This place has really fresh good sushi and is a great place to grab drinks or dinner. My new favorite spot.

This is my go-to Japanese restaurant in Saint Paul when I don't feel like going downtown. It's solidly good Japanese food that will probably satisfy your Japanese friends. The menu has changed quite a bit since my first visit. They seem to have kept some of the more inventive bar food (e.g., wasabi chicken wings), but also broadened the authentic Japanese offerings to include more kinds of grilled fish (just like most Japanese people have on a regular basis). They also included a dash of Hawaiian food such as lomi lomi salmon and poke. I wanted Japanese comfort food, so I ordered grilled saba, rice and miso soup, and hijiki (black seaweed salad with tofu). My husband had the fried calamari. The calamari was exquisite, cooked just right and not rubbery. The two sauces were very good. One tasted like tonkatsu sauce (like a Japanese A1), and the other a spicy mayonnaise-based sauce. My saba was slightly dry and needed seasoning, but with soy sauce it was good. The hijiki was just like what I had in Japan. The miso soup was a bit salty, but in line with what you would find in some parts of Japan. And they did a fine job with the rice, too. I've enjoyed the lunch specials here. For about the same amount of money you might spend at a certain national chain yuppie fresh bread and salad place, you can get an authentic Japanese teishoku (set menu) lunch complete with entree, salad, vegetable, rice, and soup. The service was friendly and prompt. The music was a little clubby, and the Japanese lamp-style decor reminds me of Japanese street stalls. They managed to convey the feel of a Tokyo street without actually hauling in too much from Japan or trying to be too authentic. You can get sushi at any number of places, but real Japanese food is harder to find. Skip the sushi and try real Japanese food here. read more

This is always a favorite for me. I have been coming here for years. I consider it the best sushi in the Twin Cities. Figure on $25 a plate including 2 drinks for one person. I average about 3 rolls for a meal, that's not too bad considering that sushi can get quite expensive in this city. My girlfriend an I usually escape with under a $60 bill with 5 rolls and an appetizer. Still, the sushi is always great, the menu always has something special, and the service is nice and attentive. read more

This was our staple sushi bar for a couple of years, but too many poor experiences had us remove it from our list. The fish is usually good to great, but we've asked the staff questions that were poorly responded too many times. The last three times we went to Saji Ya in ascending order. #1 we took the family out for my birthday and decided to do Teppenyaki, we sat down with the family and ordered some sushi appetizers. The chef came out and started asking us to cook our Teppan food and when we inquired about the appetizers we're told they would be coming, but we ordered them as appetizers. I told the waitress to cancel them, since we were going to eat dinner and had not received. She indicated that she could not and at that point I asked for the manager. When I was explaining to the MOD what had occurred, our server actually busted in and told him I was lying. Enough said, we left, and never came back for Teppan, but came back a couple of additional times for sushi. #2 we stopped in with my parents and ordered a large plate of sashimi, without rice. When it came out it was nigiri, with rice. When we stopped the server, she indicated that we could eat the nigiri and still get our sashimi. Not wanting to waste, we said alright, and asked for ponzu (lemon flavored soy souce). The ponzu that came back was habanero-flavored and when we indicated that it was flaming, our server told us that was the way they make it. Enough said again, although we had been there several dozen times before without the flame-o-gram ponzu. #3 Last chance. My wife and I came in before we were going to hit the theater. My soulmate is none to fond of hot or rubbery items, so we outlined doing Omakase, essentially "you pick" but indicated nothing too spicy or too chewy. What came out was a stream of hot and chewy entrees, including what I would assume was the head chef Manny's rendition of the Flaming Octo-moe. Alright then. We'd had hit or miss at any place we've been to multiple times, but being a fairly regular patron, getting three strikes in a row, and you're out of here. read more

This place is exceptional.We been going there for 20 years.Always fresh seafood and great service too.Noni the head chef is amazing he can do anything.If your within 100 miles of this place you have to go.They have the best staff there too.Greats drinks and full bar and wine and saki. read more

