Why is the food at Japanese restaurants so darn expensive?

Question

Compared to Chinese food?

Answer 1

first of all, the food. the quality of their food is extremely high. The freshness of their fish is in a division in itself. All their fish must pass FDA standards in order to be labelled sushi grade.

second of all, the staff. as many people have already stated, sushi chefs endure years of training in order to be a qualified sushi chef. and their sushi knifes are the best quality and can cost up to $3,000.

third of all, word of mouth. sushi has a reputation for being healthy and lean. we all know people are willing to pay high prices for a healthier diet and although only the fish is most healthy, other things like terriyaki chicken are just a source of nutrients with regular amounts of fat.

fourth, sushi is custom made and made to order. this kind of fresh, on the go service keeps chefs constantly busy and the attention to detail is immense.

fifth, sushi is, essentially, a cuisine of seafood. seafood will always be expensive because of their little availability and means of obtaining it. and when the criteria of good sushi requires extremely fresh seafood, prices are sure to go up.

by the way, these things only apply to authentic japanese resteraunts. if you're going to a buffet or something, don't expect the same quality for about the same price.

Answer 2

I think it also has to do with how Chinese food was introduced into the U.S. as a cheap cuisine. It has a longer history in the U.S. than does Japanese food, so it probably had to be cheap so people would try it. Ironically, in Japan, good Chinese food (although there are various levels of the cuisine) is quite expensive (expect to pay US$200 to $300 per person), but then again it's nothing like the stuff you get in the Chinese restaurants in the States.

Answer 3

Get super fresh fish, cut and clean it right away, and then store and treat them very carefully cost a lot of money. Sushi chefs treat fish as if they are some expensive jewely. They use quality vegetable oil for tempura, and change the oil often to keep it clean light taste, not greasy and nasty. I hate to say it cause I love Chinese food as well as Japanese food but in most of Chinese restaurants, they keep the same oil for over a week, so those eggrolls and chic.wings are fried in really dark brown oil, and they never cover their food in containers with plastic wrap, they just leave everything open all day and overnight, they don't even use clean towels or dishcloth type things in the kitchen because it costs them. Employees at Chinese restaurants are often immigrants with no visa so labor is cheap, too.

Answer 4

The ingredients are a bit harder to find, hence more expensive, also, good Japanese cooks are hard to come by: supply and demand is stacked on the seller´s side.
Last note: most people who really like Japanese food are willing to pay more because it is so hard to find.

Answer 5

Usually cause of the fish. Tempura usually is not more than $10 or chicken teriyaki is like $12 (these are LA prices) but if you want sushi or sashimi, it's gonna cost ya!

Answer 6

eastern eating place isn't that high priced now as earlier. in case you dont understand the place to start up, may well be you are able to attempt sushi king or genki sushi. in simple terms set next to coveyour belt the place they placed the sushi spinning beside you, in simple terms take as you experience like ingesting it. different than which you would be able to attempt going jusco food market, an incredible type of determination there too choose for. in case you fell like paying extras, in simple terms choose for eastern buffet

Answer 7

Because they want to make a lot of money. Plain and simple. I don't think the small slices of tuna/fish justify the prices they are charging for the portions.

Answer 8

The fish is fresh. Very fresh. Just likeyou want it to be since you are eating it raw, and ther eis no heat to kill the pathogens.

Answer 9

They use very fresh, quality ingredients. Sushi chefs go through years of training to do what they do.

Answer 10

If it's a good restaurant, their ingredients will be fresh, which means they can't buy in bulk and freeze.