9 Best Sushi Trains in Melbourne For the Ultimate Food Adventure
Visiting a sushi train with kids is a fun – and efficient! – way to combine entertainment with a family-friendly meal out. It's the buffet that comes to you!
I think the biggest drawcard of a sushi train is that you can typically get food promptly for hungry bellies. Lady AB and Baby 2.0 particularly enjoy the challenge of targeting and picking up their little plates…then dipping everything in soy sauce!
Japanese cuisine tends to have many healthy options too – lots of fish, seaweed and vegetables – and I find that the novelty of the train means that it's easier to encourage kids to try new things.
Looking for cheap sushi in Melbourne? With some restaurants charging just $3.80 per dish, a sushi train is a cheap Japanese restaurant compared to, say, somewhere that serves kaiseki set menus.
When choosing a sushi train Melbourne city I look for places with a high turnover of customers and food. That way you can be more certain that the food is fresh. Note that most sushi train restaurants are small and may not fit a pram easily, nor do they often provide high chairs as you're sitting on high stools. As such, it may be better for kids 4+ years who do not need a pram and are able to sit independently.
Here are my recommendations for the best sushi trains in Melbourne CBD, in no specific order. If you want to try them all and let me know what you think the best sushi train in Melbourne is (or just which is your favourite)- please do!
I've listed the address for each place, so if you're in the CBD looking for the nearest sushi train you can find it easily.
Many of these restaurants offer sushi delivery Melbourne-wide as well.
Sushi Train Melbourne
1. Chocolate Buddha
Chocolate Buddha at Federation Square is open, having had the interiors reimagined by Peter Maddison (Maddison Architects).
The extensive menu at Chocolate Buddha includes vegetarian and gluten free choices. Menu items include sushi to dumplings, izakaya and ramen, making it easy to find something for everyone.
The quality of the food and the presentation are outstanding, which is reflected in the higher than usual prices. You could argue it's the best sushi Melbourne CBD, despite some worthy competition.
Although it is overwhelmingly tempting to sit where the action (food train) is, you can also be lured outside to the new tables with great views of the large screen at Fed Square.
I reckon if your budget allows Chocolate Buddha is the best sushi train Melbourne has to offer.
Chocolate Buddha, Federation Square, Cnr Swanston & Flinders Street Melbourne
2. Tetsujin
Tetsujin is a restaurant located on Level 4 of Emporium, and offers sushi train, Japanese BBQ and a bar area.
The sushi bar area is bright with décor inspired by trains and stations; subway tiles, neon rings suspended from sleek rails attached to the ceiling. You can sit around the train, or order a la carte from the iPads located on each table.
In the centre, chefs prepare food and remove any food from the sushi train that is no longer fresh.
The BBQ area is darker with large scale graphic artworks on the wall and individual BBQ plates set into each table.
Order Tetsujin Sushi Delivery Melbourne.
Tetsujin, Level 4 Emporium Melbourne, 295 Lonsdale Street Melbourne
3. Sushi Hotaru
Known for its food and atmosphere rather than its décor, Sushi Hotaru Melbourne offers a quality selection at a lower price point compared to other sushi trains in the CBD.
It is a small squeezy space on the second level of MidCity Arcade, and is not as kid-friendly as some other locations though they do have booths if you can't sit on a high stool next to the train.
You often have to line up (a good sign), although the line does progress quickly. They now take bookings Monday to Friday from 4 pm.
Sushi Hotaru, MidCity Arcade, 118/200 Bourke Street Melbourne
4. Sakura Kaiten & Sakura Kaiten II
Sakura means ‘cherry blossom' in Japanese and at Sakura Kaiten you'll notice its namesake cherry blossom inspired décor. At the sister restaurant, Sakura Kaiten II there are no cherry blossoms – just Dragonball Z influences!
Both Sakura Kaiten sushi restaurants still employ the pricing schedule for sushi train denoted by different coloured plates. Both locations also offer an iPad for ordering plates for express delivery.
The food at Sakura Kaiten II is less traditional than Sakura Kaiten, and both offer extremely fresh quality food at economical prices.
Sakura Kaiten and Sakura Kaiten II are busy and may provide sushi train restaurant Melbourne newcomers with a steep learning curve, but a labelling system means that you know what you are eating.
Sakura Kaiten, 61 Little Collins Street Melbourne
Sakura Kaiten II, 282 Lonsdale Street Melbourne
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5. Sushi Jiro
Sushi Jiro is a cheap sushi train Melbourne foodies will enjoy offering $3.80 per plate of sushi and it is located at QV. They offer a great selection at an affordable price and I really love the classy marble decor with options to sit at the train or on lower tables.
The second sushi train CBD is Sushi Jiro at ELLA. It's hipper, darker, and more nightclubby than the bright white decor of Sushi Jiro's brand. You can even watch mesmerising projections while you eat! Again it's $3.80 for every plate so it's an economical and cool sushi bar Melbourne.
You'll also find Sushi Jiro Melbourne sushi trains in Knox, a sushi train south east Melbourne supercentre Chadstone, Victoria Gardens, The Glen and Box Hill Central.
Order Sushi Jiro Sushi Delivery Melbourne.
Sushi Jiro, QV Cnr Lonsdale Street and Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000 03 9663 3936
Sushi Jiro, Melbourne Central's ELLA, Cnr Elizabeth and Latrobe Streets Melbourne
6. Makoto
When you're looking for a sushi train Melbourne Central might not come to mind as a dining destination when you're heading to the train station or the movies – but check out Melbourne Central sushi train Makoto if you're wielding a pram and in need of a sushi fix. You'll find the spacious restaurant behind a glowing white neon sign at Melbourne Central's Level 2 dining.
The food comes out on a winding train plus there are touch screen menus if you can't wait to order. Prices are a little on the higher side averaging $4.20 per plate, with speciality items made to order upwards of $7.
Order Makoto Sushi Delivery Melbourne.
Makoto, Melbourne Central, Level 2, Corner of Swanston Street and La Trobe Street
7. Sushi & Nori
If you're looking towards the Docklands for sushi trains Melbourne Sushi & Nori creates beautiful food with traditional Japanese methods and modern innovative ideas. You can order online to click and collect sushi if you're in a hurry, with a hand roll costing $4, or you can order bigger platters to cater for a crowd!
Sushi & Nori, Collins Square, 727 Collins St, Docklands
8. Sushi Hub Swanston Street
Sushi Hub has multiple stores, but sources ingredients locally to ensure quality, fresh food. Options include maki roll, sushi box, sashimi & salad, inari, nigiri, sushi platters and sushi hub signature dishes.
The Swanston Street store is conveniently located to grab a quick bite as you walk past (I've found hand roll to be excellent for hungry children walking down to Flinders Street Station) or you can stop and enjoy the conveyor belt Sushi Train instore.
Order Sushi Hub Sushi Delivery Melbourne.
Sushi Hub, 55 Swanston St, Melbourne, (03) 9639 6877
9. Momo Roto
“More and more, around and around.”
What comes around, goes back around, with Momo Roto‘s sushi train, which serves up a never-ending selection of always delicious and always fresh well-known Japanese favourites such as nigiri, gunkan, sashimi, small rolls and large rolls, along with desserts and drinks that are a perfectly healthy option for lunch, dinner and everything in between.
Momo Roto also offers the option of dine-in or take-away, and is open every Monday – Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm.
Momo Roto, Bayside Shopping Centre, 28 Beach St, Frankston, hello@momoroto.com.au
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