I ate at a “Choo-choo train” sushi restaurant twice while in Osaka. I was thrilled as plates of sushi chugged along as I decided which one to pick. The first restaurant that we went to charged sushi by the plate whereas the second one was a sushi-all-you can restaurant where we stacked empty plates as fast we could – as fast as the shinkansen!
Conveyor belt sushi is the popular English translation for Japanese fast-food sushi. Kaiten-zushi is a sushi restaurant where the plates with the sushi are placed on a rotating conveyor belt that winds through the restaurant and moves past every table and counter seat. Customers may place special orders, but most simply pick their selections from a steady stream of fresh sushi moving along the conveyor belt. The final bill is based on the number and type of plates of the consumed sushi.
The most remarkable feature of conveyor belt sushi is the stream of plates winding through the restaurant. The selection is usually not limited to sushi; it may also include drinks, fruits, desserts, soups, and others. Condiments and tools are usually found near the seats, for example pickled ginger, chopsticks, soy sauce and wasabi. Self-served tea and ice water is usually complimentary, with cups stacked on a shelf above the conveyor belt and green tea powder in a storage container on the table. There is also a hot water faucet at the tables to make tea!
The bill is calculated by counting the number and type of plates of the consumed sushi. Plates with different colors, patterns, or shapes have different prices, usually ranging from 100 yen to 500 yen. The cost of the different plates is shown on signboards or posters in the restaurant. In general, cheap items come on plain plates, and the level of plate decoration is related to the price. The most expensive items tend to come on gold colored plates.
Conveyor belt sushi restaurants are often frequented by value-minded consumers and those who may not have time for a leisurely meal. They are popular among foreigners and families with children: No Japanese language skills are needed to read a menu or to order.
Conveyor belt sushi is the popular English translation for Japanese fast-food sushi. Kaiten-zushi is a sushi restaurant where the plates with the sushi are placed on a rotating conveyor belt that winds through the restaurant and moves past every table and counter seat. Customers may place special orders, but most simply pick their selections from a steady stream of fresh sushi moving along the conveyor belt. The final bill is based on the number and type of plates of the consumed sushi.
The most remarkable feature of conveyor belt sushi is the stream of plates winding through the restaurant. The selection is usually not limited to sushi; it may also include drinks, fruits, desserts, soups, and others. Condiments and tools are usually found near the seats, for example pickled ginger, chopsticks, soy sauce and wasabi. Self-served tea and ice water is usually complimentary, with cups stacked on a shelf above the conveyor belt and green tea powder in a storage container on the table. There is also a hot water faucet at the tables to make tea!
The bill is calculated by counting the number and type of plates of the consumed sushi. Plates with different colors, patterns, or shapes have different prices, usually ranging from 100 yen to 500 yen. The cost of the different plates is shown on signboards or posters in the restaurant. In general, cheap items come on plain plates, and the level of plate decoration is related to the price. The most expensive items tend to come on gold colored plates.
Conveyor belt sushi restaurants are often frequented by value-minded consumers and those who may not have time for a leisurely meal. They are popular among foreigners and families with children: No Japanese language skills are needed to read a menu or to order.
