Tokyo $10 Food Challenge: 4 Tsukiji Specialties Brimming with Japanese Culinary Expertise

Chuka Soba Tsukiji Wakaba: A Simple Flavor Suitable for Breakfast! (900 yen)

Ramen is one of Japan’s most internationally known foods. While ramen did indeed originate in China, it has developed its own unique identity within Japan, becoming highly regarded as one of the country’s culinary specialties.

Among the many ramen establishments in Tsukiji, Chuka Soba Tsukiji Wakaba is a highly recommended spot. This restaurant has been in business for 70 years and continues to serve those working in and around the Tsukiji Outer Market.

The menu is simple, featuring only Chuka Soba (or Chinese-style Soba) at 900 yen, tax included. The noodles are boiled by the shop owner the moment an order is placed. Technically speaking, there’s no strict distinction between Chinese soba and ramen. It’s widely believed that the term “ramen” was introduced to distinguish these noodles from traditional Japanese soba, leading to a change in terminology with the times.

The standing style of eating adds to the restaurant’s charm. There are several tables set up at the front of the restaurant, so once you receive your food at the counter, you can carry it over yourself.

The meal is ready in no time! It’s an ideal spot to drop by for a quick meal on busy mornings, before work, or before sightseeing.

One sip of the broth reveals a gentle soy sauce flavor. While pork bone and other varieties of ramen broth are available internationally, this simple soy sauce ramen can only be found in Japan. The thin, smooth noodles complement the soup impeccably, while the chashu pork is light and tender with little fat.

“I don’t have anything particular in mind. I just want my customers to be happy with their food,” smiles friendly shop owner Mr. Wakabayashi. His tender dishes perfectly reflect his kindness in preparation. It’s an ideal breakfast ramen that will warm you up, body and soul.

Tsukiji Soratsuki’s Strawberry Milky Soft Cream: Cute in Style, Authentic in Taste! (650 yen)

Tsukiji Soratsuki stands out amidst the myriad of food shops in the Tsukiji area, abundant in dishes of seafood, meat, produce, egg omelets, and rice. Its prominent strawberry sculpture beckons passersby, inviting them to stop by. The store boasts a variety of strawberry-related products and fruit items, such as Strawberry Daifuku.

Tsukiji retains its strong association with seafood, having been home to one of the largest fish markets in the world. The Strawberry Daifuku was born from the owner’s earnest desire to create a souvenir treat that could easily be taken home at room temperature, needing no refrigeration or freezing. Not only are strawberries some of the most popular fruits, but they’re also the owner’s favorite, which is why he has chosen to convey the charm of these berries in various ways, most notably through his shop dedicated to strawberry sweets.

All of Soratsuki’s strawberry sweets brilliantly capture the allure of this fruit. Adorned with strawberries as the main attraction, these treats are not only visually appealing, they boast the delightful aroma and freshness of fresh fruit, offering a delightful experience for both the eyes and palate.

The shop also offers take-out sweets like Strawberry Milky Soft and Strawberry Smoothie Soft, which have grown in popularity thanks to numerous social media posts, both domestic and international. This has lead to inevitable queues, especially during lunchtime hours on weekends and holidays.

Here we’d like to introduce the visually striking Strawberry Milky Soft Cream (650 yen, tax included). This delicious treat combines the flavors of vanilla and strawberry, resulting in the shop’s most popular soft serve ice cream.

Topped with juicy, fresh strawberries, this milk-based soft-serve is perfectly balanced in sweetness, and just as delicious on its own. The red strawberry ice cream is a rich sorbet with a good balance of sweetness and tartness, as if fresh strawberries had been crushed directly into every scoop.

Its refreshing sweetness sets it apart from other Tsukiji food options, making it an ideal palate cleanser or after-dinner dessert. Even with a full stomach, we finished ours up in no time.

While there are no tables and chairs inside the restaurant, it does offer an eat-in space at the back with a counter, providing a cozy refuge from the wind and rain. We recommend enjoying your meal in this comfortable space.

Tsukiji-Shouro’s Shouro Sandwich: A Gem Born from Workers’ Meals (600 yen)

Tsukiji Shouro is a long-established tamagoyaki (omelet) shop founded in the Taisho Era (1912-1926). It has specialized in supplying tamagoyaki, primarily to sushi restaurants, for a long time. The secret to tamagoyaki that tastes great even when served cold is the dashi broth. While hot omelets can be found all over the world, cold tamagoyaki seasoned with dashi is a distinctive feature of Japanese cuisine.

