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best cheap sushi/sashimi in tokyo?
I al… Looking for cheap and plentiful eats ideally, sashimi/sushi. I heard about discount underground department store? However I heard they were also overpriced. That is some conflicting information.
I also heard people say supermarkets, but that they can cost just as much as restaurants. Anybody have specific recommendations though, like exact places? From the USA and will be there on March 25th around cherry blossom time. Will be there only a week.
there's a little place in shinjuku called sushi no midori that does a "tokujou" lunch set for 1,500 yen with 14 pieces and a handroll, it's in the basement of the takashimaya times square building and the line is usually just 10-15 minutes even at peak cherry blossom time. the quality punches way above its price point because they source from the same wholesalers as the fancy ginza spots
for the supermarket route, the life grocery in meguro near the station has a solid sushi section that marks down around 7pm, i've grabbed 1,000 yen chirashi bowls for 400 yen there. the fish is decent and they use that slightly sweet vinegar rice that's actually good cold for picnics
one thing nobody mentioned is the sushi vending machines outside the shimbashi station, not the combini ones but the actual fresh sushi machines near the south exit. they restock around noon and do a 6-piece set for 500 yen with maguro and salmon, it's not life-changing but it's the cheapest fresh option i've found in central tokyo
surprised nobody mentioned the sushi vending machine at the bottom of the shimokitazawa station east exit, it's not a combi one it's a legit machine that drops fresh nigiri from a refrigerated case behind glass. 600 yen gets you 8 pieces of maguro and salmon with wasabi packs, it's run by a local fish shop that restocks twice a day
for cherry blossom picnic strategy, hit the maekawa fish store in nakameguro around 5pm, they're right on the river where all the trees are and they sell sashimi platters by weight. point at what looks good and they'll slice it while u wait, a mixed pack usually runs 700-900 yen and you can eat it watching the blossoms fall into the water
one more thing about the department store basements - the one at atre kichijoji has a fish counter that does "wasuremono" packs for 400 yen, it's literally the trimmings from their fancy cuts but you get a pile of fresh toro and hamachi scraps that taste the same
if you're up for a bit of a walk, head to suginami area near kouenji station. there's a tiny shop called sushiro that's more of a local joint than the touristy chains, they do a "nama" lunch set with 10 pieces and a handroll for 1,200 yen. the catch is they only serve it between 11 and 1 and it sells out fast, but the fish is cut fresh right in front of you
another move is the fish market at ameyoko in ueno, not the main strip but the side alley near the yamashiroya building. around 5pm the vendors start haggling on the leftover sashimi blocks, i got a slab of buri for 400 yen last time and just ate it with soy sauce at the park. bring your own chopsticks from a combini
for actual sushi that's not a chain, there's a standing spot in yotsuya called magurobito that does a 5-piece negitoro set for 600 yen. it's a hole in the wall with no english menu but just point at the picture of the tuna, they'll know what u want. the owner's a former tsukiji wholesaler so the quality's better than anything u'll find in a department store basement
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.