I had such a fun experience at Sakana-Ya! A couple of things to know before you go: if you visit during business hours, you'll likely need to pay for parking. There is a parking lot nearby as well as some street parking, but it's something to keep in mind before your visit. I believe they offer an all-you-can-eat special for around $27.99 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays many menu items are half off. I visited on a Thursday and took full advantage of the half-off specials. I arrived about 40 minutes before closing, and as other guests left, I ended up being the only person in the restaurant. Honestly, it made for a great experience. The music was a fun mix of house music and R&B, and I found myself dancing in my seat while enjoying my meal. The staff was attentive without being overbearing. They checked on me when needed but also gave me space to relax and enjoy my food. The cook also came over and talked with me for a while and made some suggestions on what he thought I would like. Amazing ! Because everything was half off, my eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach! I ordered several different items and was completely full by my second plate. Most dishes come as small plates with two to four pieces, making it easy to try a variety of items. One of the coolest parts of the experience was the conveyor belt system. Once your food is prepared, it's sent down the conveyor belt to your seat. Since I was the only customer there, it was easy to know which dishes were mine. I'd be interested to see how it works during busier hours. I honestly can't remember everything I ordered, but I enjoyed almost all of it. My least favorite item was the sweet potato roll--it wasn't bad, just not my personal favorite. Everything else was fresh, flavorful, and worth trying. Overall, I had a really good time and will definitely be back, especially on a half-off day. Great food, great music, and a fun dining experience. For more fun food reviews and local adventures, follow me on TikTok @Boujeejuan or check out my YouTube channel, Boujeejuan's Diary! read more

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Walking in on a Saturday afternoon, we expected it to be busy but to our surprise there was only one other couple there in the restaurant. The fun thing is that on this particular Saturday, it was half-price Sushi which is a very affordable time to go! The sushi rolls and appetizer items come down on colored plates on a conveyer belt. You don't have much time to review the info sheet so figure out what things are before it passes you by, and you do have to eat it if you touch the plate. It's kind of a fun game to play! We enjoyed a nice lunch with fresh sushi created by the sushi chefs behind the counter, of course. It's a peaceful place to go when there's only few people in there. But, I could see it being loud if there were a packed house in there. I wouldn't say it's the best sushi I ever had, but it's fun for the novelty of it for sure. read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I've only tried Sakana Ya once and I would say it was good, not great not bad. I went when they were having half off sushi and ate at the conveyer belt which was a fun experience. I do however think they need to add more nigri to the conveyer belt side. It was definitely heavy on the rolls going around the belt so we had to order our nigri separately which did take away from the experience read more

My husband and I decided lunch after wrapping gifts was needed lol. I saw Sakana-Ya was open Christmas Eve (also Christmas Day), we don't get here often but they do half off sushi more than one day during the week(changed after the pandemic). Everything was delicious and it was easy to order rolls we didn't see on the conveyor belt. The service was friendly. read more

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I grew up coming to Sakana Ya and loved Thor conveyor belt sushi. Makes for a fun visit. However I feel that the quality of their items has suffered some over time since moving back home and trying their sushi again. Service is always pretty good, although there are some servers that are more helpful and attentive than others. It's always a fun environment so I can't knock off too much for the vibes and decent service. Just wish they'd put a little more quality back into the conveyor side! The other side when I have done pickup orders is okay. read more

Food was amazing. We sat at the bar. It was my first time having revolving sushi. It was difficult to figure out the rolls. You could order the rolls you wanted if you didn't see them and the server would find them for you or have them made. They had tempura, Rangoon, spring rolls revolving, too. The ambiance was minimal, everyone was around the bar, so there wasn't much interaction. read more

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They have a great happy hour and maybe when I was there - maybe missed the crowd so I didn't have quite the same selection as the menu. The sushi was fresh and our waiter was nice. It would be a great first date spot or a first time trying sushi since it's so easy to sample a little bit of everything. They had a fruit California roll and it was surprisingly good - like we went back for seconds on it. read more

Very impressed by my to go order lunch box. My order was made and delivered in a timely manner. The ingredients were fresh and the food was delicious. The lunch box was a great value, can't wait to order again! read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - California Box Lunch - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

