10 Places In Tokyo To Fill Your Bellies For Under USD15

We all know and love Tokyo for many reasons – its quirky culture, hype beast fashion and efficient public transport system. More importantly, the Japanese food scene is known to be a gastronomic heaven! Whether you’re looking to experience some weird and wacky cafes or authentic good food, you’ll find it in Tokyo. However, Tokyo can also cost an arm and a leg if you don’t know where to look for cheap options.

Read on to find out how you can eat your way through Tokyo without leaving a huge hole in your wallets!  

Why opt for a basic bowl of ramen when you can try a different style of ramen? Known as the dipping ramen or Tsukemen, it’s one of the must-try foods of Japan. Higashi-Ikebukuro Taishoken is the OG when it comes to dipping ramen. The thick broth made combined with chewy noodles will definitely leave you slurping every last strand!

Located right by the Higashi-Ikebukuro station, you can easily access this ramen store with your Tokyo Subway pass!

Average Price: ¥750

Address: 2 Chome-42-8 Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

If you’re looking for a quick snack to beat the hunger pangs, head to Harajuku Gyoza Lou!  This all-gyoza restaurant serves some of the best pan-fried and steamed dumplings which come in 2 flavours – original or garlic and chives. These gyozas were bursting with flavor, juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside. You won’t even need to dip it into any accompanying sauces.

When you can get 6 pieces of gyozas for only ¥290, it’s no wonder there’s a snaking line at peak lunch hours!

P.S. We hear the Beansprouts is also a must order dish!

Average Price: ¥350

Address: 6−2−4 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo

Opening Hours: 11:30am – 4:30am (Closed at 11pm on Sundays)

Kick start your day with a hearty bowl of gyudon from Matsuya serves your ricebowls up as early as 5 am. The typical gyudon is made up of Japanese rice with stir-fried beef slices, spring onions and an onsen egg. A regular sized premium beef bowl set only costs roughly ¥380 and it even comes with free miso soup.

Matsuya also offers a variety of affordable set meals such as grilled pork and Japanese curry which can be easily ordered from a vending machine.  

Average Price: ¥500

Address: 1F Nishishin Building, 1-13-3 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Tsukiji market is a must visit spot for most of us, especially for the famed tuna auctions! While you’re roaming the streets of the market, you’ll definitely be lured by the aroma of the many street vendors. Try the skewers at Tsukiji Eel Eatery – Nisshin Tasuke! For just ¥200 you’ll get, fill yourself with barbequed eel, yellowtail, tuna, salmon belly, scallops, squid and many more.

Average Price: ¥200

Address: 4-13-18 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 

Opening Hours: 6:00am – 3:00pm (Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)

They say a meal is never complete without dessert and we agree 100%! Satisfy your sweet tooth with 8-layers of soft-serve at Daily Chico! The dessert shop is tucked away in a cosy corner of the basement floor at Nakano Broadway and serves a variety of soft-serve cones.

At a decent price of ¥550, you can get their bestseller which is the colourful 8-layers of soft serve that consists of strawberry, coffee, vanilla, chocolate, banana, ramune soda, grape, and green tea flavours!

P.S. the rainbow swirls make for a great Instagram picture.

 Average Price: ¥350

Address: 5-52-15, B1F Nakano Broadway, Nakano, Tokyo

Opening Hours: 10:00am – 8:00pm daily

Sometimes the best way to enjoy a holiday is to sit down with a cuppa and just relax and Beer and Cafe BERG is just the place for that! Coffee-lovers can enjoy Berg’s cup of strong, aromatic coffee or a ice cold pint of beer. Order a plate of hot dogs to share and munch away with your beer buddies for a great post dinner activity.

The best thing about this café is that most items on the menu costs ¥500 or less!

Average Price: ¥500

Address: B1 LUMINE Est, 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0022

Opening Hours: 7:00am –11:00pm daily

Along the shopping street of Asakusa Nakamise, you’ll spot a specialty store that serves a traditional Japanese confectionery known as Kibi-dango. The snack comes in a form of a mochi ball covered with soy bean powder (kinanko) and served on a skewer. For less than ¥500, you’ll get to enjoy a refreshing glass of matcha green tea (summer drink) or amazake, a sweet rice drink (winter drink) along with the Kibi-dango.

Afterwhich, be sure to head to the nearby Tokyo Skytree or have a local guide take you around Asakusa! Don’t forget to pair your visit with a kimono for some picture perfect moments!

Average Price: ¥500

Address: 1-18-1 Asakusa Taito Tokyo

Opening Hours: 9:00am –7:00pm daily

A visit to Japan is not complete until you’ve eaten at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant. One of the best places for that in Tokyo is Mawashi-zushi! With over 200 types of sushi for you to pick from, you’ll surely find your favorite sushi here. Plus, the chef also prepares specialty dishes just for tourists. The sushi sold here is definitely of great value with the price varying from ¥200 to ¥500.

Average Price: ¥500

Address: 8F Seibu Ikebukuro, 1-28-1 Minami-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Opening Hours: 11:00am –10:30pm daily

For those of us with a bottomless pit belly, the best way type of meal is a buffet! Little Lamb is a chain of restaurants that specializes in Mongolian hot pot and other Chinese dishes. The specialty broth known as Mala! Made with chili oil and peppercorns, it is great for spice lovers! Head over during the lunch hour buffet and get your fill for ¥800 per person.

Average Price: ¥800

Address: 7-3-2, Ueno, Taitou-ku, Tokyo

Opening Hours: 11:30am –2:00pm and 5:00pm – 11:30pm

You’ll see many braving the cold to get a piece of this Japanese sweet bread, the Melon Pan from World’s Second Best Freshly-Baked Melon Pan! While, the crust resembles the shell of a Melon, but the pastry is not Melon flavoured. Sink your teeth into a soft fluffy bun with an outer crispy cookie dough crust and pair yours with some vanilla ice cream to complement the salty, buttery rusk! 

Average Price: ¥400

Address: Jinnan, 1 Chome−15-9, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0041 

Opening Hours: 11:00am –10:00pm daily

Now that you’ve got your meals all sorted out, here are some of Tokyo’s must hits! Visit the world’s only DisneySea for all things magical or ride some of the most thrilling rides at Fuji Q. If you’re looking for cheap and fast ways of getting out of the airport, be sure to check out our Tokyo Airport transfers guide.

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Grab your luggage bags, pack a nice camera, and get your Japanese food adventures started!