Yoshinoya, a Japanese quick-service restaurant chain, with more than 1,600 affiliate and company locations throughout the world and a history that began in a Tokyo fish market 112 years ago, has opened its first restaurant in Dallas.

The new restaurant, located at 14902 Preston Road, Suite 1000 A, Dallas, Texas 75254, offers a meal-in-a-bowl menu, including Yoshinoya’s signature Beef Bowl, as well as chicken bowls, BBQ Style Plates, soups, salads, kids meals, and desserts. The new Dallas store opened to the public on June 30, 2011, and is the first of five stores of the global brand to open in Dallas County, Texas.

Yoshinoya, one of the oldest quick-service restaurant chains in operation, first introduced the Beef Bowl to Japan in the late 1800’s. Taking it’s name from the founder’s hometown, ‘Yoshino’s House’ became the favorite place to enjoy a meal that was freshly prepared and served in a way that most customers had never experienced: Fast. This was a new concept.

Since then, the company built its menu around that signature item but expanded the menu to include chicken, soups, and salads. The family-owned company was incorporated in 1958, and in 1979 Yoshinoya West Inc. opened its first restaurant in California. In January 2003, Yoshinoya America was established as a holding company in a bid to expand operations in the U.S. Riding on the success and popularity of its authentic Japanese cuisine served in an American fast-casual arena, the Tokyo-based Yoshinoya has experienced continued growth in the U.S.

Asian concepts are a welcome change from typical fast-casual and quick-service concepts because they offer international flavors, which differ from the usual American standards. Based primarily in California with a few locations in Arizona, Nevada, and New York, Yoshinoya’s traditional Japanese food and a modern fast-casual atmosphere has gained loyal fans domestically.

“Our restaurants are very popular,” says Vice President of Franchise Development and Sales Scot Hobert. “We have found that many patrons are willing to drive a good distance to eat our wholesome food. Yoshinoya has always been careful to keep our food natural and not use processed meats in order to maintain a healthier and more nutritional alternative to typical fast food.”

Opening a fast food franchise is also more desirable for many would be restaurateurs and entrepreneurs. “Even in today’s struggling economy quick-service restaurants still top the charts as the leader in the franchise industry,” says Alex Kim, owner. “That is why I chose to open a Yoshinoya franchise in Dallas. I am excited to venture into a unique entrepreneurial opportunity with a global leader in the quick-service retail food market. Yoshinoya is dedicated to friendly, high-quality service and I am proud to be a part of that legacy.”  

“Opening in Dallas is a significant step toward achieving our development and operations goals. We plan on expanding the Yoshinoya franchise in Dallas with four more stores in the coming years and to continue our expansion through additional company restaurants and national franchising in California, Arizona, Nevada, New York, the West, and Canada. Even in this tough economy the fast-food sector remains robust,” Hobert says.

A Grand Opening event, to celebrate the new Dallas store, will take place on Saturday, August 13, 2011. KISS 106.1 FM will be broadcasting live from 11:00 pm to 1:00 pm and bringing a variety of prizes to giveaway. Customers can buy any Yoshinoya bowl and get the second bowl of equal or lesser value free. In addition, Yoshinoya will be raffling off 4 VIP tickets to Medieval Times, dinner and tournament. The grand prize includes preferred seating, a framed group entrance photo, behind the scenes DVD, a commemorative program, and a Knights cheering banner. The winner will be drawn from the raffle at 1:45 pm.

Yoshinoya’s United States operations are headquartered in Torrance, California.