Roppongi and neighbouring Nishi-Azabu may not be known for their wealth of cheap eats, but head into the backstreets and you may be rewarded. Just across from the Ghanaian embassy you'll find this little chuka-inspired place that does amazingly good-value lunches – and not just compared to its flashy surroundings. Everything on their menu is a mere ¥500 (tax included), with portion sizes being disproportionately big for the price.
On top of that, whatever set lunch you go for, the amount of vegetables involved is quite staggering: most cheaper lunch options in town tend to start skimping in that category to keep costs down. Even their shogayaki, often served without any veg elsewhere, comes with a mountain of beansprouts, while their chicken and vegetables in chilli sauce is low-key comfort food with a surprising amount of chicken involved. We were secretly eyeing our neighbour's mabo dofu donburi too – that one a massive bowl topped with a scrumptuous layer of spicy tofu.
The menu (all in Japanese) is displayed on the walls, water is served in technicoloured plastic cups, some old Disney pictures adorn the walls near the kitchen, and the woman in charge is friendly but firm in her ways. Nanaban may not be fancy, but that's exactly its charm; grab a seat at the counter, order, pay your ¥500 before you receive your food and tuck in. Just get out as soon as you’re done – this is not the place to linger over your empty plate.