Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki: Carnival Cruise Line's Japanese restaurants (with menus)
When my husband and I took our first Carnival cruise 17 years ago on Carnival Conquest, the sushi completely won us over. At the time, the ship had a pop-up station that served small plates of fresh (and free) sushi and sake for a limited time before dinner. It was one of the highlights of our cruise, and when the line rolled out the permanent for-fee Bonsai Sushi restaurant in 2012, we were over the moon.
Today, Carnival's onboard sushi offering has extended to include a takeaway sushi venue and a teppanyaki-style restaurant on many ships. Whether your Carnival ship features a Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Sushi Express or Bonsai Teppanyaki, I wholeheartedly encourage you to check it out.
Here's everything you need to know, from what's on the menu to which ships feature the popular sushi outposts.
What are Carnival’s Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki?
Bonsai Sushi is an extra-charge a la carte sushi restaurant. The line launched the venue on Carnival Breeze in 2012, and today, it's on 15 Carnival ships. It opens for lunch at noon (on sea days) and for dinner at 5 p.m. (on sea days and port days).
Select ships without a Bonsai Sushi outpost feature a Bonsai Sushi Express takeaway counter. The condensed menu features shrimp, salmon and yellowfin tuna sushi or sashimi and four rolls — California, spicy tuna, bang bang Bonsai and tempura. You'll find a Bonsai Sushi Express on Carnival Conquest, Carnival Elation, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Paradise.
Bonsai Teppanyaki, Carnival’s first Japanese teppanyaki-style restaurant, debuted on Carnival Horizon in 2018.
As with land-based teppanyaki-style dining, the experience is part dinner and part theater. The restaurant features teppanyaki chefs who prepare tableside dishes with a dramatic flourish of knives and spatulas, often flinging food about for effect. It's a fun show, and kids usually go bananas over it.
The restaurant is intimate, with just two or three cooking stations that seat about 16 (depending on the ship), so you’ll want to make reservations early.
Carnival Bonsai Sushi and Carnival Bonsai Teppanyaki menus
The Bonsai Sushi menu features starters like wagyu short ribs with caramelized onion and teriyaki sauce and a refreshing Bonsai noodle salad with ginger, sake, cold rice noodles, tomatoes, mushrooms and a chilled tomato dressing.
One of my favorite rolls here is the tempura roll with fried shrimp, cucumber, yuzu mayo, avocado and Bonsai Sushi sauce. Anther personal favorite is the California roll which is filled with crab, avocado, cucumber, sesame and tobiko mayo. My daughter orders the spicy tuna roll without fail — spicy tuna, tempura flakes, asparagus, tobiko, Yukon gold potato straws and spicy mayo.
You can also pair your meal with a Japanese beer, a glass of wine or sake.
As with land-based teppanyaki-style restaurants, the Bonsai Teppanyaki menu includes a choice of miso soup or salad, starters like teppanyaki white shrimp or pork belly yakitori, and a variety of protein options for your entree. Choose among teriyaki salmon, shichimi spiced grilled chicken, filet mignon, lobster, black cod and grilled tofu.
Can’t decide? Opt for one of the combinations — shrimp and spiced grilled chicken or a filet mignon paired with shrimp, salmon or lobster tail.
What does it cost to eat at Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki?
A la carte prices at Bonsai Sushi range from $1.50 (per piece) for sushi or sashimi to $22 for the “Ship for 2” chef special; this includes miso soup, a side salad, two rolls and six pieces of sushi.
Bonsai Teppanyaki is priced at a flat $38 per person for lunch and $42 per person for dinner.
Which Carnival ships have Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki?
Bonsai Sushi is currently on 15 Carnival ships — Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Legend, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Pride, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Vista and Carnival Mardi Gras.
You’ll find Bonsai Teppanyaki on six Carnival vessels — Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
- 43 Carnival Cruise Line tips, tricks and hacks to enhance your vacation at sea
- Best Carnival cruise ships: Here's which ship you should sail, based on your travel style
- Carnival cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise, Fun Ship style
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.