5 Must-Eat Japanese Family Restaurant Lunch Menus - Saizeriya, Bamiyan, and More!

1. Hamburger Steak with Demi-Glace Sauce

You could eat every day at popular family restaurant Saizeriya without tiring of their range of delicious, affordable dishes. The lunch menu features nine options including grilled meat, pasta, and rice options that all come in a set with salad and soup, plus rice with the grilled options, for the unbelievable price of 500 JPY (incl. tax). The Hamburger Steak with Demi-Glace Sauce is an excellent choice from this lunch menu. The chunky Salisbury steak covered in thick demi-glace sauce is sure to fill you up. This dish is topped with a soft-boiled egg that, when mixed with the sauce, creates a mellow flavor that pairs perfectly with rice.

Lunch Hours: Weekdays 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
* Hours and menu may vary.

2. Vegetable Ramen Noodles (Bamiyan)

Enjoy simple and authentic Chinese food at the popular restaurant chain, Bamiyan. This chain offers Chinese classics like Sichuan-style tofu and dumplings, a variety of noodle dishes, and a wide range of desserts. The lunch menu includes a dish of the day, rice-based dishes from the rice bowl menu, and noodle lunches. A great option is the Vegetable Ramen Noodles (850 JPY (excl. tax)). This hearty ramen dish is filled with vegetables such as cabbage, bean sprouts, and garlic chives. The vegetables lend the salt-flavored soup an umami-rich taste that perfectly complements the firm, medium-thick noodles. This dish comes in a set that includes a drink bar and one choice of a side dish such as dumplings or salad.

Lunch Hours: Weekdays and Saturdays 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

3. Twin Salisbury Steak (Joyfull)

Joyfull has around 760 restaurants all over Japan. They offer a grill menu, a daily lunch menu, and daily lunch sets. We recommend the Twin Salisbury Steak (799 JPY (excl. tax)). This filling choice features two regular-sized steaks served on a piping-hot iron plate. The steaks are served with cheese sauce, tomato sauce, and Joyfull\'s special spicy barbecue sauce. This dish also comes with rice or bread, which is perfect if you\'re feeling extra hungry!

Lunch Hours: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

4. Fried Chicken with Grated Radish Set (Jonathan)

Jonathan is a family restaurant chain found all over Japan, but mainly in the Kanto region. They offer Japanese-style, Western-style, and cafe-style lunches, and also takeaway and delivery services. Their lunch options include the day\'s specials, Japanese lunches, and grilled lunch sets. We recommend the Fried Chicken with Grated Radish Set (1,099 JPY (excl. tax). This choice comes with large pieces of crispy, deep-fried chicken in a special soup, topped with grated daikon radish and enoki mushrooms. The freshly fried chicken is crispy and juicy, but can be very hot, so be careful not to burn your tongue when eating!

Lunch Hours: Weekdays 10:30 am - 5:00 pm

5. Chicken and Colorful Vegetables in Black Vinegar Sauce (Gusto)

With around 1,350 restaurants all over the country, Gusto’s low prices and diverse menu is popular both with families and solo diners looking for somewhere comfortable to grab a meal. There are three lunch menus on offer at Gusto: a daily special lunch plate, a Japanese lunch menu, and a select lunch menu with plenty of options. Try their Chicken and Colorful Vegetables in Black Vinegar Sauce (799 JPY (excl. tax)). This dish is made with generous portions of crispy fried chicken and bright vegetables mixed together in a refreshing black vinegar sauce.

Lunch Hours: Weekdays 10:30 am - 5:00 pm

Why not grab a cheap and filling lunch at a family restaurant during your trip to Japan? As these restaurants tend to have quite long lunch hours, these are also handy places to pop into if you need a late lunch, too.