Inexpensive pizzas and pastas in a very casual setting around big central tables. The attached NYK Cafe serves up coffee and drinks, including several French wines by the glass.

Although they're not our favorite oyster bar in Tokyo, Grand Central does offer an impressively big selection of oysters from all over. There's also a large, varied wine list (heavy on the whites,...

In keeping with the New York theme of Shinagawa Atre, this budget Italian restaurant is fashioned after a restaurant in New York's Little Italy. The menu features reasonably priced pastas, some...

If Shinagawa Atre were a hotel this would be the "lobby lounge" - definitely not the place for a discreet rendezvous. And while it may not be destination dining, it's worth knowing about for its big...

A popular jazz bar with live music every night.

"Since 1930 Ginza" claims the sign, and they still offer the same nostalgic faux-Western yoshoku specialties like hamburg steaks, cabbage rolls and scallop cream croquettes, for an inexpensive trip...

This sprawling after-work izakaya specializes in charcoal-grilled chicken and fish, plus regional dishes and drinks (sake, shochu) from Niigata. Budget around Y4000-5000 at dinnertime. No lunch on...

This chain of upscale izakaya (which also runs Megu in New York) is popular for their good food and lively, stylish decor. A specialty of the house is their charcoal-grilled meats and vegetables on...

Country-style fare - soba, natto, and tofu dishes, and an intriguing sansai (mountain vegetable) full-course dinner at Y3500, along with sake from Niigata (six different kinds of Kubota!).

This long-established izakaya mini-chain serves excellent Kyushu cuisine and a good assortment of sake and shochu from the southern island. Budget around Y4000-5000 for dinner with drinks. No lunch...

A branch of a popular Italian place in Hiroo and Ebisu, it sports a nicely tiled wood-burning pizza oven and a pleasant ground-floor view looking out onto the plaza.

Fresh, skillfully prepared tempura at friendly prices.

Coffee, wireless internet access and good food from the popular Wired Cafe chain. Open from 11am weekends.

Coffee, wireless internet access and good food from the popular Wired Cafe chain.

This small chain of French brasserie-cafes is popular for their authentic food and atmosphere. The cafe serves simple dishes like omelettes and salads all day long, while the brasserie has more...

Good-quality budget Italian, nice-size portions and a decent wine selection are the draws here.

Perched on the tweny-eighth floor atop the Seafort Square complex, Tennoz offers a lovely bayside view along with top-quality steaks. A steak lunch is Y2800, and dinners, which range from Y9,000 to...

A very casual Italian cafe where you can find wines by the glass (from Y500) along with simple fare like salamis, grilled chicken and organic vegetable salads.

This bayside brewpub features some of the most exciting food in town - well-centered modern American cuisine drawing from European, middle Eastern and Asian influences. Service is attentive but...

Luxuriously spacious and modern in feel, this combination bakery-cafe is a comfortable place to relax with a coffee and pastry, or a quiche, cup of soup and salad. There's also a bit of outdoor...

A casual "tea house" serving Chinese teas, herb teas, and several varieties of iced tea along with light snacks. Tea time runs from 2-5pm, but if you're hungry you can take advantage of Doichan's...

Hawaiian-style hamburgers and sandwiches, plus microbrews from Kona Brewing Company.

Akita Prefecture is famous for its excellent sake, but its regional cuisine isn't as widely known. Wattaribozu, a cozy little basement izakaya near Gotanda Station, is a great place to explore both...

Excellent, authentically spicy Szechuan cuisine that doesn't compromise on flavor. Some menu highlights include shoronpo dumplings filled with a tasty soup; smoked duck; very peppery mabo-dofu;...

Located next to Gotanda Station, this branch of the ubiquitous cafe chain offers inexpensive dishes like sandwiches, salads, pastas and pizzas as well as coffee, tea and cocktails. There's plenty of...

Coffee, drinks, music-listening stations and free wi-fi access. Lunch is served until 3pm.

This branch of the vegetable-oriented chain specializes in vegetable shabu-shabu (minimum order for two people), to which you can add various vegetable side dishes (including several meaty items). ...

Pizzas, pastas and grilled meats along with reasonably priced Italian wines; budget around Y4000 for dinner.

Very authentic South American cooking - the spicy, garlicky shrimp soup (with rice and green peas) was amazing, and the Aji de Gallina (stewed chicken) is definitely worth a try. Spanish-language...

American West coast-style burgers and sandwiches, with delivery service and a pleasant outdoor patio.

Manuel Churrascaria serves northern Portugal-style charcoal-grilled dishes - pork, chicken and seafood - along with other traditional Portuguese cuisine. The restaurant itself is very cozy, seating...

Somehow Yum Yum feels like it's the best restaurant in some small provincial town. Maybe it's the big parking lot, or the conservatively decorated multiple dining rooms, or the silly,...

Spectacular traditional French cooking, rich sauces, with nothing light or nouveau about it. Prepare for a serious meal.