Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat 5:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
61 Reviews for Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
I give it four stars because I was extremely wasted upon entering the building. But luckily the host struck up a friendly convo and shooed Lisa and I to the bar. Leave it to us to find the only Karaoke bar on the island. Karaoke Thursdays!
The only food I had was a bite of this strangers crispy shrimp concoction. It was pretty damn good. The bartenders were highly entertaining, one had a five dollar bill on his head, inn homage to a high tipper and the other made a pyramid of martini glasses and made 7 yummy mango martini. Not all for me I swear.
If you're on the island of Maui and feel the need to belt one out go to Sensai.
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Dude, everyone that rated this place is from freakin CALIFORNIA. Staying in Kihei for almost a week, I couldn't help but think Kihei was any old socal beach town relocated to Maui. The people and the vibe in Kihei was JUST like socal beach towns. Perhaps Kihei has become the place where Cali people go when they wanna leave home but not really. Anyways, I went for late night dining at Sansei last thursday at 10PM. We lined up for a bit (half hour) and got to ordering. The service sucked, but I didn't mind because it was busy and we were all cheap bastards lining up at 10PM for dinner to get half off. Plus I'm positive the staff was more concerned with speed of the food coming out more so than smiles and courtesey. Which I'm 100% fine with. The butterfish is good, although the portion is really small. Don't get the ramen. It's a sushi joint, shoulda known better when there were only two noodle dishes on the entire menu. The panko crusted ahi roll is a specialty but it was just alright. Soft shell crab was just alright too. The quality of the fish is great. Maybe next time I'll get a bunch of sushi instead of rolls so the sauce isn't overpowering the taste of the fish. The karaoke was a fun thing to watch. Our bill for two ended up being $54 with service charge added. What we got was not bad for the price. But with regular prices double that, this place would deserve 2 stars.
You can't beat 1/2 prices sushi. Its always a full house everytime they have this special. The atmosphere and vibe is so alive with the karaoke going on whether the singer is good or off-key.
The sushi is good and the prices reasonable if you are there during a discounted time period (before 6pm or after 10pm). Beware that the line starts around 5pm when they open at 5:30. If you aren't there early you won't get in during the discounted time. They do take reservations.
We enjoyed the spicy tuna roll, unagi nigiri, and the calamari salad.
Avoid the ramen - very disappointing, miso soup, or any of the cooked dishes. They are filling but not tasty enough to justify the calories.
I am happy that by chance I get to Yelp this place for my 100th review!
Our experience here was a great one. Initially we wanted to go to the location in Lahaina, but we didn't want to wait. Another day, we were driving around Kihei and saw this location and decided to stop in.
We were so glad that we did, because the fish here was extremely fresh and delicious. This place definitely passed our tests. Uni, check. Ikura, check. Hamachi, check. If I recall correctly, we enjoyed every piece of sushi that we ate here. In fact, it was so delicious that I don't even remember how much it cost, and I don't care. And I always care.
This is high on our list of places to return to when we come back to Maui.
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Food rocks, only when it's NOT 1/2 off nights. I used to cruz by for late night sushi but no more. Dude the line is jam packed and the service goes downhill. Everyones rushing. Too much. We go before all the rush, hey the service is better, the food comes out in a timely manner, and the staff even looks like they want to be there. Try the panko crusted ahi! So ono!! 3 stars... foods good sometimes...sometimes
Can you say melt in your mouth? That is what the Hawaiian roll did every time I took a bite. And don't even get me started on the Unagi. Some of the best I have EVER had. I think we have pretty good sushi here in Seattle, but I think Sansei definitely tops my list of favorites. It was pretty busy the Monday night we went, but it didn't bother us since we could head across the street for a cocktail while we waited. And besides...we were on vacation so waiting for a table doesn't seem so bad.
If you ask anybody on Maui who has the best sushi 9 out of 10 times the answer will be Sansei. Based on the overwhelming response we decided to make reservations for their Kapalua location Tuesday evening. However, on Sunday late afternoon we drove past their location in Kihei and couldn't resist.
