Get ready to spend a bundle if you crave Japanese food in Macau. Have you heard this before? While there are many fine-dining Japanese restaurants in town, some even awarded with Michelin stars, there are enough spots that serve decent sashimi, teppanyaki, or udon for a reasonable price. So we consulted with our Japanese expat friends, tried dozens of unagi rice bowls, and huge portions of sushi to come up with a list of the best affordable Japanese restaurants in Macau.
Chi Sasa
Chi Sasa is a Japanese restaurant chain with two establishments, one in Taipa in front of the Kingsville apartment complex and another on Broadway Food Street. At dinnertime, they can be pretty packed, especially the Taipa branch. So be prepared to wait in line for a bit, as they don’t accept reservations in advance. However, every minute of the wait time will be rewarded with Japanese flavors and flawless execution of the dishes. Everything here is delicious–from ramen to unagi rice, tonkotsu, or tempura. The culinary team at Chi Sasa knows their craft as they make sure all restaurant guests receive an experience as close to authentic Japanese as possible.
Fresh fish arrives here every day, so if you are craving sashimi but not ready to spend a fortune, Chi Sasa would be the best choice. All that great food, consistent quality, and quick service make this Japanese spot a local favorite.
Chi Sasa (Broadway) A-G018, A-1001, Broadway Food Street, Broadway Macau, Av. Marginal Flor de Lotus, Taipa, +853 2882 3287, www.broadwaymacau.com.mo/chi-sasa-japanese-cuisine
Chi Sasa (Taipa) 17 Rua de nam Keng, Taipa, +853 2883 5113
Also read: Get Warm: Best Ramen Spots in Taipa
Tabuchi
A small restaurant near Sai Van Lake has been a part of Macau’s restaurant scene for a while and not every eatery in Macau can boast this. Humble design and prices that don’t bite make Tabuchi an affordable restaurant in Macau to stop by anytime you feel like having Japanese fare. No need to wait for a special occasion. Tabuchi’s strict and serious owner is often there to take your order and recommend what’s special.
The restaurant serves a large assortment of grilled meat, seafood, and vegetables and a decent selection of Japanese noodles. Among them, our favorite is cold udon noodles with mentaiko (pollock roe) that come with creamy sauce, refreshing sliced cucumbers, nori, and scallions.
Tabuchi 4D–F Avenida da República, Macau, www.facebook.com/tabuchimacau
Also read: Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Sai Van & Nam Van Lake
Sushimitei Japanese Restaurant
If you visit Sushimitei during lunch hours, you will find this relatively spacious restaurant packed. Sushimitei is a straightforward and affordable Japanese restaurant in Macau with simple, unpretentious food, ideal for killing hunger. Lunch with miso soup, salad, and a dish of your choice, generous teppanyaki set, sushi set, and more–the variety is unbelievable! Most importantly, the price for all these delicious meals starts from MOP $36 only. We had a filling set of soup, udon, tobiko salad, roasted mackerel, and a pair of Japanese dumplings for MOP $78. No other Japanese restaurant in town offers better value for money!
Sushimitei Japanese Restaurant GF, 64 Rua do Almirante Cabral, Macau, +853 2833-2992, www.sushimitei.com
Ajikura
NAPE area on the Macau side accommodates many Japanese establishments. You will easily find a couple of ramen spots just on one block! Our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood is Ajikura, frequented by both Macau locals and Japanese expats. Alongside Chi Sasa, Ajikura would be one of the best restaurants to enjoy fresh raw fish for a reasonable price. Try their uni bowl with a generous portion of sea urchin on top of fluffy rice for MOP $120 only. Robatayaki, especially grilled hearts, are sensational and hand-rolled sushi is to die for. Overall, Ajikura gives you a feeling of being in Tokyo without needing a plane ticket!
Ajikura 30 R/C Q Rua de Londres, +853 2872 2558, www.facebook.com/pages/味藏
Samurai Fish
This casual Japanese chain with a recognizable symbol–a kawaii cat hugging a fish–has three branches in Macau and one Taipa. Samurai Fish offers all kinds of Japanese dishes, from sushi to roasted fish and skewers. But their specialty is opulent sashimi rice bowls with various toppings such as spicy tuna, lobster, scallops, and sea urchin. If you are not into raw food, opt for cooked meat or fish toppings sprinkled over with tobiko and nori–heavenly delicious!
Samurai Fish 10–12 Rua da Barca, Macau, +853 2821 0612, www.facebook.com/samuraifish88, instagram.com/samuraifish2888
G/F, 23–25B Rua de Ferreira do Amaral, Macau, +853 2856 5402
195 Avenida do Governador Jaime Silvério Marques, Macau, +853 2872 4397
Rua de Coimbra, No 131, Flower City (Edf. Lei Hong), R/C, Taipa, +853 2837 4170
Also read: The Best Sashimi Rice Bowls in Macau
Wabi-Sabi
Wabi-Sabi might be the tiniest Japanese eatery in town, but it’s also one of the hardest to get into. Take our advice: make sure to come as early as possible to avoid hungry queueing or even missing a chance to lunch here. And you wouldn’t want to miss it! Wabi-Sabi has a small menu with just a couple of food sets and occasionally, the Japanese head chef changes it. We chose between a slow-cooked beef rice set, vegetarian sushi set, and salmon set. Everything is served in cute little bowls, plates, and pots. While you wait for your meal to be assembled, watch the chefs work their magic right in front of you–it’s fascinating! As the line is always long, try not to extend your lunch for too long to let other diners have your spot. Wabi-Sabi also has two bento-box shops, one right next to the Macau restaurant and the second one in Taipa so you can take a home-style Japanese lunch to go.
Wabi-Sabi Edificio Veng Kuong, 22 R. da Mitra, www.facebook.com/wabisabimacau, instagram.com/wabisabi_macau
Kingship
Opposite Wabi-Sabi, Kingship will surprise you with its open space. A large Japanese restaurant in Taipa will easily accommodate a large group of friends or a family gathering. With their extensive menu, everybody can find dishes that will satisfy their cravings. It’s easier to say what they don’t have rather than what they offer. There is a large selection of sashimi and sushi, grilled and breaded food, noodles and rice dishes, combo meals, and sets. Our recommendation is not to miss the tender and succulent pork belly on rice!
Kingship Rua de Évora, Taipa, +853 2899 5555
Also read: 8 Food Joints for Late Night Dining in Macau
