EAST PEORIA – A unique sushi concept is expected to roll out in the area later this year.
Kobe Rotary Sushi will serve sushi and other items primarily via conveyor belt, according to Ryan Martin, manager for Kobe Hibachi Steak House in Bloomington. The belt will carry plates past each table, he said, enabling guests to grab whatever catches their eye.
“It’s definitely fun,” Martin said. “Fun for families, fun for kids, fun if you’re a sushi eater. Different. Different for sure, but it’s more – not just food. It’s definitely an experience, as well.”
Once done, he said a return slot counts up the dishes and calculates the cost.
Each plate only carries a small amount of food, giving visitors the chance to “try a little bit of everything.”
While the conveyor will be stocked with the most popular dishes to avoid food waste, other items will also be available. Martin said tablets will allow customers to order specific dishes – which will be brought “on a train to your table.”
The aim is to open in October, Martin said, should renovations progress as planned. Once open, he said the storefront – situated in the former Jason’s Deli at 112 Spinder Drive – is expected to serve lunch and dinner daily.
Kobe Rotary Sushi will be the fifth Kobe restaurant concept for co-owner Eric Chen, Martin said, and first in the Peoria area.
Other eateries include Kobe Hibachi Steak House, Kobe Ramen Pho & Poke and Kobe Revolving Sushi Bar. A fourth restaurant – Kobi-eon Chicken and Corndog – is holding its soft open in late June.
All are located in the Bloomington-Normal area.
“We wanted to reach more people outside of Bloomington Normal,” Martin said, adding that they considered expanding to the area a few years back.
He said there are a lot of other Asian restaurants to compete with in the area, but ultimately, he added, “I think what we bring is a little bit different.”
Typically, Martin said conveyor belt sushi restaurants stick to bigger cities like Chicago. The concept has gone over well in Bloomington, though, so now, he said they look forward to bringing revolving sushi to Peoria.
“It’s definitely more than just the food,” he said. “The experience comes with it, as well.”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Sushi restaurant to offer unique ‘experience’ in East Peoria
Reporting by Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