We pulled up around 4:30 and noticed that there was a line out the door at least 50 people long. We decided to check it out. Apparently on Sunday between 5:00 and 6:00 the entire menu is 50% off. We also were told that the line for the sushi bar had not yet reached twelve which would guarantee us
a seat once the door opened at 5:00. We took our place and line and waited for our numbered tickets that ensured us a seat.
Once we were sat the ordering happened so fast I really didn't know what was going on other than there was a lot of fish coming our way! We order an assortment of nigiri which was all top notch. The Snapper was amazing! The Dynamite Shrimp made for a great appetizer and the Mango Crab Roll
was delicious.
The interior is nothing fancy, but the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. It's not the best sushi I have ever had, but it was damn good.
4 Pieces Salmon Nigiri
4 Pieces Yellow Tail
4 Pieces Red Snapper
2 Pieces Tuna
1 Panko Ahi
1 Dynamite Shrimp
1 Mango Crab Roll
1 Spicy Tuna
1 Longboard Draft Beer
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$60
3.5 Stars
Ok...what the HELL! Who are these people reviewing this place saying it's "OK" sushi? Are you mad!? My husband and I love...let me repeat LOVE sushi. We're also major freaking food snobs. My girl friend who now lives in Kiehi told me it's where she and her fam go and they love it. Now because it's coming from my buddy who is SOOO not a food person and has only liked sushi since...well I think since they moved to Maui...I was very skeptical!
So my boy and I while on vacation a month ago in Maui decided we should check this place out. Because as I remembered from a very very long ago trip to the island..there is some AWESOME sushi there. We showed up on a Saturday night having no clue about their specials. The night we were there it was 25% off. Ok so word to the wise...just because it's discounted doesn't really mean it's cheap. The food is sort of expensive (as is pretty much all restaurants on Maui) therefore the food was priced higher than back in LA area.
But my GOD....YUMMMY!!!!! The fish is so fresh you practially have to kill it again...the sauces are to die for...and the service was knowledgeable and friendly. Unfortunately our in-laws were watching our 7 month old baby girl back at our condo, so we had to miss the karaoke. I do a MEAN version of Hit Me With Your Best Shot! But I've heard it's great.
In any case, check this place out if you're in the Kiehi area while on vacation. You won't be disappointed. And if you are...again..I ask...who the HELL are you!?
What can I say, waiting on line for half priced sushi (and just about all of the entrees) at Sansei is a Kihei institution. There's a good reason for it too.... everything is fantastic. Everything is perfectly prepared with the freshest ahi tuna around. Sit at the sushi bar for instance service with aloha from the friendly and entertaining sushi chefs. One of my favorite restaurants in town.
If karaoke is your thing, stop by at night
There are plenty enough reviews for this place. I thought it was good food but just average sushi, I've had better. I think it's the big picture you have to consider. The atmosphere. I went on a Friday night. It was the sushi special, 50% off but they don't tell you they tack on 17% for gratuity so it's really only about 25% off. We sat at the sushi bar and that was probably the best service I've ever had at a sushi bar. It was the fastest I've ever had sushi served, without comprising taste and quality. It was a busy night, good crowd, people having fun with the Karaoke. So go here to have a good time with some good food but not an amazing dining experience.
I'm sitting here @ LAX, waiting for my pop's flight to arrive. What better way to kill time than to yelp on the iphone.
My friends and I were at Sansei a few years back. It was a memorable experience, that's why I'm reviewing it now.
The rolls are no joke. They're huge and tasty, just the way I like 'em. Prices were good too.
It's a nice sushi spot to hit up while in Kihei!
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Hands down the best sushi on the island. I love both locations, Kihei and Kapalua. You can come here dressed totally casual or dress up and you'll still look fine. The service is great, never pretentious at all.
