Cheap sushi isn’t an oxymoron in Hong Kong -- it does exist. Sushi aficionados realise, though, that quality usually counts more than quantity, and quality costs. Read any food message board and you’ll see requests for cheap sushi in any given neighborhood. Read any reply and you’ll see a snarky comment saying something like "eat at your own risk, you get what you pay for". I think part of the problem is asking for “cheap sushi”.

I think the better question is, “Where can I find sushi at a reasonable price that tastes fresh and can cure my craving hassle free?”

Well, these places exist all over town. One of my recent finds has been a small shop located on the ground floor of 16 Spring Garden Lane in Wan Chai.

It seats about 20 with a small kitchen and it has daily specials. It’s a tiny no-frills operation, but the service has always been friendly and efficient. One caveat: stay away at prime lunch hours -- there's always a line of people outside clamouring to get in. Once inside, I guess the only way to describe the prices is indeed cheap: 10 pieces of sushi for $45.

While the rice-to-fish ratio is a bit off (obviously in favour of the rice), the fish is cut well and tastes fresh. More importantly, they just don’t throw a bunch of salmon at you. The set recently included eel, salmon, crab roe, scallop, and tuna, just to name a few. With miso soup and green tea (upgrade to soda for $2), this is definitely a reasonably priced sushi that taste fresh.

Other patrons were digging in to sashimi, tempura, and rice bowls. I’d say I don’t want the secret to get out on this one -- but looks like it already is.

G/F, 16 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai.