Japan 2012 - Japanese Food Halls

Eating in restaurants in Japan can be an expensive affair. A simple meal can easily cost over RM 50 per person, and more elaborate meals well over RM 100. One of the ways to have great food without bursting the budget is to head to a food hall. There is usually one at the basement of a departmental store. The popular ones are Mitsukoshi, Daimaru, Seibu, Hankyu, Isetan, etc.

This being Japan, most of what's on offer is Japanese cuisine.

Though some foreign intruders are making some inroads here. Fancy a lunch by the famous Paul Bocuse ?

Don't look down on the supermarket location, as the preparation is usually top notch. If you choose carefully, a meal here can taste as good as that in a high end restaurant - at a fraction of the cost. The only problem is at most of these places, there is a dearth of seating. Most of the patrons would buy the food and eat outside, which is great in good weather but a bit of a drag if not.