If you find yourself in Bellingham and are in the mood for sushi, give Kuru Kuru a try. This place is different from the typical Sushi restaurant where you sit down and order from a menu. Here, you can sit in front of a conveyor belt (also known as a ‘sushi go around’ or a ‘sushi train’) and pick from covered dishes that cycle past your seat. There are five different coloured plates, which range in price from $2 to $3.50. A flip chart on the counter shows all the dishes in each price range so you can identify them if they look unfamiliar. You can also order other items from your server or just ask the chefs. Behind the conveyor is the open kitchen where new dishes are made and added to the line up. One draw back here, is that the seating is a little too low to properly watch the chefs at work.
Most plates offer three bites. No need to play it safe and order your old standbys (miso soup and a dynamite roll are mine). As with Dim Sum, this method allows you to sample many different dishes for a reasonable price. At the end of your meal a waitperson tallies up the colour coded plates and presents you with a bill.
What I particularly liked here was that you could start eating as soon as you sit down and you don’t have to decide up front how much to order. Still feeling a little hungry? Grab another plate as it goes around. This is a great way to order just the right amount.
The restaurant is licensed with a modest selection of beer and wine. They do not take reservations but you can leave your cell number and they’ll call if you want to walk around the lovely grounds. It was a beautiful summer evening when we went and so we enjoyed an after dinner stroll around the marina and hotel.
From reading some of the other reviews, I gather Kuru Kuru place might have experienced some growing pains after their initial opening, but things seem to have turned around and recent reviews, including my own experience were very positive.
The restaurant is clean, well lit and has large windows. If you go to their web site you can get a 10% off coupon. They are open for lunch and dinner in the scenic Bellwether hotel area, near the marina at #101 11 Bellwether Way. Tel 360-392-8224.
