Yoshinoya

DAMN!!! That Sucks! I love Yoshinoya, they have to bring it back. C’mon guys lets try to get this Yoshinoya back in NY

There goes the best fast food restaurant in NYC.
I have nothing else to say. It’d just sad.

RIP Yoshinoya… the chicken here was unbeatable… and the value… just amazing. Always a delight for me to stop by here whenever I was in the area. Came back here recently craving the chicken and was sad to see it was now something else. CLOSE MY EYES. ONLY FOR A MOMENT BUT THE MOMENTS GONE…

OH NO IT’S CLOSED??? WHY!
I have been to here a lot of times after shopping and I love this place. I always ordered beef and chicken combo and I loved it so much that I actually finish the last rice in the bowl. The meat was always tender and the chicken had fried skin on it. It just made me sad to see this place is gone now.
Farewell.

I found out the only Yoshinoya East of the Mississippi was closed when I was pseudo forced to watch a movie in Times Square due to limited showings. Adding to my dismay was the fact that it was going to be converted to a Five Guys. A fucking downgrade.
Yoshinoya is by no means great food, but there is no where else you can get something like it this fast and good. Albeit, the Yoshinoya in NY doesn’t compare to the Yoshinoyas on the west coast nor the original ones in Japan, it is head and shoulders above what the space will become. As obnoxious as Times Square is, you can always find some solace at Yoshinoya as opposed to the long lines forming for «Dallas BBQ».
Maybe it’s the nostalgia of my California roots, or a dream to visit Japan once again, but now I am left with the nightmare of a Five Guys. When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter too much to me, because any self respecting New Yorker, whether home grown or transplant will never go to Times Square for some good eats… well maybe hardly ever as opposed to never.

This is the McDonald’s of Japan. You would see these everywhere. Too bad it’s now CLOSED, so allow me to write this in loving memory of it.
Nostalgia factors in for me, but that’s not to say the food isn’t good for what it is. Do you go to McD’s expecting the end all be all burger? The answer is, «eff NO!» That being said, if you want an alternative to US fast food, Yoshinoya can be (or COULD HAVE BEEN) that alternative. Fast beef bowl at your finger tips… and the rice gives off the illusion that you are eating somewhat healthier in spite of the fact that you are shoving greasy beef strips down the hatch as well.

Some background… Yoshinoya is a Japanese fast food chain that I fell in love with when I lived in Hong Kong (yes, Hong Kong had Japanese fast food places). While the prices here are twice as much as in Hong Kong, there is just something I cannot resist about the thin, tender beef and onions, and the ever generic chicken teryaki. I’m not gonna lie… had I never eaten here in Hong Kong, I probably would not give this place 4 stars, but there is just something that takes me back to Hong Kong when I eat here.

I’ve stopped here twice for takeout, and I have yet to be disappointed. To be fair, I’ve ordered the same thing twice (beef bowl). For fast food, this is a great alternative to the greasy burger joints I’m used to. And my apprehension to try Asian fast food was completely unfounded. The beef bowls are delicious, filling, & satisfying without leaving me with that heavy feeling of regret & the need to exercise immediately.
And from one half-​Asian to another (wait, you’re Asian, right?), the white rice is perfect.
If only it wasn’t in midtown …

I mean, what else can you expect from a fast food place? I’d still go to Yoshinoya over McDonald’s any day of the week. I think it’d be awesome if a Yoshinoya opened in DC. Lord knows we have a ridiculously limited variety of Japanese eateries here.
I was a huge fan of Yoshinoya when I lived in Asia, so I missed it dearly upon moving here. The gyudon/​beef bowl here is just as hot and yummy as it is in the Yoshinoya I used to frequent.
I never order anything but the gyudon when I go here… maybe that’s why there’s little I dislike about this place?

Hahaha… this place’s reviews makes me laugh.
I do, however understand why all the poor reviews here. Everyone’s a critic these days.
I came in here to get a quick bite to eat to put something in my stomach before a show. Had the regular beef bowl for about $ 6. Basically just boiled thin-​sliced beef with onions over white rice. Hey, it was filling.
It’s quick fast food in the middle of busy touristy forty-​deuce. What is everyone expecting?

VERY different than the ones back in Tokyo, but still a good value for the money. Was surprised the costs were as low as it was considering the location. Sadly, there was no sushi ready when I was there. Good location and the tempura shrimp rice bowl rocks.
For those of you who do not know Yoshinoya, one can not walk more than twenty meters in Japan without running in to one. They are the McDonald’s of Japan, but in Japan, they sell mostly noodle dishes, so this was very Americanized.
Looks like everyone else came on an off day cause I had no problems at all minus the lack of sushi and that was cause the delivery guy was late.

SO so sad about how this resto turned out now…
They changed a lot on the menu. and the once faved beef bowl is just another regular food on the menu…
The staff are not that all competent to attend your needs, the place looks like a rundown chinese joint in the middle of the theater district at 42^nd street.
Before I have always longed for coming here, because of its affordable menu prices and the goodness of its well known dish.
Now I’d rather stay home… and watch free movies on the net and eat ramen instead.

It’s a fast food Japanese place. It’s one of the cheapest eats in times square. Starbucks cost more for Jeez sake.
Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s good. Hence the 2 stars.

