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Meet the robot at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. Photo: Meredith Charaba
Before I became a parent, one of my favorite Seattle activities was going out to eat. Trying new restaurants, meeting friends for a dinner out, grabbing a bite between errands — it always brought me joy. I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to taking my young daughter to a restaurant, but then we braved the conveyor belt sushi spot near our house.
We sat her in a high chair, out of reach of the moving belt but with a full view of it. Her eyes grew wide as colorful plates passed by, and she watched intently as chefs placed new ones on the conveyor belt. She was delighted as we picked plates right off the belt and put them on our table.
We’ve returned to our favorite sushi spot with her many times since, and sought out new places with similar ideas. From sushi conveyor belts, to sushi monorails, to robots that bring drinks right to your table (or make them in front of you!), these restaurants in Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound have tech elements that will appeal to kids.
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
Robots, a sushi conveyor belt, and prizes — Kura Sushi has it all. After being seated, we placed an order on the table’s tablet for our drinks and watched as plates with sushi paraded by on the conveyor belt. We started off with edamame, cucumber salad and watermelon, before moving on to the rolls. One of the main benefits of eating at sushi conveyor belt restaurants with kids: There is no wait time for food once you’re at the table. Our drinks were delivered by one of the restaurant’s cheerful robots, and the items we ordered from the tablet zoomed to our table on a belt straight from the kitchen in under five minutes.
Each plate on the belt is $3.85, making it easy to budget. And when you’re done with each plate, slide it into the tableside slot. This is a fun task for older kids, but you’ll likely need to help younger ones (and keep them from putting their hands in). After you slide the plate in, you’ll see your plate count change on the tablet. After 15 plates, you get a prize!
We indulged in hand rolls, crispy fries and udon, but made sure to save room for dessert. It’s hard not to love the mochi ice cream and fried donuts.
Bellevue location: 266 116th Ave. N.E., Bellevue
Tacoma location: 4502 S. Steele St. Suite 162A, Tacoma
Sushi Hana
My daughter spotted the robot rolling through the restaurant before we even opened the door. And indeed, it looped around the restaurant many times during our visit, dropping off water, plates and utensils before whistling a tune as it navigated back to the kitchen.
Rather than multiple sushi options passing by on a conveyor belt, Sushi Hana uses a sushi monorail system — the first in Washington state. We ordered our rolls from the table’s tablet and watched as the monorail car pulled up to our table, straight from the kitchen. My young daughter delighted in the miso soup, sushi rice and cucumbers, and even tried a bite or two of our specialty rolls.
Lynnwood location: 18500 33rd Ave. W. Ste. A, Lynnwood
Bothell location: 2020 Maltby Rd. #2, Bothell
Haidilao Hot Pot
Haidilao Hot Pot, a Chinese hot pot chain with an extensive menu, has locations in both Seattle and Bellevue. Order from the tablet at your table — there’s a variety of broths, veggies, meats and other delights. A robot brings your choices to the table, where you cook the ingredients in a simmering broth. The hot pot can accommodate up to four different broths with a divider. Head to the sauce, snack and fruit bar (for an additional charge), where you can add different flavors to your meal and pick a dessert.
Little ones rejoice — the restaurant has dino nuggets, treats and toys for kids. Order the dancing noodles for a full performance that involves stretching and twirling the noodle dough.
Making the visit even easier for families, you can make a reservation or join the restaurant’s waitlist online.
Seattle location: 600 Pine St., Suite 355, Seattle
Bellevue location: 188 106th Ave. N.E., Suite 210, Bellevue
Bai Tong Thai Street Cafe
Walk across the rainbow crosswalks in vibrant Capitol Hill to this Thai restaurant, tucked on the corner of East Pike Street and 12th Avenue. A robot will likely bring one or two of your entrees, while friendly staff handle the rest. My daughter loved the pad Thai noodles, almost as much as she loved seeing the robot bring her plate straight to the table.
Adults can indulge in one of the restaurant’s specialty cocktails — I recommend the Tamarind Spiced Sour or Bangkok Gin Mule.
Location: 1121 E. Pike St., Seattle
Tengu Sushi
One of my favorite traditions: a meal out with the family before we see a movie. Tengu Sushi is next to the Regal movie theater in Northgate, making it easy to grab a quick lunch or dinner before your movie showing. There are a couple booths in the restaurant that are ideal for family seating, and the conveyor belt is always stocked with familiar favorites and new dishes to try.
Location: 311 N.E. Thornton Pl., Seattle
Belt Sushi & Roll
This family-owned restaurant is tucked in a shopping center that includes Costco, Target and Starbucks, making it my go-to lunch spot on a day of errands. Whether you sit in a family-friendly booth or at the counter, you’ll have easy access to the conveyor belt. Plates range in price from $2.50–$8.50, using a color-coded system (orange plates, for example, are the least expensive).
We always grab a tempura ginger roll, spicy tuna roll and spider roll, but you can’t go wrong with any of the many options in the procession. You can also order specialty items off of the kitchen menu, including katsu, udon and yakisoba. And save room for dessert! There’s mochi ice cream and green tea cheesecake.
Location: 16822 Twin Lakes Ave., #101, Marysville
Sushi Me
The wide variety on Sushi Me’s menu will appeal to any palate. Appetizers include agedashi tofu, coconut shrimp, gyoza and crispy rice. You’ll also spot familiar favorites like California rolls, and specialty rolls like baked lobster. You can nab your choices off the restaurant’s conveyor belt as they float by, or order from the menu. The menu goes beyond sushi, too, with ramen, udon and donbu. Plus, if you’re in the mood for a family-friendly shopping day, Crossroads Bellevue is just across the street.
Location: 1299 156th Ave. N.E., Suite 145, Bellevue
Sushi Zone
Sushi Zone has something I have not seen before: a double-line conveyor belt. The top belt delivers sushi rolls and cold menu items, while the bottom is for warm food. Signs introduce each set of plates, so you know what you’re grabbing from the belt. Or, you can order from the menu. Enjoy the gorgeous artwork, inviting atmosphere and delicious food with the family.
Location: 10024 Main St., Bothell
Sushi Omiya
Fun murals on the walls at Sushi Omiya incorporate lucky cats, fish, lanterns and colorful scenes, adding to the visual display of sushi parading by on the restaurant’s conveyor belt. You can expect a wide variety of rolls here, from simple to specialty, alongside appetizers, salads and soups. With plate prices ranging from $2–$5, this is another budget-friendly spot for families.
Location: 100 Andover Park W., Suite 160, Tukwila
Artly Coffee
Need a caffeine boost after lunch? Head to Artly Coffee, where robot baristas steam milk, pull shots of espresso and compliment your drink choice. There are two Seattle locations: one near Pike Place Market and one in the Hill7 building. Order on one of the tablets, which has a full menu that notes which drinks are human-made and which are handled by robots. Then watch as your name lights up in front of the robot in charge of making your drinks.
The kids menu includes delights like iced strawberry milk (my daughter’s choice) while the espresso menu includes iced americanos, boba lattes and more. Tip: Download the Artly app for a discount on your first drink.
Pike Place location: 101 Stewart St., Suite 102, Seattle
Hill7 location: 1099 Stewart St., Suite 102, Seattle
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