Sushi Go Round

Sushi-go-round.
The first time I heard of it, I had the most bizarre image in my mind!
I imagined sea creatures made of fiberglass, painted fabulous colors
going around on a merry-go-round, including the pole, while moving
up and down. There was a shrimp, octopus, crayfish, clam, among other
edible sea animals. A family member described it perfectly, "A culinary
nightmare!" I think she's right.

But, thankfully, that is what a sushi-go-round is NOT.

I've been to one of these awesome restaurants three times now.
And, I love it! I love everything about it!

The one I frequent is near the base. It's a large, bright yellow building.
When you enter, they will ask you if you want to sit in a booth, or at the
counter. Then they will give you a number, and you go find that
number on the booth and take a seat.

To one side of the table (if you choose a booth), there is a small
computer touch screen, and below that something that can only
be described as being like a conveyor belt.

On the screen, there are different categories. One category is for
sushi as we know it (rice with another food, wrapped in seaweed),
or another kind of sushi (my favorite kind) that has a small mound
of rice topped with a thin slice of raw seafood, which will sometimes
come with a sauce or thinly sliced onions on the very top among
other things. There are other category buttons for desserts, drinks,
soup, sides, and a few other things.

You decide what you want, and then you press the button
of the item you would like. Then, you select how many of
that item you would like. And, after that, if it applies, you
press a button to indicate weather or not you want wasabi
on it. Finally, you press "Order".

Your order is then sent to the kitchen where your food is
prepared. When it is done, the chef puts it on the conveyor
belt, and when your order comes near, the computer screen
begins to make all kinds of racket and starts to flash to alert
you that your food has arrived.  You then reach over and take
the plate with the food off of the belt.

There are different meanings for the plates that go around
on the belt. If the plate of food is on top of a small platform,
then that food was ordered by someone and it belongs to them.
(Or it belongs to you if you ordered something.) However,
if a plate is sitting directly on the belt, then it is there for anyone
who wants to take it.

You generally get 2 pieces of sushi per plate.
You keep placing orders until you've had your fill.
As you're eating, you stack similar looking plates together.
Each color and style of plate represents a different price.

When you're all finished eating, and your plates are stacked,
then you press a "call" button and a wait person will come
over to your table and count up your plates and hand you the
bill. You then pay at the register.

As I mentioned, I love this kind of restaurant!
And, I like it for several reasons. One is that I
can't hear very well, and this method of ordering
food myself, eliminates the awkwardness of trying to
communicate what I would like to eat.

Another thing I like about this method of ordering food is
that it is much quicker then American restaurants.
There is no need to wait for a waiter/waitress to come
to your table, take your order, then bring you your food.
You can order right away.

The food is also much healthier and very fresh. It wasn't
sitting under a heat lamp for 30 minutes before you ordered it.
I have to say that I love Japanese sushi. I never liked sushi in
America. When I had to go to our culture class, the woman
there said, "If you've eaten sushi in America, and you didn't like
it, please try it here in Japan! It is not the same." She wasn't kidding!
Sushi in Japan is very good. I think it is like comparing an authentic
Italian pizza pie to a pizza from Pizza Hut. They're the same thing,
but only one is the real deal.

I've been to several Japanese restaurants, and I have to say that
this is probably by far my favorite type. I love the way we order,
I love the food. And, I can't wait to go back again!