Dining on a Budget in Tokyo
Dining out in Tokyo can be an expensive proposition but many restaurants offer limited menus with smaller portions at lunch for a lot less that they charge during the dinner hours. Prices usually range from US$7-12 for a main course, a beverage and often a side dish.
Even fine dining establishments in luxury hotels get offer great savings at lunchtime. Peter at the Peninsular Hotel in Tokyo offers a three course meal for Y4,800 (US$48) at lunch or Y8,500 (US$85) at dinner. Yuzu-Salt Crusted Tasmanian Salmon with Poached Seasonal Japanese Vegetables and Cumin-Carrot Broth and Sendai Beef Brisket Confit in Red Wine are selections at either time. Peter is accessed via private elevators from the lobby and offers unobstructed views of Tokyo in an ultra-modern setting.
Alternatively, you could dine on exquisite tempura at Ten-ichi in the Imperial Hotel for Y5,250 (US$53) at lunch or Y7,875 (US$79) at dinner. The Imperial Hotel is located in the heart of Tokyo across from the Imperial Palace and near Tokyo Station. The hotel was originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the lobby retains much of the art-deco design elements from Wright’s design.
Teishoku is a Japanese set menu style that usually includes a main dish of meat or fish accompanied with a side dish, rice, miso soup and tsukemono (pickled vegetables). Yakizakana (grilled fish), tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), karaage (fried chicken), sushi and sashimi are common teishoku main courses. Many casual restaurants specialize in teishoku with prices between US$7-12 for lunch with prices and portions increasing only slightly at dinner. Many restaurants featuring other international cuisines also offer set menus at lunch with significant savings at lunch.
Enjoy some fine dining in Tokyo and save some Yen by taking advantage of the set menus offered by many great restaurants at lunch and enjoy the more casual and economical teishoku restaurants for dinner.