Serious Cheap Eats Tokyo
I've never been to Tokyo, but everyone I've talked to who has tells me that finding good, moderately priced restaurants there is not easy. So we should all be thankful for Julia Chaplin's piece on Japan's capital in yesterday's New York Times, which featured three restaurants I would definitely check out on a visit to the country.
Cha Cha Hana
1-1-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku; 81-3-5292-2933
"Nouvelle delicacies served in a restaurant in a small house at the end of a stone footpath."
Price: About $20 a person at current exchange rates.
Higashiyama Gantan
Sun Royal Higashiyama 109, 1-8-6 Higashiyama, Meguro-ku; 81-3-3791-4807 "Industrialist-minimalist bar in an apartment building serving sashimi and techan nabe (rich stew)."
Price: About $40 a person at current exchange rates.
Sushi Kanesaka
8-10-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku; 81-3-5568-4411
"Premium grade fish and perfectly textured rice in a no-frills, hard-to-find setting.
Price: About $80 a person at current exchange rates.
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2 Comments:
Lies Lies Lies!!!
Eating well in Tokyo can be dirt cheap and absolutely delicious. There are many high priced, and very nobby restaurants to be had, but you should have no problem eating out for less than twenty dollars. My favourite sansai (mountain vegetable) soba at a local sobaya (soba restaurant) is a mere six! Getting out of Ginza and not relying on English menus will really help ease the strain on your wallet, both Shinjuku and Shibuya have inumerable little restaurants that are cheaper than you think. If you can't read the menu, just ask you serving person for advice. The simple osusume can really open up your culinary horizons!
daidokoro at 6:16AM on 06/19/07
I'm right with you Daidokoro - Tokyo is a clear example in my mind of how even in one of the most expensive cities in the world, there is a meal to be had for under $2. Obviously Soba and Udon take the cake.
There are great Sushi joints in places like Shimokitazawa where after 9pm you can get 2 pieces of O-toro for Y120. That's a buck. Everything else there is a dollar too. You can stuff yourself sideways on sushi for $10-12.
There's Ramen, Curry, Dumplings, Donburi - and did I mention digging around in any basement of any department store? You'll find so much cheap, amazing food there it hurts.
The US needs to have some $2-4 meals available within walking distance of anywhere you are.
Nate Uri at 2:12PM on 06/20/07