Thank you for this video. I think exactly the same about these restaurants. My wife is Japanese but we don't live in Japan. These restaurants is what we miss the most about Japan. We talk about them at least once a week all year long. You never have to worry about what your kids likes or not. There's something for everyone in these restaurants. We have travelled around Japan and never had a bad moment in a family restaurant. They are absolutely amazing and you're right about the dishes. They look exactly like the menu or better, and they taste amazing! You say its not Michelin level but remember that once you've tasted any food in Japan you cant untaste it!?!? The level of taste and quality in any every-day setting in Japan is many levels higher than ANYTHING I have experienced in the rest of the world.
Yes! I'm glad to hear from someone who truly gets it. It is completely remarkable how even the most ordinary, every day kind of food in Japan can be leagues better than even moderate-high priced restaurants elsewhere. Everyone always talks about conbini (and rightly so), but it's time for the humble family restaurant to garner some love too! The selection, the quality, the nostalgic taste... Ah to be back! Thanks for your comment, really brightened my day! 😀
Totally agree, Esbjorn. Japanese cuisine on all levels from kaiseki/teppanyaki to yakitori to beef bowl chains to family restos to street food are a notch over everything else. My wife is Japanese too, we lived many years in Fukuoka, now in Romania. I also miss set lunches at 500 yen at very small places with fish, meat, soup, salad, rice, egg and pickles etc, incredible. I hold Japanese kitchen as number one, followed by French, Italian and surprisingly Georgian. I have a nukazuke going since +2 years now, it is a calm and friendly pet :-))
Hi Tim, super nice clip! We lived for +10 years in Fukuoka and often went to family restaurants among other types of restos. Yes, yoshoku/wafu and itameshi are inspired by other cuisines, but still very Japanese in my book, I keep them separated from their European dishes. The hamburger - hambagu - hambraga, a soft pan steak with sauce, is nothing close to an American hamburger and there is no bun, but other side dishes. The doria bolognese is rice with an italian sauce gratinated. At Sayzeria it is very good and cheap. Japanese curry is totally different from the Indian and Seychelles curries I cook at home, it is another animal completely, but delicious. Now I am lucky I can buy S&B Japanese curry roux here in Romania, it is hard to live without Japanese curry. Cocos Curry was my fav in Japan, good smell, good curry! Especially when they sometimes had keema curry with minced meat. Then tonkatsu with only sauce or curry sauce was a fav in family restos. Onion soup is also a hit and fried spinach with some smoked pork and creamy corn soup with garlic bread. But the menus are big! So much to choose from as you say and a very relaxed atmosphere, in an afternoon some kids may be a bit noisy, but no stress. Some 15 years ago the drink bar was included in the price, not anymore, but still cheap. Royal Host originated in Kyushu, so as Ichiran ramen did, we lived next to it´s old HQs in Nakasu, sometimes we could smell it even it the 7th floor :-)) Many other favourite restos and places in Japan, but not in the scope of this clip. Thank you and arigato!
@@mikaellarsson7932 Amazing, thanks for sharing your story! It must have been so interesting to live in Japan for such an extended period of time. I hope that I too, may one day have such an experience! I also love Coco curry! I've tried many different Japanese curry from a variety of places, but Coco curry will always have a special place in my heart. Good smell, good curry indeed! 🍛 😋
The ambience and welcome sense of patience draws me most to these Family Restaurants, I will definitely visit one if/when I ever visit Japan :) (And I'll be sure to ask your recommendations!) Thanks Tim! As for my favourite casual dining, I'm lucky that my nearby town has a lovely family-friendly, neighbourhood eatery called Sásta By The River ("Sásta" is Irish for "happiness"); they serve delicious and eclectic food that is thankfully not your typical "all-day fried breakfast" type of Irish eatery food, as well as creative and satisfying warm drinks, like Matcha Latés and my favourite - the Beetroot Laté! These are ideal for non-coffee drinkers like myself! It's a bit on the small side but the staff are always so friendly and familial. :)
Ooh wow Happiness by the River... Sounds absolutely lovely! If I'm ever in your neck of the woods I'll definitely have to try it out. Appreciate the quick trip to Ireland! ☺️
I assume these kinds of restaurants aren't frequented by tourists since they aren't flashy nor "traditionally Japanese", but I wouldn't mind going to one when I finally get to Japan. Seems like the kind of comfort food I like.
