Insanely affordable takeout sushi??? In Toronto?? That is unheard of! Very friendly service and a lot of fresh options. It's a very cozy place that opens up during the summer and I low-key want to gatekeep this business but I also really want to help them do well. Vibes of the place changes depending on the music. One day I came in and they were playing Toni Braxton and a screaming version of My Immortal. (Jesus who hurt this man?) but at least the music slaps. I ordered a sushi set and miso and they ended up giving me the miso for free??? They were so kind and I felt like family once I stepped in. read more

CJ Lunch Box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

One of my favourite inexpensive and quality takeout sushi place in downtown Toronto. Family run business, the staff are super nice and friendly. Pre-COVID this place is always busy so you know that the food here is really good. The sushi/maki rolls/sides are pre-packaged but you can also order from their menu. I always get the Salmon Nigiri ($9.25). The melt in your mouth salmon perfectly matches the sweetness/saltiness of the fluffy rice. The Tuna Sushi is not bad as well but I prefer the Salmon. For maki salmon, I love their Spicy Salmon, Dynamite and Spicy California Rolls. For $5+ this is a steal. I tried other takeout sushi places and CJ's sushi is so much better in terms of price/quality. When I'm in the mood for tempura, the Shrimp Tempura with Yam ($5.50) satisfies my craving. Don't forget to ask for the Spicy Mayo to dip the sweet yam coz it's sooo good! With your order comes a free miso soup. But you need to ask for it when you pay coz normally they won't give it to you. read more

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Great affordable lunch spot downtown! How did I not discover this sooner. This is a great take out or quick lunch spot if you're looking to have good take out sushi around the $10 budget. The staff were friendly and the mobile order and pick up area was clean and well organized for you to grab your order on the go. read more

CJ Lunch Box - Salmon roll and dynamite roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I literally stopped because of the long line of hungry people picking up boxes and shoving money at the cashier. The concept is simple. You pick up boxes of prepared sushi, gyoza, and seaweed salad from the open cabinet. There are cold drinks in the fridge or you can scoop up some miso soup as you wait in line. You pay (~$5 for a maki, ~8 for sushi) the cashier by the door and walk out with a good lunch in hand. The maki itself is heavy on the rice but there is enough of fish and avocado to make it delicious. The rice is soft and well seasoned, so it makes for a filling meal. Good option for a simple weekday lunch on the run! read more

CJ Lunch Box - Three boxes for $20. Enough for two people for a light lunch! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

A decent, no frills sushi joint in the Entertainment District. I wouldn't say it's super cheap nor super delicious but it sure hits the spot. Lunch rush is no joke but the line moves fast. A few seats but it's more of a grab-and-go establishment. 2 boxes of sushi for $9.50. Not bad, not bad. read more

CJ Lunch Box - yam tempura roll and salmon roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

CJ Lunch Box is a very cheap takeout sushi place that's open for lunches only. You won't find cheaper sushi anywhere else. The rolls themselves are fine. They're not too special, but they are also not bad at all. They're a step up from grocery store sushi and prepared to order (if you order at the counter or through the Ritual app). Miso soup is complimentary, just self serve and drink to your heart's content! My typical lunches at CJ lunch box are either two regular rolls or a volcano roll. Both options fill me up, but extra compliments to the volcano roll. It's so stuffed with flavours (and bonus yam tempura fries) that you'd forget you're at a budget sushi place. They get super super busy during lunch hours, with long lineups forming easily. It might take 10-15 minutes of waiting, so if you don't have that much time or are just lazy you should order through the Ritual app and come for pickup a bit later to skip the line. read more

CJ Lunch Box - Volcano roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place is underrated and insanely good. They offer best value for money and consistent quality. We ordered vegetarian sushi, miso soup and few other things. All items tasted amazing... The location is very convenient. I would not recommend dine-in but a good spot for takeouts! read more

I got a free lunch using Ritual app. I like it here because it is close to Scotiabank theatre. The sushi is just OK quality, not over the top, but worth the price. This place is good and cheap for fast food sushi. The place is small. I ordered spicy salmon sushi which I really like. The veggie dumplings are not bad. I would probably eat here for quick bite before going to movie on Tuesday. Recommend: Veggie dumplings (it has sweet potato fries), spicy salmon sushi Not Recommend: Udon read more