If you can try to come during the Early Bird Special 5:00 - 6:00 Sundays and Mondays (50% off sushi and appetizers for ka'amina, and 25% off for visitors). Warning: come early if your going for the discount because you'll have to wait in a huge line and might not get seated in time for the special, which defeats the purpose. It might not be worth the wait if you don't like lines.
The first time I came here I ordered a few rolls and the Miso Glazed Butterfish. I fell in love with the butterfish, it's the best I've had, hands down, even till this day. They also to Karaoke on Thursdays and Fridays for 21+ after 10 pm. I definitely wouldn't miss this place if your going to be on Maui.
Sansei had some of the best food and service we experienced on Maui last week, and for prices considerably lower than some of the other restaurants we visited (Spago, Tommy Bahama's and Seawatch). The decor / ambiance was not as outstanding as at the other restaurants, but was very comfortable and appropriate.
My wife, 16yo daughter and 12yo son especially liked 4 of their "award winners": Panko Crusted Ahi Sashimi Sushi Roll, Asian Shrimp Cake, Shrimp Dynamite, and Mango Crab Salad Roll. We also enjoyed several of their sushi preparations: Sunset, Kenny G and Ahi Poke. My son also enjoyed the Hoisin Duck.
They also have an excellent wine menu - one of the few restaurants at which I've ever seen a Carlisle Zinfandel on the menu (the 2003 Rossi Ranch) ... which we ordered ... and which complemented the diverse items we ordered extremely well.
One thing I did not correctly understand after reading others' reviews is that their "no reservation" policy is only for the early bird specials. They do take reservations at other times, and I would highly recommend making reservations. We did not make reservations,m but timed our arrival for 7:30 on Wednesday night, after we expected most of the early bird diners would have left; we were fortunate to have a relatively short wait (15 minutes), far less than the line of people who were waiting when we left around 9:00.
Amazing take-out! I had the Rainbow Roll, everything was fresh and the rice was cooked perfectly. Also took miso soup and edamame to-go. Only disappointment is that is was all packed up in packages I couldn't recycle.
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Great sushi! We had the Panko Crusted Ahi and apparently this is their most popular roll....it was awesome. It was really crowded and I highly recommend reservations if you have more than 2 people. They are pretty quick at the bar so spots tends to open up frequently.
I went to the Kihei location, I heard the other location has a view....which just adds to the high rating.
We asked our hotel porter upon check in, where's the best place for Sushi? We knew nothing about this place. I don't know what night they have 1/2 price sushi but the night we showed up we did not have reservations and they opened at 5:30. We got there slightly before 5:30 and there was quite a line waiting. They did not open the doors till almost 5:40 and sat people with reservations first but it is a nice size restaurant so everyone in line at 5:30 got in. That night they had a 25% off if your order got logged in by 6pm which we barely made. The fish is very fresh and very good.
We also tried to go another night but this time it was after 8 and there was a huge amount of people inside and out waiting. We were too hungry to wait.
Our waitress was great with good recommendations and fast service. We loved everything we ordered. My husband ordered a real Japanese beer, actually manufactured in Japan, which he liked very much. We should have written the name down as we haven't found that at all in Calif. He wants to see if our local favorite Sushi place could obtain it.
Next time I would get reservations.
I completely forgot about eating here until I saw someones review on it! So, I was in Maui not too long ago and my cousin and I were watching restaurant commercials to decide on all the places we wanted to try. We saw Sansei on one of them and told my parents that we should go. We got there right when they opened and were seated right away. The food was AMAZING. We all kind of shared everything that we ordered which included the rock shrimp, crunchy roll and this other crab dish that my dad ordered. Everything was so good and I will come back here every time I visit Maui!
I ate here four times in the five nights I spent in Kihei. I like the special rolls and the macadamia encrusted ice cream. Some of the wait staff are friendlier then others, but since we were short timers and only there for the food it didn't matter much. I would definitely return when I am in the area, and would recommend it for the food.
