The ‘revolving sushi’ train is now in Mansfield. And it’s coming to Fort Worth
“Revolving” sushi has come to Tarrant County, and it’ll probably be in your neighborhood soon.
Akarii on Texas 360 in Mansfield is the first local restaurant promoting conveyor-belt sushi. An endless train of sushi rotates past every table in the dining room, for patrons to pick and take their favorites as the dishes roll by.
Akarii opened last month at 3341 E. Broad St., next to Hat Creek Burgers.
(A second Akarii will open in summer in Left Bank in Fort Worth, replacing that already-closed location of 85°C Bakery Café.)
Look, Akarii is not artisan sushi like we’re used to at bars like Tokyo Cafe, Shinjuku Station, Blue Sushi Sake or the forthcoming Blue Fish in Crockett Row.
But it’s fun and fast.
On two recent visits, I saw families and teenagers out having a fun dinner, and then a lunch crowd eating quickly and wrapping up in 20-25 minutes.
There’s excitement as everybody looks to see what’s coming down the belt next.
And there’s a little anxiety — you may want to grab that spicy tuna roll, because it may not be there next trip around.
For $3 a serving, you get 3-4 pieces of sushi or nigiri, a good value. If you and a friend pick four plates, you’ve had plenty of sushi for $12.
Choices on a recent visit included a “tiger roll,” a “caterpillar roll,” a “golden crunch” roll and other spicy and mild seafood and California rolls.
Salads and desserts (watermelon) also circulate on the conveyor.
There’s also an iPad ordering system for soups, egg rolls, ice cream and anything else that needs to be made to order and delivered fresh.
(It comes directly from the kitchen in a “train car” on a separate belt, adding to the fun.)
It’s cute, and it’s also popular.
In Japan, the Akindo Sushiro conveyor belt restaurants are the No. 1 sushi chain.
The only advice I’d pass along is: Don’t let your eyes get too big.
Watch the conveyor roll for a while and you’ll get an idea of the variety. Then wait for the better rolls or start picking favorites.
Akarii is open for lunch and dinner daily on East Broad Street at Texas 360; 817-473-6888,akariirevolvingsushi.com.
This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