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There's something to be said about having the option to eat somewhere decent without breaking the bank account. Ju took me to one of her favourite quick, cheap sushi takeout joints. Although, we ended up sitting outside on their little patio which I thought was great! Perfect downtown people watching spot. - Spicy red tuna and half shrimp/half avocado ($5.00 each) - I don't think you could get sushi any cheaper. Don't expect the best sushi but these will do if you're hungry and want something to fill you up. I tried one of the spicy red tuna rolls and it was decent. That about sums it up perfectly. Great value for the price. I'd eat this over anything you'd get at a grocery store. Solid grab and go spot for a quick and easy meal. read more

CJ Lunch Box - Exterior - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Pros: - Great value. Lots of for the price - Fast service - Friendly staff - Free miso soup! Cons: - None Conclusion: This is a great spot for a quick and cheap lunch. Most rolls and mains are between $4-$5 dollars. Nothing in particular is outstanding but with a deal this good, you can't really go wrong. I would recommend CJ's read more

CJ Lunch Box - California roll, Salmon roll and Miso soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The price is good and you can be in and out of there surprisingly quick. In fact, there was a long line there and no line at the pizza place next door and I still beat my friend in speed. The staff there is very efficient and nice. That being said, the food itself is only ok. It is by no means bad, but it is not exactly amazing either and I paid $19 for three items. I was not even sure what they were when I got them, they only seem to label half of their items. Perhaps if they had a better labeling system / pricing system that you can see while you are in the long line, I would rate this place higher. So if you are a regular, you would probably be more fine with that but as a noob, I did not enjoy that part very much. read more

This place is meant to just grab and go which is awesome during lunch hours. Often times during lunch you can expect to wait 5-10 minutes in line, so I recommend using ritual to order beforehand. It is very small and seating is pretty limited. I go here when I'm not too hungry but craving sushi. It's great if you want to buy 1-2 rolls but after that it's just not worth it. If you're spending 10$+ there you might as well pick other sushi restaurants around. I don't think it's worth it after that amount since the boxes aren't super big. The rolls are usually fresh and taste more authentic than grocery store places. The sweet and sour chicken, salmon avocado roll and spicy salmon roll are my favourite, Makes a great snack. read more

CJ Lunch Box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Cheap sushi. No frills. Lunch only. I wish they opened for dinner. Is this place a front? Lol! I once found a fish scale in a salmon sushi though. No big deal. I haven't gotten sick from here yet. read more

CJ Lunch Box is super sweet, cheap and cheerful. You walk in, get in line, grab your stuff and get out. You can stuff yourself for under $8 easily, and likely your friend, too. There are a couple of tables in the corner, but I never see anyone sitting there. This place is totally take-out. Their gyozas are great, and their rolls are decent. I never go for sashimi here because I'm skeptical at this price point, but I've seen others slurp up their raw fish happily many times. PEPPER PLEADS: Cover up the miso soup. It just seems like a germ trap when it's both self serve and uncovered, CJ. read more

I just got back from the place...... While waiting for my lunch to be ready, I saw the fry cook put freshly cooked dumplings into my container, drop one, pick it up of the floor and put it into container with the rest...not cool lunch box not cool. I complained and they swapped out for another container of dumplings. I'm not sure I am that comfortable with the 5 sec rule applying at a sushi restaurant, however cheap it may be. read more

#LUNCHTORONTO #LUNCHBOX #SUSHITORONTO #YELPTO I am a huge fan of decent sushi for the price. I pay $5 for a set of salmon-avocado rolls (8 small pieces) and a miso soup. I think the miso is free. It's grab and go; they have a small patio if you want to sit there and eat but I haven't seen too many people making use of it. Because it is ready-to-go sushi in bunkers, even with a crowd in there, you're looking to wait max 8-10 minutes. ANKIE TIP: If you want a chopstick, little bowl or napkins, grab them after you pay because the staff won't put it in the bag for you. I often forget and end up chopstick or napkin less. Knocked off a star because the edamame isn't too great. read more

Fast, cheap, fresh sushi! Love it! Don't be intimidated by the line-up, it moves really fast! Staff is friendly and food is fresh. Not the best quality nor the best tasting, but the value is unbeatable! The salmon they use in the sushi is surprisingly fresh for a small sushi joint and the avocado is always ripe. Almost always the staff will throw in free pieces of yam tempura in the sushi box, a nice touch! Apparently miso soup is also free with take-out? I've always paid cash so never really noticed if they charge for it. Two boxes of filling sushi and a cup of miso soup for $8? Yes please! Cash only under $10, and above that you can use cards. read more

