Like’s “Digital Kalbi & Tajima Chicken Set” (580 yen) is also a good target. Includes pork kalbi, chicken thigh, onion, rice, soup, and kimchi. Not often talked about, but Like’s rice is quietly delicious. It’s a set that makes you eat more rice.

Yagyu: Recently, I’ve been interested in Sukesan Udon’s “Selectable Happiness Set” (from 909 yen). You select mini udon and mini rice bowl from four types each, and for an additional 50 yen, you can select a sweet like “Mini Botamochi.” You can taste popular items like “Meat Goboten Udon,” “Katsu Toji Don,” and “Mini Botamochi” all at once. Many Sukesan Udon stores are open 24 hours, and there is no time restriction for this set, which is also a happy point.

—Moving to the conclusion. Which menu has the highest cost-performance and satisfaction?

Shigemori: Overall, high cost-performance menus are often time-limited, such as only until a certain time on weekdays. It’s best to consider each time slot.

Yagyu: In the morning, Matsuya’s “W-Selectable Egg Over Rice” is No. 1, I think.

Nagahama: Lunch is fiercely competitive, but the two strongest are Saizeriya’s “Diavola-style Hamburg” and Bamiyan’s “Daily Lunch.”

Yagyu: Gusto’s “Gusto Fit Menu 2” is weekday-only but without time restriction. How about ordering this at night?

Shigemori: Without time restriction, Burger King’s “King Meal Whopper Cheese Jr.” is also very strong. No weekday restriction, and store numbers are sufficient.

Nagahama: Gyoza no Ohsho’s “Just Size Menu” is also hard to ignore.

Yagyu: Currently trending is Sukesan Udon’s “Selectable Happiness Set.” It’s a Kyushu-origin chain with few stores, but expansion continues in Kanto and Kansai. Opportunities to see it will increase in the future.

Suda: The trend seems to be letting customers select many mini-sized items to liven up the table.

Nagahama: It relates to the fun of conveyor-belt sushi. In other words, many restaurants are conveyor-belt-ifying. The store tries to increase customer satisfaction not with one menu item, but with multiple menu items.

Suda: In that case, considering cost-performance, variety, weekday-only but no time restriction, Gusto Fit Menu 2 stands out in overall excellence.

Shigemori, Nagahama, Yagyu: No objection!!

The “Four Sages”’ debate lasted three hours. What became clear is the excellence of selectable set menus that companies focus on. Using this discussion as reference, why not choose a profitable menu?