Grubtrotters

We’re kind of digging LA’s burgeoning conveyer belt sushi craze. If you like your sushi snooty, then skip it. But if you’re looking for something more casual and fun, check out Luckyfish in Beverly Hills, the latest endeavor from innovative Dining Group, owner of Sushi Roku, Boa Steakhouse, Katana and Santa Monica’s Robata Bar.

Here’s the concept: You sit in a booth, and the sushi rotates by on a conveyer belt. You pluck what you want off the revolving belt, with color-coded dishes ranging from $3.50 to $7.50. A sensor ejects the untouched sushi after 45 minutes to an hour, ensuring freshness. (Fresh is good, but we do hope they’re not wasting too much food.) You can also order dishes from the menu. I enjoyed the wasabi toro, shishito peppers with bonita flakes, hanabi (crispy rice topped with spicy tuna and pickled wasabi root) and the uni (with shiso leaf and fleur de sel, served Gunkan style). The shochu infused with coconut and pineapple was yummy, and rest assured it tasted nothing like a pina colada. Luckyfish has a festive vibe, with bright colors giving it a Tokyo pop feel.

For the bargain basement experience, try Kaiten-Sushi Daichan at the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle. When I was researching a story on Sawtelle for Sunset magazine, folks on the street told me this is where the locals go for their cheap sushi fix. Albacore tuna will set you back a whopping $2. The sushi is certainly not the greatest I have tasted, but it’s hard to beat the price. Here’s a tip for both spots: Sit near the front of the conveyer belt so you can get the first pick. Jenny.

Luckyfish, 338 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills; 310-274-9800.

Kaiten-Sushi Daichan, 11301 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles; 310-914-5028.