3 stars, or "A-Ok" perfectly describes CJ Lunch Box. I work in the area and frequent this spot for lunch (as does everyone else in the area I think). The value is hard to beat, for $6 you can get 8 pieces of maki (my preference is red tuna or the tempura shrimp) and a tray of edamame. Miso soup is far from great but it's free so who can complain? I have had the noodles and spicy chicken before and they are pretty delicious, mind you I felt like garbage a few hours later. The fried dumplings fall into the same category. The owner CJ is always so friendly and upbeat and they really do their best to get you in and out quickly. read more

Cute little sushi factory. It seems this is mainly a take out spot, they seemed surprise that I wanted to sit down and eat here. They showed me the pre-made rolls they had, but I opted for something off the menu which they had no trouble throwing together in under a minute. My yam/avocado roll came up to 5$ with a drink and I was given a pile of yam tempura on top for free! I will be back. If I wake up on time again. I suggest coming early- I can tell this place turns into a zoo around noon. read more

This is the ultimate place to get a scrumptious sushi fix! Although it is packed at lunch, the line moves very quickly, especially if you go around 1pm. Today, I shared a box of edamame, salmon roll (8pc), california roll (8pc) and a box of fried dumplings with my mom. In total, the meal was just $13! It also comes with miso soup (warning: it tastes like high sodium water...but heck, it's free!). read more

This used to be my lunch spot until I decided to go a bit healthier and cut out the sodium form my diet (soy sauce is the devil!). I actually went back today so I figured I would throw out a review. The restaurant is extremely busy always and forever (unless you get lunch at 11:30 or 2:30). Often times you will be waiting outside the restaurant. With that said, they are also extremely fast. So although it looks like you'll be in line for an hour, you'll only be in line for 15-20 minutes. This is fast food sushi. Do not expect much in the way of quality. I think people go for the experience - picking your sushi from the cooler and getting all the free goodies (spicy mayo, miso soup, tempura sauce), the staff are beyond helpful and friendly (I think the owners work the til), and it's cheap! The Good: 1. Staff. Friendly and always willing to assist or make you what you want the way you want. 2. Price. It's very inexpensive and worth the price. The Bad: 1. Size. It's just a lunch place so it's very small and very limited seating. Even if you manage to snag a seat, you will be getting bumped by the huge line RIGHT next to you. 2. Quality. The sushi is OK but it falls apart. It's fast food sushi. 3. Lines. Always always huge lines. Recommendation: go at 11:30 or 2:30 for your lunch and do not go here in between if you are in a hurry! read more

Having grown up in Metro-Detroit, I've been to Toronto quite a few times. Here for a conference, I hopped over here for a late lunch. I DO NOT regret it. Delicious, and inexpensive, but not short on flavor and flair. Very friendly and conversational staff. The special was an 8pc shrimp tempura roll and about 8 dumplings. This filling lunch was about $6. If you're looking for inexpensive but still tasty, seek no further! read more

This place was THE place to eat if you were one of the many cooped up office folks at Richmond and Spadina when it opened. While the traffic has died down a bit it is still one of the busiest places on the corner. For service and quick eats, CJ's has it locked. The owner is incredibly sweet and willing to work as many deals as he can into the lunch hour rush. It might be something as small as rounding your meal down to the closest dollar or throwing in free yam tempura but it's always appreciated. You might not want to stay in and eat because it's just so small inside but if you're doing take out you might wait all of five minutes from line up to cash out. The long cafeteria style counter has a cold, sushi combo and hot section (for noodles, bento-ish trays and spicy fried chicken nuggets that are addictive). This place would have been a solid 4 stars if it they had better prices but I find I spend the same amount for lunch at CJ as I do at other places and while CJ's food is tasty, it isn't the same quality. read more

For cheap eats of sushi, CJ Lunch Box owns the title. The staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating; the food is fresh, and you can order something quickly and painlessly if it's not available to be picked up pre-prepared during the lunch time rush. The only downside is it's no open on the weekends for a quick bite when we're downtown! read more

