Fueling Up at Joyfull — A Budget Feast with Japanese Family Restaurants
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| Lunch! |
"You attract what you fear," they said.
And they were right.
Our original plan? End our hike at Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine, drive up to Mt. Aso, stand at the edge of its majestic crater, and feel like tiny, insignificant specks in the grand scheme of nature.
Reality? "Absolutely not," gas emissions said.
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| The webpage message I wished not to see... |
Yes, plans do change—especially when volcanoes are involved, and no matter how meticulously I tried to plan my trip in an Excel sheet. Our dream of standing at Mt. Aso’s crater edge was dashed by gas emissions, but Joyfull’s Salisbury steak and free-flow melon soda saved the day. Here’s why this budget-friendly chain is a road-tripper’s best friend.
So instead of sulking (okay, maybe a little sulking), we rerouted to Aso City for the next best thing: food. Specifically, a glorious, budget-friendly feast at Joyfull. Because if Mother Nature denies you volcanic wonders, at least let Salisbury steak and free-flow melon soda heal your soul.
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| Opens 24 hours. What a blessing. |
Why Joyfull? Parking, Affordability & the Allure of Free-Flow Drinks
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| We sat nearby! And you can kinda see the soft drinks machine on the left now, I think! |
Sure, there were other restaurants available, but we were already hungry and we did spend a little too much on our earlier days at Beppu and Takachiho (don't get me wrong, every yen spent was worth it) so a budget-friendly restaurant was the first choice in mind. It was also the only family restaurant we could find on the map back then because there were no Saizeriya or Gusto near Aso City too, so Joyfull was the immediate choice.
Also, since we were driving in Japan, so parking space has been a concern, but here at Joyfull, parking was a breeze! Joyfull locations (like most Japanese family restaurants) usually have spacious lots, and this Aso branch was no exception. No circling like a vulture hunting for a spot—just pull in, park, and prepare for a meal that won’t break the bank.
Not to mention, though I've probably said this before, the main reasons why family restaurants like Joyfull are a godsend for travelers, and here's why:
- Budget-friendly: Unlike fancy izakayas or tourist traps, family restaurants in Japan offers huge portions at wallet-friendly prices.
- Free-flow drinks: The Joydrink bar (in this context, from Joyfull, provides unlimited soft drinks and coffee) is a steal with just a small purchase of their menu item!
- Comfort food galore: From Japanese classics to Western-style dishes, there’s something for everyone—even picky eaters.
What We Ordered (And Why It Was a Big W for Us)
1. The Daily Lunch Set (¥768, tax included)
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| My lunch! |
"Today’s Special: Grand Salisbury Steak + Rice + Free-Flow Drinks & Soups"
I went for the daily lunch set, which included a juicy Salisbury steak smothered in demi-glace sauce, a plate of rice (and if you add just 100 yen more you can enjoy unlimited rice refills too!), and—most importantly—unlimited access to the Joydrink bar and soup.
The menu without add-ons are actually just 500 yen, but who doesn't love free flow drinks and soup? I'm definitely not someone who'd pass on such an opportunity. So, with the generous offer from Joyfull, it's pretty clear why this was a big win for me. The hamburg was more tender than I expected, the sauce rich without being cloying, and the rice portion was just enough.
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| On the left you can get cups/glasses, and from the middle to the right you can get water, coffee, tea, (soft drinks machine is on the leftmost of the image, though not in the image, oops), and the rightmost machine is for their soup! |
Also, the corn soup? Addictive! I shamelessly refilled my bowl three times! THREE full bowls of soup! And I also tried out their onion soup and needless to say, I have no regrets and I would do it again and again.
Plus, the drinks section offered free-flow melon soda—because nothing says "I’m on vacation in Japan" like neon-green fizzy drinks at 2 PM, right? And to think that I can make yet another concoction with a mixture of different kinds of fizzy drinks? Another big W for me indeed.
2. Cheese Salisbury Steak & Premium Diced Steak (¥1,065, tax included)
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| Omnomnomnom |
Of course, how could merely a plate of rice and some hamburg satisfy someone like me? Yours truly, the one who ate so much rice back in Takachiho? Wheher it was because I was spoilt too much by the local food or if it's just my insatiable appetite, ordering just the Today's Special was definitely going to be a miscalculation on my end, because I knew I craved for more meat!
So, as a self-proclaimed meat enthusiast, along with my earlier menu, I also ordered this protein-packed combo to fill myself up even more. Yes, it was under the gazes of surprise from not just my friends, but the waitress who took our order as well because there were four set meals for just a table of three! But hey, can you blame me when the images looked so good on their menu?
