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Budget-Friendly Dining in Roppongi: 16 Restaurants and Cafes
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Despite its high-end atmosphere, Roppongi has many budget-friendly dining facilities, including the reopened Roppongi Yokocho Terrace. Discover high-value dining options from ramen to sushi for a satisfying yet budget-friendly meal!
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Having left Taiwan for 17 years, I stumbled upon Tokyo and gradually fell in love with this rapidly changing metropolis that also holds onto its traditional culture. In between taking care of children, I enjoy finding solace in a place about a 15-minute walk from the station with a population density of about 30%. Although picky when it comes to food, I am passionate about seeking out delicious cuisine, love cooking, and enjoy feeding others. I also identify myself as a member of the Potato Chips Association.
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Dining in Roppongi
Compared to other destinations in Tokyo, Roppongi is known for its high-end and sophisticated image due to its concentration of art museums and upscale nightclubs. It's a place to find Michelin three-star Japanese restaurants and international luxury brands.
However, amidst the many dining options in Roppongi, there are also budget-friendly and highly-rated eateries. This time, we will list cost-effective dining options in categories like noodles, barbecue, tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), desserts, and international cuisine. You'll have a range of choices to suit your taste preferences!
Roppongi Dining Guide
1. Ramen, Tsukemen, and Udon Noodles
2. Yakiniku and Grilled Chicken
3. Sushi
4. Afternoon Tea and Desserts
5. International Cuisine
6. Burger Restaurants
7. Cafes
8. Tokyo Yokocho Roppongi Terrace
Ramen, Tsukemen, and Udon Noodles
1. TsuruTonTan: Udon Noodles Preferred by the Entertainment Industry
TsuruTonTan is one of the most popular udon noodle shops in Japan. They are especially known for their eye-catching, large-sized bowls of udon noodles. With a diverse menu that allows you to choose between thin or thick noodles, it can satisfy a wide range of discerning palates.
2. Ramen AFURI: Refreshing and Light Yuzu Shio Ramen
AFURI is a beloved spot among visitors to Japan, known for its refreshing ramen. In particular, the Yuzu Shio Ramen is made with the Japanese yuzu citrus fruit.
The golden-hued broth, infused with the aroma of chicken fat and vegetables, is a highlight of this ramen. It's complemented by freshly grilled, richly flavored char siu (barbecued pork), allowing you to fully savor each ingredient's taste, aroma, and texture.
Yakiniku and Grilled Chicken
3. KINTAN: Taste Unbelievably Affordable Yakiniku
KINTAN has branches in various locations in Tokyo, including Roppongi, Azabu Juban, Omotesando, and Ebisu. Each branch has a slightly different interior design to match the characteristics of the area.
The Roppongi branch, for instance, features a bright and somewhat rustic interior. What's more noteworthy is the unprecedented lunch prices. The basic individual yakiniku (grilled meat) set only costs 1,000 Japanese Yen and includes salad, soup, and dessert. You can even have unlimited refills of salad and soup, making it a yakiniku restaurant with outstanding value for money.
4. Sumiyakiya Nishi Azabu: Everyone Has the Right to Enjoy Good Food!
With its tender texture and rich sauces, Japanese-style grilled meat is a popular cuisine enjoyed by many. However, due to the nature of meat dishes, some visitors to Japan, especially those who adhere to Islamic dietary laws, may not have many opportunities to try them.
This charcoal grill restaurant operates under the philosophy that Muslims can also enjoy grilled meat. They offer specially processed halal beef in accordance with Islamic dietary laws. As a result, there are now almost as many Muslim customers as non-Muslim customers visiting the restaurant.
5. Gonpachi: Where Top World Leaders Dine and Unwind
Photo by Kanesue
Gonpachi is an innovative Japanese restaurant with an interior that replicates the style of traditional Japanese homes. It has received much acclaim from overseas travelers and even served as a backdrop in the movie Kill Bill. Notably, former U.S. President George W. Bush and former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi have dined here, attracting a continuous stream of international visitors.
