Best Sushi Trains in Melbourne: The Belts Actually Worth Queueing For

Home » Best Sushi Trains in Melbourne: The Belts Actually Worth Queueing For

Melbourne takes its sushi trains seriously. There are belts inside shopping centres, belts on Chapel Street, belts at Federation Square and belts tucked into arcades off Bourke Street, and they all promise the same thing: sit down, watch the plates roll past, and eat until someone taps you on the shoulder with the bill.

The trouble is that they are not all equal. Some belts are stacked with fresh, well-seasoned nigiri at sensible prices. Others circulate tired plates and sell you a $5 hand roll that is mostly rice. This guide sorts the good from the average using Google ratings, review counts, verified addresses and what regular diners keep saying about each place.

We have covered the CBD first, then the suburbs, then the practical stuff: how the pricing works, when to go, and which trains suit kids, dates and big groups. If you want the general lay of the land for Japanese dining in the state, Visit Victoria’s Japanese restaurant guide is a handy companion to this list.

Quick picks: which sushi train suits you

If you are short on time, start here. Every recommendation below is explained in full further down the page.

If you wantHead to
The highest Google rating from a big crowd of reviewersMarae Izakaya, Chadstone (4.7 from 3,481 reviews)
A local favourite with a loyal followingGanbare Kaz, Windsor (4.5 from 655 reviews)
Sushi train plus Japanese BBQ under one roofTetsujin, Lonsdale Street (4.3 from 2,106 reviews)
A cocktail with your platesBossa Nova, Bourke Street (4.4 from 160 reviews)
A no-frills CBD lunchSushi Hotaru, MidCity Arcade (4.3 from 1,898 reviews)
A special-occasion feel at Fed SquareChocolate Buddha (4.4 from 1,742 reviews)
A big-brand belt near you in the eastern suburbsSushi Jiro at Box Hill, Knox, Chadstone or Doncaster (4.1 to 4.3)
A bayside stopMomo Roto, Frankston (4.5 from 704 reviews)
Highchairs and space for little onesTrain by Sushi Sushi, Highpoint, or Ganbare Kaz

How a Melbourne sushi train works

Conveyor belt sushi, or kaiten sushi, started in Osaka in the late 1950s and spread worldwide from there, as Wikipedia’s entry on conveyor belt sushi explains. The idea is simple. Chefs work in the middle of a loop, put plates on a moving belt, and diners pick what they fancy as it passes.

Most Melbourne trains now run two systems at once. The belt carries the popular cold plates, and a tablet or QR code at your seat lets you order anything hot or fresh, which arrives on a separate express lane with a chime. A few reviewers across the city say ordering nigiri by tablet is the safer bet, because you know exactly when it was made.

Pricing usually works by plate colour or pattern. Each colour has a set price, and staff count your stack at the end. Some venues use flat pricing, and a few, like Ganbare Kaz, add a small surcharge on certain days, so glance at the menu card before you settle in.

How we picked and ranked these sushi trains

Every venue below is a place where you can sit at a moving belt or order from a train-style counter. For each one we checked the listed address, the current opening pattern and the Google rating with its review count, then read through recent diner comments to see what people actually ordered and what let them down.

Two cautions. Ratings drift, so treat the numbers as a snapshot rather than a verdict. And a rating built on 160 reviews is not as sturdy as one built on 3,000, which is why we show the review count everywhere. Where a venue has few reviews, we say so.

The chart below puts every location side by side.

Google ratings and review counts for each location covered in this guide.

