Review: Sakatanoya Revolving Sushi & Ramen Bar puts a high-tech spin on sushi

by Dave Lowry // MARCH 25, 2026 |

“What would your grandmother have to say about that?” We put the question to Yoshiko-san, who grew up in pre-war Japan and whose grandmother had never even seen a jalapeño, much less confronted a slice of it atop sushi. Of course, a similar question could have been put to residents in University City in the ’20s: “Could you have imagined bite-sized rice and raw fish whisking past your table on an automated track, along with robotic carts gliding up bearing bowls of soup?”

Kaiten, or “rotating” sushi joints, have long been a feature on Japan’s casual dining scene, where modest toppings and straightforward preparations function much like the Automat cafeterias of early-20th-century America. The format has existed in the West for years, but Sakatanoya Revolving Sushi & Ramen Bar has reintroduced it to St. Louis, where two similar kaiten concepts last appeared more than a decade ago.

Unlike Japanese kaitenzushi-ya, which encourages a fast-food approach to sushi, the idea here seems to be promoting longer, more leisurely visits. Booths are roomy and comfortable. The décor is minimalist but upscale, sleek and chill. There are plans for a lavish cocktail service, along with late-night dining and drinking.