(4.5/5) Took a trip down to this restaurant because I was craving sushi and soup! It's very lovely interior, a bit dim but still nice! I ordered the Chirashi dinner and hot and sour soup (forgot the pic). The sushi restaurant that splits into two rooms, one is the sit and dine area and the other is the conveyer belt sushi section. I chose the sit and dine because I wanted something soup. I have been to the conveyor belt section once around 2 years ago when I first visited Syracuse and it was amazing! Food: (9.5/10) Chirashi Dinner $23.95: 12 pieces of sashimi with a bed of rice underneath! Comes with miso soup. The fish all tasted fresh, nothing smelled bad nor did I get sick afterwards. Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, and imitation crab are the only ones I know from looking at the bowl. The others were unknown. But they were still delicious! Salmon is my favorite one! The only thing I wished was that the rice was warm or maybe on the side. I understand it was because the fish was on top but I like my rice warm. (8/10) Miso soup was decent, nothing fancy but good (9.8/10) Hot and Sour Soup $4.95: probably the best hot and sour soup I've had in a long time! They do have less veggies in the soup compared to other restaurants but the flavor is to die for. It has a slightly thick consistency which is what I look for. It definitely has a kick which is great. It's also not too vinegary and perfect for the cold season. (10/10) Service: It was a cold winter day, I was the only one there. The lady at the desk took my order and gave me the food within 10 minutes! Fast service and didn't bother me until I was done which was nice! Overall I was very satisfied and full! Will return to order their other items like bento boxes. read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Chirashi Dinner- assortment of sashimi with a bed of rice underneath (comes with Miso Soup) - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

SO GOOD!!!!!! The food was amazing and the staff was so friendly! I loved the look of the place and loved the music! read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Pineapple slushie and miso soup - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Went to dinner Christmas Eve with my mom and sister around 7:30pm. It was not very busy we were directed to order from the menu, 50% off on weekdays. You can order more if needed. The service was excellent--quick, attentive, and kind. We ordered both cold and hot items and the food came out incredibly fast--nice presentation, flavors, fresh, and the quantity for the price is unbeatable. We sat at the bar and it was spacious and comfortable. Go alone or with a group, the service and food is worth a visit. Thank you for a nice dinner! read more

Sakana-Ya is a fun experience with good sushi. It's nice inside and the SUSHI bar is fairly large with a good amount of seating. We did the conveyor belt for lunch on this visit. There's a solid selection of Sushi on the conveyor belt with a variety of prices marked by the color and design of the plate. It can certainly get pricey quick so I'd recommend finding a half price day to attend. Service was fast as we got to sit immediately and the belt was moving. They are very quick to clean up the covers of your plates, but you'll keep your plates and they will total the cost at the end of your dining. Nothing blew me away, but it was nice to try a wide variety of sushi dishes. I recommend giving it a go, I think you'll be pleased that you did. Enjoy! read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor Belt - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I've been going to Sakana-Ya for years and will continue to do so for as long as I live in Syracuse. It's been a staple for me since I've been in high school. Sakana-Ya is a conveyor belt sushi spot with more traditional dining on it's opposite side. Recently, I believe during the heart of the pandemic, it received a major renovation that made the space somehow more modern than it was before (bye-bye tricky mirror!). The spot looks great. The food, while admittedly, is not the best sushi I've ever had, is certainly good- especially for the price. They used to offer half-priced sushi on Mondays but every time I've been since the place opened up again has been that same "half-price". Admittedly, this is probably the right price for their sushi as there's typically only about four pieces per plate. I genuinely have never had a bad meal here and will stop whenever I need to scratch my sushi itch. They also serve Charm Soju- a favorite of mine, which I can't seem to find anywhere else. For the best experience, go during a prime dining time as the sushi will be more plentiful and won't have sit around as long. I genuinely love this spot even with it's flaws and wouldn't hesitate to recommend anyone to go there. Props to the sushi chef with glasses and earbuds in- that guy has been there literally every time I've ever been there and I can't imagine how many podcasts this man has listened to. Please, if you are looking for a sushi fix, don't overlook Sakana-Ya. read more