This busy restaurant was characterized by a crowded bar full of people trying filtered and unfiltered Saki or ordering beers. It was in a n unattractive shopping strip and attracted a continuous flow of customers who then waited outside. There are two other locations: The Kapalua Resort and the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort with another on the Big Island opening soon.
This is one of Maui's spots for late night dining (until 1 am). Take advantage of their 25% off Early Bird specials (just like Florida) from 5:30-6pm daily. You may think that's a good deal, but even better is the 50% off on Sunday and Monday nights-- no reservations accepted.
My experience here was of a noisy local gathering spot. The seating at tables or in semi-uncomfortable booths clearly did not encourage lengthy stays. Overall, this place wasn't very attractive, with an industrial ceiling painted black (perhaps to disguise duct work). It's definitely a place you go for the food and local color, not the atmosphere.
But the sushi selection was huge, and the service was satisfactory, though our sushi orders were delivered as they were prepared, so we didn't really eat together. Sample items from the extensive menu: Yaki-Maki Sushi Roll, Kapalua "Butterfry" Roll, Panko Crusted Ahi Sashimi Sushi Roll, Sansei's Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll, New Zealand Green Lip Mussels, Grilled Hawaiian Ahi & Sansei's Asian Shrimp Cake, or Tako Shiokara (raw octopus in Korean spices). The dessert specialty was Sansei's Hot Granny Smith Apple Tart or Tempura Fried Macadamia Nut Ice Cream.
A yummy Hiyashi Seaweed Salad made a lasting impression on our table because it was very fresh and had a unique sesame flavor. I ordered the Yellow Submarine Roll featuring shrimp and cucumber plus the Spicy Japanese BLT Roll with crispy salmon skin and both were very good.
Even with the delicious tastes, I never relaxed and enjoyed the meal because of all the noise, rushing staff and uncomfortable seating.
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OMG! I loved this place!!! The sushi that they offer is unique and nothing I have seen at the places I've been to in California. I came here with two other people and we ordered one of each of the award winners. We also ordered some of the typical sashimi choices (yellowtail, salmon, etc) and picked out some rolls that looked interesting. Everything was awesome!! Best part is that if you go before 6 p.m. or after 10 p.m., there is a 20% discount.
No better way to celebrate my 600th review than with Sansei. Sansei is my favorite place for sushi and Japanese food across all the Hawaiian islands. They have 2 locations in Maui and 1 in Oahu. The location in Kihei is more casual and laid back unlike the other which is in the Kapalua Resort where Ritz Carlton is. I have tried all the locations and have had amazing food there everytime.
Miso butterfish - one of my favorite dishes. Buttery flaky fish flavored in miso that just tastes incredible. Making me salivate as I think about it - 5 stars
Sashimi trio - ahi, salmon, and snapper - the ahi and salmon just melted in my mouth - such awesome and fresh sushi - 5 stars
Mango crab salad hand roll served with a Thai chili vinagrette - pretty tasty but I liked the other stuff much more - 4 stars
Bottom line: I could eat Sansei everyday. Yum. And gotta love the early bird 25% off special between 5:30-6pm and 50% off sushi and appetizers after 10pm on Thurs/Fri/Sat with lots of cheesy karaoke.
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My cousin and I were craving sushi while on vacation and we had heard about their happy hour. 50% off sushi was what sold me! I heard about this place from my other cousin, who had been here before, but the Kapalua location, which I think is better. The only reason why I came to this location was because it was Saturday night and the Kapalua location only has happy hour on Thursdays and Fridays.
I'd have to give it a little bit less than 4 stars, simply because the rolls were good to satisfy my craving, but not sensational. Spider Roll is a roll I would normally get, and how could you mess it up? They put a thai chili sauce and an unagi glaze on it and that totally ruins the flavor. Sansei's Mango Crab Salad Roll was interesting. There was just something about it I didn't like. If I wanted a salad, I think I would have ordered a salad, but it was on the house, so it's all good. The lobster and asparagus roll was good too. They are a contemporary sushi place, so if you don't like the contemporary part, stick to the sashimi or nigiri.
