If you’re a little short on money, why not take a break from fine-dining restaurants and grab yourself a cheap sushi feed in Kyoto!
Sushi is just one of those things that everyone loves, perhaps the most iconic food that just speaks “Japan.” Sadly, sushi is often an expensive treat, but there are some places here in Kyoto where you can get cheap sushi that actually use quality ingredients and tastes amazing!
Kura Sushi
Kura Sushi is a popular chain restaurant that can be found all over Japan, most commonly in the big three cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Their plates typically cost 100–150 yen, and they offer a full spectrum of sushi from nigiri to rolls and even side dishes and desserts!
I often hit up the branch in Kyoto’s Fushimi district for lunch and would spend around 1,000 yen, which is enough to fill me up.
Fresco
Restaurants aren’t the only way to enjoy quality sushi in Japan, for there is an abundance of options at the deli section of your local supermarkets and combinis.
Fresco is Japan’s 24-hour supermarket that offers a wide range of ready-to-eat sushi packs in addition to your standard Japanese grocery items.
A large pack like this with over 20 pieces of sushi is only about 1,500 yen and comes with fresh salmon sashimi ingredients.
Hama Sushi
Hama Sushi is another amazing restaurant chain in Japan which is around the same price range as its competitor Kura Sushi.
They have a different vibe to other sushi trains and specialize in flame-grilled toppings such as salmon, tuna, egg, cheese, and more!
Hama Sushi also provides the biggest range of soy sauce options of any restaurant I’ve been to in Japan, including Kyushu-style, Kansai-style, and ponzu (citrus-flavored) soy sauce.
Sushiro
Sushiro was once the king of all cheap Japanese sushi stores, though the market has certainly become more competitive in recent times.
However, that doesn’t mean Sushiro is going anywhere, and they’ve done an incredible job of staying relevant with their signature nigiri sushi that rivals the prices of Kura Sushi.
Personally, I think Sushiro has the best maguro (tuna sashimi) nigiri in the world of cheap sushi chains in Japan.
Izumiya
Izumiya is easily the best supermarket for higher grade deli meals in Japan as far as I’m concerned.
Their prices are still very affordable, though definitely a notch above Fresco, but then, so is the quality!
Izumiya’s chutoro (tuna belly) sushi rolls are the highest quality of sushi I’ve had from any supermarket in Japan and the world, and it doesn’t cost a fortune!
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