I was told to get to the Tsukiji Fish Market early (like, 5:00 am early), so that we could queue up for one of the sushi bars for breakfast. The two restaurants that were recommended to me were Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi. After doing a bit more research and reading nightmare reviews of people queuing for up to four hours for an overly priced, mediocre omakase sushi breakfast, there was no way I was going to get caught in that tourist trap. Instead, I stumbled upon a fantastic alternative, Sushi Katsura (すしかつら), just a few blocks away from the Tsukiji Fish Market. You can expect an incredibly good-valued omakase lunch at Sushi Katsura with zero queues and no 4:00 am wake-up call.

Vibe at Sushi Katsura

Sushi Katsura exterior

The main sushi counter

We were the first ones in Sushi Katsura (it opens at 11:30 am for lunch) and there was a slow trickle of customers who came in shortly after, but it was nowhere near as busy as I thought it was going to be. The two sushi chefs behind the counter were all smiles while making our sushi. Sushi Katsura is simple, fuss-free, and serves up some fantastic sushi at insanely reasonable prices considering the area.

Omakase menu

English menu

Part 1 of my “Sushi for 1.5 persons” omakase set

Part 2 of my “Sushi for 1.5 persons” omakase set

I had read that Sushi Katsura didn’t have an English menu, however, they must have been getting enough business from tourists to create one because they handed us an English menu after we sat down. I ordered the “Sushi for 1.5 persons” which was ¥1,050 and came with 11 pieces of nigiri sushi, a maki roll, and a bowl of miso soup. The sushi is served on a bamboo leaf in front of you and comes out as the chef prepares it. My friend ordered the “Jo-sushi” for ¥1,900, which was meant to be a “high class” sushi set with a few more pieces of different nigiri. Though she did like it, the difference between my set and hers wasn’t worth the price difference.

Verdict

I would highly recommend Sushi Katsura as a solid alternative to the over-hyped sushi restaurants in the Tsukiji Fish Market. There’s no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to queue for a sushi breakfast, the prices at Sushi Katsura are incredibly reasonable (expect to pay three to four times the price at Sushi Dai or Daiwa Sushi), and the food is incredibly fresh and delicious.

Sushi Katsura (すしかつら)
2-15-4 Tsukiji
Tokyo

Tel: +81 3 3543 1800