The upstart that ate the marketFounded in 1982 by Zensho Holdings, Sukiya is the youngest of the three houses and, by location count, now the biggest — over 1,900 stores in Japan and counting. It got there on price and reach: Sukiya is usually the cheapest of the three, and it's the one you'll find in the smallest towns and the most random highway rest stops. The signature move is toppings. Where Yoshinoya sells you a bowl, Sukiya sells you a bowl and then a menu of ways to bury it: cheese, kimchi curry, mentai mayo, a soft-boiled egg for ¥50 more. "Negi-daku" (extra green onion) is the classic customisation, free at the counter if you ask nicely. Menu, for the record
VerdictSweetest broth of the three, verging on dessert if you're not ready for it. The beef is thin-sliced and a little more forgettable than the other two on its own — Sukiya knows this, which is why the toppings menu exists. Best bowl if you want to customise; worst bowl if you just want beef, rice, and silence. My score: 7.5 / 10 |