Bob’s Big Boy is alive and well, and also a cute robot, in Japan【Photos】

Searching for meaty meals and childhood reminiscences on the new-look Massive Boy Japan.

Each once in a while an abroad chain involves Japan and turns into an even bigger success than it’s in its dwelling market. Mister Donut is essentially 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 practically 250 eating places within the late ‘80s. Solely considered one of these stays open in the present day, 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 reminiscences 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 try the brand new look. Till now, Massive Boy Japan had at all times leaned fairly closely into their “informal American eatery” vibe, however the redesign goes for a bit extra of a modern really feel.

▼ Takuya visited the Massive Boy department in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

That’s all properly and good, however Takuya could be mendacity if he stated he didn’t really feel a disappointment in his coronary heart when he received 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 at all times cherished 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 received inside…

…he noticed that Massive Boy remembers its mascot in any case!

Even this, although, had a bittersweet feeling. As a substitute of being on the entrance to welcome clients, he’s now a presence within the background, remembered, however not actually “right here,” Takuya felt.

Nonetheless, Takuya was wanting ahead to all of the meat he was about to eat. Like a number 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 received a lift when he seen that among the many employees…

…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 sizzling plates like that is typically delivered to the desk uncommon, in order that diners can let it prepare 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 dearer than a burger at a quick meals joint, however the larger high quality is value it, in Takuya’s guide, and it’s nonetheless extra inexpensive than one thing comparable could be at a classy 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 a further 649 yen, which will get you limitless refills of soup, salad, rice, and curry.

▼ With curry rice getting dearer to prepare dinner at dwelling, it is a good perk.

In response to Massive Boy Japan’s administration, they’re not at the moment planning to renovate each department, however are ready to gauge buyer reactions on the areas which were redesigned earlier than deciding find out how to proceed. In the event that they resolve so as to add Bobby-kun robots whereas nonetheless preserving the Massive Boy statues on the entrance, although, Takuya might be very pleased, and really full from all of the repeat journeys he’ll make.

Associated: Massive Boy Japan official websitePhotos ©SoraNews24● Wish to hear about SoraNews24’s newest articles as quickly as they’re revealed? Comply with us on Fb and Twitter![ Read in Japanese ]