Budget-Friendly Deals at DTPHX Asian-Inspired Restaurants

In Downtown Phoenix, there is a growing scene of Asian American and Pacific Islander small business owners looking to share their Asian-inspired restaurants with the community.

Foodies of all ages love to support the local economy, but sometimes the experience can be costly.

That’s why we’ve rounded up all the budget-friendly deals you should know about in Downtown Phoenix—from lunch specials to happy hours, go embrace and experience these Asian-inspired restaurants.

Lunch Specials

Harumi Sushi & Sake

If you’re looking for a secretly elevated lunch experience at an affordable price, look no further than Harumi Sushi & Sake.

“All we care about is quality and service,” says owner Jessica Kim, who discloses that Harumi hasn’t raised prices in three years in order to achieve that goal. “We offer the best lunch in the area,” Kim says. You can expect their signature purple rice topped with fresh fish, and sushi rolls mixed and matched with miso soup for under $20 during lunch.

Non-lunch-goers can still enjoy a diverse array of 3 half rolls for $22, and non-sushi items like udon noodles and cooked rolls populate the menu, too, for those looking beyond sushi and nigiri.

Ramen Kagawa

Replace your college memories of instant ramen with Ramen Kagawa’s signature Spicy Miso Tonkotsu Ramen, which includes a hearty miso broth cooked for 12+ hours, plus a choice between chashu pork or chicken.

The Ramen Lunch Special includes any ramen plus one tasty side for under $20. The sides themselves include a choice of fried gyoza, Takoyaki, edamame, and mini curry.

Thai Basil

Tired of eating the same proteins day-after-day? Thai Basil offers over 10 protein options for its lunch specials, all under $20.

From traditional chicken, pork, and beef, to seafood like calamari, sole, and salmon, to even lamb, duck, or tofu, too! All entrees include a spring roll and soup, and some options include jasmine or brown rice.

Happy Hour

Sake Haus

Happy Hour at Sake Haus is great for a group outing or a couple’s date night with 25% off the entire food menu and 50% off glasses of sake, beer, and hot sake carafes on weeknights.

“Our food menu focuses heavily on our signature nigiri,” says General Manager Sydney Holloway. “Chef Joe Cajipe dresses each piece to complement the fish's flavors, allowing the fish to be the star of the show. I recommend ordering the Kin Omakase, which features five pieces of our signature nigiri, all chef's choice.”

Pair your nigiri with sake, as the namesake implies, guests can choose from 50+ sake varieties, but the Head Bartender, Richard Cardenas’ top three sake recommendations include: The Six Poets, Nanbu Bijin, and Kentaro Penguin.

Insider tip: Industry Nights on Monday and Tuesday are all night long and include 50% off bottles of sake, and this extends to non-industry guests as well.

Obon Sushi Bar Ramen

Pick your poison and pair it with nigiri or sashimi at Obon Sushi Bar Ramen.

“We’re the only restaurant in Downtown Phoenix that offers 50% off nigiri and sashimi,” says General Manager, Po Villar. Start with the unique, Obon Edamame sautéed in Asian Chamoy and order a Pineapple Express, a twist on a pineapple daiquiri, or a Soju Spritz, a light cocktail medley of watermelon, lychee, and hibiscus.

If you miss Happy Hour, you can still grab a deal by ordering Obon’s Taiwanese steamed $8 Bao Buns; look out for seasonal bao bun specials like soft-shelled crab in rotation. Or, if you’d like to try fried sushi rice topped with spicy salmon, scallop, and spicy tuna, try the Crispy Trio, a sampler of all three, for around $20.

Rice Bowls + Sushi Rolls

Cupbop

“Shhh…Just Eat!” is displayed loudly on the yellow walls of Cupbop, and once you’ve ordered a Cupbop, you’ll understand why.

“Bop” means “rice” in Korean, and they’ve mastered the art of Korean-style rice bowls here, with each bowl including a protein, rice, cabbage mix, and noodles, for under $12. If you’ve had to work through lunch, grab a K-dawg for less than $6 or stop by on Mandoo Pop Monday for Mandoo Cupbops under $10.

Omoide Sushi and Noodle Bar

Tucked in the shopping plaza of Arizona Center, at Omoide Sushi and Noodle Bar, you can customize your lunch special starting at $10.95. These lunch rice bowls under $11 give you an option to add-on everything from a 4-piece sushi roll like Shrimp Tempura, California, Spicy Tuna, or Salmon, to steamed vegetables, to egg rolls.

Ricemill

If you’re open to exploring rice bowls with a twist, head over to Ricemill. Ricemill’s Chef’s Signature Bowls average less than $15 a bowl, and have Asian-inspired comfort food, like Hongkong Popcorn Chicken, Thai Curry Chicken, and Szechuan Mala Steak. Or, let your creativity conquer, with the Build-Your-Own-Bowl option starting at $11.55.

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Mer Norwood is a lifestyle content creator and marketer who loves to showcase all the city has to offer, from local spots to creative business owners, and the community that supports them. Follow her on Instagram @shemovesphx.