Japanese budget Italian family-restaurant chain Saizeriya has built a devoted following among students and cost-conscious diners with its famously affordable, tasty food.
On October 14, Saizeriya announced that it will raise prices across most of its menu beginning October 29, with an average increase of 6%. The popular Milano-style Doria will rise from ¥300 to ¥320, while items currently priced at ¥400 will increase to between ¥420 and ¥430. The chain also issued an apology for the price changes—but Japanese social media users responded with overwhelming support, with many saying the food had been far too cheap to begin with and that the modest increase was entirely reasonable.
Explaining the reasons behind the increase, Saizeriya said:
“Prices for raw materials have continued to rise in recent months, alongside growing energy and other related costs. Despite these conditions, we have continued working to maintain our current prices. However, due to our own insufficient efforts, we have reached a point where we can no longer absorb the impact of food shortages and rising costs.” The company continued: “After careful consideration, we have decided to revise our prices so that we can continue maintaining product quality and providing meals consistently.”
Saizeriya also apologized to customers, saying: “We deeply regret the inconvenience and sincerely ask for your understanding.” The announcement concluded: “We will continue striving to make delicious food easily accessible and to provide an enjoyable dining experience for even more customers.”
Following the announcement, some users dug up the price history of the chain’s signature Milano-style Doria—and discovered that even after the increase, it will still cost less than when it first went on sale. That is some seriously customer-friendly pricing.
Reactions from Japanese social media users were broadly positive. With the weaker yen eroding purchasing power and prices rising across the board, many praised Saizeriya for keeping its menu affordable for so long—and for addressing customers with such a humble apology. For plenty of diners, the announcement only gave them another reason to keep supporting the chain.
In Japan, Saizeriya remains almost synonymous with rock-bottom prices. Even after this modest increase, the chain is still offering meals that remain accessible to just about everyone. No wonder the price hike sparked gratitude instead of backlash—that kind of commitment earns genuine respect.