With an abundant selection of quality and good food in Tokyo, one can get lost in the world of ramen and sushi when dining on a tight budget. Here, we round up our top 12 favourites - cheap (most are!) and delicious food places in the land of the rising sun - Tokyo!
Widely raved by travellers and seen vastly on several travels and food channels, Ichirian was on top of our must-try list. When we found out that Ichiran was located just a stone throw away from our Shinjuku hotel, we were so excited, and in an attempt to beat the queue, we decided to have this for brunch at 10.30am on a weekday.
Open 24 hours daily, we queued for less than 30 minutes before getting assigned seats in this small eatery. Before the server showed us to our seats, we were greeted with an auto-ordering machine (very popular in many eateries in Japan). Famously known for its seats in individual booths, we held on to our orders (tickets resemble bus tickets) and once we were assigned to our individual booths, we handed our ticket to the chef, which appeared in a mini sliding window in front of each table.
This place is perfect if you want to have some ‘me’ time and not be disturbed by others. It is just you and your noodle + delicious broth, It can get pretty lonely if you are used to chatting with your partner or friend but since this place is perpetually crowded, it encourages diners to eat and leave the eatery quickly.
The broth, ramen texture and amount of oil used are customisable, hence this could be the most perfect bowl of ramen! The broth itself is packed with flavour, without the pungent smell of pork. Pork slices were tender and very well marinated. You can order additional sides to go along with the main dish. A trip to Ichiran is definitely worth the wait… and this has got to be the best ramen we have tasted in a long time!
Address:
Shinjuku: Peace Building B1F 3-34-11 Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo-to 160-0022
(3 min walk from JR Shinjuku Station Higashi Exit)
Opening Hours: 24 Hours
If you enjoy a little hands-on fun before eating your meal, make your own Okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancake) and customise it the way you like. At Yokohama Kotegaeshi, each table is equipped with a grill, You can customise the cooking duration and the number of sauces you like. If you are worried about recipes, fret not cos cooking instructions are provided. Staff are versatile in English and we had no problems communicating. We had so much fun making our own Okonomiyaki and it was so delicious!
…read more.
For quality and affordable curry rice located in Shinjuku, look no further than Curry Shop C & C. The Chicken Cutlet Curry (630 yen) was simple yet flavourful and you can choose the level of spiciness for your curry. We order medium heat and it wasn’t spicy at all, the pork cutlet was crispy and tender.
We also order the Shrimp Fried Mix Curry (750 yen) consisting of pork patty, prawn and fried chicken. To further indulge we ordered side dishes - soft boiled egg, spinach and a bowl of salad to go with the mains. Steep prices for food is abundant in Tokyo, hunting for cheap eats with food that taste reasonably fresh makes our day!
Address: 1-18 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture
A trip to Japan is not complete without the savouring the eel. We found Ogakiku, a specialist eel restaurant serving all things - eel. This place is not the cheapest in Tokyo but worth a try! Their signature dish is Kabayaki (broiled eel over rice) and the broiled eel was tender, soft and fragrant. this dish was also served with eel’s liver soup - sounds really unappetising, but this clear soup was a pretty blend, no strong fishy liver taste.
…read more.
Yoshinoya in Japan is so different from what we see in Singapore. In Japan, this fast-food restaurant serves cheap, affordable and delicious meals. Its menu is vast with plenty of options to choose from.
We decided to try the beef sukiyaki hotpot and saba fish set meal. The meal was simply affordable and did not disappoint. A pity these menu options are not found in Singapore. Another plus point is they serve free flow of oolong tea to go with the meal. The perfect combination for a cool chilly winter night!
Being fans of good and cheap deals, Katsuooedo wins hands down. This cheap authentic conveyer belt sushi place serves fresh and delicious sushi on conveyer belt @ just 150 yen. We are so impressed with the quality AND quantity, the sushi was fresh and generously portioned.
…read more.
If you are bored eating Japanese food three times a day, western food may be your answer and a refreshing break from ramen and rice. At Harajuku, we were pleasantly surprised to find Wolfgang Puck Express, a casual cafe by Michelin Chef Wolfgang Puck. With its menu much cheaper version his other higher-end restaurants, we set our foot in to check out if it is as good as it looks.
Desperately wanting a break from all things ramen and rice, we opted for burgers. Each burger ordered comes with an option of either french fries or salad. The Cheese Burger actually had similar ingredients as the WP Burger, with an extra slice of cheese (yum!) and served with a thick slice of beef patty stacked on top of lettuce, tomato and onion is actually the WP burger except that the cheeseburger comes with cheese.
