Genki Sushi at i12 Katong brings the brand's pioneering kaiten (revolving) sushi to East Coast Road, on the second level of the i12 Katong mall in Katong. The kaiten concept dates to December 1968, when founder Fumio Saito — then a 24-year-old sushi chef — pioneered serving sushi on a revolving conveyor belt, marrying traditional sushi with modern technology. Genki Sushi Singapore now operates 21 outlets island-wide, this branch among them.
The experience is what Genki fans remember: order through the BYOD (bring your own device) system and your food arrives via the Kousoku Train, a speedy double-rail delivery that runs straight to your table, while plates continue to circle the belt for easy grazing. The brand calls dining here a unique, unconventional experience — a casual, playful meal that suits shoppers, families and sushi regulars alike.
Behind the counter, Genki is particular about its foundations: shari (sushi rice) made from 100% premium Japanese rice imported directly from Japan, su (vinegar) from Gifu Prefecture specially formulated for Singapore, and a premium shoyu produced by a maker with a 200-year history. The stated mission is value-for-money sushi without compromising on quality.
The menu runs from nigiri and seared aburi sushi to gunkan, maki rolls and handrolls, sashimi, donburi rice bowls and udon, appetisers, sides such as the okonomiyaki skewer, and desserts, plus the Dai Man Zoku ('great satisfaction') value line. Takeaway sushi platters like the Salmon Deluxe Set cater for gatherings, lunch sets rotate as a promotion, and islandwide delivery is available through Genki's own online store as well as foodpanda and GrabFood.
On the second level of i12 Katong, along East Coast Road, Genki Sushi serves the Katong neighbourhood from one of its 21 Singapore outlets. Plates glide past on the conveyor belt; everything else you order shoots to your table on a miniature express train. This is the brand that invented revolving sushi — and the idea that began as an experiment in 1968 is still the reason people seek it out.
In December 1968, a 24-year-old Japanese sushi chef named Fumio Saito dreamed of a modern sushi restaurant with an unusual feature: a 'Kaiten', literally a revolving belt. He pioneered serving sushi on a conveyor, combining traditional sushi with modern technology. The format caught on quickly — kaiten sushi became a household name in Japan — and Genki Sushi Co. Ltd was established in 1990, listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1991. International expansion followed from 1992, and today outlets operate in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, the Philippines, China, Australia, Cambodia, Thailand and Hawaii.
Innovation kept pace. In 2008 the brand launched its first 'Kousoku Express' store in Japan, and in 2011 Genki Sushi re-introduced itself to Singapore at Orchard Central — the first sushi restaurant in the country to deliver sushi via the Kousoku double-rail system, and the first Kousoku Genki anywhere outside Japan. Genki Sushi Singapore has since grown to 21 outlets island-wide, the i12 Katong branch among them.
The Kousoku Train is the show. You order through Genki's BYOD — bring your own device — system, and your picks arrive on a speedy double rail, fresh and fast. The belt still circles for impulse grabs, so you can graze, point-and-order, or both. The brand describes dining here as a unique, unconventional experience, and notes that the little trains are greatly adored by Genki fans — a claim the sight of one pulling up to your table tends to confirm.
Behind the theatrics, the brand is particular about its foundations. Shari, the sushi rice, is 100% premium Japanese rice imported directly from Japan, renowned — says Genki — for its exceptional texture and fragrance. The su, or vinegar, comes from Gifu Prefecture and is specially formulated for Singapore to strike the right balance of flavours. Even the shoyu is premium, made by a producer with a 200-year history. The stated mission is simple: value-for-money sushi without compromising on quality.
The menu covers the full kaiten repertoire. Nigiri sushi is the backbone; aburi — seared — sushi gets a category of its own, with a light torching for aroma and a smoky edge. Gunkan 'warship' sushi includes ikura, while maki rolls, temaki handrolls and sashimi round out the raw side. The rice & noodles section spans donburi bowls and udon — an ebi tempura udon among them — with appetisers, sides (an okonomiyaki skewer makes the list) and desserts filling the edges of the meal. Dai Man Zoku, Japanese for 'great satisfaction', is the value line, and Genki Sushi Lunch Sets run as a standing promotion alongside seasonal ranges like the Kyushu Adventure.
Feeding a crowd? Takeaway sushi platters — the Salmon Deluxe Set among them — pack the belt into a box for gatherings. Genki also offers islandwide delivery through its own online store and via foodpanda and GrabFood, so sushi, sashimi and donburi cravings can be sorted without leaving the sofa.
Casual, quick and playful, the i12 Katong outlet slots neatly into a mall day — a shopping break, a family meal, or a refuel before wandering one of Singapore's most food-proud neighbourhoods. Grab a plate off the belt, order the next one by train, and repeat until satisfied. That is rather the point of a name like Dai Man Zoku.