15 Must-try Lunches in Shinjuku Under 1,000 JPY Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jun 05 2020

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Shinjuku

15 Must-try Lunches in Shinjuku Under 1,000 JPY

Shinjuku: the greatest shopping district in the cosmopolitan Tokyo! In this neighborhood, where a vast number of people gather everyday, there are lots of delicious but cheap lunch spots to try. This article collects the best 15 restaurants where you can enjoy a satisfying lunch for less than 1,000 JPY.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Shinjuku.

1. India & Nepal Restaurant Sansar Shinjuku

Located in the center of Shinjuku, only 5 minutes on foot from Shinjuku ward office, this restaurant offers Indian and Nepalese cuisine. Inside there are both counter seats, facing the open kitchen, and table seats, so it is suitable for both solo customers and groups. The chef came all the way from Nepal to enchant you with his exquisite and spicy cookery. For lunch, the [A-Lunch (850 JPY)] comes highly recommended. It's a super convenient set meal comprising 2 types of authentic curry, naan bread, rice, salad and even a drink!

India & Nepal Restaurant Sansar Shinjuku

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Sundays
Average price: [Dinner] 1,900 JPY / [Lunch] 800 JPY
Access: From Higashi Shinjuku Station exit A3, head toward Shinjuku along Meijidori. Turn left at Shinjuku 6-Chome. Located just before Shinjuku Culture Center.
Address: Kinnishi Bldg. 1F , 6-13-8 Shinjuku , Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)
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2. Okinawa Dining Gajumaru Shinjuku South Gate Branch

This popular eatery allows you to enjoy Okinawan food in Tokyo. Thanks to its easy access, being 1 minute away from JR Shinjuku Station, it is always crowded. Their lunch menu focuses on "Teishoku", set meals where the main dish is accompanied by other dishes such as rice and miso soup. You can order [Higawari Teishoku (700 JPY)] with a different main dish every day, or hearty [Buta Kimchi Teishoku (750 JPY)] (set meal of stir-fry of pork and kimchi), or a juicy and tasty [Chicken Nanban Teishoku (750 JPY)] (set meal of fried and marinated chicken) - together with a free large serving of rice!

Okinawa Dining Gajumaru Shinjuku South Gate Branch

Open: [Monday - Thursday, Sunday] 11:00 am - 12:00 am
[Friday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] 11:00 am - 5:00 am
Closed: None (Closed on January 1st - 3rd)
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY
Address: 7F, Denen Shinjuku Bldg., 4-1-13, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

3. Yakiniku Blackhole Central Road Branch

Walk 3 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station, and you'll find this clean and relaxing space to enjoy some yakiniku (Japanese BBQ). A lunch option you can't miss is their [Yakiniku-ya no Asa-hiki Hamburg Steak (1,000 JPY)]. Because they are so attentive to creating the best flavours, you will be able to choose from 6 different sauces to enjoy your steak with. You also get fried potatoes, broccoli, bean sprouts, cabbage salad, soup, and rice, so the meal is quite filling.

Yakiniku Blackhole Central Road Branch

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
[Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: None (Closed at beginning and end of the year)
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 1F, Big Lemon Bldg., 1-15-5, Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)

4. FUNGO DINING Nishi Shinjuku Branch

If you head to Shinjuku Central Park, you may stumble upon this authentic Italian restaurant. With a high ceiling that gives a sense of openness, the atmosphere inside is fancy and warm. Enjoy their food while hanging out with your friends. The main recommendation for lunch is their [BASIC LUNCH (1,000 JPY)]. This includes an appetizer buffet, where each customer gets one plate and one visit to the buffet, plus a free bread refill. As for the main dish, you can choose from a large variety of items—for example, [Spaghetti in a Tomato Sauce with Bacon and Onion] or [Chicken Cutlet with Japanese Vinaigrette Sauce].

FUNGO DINING Nishi Shinjuku Branch

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
[Tuesday - Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Bar time 11:00 pm - 5:00 am (L.O. 4:00 am)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 1F, 6-16-7, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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5. Dining Bar @Home K

Because of its cozy atmosphere, this dining bar is often visited by ladies with their children. Other than counter and table seats, there are also sofa-furnished booths where you can sit and relax for a while. The many dishes made by the skilled female chef are all delicious, colorful, and pleasing to the sight, but their main selling point is that they're all healthy! The popular [Higawari Lunch (980 JPY)] platter consists of a daily special main dish, rice, and other delicacies such as healthy Japanese side dishes and salads. It's a lunch to be tried, because it's not only tasty but also nutritionally very well-balanced.