Other than that, I thought the place was fun...lots of locals were there that Saturday night. The service was friendly and good. Happy hour is definitely fun! Reservations are a must!!!
Great, fresh sushi -- we sat at the bar and were amused by the sarcastic chefs subtle mockery of the tool sitting next to us trying to impress his date with his extensive, albeit mispronounced, sushi knowledge. A little on the pricey side but it is Hawaii, after all...
I can't remember if they take reservations -- we didn't make one and waited about 25 minutes in the bar. It's possible to eat in the bar if you get desperately hungry.
I hate to spoil a good place by telling everyone else - "yes it is that wonderful" but they deserve the great reviews they're getting.
Great sushi, quite a few innovative rolls - try the specials. Sometimes a place has great food but the rest doesn't work. But the night we went even when packed we had an attentive and competent server and got our food in a reasonable time.
Don't lose the magic guys.
Who goes to Maui to eat sushi? Seafood yes, but sushi I'm not so sure about. It's great if you stick with the local fish like ahi but the salmon and crab and everything else gotta come from somewhere else. Seaweed salad was great! My rainbow roll was lame; something just wasn't right about the avocado. The spicey hamachi roll was tasty, you could taste the jalapeno, and my spicy scallops nigiri were PERFECT! Just the way I like 'em! Extra star for that!
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This was an interesting experience going to sansei on a Saturday night. When i got there at around 10:15, there already was a line of around 50 people. I stood on line for another 10 minutes and then we were let in incrementally. My companion and I were seated at the sushi bar and were presented with their late dining menu. Then there were drunk white chicks singing of which some was painful to listen to. As for the food, it was good. It was nothing spectacular, but fine.
They tack on 17% tax on pre-discount prices, but it's still a great deal.
Christine...we ate here twice in 8 days too! Good stuff. And pretty affordable. It's in a strip mall...but that's not a detterent for me.
I eat sushi every day when I'm in Maui. The best place I've found for it is here and at the dive bar at the wharf that is on the road between kehei and lahaina (where some of the tour sail boats leave from and they have a little aquarium nearby).
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So good we ate here twice... Everything is super fresh and deeelicious. Come early OR late on Thursdays & Fridays and there's probably a discount of some sort...
Wow, what's with the hype?
We came here due to all the Yelp reviews as well as the personal recommendations from friends. Made reservations the day of and ordered before 6pm to take advantage of the 25% discount (it's 50% for only Sun & Mon).
We basically ordered everything everyone recommended:
- Panko-Crusted Fresh Ahi Sashimi Roll
- Rock Shrimp Dynamite
- Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll
- Sansei Style Ahi Poke
- Alaskan Flower Sushi
- Macadamia Nut Tempura Fried Ice Cream
How do I put it lightly? I was underwhelmed.
Yes, I know "sansei" means 3rd gen, so the food's supposed to be a twist on Japanese classics. But still...while the food was good, it's definitely not the "omg, I've died and gone to heaven" great I was expecting after all this silly hype.
Also, not sure if anyone knew this going in (luckily we checked out their website) but if you go during one of their early bird specials (25 or 50% off), they automatically tack on 17% gratuity. Not that they don't deserve it since service is good, but just so you know.
After dining at Spago, this place is amazing. Same kind of food without the pretense and price. Next time we're in Maui, we will skip Spago's altogether and head straight to Sansei- and early.
The pacific rim/fusion food is in full effect here. Not traditional in the slightest, Sansei serves up some mighty fine signature rolls - the ahi wrapped with Kula greens was unique, fresh, and delicious. Utilizing the fresh ingredients from all around the island has proved to be a home run for Sansei.
I highly suggest showing up before 5 PM to ensure you get in on the 25% off deal-- or make a reservation. We scoffed at the line and went across the street for a quick Mai Tai. When we got back, the wait was over half an hour!
