This New EPCOT Restaurant Is WAY Cheaper Than You Think

It can be tough to choose where you want to dine in EPCOT.

EPCOT

EPCOT offers so many amazing food options throughout the World Showcase, and it can be even more challenging to plan meals when a festival is going on, like the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, which runs from now until November 23rd. There is a new restaurant that opened in the World Showcase last year, and if you are still on the fence about where to eat during a visit to EPCOT, we have the perfect recommendation for you.

Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya opened in EPCOT’s Japan Pavilion in the World Showcase in August of 2023. Throughout the year, the menu at this restaurant will change as the restaurant celebrates different seasonal Japanese festivals. Throughout the year, there will be a new celebration that you can enjoy from your table. While dining here, you will not only encounter delicious food but also have the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture as a cultural representative will teach you some Japanese history while you dine.

Shiki Sai Entrance

Atmosphere

As we mentioned, the restaurant changes with the seasons, so the decor changes throughout the year. We love the atmosphere; it feels very warm and welcoming. The aesthetic is top-tier, and the LED screens that change with the seasons are super cool. Plus, the restaurant faces the World Showcase Lagoon, and it is absolutely stunning.

LED Windows

The staff really makes the experience wonderful. They are incredibly attentive and kind. Our server actually shared that since she is from Japan, when she feels homesick, she will eat here to make her feel at home because the atmosphere, service, and menu are so authentic.

Japan Cultural Representative

In the past, you may have seen us rave about their Chef’s Special Sushi and Sashimi Fune, which is essentially a sushi boat. While this is some of the best sushi and sashimi we have ever had at Disney World, it costs $300. The presentation is gorgeous, but don’t let this one expensive menu item throw you away from considering dining here.

Quincy and Emma with the Sushi Boat

The menu here is huge—not exactly as big as the Cheesecake Factory, but still very big. Our team recently dined here, and they ended up spending 20 minutes going through the menu before they could decide what they wanted. And don’t worry if you are not too familiar with the food—the menu has pictures to help you determine what you want, as some people may not be familiar with Japanese cuisine.

Since the menu is so big, there are a ton of options that are way cheaper than the $300 sushi boat. One of our best tips is to order a bunch of different dishes for the table to share. The portions of food are decently sized, so this allows everyone to try a bit of everything.

Emma, with the menu

Now, you may wonder if sharing food is going to fuel you up for the rest of the day and trust us, you are going to walk away full.

Dining room

Eats

If you are looking for some inspiration on what to order for the table, we tried the Ishiyaki-Sukiyaki Rice, which has grilled strips of beef in a hot stone bowl served tableside along with spinach and rice in a sweet garlic sauce. This dish was $28, but as we said, the portions here are huge and can be shared. We will be dreaming of the day that we get to go back and order this again; it is incredible. We also really liked the extra touch of how it is served table-side.

We also got the Kamo Udon, which has udon noodles topped with slices of braised duck. The broth was so light and flavorful, the duck was tender, and the udon noodles were super soft. This cost us $30.

Next, we ordered the Ume Shiso Roll for $25. This sushi is excellent quality and super fresh without being fishy or salty. We found the flavors to be bright and wonderful.

Finally, we ordered the Beef Yaki-Udon for $28. This dish has stir-fried udo noodles tossed with beef and vegetables. And you guessed it, this dish was delicious. We found the sauce to be sweet and savory, similar to the flavor of teriyaki. The meat was cooked perfectly and was super tender. The vegetables were fresh, and the noodles were cooked so well that they were not soggy or mushy.

Overall

Overall, we always leave highly impressed. The atmosphere, service, and food quality are top-tier.

The view of the World Showcase Lagoon is beautiful!

The portions are very large and shareable, which allows you to sample an array of authentic dishes with your entire party. While the portions are big, they are so tasty that you will want to finish it all. This is THE place to try sushi at Disney World, and the sushi is priced affordably since it is such high-quality food.

Before the tip, we paid $130 for five dishes shared between four people, and we found it to be well worth it. This is an incredible dining experience, especially for Disney standards. Between the friendly and credible service and authentic and fresh food, Shiki Sai is not to be missed.