· Travel · 3 min read
Eat Japan with Kids
A practical guide to family-friendly dining in Japan, highlighting affordable and tasty chain restaurants that are welcoming to children.
As I mentioned, I traveled around Japan—my home country—with my two little rascals, both of whom love to eat. When traveling with kids, it’s really important to have options for kid-friendly places. Japan is famous for its specialty restaurants, some of which have long lines from morning to night. But there are also many family-friendly chains: cheap, tasty, and above all, welcoming to children. Each of these places could have its own blog post, but for now, I want to quickly introduce some of our favorites here.
Family Restaurants
“Family restaurant” is a genre in Japan. You can find “Japanized” Western dishes, traditional Japanese food, and sometimes even Chinese or Korean options. Of course, there are always special kids’ menus. These places are designed so anyone can find something to eat. Usually, they have a “drink bar”—an all-you-can-drink soft drink option—which is very cheap.
Denny’s
No, I’m not joking. This is NOT the Denny’s you know in the States. It’s “Japanized,” and you can enjoy traditional Japanese “teishoku” sets as well. It’s a true Japanese family restaurant. Worth a try!
Saizeriya
Saizeriya offers a wide range of Italian wines, dishes, and desserts, all at very low prices. It’s a welcoming place for students and families. You can enjoy truly tasty Italian food, and it’s easy to order several dishes to share, maybe with a glass of wine or two.
Royal Host
This is a slightly higher-end family restaurant, but still affordable. It feels a bit more formal, but families with young kids are totally welcome. It can get busy, so it’s better to visit during early or late lunch hours. The food is cozy and delicious “Western” style. I recommend their steaks, but honestly, anything is good.
Gusto
Gusto is on the cheaper side of family restaurants, but the quality is still good. The highlight is their “robot” server, which started as a way to save labor costs, but now it’s a fun attraction for kids. The menu is really big, so you’ll definitely find something you like.
Bikkuri Donkey
This place specializes in “hamburg steak,” which is probably the meatiest “Japanese” dish that Japanese people don’t really think is Japanese! Supposedly, it comes from Hamburg, Germany, but it’s evolved a lot here. You can choose the size, flavor, and add-ons using a touch panel. If you like meaty dishes or need a protein boost, come here.
Fast Food Restaurants
McDonald’s
No, I’m not kidding. Like McDonald’s in other countries, Japanese McDonald’s has unique menu items, like the Egg Burger, Teriyaki Burger, and Shaka Shaka Fries. The taste is different, too. Drinks are smaller and usually not free refills, unlike the drink bars in family restaurants.
If you’re in Osaka, there’s a McDonald’s at Shonai Station that’s said to be the tastiest in Japan. The secret, they say, is that this store follows the operation manual perfectly, so the burgers, fries, and nuggets are always just right.
2 Chome-4-1 Shonai Higashimachi, Toyonaka, Osaka 561-0831, Japan
KFC
Yes, I mean Kentucky Fried Chicken. You can also find Burger King, Subway, and Wendy’s in Japan, and they’re all fine, but McDonald’s and KFC are the ones I recommend. The taste and quality are adjusted for Japanese preferences, and there are unique menu items you can only find in Japan. The “Tatsuta-age” fried chicken burger is something to try if you like Popeye’s chicken sandwiches.
There are so many options for families to enjoy cheap, easy, and tasty meals in Japan. And of course, this is just a small part of it. I’ll continue this list another time…
