My first time to cover the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating contest made me realize that when it comes to eating, especially with rice, Filipinos are big eaters no matter how they look and sometimes looks can be deceiving.

For the past several weeks each branches held their selection of customers who dared to consume the most number of gyudon in 5 minutes. And with that a number of participants were listed down to participate in the final match which was held in Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest marks its 4th year as more hungry Filipinos tried to test their mettle to gastronomic challenge. If the Coney Island in New York, USA has the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Content, then the Philippines definitely has Yoshinoya which hails the participants with the most number of gyudon bowls consumed.

The final match at the Glorietta Activity Center only proves who eats more than anyone else. As safety precautions and procedures all finalists undergone medical check up to ensure their health conditions are okay. All finalists will compete by eating the most number of bowls in 15 minutes. The Top Three (3) Finalists with the most number of bowls consumed and the least weight of food left after 15 minutes will be declared winners of the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest 2014.
For the media category, the bloggers’ representative, Ruel Umali, who’s all hyped up to win this year’s crown unfortunately lost a little less than half of a bowl. But then again it was a good food fight.
After the 15 minute time mark and after checking their consumed gyudons three winner stands out and are declared winner.

Wayne Algenio who ends up 3rd Place with a winning prize of Php25,000

I frequently feature Yoshinoya here on my blog, particularly the opening of their new stores like the one in Ayala Fairview Terraces, and also the newly renovated ones which are located in SM Megamall and Robinson Galleria.

Now, they are launching their well known contest which is the “Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest 2014”. This is their 4th year already and last year my brother was able to cover the contest finale which made us, bloggers, very proud as our blogger friend Florencio Jusay of www.Manualtolyf.blogspot.com bagged the Grand Prize for the Media Category.

So for this year's Media Category bloggers are pressured to maintain the title with the bloggers but of course bloggers are fighter so we will support who will be our representative for this year's contest.
That's why just recently Yoshinoya hold a Gyudon eating challenge for the bloggers.  This challenge hails this year's blogger representative for the Media Category.  The challenge was held at Yoshinoya Robinsons Galleria Branch with 19 bloggers compete for the title.

Wow, imagine someone like me could take up the challenge!  Well, I did it anyway and it was fun.  I just finished one Gyudon and was hoping to finish the other one but I can't hahaha.
It was an enjoyable day for us, bloggers, especially with the guidance of ever always facilitator Mr. Orlado “Nodz” M. Galgana.  Sir Nodz kept on reminding us that we should win again this year's contest in the finale and be the title holder again.
Mr. Timothy James G. Yang, the President and General Manager of Yoshinoya Philippines gave us words of encouragement and he is proud to announce that the prizes for this year are better than last year.  Yes it is, they have included travel ticket to Japan. Isn't amazing!

Lastly Ms. Lala Habana, Operations Manager of Yoshinoya thank all of the bloggers who participated and for the continued support in Yoshinoya.
I am happy to announce that for this year's representative is Ruel Umali of www.ruelumali.com.  Go go Sir Ruel!

Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest 2014 will start and here are the mechanics

