UPDATE: NOW CLOSED :(

When you start watching anime you are often exposed to a world of food you may have never seen before. I remember watching Urusei Yatsura and learning about the world of Japanese fast food outside of WacDonalds as Ataru in the gang would cut classes to pig out at various junk food shops in Tomobiki. I found out that ramen was more than those Maruchan instant noodle packs and that there was a dish called gyudon, otherwise knows as beef bowl. When I found out there was a Japanese beef bowl restaurant chain in Manhattan I had to check it out. Yoshinoya is in the heart of tourist central at 253 W 42nd St between 7th Ave & 8th Ave so it is usually quite busy. As I understand it is even a bit of destination spot for Japanese tourists. In 2001 the mad cow scare hurt Beef Bowl sales and in 2003 Japan banned the import American beef. Since then the ban has been lifted but various politics have made American beef nowhere near as plentiful. So many Japanese tourists will stop into the New York Yoshinoya for a familiar brand with the guarantee of American beef in their gyudon.

Continue reading →