Couldn't quite make it here early enough for their early bird special. We showed up on a Monday during our vacation at 5pm (door opens at 5:30pm) and the line wrapped around the little strip mall. But we did decide to come back on Tuesday for dinner and I'm so glad we did because the food is to die for!!! My husband and I can't stop thinking about this place everytime we want sushi. We wish there was a Sansei here in the Bay Area. Can't wait to vacation in Maui again just so we could eat at Sansei!
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This restaurant is aptly named, because it is sensational, to say the least.
It is one of several of D.K. Kodama's restaurants and although I only dined at this location, I wish I could have visited all of them. Alas, I will have to wait for my next trip to Hawaii to do so.
The original one opened in Maui a the Kapalua Resort near the Ritz Carlton, and there is another one on Oahu at the Marriott Waikiki.
If you have a chance to visit just one, don't pass it up.
If you did not hear about Sansei, you might even miss it.
As you approach an ordinary mall in Kihei, you see a few non-descript stores which give you no idea of the extraordinary culinary experience awaiting you there. It lived up to my expectations, and beyond.
Whenever I encounter such an embarrassment of riches, I consult my wait staff. They were extremely helpful in pointing out the signature dishes as well as in guiding me on how to balance my 'heavier' selections with lighter fare.
I could have had everything on the menu, and if it had not been near the end of my stay on Kauai, I would have gladly have eaten here almost every night.
The service was friendly and unpretentious - especially for something this divine.
(As it should be).
Must try:
1) Panko crusted ahi sashimi sushi roll, with mild soy wasabi butter sauce.
2) Sansei's Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll, with ripe mango, blue crab, fresh greens and crunchy peanuts wrapped in memenori, served with a sweet thai chili vinaigrette (this was one of my favorites).
3) Sensei Special Roll, crab, cilantro and fresh veggies dusted with furikake.
4) Rainbow Roll, better than I have had anywhere.
5) The Appetizer of Butterfish (Sesabune, in NYC, shame on you!) this butterfish was so buttery - and the portion was huge -it blew me away.
We had a bunch of other 'typical' rolls which were not typical at all. In fact, they defy description; we also stuck to appetizers. (We decided to skip the entrees so that we could order more of the 'smaller' dishes, for greater variety).
Even so, we could barely finish what we ordered. Everything was super fresh, top quality, flavorful, uniquely prepared and carefully calculated to create a sensational party in your mouth.
A special note: I normally don't order fois gras (because it is a bit heavy for my taste) but I had to try it here. I was not disappointed. It was light enough to make me forget the calories. Stunningly different. If you can imagine fois gras prepared as sushi. Brilliant!
Too bad, my orgasmic pig-out did not leave room for desert.
As you know, I am not a desert person (with notable exceptions) but here I would have loved to have them. For starters, they had a Hot Granny Smith Apple Tart with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream rolled in Macadamia Nuts and served with Sansei's Warm Caramel Sauce. I would so like to fly back for these two!
Reservations are a must. They are required. Besides, this place is always packed, as are the other locations (so I've heard).
Major suggestion: talk to knowledgeable and outgoing fellow diners. They will tell you what they adore and why, and you're sure to discover things you might otherwise not have. I know I did (as usual).
On my way out, I purchased D.K.'s "Sushi Chronicles from Hawaii' - a beautiful and useful book of recipes, commentary, culinary history and a souvenir you will always cherish.
I cannot wait to try his other dishes and his other restaurants, and I only wish there was this kind of authentic sushi restaurant coming to NYC to a neighborhood near me, soon. It would be a feat to keep it this real and great, at the same time.
Sansei is one of the top ten reasons to visit Hawaii, at least in my book. Along with the natural beauty, good-natured, friendly, and humour- embracing people, you won't find another restaurant like it. Not likely in Hawaii, or probably anywhere else. Trust me. (I have eaten around!)
To read more go to www.sanseihawaii.com.
Enjoy!
