The Verdict

SmileTools Sushi Making Kit Review: Does It Beat a $10 Bamboo Mat?

You don’t need a $200 sushi class to make decent rolls at home. But you do need the right tools — and the SmileTools kit throws three at you for the price of a single restaurant order. The question is whether the bazooka gimmick actually delivers, or if you’re better off mastering a bamboo mat alone.

I’ve tested this kit against my old trusty mat, and here’s the honest breakdown.

What’s in the Box

The kit includes:

• Bazooka-style roller (plastic, two-piece)
• Sushi maker mold (plastic, for round rolls)
• Bamboo rolling mat (traditional)
• Rice paddle (small, flat)

No seaweed cutter, no chopsticks, no beginner’s guide. It’s bare-bones but functional. The plastic parts feel sturdy — not flimsy dollar-store quality. The bamboo mat is thinner than a standalone mat you’d buy at an Asian grocery, which matters later.

Real-World Performance

The bazooka is the star. You load a sheet of nori, spread rice, add fillings, then push the plunger. It compresses the roll evenly — no more one-end-fat, other-end-skinny disasters. It took me three tries to get the rice-to-filling ratio right (the instructions suggest less rice than you think), but once dialed in, the rolls came out uniform and tight.

The mold works, but with a caveat. It’s designed for small maki — think 1-inch diameter, not the thick futomaki you see in restaurants. Fine for kids or appetizers, but don’t expect to make a meal-size roll.

The bamboo mat is serviceable but basic. It does the job for inside-out rolls (uramaki), but the slats are narrower than premium mats, so rice can squeeze through if you overfill. And it’s not dishwasher-safe — one buyer warned, “I put the mat in the dishwasher and it warped badly. Hand-wash only.” That’s a fair warning; I’d replace this mat with a better one eventually.

What Buyers Consistently Praise

Scrolling through the 220 ratings, the pattern is clear: the bazooka wins people over.

• “I’ve bought three cheap sushi makers over the years. This one actually makes tight rolls without crushing the rice.”
• “My 9-year-old made her first California roll by herself. That alone was worth the money.”
• “Cleanup was the real surprise — the bazooka comes apart in seconds and everything except the mat goes in the dishwasher.”

The mold also gets love for portion control — several reviewers use it for making bite-sized rolls for parties.

Where It Falls Short

The biggest issue is the bamboo mat quality. It’s thin, and if you use it daily, it’ll fray within a couple months. Buy a $5 replacement mat from a Japanese grocery store and you’ll be happier long-term.

The mold’s size limitation frustrates some buyers who expected larger rolls. Read the dimensions before ordering — it’s a snack-size tool, not a meal-size one.

Also, no recipe booklet. You’ll need to know rice-to-vinegar ratios and rolling technique from experience or YouTube. Beginners might feel lost.

Who Should Buy This

• Sushi beginners who want a forgiving tool to learn with — the bazooka removes the hardest skill (tight rolling).
• Home cooks with kids — the mold is genuinely kid-friendly and fun.
• Weekend sushi hobbyists who don’t want to master a bamboo mat but still want decent results.

Skip it if you’re a seasoned sushi maker with a favorite mat — you won’t use the bazooka. And if you need large futomaki rolls, this isn’t the tool.

FAQ

Q: Is the bazooka dishwasher-safe?
Yes, the plastic bazooka and mold are top-rack dishwasher-safe. The bamboo mat is not — hand-wash and air-dry it.

Q: What size rolls does the mold make?
Small maki, roughly 1 inch in diameter. It won’t make thick futomaki rolls.

Q: Can I make inside-out rolls (uramaki) with this kit?
Yes — use the bazooka for the initial roll, then the bamboo mat to press sesame seeds onto the outside. It works fine, just go light on the rice.

The Verdict

Rating: 4.2/5

Buy it if you’re new to sushi-making, want a kid-friendly kit, or hate hand-rolling uramaki. The bazooka alone justifies the price.

Skip it if you’re a purist with a good mat or need large-format rolls.

For $20-ish (check current price on Amazon), it’s a solid starter kit that delivers more than most gimmicky sushi tools. Just budget for a better bamboo mat down the line.

As shown in the product image, the three tools stack neatly for storage — a small bonus for cramped kitchens.

Where to Buy

👉 Check Price on Amazon →

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.