Every sushi train at a glance

VenueSuburbAddressGoogleReviews
Marae IzakayaChadstoneShop 1, Shop 8/1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 31484.73,481
Ganbare KazWindsor151 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 31814.5655
Momo RotoFrankstonShop GO32/28 Beach St, Frankston VIC 31994.5704
Chocolate BuddhaMelbourne CBDFederation Square, Swanston St and Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 30004.41,742
Bossa NovaMelbourne CBD70 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 30004.4160
TetsujinMelbourne CBD295 Lonsdale St (Emporium Melbourne), Melbourne VIC 30004.32,106
Sushi HotaruMelbourne CBD118/200 Midcity Arcade, Melbourne VIC 30004.31,898
Sushi Jiro Box HillBox HillShop 68/1 Main St, Box Hill VIC 31284.31,072
Sushi Jiro ChadstoneMalvern EastUnit FB182/1341 Dandenong Rd, Malvern East VIC 31454.3903
Sushi Jiro Knox OzoneWantirna South2225/425 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South VIC 31524.3774
Yoyogi Sushi TrainMelbourne CBD269 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 30004.2563
Kokoro BrightonBrighton39A Church St, Brighton VIC 31864.2306
Sakura Kaiten SushiMelbourne CBD117 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 30004.1261
Sushi Jiro ELLAMelbourne CBDElla Precinct, cnr Elizabeth and La Trobe Sts, Melbourne VIC 30004.1439
Sushi Jiro DoncasterDoncaster619 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster VIC 31084.1659
Kokoro CamberwellCamberwell767 Burke Rd, Camberwell VIC 31244.1486
Sakura Kaiten Sushi IIMelbourne CBD282 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 30004.01,161
Makoto ShokudoMelbourne CBDLevel 2, Shop 239, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe St, Melbourne VIC 30003.9751
Train by Sushi SushiMaribyrnongLevel 2, Highpoint Shopping Centre, 120/200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong VIC 30323.391

Best sushi trains in Melbourne CBD

The city centre has the densest cluster of belts in the state, and most sit within a few minutes’ walk of each other. That makes it easy to check the queue at one and pivot to the next.

1. Chocolate Buddha

Address: Federation Square, Swanston St and Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 4.4 from 1,742 reviews

Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 11.45am to 9pm (closed Monday and Tuesday)

Phone: 03 9654 5688

Chocolate Buddha is the polished end of the sushi train world. You get the Federation Square location, a proper restaurant fit-out, and the choice of grazing off the belt or ordering bentos and donburi from the menu. Reviewers mention the sake flights, a chicken teriyaki don that regulars order on repeat, and staff who let you linger over lunch.

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The trade-off is price. A few diners call it steep for what lands on the table, though most say the freshness earns it. Train seating has been limited in the past, so phone ahead if the belt is the whole point of your visit.

2. Tetsujin

Address: 295 Lonsdale St (Emporium Melbourne), Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 4.3 from 2,106 reviews

Open: Daily. Monday to Friday 11.30am to 3pm and 5pm to 9pm; weekends 11.30am to 9pm

Phone: 03 9663 9993

Tetsujin pairs a sushi train with Japanese BBQ, which makes it the smartest pick for a group that cannot agree. Half the table can graze off the belt while the other half grills marbled beef at the table. Reviewers single out the spicy salmon belly nigiri at around $4.20 and the aburi salmon roll at around $5.20, while the Angus beef set at $85 gets plenty of praise from the grill side.

One honest review is worth passing on: the plates circulating on the belt can be hit and miss, and the nigiri is best ordered by tablet. Follow that advice and you will likely eat well.

3. Sushi Hotaru

Address: 118/200 Midcity Arcade, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 4.3 from 1,898 reviews

Open: Daily, 11.30am to 3.30pm and 5pm to 8.30pm

Phone: 03 9663 7538

Sushi Hotaru is small, plain and consistently busy, which is usually a good sign. One reviewer compared it to a tiny counter in a Kyoto railway station: not fancy, but honest, quick and good value. Regulars come back for the engawa (flounder fin) nigiri, which is hard to find elsewhere, and the amaebi on the specials list.

Be realistic about the space. It is snug, the queue can form at peak lunch, and prams will struggle. A couple of reviewers also note that the rice texture is not always consistent. Go at the edges of the lunch rush and you will do best.

