The best chirashi dons under $30

Say cheap bara chirashi, and this is probably the first name that comes to mind. Seats for their omakase meals are still as elusive as ever, but Teppei's famous kaisen don can be readily had at five locations across town.

The cheapest bowl ($16) can be found at his Syokudo stands at Takashimaya and Millenia Walk, and prices peak at his Hanare buffet joint ($17.60), whose bara chirashi set comes with four all-you-can-eat sides. Either way, there’s no getting enough of the fat chunks of salmon, tuna, swordfish, ark clam and ikura and a gleam of seasoning that bury a small serving of rice beneath.

This cosy nook at China Square dishes out bowls of bara chirashi ($17) with  minced tuna, salmon, swordfish, yellowtail, tobiko, shrimp roe, ikura and  crunchy tempura crumbs. If you're in the mood for uni, add lobes of them on for $9. Each order is served with a salad and a miso soup.

Says who you can’t eat well on the cheap on Orchard Road? Tanuki Raw, owned by the folks behind Standing Sushi Bar, dishes out kaisen dons that are brimming with scallop, striped jack, sea bream, tuna, swordfish, salmon, tamago and ikura. Both the chirashi and bara chirashi are priced at $17.80.

Push past the heavy doors of this Purvis Street shop to fill up on the chirashi set of tuna, swordfish, yellowtail, tamago, unagi, and salmon roe. The serving size is generous, and you’ll be hard-pressed to finish the accompanying miso soup and watermelon wedges.