The Best Cheap Sushi in Toronto
There are generally two kinds of sushi experiences you can have in Toronto. You can go out and have spectacular sushi (but pay $40+ dollars for the privilege), or you can grab some more affordable raw-fish-goodness and pay $10-20 taxes and tip in (or less).
Whenever you're in the mood for some wacky deep-fried-something wrapped in rice and seaweed and drizzled with mayonnaise (likely with an appropriately wacky name like "Super Dragon Spicey Flame Roll") or up for the special treat that is sushi pizza, where do you go?
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Cheap sushi joints are a plenty in Toronto. Heck, it seems like there are 500 in the Annex alone. But when we put out our call for nominations and then tallied the votes in our best of Independent Toronto Food and Drink survey, the following sushi joints scored top honours amongst the blogTO readership.
Sushi on Bloor
Sushi on Bloor continues to be one of the most popular "cheap sushi" joint in the city. Expect line-ups to get in on weekends at this busy, two-floor spot on Bloor. More...
New Generation Sushi
Definitely an Annex favourite, New Generation has served many hungry sushi lovers over the years. More...
Sushi Island
Sushi Island in Little Italy is popular for their all you can eat sushi deals. If you can get past all the complicated rules you'll probably be rewarded with some tasty maki or sushi pizza. More...
Japango
Japango is one of the best sushi restaurants in Toronto and is a favourite of City Hall bureaucrats for a quick maki fix. More...
Sushi Marche
Leslieville residents need not maek their way to the downtown core because they have Sushi Marche in their own neighbourhood. More...
Comments (31)
Rikishi on Bloor near Christie is fantastic. not cheap, but it's the real deal, not mass-produced rice rolls.
Great post.. considering, HoSu has had some bad write-ups recently.. New Generation is great, but I run in to lines if I'm trying to get seated anytime before 10pm..
Hey Safari, do you have links to the bad Hosu write-ups? Im addicted to their chap jae and butterfish maki.
Everyone I know that's tried it loves Sushi Island. Friends call it their favourite. I've never been because there's always a line up when I go by. For a long time I've been saying that I've got to go mid-week but I rarely travel out of my neighbourhood mid-week. It sounds like if I did, I'd want to do it again and again.
I went into Sushi Marche once, and while I can't say whether it's value for the quality of food, I can say that in comparison to some of the places listed here, it's certainly not cheap.
I've recently moved back to Toronto after livng in Japan for several years. I've had excellent sushi in this city at places like Hiro Sushi and Fune, but it didn't come cheap. A couple of weeks ago I had a craving, and decided to try Sushi on Bloor, figuring that since it always seems to be busy, and does quite well in annual readers' polls in various magazines, it must be decent. WRONG. It was the worst sushi experience I've ever had in my life. The fish wasn't fresh, the rice didn't taste right, and the preparation was simply not up to scratch. Anyone who has anything good to say about the place simply doesn't know what they are talking about. I'll never go back. Don't believe the hype.
I find the whole idea of cheap sushi peculiar. The whole purpose of sushi is to enjoy high quality, fresh fish, unadorned, which the cheap guys don't have access to. Who wants to eat cheap, old fish slathered in mayo to cover up its provenance? I don't even find it that "cheap" -difference in cost between the bloor street places and a mid-range (i.e., not Kaji) is likely $20 per person. Well worth it to avoid the warm rice and other unwelcome aspects of the sushi factory places.
J-rock, I feel your pain. I too, lived in Japan for over 2 years and was spoiled by the sushi there. Even stuff you pick up at the conbini in the train station is better than most of what one can find here in Toronto. Often cheaper sushi joints here serve what wouldn't dare make it to customers in Japan.
Stay tuned to blogTO though... soon I'll be posting the results of our "Best Splurge Sushi in Toronto" category, which will probably be more up your alley (and make your wallet lighter). :)
I look forward to the results of the "Best Splurge Sushi in Toronto" poll. Some things are simply worth paying for.
Safari and Sheryl,
Ho Su shouldn't be on anyone's "best of" lists. go to the link below and do a search for Ho Su...you'll be surprised (actually i wasn't) on their numerous conditional passes they've racked up. inadequate pest control...yikes!! that place needs to be shut down!! just sayin'.
I used to regularly frequent Sushi on Bloor but then I tried MASA (Yonge & Charles) and I've never gone back to SoB (Well once but that was a desperate situation and I was sorely disappointed).
Most people i know like SoB bc it's cheap and has free miso and ice cream. MASA is cheap, tastes fresher/better and has better ambiance. I never hear anyone else talk about it and I don't know if it's because they don't like it, or they don't know about it.
Sushi on Bloor and New Generation. Not bad. Not great. I think it is a case of people following each other, or wanting to be where everyone else is. It certainly can't be the food, nor the service at Sushi on Bloor.
Big Sushi provides better fare, better service, AND no line up.
People - think for yourselves!! Don't be a lemming.
Masa: "I never hear anyone else talk about it and I don't know if it's because they don't like it, or they don't know about it."
It's because it's not very good food.
Although the atmosphere is nice.
Under $20, the best sushi/sashimi around is Aji Sai.
"Sushi on Bloor and New Generation. Not bad. Not great. I think it is a case of people following each other, or wanting to be where everyone else is. It certainly can't be the food, nor the service at Sushi on Bloor."