4. Sakura Kaiten Sushi

Address: 117 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 (older guides list Little Collins Street, so confirm before you go)

Google rating: 4.1 from 261 reviews

Open: Monday to Friday only; 11.30am to 3pm and 5pm to 9.30pm (Friday to 10pm). Closed weekends

Phone: 03 9663 0898

Sakura Kaiten is the weekday specialist. Diners rave about the seared scallop nigiri, fatty tuna, salmon belly and crab croquettes, and one reviewer says the sashimi is very fresh. Oysters and uni appear seasonally, so ask before you set your heart on them. Peak-hour waits of around 20 minutes are common.

Service divides opinion. Some people find the staff warm, others found them brisk. The food is the draw here.

5. Sakura Kaiten Sushi II

Address: 282 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 4.0 from 1,161 reviews

Open: Monday 5pm to 9.30pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 11.30am to 9.30pm; Thursday and Friday 11.30am to 10pm; Saturday 12pm to 10pm; Sunday 12pm to 9pm

Phone: 03 9077 1167

The sister venue, Sakura Kaiten II, is the one to remember if you want sushi on a weekend. It runs colour-coded plate pricing and QR-code ordering. One diner said they ordered everything by QR because you never quite know how long a plate has been on the train, and every dish arrived fresh.

It also gets a good word from plant-based eaters. A vegan reviewer tried seven different varieties alongside a non-vegan partner, and both left satisfied. Arrive early or expect a line.

6. Yoyogi Sushi Train and Hand-Roll Bar

Address: 269 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 4.2 from 563 reviews

Phone: 03 9654 0818

Yoyogi sits near QV on Swanston Street and pairs a long belt with an upstairs hand-roll bar. Plates start around $3.90 and climb to about $6.90 according to diners, and a surprise for some reviewers is that oysters are on offer. Reviews are mixed, though. A few say the sushi on the belt looked dry at quieter times, and one recent visitor missed being able to order an alcoholic drink, so check what is available before you settle in.

If the belt has left you craving something hotter, our Kikanbo Melbourne guide covers a Tokyo-style ramen shop in the CBD where you set your chilli heat and Sichuan pepper numbness separately.

7. Bossa Nova

Address: 70 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 4.4 from 160 reviews (a small sample)

Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 11.30am to 11pm. Closed Sunday and Monday

Instagram: @bossanovasushi_train

Bossa Nova is the odd one out: a Japanese sushi train with a Brazilian playlist and a proper cocktail list. Reviewers are enthusiastic about the smoky finish on the fish, the freshly decanted wasabi and ginger, and the fact that a Gibson martini works better with sushi than it has any right to.

It costs more than the standard Melbourne belt, and one diner found the range of fish limited. Another was disappointed when the salmon nigiri ran out. Still, it is the best late-evening sushi train in the city centre, and walking in on a weeknight is easy.

8. Sushi Jiro at ELLA, Melbourne Central

Address: Ella Precinct, cnr Elizabeth and La Trobe Sts, Melbourne Central, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 4.1 from 439 reviews

Open: Monday to Thursday 11am to 7.30pm; Friday and Saturday 11am to 8pm; Sunday 11am to 7pm

Phone: 03 9650 0826

Sushi Jiro is the biggest sushi train name in Melbourne, and the ELLA site is its CBD flagship. Reviewers mention the taco-style sushi that you will not find on most belts, and one diner points out there is rarely a queue at dinner time. Most plates sit at about $5.20, with a few at $4.20.

The main complaint is labelling. The price-tier system does not always tell you what a plate contains, which matters if you have allergies or dietary restrictions. Ask the staff if in doubt.

9. Makoto Shokudo, Melbourne Central

Address: Level 2, Shop 239, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Google rating: 3.9 from 751 reviews

Phone: 0451 780 278

Makoto has the lowest rating on the CBD list, but there is a reason it stays busy. Diners who prefer a more traditional style, with less mayo and less sauce, tend to like it. Others praise the beef tataki, the properly seasoned rice, and the small touch of having hooks under the table for your bag.

The criticisms are prices creeping up and a thin belt at dinner. One evening visitor found very little on the train and ended up ordering everything. Aim for just before the lunch rush, when the chefs are still building the belt.

