One of my favorite budget-friendly Japanese chain restaurants is Ootoya. This is a go-to for those who want to enjoy comforting Japanese teishoku (meal sets) and seasonal dishes. Teishoku typically includes a main dish (usually meat or fish), a bowl of rice, miso soup, and some pickled veggies.
I highly recommend trying the “kaasan-ni”, which has been one of Ootoya’s signature dishes since it started business in 1958. It features crispy, deep-fried chicken smothered in a special umami-rich sauce. The mildly sweet flavor of the sauce perfectly complements the chicken’s salty breading. Priced at just under 1,000 yen, it’s an affordable, hearty and nourishing meal.
Ootoya: https://www.ootoya.com/