This place is extremely busy during office lunch hour. They're fast, convenient and tastes pretty fresh. Then again, I wouldn't frequent CJs if I didn't work in the area. A common complaint is that their sushi rolls fall apart very easily and that the complimentary miso soup is too bland. The spicy tuna rolls are covered in hot mayo and you can request extra on the side. The lunch box prices vary from $8 to $10+ so for those who are always like me, would be spending almost $20 for 2-3 lunch boxes. I suggest that they make a lunch box that contains more than 8 rolls. The front patio has a great view of people bustling about on Spadina and is mostly packed during a warm day. Overall CJs is A-OK. They could certainly improve in quality and more variety though. read more

If you are looking for a nice, quiet, easy-going place to sit down and enjoy a lunch of sushi, edamame, and miso soup, this is not the place for you. C&J Lunchbox is a fast-paced, super busy, sushi-churning factory. At any given point, you'll find at least a half a dozen employees running around, prepping sushi rolls, packaging chicken bites, and deep frying dumplings. The service is quick, and the people are really friendly, but the food is largely hit and miss. However, it's also dirt cheap and incredibly filling, so it's a definite hot spot for the lunchtime crowd around Queen/Spadina. I can't speak to the quality of the sushi - I don't eat the stuff. However, I have had their chicken bites, various noodles, dumplings, and edamame beans over the course of the few years they have been in business. Some days, the food is fantastic and I enjoy every bite. Some days everything is a little dull and without much character, but what do you expect when you can get two or three fully-stuffed trays of food for under $7. Even if I find one day to be particularly unmemorable, I tend to go back because the price can't be beat for the amount of food you get. The restaurant is a lot quieter after 1:30 or so, but the selection also begins to wane, so go early. You may not get a place to sit down, but you'll get the food at its freshest, and hopefully end up getting exactly what you came in for. read more

Today I needed a quick but filling lunch before I headed to a volunteer meeting downtown. I was able to order from CJ with my RITUAL APP (promo code $10 with CHRISTEN7181 for first time users) with 30mins before they closed. I ordered ahead and then I started walking from St. Andrews subway station. When I got there it was an easy pick-up. So the food: honestly you get what you pay for. Their maki rolls are simple, not very big (but enough for a young Asian female). The costs is also decent (hence their smaller rolls). It tastes pretty fresh too. This place is good for a quick and easy fix. I ordered the spicy salmon roll (8 pieces) for $3.99. read more

Super cheap lunch. Little sushi containers like Bento Nouveau but it's all made fresh that morning so you're in and out quick. Comes with miso soup. It's like sushi fast food! read more

As the name implies, this place is open for lunch only...and boy do they do a brisk business in just 3 hours! Lineup can be long between 12-1pm but it moves surprisingly fast since they have the throughput thing down to a science. Working nearby, I get take-out at least once per week. Everything is fresh...never been disappointed. Favourite is the tempura shrimp & avocado california rolls but the sashimi, maki rolls and sushi are great too. When I've O.D'd on sushi, they have a tasty spicy chicken. Price is very reasonable for the amount of food. $8.60 gets me two containers and a soup which fills me up. Compare that to other lunch option in this hood that come in at $10+ and I still have almost enough change from my ten-spot for a coffee later in the afternoon. read more

If you want affordable sushi that tastes good, CJ Lunch Box is the place to be. Don't be fooled by it's exterior! The good stuff is on the inside. Everything is made fresh everyday by a great staff and if you get there early enough they even have salmon nigiri sushi (and if you get there really early enough, sometimes they add in extra pieces of sashimi)! usually though I get the salmon roll plus the FREE miso soup and it comes up to like $4 for eight pieces or something ridiculous. The nigiri might be a bit more expensive but it's still pretty good for fast food sushi. It has come to a point where after working late nights/all nighters at the studio that I think it's okay to have sushi and coffee for breakfast because it just tastes so good and is really affordable. Their hours are kinda wonky though. They usually close whenever their food for the day runs out so it varies and all the good stuff goes pretty fast. I'd say good luck trying to find any salmon rolls after 2 or 3pm. Really though, I never thought I'd ever eat sushi for breakfast until I found this place. read more

