Trust me, I know that money is tight these days and yes it can be a better idea to eat at home considering the putrid food and service that you can receive when you dine out.
It is tough being a "trust fund kid" so being a savvy consumer with a 5 figure a month allowance, I too have learned to budget.
Anyway, I have been going to the Kokoro restaurants out here forever.

Basically, it is a bowl of white rice with seasoned strips of beef like strips of bacon that will melt in your mouth.
For additional spices, they have Pickled Ginger, (love it) Soy Sauce (of course) and a Red Pepper Spice Blend.
"Tis a very filling meal.
Usually I have to take some home and for those in more depressed states such as Ohio and Oklahoma where some of my friends reside, I have highly suggest these places!
Now, I can't recommend a wine to go with this meal but a Coke works for me.
Maybe a nice 1000 dollar bottle of Shiraz for the wine?
These places are pretty much everywhere and as the M3C food critic, you must give these places a try.
For myself and my date, it only cost around 12 bucks plus the tip.