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I've been a long support of Sakana. Their service hasn't always been great but not awful and they have half price sushi so I always support. However, last night will be my last night. I brought my two girls to try sushi for the first time. I also had another friend join us. For the first half of dinner everything was normal. I had to wave down to order but it's okay. The problem became when an older gentleman came and started waving his hands around us and trying to grab our plates and yelling towards us . I can't tell you what he was saying because it was in his native tongue which isn't the problem but the problem was the overall actions towards us. After some confusion and clarification one of the waiter calmly tells us there's a group of 4 waiting for a table and the older gentleman wanted us to move down one to make room. We were happy to agree and shift down. However, the older gentleman didn't wait (we were moving btw) he went to grab my girls plate and moved them on the other side of my friend 2 seats away from me. While still speaking very rudely and loudly at us. Still couldn't understand but facial expression and tone of voice said it all. That is where they lost me. Then for the rest of dinner they completely ignored us. We didn't ask for anything else. As we were getting to pay I expressed how uncomfortable and unpleasant that experience was and the waiter just smiled and nodded. There's better sushi somewhere else. I'll pay full price if it means my kids and I do not get such a horrible experience read more

Very good sushi, and lots of other choices for the non sushi people........ The bottle price on wine is amazing compared to most places! Not a lot of choices but a few good wines in each flavor...... read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - At our favorite sushi place!!! - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

3.5 stars. Came here on a Saturday evening and was able to snag a table on the non-conveyer belt side. We tried the rotating bar side first, but we were told to just sit down and wait and there were a few others sitting already. We tried a couple of rolls and a chirashi bowl. The rolls were decent, though were pretty small/skimpy on fish (for $10 and $15 especially). The sushi fish was very nice in the chirashi, but pieces were very thin/small. Even though the meal was decent, everything was just terribly pricey (about $70 after tax and tip for what you see pictured and we weren't very full). In addition, service was very slow (we had finished and waited about 15 minutes before we could flag someone for the check). Overall, decent sushi, but probably will try some other places first. read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

always get sat immediately, service is quick when i order what i don't see on the belt. wish the portions were a bit larger but for trying a bunch of stuff its a great option read more

My friend and I tried a late dinner here and we had such a nice time!! We tried so many new types of sushi and the conveyor belt added some fun to our meal. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that they had half price sushi! Most of what we ate was a mystery since there weren't any labels but everything was really tasty. Next time I definitely want to try one of their milk or thai teas and some new sushi! read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Conveyor belt sushi is always so fun! The sushi here is really good and there's a large variety. There's a good mix of classic sushi rolls and more creative rolls. There are also select appetizers on the conveyor belt, though they don't show up very often unless requested. The cheesecake trio is probably my favorite item, which was so unexpected! The conveyor belt has half price sushi, so it's an amazing value. Service is okay, but at the conveyor belt you aren't on the servers' radar, which makes it difficult to order drinks or other items. Overall a really fun and worthwhile dining experience! read more

I've been out maybe five times since March 2020, and two of them were here. The first time I ever had sushi was here about 15 years ago. I've been coming here for special occasions ever since, learning my favorites by appearance. With all the sushi I've had, I probably couldn't name the ingredients of a single sushi roll... and for that I guess we can thank their conveyor belt delivery and color coded plates. It only comes back to bite you if you want sushi from any other venue, where you can't wait for the one you want to pass by your face. I've only ever been here on Monday, half priced day. I'm sure we're probably missing some selections, but we're more than happy with what we get when we come here. Usually by the time we make it here, we're so deprived of sushi we can barely contain ourselves when we're sat in front of an infinite rotating loop of our entire week's dreams. Seating can be a little tight, I'd guess there are something like 20 seats available. Large parties are tough to manage, but it'll work out if you're okay waiting. Being sat directly next to strangers can make the experience more interesting. The limited seating also means they won't want you to linger too long. Once you start to slow down, they'll start hitting you up for the check so they can get new people in. Like I mentioned, I don't have a very fluent take on the menu, I just know which ones I like and grab the one (or three) I want next. Today, we ordered some General Tso Chicken and Salmon Teriyaki from the entrée menu. I went with the salmon when they didn't have Lamb Chops left. The idea was to cut the sushi with some other food and maybe order less, but we ended up ordering the same amount of sushi and taking half of our other food home. The salmon teriyaki was so tender, and crisped all around the outside. The broccoli, baby corn and peppers sat in the teriyaki sauce and was great to have on hand during a sushi binge. The General Tso chicken was the best I've ever had. Great cuts of tender cooked chicken, fried crispy and bathed in the best General Tso sauce ever. They use sesame oil in their sauce, and it makes all the difference. I'm more of an amateur when it comes to sushi, so I won't weigh in in any useful way when it comes to quality. But for me and my girlfriend, coming here has been the carrot and the end of a long stick. It's been one of our favorite incentives to get through some very challenging weeks, and I hope the place sticks around for a long time. read more

