Sushi Train

OMG! We have been told about Sushi Train for a couple of years by quite a few of our 5 children. But I’m not a fan of sushi/​fish etc like my husband & kids. WHY DIDN’T WE GO WHEN FIRST TOLD!!! We loved our first experience which was a Sat morn at 11.35am, not to busy & staff had plenty of time to explain the way everything worked. So fresh, so much to choose from on the plates, then I tried a meal to order. AMAZING! We took our 3 yr old granddaughter who loved the salmon sushi rolls. Seaweed & all.
The price, well we were pleasantly surprised considering we all had drinks & one desert & my husband had a feast. $ 52 for 3.
It’s Monday & we are going in for dinner tonight & it’s only been 2 days. What does that tell you!
When we left there was a line up of probably 5 different groups waiting.
Please try it out, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve been eating sushi since I was a child, and have been coming to this particular sushi train since I was in high school back in 2010 (which really isn’t that long ago, now what I think about it). Sushi Train is my go-​to for consistently good sushi and reasonable pricing.
Sushi Train is gaining popularity all over Adelaide. There are 6 different stores spread across the CBD and metropolitan area (Gouger Street, Grenfell Street, Welland, Unley, St Clair and St Peters). The pricing structure has recently changed. Sushi Train pricing (at both this chain and other sushi restaurants which use the train system) is dictated by the plate of food. When selecting a plate off the carousel, the plate will be a particular colour depending on the ingredients, complexity and general amount of the plate’s contents. The colour matches a price listed both on the menu and mounted to the wall for easy reference. Originally, some restaurants had a 6-​tier structure, with some plates costing up to $ 8 each, whereas others had only 4 different prices. As of last month, this has been changed. Now all 6 South Australian Sushi Train establishments use the same pricing structure, and no plate off the carousel is over $ 5.
Sushi Train is always packed between peak meal times. They don’t take bookings, so between 12pm-​2pm and 6pm-​8pm, it can be a bit of a waiting game. However, as the food is ready to go, customer turnover is usually pretty quick. A couple of times, I’ve had to wait around an hour (which is painful when you can watch the food glide past you), but usually it’s no more than 20 minutes or so. Some restaurants have booths, others just have the bar at the carousel. Generally the wait is longer for booths, as there is a higher demand for them.
Once seated, it’s simple. Pick what you want and eat it asap. Wait staff are generally pretty attentive, and hot items such as soups can be ordered from them directly. Wait staff also seem to be very accommodating. A few friends of mine who frequent Sushi Train with dietary requirements/​fussy eating habits have never had an issue with getting a custom order and/​or finding something which suits their OCD tastebuds. My personal favourites are the aburi (lightly flame-​grilled) salmon, karaage (Japanese fried chicken — JFC!), takoyaki (deep-​fried octopus/​veggie balls), kaki fry (crumbed/​fried oysters) and the salmon/​tuna/​kingfish sashimi combo. One of the best things about Sushi Train is the consistency. I have never had the food taste any different at any of the other Sushi Train restaurants in the same chain across Adelaide. It’s exactly the same, every single time, so if you like something, don’t hesitate to order it at a different restaurant!
Sushi Train may not be the most traditional type of sushi available in Adelaide (surely that chicken and grilled cheese nigri is not a Japanese recipe), but it’s consistently good, always busy and my personal staple. The only downside is that I ALWAYS over-​eat and never keep track of my running total — which means that I usually spend a little more than first intended. But hey, that’s my fault… and I never really regret it that much.
P. S. — Look out for their annual $ 3 days (where every dish no matter the contents is only $ 3!). The upcoming days are listed on their website :)

I use to really like it. However the chefs have become stingy. My favourite aburi salmon roll was pretty much a mouth full of rice with probably 0.5 diameter of filling inside it. The seaweed is basically a pinch with a whole lot of regular salad. The sashimi is ¹⁄₃ of what you see on the menu. I asked about the size of the sashimi and the staff didnt really give me a satisfactory response. Oh the whole meh. Better spend ur money on wasai!

There is something about those little plates that keep rotating past that causes me consume about 200% more food than I usually would. Sushi Train is fun & tasty but not particularly cheap. Plates range from $ 3.00-$ 8.00 with the majority on the train in the $ 3.50-$ 4.50 range. It’s fun to go with a group of people, get a table and share your plates. Musts are the edamame, the crunchy roll, the tempura vegetable & the ebi roll. Be prepared for a short wait at basically anytime time of the day/​night.

