Best Budget Sushi Restaurants In Tokyo

Above, Sushizanmai's Asakusa restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like anything else anywhere in the world, there are pricey restaurants and budget restaurants in Tokyo.

But one doesn't have to a Michelin-rated Tokyo sushi restaurant to get a good meal. There are plenty of budget sushi restaurants to partake at.

Time Out Tokyo has listed several they consider to be the best.

They start with:

Tokyo is a foodie paradise, where you can enjoy a wide variety of mouth-watering Japanese food from tonkatsu and yakitori to soba and udon. And the great thing about eating sushi in the capital is that this world-famous delicacy can be found in a range of price points. From pricey Michelin-starred omakase sets to cheap standing eateries and everything in between, there are many ways to enjoy a quality sushi meal in the capital. You can even combine a visit to the Toyosu Market with a sushi meal after catching the tuna auction.  

Regardless of the sushi joint you pick, you can be rest assured that budget sushi doesn't always mean that the quality is compromised. Head to a kaitenzushi or conveyor-belt sushi joint, where a decent serving usually starts from as cheap as ¥80. Standing sushi bars are also a good option, where you can order fresh sushi directly from the chefs behind the counter for just a couple of hundred yen per plate. At prices this reasonable, best start loosening your belt for an unforgettable sushi feast in the city. 

One of my favorites in Tokyo is Sushizanmai. I have been to two of their locations, Tsukiji and Asakusa. Even though they aren't listed, I still recommend Sushizanmai.

To read more, go here. 

The Travel: 10 Best Sushi Joints In Japan

Above, Sushizanmai in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One thing I've noticed since moving to New Mexico, I haven't met anyone here who likes sushi. In fact, there's only one sushi restaurant in Gallup, which I occasionally frequent. It is Zen Steak and Sushi.

In Japan, there's plenty of sushi restaurants. One of my favorites is Sushizanmai in the Tsukiji and Asakusa sections of Tokyo.

The Travel has a list of their 10 favorite sushi restaurants in Japan with several of them in Tokyo.

They begin with:

If you’re into sushi, Japan would obviously be the place to go. However, Japan literally has thousands of sushi restaurants, all claiming to have the best, most delectable pieces. In fact, there are over 30 Michelin-starred sushi joints just in Tokyo! With so many options, it could be overwhelming to decide where you want to go.

While high-end sushi restaurants sound enticing, you actually don’t need to break the bank to enjoy some of the highest-quality sushi and sashimi in the market. Read on for a thorough list of the best sushi places in Japan, with options for every budget.

Above, tuna sushi at Sushizanmai in Tsukiji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Foodie Tour of Asakusa

Above, Sushizanmai in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the joys of travel, especially to foreign countries, is try out the local cuisines. Of course, one has to be a fan of the cuisine of the country they're in. In this case, Japan.

Time Out Tokyo has an article on the best restaurants and cafes in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. I have tried three different Japanese restaurants in Asakusa. Two of them are sushi restaurants and one was a barbecue restaurant. The only one I can remember the name of is Sushizanmai. Since it has been three years since I was last in Japan (yes, I know, I'm overdue for a return visit), I can't vouch if the other two are still in business.

But, Time Out Tokyo has their recommendations.

They begin their article with:

With over 30 million visitors annually, Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is one of those Tokyo sights that virtually every traveller checks out at least once. And for good reason: Metropolitan Tokyo's oldest temple offers entertainment for hours, from the bustling Nakamise shopping arcade in front of it to the calmness of neighbouring Asakusa Shrine. But getting a proper meal around Sensoji can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you're looking for something better than the usual tourist nosh. That's why we've rounded up more than 20 of the best eateries in the area, including traditional restaurants, trendy cafés and down-to-earth izakaya. 

To see what Time Out Tokyo recommends, go here. 

Tsukiji Fish Market Is Now History

Above, a worker prepares the day's catch for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The historic Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo has closed its doors for good. Today was its last day of operations before the big move to the new facility.

I visited the Tsukiji Fish Market in 2010 and now that it's history, I am especially glad I did.

Above, one of the vendor aisles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) wrote:

The iconic Tsukiji market, part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, marked its final day of operations in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday, drawing the curtain on 83 years of history. 

