I visited the student cafeteria at Tokyo Metropolitan University Nandaiwazawa Campus for lunch after being in the Nandaiwazawa and Tamasakai area for business. The cafeteria is located on the university grounds but can be used by the general public. However, unauthorized entry into the university grounds is not allowed, so entry procedures must be done at the security office. I arrived just before the lunch rush, so the cafeteria was not crowded. I chose the daily lunch set which included teriyaki chicken and a side dish. The teriyaki chicken was made with chicken thigh meat cut into pieces and cooked with BBQ sauce. It had a chewy texture and a slightly junky flavor. The side dish included zucchini and eggplant sautéed with a French dressing-like sauce. The spaghetti was thin noodles boiled and seasoned with salt, pepper, and a hint of garlic flavor. Overall, the food felt a bit too junky and the presentation was sloppy for a university cafeteria. I also tried the tomato jelly as a side dish, but it was basically tomato juice sweetened and solidified with gelatin. It was not bad, but I found it a bit choking. As more students started coming in at noon, I decided to leave as an outsider. One thing that bothered me was that there was only one small tong for picking up pickles, which could cause cross-contamination. This is not acceptable in my opinion.

Pork Cutlet Curry 440 yen, Healthy Salad with 15 Ingredients 66 yen, Soft-boiled Egg 66 yen. Total 572 yen. I want to go to university instead of work... haha, the inner voice of a foodie... Anyone who comes here would probably feel the same way, I think. This place is about a 5-minute walk from Minamiosawa Station on the Keio Line. The promenade leading from the station ticket gate to the outlet and university is fantastic. It seems like today is the end-of-term exams, so the campus is quiet. However, the cafeteria is open. Maybe that's why it's almost empty. You take a tray, choose side dishes, order the main dish verbally, and then pay at the end. You create your own set. The menu has a lot of options to choose from. I didn't hesitate at all. Pork Cutlet Curry: The curry is sweet, which I haven't had in a while. The pork cutlets are tender and delicious. I added a soft-boiled egg, which enhanced the flavor. Healthy Salad with 15 Ingredients: A small dish with a variety of healthy ingredients. Soft-boiled Egg: Not essential for the curry, but it added a nice touch to the meal. Both the curry and the egg were surprisingly affordable at 66 yen each. Students, enjoy your studies and affordable meals here! Bon appétit.

Today I had some business to attend to at Tokyo Metropolitan University and then visited the university cafeteria! The cafeteria here lists the energy (kcal) and salt content of the ordered items on the receipt. This is helpful and something that students appreciate. It's a great initiative by the university. And the best part is that it's affordable. The spicy miso ramen was authentic and delicious. The side dishes were also varied and plentiful. I definitely want to go back.

I went to the Minamiosawa Outlet and decided to eat at the cafeteria. The cafeteria was bright and clean, and there were elderly groups from the neighborhood, making it easy to use even from outside. I had the "Chicken Chan Yaki" for 302 yen and a small rice for 64 yen. The Chicken Chan Yaki was stir-fried with shredded cabbage, onions, and chicken in a soy sauce flavor. The taste was a bit strong, but it went well with the rice.

Cheap

Located next to Keio-Nanatsuzawa Station, the University of Tokyo is a spacious campus filled with greenery, making it a great place for a leisurely stroll while shopping. Although it is a relatively new university due to a merger of several municipal universities, the campus is clean and modern. There are no walls separating the campus from the outside, making it easily accessible and allowing the general public to use the dining facilities. Among the three dining options available, the Co-op cafeteria has the most typical university cafeteria atmosphere. You can pick up a tray at the entrance, order at the kitchen counter, choose your side dishes, and then pay at the register, following the typical university dining style. There are many dishes priced between 100-200 yen, with curry costing around 250 yen, making it very affordable. The curry, with its nostalgic sweet and thick sauce lacking in spice, is a comforting classic. While the dishes may be a bit bland overall, students will appreciate the ability to create a balanced meal by choosing from various menu options. Unlike the overpriced and crowded restaurants at the nearby outlet mall, this cafeteria is a hidden gem. It is open even on Saturdays, making it a convenient option for a meal in between shopping trips on the weekends.

