Haute Spot
Fish on the Move
Sapporo Revolving Sushi
By Aly Wagonseller
IT’S TIME TO JUMP ON THE SUSHI TRAIN. THIS DOESN’T MEAN
that if you haven’t tried it by now the time has come to get your
feet wet; I mean seriously, sushi is a mainstream eat these days.
Rather, it’s about getting your fish fix fast, furious and fresh in a
way that’s been successful in Japan since the 1950s. Jumping on
the kaiten-zushi, a.k.a. conveyor belt sushi wagon is where it’s at,
and Las Vegas has its first entry into the market with Sapporo
Revolving Sushi, located at 4671 Spring Mountain Rd.
72
Watching sushi float on by your table is just plain fun, a phenom
partner Freddy Hwang, a local restaurateur with ties to numer-
ous successful restaurants, recognized after seeing the concept
spread rampantly around the world over the past couple of
decades. The novelty, along with the convenience of being able
to chow down right when you sit, allows for more table turns
and less staffing; a business model that sold Hwang on the idea.
Still, it was tough going with our local health department who
didn’t want fish on a plate wandering around uneaten for hours
at a time. Hwang and his partners came up with a way to
microchip each plate to determine how long it was on the belt.
After 30 minutes on the move with no takers, the fish is system-
atically removed by a robotic arm and disposed of, ensuring you
fresh sushi with every grab and take.
May/June
2018
The restaurant reflects a modern aesthetic without being stark. A
small bar allows for cocktails while you wait, and energetic music
fills the space for a lively vibe. The conveyor belt winds past each
table, stocked with a variety of fish, specialty rolls, salads and
desserts, all labeled for easy identification. Each dish you choose is
priced at $2.50 per plate; most sushi plates are stocked with two
pieces, rolls with four, with a few higher end varieties available as
single items. Everything we chose, from super white or yellow tail
tuna, salmon belly, sea bass, popcorn lobster and rainbow rolls, to
shrimp and salmon mini tacos was properly cut and prepared,
fresh and super tasty. There’s also an option to order off-menu
from a tablet located on each table, with items arriving via friendly
wait staff or an automated monorail type train located above the
conveyor belt. Selections are plentiful and diverse, with appetizers
that included melt-in-your-mouth marinated pork belly–a bargain
at $4.95; every variety of sushi and specialty roll imaginable; main
entrees and even ramen and udon, all being represented. Don’t
miss the grilled black cod with miso sauce if you’re a fan; their ver-
sion is a simple, yet incredibly buttery and delish rendition.
Sapporo is open for both lunch and dinner, and as long as
there’s no wait, your sushi cravings will be satisfied the moment
you enter the restaurant. In an instant gratification society,
there’s nothing better. For info call them at 702-915-7500.