Inexpensive restaurants & snack bars in Tokyo?

Edge · Post by **Edge** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:41 pm

This July I am going on a trip to Japan, on this trip I also stay a week in Tokyo. I went there 4 years ago and remember the food beeing often quite expensive.

This time I would like to have more regional cuisine. Beeing in Tokyo I would also like to eat something the Kanto-region is well known for. But since my budget is somewhat limited, i am a little afraid I might spent too much on food in Tokyo.

So, can anyone reccomend me some good places where I can get good dishes or fast food for reasonable prices?

I also think I am going to eat a few times at McDonalds or buy some fast food in the Kombini stores. To safe a bit money.

EDIT:
I also found this site:
http://www.bento.com/tf-rest.html
man, there sure are a lot of expensive restaurants over there...

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:09 pm

I never felt that food was expensive in Japan. You can definitely find some really tasty Izakaya, udon-ya, ramen-ya, kaitensushi, curry rice places all over the place that are reasonably priced.

There's no real point in recommending specific places, cuz Tokyo is so huge, and you'll probably wanna eat somewhere near where you are when you're hungry, and not have to travel 45 min. just to eat.

Anyway, you can check out my friend's ramen Tokyo blog:

http://waseda-ramen.blogspot.com/

There's no really "typical" food of Kanto other than maybe Natto. Mainly the difference to Kansai cuisine is in how things are cooked and seasoned, for example udon has a darker and stronger broth, and suhshiya cut the fish from the back, not the front.

EDIT:

And btw, if you see a place with a sign "snack bar", don't go there to eat. It's just a tiny bar where old men go to sing enka while they grope old women.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:41 pm

Compared to the rest of the world, buying your own food in stores (especially produce) is ridiculous. Restaurants though, are somewhat cheap... at least when the yen is at a somewhat human level.

Lunches in metropolitan areas (and even some trendy areas) are very well priced due to ridiculous competition. Dinner is a crap shoot but you can still eat well for 1000-ish w/o looking too hard.

I also think I am going to eat a few times at McDonalds or buy some fast food in the Kombini stores. To safe a bit money.

It will serve it's purpose, but realize that you'll be in one of the best cities on the planet known for dining... and you'll be eating dog food.

Edge · Post by **Edge** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:11 am

Ah, ok around 1000 Yen per meal doesn't sound too bad.

I was just a bit worried since the Japanese friends I have all tell me how expensive the food in Tokyo is. Maybe they were refering to buying stuff to cook themselves...?
Also on that website they listed meals from sometimes 5'000-10'000 Yen, which for my income is aboslutely crazy. But they are probably recomending those for people with a different income.

I have to admit the last time I went to Tokyo I ate just a couple of times regional dishes. That was because I went there with a couple of friends, who were very picky about Japanese food. So we ended up eating in a lot of western restaurants or fast food like McDonalds / Kebab. That was really a shame, but I didn't want to argue too bad, as I was the only one interested in regional cuisine. That's one of the reasons I thought I should plan ahead what and where to eat this time.

But if the prices aren't that high, I can as well just look out for some restaurants near by. And with no special Kanto food I don't need to be afraid to miss anything. Besides Natto..., which I had the pleasure several times, but I am not too keen for it (sorry to give the locals more reason for their gaijin-clichés in that case).

Ahh, I can't wait till July.

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:01 am

GaijinPunch wrote:mcdonalds

It will serve it's purpose, but realize that you'll be in one of the best cities on the planet known for dining... and you'll be eating dog food.

word on that, theres really no need as most japanese stomach-filler type places were just as cheap too..

tbh i never found the food to be that expensive anywhere..

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:59 am

yup lots of places have a meal and then all you can eat rice. if you desire a taste of home you can eat mc dolands and Wendys on the cheap too. Chakka chakka chicken is epic at 100 yet a pop you can fill yourself on the different types

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Fri May 22, 2009 4:11 am

Forget about McDonald's tho. In Japan, this is the place to get your fast food:

NTSC-J · Post by **NTSC-J** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:42 am

My current favorite is the Boneless Set at KFC. I could eat it everyday, but I suppose it's good that I don't.

Mos Burger is pretty rocking too. I also enjoy the kaiten sushi bars (the ones where the sushi are on a conveyor belt) and the Tenya chain of tenpura restaurants. The tendon (edit: not as in muscle tendons, but "ten-doan") is quite filling and only 500 yen.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Fri May 22, 2009 10:10 am

CIT wrote:

These people have figured out a way to cut a whole in the burger and sell it. Who the fuck would buy that? I don't eat meat, so their stupid ruse doesn't bother me.

