Kichijoji (吉祥寺) is a lovely little neighborhood on the West side of Tokyo, situated on the Chuo, Sobu and Inokashira lines. It’s a refreshing break from the business-oriented madness of downtown Tokyo and boasts a truly bewildering range of amenities, labyrinthine shopping malls, FIVE STARBUCKS and one of the best parks in Tokyo. With so much shopping, nature and bemusement abound, you’re likely going to want to save your money for little trinkets and fashion goodies, or even Inokashira Zoo. Fortunately there are a couple delicious AND cheapo options for a top lunch in Kichijoji.
Stamina Ramen Nobu Chan (スタミナラーメンのぶちゃん)
A little bit north-east of the Sun Road shopping arcade, this old-school ramen place is a hidden gem if you like a hearty, tasty ramen that doesn’t leave you feeling like a Blues Brothers stuntman. For 500 yen there’s a disarming array of dishes on sale, including Curry ramen（カレーラメン), Sapporo Ramen (サッポロ）and Wantan-men (ワンタンメン). Our Cheapo recommendation is the Wantan-men, a shouyu-based ramen with a kind of soft pork dumpling on top.
The decor isn’t the brightest and most of the Japanese reviewers say it’s a bit of a locals’ place and so they reckon it a bit stuffy and unfashionable, but hey, you’re a drifter, rolling in and hightailing it outta there riding the stallion of financial justice… it ain’t no thang.
Garage 50
Garage 50 is nestled amidst the back alleys on the north side of town. The concept of this place is rather delightful, the owner of the family-run business has cut the roof off a VW camper and fashioned it into a little kitchen where he crafts some seriously gorgeous pizzas, all for 500 yen! It’s a very chilled place with a minimalist, retro decor and a warm ambiance. You often hear some great music here, the Roman style thin-crust pizza is always fresh and you can get take out if you wanna eat elsewhere…. supporting a local, family-run business has never been cooler! *Closed on Mondays
