San Antonio moves into a new Japanese restaurant with a revolving sushi bar

A big fish from the global sushi scene is bringing its authentic Japanese concept to San Antonio, and it promises to entice local diners with its innovative revolving bar, advanced ordering options and quirky prize machine.

Kura SushiThe interactive Japanese restaurant concept established in 2008 as a subsidiary of the 45-year-old Japan-based Kura Corporation, is coming to the Alamo Quarry Market at 255 E. Basse Rd., Suite 384, opening Wednesday, February 16.

The new location will be the first in the San Antonio market, although Kura Sushi has eight other restaurants in Texas and 35 in the United States. In total, the company has more than 500 restaurants in Japan, Taiwan and the United States.

Kura Sushi offers more than 140 menus (many of which cost just $2.90) and specializes in flavorful, authentic Japanese dishes prepared with “premium, natural ingredients free of artificial sweeteners, seasonings, preservatives and colors.” But it’s probably Kura’s innovative approach to the sushi dining experience that will appeal to San Anton locals.

Key to this experience is Kura’s rotating sushi bar and express belt. The revolving sushi bar winds its way through the dining room with plates of sushi that diners can admire and consider devouring. And there’s no freshness worries, because every dish is protected by Kura’s patented Mr. Fresh Vented Sushi Lid, which limits exposure to air and features plate-tracking technology that monitors the circulation time of each article. It’s all about ensuring that customers’ food is always fresh and at the peak of their delight as they move from the conveyor belt to the table.

Additionally, Kura’s express conveyor belt, known as the “sushi highway”, is positioned above the main conveyor belt and offers diners the ability to order from a touch screen at their table. The food is then delivered directly from the kitchen along the sushi highway.

Further leveraging technology to create the best sushi dining experience, Kura also has an app that allows customers to easily view live wait times and join the restaurant’s waitlist remotely. The app also gives diners the opportunity to earn rewards, with every $50 spent to score sushi diehards a $5 coupon.

And speaking of rewards, Kura Sushi is sure to attract new local fans with its Bikkura Pon prize system, which the company says is an integral part of Kura’s overall interactive dining experience.

The system is made up of a prize machine, touch screen and plate disposal slot – connected via sensors – located at each table in the restaurant. The touch screen records the number of green and red plates dispensed from the plate disposal slot. Every five plates ordered, a short animation plays on the touch screen for guests, and every 15 plates, sushi diners receive a prize which is dispensed by the prize machine.

Kura collaborates with popular Japanese and Japanese-inspired brands to develop various prizes, and also develops original Kura Sushi prizes, so diners can be rewarded with a variety of prizes like lanyards, chopsticks, badge reels, acrylic key rings and chains.

As part of Kura’s collaboration with the Sanrio brand, San Antonio guests will receive a Hello Kitty and Friends x Kura Sushi Bikkura Pon prize for 15 green or red plates purchased.

And in honor of its grand opening in San Antonio, Kura Sushi will host a two-day celebration and giveaway event on Wednesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 17. Every day, the first 100 restaurant guests will receive a cute sushi napkin (similar to a kitchen towel but looks like sushi when rolled up).

Upon opening, Kura Sushi’s regular business hours will be Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.