Yeah you know, anecdotally we really did not see many tourists the few times we visited family restaurants. I think you're right, even though they're abundant and popular - it's mainly with locals looking for a casual meal. You should definitely give them a look when you get a chance to visit! 🙂
I recommend Royal Host and Saizeriya, but there are many. No, not many tourists ofc, mainly just Japanese families or solo guests. But easy to visit and very friendly staff most of the time. I recommend Japanese hamburger pan steak with sauce and tonkatsu with curry sauce :-) Saizeriya is itameshi - a mix of Italian and Japanese, but very honest, good and very cheap.
You should definitely check it out when you have a chance! Also, that's so exciting! Have you been before? Do you have an itinerary planned? I'm jelly, would love to go back! 😄
Wow! The best informative video I've ever seen about Family Restaurants. Keep it up Tim! Love it! Now your new subscriber. ❤❤❤ - #ksmakeupfashion #ksmuf
do all japanese family restaurants have baby changing facilities? We are going to tokyo with our 1 year old in October and I'm a bit nervous abut restaurants because I've heard not many have changing facilities
@@drahcirski I can't say for sure, but unfortunately I don't think it's a guarantee that every family restaurant would have changing facilities. Some of the larger locations might, but I don't know personally. That being said, larger family bathrooms are usually not hard to find at most train stations and department stores. Here's a reddit thread about traveling with a 12 month old in Japan that you might find helpful! www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/s/c0jDGvhhrD Hope you have a great trip!
Thank you for this video. I think exactly the same about these restaurants. My wife is Japanese but we don't live in Japan. These restaurants is what we miss the most about Japan. We talk about them at least once a week all year long. You never have to worry about what your kids likes or not. There's something for everyone in these restaurants. We have travelled around Japan and never had a bad moment in a family restaurant. They are absolutely amazing and you're right about the dishes. They look exactly like the menu or better, and they taste amazing! You say its not Michelin level but remember that once you've tasted any food in Japan you cant untaste it!?!? The level of taste and quality in any every-day setting in Japan is many levels higher than ANYTHING I have experienced in the rest of the world.
Yes! I'm glad to hear from someone who truly gets it. It is completely remarkable how even the most ordinary, every day kind of food in Japan can be leagues better than even moderate-high priced restaurants elsewhere.
Everyone always talks about conbini (and rightly so), but it's time for the humble family restaurant to garner some love too! The selection, the quality, the nostalgic taste... Ah to be back!
Thanks for your comment, really brightened my day! 😀
Totally agree, Esbjorn. Japanese cuisine on all levels from kaiseki/teppanyaki to yakitori to beef bowl chains to family restos to street food are a notch over everything else. My wife is Japanese too, we lived many years in Fukuoka, now in Romania. I also miss set lunches at 500 yen at very small places with fish, meat, soup, salad, rice, egg and pickles etc, incredible. I hold Japanese kitchen as number one, followed by French, Italian and surprisingly Georgian. I have a nukazuke going since +2 years now, it is a calm and friendly pet :-))
I don’t visit Japan that often anymore but our family’s go to is Joyfull
@@littlesailor3337 Haven't had a chance to try that one out yet, will for sure have to check it out on our next trip!