Sitting at the counter, you can watch skilled chefs grill skewers right before you, immersing you in the authentic Japanese dining experience.
Sushi
6. Ikina Sushi Dokoro Abe Roppongi: Savor Authentic Japanese Sushi
If you're not in the mood for conveyor belt sushi but hesitate to enter traditional sushi restaurants, consider visiting Ikina Sushidokoro While it's a bit away from the bustling center of Roppongi, heading toward Tokyo Tower will lead you to Ikina Sushi Dokoro Abe Roppongi, a spot for sushi and seafood rice bowls at just 1,000 yen during lunchtime. They also offer higher-priced sushi courses for dinner.
The restaurant's interior features a wooden design and incorporates unique Japanese architectural elements like tatami flooring, making it a place where you can enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace.
7. KINKA Sushi Bar: Canadian Sushi That Made an Impression in Japan
The adventurous KINKA Sushi Bar, with its daring challenge to counterattack traditional Japanese sushi, has a stylish and refined interior design. It offers a rare sushi style with items like lobster and various types of seared sushi that you won't typically find in traditional Japanese sushi restaurants.
Moreover, its strategic choice of locations in Shibuya and Roppongi—two highly culturally diverse areas—has helped it successfully penetrate the Japanese market.
The Roppongi branch is conveniently located near the National Art Center and Blue Bottle Coffee, making it a great choice for sushi after an art exhibition.
Afternoon Tea and Desserts
8. HARBS
While Tokyo boasts many outstanding dessert options, there are few that have the addictive quality of HARBS, where you find yourself craving a visit time and again. There are two HARBS branches in the Roppongi area, with the Roppongi Hills branch offering a limited-edition strawberry cake that's not to be missed.
Picture courtesy of PR Times
Those who are fans of HARBS' Mille-Feuille Fruit Cake or are intrigued by the Pear Mille-Feuille, you definitely need to visit the branch in Tokyo Midtown. After all, HARBS' cakes are consistently delicious and have no disappointments!
9. Toshi Yoroizuka: Perfectly Executed Pastry by Chef Yoroizuka
Toshi Yoroizuka, who previously served as the pastry chef at a three-star Michelin restaurant in Belgium, has made significant efforts since returning to Japan. He collaborates with local farmers to develop exceptional ingredients that are not commonly found in the market.
The Roppongi branch is the only one where you can savor desserts prepared on-site. By dining here, you can indulge in culinary artistry right before your eyes! But be prepared for long lines as it's quite popular!
International Cuisine
10. BRASSERIE PAUL BOCUSE Le Musee: Affordable French Dining Inside an Art Museum
BRASSERIE PAUL BOCUSE Le Musee is an affordable restaurant opened by a French Michelin three-star chef on the third floor of the National Art Center in Roppongi.
You can dine in an open-concept space shaped like a cone, which breaks away from the usual formal image of French cuisine. Lunch sets start at 2,200 yen and include appetizers featuring premium ingredients like foie gras. It's an excellent choice to enjoy a gourmet meal after exploring the art museum.
11. Mercedes me TOKYO: Where Mercedes-Benz Sells More Than Just Cars!
The Mercedes-Benz restaurant Mercedes me TOKYO, located near Roppongi Hills, is a complex facility divided into four areas: the Mercedes-Benz car showroom, DOWNSTAIRS COFFEE, UPSTAIRS restaurant, and NEXTDOOR restaurant. Each area offers a different type of dining service.
DOWNSTAIRS COFFEE and NEXTDOOR serve coffee alongside light pastries and snacks. At DOWNSTAIRS COFFEE, you can enjoy a breakfast set with Mercedes logo butter and toast. However, we'd like to recommend the UPSTAIRS restaurant on the second floor.