Yoshinoya is a fast food chain from Japan that specializes in beef bowls.
I used to regularly go to a Yoshinoya on 23^rd Street between Lexington and Park Avenue when I went to college, around 7 years ago. It has since closed down but I stop in this Times Square location to relive that taste. The line usually moves very fast here even when it’s crowded.
I usually go for a combo bowl. It comes with the beef and also chicken teriyaki, with rice and steamed vegetables in their styrofoam container. Their beef bowl meat is so delicious. It is very soft and moist. The chicken teriyaki is also very good. It is covered in a gravy like teriyaki sauce. At times, they make the meat a little too salty, but it’s not a big deal.
Keep in mind that this is not meant to be high quality stuff — it’s just fast food after all. But cheap and filling.

It’s a 2.
Most times that I go see a flick, I make it a habit to go to this Japanese spot. It’s OK, it ain’t mind blowing. Food can go from good to yucky. The BBQ beef bowl, is good, the chicken is nasty, bah-land…but like other reviews stated they give you mad veggies and little protein. This is basically a Japanese McD’s. I will not come here and try sushi, too risqué if you ask me. But it’s excellent if you want to get away from the tourists and it’s slightly healthier than other places around. Oh one last thing, your wallet will not be harmed after going to this place.

Great place to grab a quick bite. The menu has been upgraded so there are a few more options available but the beef bowl is still my fave. The Pepsi from the fountain can be a little syrupy at times. Taste it before walking away from the counter.
UPDATE
Yoshinoya now has discount cards available. Ask for one before you order. See below for the discounts.
1-​Beef & Chicken Combo Bowl (regular $ 7.59, discount $ 6.83)
2-​Beef Bowl Reg. (regular $ 5.49, discount $ 4.94)
3-​Beef Bowl Lg. (regular $ 7.29, discount $ 6.56)
4-​Chicken Bowl Reg. (regular $ 5.09, discount $ 4.58)
5-​Chicken Bowl Lg. (regular $ 6.89, discount $ 6.20)
6-​Beef Bowl w/​veggies Reg. (regular $ 5.19, discount $ 4.67)
7-​Beef Bowl w/​veggies Lg. (regular $ 6.99, discount $ 6.29)
8-​Chicken Salad (regular $ 5.59, discount $ 5.03)
According to the fine print, be sure to present your card prior to ordering in order to receive the discounts.
New items on the menu. Can’t wait to try them out.

Yoshinoya is one place in Times Square you can grab a quick bite while hiding out from the annoying tourists. Surprisingly, I was the only white guy in the restaurant, which was more than half filled at around 7:00PM on a Friday night. The setting included typical fast food tables and décor, and I was digging the jazz background music. The whole experience was a nice contrast to the crowds of tourists outside.
The staff is super friendly, I’ve never experienced anything like it in NYC. Very smiley and outgoing. The cashier was helpful with the questions I had about the menu and combos.
I ordered the BBQ chicken meal which came with a decent chicken portion, fried noodles (similar to lomein), fried rice, and a simple iceberg lettuce mix. For $ 10.00 it include a medium fountain drink and a side. The chicken quality was not bad and the flavors and sauce was good. The noodles were nothing to write home about, but hit the spot. The fried rice was not too greasy, but also not memorable. The salad was fresh and moist, but very basic and I hate salad anyway. For the side I got a prepackaged chocolate cake. It was very chocolaty and good, although it makes no sense with the rest of the meal and I wouldn’t recommend mixing the two.
All in all Yoshinoya’s food falls into the mall food court category for me in terms of quality and pricing (average for NY, decent for Times Square). I’ll likely return for a quick but relaxed meal next time I’m catching a play on Broadway.

I knew before I stepped foot into to this place it would most likely be very disappointing.
A chain restaurant in Times Square, I know. I know. You see the circumstances were I was extremely hungry, we missed a showing of Inglourious Basterds and there was limited time before the next.
It seemed like the smarter option out of the other choices in the area.
The beef bowl, tastes like waterlogged rice topped with greasy overcooked beef. Also imagine this all done extremely bland. Now I understand why everyone was dousing their things in soy.
You know how the casino’s have a list that you can put yourself on so they kick you out if they see you in there?
They should have one of those here. I’d sign myself up just in case I ever forgot how gnarly it is.

I’ve been coming here fairly regularly (since I never eat fast food and am rarely in Time Square that means about twice a year) for about three years now…
The place used to be a lot cleaner, whether day-​time or late-​night, and the service used to be a lot more friendly, but, to be perfectly honest, it probably took the riff-​raff quite awhile to catch-​on to the joys of Japanese Fast-​Food.
But, quick-​and-​easy is quick-​and-​easy — your standards can’t be too high, and mine never have been (and never will be) — though I’m always open to a surprise (and always will be)…
I don’t recommend the California Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, or the Clam Chowder — 1 star.
The cheesecake, sesame chicken wings, and grilled shrimp bowl are okay, I suppose, for fast food — 2 stars.
The chicken bowl is OK, I guess — 3 stars…
But, really, when I come here what I order is the «Beef (with onions) Only Bowl» and the «Vegetables Only Bowl» and although you may get a little less meat than you’d get in a «Beef Large Bowl» at least you get a lot more vegetables for about the same price, without having to choke-​down and carry-​around all the rice (I’m a member of the Clean Plate Club, so, late at night, it’s definitely a welcome bonus) — with the pickled ginger and crushed/​dried-​chilis it easily warrants 4 stars.
When in the Time Square area, seeking something cheap that’s open late, this is what I seek-​out and recommend.

Japanese fast food on the go. Prices are moderate and the food appears to be mass produced. Styrofoam bowls are used to serve dishes which appears rather ghetto.
The original locations in Tokyo are far much better.