Eat well in Tokyo without overpaying: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Tokyo for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Ichiran in Tokyo's Shibuya runs 24-hour tonkotsu ramen for under 1,500 yen including a kaedama refill. Vending machine ticketing, solo-booth seating.
TryTonkotsu ramen with customisation slip
TipLate-night cheaper than peak hours. Pay at the machine; the slip lets you set spice, broth richness, noodle firmness.
Afuri in Tokyo's Ebisu serves yuzu-shio ramen for around 1,200 yen, open 11:00-05:00 daily. The lightest clean late-night bowl near Ebisu Station.
TryYuzu shio ramen
TipVending-machine ordering, cashless only. Lunch sets cheaper than dinner; tsukemen costs 100 to 200 yen extra.
CoCo Ichibanya in Tokyo's Shibuya is the Japanese curry-house chain where you build your bowl: rice size, spice level 1 to 10, toppings, all under 1,300 yen.
TryJapanese curry rice, choose-your-spice
TipPork katsu plus spinach is the canonical add-on. Spice level 5 is mid; vegetarian curry available.
Tsuta in Tokyo's Yoyogi-Uehara was the first ramen shop with a Michelin star (2016 guide), still under 1,800 yen for the truffle-oil shoyu soba.
TryShoyu soba with truffle oil
TipClosed Tuesdays. Lunch only 11:00-15:00; no ticket system, queue in person.
Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo serves the city's best-value sushi breakfast: standing-counter nigiri at 1,500 yen, tamagoyaki at 200, fish skewers at 400.
TryStanding sushi, tamagoyaki sticks, uni don
TipClosed Wednesdays and Sundays. Start at the Namiyoke shrine corner; the standing-sushi counters thin out after 10:00.
Yoshinoya Branch No. 1 followed the fish merchants from Tsukiji to Toyosu Market: 5am beef bowls under 500 yen, the canonical sub-500-yen Tokyo lunch.
TryGyudon beef bowl
TipOpen 5am-1pm to catch the auction-day market crowd. Cash and IC card accepted.
Uobei Shibuya in Tokyo runs express-belt sushi at 100 yen per two-piece plate, the cheapest sit-down sushi in Shibuya. Touchscreen ordering, English menu.
TryConveyor sushi at 100 yen
TipTouchscreen ordering in English. Pay at the table by IC card; weekend evenings queue 20 minutes.
Sukiya Shinjuku in Tokyo is the 24-hour gyudon chain undercutting Yoshinoya and Matsuya. The cheese gyudon and the curry-rice are the unusual signature picks.
TryCheese gyudon and curry
TipOpen 24 hours; the standard gyudon is the cheapest at 400 yen. Avoid weekday 12:00-13:00 office rush.
FamilyMart Tokyo Station is the konbini bento standard that anchors traveller lunches in Tokyo. Onigiri, fresh sandwiches, bento, oden, famichiki chicken.
TryOnigiri, bento, fried chicken
TipOnigiri at 150 yen each; the famichiki fried chicken is the local cult order. IC card and cash accepted.
Kura Sushi Shinjuku in Tokyo is the value conveyor-sushi chain at 100 yen per plate plus tax. Touchscreen English ordering and gachapon-prize delivery.
Try100 yen conveyor sushi
TipReserve via the EPark app for the no-queue table seating. 100 yen per plate; finish 15 plates for the toy prize.
Onigiri Bongo in Tokyo's Otsuka is the famous omusubi counter rolling onigiri to order, Tabelog Top 100 onigiri shops. 50 fillings, eat-in or take away.
TryOnigiri rice ball selection
TipClosed Tuesdays. Queue from 11:00; eat-in counter seats turn fast. The salmon and umeboshi are the canonical orders.
CoCo Ichibanya Shinjuku East in Tokyo is the Japanese-curry chain's central branch. Choose rice size, spice 1-10 and toppings; chicken-katsu under 1,400.
TryCustom-spiced Japanese curry
TipOpen 24 hours. Spice level 5 is moderate, 10 is properly hot. Add cheese or pork-katsu for the canonical combo.
Guided tour · 3.5 hours
2-time TripAdvisor #1 out of 10,000+ experiences. Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho & Kabukicho, all-you-can-drink included. Japan's original bar-hop tour. The perfect first ...
Entry ticket · 3 hours
Cook and enjoy 8 Japanese dishes in this fun class! Make miso soup, sweets, and tender Wagyu beef. Great for beginners and food lovers looking to experience a new Japa...
Private tour · 2 hours
Step inside a members-only restaurant in Ebisu for a private Ozaki Wagyu dining experience. Enjoy a creative Japanese course by a chef trained in Kyoto’s Gion, with En...