Sushiro Opening First U.S. Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant in NYC
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — One of Japan’s biggest sushi chains is officially entering the American market, and it’s doing it in one of the busiest parts of Manhattan.
Sushiro is slated to launch its first restaurant in the United States this fall in Times Square, introducing New Yorkers to a high-tech conveyor belt sushi experience that has already proved extremely famous in Asia.
What’s New
The new Sushiro facility will be at 667 Eighth Avenue, at West 42nd Street, and next to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
The scale of the restaurant alone makes it stand out.
Spanning roughly 9,000 square feet across three floors, the space will include:
- Two main conveyor belt dining levels
- Booth seating with digital ordering kiosks
- A private dining room and sushi bar in the cellar level
The property was once home to a McDonald’s, but its transition into a large-scale Japanese dining concept demonstrates how much Times Square’s food environment is changing.
Founded in Osaka in 1984, Sushiro has grown into a global powerhouse with more than 800 locations worldwide, making this New York opening a major step in the company’s international expansion.
Menu & Experience (with POV)
Sushiro’s concept is around inexpensive sushi delivered via an automated conveyor belt system.
Guests seated at booths place their orders digitally and then watch as dishes flow directly from the kitchen to their table via the restaurant’s conveyor belt.
The menu is expected to include:
- Sushi and sashimi selections
- Ramen and somen noodle soups
- Steamed egg custards
- Japanese desserts like warabimochi and catalana
The experience is intended to be speedy, interactive, and accessible, somewhere between fast casual dining and full-service sushi restaurants.
From my perspective, that’s exactly why conveyor belt sushi works so well in big cities. It transforms dining into a hybrid of meal and experience, while also assisting restaurants in successfully managing high client volumes.
And in Times Square, where speed and entertainment matter almost as much as the food itself, the concept feels like a natural fit.
Community Buzz
Sushiro has been discreetly building anticipation for its US debut for years, using pop-ups and early brand awareness initiatives.
Now, with the official Manhattan opening confirmed, there’s already growing conversation around how it will compete in New York’s crowded sushi market.
The timing is also consistent with a larger restaurant trend toward automation and technology-driven dining experiences. Conveyor belt sushi concepts have already started gaining traction in the region, with other Japanese chains expanding into nearby markets like Queens and New Jersey.
Still, Sushiro enters with significant global recognition and scale that few competitors can match.
And for many consumers, particularly younger eaters, the novelty of sushi delivered right to your booth on a moving belt remains a huge draw.
Final Thoughts
Sushiro’s arrival in New York City feels less like a standard restaurant opening and more like the launch of an entirely different dining format for many Americans.
By combining automation, affordability, and a well-known Japanese dining style, the company is delivering something useful and interesting to one of the world’s busiest restaurant markets.
If successful, this probably won’t be Sushiro’s last U.S. location.
If you’re in New York City this fall, this is one opening that will undoubtedly draw a large crowd from the start.
Stay tuned with CityScoopNow for more Fresh Finds across the U.S. — and tell us: would you try conveyor belt sushi, or do you still prefer traditional sushi bars?