In 2001, when I immigrated to LA, the first fast food I fell in love with was undoubtedly the Yoshinoya Beef Bowl.

At that time, teriyaki rice bowls were not common in Korea, and when I thought of American food, I only thought of hamburgers and pizza.

However, a meal of thinly sliced beef and onions simmered sweet and salty over steaming white rice felt like 'Japanese-style Korean food in America.'

The moment I took a bite with the fork provided in the store, the umami flavor spread throughout my mouth, and the aroma of the beef fat infused into each grain of rice with the sauce made of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin was truly delightful. The spicy seasoning I brought along and the pickled vegetables dyed red were also a treat.

Back then, I could have a warm meal for just 5-6 dollars, and for me as a student, the Yoshinoya Beef Bowl was the most satisfying food in the world.

Yoshinoya originally started in Japan in 1899 and entered the U.S. in the late 1970s, with many locations in LA's Koreatown.

I remember the areas around Olympic Boulevard and Wilshire Gramercy in Koreatown.

During lunchtime, I still recall the sight of people lined up and employees in orange uniforms quickly taking orders.

There was a time when I would add an Asian salad to my beef bowl and sometimes order a large veggie combo to eat until I was stuffed.

However, as time passed and trends for healthy, organic, and vegan foods grew stronger, it seems that Yoshinoya has gradually lost its original rich flavor.

The first impression I had when I visited again was, "Is this really the taste from back then?"

The amount of meat had decreased, the sauce was lighter, and the rice felt somewhat dry. Instead of the rich gloss and sweet soy sauce aroma of that time, it had changed to a clean and simple taste.

Of course, the current Yoshinoya must have made choices to adapt to changing times.

People no longer want a 'greasy bowl' but rather a 'healthy and light meal,' and chain restaurants had no choice but to follow the trend.

In fact, Yoshinoya has added options like salads, broccoli, and brown rice to the menu, and more locations are using light sauces instead of soy sauce.

But strangely, I did not welcome those changes. Perhaps the memories of that time, the comfort of having eaten 'real rice' in a foreign land for the first time, lingered more than the taste of the food.

The Yoshinoya Beef Bowl was not just fast food; it was a memory mixed with the loneliness and excitement I felt during the early days of my immigration to LA.

Even now, although it doesn't have the rich aroma it once did, seeing the newly rebranded Yoshinoya sign reminds me of who I was back then.

The aroma of bulgogi on that warm rice I saved money to eat when I first came to America was a small happiness and the first comfort of my immigrant life.

The longing for those days is hard to explain, as there are many bittersweet memories.