Yoshinoya remains the country's No. 1 Japanese fast-food chain

Yoshinoya, a Japanese fast food chain and the largest chain of gyudon (beef bowl) restaurant was established in Japan in 1899. Its headquarter is located in Kita, Tokyo. Its motto, "Tasty, low-priced and quick" made it one of the most famous Japanese food chains in the Philippines.

Yoshinoya Megamall branch with the selected contestants of Miss Earth - Philippines 2017

The founder of the company, Eikichi Masuda, was from the former town of Yoshino in Osaka Prefecture, and there is a predominant belief that it is the origin of the name. Yoshi means "old," No means "field," and Ya means "house." Therefore Yoshinoya means an "old house in the field."

Yoshinoya's logo is the "bull horn." It was invented and designed by the founder himself, Eikichi Masuda. The idea os the logo was derived from the initial letter of Yoshinoya - "Y," while the rope surrounding the horn represents the "Yokozuna" ranking (winner) in Japanese sumo-wrestling. Yokozuna depicts about the quality of the food Yoshinoya serves. The surrounding rope is made up of 27 rice grains and the whole logo means "Yoshinoya sells the best beef bowls".

Yoshinoya first opened in 1899 at the Nihonbashi fish market in Tokyo. When the market was devastated by the Great Kanto Earthquake, Yoshinoya moved to the new Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo in 1926.

The chain opened its first 24-hour store in 1952. As an attempt to gain more profit, Yoshinoya's business model was changed from self-employed restaurant to a stock company on December 27, 1958.

In 1965, the chain earned million dollars in sales, which led to the idea of expanding the chain's operations in Japan. Yoshinoya's first franchised store was opened in Shinsaibashi, in 1968.

In 1975, the first american store of Yoshinoya was opened in Colorado.

In the Philippines, Yoshinoya opened its first branch in Metropoint Mall, Pasay City, in 2001. The following year, Yoshinoya Express Delivery (YED) was launched.

Today, Yoshinoya has 11 branches in the country - SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, Fairview Terraces, SM Fairview, Glorietta, Mall of Asia, SM Manila, Valero, SM Southmall, SM Cebu Seaside, and SM City Cebu.