A bit conflicted writing this review. I've eaten at Saji-Ya many times over the years. I love the atmosphere and the service is uniformly good and they have a great happy hour. Unfortunately, the food was quite mediocre during our visit last week. I love miso soup, but Saji-Ya's seems a bit saltier and earthier tasting than most other restaurants. My wife ordered the "Okisuki" which is described as a variety of seafood and vegetables in a lightly seasoned broth. Sounds okay, but "lightly seasoned" equated to "truly bland," driven by the most prominent vegetable in the soup--boiled cabbage. I had the Sushi Imperial--a chef's choice of nigiri and maki sushi. The presentation was nice, but the sushi was unremarkable. All the pieces of nigiri were grouped closely together, each separated from the other by a thin slice of lemon. Unfortunately, the lemon was absorbed into fish, overpowering the subtle flavors one typically enjoys. Our waiter, Gabe was great and the team of hydration specialists kept our water glasses topped off with amazing regularity, but unfortunately, I'm going to say, "sayonara" to Saji-Ya and seek sushi satisfaction elsewhere in the future. read more

Food A++ Ambiance A, Decor A, Service A+. I'm from Los Angeles, California and am a sushi addict! I just moved to Saint Paul in January 2016 and have tried 10 sushi places in the Twin Cities. I'll say upfront that I am a purist and do not usually get rolls, but nigiri sushi and sashimi...that being said, WOW, SPECTACULAR, DELICIOUS, YUM. The table close by were impressed with their rolls and ordered more. I also ended up ordering more. It can be a bit pricey but well worth it. I would plan on $25-$30 per person. The restaurant is very beautiful inside, very unique wall decor, some sunken in booths, great layout and lighting. This would make a perfect date night out. The ambiance is quiet and romantic and lets you have a conversation at a normal volume. I'm very much looking forward to going back soon. read more

Every part of our meal was delicious. From small plates to nigiri sushi to green tea. Nice ambiance with a variety of seating arrangements for different moods/groups. Definitely will be back. read more

Good food, overpriced. It's difficult to justify $20-30 per person for patio seating that overlooks a parking lot and an entree served in a compartmentalized tray. While I'm happy Saji Ya decided to include traditional Bento Boxes on its menu, there's no reason to charge $20 for rice, half a chicken breast, and a marshmallow dessert. As an cheaper alternative, try any of the numerous take-out restaurants that serve more substantial Bento Boxes for a third the price. My recommendation: stick to the sushi, dine inside, and expect a typical casual evening out for twice the cost of other nearby hot-spots. On a final and positive note, our server was excellent - not overbearing, knowledgeable, friendly, and prompt with our orders! read more

The sushi had a LOT of rice. This was just my plate but it was a universal problem. I don't recommend it - go to Wakame in Uptown same price much higher quality. I have eaten a lot of sushi. I mean way too much sushi. I know. Their one saving grace is they have at least 6 beers on tap. But I stared at my empty glass for quite some time, so, that was depressing. read more

Saji-Ya - Sushi with lots of rice filler - Japanese Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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We travel 25 miles one way just to dine at Saji-Ya, we have been doing this for years. I have found no better sushi in the twin cities. It is always worth the trip We tend to go during the slow periods, like a late lunch, or early dinner, so I cannot speak to crowds, but we have always enjoyed the staff. We have never gotten a cold shoulder as some reviews have stated. I always have good intentions of trying something different, but once there, I cannot. The sushi is just fantastic, the black mussels are our go to appetizer. read more

Been coming here since I was about 10 yrs old! The place has changed quite a bit but the quality of food has NOT. My all time faves that you have to try and will not be dissapointed! I know you'll come back and thank me!!! 1. onion lollipop 2. steak rib eye kabob 3. spicy octopus salad (off the menu but request for it) 4. green tea ice cream (I've had plenty of brands of this but theirs is the best) read more

Stopped in over the weekend for a nice light sushi bite. Arrived Saturday at 6:30 and we were seated right away. Although this seemed to be very lucky cause there were groups (larger than 2) waiting for awhile. You can make reservations online and it seems like doing so is well worth it. The chili edamame was spicy and delicious! Huge and filling portion as well. We also tried the bun bun zee and we were both VERY happy with it. It was the fresh unique taste we were looking for and was also a large portion. The hand roll combo was 3 wonderful and unique hand rolls that we both throughly enjoyed. The two of us split this and we still left with leftovers, which is not the norm at a sushi restaurant. The cost was also very reasonable for how yummy it all was. Will definitely go back when I am in the area. read more

I'm still pleased with Mr. Saji. Our visit on Friday found the place slammed--every table occupied. The salmon sashimi was fresh and smooth like butter. The yellowtail: amazing. If you don't want to lay out for the full raw fish experience, check out their happy hour. Great prices on taps and selected sushi. The only sadness here is the parking situation. The useless lot next to the restaurant is even more useless now that it is clogged by Dixie's valet service. read more

