In train stations and busy areas all around Japan are some of the country’s most express restaurants, the standing sushi bars. Designed as a quick meal – somewhere in between a restaurant sit-down experience and food to go – there are no chairs to be found.
Instead, patrons stand at a sushi counter and order their meals and drinks. These restaurants are ideal for people in a hurry, who don’t have time to wait for a table and table service, and who might want to end their meal quickly to catch a train.
Sushi Bars for Convenience
While sushi has been sold as street food since at least the 1800s, the concept of a standing sushi bar restaurant is a relatively new concept, and are increasing in popularity.
There are many reasons why eating at a restaurant counter is a great idea. Firstly, they are cheaper and faster than regular sushi restaurants. Often located in train stations, they are perfect for people who need a quick bite to eat before their train arrives, or in-between train connections. Secondly, with a very fast patron turnaround, the sushi and sashimi is always prepared fresh, ensuring the food is as delicious at possible.
Stand-up dining was also a clever survival technique for Japanese restaurants during the covid-19 pandemic, which hit the dine-in restaurant industry particularly hard. Standing restaurants, with first-come, first-serve options and minimal staff requirements saved on rent, and attracted new customers.
Many stand up sushi bars have menus in both Japanese and English, especially in areas where tourists are common, such as JR Shinjuku Station. Some restaurants have a colour coded tag system to match against the menu, and double check the prices.
Some Famous Standing Sushi Bars
Some of the best standing-only sushi bars in Tokyo include:
Magurobito Okachimachi near Okachimachi station, known for its fatty tuna.
Taiyo in Monzen-Nakacho, a great place to have a cup of sake with your meal.
Sakaezushi, located in Keisei-Tateishi Station, and particularly famous for scallops and oysters.
Standing sushi bars are becoming popular overseas as well, such as the Standing Sushi Bar franchise in Singapore, with locations at Marina One and Odeon Towers.
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Standing sushi bars in Japan are a great way to have a quick and delicious meal, in the lively hustle and bustle of big cities. The next time you’re in a hurry in a train station in Japan, take a few minutes to try this new kind of fast food!
StickyMangoRice 