50% of on Sundays and Mondays for early dine? Say lesssss! We enjoyed 4 sushi rolls, ravioli, poke, and cucumbers all for under 70 with tip. That's INSANE. The rolls were delicious l, I forget the name of the one I liked but it had spicy crab in it. Also, the ravioli with the mushroom Madeira sauce was heavenly. I could've ate 12 more of those (it's a small portion). Service was great, they have the system down. Waters at every table before early dine and the server gives you a good run down of what the special is and checks back with you before it ends. I highly recommend checking out sansei read more

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I'm giving 3 stars only because of the service that night. We never received part of our order, in a very long period of time They were severely understaffed for the amount of people being seated. The manager was very nice and comped what we did get. In future if understaffed- limit seating to match staffing. The crab ramen with truffle was very delicious. Wish we could have tried more. read more

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We came in towards closing time after a long day of travel. Service was friendly but slow and they seemed quite busy. The food was 4 stars--hamachi collar was the star of our orders (solid 5 stars)--fresh fish, perfectly grilled and just lightly seasoned. Amazing. Everything else was fine. The short rib ramen was quite interesting--broth was thin but had a great truffle forward flavor and wasn't cloyingly rich. Poke was fresh with good flavor. Ambiance was nice, tables spacious and clean, decor was interesting, bathrooms were clean. Enjoyable experience overall. read more

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I always want to like Sansei more. First introduced to the 50% off sushi night by a friend, we tried it again. You stand in line at some point before they open (we got there 15 minutes before), hoping they'll have room for you (they did, but we were the last ones). Everyone is seated at the same time and you do feel like you're in a speed sushi reality show, though the server didn't do anything to make us feel that way, she was great. Not everything is 50% off (Sun/Mon 4:45-5:30 only), but if it isn't, it's marked. We ordered lychee martinis ($17), shrimp dynamite, Sansei roll and miso butterfish. Our bill was $85. Y'all the food just isn't that great. It's fine. The shrimp was decent. I didn't even try the roll; just didn't look appetizing. The butterfish was cooked right, but the sauce was sparse so it was somewhat flavorless. I probably won't be back. I'd rather pay a little more for great sushi. read more

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We ate here several times but now every time we try to get a table in person they always turn us away claiming they are fully booked. And when we call ahead to make reservations NO ONE ANSWERS THE PHONE. We even tried walking in and making reservations ahead of time but there is a short, surly old woman at the front who is EXTREMELY RUDE. And she's been that way for YEARS. The only reason I can think that they would want to keep her is because she's probably an owner or manager's mother or grandma. She has never been nice to us. And we are Native + local. Food is pricey but okay. It's dark but clean. Seeing how it's the only sit down Japanese restaurant in the area, there isn't much of a choice. If you do manage to get seated here, make sure to bring a sweater because it gets really cold in this place. Service is extremely lacking, though. read more

We came here tonight because I read about the 50% off Sunday and Monday night early bird from 4:45 till 5:30. Our waiter Kaman was very good! My husband ordered the seared ahi with asparagus and rice cake and sashimi trio which he loved and said was very fresh. I ordered the sansei special roll and the mango crab hand roll. Both were delicious! My advice to anyone who is thinking of going to the early bird 50% off Sunday or Monday, get there early. It was packed! We got there at 4:50 and were one of the last they seated before they shut the door! read more