I've had acceptable sushi at Saji-Ya but there are better restaurants for sushi in the Twin Cities. A frequent complaint of mine with Saji-Ya is the terrible service we would receive at the sushi bar. Our server would deliver one drink order and then forget about us for the rest of the night. On several occasions, I resorted to getting up, walking over to the bar, ordering drinks from the bartender. I finally stopped dining at Saji-Ya after our sushi chef served us spoiled fish. I was dumbfounded that he would do that since he was a friend of one of our guests and he recognized my wife and I as frequent guests. My only conclusion was that he did not know what he was doing. For those who like teppanyaki, Saji-Ya has several teppanyaki tables. I've had good food and service at those on the two occasions I have had teppanyaki. read more

I've been to this place quite a few times. The regular service is above average. I've never left less than a 15% tip for them. However, I've taken to sitting at the sushi counter when I come alone because the sushi chefs there are great. They are chatty, friendly, and knowledgable. I've tried new things because of them (sometimes for free), and they are very happy to make something over again if it's not exactly what you want. It's one of my favorite sushi places in the area, and I would highly recommend it. read more

Stopped in here while visiting Saint Paul and it is a treat! The rice makes the meal, as it is perfect and sticky which makes the rolls delectable. The fish is fresh, I had the Chilean sea bass and it was buttery and flavorful. read more

This was my very first experience with sushi and I think it spoiled me, to be quite honest! This was a surprise dinner-date with my boyfriend, as I had mentioned wanting to try this restaurant. The décor is very eclectic, mixing Japanese and bohemian styles. Their drinks were superb -- I ordered a martini called a "Cherry Blossom" which was garnished with a lovely pink lotus flower, and my boyfriend ordered a Japanese beer (Sapporo, I think?). We ordered Yaki Niku as an appetizer (thinly-sliced beef in Japanese barbecue sauce) and it was wonderful -- the meat was tender and cooked to perfection with very little fat, and the sauce was great. We each ordered bento boxes as our main course: mine was their newest dish, "Masa's bento from the sea," while he ordered the Shrimp Tempura & Chicken Teriyaki. Prior to receiving our main course, we were each served a bowl of Miso soup, and a Saji Ya salad. I'm not certain what kind of dressing they put on the Saji Ya salad, but it was fantastic. And the Miso was very flavorful. The main course was the pièce de resistance, however: salmon and onions steamed in foil (SO tender and amazing), ginger broccoli (cooked perfectly), battered scallops (which were hands-down my favorite part of the meal), 2 pieces of California roll and 2 pieces of Spicy Tuna roll, with shrimp and veggie tempura. Sadly, the only downside to the main course was the shrimp tempura, but that's only because I don't care for the texture of shrimp. Other than that, the meal was divine. This place is easily worth 5 stars, and I will be returning as often as I can possibly afford to! read more

I'm somewhat surprised by the other reviews. It is unfair to compare Minnesota seafood to what you might find in a seafood port such as Hawaii or San Francisco. People who insist on making such comparisons are misguided, in my opinion. Look at a map and think about it just a tiny bit. I have always had good experiences at Saji Ya. The staff has always been pleasant, the food artfully displayed, and I come away happy and sated. read more

Great sushi here! Given the gorgeous weather last night, we really enjoyed the 2nd floor patio for happy hour and dinner. Service was slow at times, but the vegetable tempura was delish and all of our sushi selections were very well prepared. Loved the wonderful hotate (scallop) nigiri sushi and the Manny Roll. The Lychee martini and Drunken Mind Sake were perfect summertime cocktails. We preferred the overall atmosphere here compared to Fuji Ya in downtown St. Paul, plus parking is much easier with a private lot shared with Dixie's. This is now my favorite sushi destination. read more

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The happy hour here has great prices! It was unfortunate that I wasn't super hungry since their meals looked superb. I'd highly suggest the seaweed salad and miso are delicious. Their sushi is incredibly fresh tasting. I'm huge on service and theirs was great. Our server was busy when I arrived so I was greeted quickly by another asking for a drink order. The prices were quite good regardless if it was happy hour or not. The location is a big plus with some very nice shopping nearby. I would highly recommend a visit. read more