Best sushi trains in the Melbourne suburbs

The suburbs hold some of the city’s best belts, and the parking is easier. Shopping centre trains dominate the east, while the inner south and the bay each have a stand-out.

10. Ganbare Kaz Kaiten Sushi, Windsor

Address: 151 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181

Google rating: 4.5 from 655 reviews

Open: Daily 11.30am to 9.30pm; Friday and Saturday until 10.30pm

Phone: 03 9972 8979

Ganbare Kaz is a small, rustic sushi train wedged into the Windsor end of Chapel Street, and locals guard it fiercely. A long-time regular calls it the best sushi train and small izakaya across the Prahran, South Yarra and Windsor pocket. Diners mention a free miso soup to start, kid-friendly service, and a menu that goes well beyond the belt: okonomiyaki, beef udon, charcoal-scented yakitori, karaage and a strawberry mochi that one reviewer rated the best they had tried.

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Note the Sunday charge that one diner mentioned, and use the iPad ordering for hot dishes. Even so, a meal of a few items came in around $25.

11. Marae Izakaya, Chadstone

Address: Shop 1, Shop 8/1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148

Google rating: 4.7 from 3,481 reviews

Open: Monday to Wednesday 11.30am to 3.30pm and 5.30pm to 8.30pm; Thursday and Friday 11.30am to 9.30pm; Saturday 11am to 9.30pm; Sunday 11am to 8.30pm

Phone: 03 9568 8439

Marae Izakaya earns the top rating in this guide, and from a huge base of reviewers. It is more izakaya than pure conveyor belt, with a casual train area alongside a more formal dining room and a decent sake list. Reviewers rave about tuna nigiri the colour of ripe rubies, tender wagyu and well-grilled yakiniku.

If you are weighing a sushi train against a more formal night out, our guide to hatted restaurants in Melbourne shows where the next tier of Japanese and modern Australian dining begins.

12. Sushi Jiro, Chadstone

Address: Unit FB182/1341 Dandenong Rd, Malvern East VIC 3145 (ground floor, Chadstone Shopping Centre)

Google rating: 4.3 from 903 reviews

Open: Monday to Wednesday 11am to 5.15pm; Thursday to Saturday 11am to 8.30pm; Sunday 11am to 6.30pm

Phone: 03 9568 1479

This Jiro is always busy. Plates start from about $3.90, and one diner worked out that eight to ten plates each is easy to reach, which means around $40 a head. You can order extras through an app at your seat. Book if you can, because walking in at peak time can mean a wait of half an hour. The seating is mostly high stools.

13. Sushi Jiro, Box Hill

Address: Shop 68/1 Main St, Box Hill VIC 3128

Google rating: 4.3 from 1,072 reviews

Open: Monday to Thursday 11am to 8pm; Friday and Saturday 11am to 8.30pm; Sunday 11am to 8pm

Phone: 03 9890 2110

The Box Hill store draws praise for a clean, well-presented belt with clear instructions, which makes it a good first sushi train for someone who has never used one. Diners recommend the soft shell crab. A few takeaway customers have complained about thinly filled rolls, so if you are grabbing food to go, check what you are handed.

14. Sushi Jiro, Westfield Doncaster

Address: 619 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster VIC 3108

Google rating: 4.1 from 659 reviews

Open: Monday to Wednesday 11am to 8.30pm; Thursday to Saturday 11am to 9pm; Sunday 11am to 8.30pm

Phone: 03 9848 9988

This one is the showpiece. According to Urban List, the Doncaster belt is the longest circular sushi train in the world at 30.6 metres, seating up to 80 diners at a time. Reviewers like the service, though some say the rice and the value have slipped as prices have risen. It works as a big-group option because there is usually somewhere to sit.

If you want to burn off a few dozen plates afterwards, our guide to free public tennis courts in Melbourne lists courts across the city that cost nothing to hit on.

