Seafood and Sushi Prices in South Africa: Fishaways, Ocean Basket and Simply Asia (2026)
Quick answer: where is seafood cheapest?
Fishaways is the budget choice for fish: a whole baby hake with chips or rice costs R49.90. Ocean Basket is a sit-down restaurant with a much higher starting price, and its platters begin at R235 for one person. For sushi, Simply Asia is the cheapest place to start (six avocado maki for R32), but while it runs, Ocean Basket’s Epic Catch Sushi 20 promotion, at R145 for 20 pieces, is the best price per piece we track.
Seafood is one of the more expensive things to eat out in South Africa, and the price you pay depends heavily on where you go. This page compares the three chains we cover, using the prices on our Fishaways, Ocean Basket and Simply Asia pages, checked in September 2026.
Fish and chips
| Fishaways meal | Price |
|---|---|
| Whole Baby Hake & Chips or Rice | R49.90 |
| Whole Baby Hake, Chips and Mini Loaf | R64.90 |
| Crunchy Fish Fingers and Chips | R69.90 |
| 2 Whole Baby Hake, Rice, Chips and Coleslaw | R84.90 |
| Snoek & Chips or Rice | R94.90 |
| Hake and Chips | R104.90 |
| Hake, Rice, Chips and Coleslaw Meal | R116.90 |
The baby hake meals are where Fishaways is cheapest: at R49.90, a whole baby hake with chips costs less than half of the standard Hake and Chips (R104.90). Two whole baby hake with rice, chips and coleslaw is R84.90, which is still cheaper than one standard hake meal. Snoek, the Cape favourite, is R94.90 with chips or rice. Ocean Basket’s Famous Fish & Chips is sold in several portion sizes starting at 200g; see our Ocean Basket menu page for the current prices.
Seafood platters: the price per person
| Platter | Serves | Price | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishaways Platter for One | 1 | R179.90 | R179.90 |
| Ocean Basket Platter for One | 1 | R235 | R235 |
| Ocean Basket Platter for Two | 2 | R455 | R227.50 |
| Fishaways Platter for Four | 4 | R329.90 | R82.48 |
| Ocean Basket Family Platter | 3 to 4 | R575 | R143.75 to R191.67 |
| Ocean Basket Full Deck Platter | 4 to 6 | R695 | R115.83 to R173.75 |
At Ocean Basket, the Platter for Two saves only R7.50 a head compared with ordering two Platters for One. The bigger platters are where the real savings are: with six people sharing the Full Deck, it works out at R115.83 each, about half the single-platter price. What’s on each platter differs, so compare the contents as well as the price. Fishaways’ Platter for Four is the cheapest seafood platter per person we track.
Sushi: the price per piece
| Sushi | Chain | Price | Per piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado or Cucumber Maki (6pc) | Simply Asia | R32.00 | R5.33 |
| Epic Catch Sushi 20 (promotion) | Ocean Basket | R145.00 | R7.25 |
| Menu B, 8-piece mixed platter | Simply Asia | R89.00 | R11.13 |
| 16-Piece Platter with Prawn Tempura | Fishaways | R199.90 | R12.49 |
| Menu E, 15-piece platter | Simply Asia | R189.00 | R12.60 |
| Menu D, 10-piece platter | Simply Asia | R129.00 | R12.90 |
| Menu F, 12-piece platter | Simply Asia | R159.00 | R13.25 |
Simply Asia’s bigger platters don’t get cheaper per piece. The 8-piece Menu B is actually its best-value platter. The standout right now is Ocean Basket’s Epic Catch Sushi 20, at R7.25 a piece, but it is a limited-time promotion, so check our Ocean Basket specials page to see whether it is still running. Outside of that promotion, Ocean Basket’s regular sushi starts at R170 for Sushi For One. We compare the two chains in detail in Simply Asia vs Ocean Basket sushi.
Finding a branch, and halaal questions
Our Ocean Basket locations guide lists every branch by province and explains which things vary between branches. If you are visiting Cape Town, we also have a page on the V&A Waterfront branch. Halaal status is a common question for both seafood chains, and it varies by branch: see the halaal sections on our Fishaways and Ocean Basket menu pages, and our halaal fast food guide.
Seafood prices: common questions
Is Fishaways cheaper than Ocean Basket?
Yes. Fishaways is a takeaway chain with fish meals from R49.90, while Ocean Basket is a sit-down restaurant where a platter for one starts at R235. The two aren’t quite the same kind of meal, and our Fishaways page explains the differences.
How much is an Ocean Basket platter for two?
R455, which is R227.50 per person. The Family Platter (R575) and the Full Deck Platter (R695) cost less per person if you have three or more people.
Where is the cheapest sushi in South Africa?
For a small order, Simply Asia: six avocado or cucumber maki cost R32. For a bigger order, Ocean Basket’s Epic Catch Sushi 20 at R145 is the cheapest per piece while the promotion lasts.