Saji-Ya holds a special place for me as it was one of two high end sushi restaurants my parents would usually take me to for special occasions. The interior really give you the feel of a good Japanese restaurant. There is a bar, sushi bar, and toward the back there is also their open grill Teppanyaki where guests can sit at to see the chefs freshly grill up Teppanyaki entrees. I came on a good day as it was somebody's birth day and they brought out a piece of cake I believe with one of those bright burning candles that look more like a firework than an actual candle. For a beverage I decided to try out one of their cocktails so I ordered their 43 Gingers Cocktail. Very lovely ginger flavor as most of the ingredients used are ginger themed. For the food I ordered up the Chirashi Sushi that came with a miso soup. The miso soup was too stong in miso flavor for me and I didnt like it much. The Chirashi Sushi is a bowl that consists of the chef's selection of various sliced fish arranged on top of a bed of delicious sushi rice. Now when it comes to sushi many people believe it's all about the fish but in reality it's mostly about the rice. Some sushi chefs will say the rice makes up about 90% of the experience. The sushi rice used here is great in my opinion. There is just the right amount of vinegar used in the rice to give it that extra mile, and combined with the room temperature of the rice everything just flows loving in your mouth. But despite what I just said earlier about the rice being most of the experience it was the fish that caught my eye was the dish was brought up to me. As my server brought up my Chirashi Sushi bowl the slices of the fish glistened from the light thanks to the amazing natural oils in the fish. I was mesmerized and even seduced by what was in front of me. As slow as I could I enjoyed each piece of fish with as much glee as possible and chased it down with a bite of that amazing sushi rice. When I was done I was truly happy that I enjoyed that meal but also saddened by it being finished. In my very biased opinion this is probably the best sushi spot for upper tier sushi in the whole eastern side metro. read more

Saji-Ya - 43 Gingers Cocktail - Japanese Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I went there last night with a date for a last minute bite to eat. Although we did arrive at 9:30pm and were informed they closed at 10:00pm, I do not think it called for the hostess to start stacking the chairs loudly in the other room while giving us grim looks. I have been in the industry before and understand that last minute customers suck, but I am still paying a sufficient amount for mediocre sushi/sashimi. Tiger Roll -The best of the bunch, but certainly very bland. I should have expected that they do not work with soft shell crab much up here Tai -It was alright, but seemed strange Hamachi -Definitely the worst I have ever had! Albacore Didn't taste that fresh If I were to compare with Uptown Sushi in Houston, this would be like putting McDonald's versus Beck's Prime. I gave you a change Saji-Ya, but you will not earn my business again... read more

Overpriced, not good, quality poor. After ordering a usual 3 course meal, appetizers, entree, and desert, my individual cost came out to be well over $70. The bill came in over $350 for my entire group. PORTIONS were small. Appetizers are not ideal for sharing. All entrees are mediocre. The sushi is contemporary. I ordered several rolls including the restaurants signature rolls and they were buffet quality, such that you would find at Great Moon or Hibachi Buffet. Total disappointment. For the money you would spend here, YOU ARE BETTER OFF GOING TO KYOTO, OR AKITA. Sushi there is way better!! $25 per person all you can eat. The only good thing about this place is the sake. read more

I remember this place in the late 80's when it was alot smaller and just a place that shared the same building as Dixie's. I never went here until about a year ago and only now feel like I can fairly write a review since i have experienced both the regular dining room as well as the teppanyaki tables. Both times coming here we had some sort of coupon or certificate and I can say that neither time did the waitress treat us differently because of it. I think its probably because, even though we did have 40 dollar restaurant.com certs, we still had a pretty big bill in the end. This is not a place to go if you are counting pennies. The sushi was pretty good, I really can't remember what we had but it was good. Our most recent visit was up in the teppanyaki area and I can say that the Chef who performed at our table was one of the best chefs I have ever had at any teppanyaki restaurant. He was personable, funny, and very talented. The quality of the food cooked at our table was far superior to that of Benihana or Osaka. The shrimp were much bigger, they had more of a variety of grilled veggies, and the soup was better. The drinks were very overpriced and not so good. I will definitely come back here but will drink water or some refillable drink next time to save some money. I would rate this higher had the waitress not given us a dirty look when we left because we only added an additional 5 dollars on to her already calculated in tip of over 20 dollars, giving her a tip of almost 30 dollars on a bill of around 80 to 90 dollars. Since when is over 25% not enough of a tip? FYI-This looks like a fun place to bring someone on their birthday as they bring the birthday person a large piece of chocolate cake with a candle that is like a giant firecracker, its really pretty. read more