If sushi is your destination, that’s a train you do not want to miss. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy the journey ! ;)
Fresh ingredients, diversity, delicious healthy food, friendly staff… this is definitely the place to be for great value sushi!
They fill up extremely quickly especially during rush hours so I prefer to go when it is less crowded so i can enjoy my time, gazing at the plates traveling around the room, what can I say… I don’t like to be rushed when it comes to food ;)

I’ve eaten at this chain of sushi restaurants all over the Eastern Seaboard, so when I am near one, I like to hop in an get my fix.
I decided it would do for an early dinner and hoped we’d beat the rush. Arriving at about 545pm, we were lucky to get a seat almost straight away. Soon after, the queues started forming… a good sign!
The service was efficient as expected, the variety typical for the chain, and the sushi fresh and consistently replaced.
A solid dining experiencefor the right price… you can’t really go wrong here, eating too much and waiting for too long likely to be the worst that can happen :)

Great value sushi, always fresh when I’ve had it, and if what you want is not on the «train» you can ask the staff and they will make it fresh for you.
The only reason it is not a ⁵⁄₅ is that at times the staff can try and rush you through your meal, particularly at busy times. I know they want to keep the crowds flowing but I like to take my time when eating!

Toot toot, all aboard the Japanese take on a franchised outlet. When I think about fast and quick food, the first thing that springs to mind is McDonalds, however the train is by far a more healthy and satisfying experience, well in my eyes anyway. Getting into this packed store can be frustrating, however it is well worth the wait. The Sushi is fresh, the staff are attentive and the whole experience is well worth the wait to get in.

Um, so ST serves what could technically be called sushi. And a lot of rolls with chicken in them. And some fried chicken pieces.
Not sure what the Adelaide sushi scene is like, and though the ST environment is fine and the servers are good, I would not go here again. I tried the seaweed salad, which quite weirdly tasted like chicken. The soft shelled crab was $ 8, way overfried and was not particularly fresh. The tuna sashimi was flavorless, and was much smaller than the pic on the menu would lead you to believe — and $ 8 was a bit of a stretch for 4 sashimi about as big as 6 dice …

Apart from the ten hour lines up and the recent news report which says that Sushi is more unhealthy than burgers (pftttttt do I care?)… this place is one of my favourite places to visit to get my Ameri – Japanese food craving. You all know that they do not sell this in Japan right? Sushi is sold to westerners to make them feel like they are being all classy by eating ‘foreign food’. Suckers.
But once again, who gives a damn? It is filling, it is quick, you spend much more money than intended because YOU JUST KEEP EATING. Well worth the wait and a great place to practise using chopsticks with all the other newbies who have never used them before!
Get some crab (sticks) in ya!

This place would have to serve the best sushi in Adelaide.
The variety and choices are great, staff are friendly and the sushi is the best I have tasted.
Waiting times to be seated could be around half an hour sometimes but it is really worth the wait.

I can’t help being a fan of sushi train. I do adore everything that comes to me on a train. Semi self served restaurants are incredibly novel and I adore them for the idea. Not that it’s a particularly new idea, but it’s still one that I embrace with incredibly innocent childish joy.
This sushi train at Gouger is not very big. They can’t accommodate quite as many as the Sushi train at Welland but that doesn’t stop them from having a buzzing business. The quality of sushi is fairly consistent throughout their branches and if I can never figure out where to eat, Sushi train is always a safe bet.
I do feel that their prices are slightly on the higher side, but when you are in a city with less than stellar japanese choices, your own high expectations come crawling down at a startling pace. And you also cough up the cash for it. Desperation can be a funny thing sometimes.

I choo choo choose you Sushi Train!
Sushi Train is a franchise I would step into in any city and know I am guaranteed good quality, fresh and finger-​licken’ good sushi. However, even though your mother says she doesn’t play favourites (I hate to break your heart) she is lying because she does… and so do I.
Sushi Train on Gouger St is so far my favourite out of the stores at Welland Plaza, the new Unley Rd store and Pirie St in SA. Why? Lend an ear…
Gouger St Sushi Train has things available that you didn’t think would taste good on anything but do. Baby squid, clam, octopus and eel all top this list of something that is best not knowing what it is, taking it off the train and just giving it a go! You will then be in shock and aw when you taste the sensation of this food that could have just been caught out the back of the shop (if they weren’t 20 minutes from the beach)
The place is noisy and has a prolific number of customers during lunch and dinner time everyday. Don’t expect to get a table as you walk in, but don’t think you’ll be waiting more than 10 minutes either.
So buckle up, let yourself sit back and enjoy the ride on the sushi train.