The Fish Burger was served with a thickly battered fish, together with lettuce, tomato and onions as well. The fish was nicely done and crispy but the beef patty tasted little overcooked. Overall pretty average meal below expectations but the meal was a much needed refreshing change from the Japanese food we have been eating for days!
Located in a quiet corner at a trendy neighbourhood, Shimokitazawa, this cosy restaurant caught our attention with its volcanic-like dish!
The action begins when the waitress pours the soup into hot ‘volcanic’ stone pot. Interestingly, we were told to hold the menu paper on the table upright in-front of us as the boiling soup might splash! With some hand gestures and handy manuals, we managed to understand what the waitress was trying to say she don’t understand a word of English and we can’t understand Japanese. We sat back to watch the ramen and veggies boil, resembling a volcano exploding!
Within two minutes, our soup was ready, piping hot, we had to mix the ramen and veggies inside the stone pot to further cook it. Like many Japanese eateries, the main meal has basic items like cabbage, ramen, bean sprouts. Separately, you can order the extra toppings to go alongside the meal - choice of green onion, corn, chashu, butter, cheese, nitamago are available.
Volcano Ramen KAZAN Shimokitazawa
Address: 北沢2-14-7, 第34東京ビル1F
Setagaya, 東京都 〒155-0031 Japan
Nearest station: Shimo-Kitazawa (Odakyu Line)
Located near the popular temple, Senso-ji, Suzukien Asakusa created 7 different types of matcha to cater to the different palate. The different types of matcha are categorised by intensity - if you prefer very intense quality matcha - opt for number 7, and number 1 for least intense.
The attractive spectrum of colours stretches from nude, yellow, brown to several shades of green. The darker the shade, the more intense is the flavour of matcha. We feasted our eyes at the beautiful colours before making our selection. Apart from matcha ice cream, they also serve flavours like Azuki Bean, Strawberry, Hojicha, Brown Rice Tea, Japanese Black Tea and Black Sesame.
Caption: We tried the Hojicha and Matcha level 6 (simply because it is cheaper than number 7!)
The damage:
Matcha No 7
On cup - single 560 yen, double 650 yen
On cone - single 580 yen, double 680 yen
All other flavours
On cup - single 370 yen, double 390 yen
On cone - single 470 yen, double 490 yen
Suzukien Asakusa
Address: Asakusa 3-4-3, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Station: Asakusa Opening hours: 9.30am to 5.30pm, daily
If you are at Harajuku, you can set foot in the calbee+ shop and have a taste of unique flavoured potato chips (yes there are samples!) that you will not find at any other parts of the world. Some of their Springtime 2018 menus consists of unique flavours like Japanese Plum chips (310 yen) and Matcha Chocolate (sauce) chips (330 yen).
Apart from chips, they also sell Hokkaido soft ice-cream with Matcha Chocolate (330 yen) as well as Plum Ginger drink (210 yen) and White Water Drink (210 yen). Unfortunately, the hype for this place has created long snaking queues for die-hard calbee fans!
A homegrown favourite, Shiseido is a hugely popular brand in Japan and they even have a dessert parlour to cater to the sweet tooths.
Desserts at Shiseido Parlour looks so pretty and delicate to the touch, reminded us of beautiful pieces of art.
Since it was quite late and we were tempted by the showcase of the miniature cakes, we ordered the Pistache-Apricot cake (594 yen) take-away.
Tokyo Ginza Shiseido
Address: Tokyo Ginza Shiseido Building 8-8-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://parlour.shiseido.co.jp/en/ginza/index.html
Baumkuchen is big in Japan, with many cafes incorporating this dessert into their menu. Apart from its traditional forms that we are familiar with, baumkuchen is made creatively into different shapes, sizes and flavours. Unable to resist our temptation for beautiful looking desserts, we sink our teeth into the Custard Baum (320 yen) and Dorayaki with Kogyokuk apple filling, affectionately known as The Baum in 3 Lab.
The Cheese Baum (280 yen) was slightly harder than the custard Baum but had a great texture cheese had the signature Japanese light texture without the strong pungent smell.
3 Lab, Minatomirai, Tokyo
Address
3-5-1 MInatomirai, Nishi-ku | Mark Is MInatomirai B1, Yokohama 220-0012, Kanagawa Prefecture
Note: Located at the basement one in a quiet shopping mall MARK IS Minatomirai and accessible via Minatomirai station,
1. Ichiran is Truly the Number One Ramen!
Widely raved by travellers and seen vastly on several travels and food channels, Ichirian was on top of our must-try list. When we found out that Ichiran was located just a stone throw away from our Shinjuku hotel, we were so excited, and in an attempt to beat the queue, we decided to have this for brunch at 10.30am on a weekday.
