Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2010

From South African curry to Hamburg steak, Tokyo’s family restaurants are going international this summer. Popular off-price chain Gusto (www.skylark.
co.jp/gusto) has unveiled a pair of new dishes for the season: Japanese-style hamburger with grated daikon and summer vegetables (¥838); and Chinese-style cold noodles (pictured) with chicken, shrimp and heaps of veggies, plus spicy ra-yu oil for an extra kick (¥628).

Denny’s (www.dennys.jp) gets into the World Cup spirit with its South African-style red curry (¥890). This Durban original has a tomato base with beef, red pepper and lots of spices—the perfect accompaniment to the new peach-apple milkshake (¥350).

Eel is a traditional Japanese summertime delicacy, and Jolly Pasta (www.sundays-sun.co.jp) celebrates the season with unagi spaghetti topped with grated yam (¥1,029). The noodle specialists also offer a spaghetti dish with orange, yuzu and chicken in a light cream sauce (¥1,029).