They also serve reasonably priced French and Italian-style dishes. The dining area includes comfortable sofa seating, which creates a minimalist yet stylish and comfortable atmosphere. Particularly noteworthy is their lunch set, priced at only 2,800 yen, which includes soup, appetizer, main course, dessert, and coffee.
In addition to the lunch set, they offer a limited daily supply of Wagyu beef hamburgers for just 1,500 yen. These burgers are made with bread using natural yeast from Kiryu and stamped with the Mercedes three-pointed star logo. They're filled with juicy Wagyu beef patties and come with soup and a beverage, making it an excellent value-for-money choice!
Burger Restaurants
12. AS Classics Diner: Ranked Among Japan’s Top 100 Burgers by a Food Website
AS Classics Diner, selected among the top 100 burger restaurants by a renowned food website, offers burgers with bread that becomes sweeter as you chew, paired with meat patties that you can savor with every bite. They drizzle it with a slightly tangy sauce, creating a perfect combination of ingredients from top to bottom!
We'd also like to recommend the vegetarian burger made with fried mushrooms. It features juicy and tender mushrooms replacing the meat patty, combined with unique spices. It's often a tough choice between the cheeseburger and the fried mushroom burger!
13. Shake Shack: New York's Number One Burger Joint
The popular New York burger joint Shake Shack created quite a buzz when it entered the Japanese market, showing that delicious burgers can win hearts across country borders. Their double cheeseburger, in particular, is a fan favorite. Taking a big bite reveals juicy meat with a slightly sweet tomato, offering a mouthful of happiness.
Cafes
14. Tokyo Midtown Starbucks Reserve Bar
The Starbucks Reserve Bar at Tokyo Midtown offers a range of unique beverages such as the espresso tonic (820 yen) which pairs carbonated beverages with espresso for an elegant and sophisticated taste. There's also the Coffee Steeped Beer (820 yen) with a mature flavor and the innovative Nitro Coffee Float (900 yen) that combines smooth ice cream with nitrogen-infused coffee.
Of course, you can also enjoy classic coffee drinks available at regular Starbucks stores.
15. Blue Bottle Coffee
The allure of Blue Bottle Coffee is undeniable worldwide. Almost every Tokyo branch has a daily crowd, and even ordering a cup of coffee can take a lot of time. Since the stores are usually packed, you might find yourself standing and savoring a meticulously handcrafted coffee as if visiting a trendy bar.
However, in the quiet alley near the National Art Center in Roppongi, there's a lesser-known Blue Bottle branch. Here, you can peacefully enjoy the true essence of Blue Bottle's flavor!
16. Tokyo Yokocho Roppongi Terrace
Roppongi Yokocho, which had previously closed, reemerged in Japan in 2019 as Tokyo Yokocho Roppongi Terrace and can now be found on the streets near Roppongi Don Quijote. This alley with various shops offers yakiniku, grilled chicken skewers, seafood, and most notably, hot pot dumplings making their debut in Japan.
There's also the renowned Nagasaki pork known as Maido Buta, an exclusive to this place in Tokyo. Spending the night here while enjoying delicious food and laughter in a secret hideaway perfectly encapsulates the metropolitan image of Roppongi!
Enjoy Dining out in Roppongi
Roppongi is known for its art museums and diverse international crowd, which might give off the impression of being less approachable. However, thanks to redesigned streets, Roppongi offers a welcoming environment with spacious roads, elegant architecture, and green spaces that allow you to experience a touch of metropolitan living in Tokyo.
Whether you've just finished visiting an exhibition or are simply wandering around, you can enjoy the taste of life in Roppongi without breaking the bank.
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Main image by PR Times
Having left Taiwan for 17 years, I stumbled upon Tokyo and gradually fell in love with this rapidly changing metropolis that also holds onto its traditional culture. In between taking care of children, I enjoy finding solace in a place about a 15-minute walk from the station with a population density of about 30%. Although picky when it comes to food, I am passionate about seeking out delicious cuisine, love cooking, and enjoy feeding others. I also identify myself as a member of the Potato Chips Association.
more
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