Push Pop Sushi: The Tube Sushi Concept from New York Has Just Landed in Copacabana
The viral format taking Manhattan, Paris, and Milan by storm has just made its South American debut — and the location is perfectly carioca
Picture grabbing a fresh sushi roll, pushing it straight into your mouth with no chopsticks, no plate, no mess — and walking down Rua Barata Ribeiro like it's totally normal. That's Push Pop Sushi, the tube-sushi format that's been a viral hit on the streets of New York, Paris, and Milan, and that has had a permanent home in Copacabana since July 1st.
The first Brazilian unit of the concept opened at Rua Barata Ribeiro, 774 — Loja E, right next to the Cantagalo metro station. The location isn't accidental: it was chosen to capture the steady flow of people who commute through, work near, or live in Rio's Zona Sul and want to eat well without having to sit down.
The concept: gourmet sushi at street pace
Push pop sushi works exactly how it sounds: rolls are stacked inside a vertical tube and the customer pushes each piece up, one at a time, to eat it. No utensils required. The format evokes the push pop lollipops of childhood — hence the name — and that playful nostalgia is a big part of why videos of it go viral.
The sushi is prepared fresh daily, maintaining quality even in full takeaway mode. The opening menu features nine signature flavors: Uramaki Philadelphia, Spicy Tuna, K-Pop Sushi, Hot Divino, Vegano, King Crab, Ebitem, Ebi Mango, and Hot Banana. Prices range from R$34 to R$54 — a range that sits squarely in the fast-gourmet category: not cheap, but no restaurant bill either.
Who's behind it
The person who brought the concept to Brazil is entrepreneur Manuela Ornelas, of Grupo Divina Providência — the group behind a well-regarded Peixaria, Bar, and Sushi Bar in Rio. Choosing Copacabana as the launch point makes sense: it's a high-traffic neighborhood with a diverse crowd and a genuine appetite for food trends.
Ornelas has already set her sights beyond this first store: the plan is to grow the Push Pop Sushi brand through a franchise model, taking it to other Brazilian cities. This Copacabana opening, in other words, is less a single restaurant debut and more the starting gun for a national rollout.
Why go
Because it's a genuinely different experience in Rio's food scene. The tube sushi format isn't just a marketing gimmick — it solves a real problem for anyone who wants to eat well between meetings or simply enjoy a roll on the way to the beach. With a menu that covers a vegan option, the sweet Ebi Mango for those who like contrast, and King Crab for the adventurous, there's room to explore well beyond the standard Philadelphia.
Hours are Monday to Saturday 11am–10pm, and Sunday 11am–6pm — extended enough to cover lunch through early evening.
Copacabana just got one more reason to make a stop on Barata Ribeiro before hitting the waterfront.
Want to discover more spots like this in Rio? Chat with Pico.
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