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So I needed something to eat when I got in late into Syracuse. The sushi was okay, I only got an avocado roll and soup, so I didn't have a lot to really review, but the service was really nice and fast. The avocado, my only complaint was that it was a bit not ripe, but it was good, the place was clean, my food was quick and warm (and cold). The tofu in my soup was a bit small and underwhelming but the broth was good. I would eat here again. read more

My boyfriend and I visited the sushi conveyor bar section on a Friday night when they had half off their plates. We had about 10 different small plates and paid around $50. I think the value of the meal for half the price was okay but I would not pay regular price for their plates - it's simply not worth it. Parking to get to this restaurant was a bit of a hassle on Friday night but hey -- that's what happens on a weekend in downtown Syracuse. We were greeted and sat quickly and were given water immediately. The water glasses were a bit dirty though. The plates on the conveyer belt are color coded and they help you understand the price of the plate you're going to grab. We ordered a variety of plates and rolls such as edamame, crab Rangoon, California roll, eel roll, salmon roll, fried banana among other things. I wasn't very impressed with anything and a bit disappointed at the quality. I ordered the taro bubble tea and it was probably the worst tasting bubble tea I've ever had. The tapioca bubbles were light brown - not the regular black. The tea was super thick and unlike anything I've ever had it. I probably won't be back and won't recommend it to friends but if you want to get the experience of sushi on a conveyor belt - give it a try during a day they have half off their plates. read more

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This place is great ! A little bit confusing to know & pick exactly which roll is which coming around but the workers are so friendly & helpful. We loved everything & the price was amazing! read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Delicious ! - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I love coming here! Can't beat half price sushi ! The only seafood I eat is crab meat but there's still a lot of options, crab Rangoons are always a hit ! And the Fruit sushi the glaze/sauce they use for it is amazing. I tried the veggie Gyoza I had no idea what it was but I wanted fried food and it was delicious. I came in at about 9:30 and the hostess is usually in a better mood since I've been here almost 10 times but tonight she didn't seem in the particular mood not sure if it's was because I came in 30 mins before closing but I was finished at 9:50. She kind of dropped my plates next me and my To go container which I wasn't happy about but I figure it's been a long day I guess and she wants to go home. But anyways it's always a nice vibe in here and good music. read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Gyoza Veggie - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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The sushi. B+/A The service. C- The fact that we didn't realize it was half-priced sushi day. A++++++++++ If indifferent service + good sushi is an agreeable combination for you, then this is a place you should visit. To be clear, the only time I feel it's worth it to go here is on half-price sushi day. Most of the rolls and items on the menu are some iteration of salmon-tuna-shrimp-maybe eel-and mayo. So for sure if you've got a hankering for basic sushi and need something in a pinch, this is the place. Each time I've gone, the server has had a pretty blasé attitude. My advice is that you have your drink and food order ready to go when he approaches you because once he sets something on your table, he's not coming back. read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Pretty good sushi. A good place for Monday night. Half Price Sushi. The restaurant has nice decor. Service was good read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Sushi - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Do NOT RECOMMEND #1 thing is that for party if 4 sitting at the conveyor belt they added 20 percent tip. But on TOP OF THAT they give you your credit card receipt with SUGGESTION FOR ADDITIONAL TIPS! when I asked the lady if the tip was already added she blatantly said NO, ADD TIP HERE. when I pointed that it was ALREADY added she just smiled and walked AWAY. Let's keep in mind there is NO SERVICE, you literally take things of the conveyor belt yourself. #2 conveyor belt sushi was about 2/3 stars. Everything had hot sauce added and smothered in mayo. Each plate is HALF a roll so it's really not that good of a deal, price wise. #3 the 50 percent off is a gimmick, it's 50 percent off everyday. Which still doesn't make it a good deal given portions and quality. read more

The restaurant has a pretty good variety of sushi roll options at the rotating bar. The night we went (Saturday night, around 7pm probably) there were very few people sitting at the rotating bar. There were minimal selections rotating around, but you can order specific rolls from the waiter at the same price of the rotating bar. PLUS, every day is half price sushi. That was really amazing. It took a bit to get a side order of eel sauce and spicy Mayo. There was only one guy rolling sushi rolls, but he was doing a great job and in-the-zone, kudos to him! read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Very cool sushi spot downtown with good specials Monday and Wednesday (I believe it is their half off special). I like sitting in the conveyer belt side because the food is much more accessible. In the dining room sometimes the staff takes a while to come back and check on you. Overall I do recommend this place for sushi lovers read more

