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Tasty Tuesdays: Best Affordable Sushi in Austin

24 August 2010 3,224 views View Comments

After a particularly upsetting sushi lunch experience yesterday, I woke up this morning wanting to know what you guys think is the best affordable sushi in Austin. I wrote about this topic last year but wanted to revisit since more spots have opened and hopefully more people feel comfortable leaving comments.

close up sushi

Photo from YO! Sushi Website - a chain not yet in the U.S.

To answer my own question, my favorites include Sushi A-Go-Go (two trailer locations now — Medical Arts and Barton Springs Road), Whole Foods, and Central Market. Adam mentioned that Mikado on Research Blvd. used to be really good but we haven’t been lately. Do I remember that Korea House does a nice job on sushi and is inexpensive? What other spots to you hit up when you want good, inexpensive sushi?

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  • Amy
    Nanami sushi was surprisingly good! Happy hour M-TH 4-6 p.m.
  • Dlbrcp
    Umiya sushi in Cedar park or Masaka but great sushi and affordable prices
  • Sushinat
    Chon Som have great Happy Hour prices http://www.chonsom.com/menu/HH.... 5 - 7 Tues - Sat and ALL DAY on Sunday. Can't beat $1 sushi
  • jennie
    I like Mikado but it isn't exactly affordable. Momiij on Sunday-Thursday nights is cheap, cheap, CHEAP if you order from their half-price menu. My favorites are the Rainbow, spicy yellowtail, Alaska, and spider rolls. Best sushi value in town.
  • jodibart
    I don't think I'd ever heard of Momiji before! I see it's on 620 -- near Cho -- I may need to schedule a Tasty Tour to Northwest Austin. Thanks, Jennie.
  • Just now reading this, sorry I'm late to the party. If I could eat everyday at Musashino I would, but... Sushi Sake and Mikado have great and inventive rolls and fresh fish at good prices, I believe that they've shared a few Sushi chefs over the years. Chon Som on Wells Branch has a great happy hour and Sushi-A-Go-Go has become our new FAV take out for after work.
  • jodibart
    Awesome suggestions and comments are ALWAYS welcome on this here, blog, Aaron. Makes me feel like I'm talking to someone instead of publishing into a black hole :-)
  • jodibart
    Thank you, guys. I was visiting a friend at Steiner Ranch and they recommended Cho as does Natanya of Fete and Feast. I've added many of these suggestions to my Yelp bookmarks. Even if you don't regularly write reviews on Yelp, they have a great system to help you remember where you want to check out for those days when you're too hungry to think!
  • Bonnie
    Sushi sake is a long time fave but now my new place is Cho
  • Nancy73gg
    the very best sushi is of course musashino, but their prices are outrageous. the only other place i will even consider is maru. i have eaten sushi in japan at the fish market and in honolulu. these are the only places in austin that have really fresh fish.
  • Bryan
    Momiji Sushi always makes it's way to the top of our list, especially considering 1/2 price sushi happy hour specials let's you double your Sushi outings without increasing your sushi budget. Their spicy tuna rolls are delicious! It's at 183 and 620 so it could be a trek if you don't live north... or you could take the light rail and give the other 4 people on it some company!
  • Christof
    I second Momiji and their 1/2 price special (all day Sun, Mon-Thu, 5 til close). The quality/taste to price ratio is superb and stands out among the sushi mid-range in northwest Austin.
  • Jeremy
    I'll give Bonzai (near 38th & Lamar) a shout out. Best teriyaki chicken in town, and the sushi rolls are reasonably priced and tasty.
  • jodibart
    Also, from Alexandra R. via email: DKs is my fave, but yanagi and nanami are cheaper.
  • Lisa G.
    DK's, Mikado, and Sushi Sake, in that order. Mushashino when you have $$ to spend.
  • Afulcher
    Cho Sushi in Steiner is supposed to be great and reasonable. Haven't gotten there yet ...
    Skip Mizu tho, sketch factor high for me. Any other ideas out West?
  • jodibart
    Hi Angela - Out West like in California? Just kidding but I'd be better equipped to give suggestions for Los Angeles than West Austin ;-)
  • AED
    At Burnet/Kramer, same complex as Freebirds. Pretty good prices on sushi but skimpy portions. Broad non-sushi menu: the udon is nice, the curry is not typical and a little bland, the grilled mackerel is quite good. They can be very busy at lunch. Have not had dinner here.

