Affordable and Convenient Places to Eat in Tokyo

Published on 2024-02-04

Tokyo is known for many things, one being that it is filled with many affordable food places.

Although exciting, it can be overwhelming for those visiting the city for the first time to know the best places to go for a quick and cheap meal. In this list, we will go through some of the most iconic fast-food foods in Japan which are loved by salarymen, families and of course, tourists:

Matsuya (松屋)

Popular with salarymen and tourists alike, Matsuya is a 24-hour restaurant which sells gyudon, Japanese curry and teishoku (set menu). Prices vary slightly, depending on what dish you choose, but on average most things cost around ¥500 to ¥800. You can order your food, in English, using one of the self-service machines at the front of the store. Almost all the restaurants now accept cards, cash and Suica, but we recommend bringing cash just as a back-up.

Once you have ordered, you simply hand over your ticket and wait for your order number to be read out. Most people eat in the store and make themselves comfortable by using the free WiFi, but takeout is also available. If you prefer to takeout, just make sure to select this option when ordering. You will find a Matsuya restaurant just about anywhere – they are scattered all around Tokyo. The ideal place for a quick but satisfying Japanese-style meal.

Yoshinoya (吉野家)

Yoshinoya is another famous fast food chain which specializes in gyudon (beef bowls). Just the brand’s motto itself, “tasty, low-priced, and quick”, explains why it is on the list. In addition to gyudon, Yoshinoya sells other types of rice bowls. You can choose rice bowls with fried chicken or eel on top, or order a curry. There is even a limited time special menu. Although the restaurants aren’t open 24 hours, many of them are at least open until 1 or 2am, making it a great spot to have some late night grub.

Service is similar to Matsuya – you just need to order from the self-service machine and then hand over your ticket. Yoshinoya also has a take out option and can be ordered through Uber Eats.

Tendon Tenya (天丼てんや)

Tendon Tenya is another much-loved Japanese fast-food chain. It sells a variety of tempura rice bowls, tempura and soba sets and other set meals. Given that tempura is not the easiest thing to make yourself, Tendon Tenya offers a great alternative. Most dishes cost roughly between ¥500 to ¥900, which is pretty reasonable considering how filling they are. Notably, this fast-food restaurant is also popular with tourists, meaning that the restaurants normally have an English menu. If you want to enjoy your tempura from the comfort of your home, you can just order from the take-out menu.

Hanamaru Udon (はなまるうどん)

One of the largest udon franchises in Japan, Hanamaru Udon is most known for its reasonable and great-quality Sanuki Udon. What makes Hanamaru Udon so great is that you can customize your meal as the restaurant uses a self-service model, comparable to a canteen.

As soon as you pick up your tray, you’ll notice some individually-priced pieces of tempura and onigiri. These are extra items which many visitors love to add to their meal. After this, you will be asked which type of udon and size bowl you would like. Once the staff have prepared your warm bowl of udon, all you need to do is take it to the till and pay for it. Before you make your way to your seat, make sure to check out the table with spices and toppings for that extra bit of customisable.

You can order Hanamaru Udon straight to your door by using Uber Eats, Delivery Hall, Menu and Hall or get takeout from one of the stores.

CoCo Ichiban (CoCo壱番屋)

No doubt Japan’s most famous curry chain. CoCo Ichibanya is one of the best places to go to get cheap but authentic Japanese curry rice. There is a vast range of curries to choose from including those with meat, seafood, vegetables and other toppings like cheese. A children’s curry menu is also available.

Visitors can customize their curry by choosing the rice position, spice level and adding extra toppings. Beware that these curries can get quite spicy! Side menu items such as salads and desserts are also available. Similar to a lot of the other restaurants on this list, you can order home delivery and take out.

Hama-Sushi (はま寿司)

For those who want to eat fresh sushi for an affordable price, Hama-Sushi is the place for you. This conveyor belt sushi restaurant is one of the most popular in all of Japan, having more than 500 different branches. This is unsurprising when you take into account that most plates here only cost ¥110, meaning you can enjoy as much sushi as you want, without worrying too much about the price.

As much as the Hama-Sushi restaurants are affordable and good-quality, they are not always the most quick or convenient. This is because conveyor belt sushi is super popular with tourists and locals alike, meaning that queues to eat in can get long quite quickly. At branches in more popular areas, you can sometimes see waiting times of up to 100 minutes. Therefore, it is recommended that you try and opt for a less-popular branch or reserve a spot online, in advance.

Other conveyor belt sushi restaurants to check out include Sushiro and Genki Sushi.

Mos Burger (モスバーガー)

Considered the McDonalds of Japan, Mos Burger is an iconic burger chain which offers a variety of freshly made burgers. From classic cheeseburgers to shrimp cutlet burgers, there is no shortage of choice. This burger chain is also known for selling soy burgers and burgers without the bread but instead, wrapped in salad. There are also a bunch of side menu options like onion rings, fried chicken as well as a few desserts. Mos Burger even offers a special breakfast menu.

Prices vary, depending on the type of burger and whether you opt for a set. However, on average, you can expect to pay around ¥1500 for a set which includes a burger, fries and drink. You can also order from this burger chain on Uber Eats.