30 Best Cheap Eats and Restaurants in Tokyo

1. Mawashi-zushi Katsu (活): Conveyor-belt Sushi

This conveyor-belt sushi restaurant is run by the popular sushi chain, Midori Zushi. They offer over 200 kinds of dishes, including sushi and side dishes, and all are well-prepared with fresh ingredients. The prices range from 100 yen to 500 yen. Their homepage is in Japanese but you can some online translation sites to translate it into English.

HP: katumidori.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 8F Seibu Ikebukuro, 1-28-1 Minami-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

2. Minatoya Shokuhin (みなとや食品): Seafood Donburi

Minatoya has two shops in Ameyoko and is well-known for its seafood donburi bowl. The wide variety of dishes on their menu are shown with pictures and Japanese and English descriptions at the front of their stores. The fresh ingredients come directly from the Tsukiji market and are priced at around 500 yen. You can fill your stomach for less 1,000 yen. Both shops are located within walking distance from Ueno and Okachimachi stations.

HP: https://www.ameyoko.net/shop/142 (Japanese Only)

Address: Ueno 4 chome 1-9, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

3. Eichan (えいちゃん)： Kushikatsu

This shop is a branch of a kushikatsu chain from Osaka. You can eat kushikatsu, or deep-fried skewers, and oden priced from 100 yen. They offer several lunch menus for around 500 yen. There is a seat charge of 200 yen at night, but you can eat as much cabbage as you want. In the daytime, a meal will cost less than 1,000 yen and at night about 2,000 yen. 1 minute-walk from Takadanobaba station.

HP: www.no-doubledip.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Tokyo, Shinjuku City, 3 Chome−4−8 (Google Map)

4. Harajuku Gyoza Lou (原宿餃子楼): Gyoza

City Foodsters/Flickr

 

Laura Tomàs Avellana/Flickr

Harajuku Gyoza Lou specializes in gyoza, or Chinese dumplings, and is located 260m from the Metro Meiji Jingumae Station. Their menu is very simple: 6 pieces of fried or boiled gyoza for 290 yen, and you can order them with or without garlic. Their side dishes are simple and delicious as well. This place is so popular that you might need to wait for a while but it’s worth the wait. A meal will typically cost less than 1,000 yen.

Address: 6-2-4 Jungumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

5. Beer & café BERG: Western style quality meals

nakashi/Flickr

BERG is a small restaurant serving quality food and drink made by masters with quality ingredients, including great coffee beans, authentic hams, sausages and bread. Many food and drinks on the menu cost around 500 yen. Large pictures of the dishes available are on the wall outside of the shop, which makes choosing what you want easy. It's located close to the East exit of JR Shinjuku station or on the basement floor of the Lumine Est shopping complex. Please note that smoking is NOT prohibited here.

HP: www.berg.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: B1 LUMINE Est, 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-k. Tokyo (Google Map)

6. Ramentei (ら麺亭): Ramen

This small shop is located a 6 minute-walk from Asakusa station on Denbouin Dori, a shopping street not far from Nakamise Dori. You can enjoy their delicious standard ramen noodles for under 500 yen, while their wonton men noodles and shumai dumplings are favorites of the locals as well. You can fill your stomach for less than 1,000 yen.

 

7. Saishoku Kenbi (菜食健美): Vegetarian Lunch

If you are looking for an all-vegetarian restaurant, Saishokukenbi is a good option. Their menu is comprised of dishes made with no meat or fish, while you’ll find ‘chicken’ or ‘Hamburg steak’ on their menu. We recommend the 1200 yen one plate lunch with a drink. They offer a set menu for 1300 yen as well. It is located in Korean Town, close to JR Okubo Station.

8. Royal Host: Breakfast

Mathieu Thouvenin/Flickr

If you miss a good hot breakfast, Royal Host, a family restaurant chain in Japan, is a great option. They offer wide range of breakfast dishes from light snacks to full meals, consisting of bread, pancakes, ham, sausages, eggs, other cooked food and coffee or tea for under 1,000 yen. Their branches are located all over Tokyo; you can find them close to Shinjuku or Shibuya stations, for example.

