Searching for meaty meals and childhood recollections on the new-look Massive Boy Japan.
Each from time to time an abroad chain involves Japan and turns into an even bigger success than it’s in its dwelling market. Mister Donut is probably the most well-known instance, having only one store left within the U.S., its nation of origin, versus properly over a thousand in Japan, however one other is Bob’s Massive Boy, or simply Massive Boy, because it’s referred to as in Japan.
Beginning out in southern California within the Thirties, Massive Boy expanded throughout America, the place it had almost 250 eating places within the late ‘80s. Solely certainly one of these stays open immediately, however right here in Japan, the Massive Boy model goes robust with 172 branches serving up meaty meals.
Our Japanese-language reporter Takuya Inaba has many fond recollections of eating out along with his household at their native Massive Boy whereas he was rising up, and when he heard the chain has been renovating and redesigning lots of their eating places as of this summer season, he determined to go take a look at the brand new look. Till now, Massive Boy Japan had all the time leaned fairly closely into their “informal American eatery” vibe, however the redesign goes for a bit extra of a trendy really feel.
▼ Takuya visited the Massive Boy department in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture.
That’s all properly and good, however Takuya can be mendacity if he mentioned he didn’t really feel a disappointment in his coronary heart when he obtained as much as the entrance door of the restaurant and there was no Massive Boy mascot statue there to greet him. As a child, he’d all the time liked seeing that smiling cowlicked scamp, and never being greeted by his smiling face put a little bit of a damper on his temper.
Fortunately, although, after Takuya obtained inside…
…he noticed that Massive Boy remembers its mascot in any case!
Even this, although, had a bittersweet feeling. As an alternative of being on the entrance to welcome clients, he’s now a presence within the background, remembered, however now not actually “right here,” Takuya felt.
Nonetheless, Takuya was wanting ahead to all of the meat he was about to eat. Like lots of initially abroad chains in Japan, Massive Boy Japan’s menu has been tailored to go well with native tastes, and their specialty is hamburger steak. Burgers, in the meantime, are one thing they normally solely supply periodically, however this department has them as a part of their common menu, so Takuya ordered each a hamburger steak and a hamburger.
Ready for his meals with a mixture of feelings, Takuya’s spirits obtained a lift when he seen that among the many workers…
…was a Massive Boy mascot robotic waiter!
Unmistakably the traditional spokescharacter Massive Boy has had for many years, he’s been given an additional sprint of contemporary Japanese graphic design cuteness, and the robotic even sported a reputation tag figuring out itself as “Bobby-kun” (ボビーくん).
Now that Takuya’s nostalgia had been glad, it was time to do the identical for his urge for food. He began with an Otawara Hamburger Steak, a 250-gram (8.8-ounce) all-beef hamburger steak for 1,375 yen (US$9.30), which was juicy and immensely scrumptious.
▼ Hamburger steak served on iron scorching plates like that is typically delivered to the desk uncommon, in order that diners can let it cook dinner to the quantity they like earlier than they begin consuming.
The 1,045-yen Beef Burger, which makes use of the identical meat because the Otawara Hamburger Steak, was equally wonderful. Yeah, it’s costlier than a burger at a quick meals joint, however the greater high quality is price it, in Takuya’s e-book, and it’s nonetheless extra reasonably priced than one thing comparable can be at a stylish gourmet-aspiring burger bistro.
▼ Surprisingly, Massive Boy Japan’s burgers don’t have a 3rd slice of bread within the center, which was a key attribute of the “double-decker” Massive Boy Burger in America.
Oh, and Takuya additionally tacked on a Premium Set improve to his hamburger steak order for an extra 649 yen, which will get you limitless refills of soup, salad, rice, and curry.
▼ With curry rice getting costlier to cook dinner at dwelling, this can be a good perk.
In accordance with Massive Boy Japan’s administration, they’re not at present planning to renovate each department, however are ready to gauge buyer reactions on the places which were redesigned earlier than deciding the way to proceed. In the event that they resolve so as to add Bobby-kun robots whereas nonetheless maintaining the Massive Boy statues on the entrance, although, Takuya shall be very blissful, and really full from all of the repeat journeys he’ll make.
Associated: Massive Boy Japan official web site
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