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Fried chicken
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.
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Japanese sushi
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.
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Japanese
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.
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Japanese
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.
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Japanese ramen
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.
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Japanese ramen
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.