r/japan • u/Hazzat [東京都] • 7d ago
Sushi wars roll into America as Japan’s top chains face off
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/09/29/sushi-wars-chains-face-off/21
u/RobRoy2350 7d ago
It's a case of what you don't know...I lived in NYC for many years and ate at many sushi restaurants from budget to high-end omakase. Although some of the high-end ones flew fish in from Japan (reflected in absurd, crazy prices) those US budget chains can't compete with Japan counterparts primarily because of sourcing. US has to rely on commercial distributors and pre-frozen, thawed fish. But even so, I always thought sushi in the US was very good.
Until I moved to Tokyo. No comparison.
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u/t-g-l-h- 7d ago
Please build a Hama Sushi 5 minutes from my house. Also a Hanamaru Udon, a Ichiran Ramen, and a Coco Ichibanya, thank you
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u/yodelingllama 7d ago
Hanamaru Udon once opened 30 minutes from my house (I live outside of Japan) for a good few years and it was the best thing ever until it closed down. :( They must have had a deal with Yoshinoya too because they were always open next to each other.
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u/Mr-Thuun 7d ago
I have all those 10 minutes from my house!
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u/forvirradsvensk 7d ago
I thought everywhere in Japan has one of those 10 minutes from everywhere.
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u/Mr-Thuun 7d ago
Unless you live in a remote mountain village, there is most likely at least one of those.
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u/forvirradsvensk 7d ago
I did once live in a remote mountain village (oaza) - there was a Hotto Motto at least, or Hokka Hokka Tei as it was called then.
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u/t-g-l-h- 7d ago
Lucky!
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u/Mr-Thuun 7d ago
I only go to Hamazushi once every couple of months. The rest maybe once a year these days.
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u/KyotoGaijin [京都府] 7d ago
Do they make it American style with a bunch of toppings and sauces squirted it all over it?
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u/KingPalleKuling 7d ago
slathers an inverted maki with bbq sauce and roasted onions
"Boy do I love sushi!"
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u/i_hateeveryone 7d ago
They have them
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u/RICHUNCLEPENNYBAGS 7d ago
Honestly I like that stuff. If the fish is insanely fresh you’re wasting it, sure. But if not mayonnaise isn’t hurting anything.
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u/Hitohira 7d ago
There is plenty of that kind here in Japan.
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u/spamfridge 7d ago
No, there’s really not. Where are you located? I’ve only occasionally seen them at kaitenzushi near tourist hotspots.
I’ve never once seen anything remotely resembling a “California” or “rainbow” roll at any establishment that isn’t kaitenzushi. And even there, it’s maybe 1-3 items of 100 on the menu.
Only time I’ve been served mayonnaise is with tuna onigiri or ehire(stingray)
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u/Hitohira 7d ago
I'm in Sendai. And yes, I meant specifically at kaiten sushi restaurants. They always have something that are slathered in mayo. They have plenty of stacked options.
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u/spamfridge 7d ago
Random but is matsushima bay worth visiting? I have a roadtrip next month up to iwaki and was considering the push to Sendai for this.
I only just recently discovered the so called “three views of Japan” or 日本三景
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u/Hitohira 6d ago
I went there a little over a decade ago and there are indeed a lot of people but the tour of the Lords where you go out on the boat and they give you a history of all the islands and what the nobility did and use the eyelets for was really fascinating. It is an absolutely stunning site. There are plenty of things to do. A lot of shops and while there were a lot of people when I went, it was very orderly and calm.
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u/Widespreaddd [茨城県] 6d ago
I haven’t been there in 30 years, but yes, it’s beautiful. There is also a pretty little island called Kinkazan. It has a shrine and a bunch of tame deer. The seas were very rough when I visited, which only added to the fun of the boat ride!
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u/spamfridge 6d ago
Thank you!! I’ve added to my list.
Any place worth recommending 30 years later sounds like a worthwhile time to me.
Kinkazan looks beautiful and I’ve yet to meet any friendly deer since I’ve never been able to convince myself or friends to go to Nara. Looks like there’s even a dive shop in the area. Will check this out
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u/Venture_compound 6d ago
Please tell me where, because I miss it sometimes. I live in Tokyo and NEVER see American style sushi.
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u/blacksystembbq 7d ago
“While primarily known for its cheap eats in Japan, Sushiro will charge more of a premium in the U.S. to help cover higher costs and build tips into its prices. Most single-serving plates will cost about $5 to $6, with some dishes reaching $10. That’s far above prices in Japan, where some plates can start from as little as ¥120 (80 cents). It’s also above the roughly $4 average at Kura Sushi’s outlets in the U.S..”
The appeal of these chains is that they are cheap and easy in Japan. Although I have Kuras available near my home in the US, I never go bc they’re too expensive. I go all the time in Japan.
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u/redchairyellowchair 7d ago
Kura is sooo bad in Japan nowadays. Always empty in Ishikawa, however Hama is super crowded and you always have to wait. Sushiro is in the middle
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u/PlexingtonSteel 5d ago
I have a feeling that both Kura as well as Sushiro have become way worse in the last couple of years. Visited 2019 and it was like the sushi in every Sushiro I visited tasted fantastic. Began visiting again in 2023, it tasted still very good but it got worse every year. Maguro and salmon sushi taste like nothing, like eating cartboard, compared to other chains or individuell restaurants.
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u/SergeantBeavis [アメリカ] 6d ago
The growth of sushi in the US is nice, but can we please get some Yamachan restaurants over here?
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u/forvirradsvensk 7d ago
I'm tentative about eating sushi in those places in Japan, let alone venturing into one in the US.
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u/shinydrop 7d ago
High end sushi in America is not as good as sushiro. You'd be surprised
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u/forvirradsvensk 7d ago edited 7d ago
That's what I mean. I wouldn't go into Sushiro in Japan and afterwards fart confidently for a good few days. Whereas, you seem to think the crap they serve is "high-end" for Americans.
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u/shinydrop 6d ago
I'm Japanese.
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u/forvirradsvensk 6d ago
So am I. That doesn't make Sushiro any less awful, you're not making much sense.
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u/shinydrop 6d ago
Oh, you have eaten at many place? At least all fish itself in Japan is more high-end and expensive. Most of Japanese restaurant in America is not owned by Japanese 🤗
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u/forvirradsvensk 6d ago
At many Sushiro? If I'm desperate I'll east Hamakatsu, but avoid all those chains. They're awful. I've been to the US but never tried their sushi, and it would be weird if I did.
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u/shinydrop 6d ago
No. At many American sushi restaurants.
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u/forvirradsvensk 6d ago
No. Bit weird to travel to America to eat Japanese food.
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u/shinydrop 6d ago
I live in America, for a long time. So I have been MANY. And they are all sad. Been to 3 high-end ones owned by Japanese chef. One in NY, one in Chicago. One in Wisconsin. nY one was amazing. I felt like I ate real Japanese sushi. Other two were sadness. I miss Japanese sushi 😭😭 that I used to go. Now I can only eat when I go back to visit my family :(
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u/i_hateeveryone 7d ago
Interesting how Kura opened in actual places that people who live in the area goes to compare to Sushiro just opening this in time square as a marketing ploy; only tourist and non locals would go there.