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Tried this place during their "early bird" special. It starts at 4:45PM and ends at 5:30PM. During that time you can order certain sushi's and dishes for 50% off. There was a line to get in, but not too bad. 4:45 hit, the doors open, and they quickly seated everyone. We sat in back room to the side, where there were 6 tables. We were the only "local" family seated there and the only table that wasn't served. All the tables around us were quickly serviced. Got their food and was on their way eating while we sat and waited for someone to just acknowledge us. Finally, we were acknowledged by another server, who ended up serving us the entire night. We were the only table with a different server. Our servers section was in the front of the restaurant. Although she had to walk back and forth, Yvette, gave us the best service she could! Now on to the food! Everything was amazing considering the price with the 50% off. The lobster and blue crab ravioli is off the charts. I highly recommend trying that. The nigiris are just that, raw fish and rice. The fish didn't seem A grade but again for the 50% off price you can't go wrong. Keep in mind not everything on the menu is discounted, but your server will explain that to you. Tax is included in your bill and based upon full price. Would I go back? Probably not. The grocery store at the end of the building sells sushi that is of the same quality for cheaper and you won't have to deal with subpar service. read more

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Would you line up for half an hour to get the 50% off Sunday-Monday Early Bird (EB) food ordered before 530pm? The Sansei in Kihei on Maui closed in 2022, leaving the Sansei in Kapalua, Waikiki and Waikoloa. Walked 40 minutes from Ocean Tower in Hilton Waikoloa Village to get here at 4:45pm. Just barely got in, as Sunday has limited capacity due to staff shortages, compared to Monday. People start lining up at about 4:15pm. No reservations accepted for the Early Bird. Limited capacity based on available staffing, first come first served. Prices are the regular prices, with Early Bird prices listed as EB. $6 Edamame EB $3 came with a huge serving. One of the few vegetable dishes I liked. $6 Japanese pickled cucumber EB $3 wife was not wild about this. $11 Japanese eggplant EB $5.50-way too sweet even for wife, who is an eggplant fan. $22 Mom's teriyaki beef EB $11 had a plateful of fat and gristle. Would not order again. $27.75 miso butterfish roll appetizer EB $22.75 three ounces of tender butterfish my all time favorite here, although the EB discount is minimal. You'll pay $50 for 5 ounces at Roy's. $13.50 shrimp tempura roll a bargain for the price. Would order again. $15 Mango Crab salad hand roll EB $7.50 a lot of filler in that crab salad. Would not order again. $22.25 "69" roll is a $13.75 California roll with a fish topping. I would order the California roll by itself, as the 69 roll is overpriced even for EB. Excellent imitation crab in the California roll. $16.75 Misoyaki chicken EB $8.38 tastes just like teriyaki chicken. Would order again. Based on previous experiences here , the following are on my do not order list: Japanese calamari salad, Rainbow roll, Spider roll, shrimp dynamite, lobster ravioli, seafood pasta, Sansei special roll, Hawaiian Roll. Not enough seafood in the portions, or the sauce is way too sweet, or the portion size is too small. Mandatory 22% gratuity applied to full non discounted food bill. 3% food service charge added. If you ordered $50 of discounted food on a total food bill of $100, the food service charge would be $1.50 and the mandatory gratuity would be $22.33 or 45% of your discounted food. $5 for a small bowl of white rice to go with your teriyaki beef or Misoyaki chicken. Hey, they have to make money somehow. Came here on both Sunday and Monday for the early bird and ended up with the same waiter! read more

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In Queens Marketplace, the food is decent. Service was great. I would repeat the butterfish and dragonfly roll. Everything else was just ok on my opinion. read more

About 2 years ago, we had a huge group of us walk in, and we all left full. We ate sushi go-ers and we didn't have complaints here. Service was attentive to us and we didn't have to ask for much for either us adults and several children. Tasted good and we loved the sauce around some of the rolls. Compared to mainland, we appreciated the fresh fish. We love the yum yum sauce used and kids didn't complain. read more

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We stopped by for a quick bite and were impressed by the fast and friendly service--definitely a highlight of the visit. The Mai Tai was tasty and strong as expected. The interior is nothing special, feels like fast food sushi. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to expectations. We tried the rainbow roll and Hawaiian roll, and both were just okay. The Hawaiian roll, in particular, was very plain and lacked flavor. Even the edamame was disappointing--it needed salt to bring out its natural taste. If you are staying in the Waikoloa village area, I'm sorry but there is a lack of good options. read more