PS (I know this review is about 6 months late, but as they say, better late than never.)
PPS - I CAN, on second thought, think of a few comparable sushi experiences in New York City. NOBU comes immediately to mind. Then there are a few downtown, that are not as pricey, but still offer innovative and delicious dishes. I love the variety that NYC has to offer! So take heart.
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Great sushi! Some of the best I've had. My recommendation would be to try the tasting menu for 2 for $70. Fantastic value.
I would give Sansei 5 stars, but the wait is horrendous. Even with reservation. Go early, or go for lunch.
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I wanted to try one sushi restaurant during my stay in Maui, and after looking though the various dining magazines given out at the airport I decided to go to Sansei.
The food here is pretty good, I ordered the ahi tuna carpaccio and really enjoyed it. I even got my BF to try it and he doesn't like raw fish. There is a sweet but tangy sauce drizzled on top of the tuna pieces and it really makes the appetizer. That was actually my favorite item that I ordered that night. Sushi was ok. Sake was good.
The reason why I give this place 4 stars is because even though it is kind of pricey, they offer an early bird special where you can go in for dinner before 6pm (I think it's 6) and you will get a big discount off of your meal. So much money is spent on tourist activities so its nice to get at least a little something for a deal.
I'm starting to think reviewing certain restaurants in Hawaii just isn't fair. How can you have bad seafood on an island? Anyway, my party ordered several rolls and it was all tasty. What stands out in my mind the most is the roasted vegetable roll. Most amazing vegetarian roll I've ever had. It's a must order if you go.
I expected better quality and better tasting fish especially since we were in Hawaii, but I found myself severely disappointed. I really wish that I would have read Ken K.'s review before I suggested that the wedding party go to Sansei. As he warns in his review, if you are a sushi purist please stay away! We had a party of 16 so basically be had a lot of the things on the menu and yet all of it was just mediocre and on top of all that it was EXPENSIVE. I've had better sushi in Houston (it's much cheaper there) and L.A.
We waited for a little over 45 minutes but the nice thing was the bartender that night kept us entertained for a while. He made some specials drinks for the bride and some of the other females. It was pretty and pink with vodka! Our waitress on the other hand didn't really seem to know what she was doing. I feel like she's never waited on large tables before and was fumbling most of the time.
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Sansei is to die and go to heaven.
It wasn't on my bill, so I had a whopping three plates of Panko-crusted Ahi Tuna Roll (large hungry man in girl's body). I couldn't stop. The Japanese calamari salad was incredible, as well.
For a table of about 15 on a packed Saturday night, the service was good. The bar is excellent and I love that I could wear the same clothes in that I wore to the beach that day.
This place isn't to be skipped if you're in Kihei.
The Japanese word 'Sansei' means 'third generation', implying that the sushi at Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar is not meant to be traditional Japanese cuisine, rather sushi that has evolved. And evolved it has! As expected, Sansei's best choices are Hawaii Regional, or 'fusion' dishes- although the quality of their sashimi and sushi is also very good and fairly priced!
Asian shrimp cake served with ginger-lime-chili butter, Sansei special roll with spicy crab, cucumber and daikon sprouts with sweet Thai chili sauce and unagi glaze, Panko-crusted ahi sashimi sushi roll served with soy wasabi butter sauce - you are best served ordering 'family-style' so that you can get a little taste of everything!
For the locals Sansei is not only a place to have a great meal, but it also turns into a happening nightspot/karaoke bar from 10pm onward. I would not call it 'fine dining' - the Kihei branch is located in a strip-mall with no discernable view - however, the ambiance is always lively and the clientele is usually a healthy mix of locals and visitors. Reservations are a must, and it pays to eat early with their numerous 'early bird specials' ranging from 25% off for food ordered promptly by 6pm, and 50% off Sun. and Mon. Kama'aina specials (for residents with valid HI State ID)!
Poke, poke, poke! That's all I'm going to say about this place.
And why salmon and uni in Maui tastes so much better?
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