Following Sushi and Italian, today we recommend another "affortable" dining choice in Japan. The casual restaurant chain is called "Hidakaya" (日高屋). Its units are scattered across Greater Tokyo area and all are in town's central area near a train station. Many of them open for 24hours or until very late evening.
The restaurant's main concept is its openess to any kind of people from young students to elder guests, sole female diners at the reasonable price and with clealiness. The entrance and face are usually transparent in glass and we can easily look inside, how the restaurant's atmosphere is like. You will also find major plate sample next to the entrance door.
As same with other casual restaurant chains like Yoshinoya, staff are friendly and brings welcoming atmosphere. That makes female diners feel comfortable.
The menu are with each large size photos and price.
That must be helpful for non-Japanese speakers.
By the way, for some of you who are wondering, ramen and gyoza (餃子) are Chinese food originally and they are basically available at Chinese restaurants in Japan.
Gyoza (Chinese dumpling) is one of Hidakaya's specialties. The restaurant offers the menu for take-out as well.
Well, we introduce two plates as our recommendation.
Frid rice (チャーハン) at Yen 420
Tantanmen (担々麺) at Yen 580
In addition the least expensive noodle menu "Chuka-soba(中華そば)" or
simple standard ramen costs only at Yen390.
During lunch time, Hidakaya are busy with business people who seek for quick bite. On dinner hours they welcome again business people with beer and food plates as a relaxing time after hard work like Izakaya but at much more reasonable prices.
What is quite interesting about Hidakaya is the president's comment.
He never aims to provide "the best" or very tasty food at all. He says at some interviews "I believe our food are not very good, are they?" We agree that Hidakaya plates are good but surely not the best in town.
What Hidakaya indends to create is "mom's home-made cooking" taste. They are not perfect taste like ones made by professional cooks. The president knows that is what people want to have everyday and which they would never get tired of. The casual restaurant chain also assumes their repeater guests use also other casual chain restaurants like McDonaldo's and Yoshinoya day by day. So Hidakaya unit is likely to be similar location with these competitors.
Restaurant name: Hidakaya (日高屋)
Official homepage: http://hidakaya.hiday.co.jp
Their units are available at major locations in central Tokyo such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Roppongi, Ueno etc.
