Japan: Cheap Eats in an Expensive Country
January 22, 2005

Washington Post Bureau Chief and commentator T. R. Reid says Americans tend to think Japan is ridiculously expensive, and it is. But you can eat there inexpensively and well; in fact, a lot of restaurants in Japan (that Americans probably never visit) are cheaper, not to mention healthier and tastier, than McDonald's. T. R. says to keep the following in mind for good eats at a good price:

Ramen and Gyoza: This noodle soup and fried dumplings combo is the Asian version of a burger and fries. When done right it is marvelous.

Okonomiyaki: Sometimes called "Japanese pizza," it's neither Japanese nor pizza. It's a Chinese pancake that's cheap and delicious.

Umeboshi Onigiri: A pickled plum inside a ball of rice that's wrapped in seaweed is heavenly. Two of them make a good lunch for about 90 cents each.

Kai-Ten-Zushi: This is a sushi bar where service efficiencies have been instituted to cut costs. Various kinds of sushi go around the bar on a conveyor belt. You grab the plate(s) you want as it goes by. When you're finished, a clerk counts up your empty plates, multiplies by 100 yen and that's your bill. The green tea is free, as is the ginger. These places can be really fun and lively and delicious, too, if you choose wisely. It's nearly impossible to spend more than $12.00 in one of these places; that's about one tenth the price of a high-end sushi bar.

Kombini: This is Japanese for "convenience store." But unlike those in the United States, the kombini in Japan have fresh, tasty food delivered 24 hours a day.

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