Today, I’m showing you the $20 Feast Challenge at Saizeriya. This place is a Japanese legend. I’m talking crazy low prices, lightning-fast service, and hacks that turn budget food into a gourmet experience. Whether you’ve been here before or you’re planning your first trip—this is for you.
Let’s go inside!
What is “Saizeriya”?
Saizeriya was founded in Japan in 1968, and today they have over 1,700 locations worldwide — about 1,060 in Japan alone, with another 657 spread across China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and even Vietnam.
The concept is simple: authentic Italian-inspired food, made accessible to everyone, at prices that will genuinely make your jaw drop.
And today? We are here to see just how much food three people can order for twenty dollars each.
Let’s go.
How To Order
So here’s something I love about Saizeriya — they’ve really thought about accessibility.
You can order everything right from your table, either on a tablet system or by filling in a paper order sheet with a pencil. Super easy, no pressure.
And here’s a big one for international visitors: they have an English menu. So even if your Japanese is zero, you’re totally fine.
There is also a little spot-the-difference puzzle. Since children can enjoy it too, families with kids will have a great time going together.
Alright — let’s talk about what we’re actually eating today.
Evaluation: Speed of Food Service
I didn’t come alone today. I brought two of my friends along, because our mission is simple: order as much of the menu as possible, all for under twenty dollars.
Three people. Twenty bucks a head. Let’s see what we can do.
Order placed. And — timer starts now.
One thing people always talk about with Saizeriya is how fast the service is. I’ve seen people say their food arrives in under five minutes. Let’s see if that’s really true.
Drink Bar
While we wait, let’s talk about one of the greatest deals in Japan: the Saizeriya Drink Bar.
For just ¥200 — that’s about $1.30 — added on to your meal order, you get unlimited access to an entire beverage station. We’re talking soft drinks, multiple teas, hot coffee, and even a cappuccino machine that makes a surprisingly decent espresso-based drink.
Over 27 different drinks in total. For a dollar thirty.
I’ve paid more for a single bottle of water at an airport. This is insane.
Result: Speed of food service
And — stop!
Less than five minutes. I don’t know how they do it, but the kitchen at Saizeriya is on a completely different level. The food is fresh and it arrives at your table almost before you’ve finished deciding what to drink.
A delivery robot brought Food
Oh, and by the way — at some Saizeriya locations, your food isn’t brought by a human at all.
Meet BellaBot — the cat-faced delivery robot made by Pudu Robotics. Its little cat face lighting up with expressions, meowing at you when it arrives at your table.
Is it the most practical thing in the world? Honestly, maybe not. But is it absolutely adorable and very, very Japanese?
One hundred percent.
Wine is insanely cheap
Before we get to the food — we have to talk about the wine.
Because Saizeriya’s wine prices are genuinely one of the most shocking things about this place.
A glass of wine — red or white, 120ml — is ¥100. That’s 65 cents.
And if you’re feeling bold, a 1.5-liter magnum bottle — that’s basically two full bottles — is just ¥1,100, about $7.30.
They even carry real Italian varietals — Chianti, Lambrusco, Verdicchio — all starting at ¥1,100 a bottle. Saizeriya sources their wine directly from Italy, cutting out middlemen, which is exactly how they keep prices this low.
As for the taste, honestly, it’s drinkable. But being able to drink alcohol at this price is shocking. If you want to enjoy cheap, tasty wine, I recommend convenience store wine.
Let’s start the Feast
Cocktail Shrimp Salad
Alright — food time. First up, the Cocktail Shrimp Salad — ko-ebi no salada.
¥350, about $2.30.
This is one of Saizeriya’s most consistently ordered items, and you can see why. Crispy, crunchy lettuce piled with plump, sweet little shrimp, all tossed in Saizeriya’s signature tangy house dressing.
It’s refreshing, it’s clean, and it’s the kind of salad that gets you ready to eat. The shrimp was boiled and it was too soft, but the lettuce was so fresh.
Escargot au Gratin
Next — and this is the one that surprises everyone — Escargot au Gratin.
¥400. $2.65.
Yes. Escargot. At a budget chain restaurant. For two dollars and sixty-five cents.
At a proper French bistro, you’d be paying five to ten times this price. But here at Saizeriya, it’s one of their most iconic signature dishes — with six snails, each nestled in a little well, baked in fragrant fermented butter and garlic oil.
If you’ve never had escargot before, It’s like, the flavor is closer to a clam or a mussel than anything weird — meaty, mild, and completely dominated by that incredible garlic butter sauce.
It’s one of those dishes where you genuinely can’t believe the price tag.
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See What’s Inside the Guidebook →Spicy Chicken
Okay, this one. This one.
The Spicy Chicken — karamichikin. ¥300, about $2 even.
This is Saizeriya’s single best-selling menu item. Out of hundreds of things on the menu, this little dish consistently lands at the top.
The name says “spicy” but it’s actually quite mild. Think more tangy and savory than genuinely hot.
Hack for Spicy chicken
There’s a little hack for this.
