Hundreds of people lined up outside a Tokyo restaurant on Monday to get a taste of "beef bowl" made of Grade A U.S. beef - it's the first time the dish has been offered in two years.

Some people even camped out a day before in front of a Yoshinoya restaurant. The popular fast-food chain reintroduced its favored delicacy after Japan lifted its ban on U.S. beef imports in July.

The ban went into effect in December 2003 soon after the first U.S. incidence of mad cow disease.

Fans of the "beef bowl" had kept away from the dish when it was made with Australian beef, saying it was too lean.

A young man told NHK television after having $3.20 meal, "I thought a bit about the risks, but I just could not help myself from coming here, I had to taste it."

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer was also among the herd of beef lovers lining up for a taste the specially. Schieffer told Reuters, "It was well worth the wait...It's a day of celebration, beef has returned to Japan."