15. Sushi Jiro, Westfield Knox (Ozone)

Address: 2225/425 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South VIC 3152

Google rating: 4.3 from 774 reviews

Open: Monday to Thursday 11.30am to 8.15pm; Friday 11.30am to 9pm; Saturday 11am to 9pm; Sunday 11am to 8.30pm

Phone: 03 8828 4751

Diners at Knox praise the tempura udon with its fragrant umami broth, the wagyu nigiri and quick service. Most reviews are warm, although the odd visitor has flagged belt hygiene, so as at any train, only take plates that look freshly made.

16. Kokoro Sushi, Camberwell

Address: 767 Burke Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124

Google rating: 4.1 from 486 reviews

Phone: 03 9813 1128

Kokoro runs its dinner service in fixed sessions, and several reviewers say to book, since walk-ins can wait 15 to 20 minutes. The sushi is generously cut, and there is a tablet menu for a la carte dishes and a takeaway counter at the front. Prices are a touch above average.

Camberwell sits in the inner east, near Hawthorn East, where Fritsch Holzer Park makes a quiet spot for a walk after lunch.

17. Kokoro Sushi, Brighton

Address: 39A Church St, Brighton VIC 3186

Google rating: 4.2 from 306 reviews

Phone: 03 9591 0338

The Brighton store has a bar around the train and more private tables for four. Diners describe one-hour seatings, which is plenty when the plates keep zipping past. It is not the cheapest belt and the salmon slices are not the thickest, but the freshness gets consistent praise. One customer reports repeated order errors on online takeaway, so double-check anything you order for pickup.

18. Momo Roto, Frankston

Address: Shop GO32/28 Beach St, Frankston VIC 3199

Google rating: 4.5 from 704 reviews

Open: Monday to Wednesday and Sunday 11am to 4.45pm; Thursday to Saturday 11am to 8.45pm

Momo Roto is the standout sushi train in Melbourne’s bayside south-east, with a pastel interior and strong word of mouth from bayside locals. Reviewers describe it as the best train around the bay, with friendly, efficient staff.

The recurring gripe is price. One long-term regular said they had spent thousands over the years and felt some plates, at around $5.20, had become too expensive. Note the early closing on most days.

19. Train by Sushi Sushi, Highpoint

Address: Level 2, Highpoint Shopping Centre, 120/200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong VIC 3032

Google rating: 3.3 from 91 reviews

Open: Monday to Wednesday and Sunday 9.30am to 5pm; Thursday to Saturday 9am to 9pm

Phone: 03 9126 3483

Train by Sushi Sushi is the lowest-rated venue here, and it is worth being upfront about that. Some diners found the variety limited and the QR ordering clunky. But others love the soft pink interior, the comfortable trainside tables for four, and the fact that children’s highchairs are available, which is rare on a sushi train.

That makes it a practical pick for families in the west, especially if you are already shopping at Highpoint. Keep expectations modest and lean on the tablet for hot dishes.

How much does a sushi train cost in Melbourne?

Prices move, so treat these figures as a guide taken from diner reviews rather than a menu. Expect to spend roughly $30 to $45 per person for a proper feed at most trains, and more at the premium venues.

VenuePrice signals reported by dinersNote
TetsujinSpicy salmon belly nigiri about $4.20; aburi salmon roll about $5.20; Angus beef set $85BBQ side costs extra
Sushi Jiro ELLAMost plates about $5.20; a few at $4.20Tier pricing, few labels
Sushi Jiro ChadstoneFrom $3.90; roughly $40 per head for 8 to 10 platesBook to skip the wait
YoyogiAbout $3.90 to $6.90 per platePay per plate
Momo RotoSome plates about $5.20Prices have risen, say regulars
Ganbare KazA few dishes and a mochi came to about $25Sunday surcharge applies
Bossa NovaPricier than the average beltCocktails add up

Check the opening days before you go

Several of Melbourne’s best trains run reduced hours, and turning up on the wrong day is the most common way to ruin a sushi plan.

