Without a doubt, my favorite cuisine is sushi. If I could, I'd eat it every day. Aside from the health risks of eating raw fish every day, there is one factor that prevents me from doing so: the cost. If you like sushi, you know how difficult it is to find a good spicy tuna roll for a reasonable price, especially as a college student. Sushi, as we all know, is a traditional Japanese dish that dates back to the 2nd century. But did you know that sushi was first introduced to the United States in 1970? True, sushi has only been available in the United States for about 50 years, with California being the first to embrace it (no surprise there). With this in mind, the rising cost of sushi in the reason why is sushi so expensive the United States becomes much clearer.
According to the 2017 Bloomberg Sushinomics Index, sushi prices increased by 2.3 percent last year, compared to a general inflation rate of 0.9 percent. While it's nice to know that someone is keeping track of these rising prices, the real question is why is sushi so expensive in the first place. There is no "official" or "one-size-fits-all" solution to this problem, but here are a few options.
Unfortunately, your sushi may be more expensive simply because of where you live. It's important to remember that there is no set price for sushi, and prices vary greatly across the country. The most significant price increases in 2017 occurred in Florida, Silicon Valley, and Washington, DC, according to the Sushinomics Index, with New York topping the list as the most expensive basic sushi roll (containing 6 pieces) at $8.72. Yikes.
Sushi is made with local fish in Japan, whereas restaurants in the United States are more likely to import fish, which can be expensive, resulting in higher sushi prices. Bummer.
If you've ever eaten at a sushi restaurant, you'll know that the experience is frequently more important than the food. As a result, you frequently end up paying for that specific experience. Masa, a sushi restaurant in New York City, is currently the most expensive in the country. The main location only seats 26 people (by reservation only) and dinner costs $595. (not including beverages and tax). Masa, on the other hand, does not accept gratuity because it is considered impolite in Japanese culture.
Have you ever seen a sushi chef at work? My homemade sushi, on the other hand, would be a chunky, uneven mess. Sushi making requires dexterity, precision, and patience. Sushi chef is a prestigious position in Japan that requires years of practice to master. I like eating at restaurants where the sushi chefs are visible to the customers so that I can watch them work. Restaurants can charge a premium for service because it takes skill and patience.