Shin Express

I tried Shin today for the first time after driving by Yoshinoya everyday. I thought I’d give it a try. I ordered miso soup, california roll, and beef fried rice to go. Food had good flavor. The guy behind the counter was really nice, food came out fast and it was only $ 12. I thought it was really good for «fast food.» (I did add some soy sauce to the beef fried rice) I would get take out again.

For those not in the know, this location used to be home to a Yoshinoya fast food restaurant, the only one in Texas. It closed down, and now in its former location is «SHIN», where they took away the «YO» and the «OYA» and left the rest of the sign in place. I stopped by a while ago and asked for a menu, and asked the guy at the register what happened to Yoshinoya. He said that Shin has the same food (and I’m pretty sure he also said he’s the owner or something like that, he’s sort of hard to understand). So basically, we have an imitation of a fast food restaurant… that already sounds bad, if you ask me.
To cut to the chase, I was not impressed. I liked Yoshinoya for what it was (inexpensive, flavorful, filling, and unique fast food), and this is not an acceptable substitute. If Yoshinoya couldn’t last, then this place is certainly doomed.
I ordered a combo bowl and a drink. There’s no discount for getting multiple items together (if you added a side to my order you’d have a discounted «Yoshimeal» at Yoshinoya), meaning everything is a la carte. And the prices are higher than when it was Yoshinoya.
The entire time I was there, other than when he took my order, the guy at the register (same guy as earlier) was talking loudly in his native language to some friends of his sitting at the table. It was not a very peaceful dining experience, these guys were basically shouting, like they were at a concert, and sound already carries pretty loudly through the location. I liked how Yoshinoya was a somewhat quiet place to eat after I got off of a busy day at work, but here we have someone who works at the place the place marring its atmosphere with loud conversations.
Finally, the food. I really don’t think it’s the same. The chicken was sort of tough but had a similar sauce, the beef was close to tasting like Yoshinoya’s beef but less flavorful, and the vegetables were the worst part, they were really limp.
I doubt I’ll go back unless I have a morbidly curious friend who wants to know how bad the «new Yoshinoya» is. If they improved on the food I could overlook the prices for the sake of having the Yoshinoya taste on the occasion I have a craving for it, but if that guy and his friends are there again I’d get takeout for sure.

New management and the food quality is the same but prices increased a bit. Had the Bento Box nothing special. Service was crazy horrible. Unorganized, slow and out of products. Sushi looked a week and a half old. The spicy chicken was not spicy and drenched in the unspicy sauce. It was bad enough that the 2 others I was with who had eaten there before the management change won’t return now.