But getting here isn’t cheap, after flights, hotels and spending money on awesome experiences, it can be quite expensive to enjoy Japan to the fullest. Thankfully you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy the best of Japanese food!
While there are cheap eats all over Tokyo, we’re going to focus on Shibuya, a hotspot of youth culture and shopping in Tokyo. Reaching the station, you’ll pass Hachiko, a statue of a loyal dog based on a true story, before going across the world famous Shibuya Crossing (otherwise known as Shibuya Scramble) and finding yourself in a foodie wonderland!
We here at Japanese snack and Japanese candy box TokyoTreat love a trip to Shibuya for food! So follow our guide on where to eat in Shibuya and discover some of the best cheap restaurants in Shibuya!
The image of sushi is not always one that is budget friendly. But sushi is the original Japanese fast food! And the best place to try delicious sushi for less is conveyor belt sushi (or kaitenzushi)! Uobei is a Shibuya based conveyor belt sushi restaurant, perfect for picking up a quick and uniquely Japanese bite.
What is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant? Quite simply, while sitting at a counter or table, a selection of pre-made sushi will pass by you, allowing you to pick whatever you want as it comes. Or you can order things on a touch panel and have them show up at your counter, from sushi, to fried foods, and even desserts!
Uobei is a must try sushi restaurant to enjoy without overspending! All you need is to bring your appetite! Find it at:
〒150-0043 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Dōgenzaka, 2-chōme−29−11
Japanese curry (or Kare Raisu) is another delicious food that you absolutely have to try on your next trip! Although curry might not be something that you think is very Japanese, Japan worked hard to create something different from all other curries from all over the world.
Coco Ichibanya is a famous and well-loved chain of curry restaurants in Japan. Customers can select and customize their curry exactly to their liking.
From the amount of rice and variety of toppings, to spice level, you can make a large bowl of Japanese curry that perfectly matches your own taste. But beware – spice level 10 is only for the brave! We recommend a deep fried, golden brown tonkatsu (fried pork) topping!
You can find a chain of this tasty curry restaurant that is perfect for a lunch or dinner without breaking the bank! Find it here:
25-17 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya 150-0042 Tokyo Prefecture
Ramen is a lot of people’s reason to come to Japan. Seeing tasty bowls of steaming hot ramen in anime and Japanese dramas are the things dreams are made of! And the best part? Ramen is a pretty cheap dish!
Of course you can find ramen that might be more pricey, but a typical bowl of ramen will cost around ¥1000- ¥1500. And we highly recommend Ichiran, a popular ramen shop chain with a calm atmosphere and delicious broth and noodle combinations. You simply pay at a ticket vending machine, hand your ticket to the chef and sit back, enjoying the ramen shop atmosphere!
We love Ichiran so much it even made it into our list of top 5 ramen shops in Shibuya!
Get your noodle on here:
1-22-7 Jinnan Iwamoto Bldg. B1F, Shibuya 150-0041 Tokyo Prefecture
If you have some time to wait in a line, then grab some Japanese gyoza (dumplings) at Harajuku Gyozaro. A short walk from Harajuku station, the station next to Shibuya, or even a 10 minute walk from Shibuya crossing, the accessible little place is usually in high demand.
Foodies from all over Tokyo come to try this restaurant’s crispy dumplings with a ground pork and green onion gyoza filling – combined with a soy sauce and chili oil dipping sauce! Yum!
The street food vibes perfectly meld with the stylish feeling of Harajuku. Enjoy it here:
6-2-4 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001 Tokyo Prefecture
Finally time for dessert! And we’ve saved the best for last! A short walk from Harajuku Station on Takeshita Dori, the home of Kawaii culture in Japan, you’ll find Croquant Chou Zakuzaku.
Zakuzaku offers a delicious churro-like dessert filled with different flavors of various creams. The crispy batter is perfect to contrast all the sweet filling. It’s perfect for a cheap treat to eat and go as you walk around and explore Japan!
Everyone with a sweet tooth should head here for your Zakuzaku dessert:
1-7-1 Jingumae Cute Cube Harajuku 1F, Shibuya 150-0001 Tokyo Prefecture
Want more dessert goodness? We got you covered. We made a list of the best dessert spots in Shibuya so you won’t have to travel very far to try all of these great places.
Part of the fun of coming to Japan is exploring places in Japan and finding something that maybe even Japanese people are less familiar with. There are endless restaurants to try, at all price points.
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