Chigine Korean Restaurant at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

A homely Korean diner in an Ikebukuro back alley, serving authentic home cooking and a 500-yen lunch.

Chigine is a compact Korean dining spot that opened in November 2013 down a back alley off Ikebukuro's 2-chome theatre street, run by a Japanese-Korean married couple. The master is famously sharp-tongued but warm and attentive, while the ajumma, who trained in the kitchens of several well-known restaurants, turns out genuinely authentic Korean home cooking. It is the sort of unassuming place that draws a steady local crowd seeking real flavour without the fuss. Lunch is famously gentle on the wallet, with one-coin options from 500 yen and a popular sundubu tofu jjigae whose deeply savoury clam broth and tender pork make it a cold-day favourite. In the evening, snacks start from around 290 yen alongside samgyetang, jjigae, chapchae and the signature samgyeopsal, plus drinks ranging from draft beer at 490 yen to Korean Hite and non-alcohol options. Service runs from 11:30 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 24:30, with counter seating, a non-smoking room and card or PayPay payment. With its blend of bargain pricing, honest cooking and a convivial host couple, Chigine has carved out a loyal following among Ikebukuro regulars. It suits anyone after an easygoing Korean meal, whether a quick solo lunch or a long, chatty dinner with friends. Drop in, settle onto a counter stool and let the kitchen take care of the rest; it is a little corner of Seoul tucked into Toshima.