The final auctions were held from the predawn hours of Saturday morning. By noon, the move to the Toyosu market had begun. The new wholesale market in the Toyosu district of Koto Ward, Tokyo, is scheduled to open early Thursday. Before then, an “unprecedented transfer operation” will have to be completed.

The Outer Market, where the restaurants and shops are located will remain open.

Above, yours truly with one of the workers at Sushizanmai at the Tsukiji Outer Market in 2010.

To read more, go here.

Time Out Tokyo: 100 Best Tokyo Restaurants

Above, Sushizanmai in Asakusa, one of my favorites. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Okay, foodies! Time Out Tokyo will be putting out their autumn issue on October 1.

You may want to snag yourself a copy as they include their list of Tokyo's best 100 restaurants.

According to Time Out Tokyo's website:

Tokyo is home to anywhere from 80,000 to 150,000 restaurants and boasts more Michelin stars than any other place on earth. So, the question becomes, how the hell are you going to choose only 100 restaurants to represent this gourmand nirvana? While admitting the inherent futility of our task, that's exactly what we’ve gone ahead and done in our autumn issue, on shelf from October 1. Behold, the ultimate guide to Tokyo’s very best food, from the taste bud-bending sushi creations of Ginza’s Aoki (who were so kind to help out with our cover) to melt-in-your-mouth wagyu, the washoku of dreams and the most slurpable ramen in the galaxy.

Above a meal at Sushizanmai near the Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Asakusa: Mecca For Nippon Kitsch

Above, a film crew near Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of my favorite Tokyo hang-outs is the Asakusa section of Tokyo.

Last year, I took an additional step by booking a room in Asakusa. Nakamise Street and Senso-ji were within easy walking distance, as was a great sushi restaurant, Sushizanmai.

The Japan Times provides a little history of Asakusa along with what visitors can expect there while wandering around.

They begin with:

Every once in a while, the Japanese have to remind themselves that they’re Japanese. We feel the need to reconfirm that we are part of a long and enduring traditional culture — one which includes kimono, samurai, ninja, eels on rice, and other weird items. Many like to pretend that these particular oddities have nothing to do with being a modern Japanese, they prefer to believe that their culture begins with Studio Ghibli and ends with AKB48. But, when our guard is down, few of us are immune to the call of old Nippon. It goes straight to our hearts and stirs us to action — and I’m not just talking about visiting lofty noh performances or taking part in intricate tea ceremonies. When the Japanese hear the call, where do they go? More often than not, we haul ourselves over to Asakusa, and join the hordes of foreign tourists soaking up the culture, gawking at the sights and stuffing themselves with treats. We can’t help it — it’s in our blood.

To read more, go here. 

Asakusa Sushizanmai

Above, the Sushizanmai Asakusa restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in December 2010, I paid a visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market and, following that, had breakfast at a restaurant in the Jogai marketplace next to it.

The restaurant I had my meal was the Sushizanmai restaurant. There, I had a platter of assorted tuna sushi. That was the best sushi meal I've ever eaten.

During last month's trip to Japan, I spotted Sushizanmai's Asakusa restaurant as we were leaving the Studio Nanairo after Denise's photo shoot. It was directly across the street from the studio. I made a mental note to go there for dinner.

Well, I did go there for dinner and, following that, had lunch there the next day. I wasn't disappointed. The meals were great!

So, if you are in Asakusa and want to partake in a great sushi meal, Sushizanmai is the place to go!

The Best Sushi At Tsukiji Fish Market By Mr. Sato (Part 2)

Above, a restaurant can't get any fresher fish than being next door to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mr. Sato of Rocket News 24 has his final report on sushi restaurants near the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo posted.

Previously, he visited four sushi restaurants and evaluated each of them. In this new article, he visited four more.

It begins with:

After the first part of our Mr. Sato-lead tour of Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market, we’re sure a lot of our readers are excited to see what else our resident gourmand had for us. And now the wait is over! Here are the last four sushi establishments as visited by Mr. Sato and his daring accomplice in raw fish consumption Nakano.

None of the places Mr. Sato visited is where I had my sushi breakfast in December 2010. I had my meal at the Sushizanmai restaurant.

To read more, go here.