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It was not a relaxed experience getting here for the Sunday happy hour! I didn't even know there was a DK Sansei restaurant on this island until our second to last day here. It is my friend's favorite restaurant in Kapalua, and I was excited I'd be here for one of the two days they offer an early bird special. I got here just before 4:30 pm. and didn't realize I was in the wrong line if I was going to sit at the sushi bar. They don't have markers outside or anything. The hostess came by and took everyone's names and party sizes, and moved me to the proper line for the sushi bar. At 4:30 exactly they began filing the sushi bar line into the entrance. All others were held outside until 4:45, when they were filed in. It all felt very rushed, from the time we were let in. They told us to sit in the farthest stool in and leave no spaces. Everyone followed orders, and then the bartender took drink orders from right to left almost immediately. She asked if people had been to Sansei before. Everyone had been to one of their locations before, so she didn't explain the menu and gave us about 10 min to figure out what we were going to order. Once I ordered the miso butterfish, a tuna specialty roll, and crab/lobster ravioli, it only took about 10 minutes for it to appear before me. I was out of there with enough time for another person to get in for the early bird special had there not been a sign out saying "early bird sold out." The one thing that was a shock was the mandatory 20% gratuity on the original price of the meal. They didn't print that in the menu anywhere, and nobody mentioned it at any time before, during, or after the meal. Seeing it on the check was a big surprise. The food was good, although in my opinion, it seemed more fresh at both the Kapalua and Seattle location (now closed). The ravioli here was a little overcooked, and the panko tuna sashimi roll lacked the je ne sais quoi i've frlt about it before. The experiences elsewhere were also more comfortable and didn't feel as stressful, so that definitely contributed to the overall feel of the meal. read more

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Came in for the early bird special, but honestly the prices for the early bird special is actually what to be expected for normal pricing as their regular prices are pretty outrageous. Not all items are eligible for the early bird special pricing, and they charge a mandatory 20% tip on top of the regular price. We ordered a rainbow roll, crab ramen, and the seafood pasta. Food isn't bad, but it's just average. And definitely not worth the original regular menu price. I'd be hard pressed to get them at the early bird price. In fact, had the opportunity to come back again for the early bird special and decided it was not worth it. Place is packed though, so probably should make a reservation, or don't and just skip it. read more

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The best part of our experience was the service, Nahe was super nice and attentive. I really liked the holy cow roll and the butterfish was to die for. Brussel sprouts tasted good. The mud pie doesn't have an Oreo crust and was my least favorite mud pie I've tried. Miso soup was too watery for my taste. For an upscale restaurant, ambiance was an older vibe. I would still come back because everything I personally ordered was delicious, I wouldn't get any of the other stuff. read more

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We love this place! The food was stellar, and the service was excellent. Sam was our server and we had a great time chatting and he recommended all his favorites. We will be going back for their happy hour, which they have on Sunday and Monday from 4:45-5:30 only. Half price food! We tried the crab ramen with truffle butter broth, which was soooo perfect I drank the last drops in the bowl! We also had the Holy Cow roll...and it is aptly named, since HOLY COW WAS THAT GOOD! The mango crab hand roll was yummy, too. The restaurant is in the Queens Marketplace, so parking isn't an issue and the place is a good size, so no long waits for a table. read more

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The restaurant is in the middle of an open shopping plaza, Queen's Market Place. We lined up for the Early Bird pricing at 4:15pm. Early Bird (EB) Dinner is at 4:45-5:30pm Ambience 4 Food 4 Service 4 Lobster and blue crab ravioli $18 for 3 ravioli's (EB $9) Shrimp Dynamite! $13.50. Panko crusted Ahi sashimi roll (rolled in leafy greens) Sansei special roll (spicy) EB is 50% off foods on select pages marked. Gratuity of 20% is pre-posted on your bill based on the nondiscounted full price of the meal, therefore the tip is actually 38% of the final meal cost. I ordered the ravioli based on others reviews. It is pricey as it is 3 pieces only. We could not taste the lobster or the blue crab ingredients listed and I would not recommend ordering it. Shrimp Dynamite was our favourite and we ordered another order. Large shrimp crispy fried with a light tempura batter and tossed in an aioli and lightly glazed. None of the other dishes we ordered stood out for us. Service was attentive and friendly. I would return again for the Early Bird and it is very doable to order and eat within the required time. read more

