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At the end of Hamra street is a Japanese place called Kaiten. Red is the main color defining a place I really like. Walk in, sit at the conveyer belt and watch a sushi-tender prepare the rolls. I have been here three times already and enjoy the positivity felt in this small place.
A big square bar built in the middle with light wood and surrounded with high black leather stools is all what the place hosts. Over every chair you will find a red lantern pending down from the white fresh ceiling. The staff is professional, yet very friendly and attentive - you feel like you're the most important customer they have.
Literally translated, Kaiten means a “conveyor belt of food”. Essentially, what this eatery is based on is the concept of Japanese conveyor sushi bar offering a quality, fast and entertaining dining experience for the fanatic of this crafty cuisine.
Lunch started... I usually order items that are outside the conveyer belt. Although the selection is good and tasty, I prefer to order items that are not displayed and are usually more expensive than the choice they add on the belt. I love this place and it's concept, where a large choice of rolls pass along the belt for you to pick.
We were welcomed by Bob who made everything for us to be happy. He introduced the concept to us, asked what we would like to drink, and recommended his suggestions of tastiest piece in-house.
Lunch carried on smoothly as we ordered more items of the menu. We enjoyed tasty Japanese bites as interesting music played in the background.
There are six different colored coded plates to pick from, each means a different price: (blue LL3750, green LL4750, red LL5750, orange LL6750, yellow LL7750, pink LL8750).
Let's eat:
- Edamame are well cooked and the pieces are small and enjoyable specially the thick salt covering them.
- We started with spicy Salmon Crunchy salad that's a combination of two color coded plates; the orange and blue ones. I loved its crunchy cover, the freshness of the salmon and strong aftertaste of the spiciness, a great first impression and beautiful start.
- Salmon Sashimi was not oily and melts under your teeth like butter; a fine quality.
- The Mango Wrap was richly filled with flavor
- Eel order is served warm and tender
- The crispy used is crispy
- Salmon Skin order was not a favorite, it chewed a lot
- The Alaskan wraps are tasty and fresh
- Don't miss the Volcano section
- My favorite was the Exotic where a mix of mango, avocado and salmon are perfectly combined
For a street style conveyor belt, Kaiten serves fine quality Japanese bites. I enjoyed the rice, the fish quality as well as the sweet flavors felt here and there.
The best part was the dessert served on the conveyer belt. Intrigued by it, I grabbed a plate and enjoyed the four pieces of dark chocolate truffles made from dark chocolate truffles, covered with chocolate powder. Very tasty. Bravo.
For me, Kaiten is a place I go to every now and then to enjoy the vibes the place conveys. In the heart of Hamra street, where Beirut's livelihood stands strong, this modern set up with its big glass facades allows you to interact with the city while enjoying some good food.
