The Cheapest Restaurant Chains in Japan: Where to Eat on a Budget 🍜🍛

🍚 Yoshinoya – Japan’s Famous Beef Bowl Chain

One of the most famous gyudon (beef bowl) chains in Japan, Yoshinoya serves a simple yet flavorful dish: thinly sliced beef simmered in a sweet-savory sauce, served over rice. It’s fast, filling, and super affordable, making it a go-to option for budget-conscious travelers.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥400-¥700

🥢 Sukiya – More Than Just Beef Bowls

Similar to Yoshinoya, Sukiya is another popular gyudon chain, but with a more diverse menu. In addition to classic beef bowls, they offer curry rice, donburi (rice bowls), and breakfast sets. The food is cheap, served fast, and available 24/7 in many locations.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥350-¥800

Katsuya is one of the best cheap tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) chains in Japan. They serve crispy, golden-fried pork cutlets with rice, miso soup, and shredded cabbage. The menu also includes katsudon (pork cutlet with egg over rice) and curry katsu (tonkatsu with Japanese curry), making it a top choice for a satisfying, budget-friendly meal.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥500-¥900

🍝 Saizeriya – Japan’s Favorite Cheap Italian Restaurant

For cheap pasta, pizza, and Western-style dishes, Saizeriya is the best option. This Italian-Japanese fusion chain is loved for its extremely low prices, with most meals costing under ¥500. Perfect for a casual sit-down meal!

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥300-¥700

🍣 Cheap Sushi Chains: Sushiro, Kappa Sushi, Hamazushi, Kurazushi

Who said sushi had to be expensive? Conveyor belt sushi (kaitenzushi) chains like Sushiro, Kappa Sushi, Hamazushi, and Kurazushi offer fresh sushi starting at just ¥100 per plate. These chains use a conveyor belt system, letting you grab whatever looks tasty, or you can order from a touch screen for freshly made sushi.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥100-¥250 per sushi plate

🍜 Marugame Seimen – Cheap and Fresh Udon Noodles

For freshly made udon noodles, Marugame Seimen is unbeatable. Their self-service system lets you choose your type of udon, then add tempura, onigiri, or rice bowls on the side. The noodles are thick, chewy, and made fresh daily, making this one of the best-value meals in Japan.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥290-¥800

🍛 CoCo Ichibanya – Japan’s Best Cheap Curry Chain

For Japanese curry lovers, CoCo Ichibanya is a must-try. You can customize your curry rice dish by choosing your spice level, toppings, and portion size. Whether you prefer crispy katsu (pork cutlet) or vegetable curry, the prices remain affordable and filling.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥600-¥1,200

🍤 Tenya – Affordable Tempura Rice Bowls

If you love tempura (battered and deep-fried seafood & vegetables), Tenya offers some of the best cheap tempura bowls in Japan. Their tendon (tempura rice bowl) includes shrimp, fish, and vegetables over rice, served with a flavorful sauce.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥500-¥800

🍛 Matsuya – Fast and Affordable Japanese Set Meals

Matsuya offers more variety than Yoshinoya and Sukiya, specializing in teishoku (set meals) that include rice, miso soup, and a protein. Their gyudon, grilled beef, and Japanese-style curry are all delicious and reasonably priced. Another perk? No need to order at the counter—most Matsuya locations have ticket vending machines in multiple languages!

📍 Locations: Nationwide 💰 Price range: ¥400-¥900

🥘 Nakau – The Hidden Gem of Cheap Rice Bowls

Nakau is a lesser-known but highly underrated chain serving cheap and tasty rice bowls, including oyakodon (chicken & egg bowl) and gyudon. They also serve udon and Japanese-style curry, making it a great all-around budget dining spot.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥400-¥800

🥩 Ikinari Steak – Cheap Steak, Japanese Style

If you’re craving steak on a budget, Ikinari Steak serves high-quality beef at reasonable prices. Unlike traditional steakhouses, you order steak by weight, and the meat is grilled fresh to order. It’s a standing-only restaurant in many locations, perfect for a quick and affordable steak meal.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥1,000-¥2,500

🍽️ Denny’s Japan – More Than Just an American Diner

Unlike its American counterpart, Denny’s Japan serves a mix of Japanese and Western dishes, including hamburg steak, omurice (omelet rice), and traditional teishoku sets. It’s a great family-friendly restaurant with lots of budget-friendly options.

📍 Locations: Nationwide
💰 Price range: ¥600-¥1,200