Cheap Eats: Manpuku Sushi

When it comes to sushi, the old adage is true: you get what you pay for. There is great, fresh sushi — and there is inexpensive sushi. Who would opt for latter, given a choice?

But Berkeley is a student city, afterall, and there are times when all of us need a cheap-but-cheerful dose of wasabi-laden fish for nothing but the change in our pocket.

At on College Avenue, you can grab a spicy tuna roll for $2.75, or nigiri for just over a buck a piece. How about the special rolls — from the usual spider and rainbow rolls to an "Ashby Maki" or "Aloha Roll" — for $6.75 or less? If you're cash-strapped with a craving, it doesn't get much cheaper than this.

Of course, bargains don't negate the fundamental rules of sushi. This is not gourmet Japanese meal, but rather a quick-fix. The color of the fish is more toward the beige end of the spectrum, and the rolls are less than neat. On the upside, the miso soup is $1.25 and the wasabi is good and strong.