    http://ryuofjapan.com/
  • jodibart
    Thanks, AED! I've added to my list of spots to check out one day.
  • Amberdemure
    How Do You Roll, hands down. Also? It's ALL NIGHT happy hour sushi at Imperia, Kenichi, AND Maiko on Sunday. Kenichi's HH is by far the most extensive - and is all night also Mon-Wed. I mean it.
  • jodibart
    Thank you, Amber!
  • Jodi, the happy hour at Sushi Sake is a great deal. Great quality, very good price.
  • jodibart
    Kristi, I believe you. Especially because you said my name. Something about people saying my name grabs my attention ;-)
  • jodibart
    From the Facebook group:

    Mariah E.: I like Sushi Niichi on 24th street or Beluga up in P-Ville. Both non-sketchy and non-fussy.

    Tom T.: Izumi (Westlake) and Maru (Rosedale)

    McKinzey C.: Maru is delish!
  • Don't sleep on Izumi (at 360/Bee Caves next to HEB) - you'll be surprised. @nofreeshows will back me up on this one!
  • jodibart
    Thank you @ShallowVain on Twitter for recommending Haiku Sushi in Southpark Meadows. She says they have well priced decent sushi during their happy hour.
  • MaryC
    I second (third)? Maru. We never would have found it if not for a friend's recommendation. Freshest, largest pieces for what you pay....it's hard for simple nigiri to be memorable, but Maru's is. We crave it!
  • I haven't heard of Kenobi's Monday Madness, that sounds awesome!
  • I agree with Sushi Sake...
  • AED
    Try the grocery store on the west side of Lamar, just south of Koenig/2222 and just north of Dan's. Open every day but Monday. The owner also operates DK Sushi in South Austin. Here he has a few tables to serve a small menu with reasonable prices and generous portions.
  • jodibart
    Yes! Both DK Sushi and Seoul Asian Food Market are on my list. Thank you!
  • Oh - I like Mikado, too, but it ain't cheap.
  • I echo your Sushi-a-Go-Go love, as well as Sarah N Post's love for Kenobi's Monday Madness. The latter is not the best sushi in the universe, but perfectly good, and SO CHEAP. For sushi with a neighborhood fee and relatively moderate pricingl, I'm also a fan of Sushi Niichi on 24th.
  • jodibart
    Bookmarked Sushi Niichi "to try" on Yelp. Thanks, Michelle!
  • nofreeshows
    I do takeout once a week from Maru on Burnet. Reasonably priced, no frills, good quality.
  • jodibart
    Agreed!
  • Service
    Maru?

    And there's a little place at Burnet and Kramer that I've heard is pretty good.
  • jodibart
    I'm curious about the Burnet and Kramer place...did a google search and the only thing that came up is a Chinese Buffet restaurant. If you think of it, let me know!
  • Michael and I really like Sushi a-go-go!
  • My go-to non-uchi sushi places you didn't mention (I <3 Sushi A-Go-Go) are Banzai, DK's, and Maru. Banzai has great noodle bowls and decent rolls, DK is South Austin quirky and cheap, and Maru is low key and reasonably priced with great rolls and sashimi.
  • Sarah N Post
    Kenobi's Monday Madness is unbeatable- $2 rolls and discounted specialty rolls from $4-8.
  • jodibart
    Thank you, Sarah! I'm going to have to try their Monday Madness soon!
  • +1 for Sushi A-Go-Go!!
  • I like Sushi Sake for every day, reasonably priced sushi. It's consistently good and sometimes great.
  • Tom Regner
    Hands down, Haiku Sushi in South Point Meadows shopping center has the best quality and prices in town Their raw salmon (sake) is to die for. The overall best sushi, price not with standing, is Umi on South lamar
  • Scotthearne99
    Yep. Haiku for sure. I've been going there exclusively pretty much for years. Happy hour prices are fantastic. Quality is always really good. Also, the size of their rolls and servings are quite a bit larger than the competition.
  • Laura S.
    I agree! And they only get their sushi flown in fresh once a week, on Thursdays, so try going on Thursdays or Fridays. I think their sushi is fabulous most of the time. I've been dying to try their happy hour but never seem to make it up there by 5.
  • jodibart
    I've had some really good experiences at Sushi Sake as well. Not cheap, but definitely super high quality.
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