Toko Kitchen, a resident-only restaurant in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa serves 100 yen (USD$1) and 500 yen (USD$4.70) lunch and dinner. Catering to university students and apartments under the building management company, Toko Kitchen started as an initiative to draw the management and the residents under their care closer together, in addition to tackling rising rental costs and empty room rates.
Set meal on 8/3/2018 for 500 yen : Omurice with two side dishes and tonjiru (clear soup with pork. )
Thanks to food, communication happened naturally. The representative, Mr Ikeda, visits the canteen two to three times a week and takes this as an opportunity for the residents to give him feedback, then responds swiftly to their requests.
Set meal on 3/8/2018: Grilled Salmon with 2 sides, tonjiru (clear soup with pork) and rice.
The canteen has become a communal space, with students spend time writing reports at the canteen, and there are many repeat customers.
100 yen breakfast: Cabbage quiche with two side dishes, tonjiru (clear soup with pork) and rice.
As you can tell, the meals are nutritious and the kitchen owners use seasonal and local ingredients wherever they can. When asked if they are able to cover expenses when they’re charging such low prices, Mr Ikeda replies with a laugh that “The 100 yen breakfasts definitely make us go into the red.”
It seems that their residents love the food there as well. (Reviews are taken from their Facebook page.)
“While the price and taste of the food is great, what makes me most happy is the thought that was gone into the menu to make it healthy.”
“The hundred yen breakfast was really satisfying (emoji)”
“Food and price is great. The kitchen staff kindly explained the menu of the day. The interior of the canteen is very calming and allowed me to enjoy my meal.”
We’re 100% sold.