Japan solo dining chain surges in popularity in China; hours long wait times lead to scalpers

A new solo dining trend among Chinese people is boosting the success of Japanese diner brands such as Sushiro. The conveyor belt sushi chain opened its first mainland shop in Guangzhou in southern China’s Guangdong province in 2021. Its popularity boomed when the brand opened its first shop in Beijing in 2024. It was reported that there was a queue of up to 1,500 tables. When Sushiro entered Shanghai in December 2025, there were already 700 groups of people waiting before its first opening....

By Fran Lu