Along with the ever present McDonald's which can be found everywhere, KFC are also popular in Japan with Burger King making a comeback recently with new stores opening. Dominoes and Pizza Hut are also here. Japan also has their own fast food chains including:

Mos Burger: Mountain Ocean Sky burger - It is now the second-largest fast-food franchise in Japan after McDonald's. Speciality is the Rice burger which comes in different varieties which is good for vegetarians but be careful, not all rice burgers are suitable for vegetarians.

Lotteria: Lotteria is considered to be a follower of McDonald's. Both sell similar burgers, such as hamburgers, cheese burgers, teriyaki burgers, and so on. Their Shrimp burger is popular and is an original burger of Lotteria, first made in 1977.

First-Kitchen: Its first shop in Tokyo (Japan) was opened in September, 1979. Japanese people often shorten the name to Fakkin or simply FK Efukei. It is best known for its different flavoured potato chips.

Freshness Burger: A little more expensive as they do not offer sets like almost all other fast food chains, they give the air of the healthier fast food alternative with fries coming as wedges and all food served in baskets.

Gyudon Shops

A knowledge of eating chains means that you can find a basic place to eat almost anywhere you go. Dining on your own isn't against etiquette in Japan - provided that you do it in the right place. One of the best places for this is what you might call gyudon (meat over rice) shops. The cheap and filling beef bowl is the basic dish on their menu, however there are reasonably priced and delicious alternatives. There are three main chains:

• Yoshinoya: Most famous of the genre; considered by Japanese to be the superior choice. However, it's marginally more expensive, and has a limited menu. Look for black writing on an orange sign (the name is usually in Japanese and English).

• Matsu-ya: Good for the beginner, as it uses a ticket machine rather than direct ordering (hint: first button is about eat-in or take-out). The menu is broader than Yoshinoya's, with bowls of salad for 100 yen. No English sign - look for blue writing on a yellow sign.

• Suki-ya: Basic gyudon restaurant, very cheap. Pictorial menu ordering system makes it easy. Look for yellow writing on a red sign.

Contents 1 What can I buy 2 Cost 3 Popular 4 See also

What can I buy

Cost

Popular

See also