 No matter what kind of food you
like, you're sure to find it somewhere in Tokyo. But
remember that local dishes are much cheaper than exotic
cuisine -- one taco is worth five bowls of ramen.
If
you're interested in trying out Japanese food, nothing
beats your local neighborhood izakaya. Part bar,
part restaurant, most izakayas offer onigiri (rice
balls), sashimi (raw fish), yakitori (Japanese shish
kebabs) and a wide assortment of less easily identified
morsels as well as big mugs of your favorite local beer.
For lunch on the cheap, try one of the many sidewalk
ramen vendors who work the streets of Tokyo.
You'll
also find scores of fast food restaurants near most of
Japan's train stations. McDonalds, Mr. Donuts, Dunkin'
Donuts and KFC can be found almost anywhere you go.
Though a little harder to find, there are also hudreds of
Subway Sandwiches, Wendys and Burger King franchises
around Tokyo. There used to be a few Taco Bells, but
those didn't survive very long.
Shakey's
Pizza can be found near some of the larger stations, and
if either your or a friend can speak a little Japanese,
you Dominoes and Pizza Hut will deliver to your front
door. Among Japan's homegrown fast food outlets are First
Kitchen, Mos Burger, Lotteria, Beckers, Pizza La, Pizza
California and Kyotako, identified by an octopus motif
and serving what you'd expect.
If
you enjoy food that's delivered on dishes instead of
plastic trays, there's a Sizzler a few blocks west of
Shibuya Station and another in Yokohama's Landmark Tower
Plaza. Denney's franchises can be found all over.
If
the pretentious atmosphere at the Hard Rock Cafe in
Roppongi bothers you, great burgers can also be found at
nearby Johnny Rockets. Across the street from Kinokuniya
supermarket (one block south of Omotesando subway
station) there's a new Hawaiian burger restaurant called
Kua' Aina. The prices are reasonable and the huge burgers
among the best you'll find in Tokyo.
A
pretty well known English teacher and rugby player hang
out, the Rock n' Roll Diner in Shimo-Kitazawa offers
great burgers and fajitas and features half-price drinks
during happy hour (4:00-6:00 PM on weekends and national
holidays). Also, if you buy the Diner's dinner special in
December, you'll get a calendar for the next year with
monthly coupons for free burgers, chimichangas, taco
salads and pitchers of beer. The atmosphere is pretty
low-key and they have deejays that play rock music from
the 1950-80s.
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