Cycle Delight: Great food and prices at Japanese restaurant chain Jonathan's

The entrance to Jonathan's Diner (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

Recently, while biking from Yokota Air Base to Tachikawa, I came across a lovely restaurant called Jonathan's Coffee and Restaurant. I noticed a sign advertising parfaits next to the front door, and I gave in to temptation and decided to stop in for brunch.

One of the things I love about eating dessert in Japan is that the advertisements are befitting of the dessert being served.

Advertisement at the main entrance (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

Gacha and anime advertising (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

Breakfast menu cover photo (photo by Luis Samayoa)

Breakfast menu (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

Lunch menu (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

Lunchtime menu. (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

Kids menu (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

Italian menu (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

The tablet menu I ordered from (Photo: Luis Samayoa)

A chocolate parfait ordered via tablet. (Photo by Luis Samayoa)

Upon entering Jonathan's, I noticed little gashapon machines, anime-style advertisements, and trinkets lined up in front of the store. This Japanese chain made me feel like I was in a Denny's in the U.S., except there were no hungover people around.

The staff noticed me coming in and immediately showed me to my seat, pointing to the drink fountain. The service was very pleasant, and the dessert felt like brunch thanks to the staff's wonderful hospitality.

I decided to order the Petite Set B, which consists of a “small” Margherita pizza, salad and fried chicken. For dessert, they have the Classic Chocolate Parfait. While I was waiting to order, I looked at the menu again and noticed how Jonathan's sells so much food at great prices. I loved the breakfast menu because it's similar to Denny's, but unfortunately it's not offered at lunchtime.

When the set arrived, I noticed many positives, such as the meals were not too small and the pizza was larger than expected. I liked the sauce, it tasted like real tomatoes and herbs. The salad was fresh and was the best item in the set, definitely better than the bagged salads from the commissary. I saved the chicken for last, it was a bit salty on the outside but tender and smooth inside.

For dessert, the Classic Chocolate Parfait was a visual winner. The parfait looked exactly like the picture in the store. The cereal was mixed with ice cream and brownie pieces which was delicious. It was a great combination to finish off the meal.

I paid 1,978 yen (about $12.74) for this sumptuous meal. The portions were generous for the price, and I didn't feel full during the ride. If you're looking for a great meal at a reasonable price, Jonathan's is definitely worth a visit.