The fastest, cheapest, frequently best food on Tokyo's streets.
Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in Tokyo.
Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo's Chuo ward keeps 400 standing-counter food stalls running each morning. Tamagoyaki sticks, uni-don, scallop skewers.
Try: Tamagoyaki sticks, uni-don, grilled scallops
Tip: Yamacho's tamagoyaki sticks and the standing-sushi counters at Sushizanmai are the canonical sequence; arrive before 09:00.
Omoide Yokocho in Tokyo's Shinjuku is the post-war yakitori alley north of the west exit. 70 stalls of grilled chicken, offal skewers, ramen and highballs.
Try: Yakitori, motsuyaki offal, ramen
Tip: Bring cash. Most stalls seat six to eight; arrive by 17:30 for the best counter seats before the after-work rush.
Ameya-Yokocho in Tokyo's Ueno is the 500-metre street under the JR tracks, 400 vendors of takoyaki, kebabs, dried seafood, post-war black-market origin.
Try: Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kebab, dried fish
Tip: Saturday afternoons are jammed; weekday mornings stay calm. The takoyaki stalls and Turkish kebab counters are the lunch picks.
Nakamise-dori in Tokyo's Asakusa is the 250-metre snack street between Kaminarimon gate and Senso-ji temple. Ningyo-yaki, agemanju, senbei since 1685.
Try: Ningyo-yaki, agemanju, senbei rice crackers
Tip: The ningyo-yaki at Kimura-ya Honten and senbei at Tokiwa-do are the historic picks. Eat on the spot, do not walk-and-eat.
Harmonica Yokocho in Tokyo's Kichijoji is the post-war alley behind the JR north exit. 100-plus tiny stalls of yakitori, oden, standing sushi and craft beer.
Try: Yakitori, oden, standing sushi, motsu nikomi
Tip: Iseya yakitori main shop is around the corner; the alley itself is the better stand-up dinner crawl after 19:00.
Yurakucho Yakitori Alley in Tokyo runs under the JR Yamanote Line tracks behind Tokyo International Forum. Smoke-stained yakitori counters since the 1950s.
Try: Yakitori under the JR tracks
Tip: Walk in any direction off the tracks; the Andy's Shin Hinomoto counter at exit C1 is the English-friendly opener.
Tsukishima Monja Street in Tokyo's Chuo ward is the 200-metre alley with 70 monjayaki restaurants. Tableside teppan griddle, the canonical Tokyo monja crawl.
Try: Monjayaki tableside griddle
Tip: Take the Yurakucho or Oedo Line to Tsukishima Station, exit 7. Most counters open lunch and dinner; weekends queue.
Ebisu Yokocho in Tokyo is the 2008-opened indoor food alley designed as a modern yokocho. 20 izakaya stalls of yakiniku, oden, sashimi and grilled offal.
Try: Modern izakaya stall food
Tip: Open until 04:00 most stalls. Walk-in friendly; the takoyaki stall and the gyoza counter are the loud first orders.
Ameyoko Okachimachi tachigui in Tokyo runs along the Ueno-Okachimachi stretch of Ameya-Yokocho. Standing-counter sushi, fresh oysters, Korean tteokbokki.
Try: Standing seafood and Korean street food
Tip: Daytime busiest. The standing-sushi at Mihashi and the Korean stalls toward Okachimachi are the order.
Nonbei Yokocho in Tokyo's Shibuya is the Drunkard's Alley north of Shibuya Station. 40 tiny standing counters, each seating four to six. Yakitori, sake.
Try: Tiny standing izakaya counters
Tip: Cash only. Look for English-friendly signs; many counters charge a 500-yen seating fee.
Ameyoko Centre Building basement in Tokyo's Ueno is the Asian-grocery food hall under Ameya-Yokocho. Korean kimchi, Indonesian sambal, Thai green papaya.
Try: Asian groceries, kimchi and frozen goods
Tip: Take stairs down inside the Ameyoko Centre Building. Daytime busiest; cash and IC card work everywhere.
Shinjuku Memory Lane late stalls in Tokyo's Omoide Yokocho stay open after midnight. Motsuyaki offal skewers, highballs and the smoky alley's late ramen.
Try: Motsuyaki offal skewers
Tip: Cash only. After 23:00 the alley shifts to the late shift; counters seat four to six.
Kagetsudo Asakusa Melonpan in Tokyo is the jumbo melon-bread counter near Senso-ji temple. 16-cm sweet melon-bread baked all day; queue starts from 10:00.
Try: Jumbo melonpan sweet bread
Tip: Cash only. Buy fresh; the bread is best within 15 minutes. Branches in the Asakusa shopping streets too.
Toyosu Uogashi Yokocho in Tokyo is the visitor-side food alley inside the Toyosu market complex. Sushi, donburi, tempura and seafood standing counters.
Try: Wholesale-market sushi and seafood
Tip: Open from 05:00 with the market trade. Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi are the breakfast queues; arrive by 06:30.
Azabu-Juban Shotengai in Tokyo is the centuries-old shopping street through Minato. Naniwaya taiyaki, Asahi croquette and Sasaya oden stalls along the strip.
Try: Taiyaki, croquette, oden
Tip: Naniwaya Sohonten taiyaki is the canonical stop. Most stalls open from 11:00; weekend lunch is busiest.
Ekiben Matsuri inside Tokyo Station is the 200-bento ekiben hall facing the Yaesu central exit. Regional Japanese bento boxes from all 47 prefectures.
Try: Regional ekiben bento boxes
Tip: Best ekiben (regional bento boxes) for shinkansen rides. Stand outside the JR turnstiles; eat at the train seat.