Sushi? Rice, raw fish and seaweed. You won’t accept a guy’s tongue in your mouth, and you’re going to eat that?
First things first, I am profoundly apologetic for the temporary, however, extended halt to my posts. But rest assured you can sleep easily once more, I am BACK and more eager than ever to get-​ta bloggin’ like no ones bidness! So let the games begin! Phew, I can hear a sigh of relief from my dedicated followers, ah wait, no, that’s just my mum… still counts!
So, lunch-​time rolls around and the sandwich option is looking dull. I have a hankering. A hankering for something I simply MUST get my hands on, or in this case, chopsticks on. And it seems I’m not the only one because when 12 o’clock hits, people are racing into this joint like the stampede that killed Mufasa. That’s right, you guessed it, Sushi Train! Take a ticket people, it could be a while.
With this said however, it is worth the sometimes unavoidable wait. Sure maybe not all of this cuisine-​on-​wheels could be described as authentic, and by that I mean I’m fairly certain that croquettes come from Spain and that in Japan they wouldn’t be caught dead putting avocado anywhere near their sushi, but hey! It all tastes AMAZE BALLS. Ugh, I hate that word but for some reason I had the uncontrollable urge to say it! Oh the shame.
This express eatery generates a hussle-​bussle kind of vibe without being off– putting and is what I consider to be the Japanese version of Cheers, — you know, where everybody knows your name… Except we’re all named «washi washi» or something or other with a similar sound.
Ok so yes, clearly the ‘fresh on the train’ food is the highlight of this place but may I also say that I would go there for two other reasons alone. Firstly, watching people stare at a plate chuffing by and then making the last minute decision that they simply MUST have it and diving into the personal space of the person next to them before the delicacy glides beyond arms stretch. And secondly, spotting the people who take the fake plastic food off the train and watching how long it takes for the embarrassed expression of realisation to come over them. Both are equally golden moments.
Now stay tuned people, I have a prize give away! Yep that’s right the best things in life are free. And I believed Michael Douglas when he told me that ‘Greed, for a lack of a better word is good’ mostly because he looks so dapper in a suit! … Now that is a little sprinkling of salt and pepper I couldn’t say no to! I will divulge some of the giveaway deets in my next post!

If must somehow get a Sushi Train chef into my family circle, and then screw roast Sundays and make them sushi Sundays. Until then, Sushi Train on Gouger Street will have to do.
Although this place is small, it’s so full of amazing flavours and fun atmosphere. Being a country girl, moving to the city and tasting sushi for the first time was a real treat. But getting it from this place was an experience and a half. You are seated around one large rectangular bench area, with a rotating shelf filled with the best sushi styled dishes you will ever taste.
You are charged by the coloured plate here and it’s not necessarily cheap, but the quality of ingredients and flavour are worth it. There is a menu if you can’t find something you like coming around then ask a chef and they’ll whip it up for you.
Be aware this place gets packed, so be prepared to wait for a spot. And you’ll be sitting next to strangers, not that it’s a bad thing, it’s just intimate. Sushi Train is a good place to drop in for lunch or dinner with some friends.

Going to Sushi Train is a guaranteed good meal. Not only is it healthier than a lot of the other choice on the street, but it tastes bloody incredible. I mean, how good is sushi, really?
It’s good to see old traditions like «kuru-​kuru» sushi make its way over to the West, and it’s had no problem reeling in followers. Despite the classic feel of sitting towards circuit belt at the counter, the booths are where it’s at. The only problem is actually getting one, as they’re almost always occupied when you get there. If you’ve got a little bit of time to kill, take this option, as it’s a lot more comfortable and easier to socialise in than trying to speak to your friends two or three people down the row of the counter.
The fish is fresh, and the variations in which they’re integrated into sushi is always interesting. If you don’t see what you want on the conveyor belt, a simple request to one of the sushi chefs will have it ready within minutes. The hot dishes are good too, but I feel that if you want hot, soupy food, then you’re better off going to a proper restaurant. That said, sushi train often have promotional items, and they’re recent gyoza dumpling promotion was awesome, serving hot fried dumplings for a very low price.

