Every few miles, clusters of fast food joints seem to repeat themselves, Burger Kings, Wendy's, and McDonald's, Subways, Pizza Huts, and Taco Bells, they keep appearing along the road, the same buildings and signage replaying like a tape loop. You can drive for twenty minutes, pass another fast food cluster, and feel like you've gotten nowhere.

Yoshinoya, Japan's fifth largest fast-food chain, has 270 Beef Bowl stores at home and is planning an even bigger U.S. chain. … Most will be in suburban fast-food clusters, and some will have drive-through service.