Dining Bar @Home K

Open: 6:00 pm - 3:00 am (L.O. 2:30 am) *On Sunday, only the bar is open
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,800 JPY / [Lunch] 850 JPY
Address: 1F, Senju Bldg., 1-15-12, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

6. Sushimaru

Conveniently positioned 2 minutes away from the Central East Gate of JR Shinjuku Station, this restaurant offers authentic Edo-style sushi. On the other side of the counter, a skillful sushi chef prepares your sushi in a lively manner. It's a traditional sushi restaurant, but the atmosphere inside is very friendly. Lunchtime, in particular, offers a wide range of reasonably priced dishes. Come here when you feel like tasting real sushi to try their delicious [Ikadon (850 JPY)], made with amazingly fresh squid sashimi, or their [Chirashi (1,000 JPY)], which is how sushi was traditionally served in Japan.

Sushimaru

Open: [Weekdays and Saturday] 11:30 am - 11:30 pm (L.O. 11:00 pm)
[Sunday and National Holidays] 11:30 am - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
*Lunch 11:30 am - 4:00 pm (L.O. 4:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 3-31-6, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

7. Mikore Shokudo

This Japanese restaurant allows you to enjoy plenty of different dishes: from sashimi to kushiage consisting of fried ingredients on a skewer. For lunch, [The Rosu Katsu Teishoku (180g, 900 JPY, including taxes)] comes highly recommended. This to-die-for dish comprises of a cutlet made with tender, premium quality Sangen pork loin coated in special panko breadcrumbs with a moderate amount of sugar. The crispy texture of panko makes a great combo with the tender and tasty loin. Another recommended option is [Sasami Katsu 3-bon Teishoku (800 JPY, including taxes)], made with Iwate-sourced Miyako chicken that has been fried twice: at a low and a high temperature.

Mikore Shokudo

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm *On Saturday and National Holidays dinner starts from 3:00 pm
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 2F, Seiei Bldg., 1-16-9, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo

8. Tori Dining&Bar Goto

In this restaurant, you can taste lots of dishes made with Tokyo Shamo (high-end brand of chicken) raised in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Their meat is notable for its firm texture and deep flavor. Above all, you should definitely have their [Kyukyoku no Oyakodon]! Tokyo Shamo is carefully broiled and then mixed with a soup of kelp and dried bonito flakes. With the addition of thick fertilized eggs from the Okukuji area, the result is a dish that you cannot miss. It costs 1,280 JPY at dinner time, but at lunchtime you can have it for just 950 JPY. Make sure to enjoy the incredible flavors of all the quality ingredients in this dish at least once.

Tori Dining&Bar Goto

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm)
[Monday - Wednesday, Saturday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (Drinks L.O. 10:30 pm, Food L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Thursday, Friday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 2:30 am (Dinner Food L.O. 10:00 pm), Bar time 10:00 pm - 2:30 am (Drinks L.O. 2:00 am, Food L.O. 1:30 am)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 950 JPY
Address: B1F, Fujino Bldg., 7-4-5, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (Map)

9. Mochi Buta Shabu-Shabu Shinjuku Musashi

Shabu-shabu is a Japanese traditional recipe that consists of thin meat slices you quickly parboil in hot dashi (broth) right before you eat them. As the name suggests, this restaurant offers premium pork shabu-shabu - moreover, at affordable prices that adds to its popularity. Their top dish for lunch is great value for money: [Mochi Buta Shabu-Shabu (1,000 JPY)], made with tender and nourishing mochi pork and lots of vegetables, plus rice and dessert. As for their tare (dipping sauce) selection, they have sesame tare, yuzu-kosho (a sauce made of yuzu and chili peppers), and minced plum. With these 3 different seasonings, you get to boost the flavor of mochi pork to the extreme.

Mochi Buta Shabu-Shabu Shinjuku Musashi

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 4:00 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Beginning and end of the year (December 30 - January 4)
Average price: [Dinner] 5,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: B1F, Shinjuku Marune Bldg., 1-23-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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10. Chikashisai Shinjuku Branch

This Chinese restaurant is the talk of the town right now, thanks to its skilled top chef who completed a very competitive and rigorous exam. The incredible [Choten Ishiyaki Mabo Dofu], their signature dish, contains a variety of premium spices and seasonings, such as "Choten Ganshinjao" (dubbed "the king of peppers") and the uniquely fragrant Sichuan pepper, and it's simmered for 3 hours in a secret chicken bones soup! It costs 850 JPY if you order it for dinner, but the price drops to 780 JPY at lunchtime. Also, don't forget to try their rich noodle dishes, such as [Jikasei Kamayaki Chashumen (750 JPY)] or [Honkaku Shiru-nashi Tantanmen (750 JPY)].