Japanese friends I have all tell me how expensive the food in Tokyo is

Your friends are most likely subjected to retarded social and cultural laws of Japan: the first of which says Japanese people, especially young ones, get paid fuck all even if they live in one of the priciest cities in the world. Not uncommon to leech off the nest for years. As such, fine dining is often out, and Yoshinoya is in.

on that website they listed meals from sometimes 5'000-10'000 Yen,

You can spend as much as you want on meals. If you're not careful, it can spiral out of control, especially if you drink. That's generally where I get killed. Even in cheap places, I have like 3 beers -- that's another 2500 yen on top of the food sometimes. If they sell margaritas by the pitcher, forget about it. I get carried out.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Fri May 22, 2009 10:55 am

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:42 am

I don't do nomihoudai that much. The most common place for it is in a karaoke box. Generally the service is slow and the drinks weak. I'd rather just pay more and have a little more control over the amount of booze in my drinks!

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:56 pm

Yeah, nomihoudai is never worth it. Unless you like your longdrinks with just a tablespoon of booze.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:55 pm

Post by **undamned** » Fri May 22, 2009 4:31 pm

CIT wrote:I never felt that food was expensive in Japan. You can definitely find some really tasty Izakaya, udon-ya, ramen-ya, kaitensushi, curry rice places all over the place that are reasonably priced.

Beat me to it.

GaijinPunch wrote:
I also think I am going to eat a few times at McDonalds or buy some fast food in the Kombini stores. To safe a bit money.
It will serve it's purpose, but realize that you'll be in one of the best cities on the planet known for dining... and you'll be eating dog food.

Serious. I passed on all things familiar while I was there (save one time I met up with someone at a Starbucks, just 'cause it was an easy place to spot

).
-ud

scrilla4rella · Post by **scrilla4rella** » Fri May 22, 2009 5:45 pm

fuck man, you guys need to get out of Tokyo and come down to Kyushu. Amazing food, and cheap nomihodai. Lately I've been all about the tachinomi (standing) bars. The people are really chatty and friendly. Perfect place to practice your JPN and hyogen. The shochu and beers are like 250 each.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:40 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:You can spend as much as you want on meals. If you're not careful, it can spiral out of control, especially if you drink. That's generally where I get killed. Even in cheap places, I have like 3 beers -- that's another 2500 yen on top of the food sometimes. If they sell margaritas by the pitcher, forget about it. I get carried out.

Get completely shit-faced huh, Gaijin Punch? If you can't help it... Lol ^_~

Yeah, more about those Japanese McDonald's resturants:

In the USA, if you go to your local McD's to eat, you can order a super-sized food combo meal and you'll get a lot for what you pay for. In Japan, you buy what is known as food set at a Japanese McD's. Sure, you can super-size it but you won't get very much more food btw since it will be another 200-300 yen on top of what is the regular asking price anyways. I tried a Japanese McD's Big Mac sandwich and it tasted exactly the same as it does in the USA. I'd have to assume that the American McDonald's corporate offices want the Big Mac to taste the same no matter where in the world you buy it from. ^_~

If you were to work at a Japanese McD's, you don't get paid by the hourly wage system (like how it is in the USA) but by how many people you serve. So when it's crunch time during breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can be rest assured that you'll be earning be earning your wages alrighty. ^_~

You've got to check out the super tasty donuts at the Japanese Mr. Donut franchises. I've gotta admit that they taste better than those small-ass and super sweet coated Krispy Kreme donuts that you can buy to the East of the Mississippi River in the USA. Too much rapid over-expansion into the Western part the USA lead to have Krispy Kreme headquarters shut down many independantly owned franchises but there are two remaining Krisp Kreme donut shops in the Bay Area of California for the time being. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:52 pm

On my epic travels in Feb I had all sorts of fantastic foodstuffs. Squid still kicking on the plate (like something out of old boy), it's tentacles still squirming. Fresh crab, these weird octopus roll things, all the ramen and curry I could handle, Sushi buffets, Korean barbeque etc etc.

Mos Burger's Teriyaki burger is the best thing ever when you're hammered though.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:52 pm

PC Engine Fan X! wrote: Get completely shit-faced huh, Gaijin Punch? If you can't help it... Lol ^_~

I've had a few bad moments over the years.

Yeah, more about those Japanese McDonald's resturants:

Sure, you can super-size it but you won't get very much more food btw since it will be another 200-300 yen on top of what is the regular asking price anyways

I've not eaten at McDonald's in ages (6 or 7 years) but the US to JPN prices are pretty similar. There' s a world-wide guide somewhere (yes, to McDonald's only) on the interweb. Note that Japan Mac has just introduced the double quarter pounder w/ cheese (or Double Royale w/ Cheese for your Euro people).

If you were to work at a Japanese McD's, you don't get paid by the hourly wage system (like how it is in the USA) but by how many people you serve.

Pretty sure this is a myth. People working in Shibuya would be rich, and those working in the sticks would be dirt poor.

Japanese Mr. Donut franchises. I've gotta admit that they taste better than those small-ass and super sweet coated Krispy Kreme donuts

Japanese don't seem to think so...