Japanese¥
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.
Try: Shoyu soba with truffle oil
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Lunch only 11:00-15:00; no ticket system, queue in person.
Brunch¥
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.
Try: Standing sushi, tamagoyaki sticks, uni don
Tip: Closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Start at the Namiyoke shrine corner; the standing-sushi counters thin out after 10:00.
Japanese¥
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.
Try: Gyudon beef bowl
Tip: Open 5am-1pm to catch the auction-day market crowd. Cash and IC card accepted.
Japanese sushi¥
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.
Try: Conveyor sushi at 100 yen
Tip: Touchscreen ordering in English. Pay at the table by IC card; weekend evenings queue 20 minutes.
Indian¥
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.
Try: Cheese gyudon and curry
Tip: Open 24 hours; the standard gyudon is the cheapest at 400 yen. Avoid weekday 12:00-13:00 office rush.
Fried chicken¥
FamilyMart Tokyo Station is the konbini bento standard that anchors traveller lunches in Tokyo. Onigiri, fresh sandwiches, bento, oden, famichiki chicken.
Try: Onigiri, bento, fried chicken
Tip: Onigiri at 150 yen each; the famichiki fried chicken is the local cult order. IC card and cash accepted.