Sushi in New York City can get expensive enough to require a financial advisor. But if you’re craving tuna, salmon and spicy rolls without watching your bank account disappear, there are still places where $5 sushi in NYC is very much a thing.
One of the easiest spots to start is Sushi Counter in the West Village. This tiny Christopher Street shop specializes in thick, Australian-style sushi rolls, with rolls priced at $5 each—or three for $12. That’s less than some NYC cocktails cost before the bartender even adds the ice.
Over in Chinatown, Osaka Sushi is another option for budget-conscious sushi hunters. Its menu lists several individual pieces around the $5 mark, including tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, hamachi nigiri and other options. Spicy tuna and spicy salmon sushi are even cheaper at $3 per piece.
There’s also Wagō Sushi, which has turned cheap sushi into a weekly tradition. Every Wednesday, the restaurant offers select rolls for just $5, including California, Spicy California, Crunch California and a classic vegan roll. The promotion runs year-round, making Wednesday a particularly good day to schedule your sushi craving.
And if you’re willing to venture uptown, there are plenty of inexpensive sushi counters and takeout spots where individual pieces and combo meals keep prices relatively low. Eater’s NYC guide to affordable sushi also points to restaurants where diners can find reasonably priced nigiri, sashimi and rolls.
So, yes, cheap sushi in NYC still exists.
You just have to know where to look—and maybe resist the urge to add the $19 specialty roll.
Because when you can get sushi for $5, suddenly Wednesday night feels like a very fancy occasion.
