“Kaitenzushi’ (conveyor-belt) concept sushi restaurant Sushiro has recently opened an outlet at Parkway Parade. Having not eaten conveyor belt sushi in over two decades, I was eager to relive my student memories of this fun dining concept, which was my first introduction to dine-in sushi back in those days.
Sushiro at Parkway Parade. Photo © Fen Chia
Stepping into the Parkway Parade outlet one evening with a ravenous appetite, we were surprised to find the kaiten experience still fun and delightful to us adults, and the number of dishes mind-boggling. This outlet seats 134 and features Japanese architectural elements, including a curved wooden wall.
You can pick items off the moving conveyor belt or get sushi made-to-order via the touchscreen in front of you. Photo © Fen Chia
My old memories of kaitenzushi are of looking out for choice plates to grab off the moving conveyor belt as they passed. At Sushiro, I appreciated the private express belts that deliver freshly-crafted sushi to each diner’s table, after placing my order through the touchscreen at the table. This is a roundabout belt that speeds up orders, avoiding the delays caused by a two-way, non-roundabout belt in some kaitenzushi restaurants. You can also choose to pick up sushi from the plates that are on the traditional moving belt below the private belt. To ensure freshness, each plate is electronically tagged and retired from the belt after travelling about 350 metres.
The moving conveyor belt is below, while the express lane that delivers ordered sushi to each diner is above. Photo © Fen Chia
The kaitenzushi basics haven’t changed over the years – there are three main tiers of colour-coded plates to choose from and Sushiro is generally a wallet-friendly concept–S$2.20 (red plates), S$3.20 (gold plates) and S$4.80 (black plates) with the different colours making it easy for you to tell the cost at first glance. The convenience can get you carried away when ordering!
There are a lot more a la carte options ranging from ramen to chawanmushi (steamed egg), soups and dessert. Interesting options like monkfish liver and fish milt are available despite this being a casual restaurant. The only times we needed a server to come to our table was for tea and soy sauce top-ups and to tabulate the bill at the end. And even in these cases, the server’s presence can be easily requested via the touchscreen.
Excluding non-sushi items, the sushi comes in three main price categories represented by red plates (S$2.20), gold plates (S$3.20) and black plates for the premium sushi (S$4.80). Photo © Fen Chia
The kaitenzushi concept embodies innovation, efficiency and the ‘kodawari’ (pursuit of excellence) that the Japanese are known for, from achieving perfect timing of their bullet trains to making something as banal as an everyday sushi meal a great experience. Sushiro is a clear embodiment of these values. This means that while the ordering is a real fun and speedy process, you’ll only have a fleeting 60 minutes to dine.
Madara shirako (cod fish milt) with ponzu jelly. Photo © Fen Chia
Monkfish liver gunkan. Photo © Fen Chia
Firefly squid gunkan that burst in the mouth! This was a limited time item. Photo © Fen Chia
Bluefin fatty tuna. Photo © Fen Chia
Whole spear squid. Photo © Fen Chia
While the 60-minute timeline is enough for a meal among friends, it may be a little rushed for families with younger children, who will truly appreciate the whole whimsy and fun of the experience (including bell sounds each time an order is ready!). Nonetheless, if you do come with children or those who do not take sashimi, rest assured there are plenty of non-raw options, and quite a number of side dish options choose from ranging from ramen and chawanmushi to salads and fried chicken.
Galbi Beef is an example of a cooked sushi option. Photo © Fen Chia
Cold chawanmushi (S$3.50) is refreshing, though a hot chawanmushi with scallop is available too. Photo © Fen Chia
The Hattendo taro pudding and pistachio cream bun (S$4.30 each) were delicious! Photo © Fen Chia
At the end of the meal, the server comes by to scan the electronically tagged plates for your total bill, without the need to manually count the number of plates by colours. The cost of your meal gets tallied in a card which enables you to proceed for self-service payment.
The server scans the number of plates. Photo © Fen Chia
The cost is tallied within your payment card, and you can proceed for self-service payment Photo © Fen Chia
Sushiro has a rewards programme where you can redeem collectibles with your stamp card. Photo © Fen Chia
Sushiro’s Parkway Parade outlet is its eighth islandwide, and it has also opened a ‘Sushiro Petit’ concept at Great World City for grab-and-go sushi platters. I would return again for the innovative and convenient experience, the value-for-money fresh sushi, and the amazing variety. If I may have one small gripe, uni (sea urchin) was about the only glaring thing we couldn’t find on the menu this evening, but then again we had more than our fair share of surprise finds.
Sushiro Bedok Mall
311 New Upper Changi Road, #B1-10, Bedok Mall
Singapore 467360
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
Sushiro Causeway Point
1 Woodlands Square, #05-16/17/18, Causeway Point
Singapore 738099
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
Sushiro Great World (Sushiro Petit – Takeaway Kiosk)
1 Kim Seng Promenade, #B1-129, Great World
Singapore 237994
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
Sushiro Isetan Scotts
350 Orchard Rd, Level 3, #03-K1/K2, Shaw House
Singapore 238868
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-8pm
Sushiro Lot One
21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, #03-10/11/12, Lot One
Singapore 689812
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
Sushiro Parkway Parade
80 Marine Parade Road, #B1-17/17A, Parkway Parade
Singapore 449269
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
Sushiro Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-649/650, Suntec City Mall
Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
Sushiro Tiong Bahru Plaza
302 Tiong Bahru Rd, #02-118, Tiong Bahru Plaza
Singapore 168732
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
Sushiro Waterway Point
83 Punggol Central, #01-31/32, Waterway Point
Singapore 828761
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm
