Originally Posted by
cardesigner2000
There is no shortage of low to mid range restaurants everywhere in Tokyo and the majority serve very tasty food. If you're on a budget, the key is to take advantage of the lunch specials, where you could try a meal at a high end restaurant for as little as $25. For dinner you could then have simpler meals at a noodle shop or curry place for under $10. It's actually snacks and drinks during the day that easily add $5 here and there to your budget. The top floors of department stores usually have mid range reataurants with displays of the food on offer from tonkatsu to western food.
Not necessarily on a budget, but I don't want to spend my time waiting in line or spending $100-200 per person unless it is something unique. And, I am sure there are many outstanding restaurants besides the ones on the Michelin list.
But, yes, I think I will begin with the department stores, and if I find someplace that interests me I might give it a try. What I don't want to do on my first trip is to spend time finding restaurants on the map and wait in line and lose precise time doing other activities and visiting sites during my stay.