A long time ago, when i first entered Waterloo as a first year student, there was a sushi house near the school called "Mr. Sushi" and the food was cheap and good and the payment was "honour system" where you just go to the unguarded cash register and pay your own bill. A year later, this extremely successfully sushi joint was sold to someone else and the glory days were over. Another year later, a place called Charlie's Lunch Box opened in a different plaza - the cheap sushi and lunch bentos were a hit and about a year or two later, the place was sold and the glory again ended. Fast forward 4 years later, this rumoured same owner opened a place in Toronto named CJs lunchbox - also cheap sushi, but I was pretty disappointed. Yes the sushi is cheap - about $4 per roll, all pre-made and placed in little boxes at the front. The prices are good for what you get, but the experience was just not the same anymore. The menu is very small (no spicy mayonniase) and miso soup now cost $1. Did Mr. Charlie sell this place again? read more

For the most part, everything is made to order. They have pre packaged items to those in a rush. If not, you can always space the 5 minute wait for fresh cut sashimi. Really inexpensive which probably explained why it's sooooooooo super busy during lunch time. read more

Cheap and cheerful sushi joint, set up mainly for takeout, with a few tables. Can't say the sushi is especially memorable - a bit mushy, like most cheap sushi - but the vegetarian gyoza were very good. Staff are super-friendly. But in the end... aside from the fast service, how different is this place really from the hundreds of others cheap sushi peddlers in town? read more

Cheap, decent and good for the price. This place is only opened for lunch and it gets super busy here. Free miso soup, sushi is already made to grab and go and you basically line up for it. Rolls are around $4.50 - $6 per roll (8pieces). It hits the spot for a quick and decent lunch. read more

Reasonably priced sushi, decent quality, fast... you won't find a quicker sushi lunch in the city. Even if you went and got the prepackaged stuff from loblaws it might take you longer because it's a bigger place to walk through...... The stuff flies off the shelf really quickly here, so even though its all packaged stuff its probably freshly made and the fish is probably pretty fresh. The chicken is pretty decent and a good side to have with some sushi to make sure you are feeling full. Some of the salmon/avocado rolls, or the packs with just salmon sushi are the ones that can go quickly. Every purchase comes with a free miso soup. Its definitely not the best miso soup in the world, as its pretty watered down. But if you just want a hot drink to go with your sushi it hits the spot. Its definitely become one of my go to lunch spots as Im currently just working across the street. read more

Super cheap sushi place. They have a line-up during lunch hours. You line up, pick your sushi/food and pay at the cashier. You can get 8 pieces of salmon rolls for $4 (including tax). The quality is not that good: you're pretty much getting what you pay for. CJ Lunch Box is open until 5pm but when you go after 2, they don't really have a lot of options. Also, I think they changed their miso soup price.. I believe it's not free anymore. You have to add a dollar. Go to this place if you don't really care about quality and just want cheap sushi! read more

Order through Ritual app. Super quick. Solid for cheap lunch sushi. Spicy salmon was good (though I mostly tasted the spicy mayo over anything else.) Small portion sizes. read more

I went here with a friend and ordered the spicy chicken and let me tell you, it was perfection. I wish it came in a bigger size because I was finished in 5 minutes and wishing I had enough money for seconds. Try to come before or after lunch time because there's always a lunch rush and there's limited seating. read more

I usually only go here if I'm working in the area. I've never spent more than $8 for lunch and it's filling enough. The sushi might not be the most presentable, but it's pretty fresh and it tastes pretty good, especially when you consider the price. There's a seemingly overwhelming line between 12-1, but it moves really quickly and the staff are always friendly. It's a great option if you're looking for something quick and cheap. read more

If given the option, I'd give CJ Lunch Box 3.5 stars. Is it cheap? Yes. Is it fast? Yes. Is it healthier than most other options in this price range in the area? Absolutely. Do you see God when you take your first bite? Nope. But for $5-$10, I'd say it's worth it. I had long been intimidated by the lunch-line of business-types, but decided it was finally time to try it out. The line curled around through the restaurant, which was fine by me because I wanted to peruse the options. I grabbed a container of the red tuna topped with sesame seeds and accompanied by pickled ginger, a lemon slice and wasabi. If you're a germaphobe, steer clear of the free miso, which is self-serve and left uncovered. I went for it, and it was great - not overly salty and piping hot. The sushi was decent and matched the price. The service was friendly and brisk. The lunch crowd is civil. This will be my go-to option for very cheap sushi when I have a craving but don't want to seriously indulge. read more