Sushi Center Ura Tennoji

I once visited a fish shop called Fish Stand Fuji in Shin-Osaka, which attracted attention with its catchphrase, “A shop where seafood is cheap.” I feel like there are now a few shops that appear to be affiliated with this shop scattered throughout Osaka. One of these shops is Sushi Center Ura Tennoji, which I will introduce here. This shop also has a good reputation for being very cost-effective with its catchphrase, “A sushi shop where seafood is cheap.” I decided to visit the shop to see what it was like…

Despite having “sushi” in its name, this restaurant is essentially a cheap izakaya… Sushi Center Ura Tennoji is a restaurant like this…

I visited Sushi Center Ura Tennoji at around 1:50 p.m. on a weekday. Ten minutes before opening time, there were already about 10 people gathered in front of the restaurant, proving its popularity even at this odd time of the afternoon. I wrote my name in the sign-up sheet at the front of the restaurant and waited for it to open. The store opened on time, and I was guided inside in the order in which I had written my name.

The interior had a chaotic, old-town vibe, and according to Retty information, there are a total of 50 seats. About 20 of those seats are along the kitchen in a straight counter, and after me, more and more people who looked like regulars kept coming in and sitting down. So, even though the store name says “sushi,” it’s basically a cheap izakaya. It seems to be on the same line as Sushi Sakaba Sashisu, which has spread from Umeda to various locations. 

As always, the cost performance was divine… Introducing all 7 dishes I ordered at Sushi Center Ura Tennoji

Now, let’s take a look at all 7 dishes I ordered at Sushi Center Ura Tennoji that day. Is the catchphrase “a sushi restaurant where seafood is cheap” really true? Let’s find out…

Appetizer + Authentic Fresh Lemon Gin Soda

First, along with the appetizer, I was served an “autograph drink” called Authentic Fresh Lemon Gin Soda (Price: 528 yen including tax). The appetizer served to me was grilled salmon belly, but observing other customers, it seemed that the type of appetizer served varied by person. Well, I had no complaints about the grilled salmon belly. On the other hand, the signature drink, the authentic fresh lemon gin soda, had a lighter lemon flavor and alcohol content than expected, but the sweet and sour pickled radish surprisingly complemented the drink well.

Fish Market Sashimi Platter

The first dish I ordered was the Fish Market Sashimi Platter (price: 1,100 yen including tax). It was a generous platter of tuna red meat, medium fatty tuna, grilled sea bream, squid, sardines, and more. Isn’t 1,000 yen plus tax amazing? When I saw this, I thought, “Isn’t this cheaper than a sashimi platter at the supermarket?”

Salt-grilled fish collar

The next dish I ordered was the Salt-grilled fish collar (price: 440 yen including tax). The fish was probably yellowtail… It’s hard to tell from the image above, but it looked quite large and meaty. However, the fat content was a bit lacking. Well, sometimes that happens…

Fresh fish belly nigiri 

The third item I ordered from the sushi menu was fresh fish belly nigiri. At 275 yen (tax included) for two pieces, I think the price is comparable to that of a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. The size is just right, and when I put it in my mouth, it had just the right amount of fat. When you’re craving fatty fish, this is just what you need!

Ikura Ochoko Donburi

The fourth item was the Instagram-worthy Ikura Ochoko Donburi (440 yen including tax). It has a visually appealing appearance that would be popular with women. If you arrange several of these together for a photo, it could create an interesting image. However, it is essentially just a variation of the ikura gunkan-maki. Still, I thought it was a good idea to offer two options—ikura gunkan-maki or ikura donburi—depending on whether nori is used or not.

Whale’s jaw meat nigiri

Thinking it was time to wrap things up, I chose Whale’s jaw meat nigiri as the fifth item. This is a rare menu item that you don’t see at other restaurants, and the price is 418 yen + tax for two pieces. It looked and tasted a lot like beef. The grated garlic on top went really well with it.

Super Red Miso Soup

Finally, I ordered the Super Red Miso Soup (418 yen including tax) to finish my meal. This Super Red Miso Soup apparently contains akamoku, which is good for the liver. It’s perfect as a finale after drinking alcohol. Additionally, this red miso soup has a strong seafood broth flavor. It’s hard to recall another miso soup with such a strong seafood broth flavor. Finally, the intense broth hit my tongue and brain hard. There’s no other way to describe it except “impressive!”

In total, including drinks, there were seven items on the bill, but even including the appetizer, the total amount was less than 4,000 yen. The last time I visited Fish Stand Fuji was four years ago, and despite significant inflation since then, the prices remain at this level, which is surprising. The cost-performance ratio is still divine. The atmosphere might not be ideal for families with children, but if you’re looking for affordable sushi in Tennoji, this place is definitely a strong contender. 

Other sushi menu items at Sushi Center Ura Tennoji (prices include tax)

• Dancing shrimp (large) 1 piece 330 yen
• Delicious fatty tuna 1 piece 308 yen
• Live abalone 2 pieces 440 yen
• Raw sea urchin 2 pieces 440 yen
• Tiger pufferfish 2 pieces 440 yen
• In-store grilled egg 2 pieces 165 yen
• Sardine 2 pieces 165 yen

Actually, they also offer takeout… Sushi Center Ura Tennoji is located a 2-minute walk from Tennoji Station on the JR Loop Line (Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line).

Sushi Center Ura Tennoji also offers takeout. When I was at the restaurant, I saw other customers ordering sushi to take home as they were leaving. It’s as cheap as conveyor belt sushi, so it’s a good idea to buy some to take home as souvenirs for your family. If you make a reservation using the phone number below, you can pick up your order at your desired time, which is convenient, so please take advantage of this service.

Here are the details of the store…

It is a 7-minute walk from Osaka Abenobashi Station on the Kintetsu Namba Line.