Open 24 hours daily, we queued for less than 30 minutes before getting assigned seats in this small eatery. Before the server showed us to our seats, we were greeted with an auto-ordering machine (very popular in many eateries in Japan). Famously known for its seats in individual booths, we held on to our orders (tickets resemble bus tickets) and once we were assigned to our individual booths, we handed our ticket to the chef, which appeared in a mini sliding window in front of each table.
This place is perfect if you want to have some ‘me’ time and not be disturbed by others. It is just you and your noodle + delicious broth, It can get pretty lonely if you are used to chatting with your partner or friend but since this place is perpetually crowded, it encourages diners to eat and leave the eatery quickly.
The broth, ramen texture and amount of oil used are customisable, hence this could be the most perfect bowl of ramen! The broth itself is packed with flavour, without the pungent smell of pork. Pork slices were tender and very well marinated. You can order additional sides to go along with the main dish. A trip to Ichiran is definitely worth the wait… and this has got to be the best ramen we have tasted in a long time!
Address:
Shinjuku: Peace Building B1F 3-34-11 Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo-to 160-0022
(3 min walk from JR Shinjuku Station Higashi Exit)
Opening Hours: 24 Hours
2. One-of-a-kind Japanese Okonomiyaki in Yokohama
If you enjoy a little hands-on fun before eating your meal, make your own Okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancake) and customise it the way you like. At Yokohama Kotegaeshi, each table is equipped with a grill, You can customise the cooking duration and the number of sauces you like. If you are worried about recipes, fret not cos cooking instructions are provided. Staff are versatile in English and we had no problems communicating. We had so much fun making our own Okonomiyaki and it was so delicious!
…read more.
3. Liquid Dreams Come True @ Curry Shop C & C, Shinjuku
For quality and affordable curry rice located in Shinjuku, look no further than Curry Shop C & C. The Chicken Cutlet Curry (630 yen) was simple yet flavourful and you can choose the level of spiciness for your curry. We order medium heat and it wasn’t spicy at all, the pork cutlet was crispy and tender.
We also order the Shrimp Fried Mix Curry (750 yen) consisting of pork patty, prawn and fried chicken. To further indulge we ordered side dishes - soft boiled egg, spinach and a bowl of salad to go with the mains. Steep prices for food is abundant in Tokyo, hunting for cheap eats with food that taste reasonably fresh makes our day!
Address: 1-18 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture
4. Ogakiku will Satisfy your Craving for Eel!
A trip to Japan is not complete without the savouring the eel. We found Ogakiku, a specialist eel restaurant serving all things - eel. This place is not the cheapest in Tokyo but worth a try! Their signature dish is Kabayaki (broiled eel over rice) and the broiled eel was tender, soft and fragrant. this dish was also served with eel’s liver soup - sounds really unappetising, but this clear soup was a pretty blend, no strong fishy liver taste.
…read more.
5. Yoshinoya, the Best Fast Food Restaurant in Japan!
Yoshinoya in Japan is so different from what we see in Singapore. In Japan, this fast-food restaurant serves cheap, affordable and delicious meals. Its menu is vast with plenty of options to choose from.
 |
| Beef Sukiyaki Hotpot |
 |
| Saba Fish Set Meal |
6. Katsuooedo, the best Conveyer Belt Sushi in Tokyo
Being fans of good and cheap deals, Katsuooedo wins hands down. This cheap authentic conveyer belt sushi place serves fresh and delicious sushi on conveyer belt @ just 150 yen. We are so impressed with the quality AND quantity, the sushi was fresh and generously portioned.
…read more.
7. Wolfgang Puck Express @ Shibuya, Harajuku
If you are bored eating Japanese food three times a day, western food may be your answer and a refreshing break from ramen and rice. At Harajuku, we were pleasantly surprised to find Wolfgang Puck Express, a casual cafe by Michelin Chef Wolfgang Puck. With its menu much cheaper version his other higher-end restaurants, we set our foot in to check out if it is as good as it looks.
 |
| WP Burger |
 |
| Fish Burger |
8. Sizzling Hot Volcano Ramen @ KAZAN Shimokitazawa
Located in a quiet corner at a trendy neighbourhood, Shimokitazawa, this cosy restaurant caught our attention with its volcanic-like dish!
 |
| Watch your 'volcanic' stone pot erupt! Volcano Ramen with Matured Miso 900 yen - Portion enough for 2 pax! |
The action begins when the waitress pours the soup into hot ‘volcanic’ stone pot. Interestingly, we were told to hold the menu paper on the table upright in-front of us as the boiling soup might splash! With some hand gestures and handy manuals, we managed to understand what the waitress was trying to say she don’t understand a word of English and we can’t understand Japanese. We sat back to watch the ramen and veggies boil, resembling a volcano exploding!
