100 yen sushi chain restaurant in Japan
Sushi is probably the best known Japanese food outside of Japan. So, most travelers want to try sushi when they come to Japan.
Since Japan is home to sushi and is the critical cuisine for the majority of Japanese people, there are countless sushi restaurants all across the country. Sushi had been one of the most expensive, luxurious food, but for the last 15 years or so, there has been a growing market of cheap sushi restaurants. Among all types of sushi restaurants, 100 yen sushi restaurants are the most common kind because they offer a wide variety of menus at the low price.
Most of them have the conveyor belt system, so you don’t have to worry if you do not know how to order food in Japanese. You just pick what you want from the belt. Also, you can order sushi with a tablet if you can’t find your favorite one on the belt. Most restaurants have several language options; English, Chinese, and Korean.
Let’s have a look at five major 100 sushi restaurant chains in Japan!
1. Kura Sushi
Kura Sushi is one of the largest and popular sushi chains in Japan. It extends business to outsides of Japan, such as US and China. You can get almost everything at 100 yen plus tax except for some side dishes and desserts. There are varieties of drinks to choose from, and the interesting choice will be "Shari Cola." Guess what it is made from? Rice!
What’s great about Kura Sushi is a large selection of menu. Not only does it serve conventional sushi but also serves modern-type of sushi, rice bowl, ramen, curry, tempura, french fries, desserts, etc. You can choose low-carb sushi that substituted rice with vegetables. Also, Kura Sushi uses a special cover over the plate called “Mr. Fresh,” that keeps the food nice and fresh.
“Bikkura Pon!” makes your dining experience at Kura Sushi even more fun. It is a little game that comes to every five plates. If you insert your empty plates into a slot attached to your table, the game starts on the screen automatically. If you are lucky, you get a little toy from the box above the lane.
2.Sushiro
Sushiro is a rivalry sushi restaurant of Kura Sushi. Most sushi is 100 yen plus tax, but side dishes and some sushi cost a little more. Especially, sushi with luxury ingredients are offered at 200 yen or 300 yen. Sushiro has fewer varieties in the menu, but the quality of food is said to be the best among major 100 sushi restaurants.
3.Kappa Sushi
Kappa Sushi is another leading sushi chain. Like other 100 yen sushi chains, it offers most sushi at 100 yen, and side dishes cost 200 yen or 300 yen. It also has some kinds of alcoholic beverages like beer, sake, and whiskey, so you can enjoy this restaurant for a little drinking party!
On weekdays from the open to 2 pm, it offers delicious “Kaisen don,” or seafood bowls, and they cost only 690 yen plus tax! But this service is offered in limited locations, so make sure if the restaurant offers it before you go.
Kappa Sushi also has “all-you-can-eat sushi” service on weekdays from 2 pm to 5 pm. You can eat as many sushi and side dishes as you want for 60 minutes at 1,580 yen for men and 1,480 yen for women. You can add extra time by the 10 minutes for 500 yen. But the restaurant charges you 30 yen for one leftover sushi, so be careful not to order too much!
4. Genki Sushi
Genki Sushi has fewer branches in Japan compared to other 100 sushi chains, but the quality and services are almost the same. What’s different about Genki Sushi is most locations don’t have the conveyor belt: instead, your food is directly delivered to your table on the lane. This system assures your order is always fresh from the kitchen! Moreover, some locations have sushi chefs in the middle, so you can get fresh sushi from the chef!
Also, Genki Sushi sets five different prices depending on the type of food. Most sushi is 100 yen, but special kinds of sushi and side dishes run for the more high price.
This sushi restaurant has franchises in other countries like US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
5.Hama Sushi
Hama Sushi is run by Zensho Holdings, which runs chain restaurants such as Sukiya and Cocos. Hama Sushi offers sushi for 100 yen on weekends, but makes it available at 90 yen on weekdays (except for national holidays)! It employs a robot at the entrance. When you enter the restaurant, the robot “Pepper” gives you a warm welcome and informs you the waiting time and table number.
Apart from regular sushi with fish, Hama Sushi offers meat sushi and a wide range of side dishes. You can get sushi with deep-fried chicken, prosciutto, meat patty, roast beef, etc. On the side menu, deep-fried dishes and takoyaki are available. Also, Hama Sushi prepares six different kinds of soy sauce that come from all across Japan. You can try different taste depending on the type of soy sauce.
Which sushi restaurant so you want to try?
Or if you have ever tried these restaurants, please tell us your experiences!