“Greasy Spoon” is perhaps an exaggeration for some of these places listed in this goo Ranking survey into Japan’s tastiest set meal chain restaurants.

The basic features of a set meal in Japan is usually one main meat dish like pork cutlet or boiled beef, with rice, miso soup and pickles, and maybe a small salad or other side dish, all often for under 1,000 yen. Here’s a sample from the rather nice (but over 1,000 yen) Obon no Gohan chain:

Number 2, Ootoya is just about my favourite price/performance-wise on the list, and is far from the greasy spoon I in the title. Last time I was there I had a very quiet and relaxed time with basil grilled chicken on a large salad bed plus the above side dishes and self-service soft drinks, posh tea bags and freshly-brewed coffee for just over 1,000 yen.

On the other hand, places like Sukiya, Yoshinoya and Matsuya are rapid gob-stuffing pit stops (convince me otherwise!) that as someone very sensitive to chewing and slurping noises quite frankly scare me!

What’s your favourite chain?

Ranking result

Rank		Votes
1	Gyoza no Ohsho	165
2	Ootoya	115
3	Sukiya	96
4	Yayoiken	93
5	Yoshinoya	86
6	Bamiyan	51
7	Matsuya	41
8	Kourakuen	39
9	Tonkatsu Wako	38
10	Katsuya	31
11	Yumean	29
12	Tendon Tenya	27
12	Toshihisa	27
14	Osaka Ohsho	25
15	Nakau	24
16	Tonkatsu Shinjuku Saboten	22
17	Washoku Sato	18
18	Maido Ookini Shokudo	16
19	Negishi	14
20	Hidakaya	12
20	Kagonoya	12
20	Yamada Udon Shokudo	12
20	Sagami	12
24	Obon de Gohan	11
24	Karayoshi	11
26	Tonkatsu Hamakatsu	10
27	Aiya	9
28	Karayama	8
29	Otaru Shokudo	7
30	Handaya	5
30	Karaage no Tensai	5
30	Marumatsu	5
33	Meshiya Miyamoto Munashi	4
33	Matsunoya	4
33	Zameshiya	4
33	Tonden	4
33	Machikadoya	4
38	Tonkatsu Katsugen	3
38	Meshiya Shokudo	3
40	Komachi Shokudo	2
40	Tokyo Chikara Meshi	2
40	Tsukada Shokudo	2
43	Sakura Suisan	1
43	Shinpachi Shokudo	1
43	Wagaya no Shokudo	1
43	Ichibankan	1

Demographics

Between the 5th and the 19th of March 2021 1,112 visitors to the goo Ranking site and associated properties completed a public questionnaire. No further demographics were given.