Lunch

Lunch sets are available, usually as one of the best deals going. The lunch set, called Teishoku, business luch, service lunch, daily Teishoku, or lunch, changes every day (600 - 900 yen depending on selection). Teishoku usually includes some kind of meat, fish or seafood, rice, miso soup and a small salad and often comes with coffee or tea.

Lunch and dinner selections do not vary greatly in a given restaurant, but the price of lunch is generally about half that of dinner and the amount of food is less.

Other dishes eaten for lunch inclide noodles and Donburi (one-bowl dishes). These are explained below. Lunch sets are the fastest way to eat the noon meal. Noodles and donburi are cheap and filling, typically 400 - 650 yen.

Shokudo

This is fast, convenient style of eating establishment somewhat resembles a cafeteria by Western standards. The food is already prepared and need only be heated in a microwave oven. the prices are quite reasonable and the service is very fast. Some Western style foods are available and lunch sets (teishoku) and noodles may also be ordered. Usually open fro lunch and early dinner.

Soba
These noodles are made of buckwheat flour. Recipes usuing soba vary according to the season. Zarusoba, cold noodles with a side dish of dipping sauce, is served in the summer for a refreshing lunch. However, soba is usually served hot, with broth, green onions, and other ingredients.
- zarusoba
  plain soba with a dipping sauce
  tenzaru
  zarusoba with tenpura on the side
  kitsune soba
  soba with fried bean curd and green onions in broth
  tenpura soba
  soba with tenpura in broth
  
  soba with raw egg on top in broth
Udon
Udon noodles (made of wheat flour) are thicker than soba and generally cooked to a fairly soft, almost mushy consistency. Like soba, they are served in a bowl with broth. Often aburaage (fried bean curd) is added along with green onions. A hot spice called shichimi (seven spices) is served with the udon.
- nabeyaki udon
  udon with vegetables, egg, and udon cooked in an earthenware pot.
  kitsune udon
  udon with fried bean curd and green onions in broth.
  tenpura udon
  udon with tenpura in broth.
  niku udon
  udon with beef slices and vegetables in broth.
Ramen or Chukasoba
This is probably the most popular kind of noodles in Japan and is often eaten in the wee hours of the morning because ramen shops are some of the few still open. Ramen is noodles served with broth to which chashu (roast pork) and green onions are usually added. All three kinds of noodle dishes are very reasonable in price and are especially popular for lunch or a quick meal.

Donburi
The word donburi literally means "bowl" and donburi is always served in a deep bowl. Being enexpensive and very satisfying, it enjoys a tremendous popularity in Japan. Donburi is a bowl of rice, flavored with broth, with sliced onions and tenpura, meat or egg placed on top.

katsudon
pork cutlet on rice
oyakodon
chicken and egg on rice
gyudon
beef on rice
tendon
tenpura on rice
tamagodon
egg only on rice

Curry
Curry rice is one of the cheapest and most popular lunches in Japan, especially among children, and quite filling. Various curry dishes are served including the following:

bifu kare
beef curry
chikin kare
chicken curry
katsu kare
cutlet curry
shifudo kare
seafood curry
yasai kare
vegetable curry
dorai kare
dry curry (curry powder with rice - somewhat resembles pilaf)

Okonomiyaki
This local favorite resembles a pie in some respects, but is actually unique. A thin plate -sized pancake made of flour and water is first fried on a grill. Soba, cabbage, bean sprouts, bits of tempura, egg and pork, shrimp or squid are piled on top. After cooking, tiny flakes of nori (seaweed) and a special thick sauce are spread over the top. More than enough for one meal, okonomiyaki is especially popular in Hiroshima where it is made in a special way unique to the area. It is eaten directly from the grill with a small spatula.