HP: www.royalhost.jp/index.php (Japanese Only)

9. Kuri (庫裏): Japanese Sake

HP: www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~kurisake/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 6 Chome−4−15 2F (Google Map)

10. JIP: Japanese Wine

tzejen/Flickr

JIP bar is a great place to sample Japanese wine and features a wine shop on the premises as well. They serve over 20 kinds of glass wines from Hokkaido to Kyushu costing from 500 yen. A 1,050 yen tasting set is highly recommended which is available where you can sample three different types of wine in 50cc glasses. They have a great food menu as well. The average visit will cost under 3,000 yen, including the 500 yen cover charge. 3 minute-walk from Subway Shinjuku Sanchome or Metro Shinjuku Gyoen on Marunouchi line.

11. OMOTESANDO KOFFEE: Coffee (Take-away or standing-up)

chee.hong/Flickr

Tim Riley/Flickr

Tim Riley/Flickr

This coffee shop is located in a residential area close to Omotesando. What makes this place stands out from others is the ambience: it is in an old but well maintained home that has been converted into a coffee shop on a narrow side street. While this place offers mainly take-away items, you can also enjoy them on-site, on a small bench in the garden if conditions allow. A standard cup of coffee costs 350 yen and small cake for 170 yen. 5 minute-walk from the A2 exit, Metro Omotesando station.

12. Chanomi Club: Japanese tea

This café run by a tea shop offers tasting sets that allow you to sample different types of Japanese tea. You can choose two types of tea from various selections, so you can enjoy the different flavors each tea has. The sets are served with a small Japanese sweet and cost from 500 yen. You can enjoy kakigori (shaved ice) topped with the syrup made from green tea powder for 500 yen as well. 2 minute-walk from Tsukiji station on Metro Hibiya Line.

HP: https://www.uogashi-meicha.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 2 Chome-11-12 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo (Google Map)

13. Jiromaru (治郎丸): Yakiniku (standing)

Jiromaru, a standing yakiniku shop, is a nice place for grilled meat lovers who usually hesitate to order as much as they like, especially when they are accompanied by someone. Jiromaru enables you to order meat by piece from their extensive, high quality menu at a very reasonable price: intestines are available from 30 yen and slices of meat are from 150 yen. They open from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m. and are located nearby Seibu Shinjuku Station. The average meal will come to under 3,000 yen.

14. Gut's Soul: Yakiniku (All-you-can-eat)

Gut’s Soul is an all-you-can-eat Korean style barbeque chain. Their course menu starts from 1,380 yen excluding tax (90 minutes): 2,400 yen (120 minutes) if you choose drinks as well which includes alcoholic beverages. There are three courses with different types of meet and side dishes. One of the most popular shops is located in Yoyogi, a 1 minute-walk from the west exit of JR Yoyogi station.

HP: www.guts.gr.jp/index.php (Japanese Only)

Address: Tokyo, Shibuya City, Yoyogi, 1 Chome−32−1 3F (Google Map)

15. Mo Mo Paradise: Shabu Shabu Hot Pot (All-you-can-eat)

Mo Mo Paradise, known as ‘Mo-Para’ as well, is an all-you-can-eat restaurant specialized in shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, two types of Japanese hot pot. They serve several courses starting from 2,500 yen where you can enjoy all you can eat pork and vegetables for 100 minutes with a soup chosen from 3 types. The Kabuki-cho branch is 5 minutes on foot from JR Shinjuku station.

HP: https://mo-mo-paradise.com/shop/kabuki

Address: 8F Humax Pavillion Shinjuku Kabuki-cho, 1-20-1 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

16. Shakey's: Pizza & Pasta (All-you-can-eat)

If you miss American style pizza during your trip in Japan, you can head to Shakey’s, a big pizza franchise. The lunch buffet is served for 961 yen on weekdays and for 1,280 yen on weekends and holidays. The menu includes a wide variety of pizzas and pastas. The Shibuya branch is a 6 minute-walk from JR Shibuya station.