amazing! love the way you edited your videos
@@goldnwaters Thank you! I put a lot of effort into the editing so it's great to hear when it's appreciated 🙂
Hi Tim, super nice clip! We lived for +10 years in Fukuoka and often went to family restaurants among other types of restos. Yes, yoshoku/wafu and itameshi are inspired by other cuisines, but still very Japanese in my book, I keep them separated from their European dishes. The hamburger - hambagu - hambraga, a soft pan steak with sauce, is nothing close to an American hamburger and there is no bun, but other side dishes. The doria bolognese is rice with an italian sauce gratinated. At Sayzeria it is very good and cheap. Japanese curry is totally different from the Indian and Seychelles curries I cook at home, it is another animal completely, but delicious. Now I am lucky I can buy S&B Japanese curry roux here in Romania, it is hard to live without Japanese curry. Cocos Curry was my fav in Japan, good smell, good curry! Especially when they sometimes had keema curry with minced meat. Then tonkatsu with only sauce or curry sauce was a fav in family restos. Onion soup is also a hit and fried spinach with some smoked pork and creamy corn soup with garlic bread. But the menus are big! So much to choose from as you say and a very relaxed atmosphere, in an afternoon some kids may be a bit noisy, but no stress. Some 15 years ago the drink bar was included in the price, not anymore, but still cheap. Royal Host originated in Kyushu, so as Ichiran ramen did, we lived next to it´s old HQs in Nakasu, sometimes we could smell it even it the 7th floor :-)) Many other favourite restos and places in Japan, but not in the scope of this clip. Thank you and arigato!
@@mikaellarsson7932 Amazing, thanks for sharing your story! It must have been so interesting to live in Japan for such an extended period of time. I hope that I too, may one day have such an experience!
I also love Coco curry! I've tried many different Japanese curry from a variety of places, but Coco curry will always have a special place in my heart. Good smell, good curry indeed! 🍛 😋
The ambience and welcome sense of patience draws me most to these Family Restaurants, I will definitely visit one if/when I ever visit Japan :) (And I'll be sure to ask your recommendations!) Thanks Tim!
As for my favourite casual dining, I'm lucky that my nearby town has a lovely family-friendly, neighbourhood eatery called Sásta By The River ("Sásta" is Irish for "happiness"); they serve delicious and eclectic food that is thankfully not your typical "all-day fried breakfast" type of Irish eatery food, as well as creative and satisfying warm drinks, like Matcha Latés and my favourite - the Beetroot Laté! These are ideal for non-coffee drinkers like myself! It's a bit on the small side but the staff are always so friendly and familial. :)
Ooh wow Happiness by the River... Sounds absolutely lovely! If I'm ever in your neck of the woods I'll definitely have to try it out. Appreciate the quick trip to Ireland! ☺️
These seem like really cosy places to visit
Little slices of home 😌
I assume these kinds of restaurants aren't frequented by tourists since they aren't flashy nor "traditionally Japanese", but I wouldn't mind going to one when I finally get to Japan. Seems like the kind of comfort food I like.
Yeah you know, anecdotally we really did not see many tourists the few times we visited family restaurants. I think you're right, even though they're abundant and popular - it's mainly with locals looking for a casual meal. You should definitely give them a look when you get a chance to visit! 🙂
I recommend Royal Host and Saizeriya, but there are many. No, not many tourists ofc, mainly just Japanese families or solo guests. But easy to visit and very friendly staff most of the time. I recommend Japanese hamburger pan steak with sauce and tonkatsu with curry sauce :-) Saizeriya is itameshi - a mix of Italian and Japanese, but very honest, good and very cheap.
Great video man, keep it up
noted for the trip i just booked for september!
You should definitely check it out when you have a chance!
Also, that's so exciting! Have you been before? Do you have an itinerary planned? I'm jelly, would love to go back! 😄
Wow! The best informative video I've ever seen about Family Restaurants. Keep it up Tim! Love it! Now your new subscriber. ❤❤❤ - #ksmakeupfashion #ksmuf
Thanks, I appreciate it! Also, welcome to the channel! 😊
@@TimThoughts Thanks! Can't wait for more videos. ♥️☺️
do all japanese family restaurants have baby changing facilities?
We are going to tokyo with our 1 year old in October and I'm a bit nervous abut restaurants because I've heard not many have changing facilities
@@drahcirski I can't say for sure, but unfortunately I don't think it's a guarantee that every family restaurant would have changing facilities. Some of the larger locations might, but I don't know personally.
That being said, larger family bathrooms are usually not hard to find at most train stations and department stores.
Here's a reddit thread about traveling with a 12 month old in Japan that you might find helpful!
www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/s/c0jDGvhhrD
Hope you have a great trip!
The Japanese are not a fat people, but they really seem to go all out on their desserts.
One of the true paradoxes of Japanese eating culture heh