Searching for a spot to feast on raw fish in Shibuya? You’ve come to the right place. Here are five top picks to make the choice of Shibuya sushi restaurants a little easier. The ones you’ll see below are all awesome, good quality and—perhaps most importantly—downright affordable. Itadakimasu!
Genki Sushi Shibuya
We talk about this sushi chain a lot. That’s because it’s cheap and fun. Plus they have a cool logo. The sushi isn’t on the same level as say, Jiro, but then again, it doesn’t cost several thousand dollars, either. Plates start at around 120 yen, and you can expect decent, freshly-prepared sushi of all kinds delivered to your table via miniature train. The menu is electronic (a touchscreen) and supports multiple languages, including English, Korean and Chinese. Order as much as you like (most people fill up on 5-10 plates) and enjoy the experience. Kids especially dig it.
Daidokoya
A small, mega-popular Shibuya sushi joint that gets rave reviews by locals and travelers alike and is frequently described as a “gem” and “old-school Japanese”. Plates are priced from 120 yen and up, with 240 yen being the average for a really decent sample of seafood. Pull ’em off the conveyor belt or call out your order to the sushi chef in the middle of the room. Alternatively, point to what you want on the English menu and look hungry and hopeful. Our advice: try the tuna belly, at least once.
Tenkazushi
What this place lacks in atmosphere, it certainly makes up for in food. Part of a popular little sushi chain that also has branches in East Shibuya, Shin-Okubo, Ikebukuro and Kichijoji, among other areas of Tokyo, Tenkazushi serves up fresh fish from 125 yen a plate. Look for this particular outlet in the basement of 2-9-10 Dogenzaka, make yourself comfortable at the counter and order whatever you fancy (there’s an English menu, don’t stress). Our recommendation? Try the mackerel, fatty tuna and Hawaii rolls while you’re there.
Maguro Donya (Miuramisakiko Megumi Shibuya Hikarie)
The name might be a bit of a mouthful, but their sushi is straightforward and straight-up delicious. A notch above your average conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, Maguro Donya’s Shibuya branch adds a sprinkle of gourmet to their offerings. Plate prices are a little higher here, so expect to pay upwards of 180 yen for two pieces of nigiri. There is an English menu, the fish comes to you by miniature car (last we checked), and the manager is on the ball and responsive. Go forth and feast.
Tachigui Sushi Uogashi Nihonichi Shibuya Center
Come in and take a … position in front of the counter in this cozy, friendly eatery in the heart of Shibuya. It’s a standing restaurant (part of a chain), so there are no seats—but there are many tasty items to be had. The menu isn’t extensive, but has all the favorites on it, including seared salmon, fatty tuna, and avo nigiri. You call out your order to the chef (there is some English on the menu), and he makes up your dish on the spot. Don’t worry about language barriers, as the staff are helpful and accommodating. And if you don’t know what to chow, try one of the sushi sets—they start at around 1,000 yen and fill most cheapos up nicely.
BONUS FISH: Super sushi chain Katsu Midori have a branch in Shibuya—and you should go there. Immediately. Here’s why.
Note for those not so into fish: All of these sushi restaurants serve at least some other dishes too. Examples include miso soup, noodles and steamed savory custards (chawanmushi).
Ticked all of these Shibuya sushi joints off the list? Tell us about it on the commmunity forum. Looking for other places to feed your sushi addiction? Take a look at our article on the 7 Best Budget Sushi Restaurants in Tokyo.