Chikashisai Shinjuku Branch

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 10:45 pm)
[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:30 - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 1F, Kase Bldg., 2-15-9, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Map)

11. Marco Polo Bar

This restaurant is located in a restaurant-crowded area that's commonly known as "Shinjuku Spice Road," on the 1st underground floor of Shinjuku Island Tower. A popular lunchtime dish is [3-shu Mame no Mexican Taco Rice (900 JPY)] that contains a combo of assorted spices. Let its spicy flavor whet your appetite to try other recommended options, such as [Tokusei Hayashi Rice (900 JPY)], marinated overnight, and [Torotoro Hanjuku Omurice (950 JPY)]. All courses include salad, dessert, and even a drink.

Marco Polo Bar

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm), Tea time 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Closed: None (Closed at beginning and end of the year, and the 3rd Sunday of February)
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 880 JPY
Address: B1, Shinjuku Island Tower, 6-5-1, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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12. Aburien

"Robatayaki" is a Japanese cooking style where seasonal ingredients, mostly seafood, are charcoal-grilled using irori (a traditional Japanese hearth) or the like. This restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes prepared in this method. There are lots of set menus for lunch that include a main dish, rice, and miso soup. For example, the main dish of a highly recommended [Tsubodai Saikyo-yaki Teishoku (880 JPY)] set is Japanese boarfish slices marinated in sweet miso and grilled "Saikyo style." The deep taste of grilled fish goes perfectly with rice.

Aburien

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
[Saturday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY / [Lunch] 880 JPY
Address: 1F, 4-5-15, Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Map
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13. Sanchoku Bar SUPER Me Yoyogi VILLAGE

This casual Italian restaurant is popular for their careful selection of products that takes everything into consideration: the producer, the area, the season, and the freshness. If the weather is nice, how about a nice lunch on their airy terrace? If you order [Honjitsu no Pasta (1,000 JPY)], the chef will offer you a superb dish made with the best ingredients of the day. Enjoy the winning combination of pasta al dente and seasonal toppings to your heart's content. If you're more of a set meal person, you may want to try some popular sets such as [Hamburger Plate (1,000 JPY)] or [SUPER Me Tokusei Chicken Curry (1,000 JPY)]. All sets include a mini salad and a drink.

Sanchoku Bar SUPER Me Yoyogi VILLAGE

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm (L.O. 5:00 pm) *Tea time (Drinks and light meals only)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 3, Yoyogi Village Container, 1-28-9, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Map
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14. Tokyo Sundubu Shinjuku East Gate Branch

"Sundubu" is a delicious and healthy Korean dish quite popular in Japan as well, consisting basically of tofu cooked in a hot pot. This restaurant specializes in sundubu. Freshly made tofu is simmered with seasonal ingredients in a special secret soup and is served to each customer right in its one portion-sized hot pot; it is super nourishing and literally warms your heart! Here you can enjoy several sundubu variations (and if it's lunch time, they're also cheaper!): for example, [Clam Sundubu (930 JPY)] and [Mushroom Sundubu (980 JPY)].

Tokyo Sundubu Shinjuku East Gate Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Closed: None (Closed at the beginning and end of the year)
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Address: B1F, Daini Takano Bldg., 3-30-11, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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15. NAUGHTTI

This casual restaurant offers lots of different dishes based on Italian recipes that make good use of the ingredients. They use plenty of seasonal products, carefully selected and supplied from various areas in the outskirts of Tokyo, such as Karuizawa (known as one of the most representative summer resorts of Japan), Gunma, and Nagano. These dishes are not only delicious and beautifully arranged, but also healthy. For lunch, you may want to try [Jidori to Irodori Yasai no Tomato Sauce Arrabbiata-fu (1,000 JPY)] (Arrabiata-style tomato sauce with jidori (local chicken) and colourful vegetables) or [Salsiccia to Iroiro Kinoko no Corn no Shiroi Risotto (900 JPY)] (risotto with Italian sausage and assortment of mushrooms), although you'll find different dishes every week.

15. NAUGHTTI

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm)
[Saturday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm)
[Monday - Thursday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm, Drinks L.O. 11:30 pm)
[Friday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 12:00 am, Drinks L.O. 12:30 am)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY]
Address: B1F, Magna Kogyo Bldg., 1-31-13, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

The great thing about lunch menus is that you can savor their popular dishes at prices lower than in their dinner menu! Please go around and try out the food that these famous restaurants boast about!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.