Eating affordably in Japan is exceptionally easy due to the abundance of high-quality, low-cost dining options. The cheapest and most satisfying meals include gyudon (beef bowls) from nationwide chains like Yoshinoya or Matsuya, ready-to-eat bento boxes and onigiri (rice balls) from convenience stores like 7-Eleven or Lawson, and bowls of udon or soba noodles from fast-casual station eateries, usually costing just a few US dollars.