Shabuzen

Enjoying lunch at Shabuzen's counter

Matt Woodward

One of the cheap places in Ginza.

I's not only cheap, it's good. Place an order, the entire team shouts it back. Shabuzen (Shabusen?) has a nice atmosphere, is very clean (in Japan, everything is clean, isn't it?), the food is good and the waitstaff, despite the language barrier will help you through the formidable process of having Shabu-Shabu for the first time.

Meat. Boiling Water. Cook it. For extra credit, they'll help you make some brothy soup.

If you're lost in Ginza and you can find this place (it is hidden at the top of a building with shopping, but there's also an alley entrance with stairs), you can get lunch for a song.