Sushi that goes Round and Round!

Yesterday, some of Matt's co-workers took us to our first Sushi resturant.

This one is called the "Sushi Go Round". The kids call it the "Sushi Train". Either way is fine with me, as long as they keep bringing me the sushi!

Neither Matt, not I, are really that into fish. We never really have been. In the past, I have occasionally got a hankering for sushi and head to HEB to grab some. Other than that, I have avoided it.

Well, that will not be the case while we live in Japan.

We believe in being 'tourists' where ever we go. Japanese eat a ton of fish! Maybe because they are surrounded by water, maybe because it is tradition, maybe because it is just so good here. I'm not sure.

Whatever the reason, when in Rome Japan do as the Romans Japanese do.

The plates' cost is in the bottom right corner of the picture. 

When you go into the "Sushi Go Round", like most restaurants in the USA, you have decide what you want to drink. Water is available at a water cart with glasses, ice and water. It is self-serve. There are trays to take the water to your table if you have a large group like we did. Water is free. (We went with water.)

If you want "coke" (You can take the girl out of the South, but you can't take the Southern lingo out of the girl.) you get a different colored glass from the "Coke Bar". The "coke bar", which is fountain drink area similar to the US,  is about Y390 or about $4. It is free refills though, which has been hard to find in most places overseas.

When you sit in the booth you quickly see the "train tracks" going by on one end of the booth. The tracks circle the entire restaurant and every seat or booth have direct access to them.

You quickly see the varieties of sushi start to come around. There is also some more 'kid' friendly items like fries, chicken and ice cream. ( The ice cream is plastic but you can ask for 'fresh' ice cream.)

There is also a menu to order from. It has several salads and even more sushi. If you want a different sushi than you see you simply say, "Sumi ma sen" which is "excuse me" and point to what you would like from the menu. The pictures are just perfect to see exactly what you are getting.

This Sushi restaurant had an "English" translation. (The name is a tad deceiving because they assume we call food the same thing they do, but it was a great effort. There are several restaurants close to American bases that have a picture or "English" menu available for us silly foreigners.)

My adorable guide, Rachel, helped teach the girls table all about sushi and how to eat it properly. She helped us with chopstick too. She also helped us order salads with avocado, shrimp and the greatest dressing. (She knew how to tell them to hold the fish eggs as well. What a great chick to being with us, huh?)

On the table there are:
cups, a hot water faucet (for green tea), ginger (to cleanse your palette between sushi choices), soy sauce, chopsticks and small saucers (to hold the chopsticks and sauce).

Only a few plates for us!

The girls had eaten already, so they weren't that hungry. They did try a few things. Mainly they stuck with the fruit, fries and rice sushi.

The boys had eaten already as well. That did not stop them! Carson tried everything! From octopus to tuna and fish eggs. He ate everything. He liked most of it too! Austin wasn't as adventurous, but tried several types of fish and rice sushi. His favorite was a chicken they make for kids.

The plates that come around on the 'train' and the items you order are all on different colored plates.

At the end of the meal, those plates are organized, stacked up and put at the end of the table.

The waitress comes around and calculates your bill based on the colors and height of your stacks.

She then hands you a wooden piece (about the size of matchbook) for your 'bill' that has a Japanese character on it.

You take that 'bill' to the front and pay there.

Look at ALL those plates!

The boys ate a TON! Their bill was pretty high. About Y3200 or $32.

The girls not nearly as much! The girl's bill was only about Y1400 or $14.

Also, you don't tip in the Japanese culture. Bonus.

Pass the Sushi,

 ~ Aggie Amy