Sometimes I don't get the hate, as much as sometimes I don't get the love. Saji-Ya is a great summer break. I like Saji-ya. Before there were many many options, it's where the Japanese nationals I knew would steal away to for food, and I can see why, the menu has some good comfort food options. The sushi is OK, I don't delve too heavily into that part of the menu - it does the job. I agree with the assholes who rain on the parade saying you're not going to get GREAT sushi anywhere in MSP and that's that. ...But the non-sushi offerings are pretty freaking awesome and extensive. I like the small plate and fish options, from the Kinpira Gobo to the Jack Mackerel, Kama, smelt...hell, there's three different kinds of mackerel alone, all grilled, all excellent. The grilling is pretty heavy, it's true, but it's been like that in almost all of the dive-y noodle counter/ sushi counter Japanese-comfort-food places I've loved in many a state (like the sorely missed Katsu sushi.) Atsu Age, Age Dashi and Goma Ae are all pretty decent also. Pork Katsu app in ginger sauce is OK. It's not Obento-ya, but the patio puts this place into the four star experience realm. You can have a fine and very low-carb feast for reasonable prices. If you like fish and you like it cooked, you are in for a treat. I think my totem animal is an albatross, because I can pretty much eat my body weight in herring, so I realize I'm not exactly the average person. I've always had very very friendly service here, and I love the patio if you can get there when it's not insanely crowded. read more

We landlocked Twin Citians have a good number of sushi joints to choose from and I consider this a "middle of the pack" place. It's a neighborhood joint, which is fantastic, if you just want to run in and sit at the bar for a quick drink before a show or after a busy day. No fancy reservations or feeling like you are under dressed. I generally come for the happy hour, which is conveniently timed even on weekends (4-6pm). The flavors are dependable and comforting (California, scallop, spicy tuna) at prices I wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. The appetizers (dumplings, edamame) are fresh and filling. Stay away from the dynamite rolls. They taste like "pet be gone" (you know that stuff you put on your cat's paws to prevent them from licking) on rice. Was there even fish in there, dude? But I'll be back. When I've got the craving, Saji Ya gives me what I need. read more

We had great service! Of course we were there on a Tuesday, but still, service was great! :) We got three different rolls as well as a sake flight and were pleased with everything we had. read more

Light on time and desiring a lighter dinner prior to going to a classical guitar concert, this place fit the bill. Lucky for us, we were pulling into the parking lot just as another driver was about to back out of their parking space. Score! We were promptly escorted through a sea of busy tables to sit at the sushi bar. A server took our other-than-sushi order, and then we waited a bit to request our choice delicacies from the sushi chef closest to us. The spicy tuna rolls, and the eel roll were all good, and the various sashimi were fresh and tasty. The enoki mushroom appetizer we selected was also nice. read more

Consistently good quality sushi, atmosphere, price and portion size. That is something hard to say for any other sushi place in the Twin Cities that has been in business for over 25 years, and certainly not for all the upstarts that come and go. Their menu has everything you expect, plus the right amount of Japanese specialties to keep ordering interesting - and the Hawaiian Poke is as close to real thing I've had anywhere outside Da Big Island! There are certainly cheaper places, and I go to those places for happy hour. But this is where I go when I want a consistently great sushi meal, that is well presented. Even better on their patio on a warm summer night. read more

I am so happy with our dinner last night at Saji-Ya. The host was pleasant, found us a great table on their patio and made us feel welcome. Our server was excellent and knows the menu well. The food was delicious and well presented. This was our first night out for dinner since the beginning of the pandemic, we chose wisely. read more

I ordered the grilled salmon bento box and was somewhat satisfied. The salmon was a little over cooked but was still tasty. We ordered takoyaki balls and they were AMAZING. Service was fast and prompt. Would recommend. read more

Saji-Ya - This is a picture of their weekly specials - Japanese Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This place was a thumbs down for me. I worked for an Okinawan sushi man for 12 years and his sushi sets the standards when I eat sushi. I had super high expectations for this place but that's where I went wrong going in with high expectations. The only good thing was the tako yaki. I got the rib eye and tempura box, boy did the tempura need help, honestly everything needed help. Even the teriyaki sauce. The sushi rice I know was on the old side because I know my sushi rice. So the search for a great sushi restaurant continues! read more

