Any piece of sushi for ¥100

Sushi is usually considered a luxury dish, with a meal at a high-class restaurant costing several thousand yen per person. But a fast-food version exists in the form of conveyor-belt sushi establishments. In these places, pieces of sushi on plates pass in front of customers on a conveyor belt, and customers simply grab the plates they want. The bite-size slabs of sticky rice may be topped with raw fish or with cooked ingredients, such as boiled or grilled conger eel. If a desired item fails to come around on the conveyor belt, customers may order it by calling out for, say, tuna or horse mackerel to the chefs behind the counter. Some establishments charge different prices for each type of sushi, while others charge a flat rate for all items. Most places charge at least ¥100 per plate, with a plate consisting of two pieces of sushi. The traditional condiment, sliced pickled ginger, is available on an all-you-can-eat basis. A meal of sushi is typically washed down with hot tea, which conveyor-belt sushi customers make themselves using the hot-water spigot and tea bags or tea leaves provided. Some establishments prepare their sushi by hand; others use a machine. At a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, it is possible to fill up on sushi for only ¥1,000 - ¥2,000 (about $9 - $18). Although these fast-food places may give smaller-sized toppings than high-class sushi restaurants, they also offer nontraditional side-menu items, such as cake and fruit, so they are popular for family dining, too. previous | next