Yoshinoya facts for kids
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Headquarters at Daiwa Rivergate
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| Public | |
| Traded as | TYO: 9861 |
| Industry | Foodservice |
| Founded | Tokyo, Japan (1899) |
| Founder | Eikichi Matsuda (松田栄吉) |
| Headquarters | Kita, Tokyo, Japan |
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Number of locations
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1,211 (June 2023) |
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Areas served
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East Asia Southeast Asia United States |
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Key people
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Shuji Abe, President and CEO |
| Products | Fast food |
Yoshinoya (吉野家) is a famous Japanese fast food chain. It's known for its delicious beef bowls, called gyūdon. The first Yoshinoya restaurant opened in Japan way back in 1899. Their main idea is to serve "Tasty, low-priced, and quick" meals.
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What's in a Name?
The name Yoshinoya has a special meaning. The first part, yoshi, means "luck" in Japanese. The middle part, no, means "field". And the last part, ya, means "house".
The person who started the company, Eikichi Matsuda (松田栄吉), came from a town called Yoshino (吉野町) in Osaka Prefecture. Many people believe the company's name comes from his hometown.
In Japan, people often call the restaurant yoshigyū (吉牛). This is a shorter way to say "Yoshinoya's beef bowl."
The Yoshinoya Logo
The Yoshinoya logo looks like bull horns. The founder, Eikichi Matsuda, designed it himself. The bull horns are shaped like the letter "Y" from Yoshinoya's English name.
The rope around the horns is like the ropes worn by sumo wrestling champions, called "Yokozuna". This shows that Yoshinoya wants to serve top-quality food. The rope is made of 27 rice grains. All together, the logo means Yoshinoya sells the "best beef bowls."
A Look at History
Yoshinoya started in 1899 at a fish market in Tokyo called Nihonbashi. After a big earthquake in 1923, the market was damaged. So, Yoshinoya moved to the new Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo in 1926.
In 1952, the chain opened its first store that was open 24 hours a day. By 1965, Yoshinoya was making a lot of money. This made them think about opening more restaurants across Japan.
The first Yoshinoya store that was run by another company (a franchise) opened in 1968. In 1975, Yoshinoya opened its first restaurant in the United States, in Colorado.
Where You Can Find Yoshinoya
Yoshinoya has restaurants in many countries. You can find them in Japan, the United States, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Yoshinoya in Japan
In Japan, Yoshinoya restaurants often have counter seating. You order your food at the counter. They give you Chopsticks to eat with.
The menu includes different sizes of beef bowls: standard, large, and extra-large. They also have pork bowls. You can add raw eggs or soft-boiled eggs to your meal. Miso soup and pickles are also available. You can get red ginger, spice, and Japanese tea for free.
Some customers ask for special things like:
- Extra gravy sauce
- Extra onions
- No gravy sauce
- No onions
- Only the egg yolk
- Less rice
Since 2011, Yoshinoya in Japan has also offered special seasonal dishes like eel bowls (鰻丼, unadon).
Yoshinoya in the United States
Yoshinoya first came to the United States in 1973. Their first restaurant opened in Denver in 1975. Today, Yoshinoya restaurants in the U.S. are mostly found in California. Some locations in other states, like Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, have closed over the years. Stores in New York City also closed by 2012.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, indoor dining was stopped for a while. Customers could still get their food through take-away, drive-thru, or pick-up.
The U.S. menu has beef bowls, chicken bowls, combo bowls, and shrimp bowls. They also offer soup and desserts. You can find variations like "beef with vegetables bowls" and "teriyaki chicken bowls."
Yoshinoya in Taiwan
Yoshinoya started in Taiwan in 1987. The first restaurant outside Japan opened in Taipei in 1988.
Yoshinoya in China
The first Yoshinoya in China opened in Beijing in 1992. More restaurants were added starting in 2002 in cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen. By 2021, there were 390 Yoshinoya restaurants in China.
Yoshinoya in Hong Kong
Yoshinoya came to Hong Kong in 1991. There are now about 50 Yoshinoya restaurants across Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, and Kowloon.
Unlike in Japan, Hong Kong stores don't offer table service. Customers order at the cashier and pick up their food on a tray, similar to other fast-food places.
Yoshinoya in the Philippines
The first Yoshinoya in the Philippines opened in 1992. It closed for a short time but then reopened in 2001. In 2021, Yoshinoya partnered with Jollibee Foods Corporation. They plan to open 50 new stores in the Philippines in the future. As of 2023, there are seven Yoshinoya stores in the Philippines.
Yoshinoya in Indonesia
Yoshinoya first opened in Indonesia in 1993 but closed in 1998. It returned in 2009, with its first new branch opening in Jakarta in 2010. As of November 2024, there are 169 Yoshinoya stores in Indonesia, located in many cities.
Yoshinoya in Singapore
Yoshinoya came to Singapore in 1997, opening two stores. As of 2023, there are 11 Yoshinoya stores in Singapore.
Yoshinoya in Cambodia
The first Yoshinoya in Cambodia opened in 2013 in Siem Reap. As of September 2022, there are two Yoshinoya stores in Cambodia, both located in airports.
The Beef Bowl Challenge
In the early 2000s, something called bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), sometimes called "mad cow disease," caused problems for beef sales. In late 2003, Japan stopped importing beef from the United States because of a BSE case. This was a big deal for Yoshinoya because they used American beef for their famous beef bowls.
Because of this, Yoshinoya had to stop selling beef bowls in Japan on February 11, 2004. This was the first time in their history they couldn't sell their main dish! Many fans lined up to get one last beef bowl. Yoshinoya then started selling pork bowls instead. However, Yoshinoya restaurants in the U.S. kept serving beef bowls using American beef.
In December 2005, Japan agreed to start importing U.S. beef again. Yoshinoya promised customers that beef bowls would return soon. There were a few more stops and starts with beef imports. Finally, on September 18, 2006, Yoshinoya brought back their beef bowl for one special day, calling it "the beef bowl revival festival."
After that, beef bowls were available on certain days, then for limited hours. By March 2008, Yoshinoya announced that they would start selling beef bowls 24 hours a day again across Japan.
Images for kids
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Yoshinoya restaurant at Nagahori, Osaka, in 2005
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Yoshinoya restaurant in Teradachō, Osaka, on September 18, 2006
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Inside Yoshinoya in Kumamoto city
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Yoshinoya self-ordering kiosks at Kyoto Plaza, Hong Kong
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Yoshinoya food truck
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The flagship restaurant in Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo
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Historyboard, The headstore of YOSHINAYA, TSUKIJI.JPG
Greetings to customers at the flagship restaurant
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Free banner given to customers in "the beef bowl revival festival" on September 18, 2006
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See also
In Spanish: Yoshinoya para niños
- List of Japanese restaurants
- Donburi
- Yakiniku
- Matsuya
- Sukiya
External links
- Yoshinoya Co., LTD.
- Yoshinoya Holdings Co., LTD. - Executive board members
- "Yoshinoya: The Videogame - Video Review" at "BN-Games.com
