In search of cheap sushi in Columbus? Look no further than this grocery chain
Dating in 2025 is about as hard as watching a Samuel L. Jackson movie without hearing one of my favorite expletives. I believe everyone and their mother will agree, another problem is the price of a sushi date keeps going up and up without a ceiling in sight.
So, for those looking for a sushi date on a budget, we come to today’s food review: Publix’s $5 sushi rolls on Wednesday.
In addition to being affordable, this option is quick. While I was on a tight schedule this week, Ledger-Enquirer visual Journalist Mike Haskey was extremely kind to help me out and pick up a whole sushi meal from Publix to review.
The meal included three sushi rolls, a seaweed snack, two kombucha drinks, soy sauce and extra ginger. In total, all of these items totaled less than $25 before tax.
Mike picked up the classic California roll, crunchy California roll, and (my favorite) the spicy tuna roll.
The $5 sushi rolls tasted just as fresh and good as every time I had them on Wednesdays in college. It was the perfect meal for my broke college self. I would pick up two rolls on Wednesday and head to my girlfriend-at-the-time’s apartment to watch TV with her.
The California roll tasted fresh and had a slight sweetness. The crunchy California roll was sweet, savory and salty. It had the best texture with the crispy bits on top.
The spicy tuna roll tasted as good as I remember from the dozens of rolls I ate in college. The tuna had a pronounced taste that went well with the “spicy” sauce on top. Spicy sushi is never quite spicy, based on my definition of the word, but may very well be to some people.
I added wasabi to some of my sushi and the strong flavor definitely helped clear out my sinuses. The wasabi-flavored seaweed snack also added a nice crunchiness, saltiness and spiciness to some of the sushi pieces I wrapped it around.
I appreciate Mike for sharing that tip with me. Even by itself, I could see myself eating several packs of these snacks in one sitting.
Having also never had kombucha, I was a little hesitant but ultimately found the drink was amazing. The kombucha I had was mango passion fruit flavored and reminded me of a less sweet soda — that’s likely a lot healthier for me.
For a journalist on the run, this is a perfect grab-and-go meal. For those wanting a creative date idea that doesn’t cost $50-$100, I suggest having a picnic overlooking the Chattahoochee Riverwalk at sunset with a blanket, sparkling wine and a few rolls of Publix’s $5 Wednesday sushi.
Will you get a second date? Maybe not. But will you have had good sushi and company to enjoy it with? Yes.
So, if anyone wants some good sushi on a budget, I definitely suggest going to Publix on Wednesday.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM.