Genki desserts 2

Conveyor-belt sushi, or kaiten-zushi, as it’s called in Japan, is a popular and casual way to enjoy both traditional and not so traditional sushi. Unlike some of the upscale sushi establishments, you know exactly how much you’re paying for each plate, and you can choose from a wide and fun range of sushi, some of them even involving tempura or grilled meat. Recently, though, more and more people seem to be going to kaiten-zushi not just for unique sushi, but to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Yes, according to a recent post on information compilation site Naver Matome, desserts are increasingly becoming the big attraction for diners going to conveyor-belt sushi restaurants, and we have to agree, the sweets do look seriously tantalizing. So, why don’t you join us for a look at the treats available at some of the popular kaiten-zushi chains in Japan? They certainly aren’t what you would expect as a typical item on a sushi restaurant menu!

Here are some desserts from the Sushiro chain:

▼The custard egg tart (100 yen [US$1]) is apparently a very popular item at Sushiro, filled with a rich, creamy custard.

Sushiro Egg Tart photo: Sushiro

▼There’s also the chocolate banana parfait (230 yen [$2.25]) that contains a triple chocolate serving of chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce  and chocolate rice crisps.

Sushiro choco banana parfait photo: Sushiro

 ▼The matcha warabimochi (100 yen [$1]) uses jelly-like warabimochi from popular Kyoto confectioner Hourando, covered with matcha (green tea) flavored kinako soybean powder.

Sushiro warabimochi photo: Sushiro

Next, we have some lovely cakes from Hamazushi:

▼The New York cheesecake (200 yen [$1.95]) from Hamazushi  is a hugely popular treat, judging from comments on the Internet.

Hamazushi cheesecake photo: Hamazushi

▼The “marron mont blanc” cake should be full of sweet chestnut flavor.

Hamazushi Marron Mont Blanc photo: Hamazushi

▼Hamazushi also has seasonal desserts like the dorayaki cake filled with sweet red bean paste and plenty of fresh whipped cream (200 yen [$1.95]) and the non-baked blueberry cheesecake (200 yen [$1.95]), both available until May 28.

Hamazushi gentei photo: Hamazushi

Next are some treats from Genkizushi:

▼The almond jelly (annin-dofu) that comes with plenty of fruit is made by Ichikawa foods using konjac as an ingredient and is priced at 200 yen [$1.95].

untitled photo: Ichikawa Foods

▼They also have various other desserts at Genkizushi, including the “Genki Chocolate Parfait” (300 yen [2.93]), the “Strawberry Dolce” (200 yen [$1.95]) and the “Rich non-baked cheesecake” (200 yen [$1.95]), which is made using 100% Hokkaido-produced cream cheese.

Genki desserts 2 photo: Genkizushi

We also have some delicious-looking sweets from Kappazushi:

▼Their “premium baked pudding” (216 yen [$2.11]) covered in a rich caramel sauce comes highly recommended by many Internet users, including one of our reporters.

Kappazushi purin photo: RocketNews24

▼In case the premium baked pudding isn’t good enough for you, they also have the “premium baked pudding with whipped cream” (216 yen [$2.11]).

Kappazushi premium whipped purin photo: Kappazushi

▼If regular sweets are too sugary for you, then Kappazushi also offers some lovely, refreshing melon.

Kappazushi melon photo: Kappazushi

And last but not least, here are some desserts from Kurazushi:

▼According to the same reporter who recommended Kappazushi’s baked pudding, the tiramisu (200 yen [$1.95]) at Kurazashi tastes superb, the bitter cocoa and creamy cheese making a delightful combination.

Kurazushi tiramisu photo: RocketNews24

▼The cheesecake also has had some rave reviews on the Internet by satisfied customers and should be a bargain at 100 yen [$1].

Kurazushi cheesecake photo: Kurazushi

▼This lovely looking creation is the “kyo-fu an blanc” (200 yen [$1.95]), a “Kyoto-style” mont blanc cake containing sweet red bean paste.

Kurazushi kyofu anblanc photo: Kurazushi

▼With all that cake, it’s maybe natural that there should be some coffee, which Kurazushi indeed offers. There’s regular and iced coffee, as well as regular and iced latte, all priced at 150 yen ($1.46).

Kurazushi coffee 2 photo: Kurazushi

So, what did you think? The sweets selection at Japanese kaiten-zushi is quite impressive, isn’t it? There really does appear to be more reason to go to these sushi restaurants than sushi. In fact, increasingly more people seem to be using kaiten-zushi restaurants like cafes or family restaurants. And looking at these desserts, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all.

With all the treats you can choose from, the next time you go to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant in Japan, it could even happen that you end up eating very little sushi (and end up on a bit of a sugar high instead). And that’s fine with us, because in our books, a happy stomach knows no culinary boundaries!

Source: Naver Matome, Sushiro, Hamazushi, Genkizushi, Kappazushi, Kurazushi
(all sites in Japanese)