13/​12/​2011
Below average sushi.
The discreet location is hard to find on a Saturday night if you’ve never been here before. Once you find it and step inside, it feels very packed and busy, then suddenly a waitress dressed in a black kimono directs (more like waves you) to sit down towards a vacant area. Once you take your seat, you realise there are a few cooks right in front of you preparing your meal in the middle of the room.
It is typical that you can pull their sushi off a revolving track, and I love the fact that you can ask the cook or nearby incoming waitress if what you want is not coming to you on the revolving track. I was expecting a filling meal in the Chicken Teriyaki dish I chose off the menu, but I was only given a few strips of chicken that fills you up less than KFC does. With such stiff Asian (particularly Chinese) competition in Chinatown Adelaide, I was slightly disappointed.
However, Sushi Train does have cheap prices, quick service, and a very warm atmosphere that may get me back, but as far as the Chinatown strip goes, I must say their overall interior quality is slightly more impressive and cooler than many other Asian restaurants on the same street.

Firstly, if you’re coming for lunch, get on board the train at 1pm, because at 12pm you just will not get a seat.
Secondly, when you sit down, try not to embarrass yourself by picking up the plastic display soup, wave down a waitress and she’ll get you the real thing.
And thirdly If you can’t use chopsticks, please don’t pretend that you can. Ask for a fork.
Sushi Train is my favourite, I wish I was there right now, I wish I had a team of Sushi Train chefs in my kitchen making me delicious Sashimi. If you haven’t been before well, the name is pretty self explanatory. Everyone sits around a big square table with a chef conveniently placed in the middle plating up sushi and putting it on the moving conveyor belt. This system calls for quick decisions though because once its come you have about 5 seconds to decide whether you want it or not.
Prices are listed by the colour of the plate, I think the cheapest is $ 3.50. There is a separate menu for other stirfry dishes if you prefer, these are pretty good too.

To say I want to marry Sushi Train one day would be an understatement.
If you’re looking for a different dining experience, fresh ingredients, friendly staff, and delicious healthy food then Sushi Train is the place to be.
They don’t take bookings, which is a shame, as they fill up extremely quickly at almost all hours of the day. As you walk in, the staff greet you with an enthusiastic and loud welcome in Japanese. If it’s not busy (or less busy, I should say), you can sit either at the booths or at the side bar. When it’s busy you will get a raffle ticket and have to wait your turn. Everyone just used to cram inside, but they now have waiting tables and chairs outside.
The place recently got refurnished and now has a more elegant look with darker walls and brighter lighting, and the ceiling also drops down slightly.
Another reason to love this place: each year, they celebrate their birthday by holding a one-​day-​only special price on sushi! I think it’s about $ 3.50 for every dish, excluding hot dishes. AMAZING. The line-​up for this, however, is like trying to get into a new club on Saturday night — you will wait forever if you don’t get there early. Sort of like the post-​Christmas sales.
Some of my favourites include:
— Aburi salmon (smoked salmon)
— Ebi Fry (prawn)
— Dumplings (new addition!)
— Karaage Chicken (spicy)
— S.A. Salmon
and so much more. Come one come all to Sushi Train!

I can’t believe how busy this place is. I used to think that it was just a Friday lunch thing but having gone there subsequently at other odd hours, I realise this is just the way it always is. It has been newly refurbed with interesting wall features such as the orange flowered screens that go up the wall and over the ceiling.
You know a place is busy when there is a pack of chefs working just preparing the sushi, let alone how many they have out the back in the kitchen. Most Fridays there is a queue that trails out the door just to get a place to sit. Because of this, they have developed a raffle ticket system just to cope. Many will wait to get the booths which are certainly a better dining experience than being squeezed in like a sardine elbow to elbow with your neighbour; but even this can be fun.
The sushi is certainly good. I used to get alarmed to see the plates of sushi piled up that weren’t on the train, however, you soon realise that it gets turned over quickly enough. This sushi bar always has lots of different specials so you never get bored. One of my favourites here is the soft shelled crab rolls which are crunchy and tasty at the same time.
I also got take away for the first time the other day. It is well set up for this in a self serve sort of way. The trays, tongs condiments, chopsticks and elastic bands are all on hand for you to select what you want from the train.
I would thoroughly recommend this sushi bar but a good tip is to get your ticket early and then go and sit down outside and relax.