Greg T.
Yelp
Yoshinoya is arguably Japan's first fast-food restaurant chain. Though they've greatly expanded their menu offerings over years, their original mainstay is their Gyu-Don, or Beef Bowl: Thin strips of beef and onions simmered in broth, then spooned over a bowl of rice. Back in the day, I could order a raw egg to mix in (amazing!), but I couldn't find that option available this visit.
The service is about as fast as any other fast-food restaurant, though sometimes I've been able to get my order (regular Beef Bowl Combo with Pickled Vegetables) in only a couple minutes.
If I were to pick what Yoshinoya's store layouts reminded me of, I'd say they were a cozier version of Waffle House! The only difference is that there are usually seats anchored along a wraparound counter rather than tables. These restaurants are designed for eating quickly and getting on with your day.
The best part? The price! You can't beat getting full on good old-fashioned Japanese comfort food for under $6 in the middle of Tokyo.