The queue stretched along Andersons Bay Rd yesterday for the opening of St Pierres, at the corner of Andersons Bay and Bay View Rds.
The store marks the first time the family-run sushi chain has opened a location in Dunedin in its 40-year history.
Staff from Timaru, Ashburton, Christchurch and Invercargill stores had come to the city to assist with the opening.
Greeting the queue, St Pierres co-founder Nick Katsoulis said he had been waiting a long time to open the store.
"We’ve been in business for 40 years, so it takes 40 years to get to Dunedin.
"That’s pretty sad, isn’t it?"
"But most importantly, it’s the opening of St Pierres Otepoti."
The first 400 customers were treated to a free four-piece pack of either chicken, salmon, tuna or vegetarian sushi — which was a tradition when opening any new St Pierres store.
At the front of the queue was David King, of St Clair.
Mr King said he loved Asian food, but admitted he had never tried sushi from St Pierres before.
He had wondered what was being built at the site, and when he found out it was a sushi store decided he "might as well" come along, he said.
Sushi was healthier than other foods, he said, and came with "more flavour and kick".
Olivia McCartin, 19, of Christchurch, said St Pierres was her "favourite" back home and she did not think any of the other sushi places in Dunedin quite compared.
"If I’m wanting some sushi, I’ll probably come down here."