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Our hotel valet made us over 15 minutes late for our reservation, but we were still seated right away. The hostess made us laugh and livened us back up right away. Very clean establishment with a laid back feel for such great food and drinks. Started off with cocktails and the Ruby Red Martini was a hit! Sushi rolls made a very good appetizer and we could have filled up on them, but ordered surf and turf and could barely finish. We'll have to return to try more sushi another time! read more

Sansei Seafood & Sushi Bar - Surf and Turf Special. 8oz Filet, Tiger prawns, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Ruby Red Martini! - Japanese Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

My family and I came at 4:30 on a Monday for their early bird special that starts at 4:45 and ends at 5:30. I was a bit worried we weren't going to get a seat because there was already a long line. Right at 4:45, they started letting everyone into the restaurant, and luckily we were able to get a table. They do not take reservations for their early bird special. It was a little cramped inside but worth it to get the deals! Almost everything is half off, but those that aren't have a marked EB pricing. We ordered a handful of things to share family style. We got two appetizers, sushi roll, steak, and a sushi appetizer. The Japanese eggplant was very flavorful and soft. I loved the panko crusted ahi sashimi. The fish was of high quality, and I loved the crunchiness of the arugula. We got the paia maki, which didn't have any fish but lots of vegetables. It was very refreshing, and I loved the variety of greens. The steak was also delicious. The workers here were really friendly and service was great, even though it was super busy. There was a lot of parking at Queen's. I would definitely come back here when they are doing their early bird special. read more

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This place was good! We walked around the mall a bit worked up an appetite for sushi and decided a sit down place would be nice. This was a great spot! We sat down, ordered, and ate all within about 30 mins. Service was great, the sushi chef allowed my substitution for what would be my most favorite roll I've had in a LONG time! He let me add shiso leaf ($2) to my roll and I loved the flavor! Hubby got the inside out tuna roll, miso soup and a beer. After tip we spent $55 As expected for a light meal. Thanks! read more

Sansei Seafood & Sushi Bar - Spicy tuna inside out roll - Japanese Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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Our dining & dinner was excellent and delicious! We we went here as a group which made it all the more fun! read more

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To be fair, our server notified us right when she sat us that she was the only person servicing our entire section (the back room). She was so very sweet and did the best she could. The food that we did order was good. They have a nice menu for kids that was pretty diverse. My complaint is, if you are severely understaffed, stop seating people. The tables around us were covered in food and trash from prior guests the entire time. There was an odd unpleasant smell in the restaurant that was a turn off as well. We would have ordered more if it hadn't taken so long to get the food that we did order. Again, our server was very sweet and doing her best. The chef's were delivering orders as quickly as possible. I blame management for not handling things properly and seating way too many people. read more

We ventured out for the early bird special and were impressed with the food, service, and ambience. It is extremely structured and we were fortunate to have it all work out, as we saw several people turned away once it was sold out. We arrived around 4:45pm to see a giant line of people waiting outside, after about 10 minutes a woman took our name, party size, phone number and wrote down a table number. They sat everyone at the tables and food comes out as it comes they explained, no substitutions, and last call is at 5:30 to order. It was well organized and kind felt like a roller coaster queue at an amusement park. The servers were fast, friendly, extremely helpful and one step ahead of us so we never had to ask for refills of beverages, wasabi, or suggesting the next dish. It was fun, lively crowd and worked out well for us. We will be back, but will probably arrive a little early, since it would be terrible to show up and be turned away to come back in an hour to pay full price, or find another place for an early dinner. read more