Saji-Ya is a pretty iconic place in Saint Paul, if you ask me. I've been coming here for at least 20 years now. That said, I hadn't been there in a while and was pretty disappointed last time I went. We ordered sushi, sashimi, and tempura to share for the table. The sashimi was fine - actually pretty good. The quality of the fish was about as good as you can expect living right smack dab in the middle of the continent. The rolls we ordered were California, Spider, Crunchy, #9, and Shrimp Tempura. With the exception of #9, none of them had raw fish (pregnant wife and all that). The flavors weren't bad, but I felt that the rolls weren't ROLLED very well. Even the California rolls fell apart as soon as you picked them up. Tempura was average - exactly what I expected. Make it worse than what I got, I'll be pretty mad. Make it better, and I'll be pretty impressed. What made me take away more than one star was the ambience. This place feels ... grimy, almost dirty. And for a Japanese restaurant - that is an absolute no-no. I can't tell you why - maybe it's the old ripped carpet, the poor lighting (which isn't romantic, just dim), or the plastic chairs. Or maybe every single other Japanese restaurant that I've even been to was TOO clean ... hmmmmm. read more

I went to Saji-Ya yesterday with some friends, largely due to the fact that we wanted to eat outside and the restaurant has decent patio dining. I initially felt excited because the place was moderately busy and our server was very adept and prompt with our orders. For drinks, I ordered a raspberry kiss (Prosecco, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur) which was delicious and one of my friends ordered a pina colada (too sweet). The food....left something to be desired. We ordered veggie tempura, a vegetable/beef hotpot (sorry, don't remember the exact name), and Cali rolls. None of it was bad, per se but nothing left me craving more either. The tempura had a decent crust but the whole dish was haphazard in terms of execution, presentation, and the vegetables chosen for the dish. The hotpot was a giant portion;everything in it was good except the beef which was stringy and a bit chewy-gristly. When I end up paying $30+ for my meal, I'd prefer the food to be so good that you want to surreptitiously lick your plate so the overall value of the food you get versus the price you pay is an epic fail. Service: A Drinks: B+ Atmosphere: B Food: C- read more

I am not a big fan of sushi and I do not drink alcohol, that said Saji-Ya has been a nice place to hang out with some of my friends, I tried the shrimp tempura roll which was fine. it has sort of a lounge set up close to the bar which makes it a little informal and easy to hang out with friends. The stools in that area will give you a slight backache if you keep sitting on them for a long time. So try to grab the seats next to the wall. Trust me you would appreciate my advice on this one. Also the servers are very pleasant which makes the dining\hanging out experience even better. I loved the pineapple juice there :-) read more

Saji never leaves me disappointed. I've been going here for years with my dad and it's a great place with great decor, great sushi chefs, and great food. My favorites are the egg drop soup to start, calamari (literally the best and so underrated), and the crunchy scallop roll. I only really order off the happy hour menu because it's so much more affordable that way and they have a great menu, so I recommend going then. But the calamari!!! It is the absolute best. read more

I cashed in a gift card from a customer last night and took my wife and step daughter out to dinner. It was a mixed bag. The sushi, as always, was fabulous. However... My wife, not a big sushi eater, ordered the special sea bass "cooked in foil" that was new on the menu. When it came it was one of the poorest excuses for a meal in a high-end restaurant I've seen in a long time. It was presented IN the foil (think Boy Scout cook-it-in-the-foil campfire cooking and you have the idea), grossly over cooked and a very unappetizing color. For the first time in her life, The Dot sent food back (though it took some convincing...she's a Minnesotan, dontcha know?). The manager came over and "made it right". Dorothy's got the salmon steak as a replacement. I learned this morning that it was pretty dry (I had given a 4-star review... but I've just downgraded it to a 3-star after hearing that.). So... mixed bag. Saji Ya should NEVER have served that bass. Even perfectly cooked the presentation was miserable. I expected more from them. However, they, without question, made things all better. I've been eating at Saji Ya for ages, and this is the FIRST time I've ever seen a bad meal there. I'm pretty sure that at the end of service that night there were some serious discussions in the kitchen. read more

This was the first teppanyaki experience for our kids. We arrived on time for our reservation but our table was not ready so we had about a 15 minute wait. The restaurant kindly comped our drinks for the wait. That was nice. Our teppanyaki experience was just okay. The food was very good, but part of the experience is the show, and there was not much show. The egg drop soup was great and the salad was fine. I ordered edamame but it never came, which was no biggie as we were not charged and the early parts of the meal showed up quickly. The main course (I had scallops and shrimp) was tasty but again I was hoping for more fun from our cook. He was not rude or anything even close to that, and he did start the meal with some banter. I just wished there was a bit more theater. All in all it was a disappointing experience as we wanted to have a fun and different experience with the kids and it wasn't. Major props for their service recovery at the beginning though. read more

Great tasting food, incredible service, 100% would go again. Staff are very nice, and helpful, and very kid friendly.