Ootoya… The first restaurant was established in 1958 by Mr. Eiichi Mitsumori, under the name “OOTOYA Shokudo” in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It offered a menu where every dish was priced the same—at just 50 yen—earning it the nickname “¥50 Shokudo.” The name “Ootoya” comes from the name of Mr. Mitsumori’s father’s vineyard and also translates to “big door” in Japanese, symbolizing a welcoming entrance for all customers. In 1979, Mr. Hisami Mitsumori, the eldest son of Mr. Eiichi Mitsumori and the current president of Ootoya, became the second-generation successor. In May 1983, he established OOTYA Corporation while maintaining its focus on homemade-style Japanese cuisine with high quality at fair prices. Today, Ootoya boasts about 350 branches across Japan and has branched out internationally, beginning with Thailand where it opened its first store at J Avenue in Thonglor in January 2005. Since then, it has expanded to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Singapore. Currently, there are more than 40 branches in Thailand alone.