I really didn't like either. The fish wasn't fresh and there was way too much rice in the rolls. Best affordable sushi for me is Tokyo Sushi on St Joseph Street, near Bay... Tiny place, but very fresh and expertly made sushi.
New generation and sushi on bloor are both dirty and have poor quality food. I remember having chicken terriyaki that hard and chewy, but i guess you get what you pay for.
I agree that Tokyo Sushi on St Joseph is a much better bet!
I'm addicted to looking restaurants up on DineSafe (City of Toronto site) and Sushi on Bloor has been busted on some fairly big health violations. Most of the repeated problems have to do with food temperature (pretty gross when dealing with raw fish). That kind of history gives me the heebie jeebies, but to be fair they have had the green light for over a year now.
For good, cheap and much finer sushi I like Sushi Supreme on Yonge street north of Davisville (1995 Yonge St.) They have a perfect record, you can have an excellent meal for $15 - $20 dollars and the service is extremely fast. If you find yourself way up here in midtown you should give them a try.
I LOVE Big Sushi. it's the best thing I've found since living in Japan...and second to that is Sushi Island.
I have TWICE gotten food poisoning from Sushi on Bloor. Once I thought it was a fluke, but the second time the entire table I was with was ill. And I haven't been back since.
there is a new sushi retaurant at queen west called aji sai, it's like at the corner of spidana and queen, and it's pretty cheap!! you can do all-you-can-eat for maybe .. approximately 17 dollars, and they have a wide range of selections!
You guys should try a small place called KOKAME located at 362 Wilson Avenue, North York, ON (Wilson & Bathurst area).
- green salad dressing was one of the best ive had
- love the salmon teriyaki
- spicy salmon maki and shrimp tempura maki
- the wandering kid (a.k.a. Bryan - which to other people seems to be a bother but not to us. He usually is entertaining!)
Greetings to all sushi lovers!
Like many people, I've been looking for the next great place to satisfy my sushi cravings. After years of trying out countless restaurants all over the Greater Toronto Area in search of the most delicious sushi, (especially spicy salmon, my favourite), I found Lola Sushi, and now I feel like I don't need to keep looking, (like that feeling you get when you find your soulmate). If you love salmon as much as I do, try this place out. You won't be disappointed. As a matter of fact, if you can find a better spicy salmon roll out there, (that's a challenge), post it! (Lola Sushi is located at 2070 Yonge St., South of Yonge & Eglinton, 416-932-0290).
-Akira-
Wow thanks Akira. You are right about Lola..I actually live close and had not tried it..until this eve thanks to your post! Loved it! I can't decide if Lola or Kokyo takes my top spot but you should def give Kokyo a try (young and alexander) fresh quality fish and they don't give you rolls that are mostly rice. I think it may be a tie for spicy salmo rolls between the two but they are quite diff...lola's is more tempura and Kokyo is more about the fish..both delish though!
i go to tokyo sushi at st joseph and bay as much as possible (it used to be once a week for sure). fresh fish guaranteed. i have NEVER had a bad experience there, cuz the ppl are SO nice! it's the most authentic experience that won't cost u a small fortune. another place i enjoy is toshi. though a little more expensive, but worth it. i *heart* sushi on queen was terrible, as well as ajisai on queen near spadina. i hate these places that throw together what they call "sushi" and serve it as authentic. just awful! sure, ayce places provide u selection and quantity, but no one seems to have standards in terms of QUALITY. sushi to go on queen has been pretty reliable for freshness but it's always pretty quiet, not many diners, prob mostly takeout. ho su and sushi time on queen, crap. but again, what's your standard?
New Generation Sushi gave me the worst food poisoning I've ever had. I ate there three days ago and I still can't keep food down. Everyone else that I went with is also sick.
Ate at HoSu Bistro 4 days ago, felt a fever coming on a few hours later. The "fever" stopped in the morning, but was replaced by waves of abdominal pain, which was later accompanied by unrelenting diarrhea. That night I had no doubt in my mind that I had food poisoning. I looked them up on the city of Toronto food inspection site, and sure enough, they have constant hygiene and food storage problems. I can't believe this place is allowed to stay open, look for yourself;
http://app.toronto.ca/food2/DineSafeMain?userRequest=view_history&ESTABLISHMENT_ID=9029656
I can't believe Sushi Bon didn't make it! Its in lil Italy right below Beatrice street on college and its FANTASTIC! Its AYCE for 12$ or 14$ and for 10$ you get a complete (non-ayce) meal! Their delivery makes them amazing.... wow really surprised as Sushi on BLoor is not that good.... cheap should not mean cheap tasting!
And Aji Sai on Queen is another cheap AYCE - why Blog TO why have you missed the mark?!
Sushi places are a dime a dozen in t.o..and bad ones too...If you want the real thing, stick to Ematei Japanese Restaurant. There really is no such thing as cheap sushi if you want it clean and yummy..The flavour of the fish with the rice won't be visible....Well cut, and clean fish is like a razor sharp knife of flavour...That's my tip to you sushi newbie's...
Sushi Extra!! Across from the Rivoli. They're fantastic, even if you were just to rate them on the tender seaweed. Get the Fire Dragon.
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