Eating meat on the bone can be a bit of a hassle, right? When that happens, just grab the end of this chicken, clamp down with your teeth, and pull—you can eat the whole thing in one go. Nothing beats the happiness of stuffing your cheeks with juicy meat in a single bite.
Tarako Pasta — Sicilian Style
Moving on to pasta — and we’re starting with something you won’t find on an Italian menu in Italy.
This is the Tarako Sauce Sicilian Style — tarako sōsu shishirī-fū. ¥400, about $2.65.
Tarako is salted cod roe — the same family as mentaiko — and Saizeriya takes it and turns it into a creamy, buttery pasta sauce.
This is what I call Japanese-Italian fusion before that was even a phrase. The pasta itself feels like a budget item, but the sauce is delicious, so it’s easy on the wallet and enjoyable.
Milano-style Doria
And now — the most important dish at Saizeriya. Possibly the most iconic dish in all of Japanese fast casual dining.
The Milano-style Doria. Mirano-fū doria. ¥300. Two dollars.
This is Saizeriya’s all-time, undisputed number one seller. A doria is a Japanese-style rice gratin — and this one is a masterpiece of simplicity. Turmeric-colored rice on the bottom, then a layer of béchamel white sauce, then a layer of meat sauce, layer of melted cheese on top.
This has been on the Saizeriya menu for decades, the price has barely moved, and it still consistently outsells everything else.
Chicken Diavola
Let’s step it up a notch.
The Chicken Diavola — waka tori no deiabora-fū. ¥500, about $3.30.
Inspired by Italy’s traditional “Diavola-style,” this vegetable sauce offers a refreshingly healthy taste. A special soy sauce-based garum sauce is drizzled on top for an aromatic finish.
For context: a chicken dish like this at most sit-down restaurants would run you $12-15 minimum. Here? $3.30.
Squid Ink Sepia Sauce Pasta
This one is a conversation starter.
Squid Ink Sepia Sauce Pasta — ika no sumi-iri sepia sōsu. ¥500, about $3.30.
The pasta itself is loaded with tender pieces of squid, and every bite has this complex oceanic depth that you just don’t expect from a restaurant at this price point.
It was a bit oily, but the charm of Saizeriya is that you can enjoy unique dishes like this at low prices, making the dining experience itself more enjoyable than just the taste.
Hack for Escargot
Okay, here’s a hack again.
Personally, pairing escargot with its sauce in this pasta elevates it into a more complex and punchy dish. Ordering focaccia to dip in this sauce is also a classic way to enjoy it.
Free Seasoning Corner
One more thing before we get to dessert — take a look at the seasoning station.
Saizeriya provides free condiments at your table or at a self-serve counter: Tabasco, salt, black pepper, and olive oil.
It’s a small detail, but it says a lot about the Saizeriya philosophy: they want you to customize, enjoy, and make the food your own.
Cinnamon Focaccia
First up — Milk gelato & Focaccia with Cinnamon sugar. Shinamon fokkacchio. ¥450, about $2.80.
The warmth of the bread activates the cinnamon in a way that fills the entire table with this incredible fragrance. The outside has a gentle crisp, the inside is soft and pillowy, and when eaten together with gelato, it’s pure bliss.
Italian Pudding & Tiramisu
Now — the Italian Pudding and Tiramisu. ¥500, about $3.20.
And here’s a fact that makes this even more impressive: this pudding is directly imported from Italy. It’s denser, richer, more eggy in the best possible way. This is consistently ranked the #1 dessert at Saizeriya by fans.
And — Tiramisu Classico.
It’s the kind of tiramisu that feels properly Italian — not overly sweet, with a genuine coffee bitterness that keeps you coming back spoonful after spoonful. For this price, getting authentic imported Italian desserts is insane.
Check the bill
Okay — the moment of truth. Let’s pay up.
Three people. All of those dishes. Wines. Unlimited drinks. Everything.
Total: 4,100 yen, $26.40. We went a bit over $20, but all three of us were full and satisfied, so it came out to about $9 per person. That’s crazy. I genuinely don’t know how Saizeriya does this.
💰 Price Summary
| MENU | PRICE(including tax) | USD（¥150=$1） |
| Drink Bar | ¥200 | ~$1.30 |
| Glass of wine（120ml） | ¥100 | ~$0.65 |
| Decanter wine 250ml | ¥200 | ~$1.30 |
| Decanter wine 500ml | ¥400 | ~$2.65 |
| Magnum 1500ml | ¥1,100 | ~$7.30 |
| Shrimp Salad | ¥350 | ~$2.30 |
| Escargot au Gratin | ¥400 | ~$2.65 |
| Spicy Chicken | ¥300 | ~$2.00 |
| Tarako Pasta – Sicilian Style | ¥400 | ~$2.65 |
| Milano-style Doria | ¥300 | ~$2.00 |
| Chicken Diavola | ¥500 | ~$3.30 |
| Squid Ink Pasta | ¥500 | ~$3.30 |
| Cinnamon Focaccia | ¥200 | ~$1.30 |
| Italian Pudding | ¥250 | ~$1.65 |
| Tiramisu Classico | ¥300 | ~$2.00 |
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