VenueClosed or short days
Sakura Kaiten SushiClosed Saturday and Sunday
Chocolate BuddhaClosed Monday and Tuesday
Bossa NovaClosed Sunday and Monday
Momo RotoCloses at 4.45pm Monday to Wednesday and Sunday
Sushi Jiro ChadstoneCloses at 5.15pm Monday to Wednesday
Sakura Kaiten Sushi IIOpens 5pm only on Monday

Tips for getting the most from a sushi train

  • Go at the edges of the rush. Arrive at 11.30am or after 1.30pm for lunch, or before 6pm for dinner. The belt is freshest when the chefs are actively building it.
  • Order nigiri and hot dishes by tablet. Several reviewers at different venues make this point. You get a plate made for you, and it avoids anything that has been circling.
  • Ask how long plates stay on the belt. Many trains remove plates after a set time. Staff will tell you if you ask.
  • Mind the plate stack. It is easy to reach eight to ten plates without noticing, and the total lands quickly at $5 a plate.
  • Book where you can. Kokoro, Chocolate Buddha and Sushi Jiro Chadstone all reward a phone call.
  • Tell staff about allergies. Tier-pricing systems do not always label ingredients, so ask rather than guess.
  • Take only what you will eat now. Plates you pick up are yours, so no putting them back.

For quick, casual, no-frills bites, Sushi Hub on Swanston Street is a takeaway option worth knowing about, though its Google rating of 3.5 rests on only 21 reviews, so it is more of a convenience stop than a destination.

The bottom line

If you want the safest bet, book a table at Marae Izakaya or walk into Ganbare Kaz. If you are in the city and want value, Sushi Hotaru and Tetsujin do the job. If you fancy a cocktail with your plates, Bossa Nova is the one. And if you live out east, the Sushi Jiro belts at Box Hill, Knox, Chadstone and Doncaster are reliable, high-volume options.

Whichever you choose, order the nigiri by tablet, check the days before you leave the house, and count your plates.

Frequently asked questions about Melbourne sushi trains

What is the best sushi train in Melbourne?

By Google rating and review volume, Marae Izakaya in Chadstone leads with 4.7 from more than 3,400 reviews. In the CBD, Chocolate Buddha (4.4), Tetsujin (4.3) and Sushi Hotaru (4.3) are the strongest all-rounders. In Windsor, Ganbare Kaz scores 4.5.

What is the cheapest sushi train in Melbourne?

Plates at Sushi Jiro start from about $3.90 at some stores, and Yoyogi reports a range of $3.90 to $6.90. Prices vary by store and change, so check the menu card at your seat.

Is sushi train all you can eat?

No. Melbourne sushi trains charge per plate, usually by colour or price tier, and staff count your stack at the end. There is no fixed price for unlimited food, which is why the bill can surprise you. If you are curious about how the format developed, Wikipedia’s conveyor belt sushi page is a good starting point.

Do I need to book a sushi train in Melbourne?

Most trains take walk-ins, but bookings help at the popular ones. Diners recommend booking at Kokoro and at Sushi Jiro in Chadstone, and Chocolate Buddha is worth ringing ahead for the train seats. Weekday visits outside the lunch peak are the easiest way to skip a queue.

Which sushi trains are good for kids?

Reviewers say Ganbare Kaz is kid-friendly, and the Sushi Sushi train at Highpoint has children’s highchairs. Many belts use high stools, which suits older children better than toddlers, and tight spaces like Sushi Hotaru do not suit prams.

Are there vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes. A vegan diner tried seven varieties at Sakura Kaiten II and left full, and most trains carry cucumber, avocado and egg-based plates. Tell staff about your diet, especially where dishes are not labelled.

Which sushi train is best in Melbourne CBD?

For sheer quality and atmosphere, Chocolate Buddha and Tetsujin lead the pack. For value, Sushi Hotaru and Sakura Kaiten are the picks. For drinks and a late dinner, try Bossa Nova.

Is sushi train sushi fresh?

It can be, particularly at busy venues where plates turn over fast. Order hot items and nigiri by tablet, avoid plates that look dry, and choose busier times. If you want a broader look at Japanese dining in Victoria, see Visit Victoria.

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