Qualifying Match Mechanics

1. The Yoshinoya Gyudon eating contest, is open to all males and females who are 18 years old and above.
2. Qualifying rounds will be held in all Yoshinoya stores, daily from Monday thru Friday from April 21 to May 30. Schedule is as follows:
•  a, April 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
•  b. April 28, 29, 30 May 1, 2
•  c. May 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
•  d. May 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
•  e. May 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
•  f. May 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
3. A purchase of the Yoshinoya Gyudon meal entitles customer to join the contest. Take out, deliveries, bulk orders are not included.
4. Before a customer starts, he/she must fill out Registration Form and sign a Health and Release waiver. For the qualifying round the beef bowls should be consumed in the store. The customer who finishes the most number of bowls in 5 minutes wins the challenge of the day.
5. Customer mush show one (1) valid ID to the store manager of Yoshinoya. Only the following types of ID will be accepted, School ID, Company ID, Driver's License, SSS ID, GSIS ID, NBI Clearance, Postal ID, Voters ID, Passport.
6. A customer can join as many times as he or she wants and should and complete all requirements on the application form for every trial.
7. The designated Yoshinoya crew records the number of bowls consumed by the top 1 and 2 contestants who eats the most number of bowls and weighs the amount of leftover food. The following will be observed:
• 7.a Only the Yoshinoya napkins & standard Yoshinoya condiments (red ginger & Kikkoman) will be allowed to be put on the table and used by the customer. No assistance from any person or any mechanical device which will hep consume faster will be allowed.
• 7.b Only water provided by Yoshinoya is allowed during the contest proper.
• 7.c Only the prescribed timer in Yoshinoya stores will be used in timing the customer.
• 7.d Customer should not be holding nor touching the spoon for or chopsticks before the timer starts.
8. The Yoshinoya store crew shows the timer to the customers before starting the time record and starts the timer right after giving a go-signal. Customers then starts eating the beef bowls.
9. Customer should turn over empty bowl before starting the next bowl. All left over grains in all bowls will be weighed along with the unfinished bowl.
10. The Yoshinoya store crew registers the number of bowls consumed and weighs the leftover food of the top 1 & 2 contestants to validate the entry and verifies count and weight with the contestant.
11. The Yoshinoya store crew writes the number of bowls and weight of leftover on the Registration form to be signed by the Yoshinoya store crew and the customer/contestant over their printed names. Only Registration Forms bearing the printed names and signatures of the Yoshinoya store crew and the customer/contestant shall be considered valid.
12. The Yoshinoya store crew writes the Name and number of bowls consumed on the Leader Board. Only the Four (4) weekly fastest Gyudon bowl eaters who qualified in the store will be placed on its Leader Board per store. This will be updated every time a new record is set.
13. After the Weekly Qualifying Rounds in the stores all weekly contestants who qualified per store will be automatically be entered in the grand finals. All qualified contestants will be notified between June 2-6, 2014 through Mobile call and E-mail.
14. In case of a tie in the sores, the store manager shall call upon the contestants who tied for a re-match contestant with the least number of rice grains left ill be selected at as winner for the round.
15. In any case of disputes, the decision of the Yoshinoya Store Manager will be considered valid and final.
16. A DTI representative shall be present during eliminations.
17. Employees of Yoshinoya Century Pacific, its agencies and participating outlets, including their relatives up to the second degree of affinity or consanguinity and employees of sponsors, are disqualified from joining the qualifying match.

Grand Match Mechanic

1. The Final Match will be held on June 14, 2014 at 1:00pm in the Activity Center at the Glorietta, Makati City.
2. The Forty Two (42) Finalists will compete by eating most number of bowls in 15 minutes.
• 2.a Finalists should sign a Health Release and Liability Waiver prior to the Final Match.
• 2.b Each Finalist is given ten (10) regular beef bowls, and is assigned with a marshal. 
• 2.c Finalists should not be holding nor touching any of the spoon, fork or chopsticks before the timer starts.
• 2.d NO VOMITING is allowed for the duration of the contest and 15 minutes right after the contest proper, In case of vomiting during contest proper or right after the 15 minutes timer signal is sounded contestant is automatically disqualified.
3. The timer will star upon the go-signal of the host.
4. After 15 minutes is up, the finalists raises both hands and steps back from the table. Marshals will weigh remaining contents in bowls.
5. The Top 3 winning finalists with the most number of bowls and least weight will win the following prizes: 1st Place – P100,000 cash and 2 trip to Japand Tickets c/o Cebu Pacific 2nd Place – P50,000 3rd Place – P25,000
6. The non-winning Finalists will be given consolation prizes of P2,000 worth of Yoshinoya GC each.
7. In case of a tie for the 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, a 1 bowl overtime match will be done among tied Finalists for their corresponding prizes. The Finalist who finishes beef bowl with the fastest time and little to none grains left ill be awarded the higher.
8. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners will be announced and awarded during the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest Final Match Event and through posters and print ads.
9. In case of Grand winner be denied of Japan Visa Trip to Japan Ticket will be forfeited in favor of Yoshinoya
10. Non cash prizes and consolation are not convertible to cash

Control Measure:

1. All Application forms per branch shall be under the custody of the store manager, properly numbered sequentially per branch.
2. After the last Qualifying Event, all application forms will be collected and brought to the Yoshinoya Head Office for encoding and safekeeping under the custody of the Operations Manager – Ms. Lala Habana
3. A DTI representative shall be invited to witness Grand Finals Match.

So do memorize the scheduled dates for you to join the contest. If you have more question please feel free to comment here on my blog.  Who knows, you might be the next lucky winner of cash prizes and a trip to Japan.

