A big fish in the world’s sushi scene is bringing its authentic Japanese concept to San Antonio, and it’s promising to hook local diners on its innovative revolving bar, tech-forward ordering options, and quirky prize machine.
Kura Sushi, the interactive Japanese restaurant concept established in 2008 as an offshoot of 45-year-old Japan-based Kura Corporation, is rolling into the Alamo Quarry Market at 255 E. Basse Rd., suite 384, opening Wednesday, February 16.
The new location will be its first in the San Antonio market, though Kura Sushi boasts eight other restaurants in Texas and 35 in the U.S. Altogether, the company has more than 500 restaurants across Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.
Kura Sushi features more than 140 menu offerings (many priced at only $2.90) and specializes in savory, authentic Japanese dishes made with “natural, premium ingredients free of artificial sweeteners, seasonings, preservatives, and colorings.” But it’s likely Kura’s novel approach to the sushi dining experience that will lure San Antonians.
Key to that experience is Kura’s revolving sushi bar and express belt. The revolving sushi bar snakes through the dining area with plates of sushi for diners to ogle and consider devouring. And there are no worries about freshness, as each dish is protected by Kura’s patented Mr. Fresh ventilated sushi lid, which limits airborne exposure and has plate-tracking technology that monitors how long each item has been circulating. It’s all aimed at ensuring customers’ food is always fresh and at the peak of deliciousness when it transitions from conveyor belt to table.
Additionally, Kura’s express belt, known as the “sushi highway,” is positioned above the primary revolving belt and offers diners the option of ordering from a touch panel at their table. Food is then delivered directly from the kitchen along the sushi highway.
Further tapping technology to create the best sushi dining experience, Kura also has an app that makes it easy for guests to view live wait times and join the restaurant’s waitlist remotely. The app also gives diners the chance to earn rewards, with every $50 spent scoring sushi diehards a $5 coupon.
And speaking of rewards, Kura Sushi will certainly reel in some new local fans with its Bikkura Pon Prize System, which the company notes is an integral part of the overall interactive dining experience at Kura.
The system is comprised of a prize machine, touch panel, and plate disposal slot — connected via sensors — located at every table in the restaurant. The touch panel registers the number of green and red plates dispensed through the plate disposal slot. After every five plates ordered, a short animation plays on the touch panel for guests, and after every 15 plates, sushi diners are awarded a prize that’s dispensed from the prize machine.
Kura collaborates with popular Japanese and Japanese-inspired brands to develop various prizes, and also develops original Kura Sushi prizes, so diners can be rewarded with a variety of prizes like lanyards, chopsticks, badge reels, keycaps, and acrylic chains.
As part of Kura’s collaboration with the Sanrio brand, San Antonio guests will receive a Hello Kitty and Friends x Kura Sushi Bikkura Pon prize for every 15 green or red plates purchased.
And in honor of its grand opening in San Antonio, Kura Sushi will host a two-day celebration and giveaway event on Wednesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 17. Each day, the first 100 dine-in guests will receive a cute sushi towel (similar to a kitchen towel but resembling sushi when rolled up).
Upon opening, Kura Sushi’s regular business hours will be Sunday through Thursday 11:30 am-9:30 pm and Friday and Saturday 11:30 am-10 pm.
The world will bid a final "goodbye and thank you, Ma'am" to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at her state funeral on Monday, September 19 at London's Westminster Abbey.
While the service for Her Majesty, who passed away September 8, will be attended by 2,000 family, friends, dignitaries, and heads of state, the event is expected to draw a record 4.1 billion viewers from around the world.
In the United States, every major network, broadcast outlet, and streaming service will provide coverage. And in San Antonio, viewers will need to get up before the sun to tune in live. The funeral starts at 5 am local time, with many noteworthy events happening before and after it (see schedule, below).
Here is a complete guide to the network, cable, and streaming service coverage, per the L.A. Times and Hollywood Reporter. (All times are local to San Antonio.)
Cable networks (television and streaming):
The funeral service itself will begin at 11 am in London (BST), which is 5 am in San Antonio (CDT). The service is expected to last about an hour, but it's preceded and followed by other events that also will be broadcast. Here is a schedule of events for the day, according to this handy guide from BBC. All times below are CDT.
12:30 am: The Queen's lying-in-state at Westminster Hall will end. Hundreds of thousands (including soccer legend David Beckham) have been "queueing up" and waiting in line up to 14 hours to walk by her coffin and pay their respects. The BBC is live-streaming the lying-in-state here.
2 am: The doors of Westminster Abbey will open for guests to begin arriving for the state funeral. Heads of state — including U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden — will attend, as will royal family members from across Europe (many of whom were blood relatives of the Queen). Find the guest list here.
