Who would have thought that Richmond’s new conveyor belt sushi would be inside a children’s indoor playground?
Well, it’s true.
And just like you are, we were curious as hell how this works.
(Editor’s note: As other commentators have shared with us, conveyor belt sushi has been in Richmond for over 20 years. It was first brought to the city by Fukuroku. They eventually moved to a unit below Superstore and now operate without the belt.)
Mino Sushi Conveyor is a new concept operating out of Mino Club Cafe on Ackroyd Road in Richmond.
During the day, the space literally functions as a kids’ indoor playground and cafe.
But once the playground shuts down at 5 PM, the team transforms one side of the space into a conveyor belt sushi setup.
Giant floor-to-ceiling Japanese festival banners are hung up to cover the playground area, and a row of tables is lined up beside the belt.
The team behind the concept reached out and invited Noms Magazine last month, but we declined the invitation and checked it out ourselves anonymously instead.
It was definitely an interesting experience.
The pricing works like most conveyor belt sushi spots.
You grab plates off the belt and pay based on the type of plate.
There are three tiers: a Single-Color Plate at $2.80, a Wave Plate at $3.80, and a Japanese Lace Plate at $5.80.
The menu lists all the potential items that may appear on the belt, including hosomaki rolls, nigiri, aburi sushi, gunkan, inari sushi, dragon rolls, tempura, and desserts.
However, the menu itself does not tell you which plate level each item falls under, so the pricing is a bit of a surprise when it rolls by.
One tip if you go: sit on the kitchen side of the belt.
We made the novice mistake of sitting on the opposite side, which meant guests closer to the kitchen got first dibs on everything before it reached us.
Because we dropped by near the time they opened (6PM), the belt was mostly stocked with simpler items like edamame, tempura, and basic sushi rolls.
After about 30 minutes and more guests have arrived, more interesting plates started appearing, including aburi sushi, ebi nigiri, and inari.
You can also request specific items from the menu, and the staff will prepare them and send them to your seat on a miniature train that runs on its own track above the conveyor belt.
Sashimi is available on a separate order sheet and is not placed on the belt.
Now for the two questions you are probably thinking about: cleanliness and taste.
Being inside a children’s playground does raise some eyebrows, and we had the same thought.
Owner Jay told Noms Magazine that the kitchen is fully licensed and approved by Vancouver Coastal Health.
He added that all kitchen staff hold food safe certifications and that food is removed from the belt after a set amount of time.
As for the food itself, this is more about the interactive experience than it is about good tasting sushi.
So if you’re expecting above-average sushi, you probably want to look elsewhere.
And that is usually the case even at conveyor belt sushi around the world – the expectations should be kept low. You are there for the experience.
It could be a fun outing for families or groups of friends looking for something different.
The spot is open every day except Tuesdays and starts at 6PM.
Mino Sushi Conveyor Belt now joins other recently opened food spots in Richmond like Cotti Coffee Lansdowne, The Food Court, and Nonbiri Cafe.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 120-8171 Ackroyd Road, Richmond, BC