On this day, I had some business at the University of Tokyo... From the name, it gives off an impression of being quite smart. The students around also seem to have a slightly different atmosphere compared to private universities. As time passed, it was lunchtime, and of course, I used the university cafeteria. I ordered the "Creamy Fried Chicken Bowl" (410 yen including tax). A unique feature is that the calories of the purchased dish are listed on the receipt! The portion size was normal for a rice bowl menu. When I tasted it... the sweet sauce matched well with the fried chicken, it's quite good! This is a nice combination, and it tastes really delicious. I also added some "Fried Dumplings" (I think it was 64 yen including tax) as an additional fried side dish. At this price, it was a satisfying dish. I finished everything... In the end, the calories for this meal were close to 900 kcal, so I overdid it a bit. Next time, I want to aim for a healthier menu (sweat). Thank you for the meal!

I visited the cafeteria located on the campus of the University of Tokyo at Minamiosawa, near the Mitsui Outlet Park. Initially, I was planning to make a reservation at the French restaurant "Le Vers en Verre" on campus, but my child suggested the cafeteria instead. Since it was a holiday and the opening hours were short, we arrived before 11:30 am and ordered the "Chicken Cutlet Curry (Large)" as soon as they opened. I didn't have high expectations for the taste, but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious. However, I made the mistake of ordering a large portion and ended up struggling to finish it towards the end. The cafeteria offers a wide variety of menu options, so you won't get bored. The prices are also very reasonable, with this meal costing less than 500 yen.

Just a short walk from Minamiosawa Station, if you head towards the outlet direction after exiting the ticket gate, you will find the Tokyo Metropolitan University Minamiosawa Campus. The lush green campus is located on a vast property, and on sunny days, you often see local residents enjoying a walk. The campus is often used for drama filming, and it has a nice atmosphere. There are two cafeterias on the campus, one near the student hall (close to the station) and one inside the cafeteria building (further from the station). This time, I visited the cafeteria near the student hall. The seating capacity is significantly larger in this cafeteria, and the menu is extensive. They offer fried foods, noodles, rice bowls, curry, cakes, salad bar, and various side dishes, so you won't get tired of coming here every day. They also have limited-time special menu items (they were having a Hokkaido Fair this time). I ordered Chicken Karaage (small size) for 273 yen, rice (small size) for 73 yen, and miso soup for 31 yen. You decide on your order at the entrance, then line up at the counter with a tray. Once you order, they serve you the already fried and kept warm Chicken Karaage on a plate, topped with sweet and salty Nanban sauce. There is a rice and miso soup corner a little ahead, so you can pick up your preferences and pay at the register. The total came to 377 yen, which is very affordable. Truly a student cafeteria! The taste was simply delicious. I was full, and for this price with this quality, there's nothing to complain about! I also decided to order a 100 yen cake. I chose the "Cappuccino" flavor from the 5-6 options available. The cake was also delicious, with a coffee flavor and almond slices as accents. It may not be an overwhelming feeling of happiness, but it's a small joy, isn't it? There was also a coffee machine in the center of the cafeteria (for a fee of around 100 yen), so you can use it as a substitute for a cafe. Tokyo Metropolitan University's library is available for anyone over 18 years old living or working in Tokyo, not just students. So you can take a leisurely walk around the campus, read a book at the library, and visit the cafeteria when you get hungry. It's a nice way to spend the day. **Correction made on March 19, 2011**: I mentioned that there are two cafeterias on the campus, but there are actually three. I apologize for forgetting to include the French restaurant "Le Vers en Verre Minamiosawa" at Tokyo Metropolitan University.