Kura already operates a popular San Diego location at 4609 Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, where it introduced many locals to its signature high-tech, “game-like” dining experience when it opened in 2015. The forthcoming Mission Valley location will bring that same concept closer to central San Diego neighborhoods and the area’s dense mix of shopping, offices, and residential developments.
Founded in Japan in 1977, Kura has grown into a global powerhouse with hundreds of locations across Japan, Taiwan, and the United States. The chain is best known for its revolving conveyor belt system, where small plates of sushi and other Japanese dishes circulate continuously, each protected by ventilated lids designed to maintain freshness. Plates are color-coded by price, typically starting at just a few dollars, while touchscreen tablets at each table allow diners to place custom orders that arrive via a separate express conveyor lane.
A hallmark of the Kura experience is its built-in gamification. Finished plates are inserted into an automated slot at the table, and after a set number of plates, diners are rewarded with a small prize dispensed from the “Bikkura-Pon” machine, often themed around the restaurant’s animated mascot. The menu rotates regularly, mixing staples like nigiri, rolls, and side dishes with limited-time seasonal offerings, helping keep repeat visits feeling fresh.
While an official opening date for the Mission Valley restaurant has not yet been announced, its placement within the Mission Valley Mall redevelopment suggests it could arrive alongside broader changes to the area’s retail and dining landscape. When it does open, the new Kura location will give San Diego diners another chance to experience a style of sushi dining that blends traditional Japanese flavors with automation, novelty, and speed—without having to make the trek to Convoy Street.
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar’s Mission Valley location is expected to open later this year at 1640 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 218, within San Diego's Mission Valley Mall. For more information, visit kurasushi.com.
Originally published on January 22, 2026.
