Kura Sushi Global Flagship Store Asakusa — Restaurant in Tokyo

On my latest culinary adventure, I decided to visit the Kura Sushi flagship store, a place that had been on my radar for some time. Compared to other kaiten sushi chains like Sushiro, Kura Sushi offers a slightly more premium experience, both in terms of ambiance and culinary offerings.

One of the most entertaining aspects of dining here is the interactive plate disposal system. After finishing your sushi, you deposit the plates into a slot at your table. Not only does this keep your space tidy, but it also enters you into a game where you have a chance to win gachapon prizes. During my visit, the theme was centered around One Piece, which added an extra layer of excitement for fans of the series.

A highlight of the themed menu was the "Rubber Fruit" dessert. This intriguing purple ball resembled something straight out of the anime—a curious creation filled with fresh cream and ice cream. It was as delightful to look at as it was to eat, capturing the whimsical spirit of the show.

When it comes to the sushi, Kura Sushi stands out among chain restaurants. The quality was generally better than what I've experienced at Sushiro. The sizable sardine sushi with ginger and scallions was particularly noteworthy, offering a fresh and flavorful bite that satisfied my seafood cravings.

However, not every dish hit the mark. The branch's special sashimi platter was a bit of a letdown, featuring thinly sliced fish that lacked the heft and freshness I was hoping for. Similarly, the abalone with liver sushi consisted of tiny, chewy morsels that didn't quite live up to expectations. The maguro (tuna) was decent but didn't stand out, whereas the kani miso impressed with its rich, savory flavors.

The restaurant's decor adds to the experience with intriguing wooden beams that give the space a warm, inviting atmosphere. It's a blend of traditional and modern that complements the high-tech dining elements like the automated sushi delivery and interactive games.

Overall, Kura Sushi's flagship store is a recommended visit for those intrigued by the fusion of technology and dining. The innovative automation and the thrill of winning prizes add a unique twist to the meal. While there are some drawbacks in certain dishes, the food is generally passable and the experience enjoyable.

A word of caution: the queues can be quite long. Fortunately, there's no need to stand in line. Simply grab a ticket upon arrival and wait for your number to be called. This system allows you to relax or explore the nearby area until it's your turn to dine.

If you're looking for a kaiten sushi experience that's a bit different from the norm, with the added fun of interactive elements and a touch of anime magic, Kura Sushi's flagship is worth...

Ok...but I think we will not be coming back.

The restaurant is fully automated. You get a ticket from a machine the moment you walk in and then there is a waiting area where you wait for your number to be called out.

The food is beyond decent, we enjoyed it a lot and the price is also pretty low for what you are getting. It was the first time for my boyfriend to visit Japan so I was happy to take him to a sushi-go-round so that he could also experiment with the automated orders.

I think the worst part of this restaurant is the waiting area. There are three screens in total. One that shows you the numbers that are to be called shortly, one big one that calls the numbers and a smaller one where you receive a slip with the table number you need to go to.

We waited for 45 minutes for our number to be called. I was extremely hungry and did not take my eyes off the screen. Then, the machine just skipped our number. A girl sitting next to me noticed first and told me that my number was no longer on the board, yet it had also not been called out on the big screen. Turns out, not all numbers are called out (why would you do that?) and that you need to keep an eye out for the small screen where you get your table slip from.

I immediately went to the cashier and told them of my problem to which their reply was: "If you have left the waiting area and you were not here to get your slip on time, then the machine will skip your number" which of course was infuriating. Their advice was that we wait another 5-10 minutes until our number was recycled since "we were not there when we were called".

55 minutes later we finally got a table. As mentioned above, the sushi was good and it was cheap but it does not justify waiting that long for a broken machine to call our number.

PS: The piercing sound of the machine voice that is made to resemble a cute anime character is played extremely loudly and on loop. If waiting for that long alone does not drive you crazy, then the screaming voice is most certain to give...

This was fun and interesting and had an excellent cost-performance experience for a conveyor-belt Sushi experience. We had dinner on a Wednesday (530pm), and it wasn't crowded at all. When you arrive, you need to digitally register at the entrance your headcount (separately identify adults vs kids), then you're issued a slip with your table assignment. Once seated, you'll have at the table your usual chopsticks, toothpicks, teaspoons (for mixing your hot matcha or eating desser), pickles, matcha powder, and hot water dispenser to make tea (optional), plus 3 kinds of soy sauces. You can either choose directly from the conveyor belt, or instead of waiting, you can directly order using the tablet on the table, or via QR code using your mobile. Then a few minutes later, your ala carte order zips its way to you. Condiments are also on the belt in tiny packets -- salt, togarashi, wasabi and sesame oil.

The menu is quite extensive, including promo dishes for the month. We got so full sampling so many new sushi varieties that we didn't bother with dessert and drinks, hahaha. I think that was the highlight of our dinner: VARIETY! My personal faves: Sweet Shrimp (amoebi), Mackarel, Scallops, and the small burger sushi! We were having so much fun that we forgot to take pics!

Oh, they also have this interesting feature: There's a plastic standee on the belt that has a photo, name of the dish + price that precedes the upcoming dish. We used a translator to figure out the name, so it was easy for us to decide whether to try it or not, rather than just rely on the dish's appearance.

This resto does self-check out which was pretty quick and convenient. You need to ensure that you've slotted in all the plates you've used before check-out, and you will need to bring and scan the reservation slip (has your Table # and barcode) that they issued at the entrance. We had 11 plates (only ¥132 each, with 2pcs per plate!), and ordered the Wild Fatty Tuna (¥430 per pc). For only ¥2,312 for 2 pax, that's such a...