Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week (including public holidays), Nakau is Japan’s largest chain of mouth-watering chicken and egg rice bowls.
Like Sukiya, Nakau is a 24-hour rice bowl restaurant that is also owned by Zensho Co. Ltd, a company that strives to combat world hunger through cheap and accessible restaurants.
Since they’re owned by the same company, Nakau does not compete with Sukiya dish for dish, but rather, complements its sister chain by specializing in chicken and egg bowls instead of beef.
Huge Variety Of Cheap Eats!
The awesome thing about Nakau is its vast menu which, while specializing in chicken and egg, offers everything under the sun!
Whether you’re craving unagi eel bowls, beef bowls, tuna bowls, or tofu bowls, you can have it all at Nakau.
Of course, the true core of the menu is in the chicken category, where you’ll find all kinds of styles and varieties from simmered chicken and egg to charbroiled, minced, and fried.
Nakau’s ordering system is similar to Sukiya’s but is even better in my opinion, offering a pay-on-the-spot ordering machine that issues tickets that the staff will collect off your table.
Menu Sets
The best part is the prices! Nakau’s standard chicken and egg bowls cost as little as 450 yen (3 USD), making it a great choice for penny pinchers!
If you’re particularly hungry, you can upgrade your bowl into a set, selecting side items such as miso soup, salad, chili oil, and additional toppings such as egg, cheese, and vegetables, all while keeping the total cost around 1000 yen (7 USD)!
Awesome Free Condiments!
Let’s talk freebies now because every Nakau restaurant is equipped with a fat jar of pickled radish, a spectrum of seasonings, savory sauces, and salad dressings to enhance your meal.
You also get unlimited access to iced or hot green tea and water.
There is also a drinks menu to order from which includes soft drinks, juice, sweet teas, and coffee.
Furthermore, there’s a whole range of utensils to choose from including chopsticks, spoons, and forks which can either be plastic or wooden depending on your preference.
Seasonal Dishes!
Depending on the time of year you find yourself at a Nakau establishment, there will likely be a seasonal dish on offer that keeps things interesting.
Colder weather typically invites comfort foods such as hot soba noodles and sukiyaki noodle soups.
Contrastingly, colder seasons bring about Nakau’s iconic minced tuna sashimi and bonito fishbowls as well as some refreshing shaved ice desserts!
The bottom line is that there’s never a wrong time to be at Nakau, no matter the season, the time of day, or the budget!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!