Went to Sansei with a reservation for 6 people and it wasn't busy because we went around 8pm. The restaurant had a nice vibe to it and we were very pleased with the service. The prices are reasonable for a place with more luxury food. After we ordered the food came within 15-20 minutes. It was near closing so that could have been a reason but it was fast and the food was delicious. All the apps and sushi rolls were cleared. However, the only upset was the mud pie dessert. It was really just ice cream and had no crust like other places. Still a great dinner and a good choice if you want a nice outing with family or friends. Also, they have an early bird special for Mondays and Sundays which is half off on the food. read more

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Pros. Both locals and tourists have good experiences. Pescatarian safe zone. One of few restaurants within the tiny Waikoloa resort strip. Lots of seating. Accommodates large groups. Happy hour prices! Lots of shareables. Attractive vast menu. With soooo many items to choose from the likelihood of finding something enjoyable is rather promising. Cons. With soooo many items to choose from the likelihood of finding something off putting is rather promising. Small sushi rolls & extra small nigiri. Small appetizers & shareables. Other small portions. Overpriced sushi rolls. Happy hour times are strict; sometimes there's a line. Hardly any vegetarian or vegan options. Debatable. Carpaccios don't wow as they should? Trending Truffle Crab Ramen: noodles (soggy) and broth tasted instant but a little dressed up? With the good stuff the portions are so small that you order more, or it's that yummy? Personally. Not my sushi place but I've been known to pop in when vacationing at my family's condo in Waikoloa. Will probably pop in again for: Sashimi Trio Matsuhisa Style Miso Butterfish Lobster and Blue Crab Ravioli Japanese Fried Eggplant Crispy Brussels Sprouts (bc it comes w/ red chilis) Hamachi Kama Maybe a porcini crusted steak? read more

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Yes, we're so sad that they closed. But we got in on the last night and it was awesome. Thank you Sansei for many years of good food and good memories! read more

We loved Sansei so much that we visited twice on our trip! Our favorites were the Japanese eggplant appetizer ($10), Mom's teriyaki beef appetizer ($21), and Panko crusted ahi sashimi ($18.95). The mango crab salad hand roll ($14.25) was also delicious but not as outstanding as the tender beef, crispy sashimi, and sweet and savory eggplant. The misoyaki chicken ($15.75) was a delicious twist on chicken teriyaki but a bit too sweet. The lobster and jumbo shrimp mash potato ($33.95) was very rich and filling - and a whole meal although listed as an entree accompaniment. While the waiters are attentive, the food service is not quick as each item is carefully made to order, so expect some down time. The ambiance is nice and casual. There are a wide variety of offerings, but I highly recommend checking out the Japanese eggplant, teriyaki beef, and panko crusted ahi sashimi for some great specialty items. read more

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This place is closed for good. Please don't come. Waited for the happy hour and doors are shut

First time eating here last night and I have to say the service was excellent and the food was even better. Place is a bit small but we were able to snag a table for 4 as a walk in. We are here for a week and will definitely come back once more. read more

Sansei Seafood & Sushi Bar - Obligatory sushi beer and sake photo - Japanese Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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We usually go to Sansei in Waikiki and this one didn't disappoint. Food- sushi, butterfish, crab ramen, calamari, eggplant and kids butter noodles were great. Needed to order two calamari as the kids loved them so much. Seafood pasta had a lot of scallop and shrimp... ALOT. We love the apple dessert but it has changed over time, not as flakey but still good. Service was amazing- our server was attentive, accurate, got all the food, friendly, signed my son's cast, good with kids and adults. Would totally come back read more

