One of our favorite spots to splurge when it comes to Carnival Cruise Line is at specialty restaurant Bonsai Sushi. We’ve dined at Bonsai Sushi many times over the years and we always leave satisfied! But don’t let the name fool you. Bonsai Sushi isn’t just for sushi-lovers. In fact, Bonsai Sushi can even be a great option for non-seafood eaters, believe it or not! The menu is quite expansive and includes a variety of appetizers, sushi roles, sashimi options, Japanese plates, build-your-own bowls, and more. Let’s take a look at the Bonsai Sushi Menu and Pricing with Photos!
Ranking Bonsai Sushi Dishes
Before we get into the menu and pricing, take a moment to check out our Bonsai Sushi Expanded Menu Video on YouTube. We try almost a dozen dishes for you and rank order them so you know what to try (and what to avoid!) to get the most for your money.
Ordering at Bonsai Sushi
The Bonsai Sushi menu is unique in that you receive a pad full of tear-away menus. You also receive a pencil to mark your selections. To start, simply write your name at the top of the menu!
Next, you’ll review the various sections of the Bonsai Sushi menu. The expanded menu is divided into several sections:
- Appetizers
- Yakiton (grilled skewers)
- Sushi (individual pieces)
- Sashimi (thin, freshly sliced raw fish)
- Sushi Rolls
- Chef’s Specials
- Japanese Plates
- Noodle Bowls
- Desserts
As you identify dishes you’d like to try, simply fill in the circles next to the item. If you have any questions about the menu, your Bonsai Sushi server can help answer those before you place your order.
Once you’ve finished with your selections, your server simply tears off the top menu from the pad and reviews it with you. They’ll ask about any food allergies and confirm your selections.
Bonsai Sushi Pricing
We find Bonsai Sushi pricing to be quite reasonable, especially when compared to other cruise lines. We dined at the Sushi Bar onboard Norwegian Sky and the rolls were more than double the price, and the presentation was downright SAD compared to Bonsai Sushi.
Appetizers, Yakiton, Sushi and Sashimi pieces range in price from $3-$5. Rolls run either $8 or $9 and Japanese plates range between $8-$12. The Noodle Bowls are $8 each, and you have the option to add on tempura vegetables for an additional $3. As of the time of this writing, Bento Boxes are $16 and the Ship for 2 is $32.
We used to exclusively get the Ship for 2 when visiting Bonsai Sushi. But then Carnival raised the price multiple times in rapid succession. So we put together a little breakdown of whether or not the Ship for 2 is still worth it and give you an alternate option in our post Is the Ship for 2 Worth the Price at Bonsai Sushi? (post coming soon; be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!)
Bonsai Sushi Full Menu (late 2024)
The full menu includes descriptions of what each dish includes. It’s important to note that you can customize most of the dishes on the Bonsai Sushi menu, so if you see something in a roll you don’t like, or you want to swap out something in the Ship for 2, just ask.
In late 2024, we dined at Bonsai Sushi. You can see some of the dishes we selected on the menu below. For the larger version, just click the menu.
Bonsai Sushi Food
So now that you are familiar with the menu and pricing, let’s take a look at some of the photos from our amazing meal at Bonsai Sushi. To see everything we enjoyed, be sure to watch our Bonsai Sushi Expanded Menu Video.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned in the opening, Bonsai Sushi is one of our favorite upcharge restaurants on Carnival Cruise Line. They’re open for lunch and dinner and we think the price point is absolutely worth it – especially when compared to some other cruise lines. The food is fresh and tasty, and the servers are always happy to answer questions and make sure you have a great time.
Have you enjoyed sushi on a cruise ship? Have you dined at Bonsai Sushi? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and tell us what you enjoy!