4:44 am: About 15 minutes before the funeral, the Queen's coffin will be carried, via gun carriage, from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Senior members of the royal family (including King Charles and princes William and Harry) will follow the coffin in the procession.
5 am: The funeral at Westminster Abbey begins. It will be presided over by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
5:55 am: Near the end of the funeral, a bugle call called "Last Post" will be played, and two minutes of silence will be observed nationally across the UK. Then the "new" national anthem "God Save the King" will be sung and a lament will be played by the Queen's piper.
6:15 am: A walking procession — including military bands and members of the armed services — will draw the coffin from the Abbey to Wellington Arch.
7 am: The coffin will be transferred to a state hearse for its final journey to Windsor.
9 am: The state hearse will arrive in Windsor for a walking procession up Windsor Castle's Long Walk. Members of the armed forces will line the three-mile route, and members of the royal family will meet the cortege outside the castle.
10 am: The coffin will enter St. George's Chapel for a committal service attended by a congregation of 800. At the conclusion of the 45-minute service, the Queen's coffin will be lowered into the royal vault, and the royal family will leave the chapel. The service will include many traditions symbolizing the end of the Queen's reign, including the removal of the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and scepter from the top of the coffin. (Read more about what to expect here.)
1:30 pm: The Queen will be buried together with her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the King George VI memorial chapel inside St. George's Chapel. The private ceremony is just for family, and it is unclear whether any part of it will be made public.
Clear your schedules: Fine art, theater arts, and culinary arts abound in the next few days. Enjoy a fiery and flavorful competition featuring a Texas cuisine staple at Taco Rumble, or see Hadestown during its brief stint at Majestic Theatre. Check out the top five things to do in San Antonio this weekend. For a full listing of events, visit our calendar.
80|20 Foundation presents Lawn Beach Legacy Park is bringing beach vibes to the city with an alternative to the traditional shoreside bash. Lawn Beach highlights include a packed lineup of live musical performances, a vendors market, snacks and food offerings, and more throughout the grounds. Visitors are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to take full advantage of the party’s chill and breezy vibes. For more information, click here. Admission to this party is free and open to the public.
San Antonio Food and Wine Alliance presents Taco Rumble Foodies, prepare your tastebuds. Some of the most talented Texan taqueros and chefs will compete for best taco bragging rights. Taco Rumble guests can enjoy a variety of tacos created by chefs from around the state in the spirit of philanthropy and authentic Texas cuisine. Additional highlights include sweet treat offerings, premium spirit tastings, and a selection of wines and craft beers. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to the Taco Rumble website.
Broadway in San Antonio: Hadestown Mythology and theatre combine for a production of award-winning storytelling at Majestic Theatre. This dramatic and gripping love story is an eight-time Tony® Awards winner and showcases a talented ensemble of actors, dancers and singers for an experience audiences will never forget. For ticketing information, click here. Performances are scheduled through September 18.
Centro Cultural Aztlan presents Frank Harris III: "Las Mujeres Regionlaes" opening reception Be among the first to experience “"Las Mujeres Regionales,” the newest works by San Antonio artist Frank W. Harris, III. In his art, Harris pays tribute to his grandmother Doña Petra Ortega’s collection of Mexican calendar art through his paintings, and this new debut is reminiscent of the Mexican folk art and textiles that remain central to his art. Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on view at Centro Cultural Aztlan through October 20. Admission to this event is free and open to the public.
Michael Bublé in concert Superstar crooner Michael Bublé will serenade San Antonians at the AT&T Center for one night only. Since his rise to stardom in the early 2000s, the Canadian singer is known for hit songs like “Sway” and “Everything.” He comes to the city in support of his new album, Higher. For ticketing information and availability, click here.
Texans already knew that Schlitterbahn is one of the state's best waterparks, and the company's flagship waterpark in New Braunfels is on a bit of a hot streak.
For the 24th year in a row, Amusement Today has named Schlitterbahn New Braunfels the world’s best waterpark as part of the publication’s Golden Ticket Awards program.
“For our park to have won this award again for the 24th consecutive time is humbling,” says Darren Hill, vice president and general manager of Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resort. “This Golden Ticket represents the greatest reward for the hard work and efforts of our associates who each day strive to provide a safe, friendly, unique, and fun environment for our guests.”
Presented each year, the Golden Ticket Awards recognize excellence in the amusement park industry. Winners are determined based on polling done by Amusement Today, an Arlington-based publication that covers news about amusement and water parks.
Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair Entertainment owns and operates Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, which opened in 1979. Sitting on the banks of the spring-fed Comal River, the park features 51 attractions on over 70 acres. The attractions include various river rides and waterslides.
“We’re all about making people happy, and it’s always a tremendous honor and a privilege when our commitment to serving our guests is recognized and celebrated,” says Richard Zimmerman, president and CEO of Cedar Fair.