HP: shakeys.jp/store/SHIBUYAUDAGAWA/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 2F 32-15 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

17. Little Lamb (小尾羊): Chinese Lunch Buffet

An affiliate of a restaurant chain specialized in Mongolian hot pot that offers a Chinese lunch buffet for a very reasonable price. It costs 600 yen for 60 minutes and they serve 15 dishes varying from appetizers to fried foods. You can enjoy free drinks for an additional 200 yen. A 2 minute-walk from the north exit of Sugamo station on the Yamanote line.

HP: www.syabusyabu.net/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 1F Kamogawa IN Sugamo, 2-4-7 Sugamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

18. Sakura-tei: Okonomiyaki & Monjayaki (All-you-can-eat)

Sakuratei is popular restaurants in Harajuku which offers all-you-can-eat lunch including both Okonomiyaki and Monjayaki. The lunch costs 1,500 yen on weekdays and 1,250 yen on weekends and holidays for 90 minutes including one drink. You can choose from over 10 kinds of toppings from their menu which is both in English and Chinese. A 4-minute walk from Omotesando station.

HP: www.sakuratei.co.jp/en/

Address: 3-20-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

19. KARACHI: Indian Lunch Buffet (Halal food)

This small restaurant serves traditional Indian and Pakistan cuisine made with halal ingredients. You can enjoy their relatively inexpensive dishes, including an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for 1,000 yen (1,500 yen on weekends) with four types of curry, salad, and non-alcoholic drinks, a lunch set for 750 yen, and a one-plate lunch for 500yen. It’s located 5 minutes on foot from Shinjuku-Nishiguchi station.

*This place has closed down.

20. Crayonhouse HIROBA: Lunch Buffet at an organic restaurant

Yuichi Sakuraba/Flickr

This is an organic restaurant with a natural food shop, offering organic vegetables as well. The lunch buffet costs 1,500 yen for 90 minutes, which is reasonably priced considering most of the ingredients are organic products. The food menu, however, is not specifically for vegetarians, and dishes are labeled with all the ingredients used and their salad buffet offers good selection of organic vegetables. A 5-minute walk from Omotesando station.

HP: https://www.crayonhouse.co.jp/shop/pages/tk01.aspx

Address: 3-8-15 Kitaaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

21. Sweets Paradise: Dessert Buffet

Sweets Paradise is all-you-can-eat sweets chain. You can eat and drink as much as you like for 1,530 yen with a time limit of from 70 to 90 minutes according to the shop. They offer 30 kinds of sweets including seasonal cakes and ice cream, as well as dishes like pasta and salad. Both the sweets and food menu have a good reputation.

HP: www.sweets-paradise.jp/guide/index_english.html

HP: www.sweets-paradise.jp/guide/index_hantai.html (中文)

Address: 3F, Solado Takeshita-dori, 1-8-2, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

22. MONTA: Cat Café

cafe-monta.jugem.jp

This cozy café is a home to 8 to 9 adorable cats where you can enjoy a short break away from the urban hustle and bustle. The charges start at from 200 yen for 10 minutes, and they offer a drink and food menu adequate in amount and at price of under 1,000 yen each. The most popular item on the menu is their iced caramel macchiato. This place is located 1 minute on foot from Asakusa station on Asakusa line or Ginza line.

HP: cafe-monta.jugem.jp/?eid=18

Address: Tokyo, Taito City, Hanakawado, 1 Chome−5−2 8Ｆ (Google Map)

23. Schatz Kiste: English tea at Maid Cafe

In Akihabara, even if you are not a huge anime fan, one thing you might be interested in are the maid cafes. Schatz Kitste, a tea house combined with a private library, is a good option to give it a try in a relaxing atmosphere. They charge 500 yen per 30 minutes but this includes free Ceylon tea service. The cookies or scones (from 300 yen) made by the maids are delicious. A 2 minute-walk from Suehirocho station on the Ginza line.

