There are a lot of restaurants where you can have nice meals or snacks with reasonable price in Ikebukuro. As I explained in my previous article, you can simply go to depachika and buy fresh and delicious foods there. However, the problem of foods in depachika is first, it’s usually expensive, and second, there is no enough space for eat in.
[source : https://en.compathy.net/magazine/2017/04/19/ikebukuro-cafe/]
I have traveled to many different places including Japan, and I found it’s very hard to have fun without enough budget. Unexpected things always happen. I was sure that I made perfect plans and this plan included what to spend and what to not. However, there always was something new that I wanted to try, eat, and buy. Then I just use my perfectly planned budget little by little, and at the end of the travel, almost nothing is left on my pocket. In this article, I’m going to recommend a few restaurants by your budget.
budget below JPY 1000
You can go to some franchise fast food restaurants such as McDonalds and have Bic Mac combo. But Bic Mac… You can have it whenever you want in your country as well. Since you are in Japan, I guess it’s better to try something ‘Japanese’.
(1) Bakudanyaki (Bomb-size Takoyaki)
[source : https://www.showroom-live.com/event/bakudanyakihonpo]
In Bakudanyaki Honpo, you can have super big size takoyaki. Takoyaki is usually considered to be tiny balls consist of flour and octopus. However, you can have SUPER BIG SIZE takoyaki in Ikebukuro. The price for one ball is between JPY 400~500 and it is pretty enough for get rid of your urgent hunger. Unlike other normal takoyaki, the inside of bakudanyaki is filled with many ingredients such as octopus, sausage, and mushrooms. There are wide range of sauces and toppings you can choose as well.
(2) Kailaku
[source : http://kailaku.jp/]
Kailaku is a place famous for its jumbo size gyoza(Japanese style fried dumplings). If you want to have gyoza only, it costs JPY 360 for 3 pcs. If you are really hungry, trying teishoku(JPY 640), which usually means combo, is recommended. Once you order gyoza teishoku, you will get 3 pcs of gyoza with rice, soup, and pickles. You may think 3 pcs of gyoza is not enough, however, the size of gyoza here is amazing since one gyoza has similar size with human hand. They also have ramen combo or fried rice combo and it all costs below JPY 1000.
(3) RINGO
[source : https://ringo-applepie.com/]
Are you hungry but just want to have sweets? Then I recommend you that you should try RINGO’s apple pie. Located near station, you will feel hard to pass here because of its sweet smell. I would like to say the apple pie of Ringo is very crispy but soft at the same time. Cheese custard cream and pieces of apples are fully filled inside of this apple pie and it’s not very sweet so you can eat many pieces at once. One apple pie only costs around JPY 400 and it’s not very small. The purchase is limited to maximum 4 pieces per person if many people line up.
budget between JPY 1000~2000
(1) Mutekiya
[source : https://matcha-jp.com/en/1436]
I can say it with confident. Mutekiya is one of the most famous ramen restaurants in Tokyo. The deep broth of pork bones make people crazy about their ramen. You will see a lot of people are lining up in front of this store every day and night. Charshu in mutekiya is three times thicker than other restaurants and the price is between JPY 1000~1300. Ordering gyoza(JPY 400) as your side dish will make your meal perfect.
(2) Kurazushi
[source : http://japancourse.com/world/2016/12/06/sushi/]
Kurazushi is a conveyor belt type sushi restaurant. Similar to other conveyor belt sushi places, Kurazushi also provide JPY 100 dishes. You can either pick up rotating dishes or order by monitor. Personally I recommend you that ordering by monitor is better since they will make your dish after you ordered for it. It definitely means it’s fresher. Having around 10 dishes will make you full and it will still cost below JPY 2000. Please be aware of not picking up other’s dishes!
(3) Red Rock
[source : http://www.redrock-kobebeef.com/en/]
Are you eager to have meat in Ikebukruo? Red Rock is the answer. Red Rock is famous for roasted beef bowl and slice steak bowl. The price differs from size, but it usually costs around JPY 1100~1400. The menu is provided with English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai language. It is said that they provide soft and juicy meat with flavored sauce. Since Ikebukuro branch is kind of new so not many people line up here yet. It means, it is the best time to try red rock here in Ikebukuro!
BUDGET BEtween JPY 2000~4000
(1) Mango Tree Cafe
[source : https://mangotree.jp/shop/mangotree-cafe/ikebukuro]
Mango Tree Cafe is Thai cuisine famous in Tokyo. It is located on the 9th floor of Lumine. The price itself is not very reasonable because of its location but they provide good amount and quality of food. Going here for lunch will help you save a little bit of your budget. Order one main dish and one drink will exceed JPY 2000 for dinner time. The ingredients, seafood in particular, are in good quality and very fresh.
(2) KUA AINA
[source : https://www.kua-aina.com/]
Kua Aina is a cafe where you can have Hawaiian burger. Here is famous for putting huge avocado slices into burger. Here is a little bit pricey since all burgers and sandwiches are handmade. One burger costs usually JPY 1400~1600 and if you add fries and drinks, the cost will exceed JPY 2000 easily. You can choose the type of bread and cheese, and if you add few more bucks you can have bigger size burgers. They also provide other menus like steak and pancakes.
(3) Chibachan
[source : https://gurunavi.com/en/gc2x010/ph/all/rst/]
Chibachan is an izakaya, which is Japanese style pub. The most popular menu in this restaurant is fried chicken. Large amount of fried chicken costs about JPY 1400 and if it is chicken wings, the price goes up to JPY 1700. As here is a pub, drinking is also allowed! If you order one large bucket of chicken and beer, it will already exceed JPY 2000. But don’t worry. You will have hard time to finish all of this delicious chicken! They also have other menus such as sashimi and yakisoba, but most of their menus are Japanese style.
rent a pocket wifi
If you want to enjoy things above and make your travel to Japan more abundant, it is necessary to get online all the time. Regardless of its highly-advanced technologies, it is not easy to find free wireless(WiFi) hotspots in Japan. So, what we recommend for tourists who want to stay connected 24/7 and have exciting journey, is to use wifi rental services, which is also known as pocket wifi.
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*Advance mode only
*If you use more than 10GB within 3 days, speed limit will be applied to avoid congestion.
[source : http://www.japan-photo.de/e-tokyo06.htm]
wifi rental japan wishes that all tourists have more comfortable and meaningful travel in Japan.
If you have any inquiries, please feel free to ask us.
