The Drink Bar Must Flow

Posted on 06/15/2021 Last updated on 06/17/2022

Top Image: ” CASA-DRINK BAR ” by Tokotoko licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-SA 3.0). No changes or alterations were made. Wikimedia Commons Link

When it comes to eating in Japan, your options are almost endless. Ramen stands, conveyor belt sushi, convenience store lunchboxes and rice balls, fancy restaurants, western-style fast food, curry of all kinds and even home cooking if you’re feeling adventurous. But when you really want to experience the true brilliance of Japanese cuisine, you go to a family restaurant.

It might not seem like the most obvious destination. Traditional architecture and atmosphere? You won’t find it here! Local delicacies unique to this part of Japan? Look somewhere else, pal! High-class upper-crusty cuisine that would please even the most discerning of patrons? Get outta town! Family restaurants (or ファミレス) are where you go when you want a comeback to the mantra of “you can have it fast, you can have it cheap, you can have it good, but you can’t have all three”. Because here, you can.

Photo Credit: 経済特区 licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

A family restaurant is essentially any chain diner that provides booth seating, low-price meals or à la carte dishes, and the all-important drink bar. There are many different kinds, some associated with a particular cooking style (Chinese at Bamiyan or Italian at Saizeriya) while others have a more generic theme of “a steakhouse” (Bikkuri Donkey, COCO’s, etc.) And some are American chains transplanted and adjusted for the Japanese market (Big Boy and Denny’s). Variety is the name of the game at all of them though, and it’s just as easy to find a decent hamburg steak at Saizeriya as it is elsewhere.

“Decent” being the operative word, as the quality of food at family restaurants tends to fall in the range of “good enough” to “actually quite delicious”. It’s not going to win anybody any Michelin stars, but you can feel pretty safe trying everything and usually still walk away satisfied- Saizeriya’s escargot is a particular favorite of this writer, and the one-person pizzas might not look like much but they still hit the spot.

But hold up- what’s all this about hamburg steak? Many steakhouses in Japan still have the more conventional sirloin or ribeye steaks (and indeed, they’re usually among the pricier items at family restaurants) but it’s these sauce-glazed bun-less hamburger patties that make up the true meat of the menu. Often served alongside veggies and two or three thick potato fries, they are synonymous with family restaurants and if you haven’t eaten one at one of them, you may have had one in a convenience store meal or even at school.

For those from the US, the closest equivalent is probably a Salisbury steak. It’s not a perfect match, but it might give you a better idea of how it differs from the usual image of “a steak”. These hamburg (ハンバーグ) can be served a variety of ways, including topped with tomato sauce, diced radish or served with curry. Perhaps our favorite version is hamburg steak stuffed with melted cheese. Not recommended for those on a diet, but delicious? You better believe it.

A typical family restaurant meal depends on where you go and how hungry you are. You can order a variety of items off the menu or go with more of a set meal such as the aforementioned hamburg steaks, salads, sandwiches, curry, pasta, pizza, and combinations (this writer’s other favorite: hamburg steak and chicke nanban). Even that usually has options to choose from, such as adding some fried shrimp to go along with your steak. You can add ‘sets’ with soup, salad, rice, bread, or some combination of the above to your meal. And of course, there’s the drink bar.

The drink bar is essentially Japan’s version of free refills. While a rarity (if not impossibility) to find in most fast food joints here, the family restaurants have you covered. Order use of the drink bar with your food (usually around 300-400 yen or less per person) and go wild. You have your choice of sodas, teas, ice coffee, etc. The glasses are small, but the refills are endless! Recently some places even allow you to mix in different fruit syrups for exciting and unorthodox new combinations. Lemon cola, melon ice tea, etc. Soup bars are also increasingly common, and the drink/soup bar combo is great for the hungry diner.

And if you’ve still got room left, there’s a variety of desserts both simple and grandiose. From a basic slice of chocolate tart or vanilla ice cream to towering parfaits that are nearly a meal unto themselves. The mint parfait we had at COCO’s last month seemingly had everything save for the kitchen sink- cotton candy, whip cream, macaroons, mint sauce, ice cream, chocolate brownies, coca flakes, and yet more layers of whip cream and mint sauce. Many family restaurants have a consistent ‘grand menu’ as well as rotating monthly specials. If mint isn’t your thing, we’ve seen strawberry and mango equivalents of the below.

Family restaurants are havens for the weary traveler on a sightseeing excursion or busy day out. They offer cozy atmosphere and a relaxed pace (unless there’s a lot of people waiting at the entrance, patrons are generally encouraged to take their time and order as much as they like). Many establishments have a last order time late into the night/early into the morning, or just stay open 24/7. Missed the last train home? Spend some time at the nearest family restaurant with delicious snacks, continuous refills and a comfy booth to keep you rested until that first morning train.

And, if you know your way around the menu, you can walk out of any establishment with a satisfying meal for a satisfying price. This makes family restaurants excellent for when you want to treat yourself on a weekend without necessarily breaking the bank. Or, if you’ve got some friends with you, a great place to sit and chat while snacking on various dishes.

Just remember to save room for dessert. It’s worth it!

Photo Credits:

1 – ” ガスト西川口駅前店のプレミアムチーズインハンバーグ(20201206) ” by 経済特区 licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license (CC BY-SA 4.0) No changes or alterations were made. Wikimedia Commons Link

Additional photos (2, 3) were provided by the author, used with permission.