
This restaurant will challenge even the most massive of appetites.
Yamanashi, also known as the land of Mt. Fuji, is famous for delicious grapes, and now (apparently) huge servings of food. When we specifically searched for “super size gourmet Yamanashi” in a Google search, the restaurant that kept popping up in results was a joint called “Bonchi.”
▼ This quaint-looking restaurant has satisfied many large stomachs.
Bonchi is famous for serving up huge portions of curry rice, yakisoba, katsudon, and more. Two members of our SoraNews24 team went with every intention of destroying the entire menu. I mean, hey, we’ve destroyed a two-foot tall parfait before. We had no fear.
We had wanted to order the store’s most famously huge dish, stamina-don, but unfortunately they didn’t have enough ingredients that day to make one for us. We settled for the beefy gyudon (beef bowl) instead (630 yen, or US$5.69). Assuming everything on the menu was ridiculously large, we prepared ourselves accordingly. However…
▼ …well, this is underwhelming.
It wasn’t nearly as big as we thought it would be, but it’s still a pretty decent price. No complaints. The second thing we ordered was the umanisoba, which cost us 730 yen. Since the gyudon wasn’t too intimidating, we thought we could handle this one.
▼ But then…
…this colossal creation was set in front of us.
▼ Here’s how it looks next to the beef bowl.
Easily three times the size as our gyuudon, we were a little shocked, to say the least.
▼ It was even dripping over the side of the bowl!
What’s even more amazing is that there’s only a 100 yen difference in price between the two menu items. And so we began our food challenge – with empty stomachs and full wallets.
▼ Contender Number One starts to dig in…
▼ …and tag teams with Contender Number Two.
It took us a full 30 minutes before we were able to polish off the two dishes. That’s all we could manage. The real kicker is that when we went to pay our bill, one kind staff member asked us with a bit of a worried expression, “Are you okay? Are you full?” We weren’t able to answer at the time, but we wanted to say, “We’ve never had fuller stomachs in our lives.”
▼ Consider us defeated.
If you’re up to the challenge, consider making the trek out to Yamanashi Prefecture! But remember to watch out for all those zombies.
Restaurant information
Bonchi / ぼんち
Address: Yamanashi-ken, Kai-shi, Tomitake Shinden 457-1
山梨県甲斐市富竹新田457-1
Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (lunch), 5 p.m.-8 p.m. (dinner)
Images ©SoraNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]









Japan Super Budget Dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Yoshinoya?
Tokyo restaurant challenges us with a foot of tempura, we gladly accept
Need gyoza right now? Great dumpling restaurant is just 20 seconds from Yoyogi Station
We visit the new all-you-can-eat KFC buffet restaurant in Tokyo
We found the classiest branch of one of Japan’s best cheap restaurants on a Kyoto side street
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Here’s what our bachelor writers ate over the New Year’s holiday in Japan
Is it OK to split the bill on a date in Japan? Survey asks what women and men of different ages think
Nearly one in ten young adults living in Japan isn’t ethnically Japanese, statistics show
Kyoto samurai house wants to share its history of seppuku, torture and gold coins with visitors
No coins? Not a problem for Japan’s new cashless gachapon capsule toy vending machines
How to get a job in anime with Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki
Tsukiji alternative – Tokyo has a second fish market, and it turns out it’s awesome too
How much difference does the choice of mold make in fermenting food?
Original Totoro plush toys from 80s and 90s re-issued for Studio Ghibli exhibition
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Mr. Sato attacks a massive castle of seafood at a new restaurant in Tokyo Skytree’s Solamachi
Japan Super Budget Dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Saizeriya?
Ultimate Japan Super Budget Dining! Our very best 1,000-yen chain restaurant meals this year
What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Kura Sushi?【Japan Super Budget Dining】
Oodles of noodles! Udon chain pays homage to all 47 prefectures of Japan with 47 dishes【Photos】
Leave a Reply