24. Kameya: Tentama Soba

Kameya is a standing soba restaurant chain found close to the train or subway stations in Shinjuku, Kanda, Shinbashi, and Nakaokachimachi. Their typical dish is tentama-soba, soba noodles topped with tempura, fried vegetables and all their dishes cost under 500 yen. There are 8 counter seats at the Omoide Yokocho branch in Shinjuku, although other places are offer standing only.

HP: shinjuku-omoide.com/shop/kameya/index.html (Japanese Only)

Address: 1-2-10 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

25. FUJI SOBA (富士そば): Katsu Curry

Fuji Soba is one of the standing, or tachigui, soba restaurant chains and their branches can be found close to train stations in Tokyo. The menu displayed on the ticket machine varies from plain soba to katsudon (a bowl of rice topped with pork cutlet), and they offer wide selection of toppings as well. One of their most popular dishes is katsu curry, a curry and rice dish topped with fried pork. Each dish costs less than 700 yen.

HP: fujisoba.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

26. Meishu Center: Japanese Sake

Meishu center is the place for people who want to sample various type of Japanese sake. This standing bar allows you to taste over 100 brands from across Japan at a reasonable price - a 60ml glass of sake costs from 200 yen and a tasting set with three glasses from 500 yen. The food menu is minimal, but each of the dishes is priced relatively cheaply as well. About a 5-minute walk from JR Hamamatsucho station.

HP: nihonshu.com/?lang=en

Address: Lions Plaza Ochanomizu, 1-2-12, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

27. Azuma: Kibidango -Asakusa-

Asakusa, a famous tourist destination, is also well-known for its reasonably priced snacks and finger foods. You can find lots of shops on the 250m-long allay leading from Kaminarimon to Sensoji Temple. Azuma is one of those shops and sells kibi-dango, a kind of mochi ball covered with kinako bean powder. A glass of cold matcha green tea (served in summer) or amazake, a sweet rice drink (served in winter) together with kibi-dango will set you back less 500 yen.

HP: www.asakusa-nakamise.jp/store/pop.php?sid=16 (Japanese Only)

Address: 1-18-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

28. Omedetaiyaki (おめで鯛焼き): Taiyaki -Togoshi Ginza-

Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street is the longest shopping street in Tokyo. A wide range of shops line this 1.3km street and you can enjoy eating at the relatively cheap price of less than 500 yen. Omedetaiyaki sells fish-shaped pancakes known as taiyaki. In addition to standard sweet anko paste taiyaki, you can buy okonomi-taiyaki filled with the ingredients as well as okonomiyaki. The shopping street is within a short distance from Togoshi-ginza Station on the Tokyu Ikegami line and Togoshi station on the Subway Asakusa line.

HP: http://www.togoshiginza.jp/shop?id=S063 (Japanese Only)

Address: 1F Togoshi Koyama Building, 2-13-8 Hiratsuka, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

29. Ryuki (龍輝): Chicken Gruel

There are lots of eat-in places as well in Togoshi Ginza. You can eat, for example, Shanghai dim sum including chicken congee and Xiaolongbao dumplings at Ryuki. The price ranges from 300 to 1,000 yen.

Address: 1F Kinebuchi building, 2-6-4 Togoshi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

30. Niku-no-Sato: Deep Fried Food -Yanaka Ginza-

Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street is located within walking distance from both Nippori station (JR) and Sendagi station (subway). This 170m-long street is crowded with about 70 shops selling a wide variety of products including food and drinks. You can buy, for example, freshly cooked deep fried foods at Niku-no-Sato, a meat shop. Most of the snacks or finger food sold in the area are relatively cheap as well, at less than 500 yen. If you are interested in a lively old town atmosphere in Tokyo, we recommend this place.

HP: www.yanakaginza.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 3-13-2 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)