I so wanted to jump up on the conveyor belt and ride around for a few spins. Definitely a fun way to eat sushi, but be aware that the cost can pile up! If you’re anything like me just a few plates won’t do. As each plate moves along a conveyor belt you grab what you want. Each selection is priced according to dish color. After around five plates and a soda I realized I was hitting the $15 mark. Did I stop? Hell no! Pile on those plates of tasty fish. East Japanese Restaurant over in the Kips Bay section of NYC is one of the spots I hit up for an occasional meal during my work lunch break.
This is a solid place to get affordable eats. The sushi is fresh and I am able to sit close to the kitchen and watch them prepare then place the plates on the belt. Watching the food roll by is kind of mesmerizing. Service is pretty much non-existent as it is more like a do-it-yourself deal, which is fine by me when sitting up by the sushi belt counter. Staff will come by to bring you something to drink and remove all the plate covers piling up. There are charts in front of you listing the prices for each color plate. Usually in the $1.75 – $6.00 range. So when the plates pile up be sure to keep a tab on how much it all adds up to. There is a chef hanging out in the middle that can also make rolls on request if you want something different. Be nice and make friends. He is handling your food!
Each day seems to have different specials too – especially on Monday to Wednesday. Check the menu on the door when you walk in. A solid 3.5 stars. Not super high quality stuff, but decent enough to have an enjoyable yet quirky sushi meal. Many different sushi combinations here, along with a full menu of other items such as bento box, soups, noodles, sashimi, and more. There is just something fun about grabbing your food before it passes you by. It’s like fishing, but way easier. Oh, and there is a full bar here in case you want some saki, or a three martini lunch to go with your sushi. Good luck getting back to work on time!
http://www.karaoke27.com/east_top.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/east-japanese-restaurant-new-york-2
Sushi on a conveyor belt? What the Hello Kitty?! That would be dangerous for me. And expensive probably. Also pretty heavenly.
Hey Joy!
It’s a fun way to get your gluttony on! It’s always dangerous when I sit in front of that belt!
So how many fingers touch, poke, swipe your plate before it reaches you? What if you reach for something, then decide you’d rather not have it – do you put it back? How do they keep things sanitary?
Sounds interesting, but kind of weird at the same time. I guess if you’re enjoying the fish with a martini or two you really don’t care that much.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Hey Patricia!
Who knows? That is something I’d rather not know. I have been known to pick up a plate and put it back. Can’t be any worse then some of the open buffets I eat for lunch here. Haven’t puked yet!
That’s cool that there are different specials that revolve! I like sushi every now and then.
Hey Christy!
We love our sushi here. We also love a good deal. We also love kitschy stuff like this!
It’s like Japan via conveyor New York. Love Sushi and this place looks good. One of the more fascinating food techniques I find enjoying is the preparation of sushi. Nice Post, thanks for sharing.
Hey Peggy!
It is interesting to watch the chefs work and prepare the food. I always try and sit up by the sushi bar. Plus, the conveyer belt gimmick is too funny.
I’m not in the slightest a fan of Sushi, however the concept of food that just rolls past me on a moving belt is delightful.
I’ve gotta say though, I’m with Patricia up there – just how sanitary can it be and do other people touch your food?
Hey Starr!
As I said, can’t be any worse than a buffet. Plus, the plates do have covers on them. Maybe they should open up a burger or dessert joint with the same concept. That would be amazing!
Count me in if it’s burgers!
You just want some tasty meat in your mouth!
Seattle is big on those conveyer-belt sushi places and you’re right… those little plate $$ can add up fast. But what a fun instant-gratification way to go!
At the end of the day, $$ puts me back to trying to make Asian dishes myself. Neither Cimmy or I have mastered sushi– it’s an art– but I think I’ve decently figured out phõ. Okonomiyaki was a disaster. We live in the Columbia Basin– apparently, the Bay Area of Seattle is the only place to get okonomiyaki in the state.
Hey Jaklumen!
I love a good pho! We now have a few good spots close to where I live. Can’t get enough of it. No way would I ever attemp to make my own sushi or Asian dishes. I can barely make shake n bake!
Hey Barb!
Good to know whenever I hit up Seattle. Conveyor belt food is too much fun!
We are big sushi fans and those conveyor belt set-ups are fun but, as you say, the $$$ do add up! Quality is my #1 priority though … nobody wants to go home with “sushi stomach”!
Hey Patricia!
I always end up spending way more than I should in this joint. I can’t help myself! No sushi stomach yet!
I love this, we have a place just like it here in Longmont, Colorado!
Hey Emily!
In Colorado too? I would think you would have rotating beef or Rocky Mountain oysters there. 🙂
Yay! Kaiten-sushi! I love the concept, but most times I get disappointed about the inferior quality of the food (even in Japan). Still looking for a decent place outside Tokyo. Do you know of any other conveyor belt sushi places in NYC?
Hey Mitzie!
This is the only one I have been to so far, and because it’s close to where I work. Quality is ok here, and I haven’t had any problems yet. Not super upscale but safe enough for a decent lunch. It’s always full of people eating. I’ll keep going back!
I love restaurants where you can see into the kitchen as the food is being prepared. It’s like entertainment while you eat!
Hey Karen!
It does help occupy the time while picking up those plates rolling by! Yes, it is fun watching then work.
Oh….I would spend too much at a place like this. And my husband…I could never take him! He would fill his stomach with sushi but empty our bank account. Cool concept though, but not for a big eater.
Hey Tracey!
I always spend way too much here on lunch! I try to limit myself to the cheaper plates but sometimes a pricier one calls my name from the conveyor belt!
Now I am seriously homesick for Japan. Sushi was my all time favourite. Everyone thinks that Japan is so expensive, but the conveyor places we would go to, averaged 99 cents a plate. And then, (I’ve had a some wine here) there is this one place called “The Sushi Nazi” If you didn’t eat fast enough, they would charge you six plates anyway. And then, in “Old Tokyo” we went to a tiny, at most, 6 seater sushi place. In my broken Japanese I asked how much food for 20 yen. The owner told me when he decided I had enough. Awesome.
Hey Shelley!
Wow – that is a cheap meal. One day I must visit Japan to see the sights, and of course, EAT!!!!
LOL at the Sushi Nazi. That 20 yen must have gotten you a feast!
It sounds like a great, although dangerous place to go – stomach and wallet wise 🙂 Mind you fish is generally a healthy thing so I don’t think you can go far wrong losing time here.
Someone recently asked me where I wanted to go to eat on Friday night, why Japanese of course 🙂
Hey Guy!
Ha! I have spend many an extra long lunch hour here. Then want to fall alseep in my office.
Yup – it’s lunch time here for me. Japenese sounds about right! 🙂
I don’t like Sushi but I want to eat there just so I can use the conveyor belt. Very cool!!
Hey Holli!
Just come on in and take a ride on the conveyor belt! I’ll bail you out after your arrest!
quite impressive idea i must say, and that is something new people would not only come here for food but eating on a conveyor belt also. Great Keep it up
Hello James!
Thanks for dropping by and commenting! I think it adds to the novelty of eating here and makes it kind of fun!
At the conveyor belt sushi places, almost everyone uses chopsticks. But at the more expensive sushi bars it is common practice to use your fingers.
Very good!I like this article,Please pay attention to our conveyor belt manufacturers.