Sushi's on a roll at Modesto's Kobe Buffet

The new Kobe Sushi Buffet offers sushi by the boatload — literally.

The new restaurant in McHenry Village, in the building that housed Gourmet Buffet, has a full all-you-can-eat sushi bar, with menu items "delivered" on a large floating sushi boat conveyor belt.

Kevin Lin, whose family owns the restaurant, said they wanted to bring the sushi boat concept to Modesto in a new and exciting way.

"It's very popular and there aren't many in this area," Lin said. "The sushi is made fresh and will always change."

Kobe Buffet underwent a complete renovation inside, gutting the interior and putting in the central sushi bar.

The restaurant also has a Mongolian grill and several buffet stations in the back offering everything from Chinese, Japanese and Italian dishes to seafood, a salad bar and dessert items.

But sushi is the main attraction. The restaurant has eight sushi chefs who work inside the bar preparing fresh rolls, sashimi and other delicacies in front of diners.

Then customers pluck whatever they want off the moving boats as they pass by.

"We serve quality, fresh sushi like you would get at a regular restaurant," Lin said.

Unlimited quantities of all the food are included in the price. Lunch is $12.95 and dinner is $16.95, and there are discounts for seniors and members of the military.

Drinks are separate and the restaurant soon will offer wine, beer and sake.

Lin said his family also runs a Japanese buffet in Auburn. The Modesto location seats about 270 and has a private conference room that can be reserved for special events for free.

Kobe Sushi Buffet, 1700 McHenry Ave., Suite L, is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Call (209) 578-6699 or go to www.kobesushibuffet.com.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

One Japanese restaurant opens in McHenry Village and another closes.

Kirin Japanese Steak House at the front of the shopping center has shut its doors. The restaurant had been open for more than 20 years in various locations in Modesto. The owner could not be reached for comment.

And finally, America's Tire has opened its first store in Manteca at 210 Commerce Ave. The company has 131 stores in California. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more, call (209) 647-7006 or go to www.americastire.com.

Have an item for Business Beat? Contact Marijke Rowland at The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; (209) 578-2284 or mrowland@modbee.com.