Within two minutes, our soup was ready, piping hot, we had to mix the ramen and veggies inside the stone pot to further cook it. Like many Japanese eateries, the main meal has basic items like cabbage, ramen, bean sprouts. Separately, you can order the extra toppings to go alongside the meal - choice of green onion, corn, chashu, butter, cheese, nitamago are available.
Volcano Ramen KAZAN Shimokitazawa
Address: 北沢2-14-7, 第34東京ビル1F
Setagaya, 東京都 〒155-0031 Japan
Nearest station: Shimo-Kitazawa (Odakyu Line)
Here come the desserts (yum!)…
9. Dare to try the Strongest Matcha Gelato in the World?
Located near the popular temple, Senso-ji, Suzukien Asakusa created 7 different types of matcha to cater to the different palate. The different types of matcha are categorised by intensity - if you prefer very intense quality matcha - opt for number 7, and number 1 for least intense.
 |
| Left: Matcha (Level 6) & Hojicha |
The attractive spectrum of colours stretches from nude, yellow, brown to several shades of green. The darker the shade, the more intense is the flavour of matcha. We feasted our eyes at the beautiful colours before making our selection. Apart from matcha ice cream, they also serve flavours like Azuki Bean, Strawberry, Hojicha, Brown Rice Tea, Japanese Black Tea and Black Sesame.
Caption: We tried the Hojicha and Matcha level 6 (simply because it is cheaper than number 7!)
The damage:
Matcha No 7
On cup - single 560 yen, double 650 yen
On cone - single 580 yen, double 680 yen
All other flavours
On cup - single 370 yen, double 390 yen
On cone - single 470 yen, double 490 yen
Suzukien Asakusa
Address: Asakusa 3-4-3, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Station: Asakusa Opening hours: 9.30am to 5.30pm, daily
10. Crunchy snacks at Calbee+, Harajuku
If you are at Harajuku, you can set foot in the calbee+ shop and have a taste of unique flavoured potato chips (yes there are samples!) that you will not find at any other parts of the world. Some of their Springtime 2018 menus consists of unique flavours like Japanese Plum chips (310 yen) and Matcha Chocolate (sauce) chips (330 yen).
Apart from chips, they also sell Hokkaido soft ice-cream with Matcha Chocolate (330 yen) as well as Plum Ginger drink (210 yen) and White Water Drink (210 yen). Unfortunately, the hype for this place has created long snaking queues for die-hard calbee fans!
11. Delicious Shiseido Parlour Salon De Cafe treats at Ginza
A homegrown favourite, Shiseido is a hugely popular brand in Japan and they even have a dessert parlour to cater to the sweet tooths.
Desserts at Shiseido Parlour looks so pretty and delicate to the touch, reminded us of beautiful pieces of art.
Since it was quite late and we were tempted by the showcase of the miniature cakes, we ordered the Pistache-Apricot cake (594 yen) take-away.
Tokyo Ginza Shiseido
Address: Tokyo Ginza Shiseido Building 8-8-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://parlour.shiseido.co.jp/en/ginza/index.html
12. Baumkuchen at 3 Lab, Minatomirai, Tokyo
Baumkuchen is big in Japan, with many cafes incorporating this dessert into their menu. Apart from its traditional forms that we are familiar with, baumkuchen is made creatively into different shapes, sizes and flavours. Unable to resist our temptation for beautiful looking desserts, we sink our teeth into the Custard Baum (320 yen) and Dorayaki with Kogyokuk apple filling, affectionately known as The Baum in 3 Lab.
 |
| Left: Cheese Baum and Custard Baum |
The Cheese Baum (280 yen) was slightly harder than the custard Baum but had a great texture cheese had the signature Japanese light texture without the strong pungent smell.
3 Lab, Minatomirai, Tokyo
Address
3-5-1 MInatomirai, Nishi-ku | Mark Is MInatomirai B1, Yokohama 220-0012, Kanagawa Prefecture
Note: Located at the basement one in a quiet shopping mall MARK IS Minatomirai and accessible via Minatomirai station,
