As I step into Kura Sushi Bar, it is immediately clear that the future of modern dining has officially arrived. The brightly lit restaurant features tablet ordering, robot-delivered drinks and a conveyor belt that brings food straight to the table, all of which makes for an exciting dining experience and a glimpse into the future.
Kura Sushi Bar, located in Federal Plaza on Rockville Pike, opened its doors in October 2024 and has over 75 locations in the United States. In 1977, Kura Sushi opened their first location in Japan and is now regarded as one of the most popular sushi establishments in Japan, according to businesswire.com.
After being seated by a host, he explained how to order food from my booth’s private tablet and the functions of various conveyor belts. On the bottom, there is a revolving carousel that continuously circulates around the restaurant, containing small Japanese bites, including sushi and nigiri rolls. Customers are permitted and encouraged to freely grab any of those small dishes.
On the top, a quick conveyer belt is used for food specifically requested from the tablet, including larger entrées, such as soups and crispy rice.
Although not much assistance was needed, the service was exceptional as when requested on the tablet, a waiter would come promptly to my table to drop off utensils or other urgent appliances. Robot servers would also come by to drop off drinks and utensils without confusion or delay. Additionally, the food was delivered very swiftly on the upper conveyor belt.
All dishes on the lower carousel had a fixed price of $3.75. These small dishes were very flavorful and tasty despite the small portion size. After finishing these small bites, customers are instructed to drop the plates into a dispenser that counts the number of plates utilized, determining the price of the meal.
Among my favorite dishes were the golden salmon crunchy roll and the miso ramen, both of which I highly recommend. The tuna and salmon were very fresh and savory in every dish. The food was also seasoned very well, especially in the kitsune udon soup and the vegetable tempura.
Aside from the different conveyor belts, the interior design of the sushi bar was modern with a family-friendly vibe. Once customers drop five small plates into the dispenser, the tablet plays music while displaying a Japanese animation. Each booth could fit around eight people, making Kura Sushi Bar a fun and quick place to have a family dinner or a snack with friends.
Even though the tablet system was very efficient, at times it was hard to navigate the food selection because of the tablet’s complex viewing format. I also felt that I needed to personally control the pace of ordering food, because the dishes were coming out so quickly. In a normal restaurant, waiters would break up and control the tempo of eating by serving specific courses to customers after finishing a round of food. As a result, the sushi bar made me feel slightly rushed and stressed.
The revolving sushi bar system could also result in a huge bill if consumers are not cautious of their ordering and don’t resist their temptation to grab the constantly circulating food.
Whether it’s for sushi or ramen bowls, Kura Sushi Bar is an innovative place to dine, while offering authentic and delectable Japanese cuisine. From the food to the atmosphere, Kura Sushi Bar made me feel like I was dining in a Sci-Fi movie, with exceptional food and hospitality.