In the past this was a great place for us to make the drive from Hilo to enjoy good food. I haven't been here in a few years. We were excited to do a Sansei's trip. Tonight, June 14, 2024 - the food quality was NOT good at all. Entirely disappointing. Every dish. - The ahi fish tasted as if it is not fresh. - The ramen was salty. - The miso butterfish was a no. I thought maybe it was just us, but after leaving there confused and disappointed and it didn't align with what I remember it being like, I began to read recent reviews and we are not the only ones experiencing this. It was bad enough for me to never want to go back there. Big bummer. read more

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Louder and more lively than any other sushi restaurant I've been to, but that just makes it even more family friendly! We had the eggplant appetizer, poke, some sashimi and standard rainbow roll. Everything was delicious! Service was good, read more

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Was pleased to get in without a reservation. Recommended by our relatives who raved about the sushi. The restaurant was packed on a Tuesday evening at 7:15 pm. Our server David was awesome - friendly, relaxed, checked in on us while still helping out a huge room full of people. Ordered: - Seaweed Salad - tasty, cool and fresh, on some actual salad too! - Rainbow rolls - solidly good (see photo). A California roll with avocado, sashimi, tabiko, and sesame seeds on top. - Miso Butterfish - very nice fish, perhaps a little too much sauce, could be plated more attractively. Once the big tables cleared out it was much more mellow and our speed. Would love it if there was outdoor seating but understand why there isn't - it is WINDY in the Queens' Marketplace. Lots of water refills, thank you! For dessert, tried the tempura fried ice cream. David was very patient with us as we talked about what would make it better. Is it good? Yes. Would I recommend it? No. The ice cream is wrapped in a sponge cake, then dipped in tempura and fried. This diminishes the crispy texture and the sponge cake is too sweet. There's some chocolate sauce and whipped cream which don't add much and the plate doesn't look attractive. We unwrapped the whole thing, ate the ice cream and the crispy outside - that was good. read more

Sansei Seafood & Sushi Bar - Well craft and presented Rainbow roll (California roll w/avocado, sashimi, tobiko, and sesame seeds on top) - Japanese Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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We had reservation but got there 30 minutes early. They then seated us. Ask the waiter what the special rolls are since some are not on the menu. Ravioli was very tasty. Our server was Connor who did a spectacular job. Very attentive and personable. Amazing service. The sushi also was great. Had white dragon special roll. Outstanding! read more

We dined here October 2023 and forgot to leave a review. We've eaten at sansei in Waikīkī, and Kihei many times before and this location was very very subpar. Service was friendly even though they seemed short staffed and busy. Food, however was not good! I can't recall exactly what we ordered but everything we tried was not good. We will not be returning to this location. It was a waste of a meal and money. Very disappointing. read more

The restaurant isn't just dark - it's dingy. Makes you wonder what's hidden besides the pictured "favorite items" that aren't in the menu. We walked in and walked out as yet again items touted on website were no longer being offered. The place had no ambiance probably because prices had risen so much and nobody else was going there as in yrs past - used to be great read more

Loved this place. Really enjoyed the firecracker shrimp, crispy and spicy. The truffle crab ramen had a good amount of crab and a definite truffle flavor. The butter fish melted in your mouth.Shared tempura ice cream- the breading was a little hard to cut and share. The brownie sundae was as expected yummy. Our sever was amazing and friendly. It was a relaxing atmosphere. Easy to hang out and talk. A little pricey, but quality is amazing read more

Sansei Seafood & Sushi Bar - Japanese Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

Even without a reservation, got us in, great service, and excellent food! Highly recommend!

Eggplant, steak, chicken, service , drinks; all excellent Love this place year after year Friendly wait staff and a great Mai Tai . read more

Gave this restaurant a second try when company came to visit and insisted they wanted to go there. What was supposed to be a happy special occasion turned to be awful. The food had to be sent back several times for requested preparation and the waiter was rude and still got his 20% tip. read more

The sushi guy should be fired for the amount of sushi he put on top of my Rainbow Roll. It was paper thin cuts of sushi. Very disappointing roll. The Butter fish & Lobster Salad were decent but the sauce took away from the fish. read more