Not to mention, the cheese-stuffed Salisbury steak oozed gloriously when cut, while the diced steak was surprisingly tender for the price, and even if I did overfill myself, it was all worth it!
3. Chicken Namban Teishoku (Friend A’s Choice, ¥658)
Friend A went for something popular locally, and of course it was a great choice! Knowing how she enjoyed tempura back in Beppu, I figured she'd enjoy fried chicken. She enjoyed the Chicken Namban—crispy chicken drenched in their sweet and sour sauce added with tartar sauce.
The portion was generous, and the tangy glaze balanced the richness perfectly. Her set meal also came with miso soup and some side dish, along with rice, so it was a hearty meal for her too!
4. Tenjin Rice with Gyoza Set (Friend B’s Pick, ¥955)
Friend B, who happens to be interested in the differences between Chinese food in Malaysia and Japan, decided to order their Tenjin rice that also comes with gyoza. Her appetite is small, so we did end up sharing some gyoza together, and I managed to also have a bite of her rice.
Topped with a layer of egg, the rice is soaked in savory broth, reminding me a little of man-fan (or some people call them mui-fun) back here in Malaysia, but personally I still very much preferred the rice I had back at home, the wok-hei just hits different when it's from home, I'm sure any Malaysian could relate to my sentiment in this one.
5. Special Gyoza (5 for ¥372, tax included)
But of course, how can we not try the gyoza in Japan when we knew it's different from Malaysia? So we shared an order of gyoza, because no Japanese meal is complete without dumplings. While it may not compare to the gyoza I personally loved from Onomichi, the ones from Joyfull still had that sweet crisp-to-juicy ratio, and at ¥75 per piece? Absolute steal if you asked me, since it allowed us to enjoy add-ons for the Joycafe drinks!
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| The semi-aftermath, from Friend B's perspective and we had no more pictures because we were so hungry we focused on our meals rather than taking pictures |
The Joydrink Bar: A Sugar-Fueled Paradise
And since we did order food items of over ¥299 (before taxes), my friends got unlimited access to drinks for an additional ¥262 per person (price may have been updated after our trip btw)!
For soup bar access, I was told that it comes with additional purchase on top of my daily menu, but since my friends didn't really want the soup, so I was the only one adding soup to my option, so personally, for just under 800 yen (refer #1), I had unlimited access to:
- Soft drinks (Coca-Cola, melon soda, iced tea, and other soft drinks)
- Hot drinks (coffee, tea)
- Soups (corn and onion—both delicious but I really have a liking for their corn soups!)
With that, I maximized my ROI (Return on Indulgence) by:
✅ Chugging melon soda like it was my job
✅ Downing even more glasses of cola like my life depended on it
✅ Pretending 4 bowls of soup was a good idea at 2 PM (it wasn’t, I was bloated after also eating two hamburgs, no regrets tho')
Pro Tip: If you’re someone who eats and drinks very little, the bar may not be a must, since they do offer ala carte menu options for their drinks. But if you’re like me—someone who drinks almost endlessly and gets delighted at the sound of 'free flow'? This is a must!
Final Thoughts: When Volcanoes Say No, Joyfull Says "Eat More"
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| Their washroom is at the other end, to the left from their payment counter |
Was it a once-in-a-lifetime experience? No, but if you asked me if I'd come back to Joyfull, I'd always say yes, yes and YES! With how much I ate, it's a no brainer and I'd do this again and again!
✅ Affordable? Heck yes! Our bill ended up with ¥5,044 for the three of us, and we all had our fill!
✅ When it also comes with unlimited drinks and soup? A huge steal!
✅ Convenient? Easy parking, quick service, and comfy seats. Very clean toilets too!
✅ Worth it? If you want a filling, no-fuss meal after a long hike? 100%!
p/s: If you love, LOVE senbei but wanted to have it all to yourself? I gotchu! Here in Joyfull Aso Ichinomiya branch, I did purchase ware-senbei (it's the mentaiko senbei but had manufacturing defects where they are not in their perfect shapes, but perfectly edible) from the payment counter for self consumption. It's not recommended to use it as a souvenir for others, though, since its packaging is a simplified one (hence discounted) but I'd indulge in more senbei anytime!
Also a bonus for travelers: Joyfull locations are all over Japan, making them a reliable option whether you’re in Kumamoto, Fukuoka, or beyond!
📌 Need a place to stay? Check out my exclusive Agoda deals for the best accommodations in Kumamoto:
👉 Book here via my Agoda referral link (click here), it doesn't cost you more, but it'll help supporting my blog when you make a booking!
Have you tried Joyfull? What's your favorite dish? Or ever had to pivot plans because of weather (or volcanoes)? Where did you end up going? Drop a comment below and let me know! 🍛🔥
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