Good and affordable conveyor sushi spot. Fun fact: it takes a dish 7 mins and 53 seconds to return to you, enough time to take down another plate if needed. read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor sushi - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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I enjoy sushi and this was subpar. Their prices are that of a higher quality sushi restaurant, and I did not think that the food we ordered was worth some of the prices. Particularly the sushi. I also ordered their spicy ramen and a bowl. The pork in the ramen was over cooked and tough to chew. The bowl had a ton of rice in comparison to the meats and veggies. Their bubble tea tasted good, but the tapioca had an odd texture. read more

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So insane. The sushi was not that fresh. I only had one roll because everything else looked pretty old. As soon as we paid the owner told us we had to leave. Very rude. I wouldn't come back based on that alone. This place has definitely gone downhill. read more

This is hands down my FAVORITE sushi bar. If you are a visual person this is the place for you! You have all options right in front of you, and reasonably priced! read more

went on a weekday when they had the half off sushi day and we were the only people there. the host wasn't the best. she was really pushy and rushing us to order but when we were ready to order she was no where to be found. also the guy behind the counter was just sitting and using his phone the whole time so it just felt awkward. the whole experience was awkward and just uncomfortable for me and my partner. also when i was leaving i tipped the hostess and wrote on my receipt and while i was walking out the front door she stopped me and told me my tip was incorrect and made me feel pressured to tip more. read more

Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar - Conveyor Belt Sushi Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I came here tonight with some friends for the all you can eat special. It was busy but we got 3 seats by the door. The problem was that this also meant we were at the end of the conveyor belt and were the last ones to get any of the plates. This normally wouldn't be an issue but there was only one chef making the rolls and he wasn't able to make enough rolls for all the hungry diners. In fact, there were multiples times when there was nothing coming out on the conveyor belt. There is also a menu available to order plates, but we were told that the chef already had too many orders and we needed to wait. When the rolls were ready, the waiter mixed up the orders and gave ours to another group. We also had to wait a very long time before receiving our food. The food in general was below average. The rolls and nigiri was mostly comprised of rice and the sashimi bowl was limited to one order per person. I understand the restaurant's tactic to fill you up with rice, but it feels like a rip off. I like the concept of conveyor belt sushi but the food was severely underwhelming. I'd rather go somewhere else next time for quality sushi. read more

Great place, a lot of the one star reviews a dumb. People complaining because they weren't hugged while they were eating their food. Never had an issue. Love the conveyer belt area has a great feel to it. read more

By far the best sushi bar in Syracuse! The staff is amazing! The fish is fresh every time. I eat at Sakana-Ya once a week, and I am more than satisfied with each experience. I love the music, and how comfortable it is to just sit, eat, and have a good time! I have tried most of the menu, if you go I recommend you do the same. read more

Had dinner here on a Monday. Pro tip they half half price sushi on Mondays. This is the conveyer style and you eat until you are full. I tried a bunch of different sushi's and I enjoyed them all. I was not blown away but I am admittedly not a sushi expert. To be honest I don't even know what flavors I tried. It's difficult to tell what they are. The pictures on menu and what you actually eat are a bit confusing. Being the only place like this in Syracuse, I would say give it a try. read more

Yummy sushi. Half priced is a good deal although smaller portions than I'm used to. The conveyor belt had a nice selection but it wasn't replenished as often as I would have liked. read more

This is the first time I've ever been to a conveyor belt sushi venue. There are plenty of options going through the conveyor belt. Could be gyoza, seaweed salad, or any various types of rolls. If there's something that you don't see on the belt but would like to order, the server is around checking with all guests to ensure if they need anything. I must give kudos to our server as she was on top of everything whether it be checking with us to see how our meal was going, making sure if we wanted to order anything else. You could see her running around making sure everybody was taking care of, which I can really appreciate. I also learned that there's half-price Mondays, so if you want to check it out on a budget, that would be the day to do it. Some noted sushi rolls that I particularly enjoyed was the Super Spider, Unagi-Don (BBQ eel), and Cupcake. Oh and the cheesecake bites were amazing. You'll want them all for yourself; trust me. read more

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