Kura Sushi brings its revolving sushi bar to San Jose

Kura Sushi, a popular Japanese chain that sends handmade sushi around its restaurants via conveyor belt, has expanded to North San Jose.

The Pacific Rim Plaza opening this week brings the Bay Area total to four (after Cupertino, Pleasanton, and San Francisco) and California total to 19. There are over 500 Kura restaurants worldwide.

Customers place their orders via iPad and choose plates of sushi and appetizers as they stream nearby under covered domes. There is also a separate ordering system for children.

There are over 100 menu items available, including 30 different types of nigiri, 30 hand rolls (wrapped in seaweed or soy paper), and 22 sushi rolls. Hot sides (tempura, gyoza, takoyaki, Kura Crispy Fries); cold sides (sashimi, edamame); soups (miso, ramen, udon); and dessert (mochi, taiyaki, sesame balls) round out the menu.

Kura boasts that many of its key ingredients are imported from Japan, including its secret-recipe vinegar, the special Kura broth starter, and the additive- and coloring-free wasabi.

The company was founded in Japan in 1977, and its subsidiary opened its first restaurant in the United States in Irvine in 2009. Before opening in Southern California in 2019, Hajime Uba, president of Kura Sushi USA, stated that the restaurant is “based on the principles of timely service, no MSG, and the unique Japanese culture of ‘taking great care in each step of the process, including the unseen.'”

Details: From 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. San Jose, 1628 Hostetter Road, on Sunday.https://kurasushi.com/