It’s my final day at Osaka before I head back to Tokyo, and after a whole day of exploring, I want a dinner that is simple, budget-friendly, and (most importantly) satisfying. And since I haven’t crossed Matsuya off my list yet, I thought “Why not Matsuya today, then?” Matsuya’s been a long-time favorite of mine, a budget-friendly restaurant chain with some great Gyudon and Set Meals. Many of their stores are open 24 hours a day, and since it was close to midnight, I figured to stop by today. It’s been a long while since I’ve had Matsuya, so let’s see if it’s as good as I remembered it. How Good is Matsuya Actually?
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🍱 Grilled Boneless Short Rib Set (Double Size) (¥1,130) 🍱
Now while Matsuya is known for their budget-friendly Gyudon, their Grilled Short Rib Set is the dish I keep coming back to. Slices of grilled beef, seasoned with salt and pepper, served with rice, miso soup, and a side salad. The beef is grilled very nicely, with the fat rendered slightly crispy, giving the dish a sweet note.
The beef’s not grilled with a sauce, so it might be on the drier side, but that’s easily offset by the different sauce options they have (my recommendation is their barbecue sauce).
The standard set goes for ¥730, but since I was feeling hungry today, I went for the Double Size set for ¥1130. Definitely one of the more expensive items on the menu, but a price I’d happily pay for what they have to offer.
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🥗 Set Contents 🥗
Most of Masuya’s sets are served with a few side dishes, including a bowl of rice, grated daikon radish, a small salad, and miso soup (All dine-in orders come with miso soup).
Also at your table will be a collection of different sauces, from barbecue sauce, shoyu, ponzu, chili flakes, and salad dressing. There’s probably a bit more than that as well, so experiment and see what you like.
I should also mention that some dishes also allow you to select your rice portion – between their normal, large, and extra large options. There’s no extra fees if you want more rice, so if you think you’ll need it (or are planning to order some sides), feel free to grab some extra.
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🍱 Gyu-Meshi (Large) (¥500) 🍱
Now for Matsuya’s signature dish, Gyumeshi. A bowl of rice topped with extra thin slices of beef, simmered in onions and a dashi-shoyu based sauce. The beef being sliced as thin as Sukiyaki beef gives the meat such a nice texture – firm enough, but falls apart when you bite it. The sauce is on the lighter side when it comes to Gyudon, but I actually like it this way. And, of course, the fat here just gives it that extra layer of savory sweetness. Nothing to complain about, Matsuya’s Gyumeshi is a very solid dish. As a bonus, top the dish off with their raw egg, and it’s elevated to a whole new level.
For a budget dish at ¥350, the portion is filling enough for a regular meal. But since this was a late night visit after a long day of exploring, I went for the larger ¥500 bowl today.
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🥗 Add-ons 🥗
If you want to add some extras to your meal (or just want more of the same stuff,) Matsuya also features some add-on options.
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🥚 Raw Egg (¥80) 🥚
One of the classic toppings to Gyudon. If you’ve never experienced it before, raw egg on anything probably doesn’t sound too appetizing, but trust me when I say I was blown away the first time I tried it.
The hot gyudon mixed with the raw egg results in such a silky texture to the dish and adds such an amazing flavor, from the sweetness of the gyudon sauce to the rich flavors of the egg yolk. I don’t typically order Gyudon when I visit Matsuya, but every time I do, it’s always with a side of Nama Tamago (Raw Egg).
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🥩 Extra Beef (¥300) 🥩
If you ordered the Gyudon and want even more beef (or if you ordered something else and also want to try some Gyudon beef), you can grab an extra dish for ¥300. I got the large Gyudon today, so I can’t directly compare, but the amount of beef here should be roughly the same as their standard Gyumeshi (think of it as the exact same dish, with a ¥50 discount for no rice).
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🥩 Extra Beef (Small) (¥160) 🥩
A smaller portion of Gyudon beef is also available, should you prefer. The small bowl is just about half the standard add-on (maybe *slightly* less than half). So while I usually suggest you go for the normal size for its value, if you only want a small portion, it’s not too bad of a deal here.
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🍽 How to Order 🍽
Matsuya leans closer to a fast food chain, so you’ll be doing the ordering via their vending machine. Select your meal and any other add-ons, and pay straight from the machine.
Once you receive your ticket, head down to a table and wait for your food to be cooked.
At the standard Matsuya (like the Sennichimae store I’m at), the staff will come pick up your ticket and serve you your meal once it’s ready – basically like any other restaurant.
But if you’re dining in their Self-Service store, the process is slightly different. Your order will be sent directly to the kitchen, and you’ll have to head up to the service counter to pick up said order once it’s ready (displayed on the monitor by the counter). Once you’re done with the meal, you’ll also have to return the tray at the return counter.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is Matsuya actually? Matsuya’s a very solid place, simple as that. Their Gyumeshi is well rounded, and very much worth the value-for-money. Their Grilled Short Rib set, while I can’t compare it to a good Yakiniku or Teppanyaki place, the flavor profile is quite impressive, and something I look forward to whenever I feel like eating a late night, filling meal. I tend to focus on the value-for-money aspect in restaurants a lot, and for what Matsuya has to offer, it really delivers on that. So if you just want a quick meal that’s affordable and very filling, look no further than Matsuya.
Side Note: The budget-friendly Gyudon market is quite big in Japan, so it’s hard not to bring up Matsuya’s other competitors – Yoshinoya and Sukiya. I’ve tried all three of them, and – for what I’m looking for – Matsuya’s thin beef and well-rounded flavors is the one I liked the most. But, hey, that’s just my thoughts on the matter, maybe you prefer the other chains. Go for Matsuya if you only have time for one, but if time’s not an issue and you want to find out which you prefer, maybe give all 3 a shot and come to your own conclusions!
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🚗HOW TO GET THERE 🚗
Matsuya has a few locations around Dotonbori, but the Sennichimae store was the closest to my place that’s open 24 hours a day. Starting from the Ebisu Bridge at Dotonbori, head south (to the direction of Tsutaya) and cross the road over to the Ebisubashi-Suji shopping street. 2 blocks and a left turn, and there’s Matsuya. It’s a straight walk from Ebisu Bridge (minus that final turn), and only a quick 5 minute walk away.
Alternatively, if you’re coming via the metro, Namba Station would be the closest option. Exit the subway via Exit 11, turn right into the shopping street, and Matsuya’s a straight 2 minute walk away.
Matsuya can also be found in almost every prefecture in Japan, so have a look and find the closest store to you.
Matsuya – Sennichimae Store
🌏 Location 🌏
3 Chome-3-4 Nanba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0076, Japan
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/3wSyRR9oUuWQsiR49
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
Open 24 hrs. (Varies by store)
💻 Website 💻
https://www.matsuyafoods.co.jp/english/
📖 Online Menu (English) 📖
https://www.matsuyafoods.co.jp/english/menu/
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