My family loves Japanese food, my husband does and so as the kids.  Yoshinoya has always been one of the restaurants that we go to whenever we're on a place that has one and it was amazing that one of the nearest mall in our area has finally opened a Yoshinoya Branch.  Yes, Ayala Fairview Terraces is one of the newest mall in our area and Yoshinoya opens its big bowls of Japanese treats for customers like us.  As a mom I make sure that my family well be satisfied with their dishes.  This may not be a new restaurant for us to experience but it's the familiar taste that we always look forward to, especially during pay day.
It was a Friday and close to noon time when the Yoshinoya was graced with their President/General Manager, Mr. Timothy James G. Yang and has welcomed guests, media, and customers for that particular day.  The opening ceremony was programmed with the cutting of ribbon and of course, for the good luck was the tossing of coins and candies. 
As Yoshinoya opens its door to customers, I'm sure passersby and onlookers who are there on that day will definitely get inside the store to try delectable selections of Yoshinoya's dishes.  As always and will always be, the signature dish, Gyudon or Beef Bowl will always be the number one hit.
The Yoshinoya Branch in Ayala Fairview Terraces is another addition to the increasing number of the establishment.  Other branches are SM MEGAMALL, SM NORTH EDSA, SM MALL OF ASIA, SM MANILA, ROBINSON'S GALLERIA and GLORIETTA.

We'll definitely visit this branch with my family soon!

To know more about YOSHINOYA visit their Facebook page YOSHINOYA YCPI or you can read one of our past stories about Yoshinoya - Yoshinoya Re-Opens at Robinsons Galleria.


YOSHINOYA International Co., Ltd .
YOSHINOYA Centurey Pacific, Inc.  
YOSHINOYA Ayala Fairview Terraces
2nd Floor Ayala Fairview Terraces
Facebook Page : Yoshinoya YCPI

Yoshinoya SM Megamall is the 2nd branch that I have covered with their relaunched.  Last August they reopened their branch located at Robinsons Galleria. They are renovating their stores to give their customer a new dining experience. You'll definitely see the details of the renovation as you enter their redesign stores.



Yoshinoya Megamall was first opened on April 23, 2003. Then, renovation of the dining area was done in November 2009. Until recently, to cope up with the recent trends in design, the store was upgraded and then after 10 years they relaunched the Yoshinoya Megamall.


 

The blessing of the store happened last September 27, 2013. Graced by Mr. Ricardo Cepeda together with the Executives of Yoshinoya and also the Management of SM Megamall. The usual ceremony of store blessing took place and then followed by the sumptuous lunch.


I just remembered this was the first store that we tried Yoshinoya way back when my ex boyfriend (my husband now) enjoyed the food together, reminsing indeed! So, until now we are doing our date together with our kids.












Over the years, Yoshinoya's menu changed to reflect today's consumer. So, mommies and daddies treat your families at Yoshinoya SM Megamall branch and experience the new renovated store, they will definitely enjoy the food and the new ambiance.



Also visit their other branches located at Robinsons Galleria, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Manila and Glorietta 1. You can enjoy also Yoshinoya in your own home by dialing their Delivery number 288 2888.

Enjoy the Yoshinoya Japanese treats!

Yoshinoya Robinsons Galeria Branch has been under renovation for quite some time and last August 12, 2013 the much awaited reopening of the store commence on a rainy Monday morning.   Yes it was a stormy Monday just the right moment to make the hungry tummy be full of warm and satisfying dishes from Yoshinoya.  The renovation was made to bring more dining experience to their customers.

Present during the ceremony were Mr. Timothy James G. Yang the President/General Manager of Ihanat Foods Corporation, VIP's from Robinson, Bloggers, Staff and Store Crew of Yoshinoya.



As usual the ceremony started with the prayer and according to priest who officiated the ceremony "the ceremony of blessing is not just for the store but also to the people who were there in the event".  After this it was followed by the cutting of the ribbon with the top brass of the company lines up in front of the ribbon and cut it to signify the reopening of the store.

After the blessing a short program held, Ms. Lala of Yoshinoya, Operation Manager welcomed all the guests.  Mr Yang was called for an inspirational talk but according to him "it's not an inspirational but I am more on welcoming everybody in our store", he shared also some of the highlights of Yoshinoya and his parting message for everybody was "I hope to see all of you more often here at Yoshinoya".



Of course after the program, A feast! We indulge on some of their best seller such as Beef Bowl, Beef Yakiniku, and also on their new dishes such as Maki, Ramen, Kani Salad and Tiramisu.




Of course the well loved signature dish is still within the menu and it wouldn't be Yoshinoya without the beef bowl (gyudon), which my family loves very much.  It is the same product profile where Yoshinoya operates on other parts of the world. The core product is prepared using premium beef with the special beef stock over a steaming bowl of white rice.

Now, isn't it a great way to spend the rainy Monday, a tummy filled with treats from Yoshinoya.  So what are you waiting for Yoshinoya Robinsons Galeria Branch is now open and just waiting for you.  Enjoy!