Their most popular dish is the Shouro Omelet (one size). There’s also the Shouro Sandwich (600 yen, tax included), featuring tamagoyaki between two slices of bread. This dish originated as a side dish at the shop, thanks to a previous shop owner’s suggestion to serve the omelet with bread instead of rice like you would with sushi.

As you can see from the photo, the Shouro Sandwich is quite hearty in volume!

This soft, slightly sweet bread carries a distinct Japanese taste, and is so substantial you can feel its weight in your hand. The thick omelet, infused with a generous amount of dashi broth, is cold yet juicy. It’s vastly different from the typical egg sandwiches made with boiled eggs, a gourmet dish with a distinctly Japanese flavor.

While being a long-established business, Tsukiji Shouro’s appeal lies in its continuous innovation to meet both modern demands and customer preferences with its diverse array of products.

The Milkshake seen here (350 yen, tax included) is one such item, often ordered by famous celebrities for photo shoots. These milkshakes, not overly sweet but rich in eggy flavor, may redefine your perception of traditional shakes. They also pair excellently with the Shouro Sandwich, so be sure to try them out for yourself!

Tsukiji Sushitomi Sushi Rolls: A Terrific Tuna Lunchtime Special (990 yen)

Visiting Tsukiji practically goes hand-in-hand with eating sushi, and one of the best sushi shops in the area is Tsukiji Suzutomi Sushitomi, an authentic Edomae-style sushi shop operated by Suzutomi, a Toyosu wholesaler specializing in tuna.

Amidst Japan’s surging prices, the special Nigiri Menu, which includes seven pieces of nigiri plus sushi rolls, is priced at 990 yen per person and is available for lunch on weekdays only (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays). For a heartier option, a 1.5 serving is also available at the great price of 1480 yen (lunch includes miso soup).

The cozy size of the restaurant feels homey and intimate (with upstairs seating also available).

Dining at the counter is also a wonderful experience, where you can watch as the chefs prepare the meal right before your eyes, offering the same satisfaction you’d get from dining at a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant.

The chef immediately begins prepping the sushi right in front of us. Manager Tachibana, a craftsman with over 30 years of experience, shares, “It’s enjoyable to interact with customers and see their reactions up close!”

“The key to sushi lies not only in the crafting technique but in the careful preparation of the ingredients,” emphasizes Tachibana. The craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail throughout the sushi-making process are perhaps one reason why Japanese sushi is loved so much worldwide.

With skilled handwork, the weekday lunch-exclusive nigiri for one is ready in no time.

We start with the main course: tuna, with a divinely radiant red hue. The type of tuna varies by day but is consistently naturally sourced, not farmed. The tuna served on the day of our visit was from India, with a delightfully plump texture, and the distinct flavor and sweetness characteristic of fresh, non-frozen, natural tuna. The seaweed’s flavor also adds a tasty touch to the meal.

Not only are the weekday lunches unbeatable, but the holiday and evening menus are also reasonably priced. The Sushi-tomaki is a thick roll filled with tuna, while the Zuke-don is a tuna-topped rice bowl. All dishes are reasonably priced and rich in the volume, freshness, and taste characteristic of wholesale tuna, ensuring a unique and enjoyable sushi experience that you won’t find anywhere else.

Many of the regulars are business people who work in the area, which often equates to long lines at lunchtime. However, turnover is relatively quick, so we recommend hanging in there and jumping in line anyway!

Take a Gourmet Tour in the Lively, Friendly Tsukiji!

Image: PIXTA

Tsukiji is brimming with life and hospitality, with all kinds of gourmet shops that we highly recommend checking out. And despite its relocation, the Tsukiji area is as lively as ever, if not more so. Here, you’ll discover an eclectic mix of restaurants, from longstanding establishments steeped in history to those featuring innovative concepts while preserving the original market vibe.

So take advantage of this opportunity and indulge in the freshness and quality of Tsukiji’s delicacies and some of Japan’s finest, all for a budget-friendly $10.

*All prices and information as of September 2023.
Translated by Krys Suzuki

Written by:

Miyu Shimada

Miyu is a travel writer and tour conductor with over a decade of experience in developing educational content for working individuals. She has a passion for exploring new cultures and has visited more than 150 cities in around 50 countries. Her goal is to sample great food, experience nature, enjoy historical sites, and bathe in hot springs around the world. Miyu left her corporate job to pursue her passion for travel and now spends over 100 days a year abroad while working as a writer. She promotes the joy of travel, the beauty of Japan, and the diverse cultures of the world by traveling to different parts of Japan and collaborating with inbound tour operators and fellow travel writers. On X/Twitter: @myuu_works.