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Tue-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tue-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"i HEART Joy Sushi. It doesn't get any better that the Sake Lover's plate & Mercy Roll. If I wasn't afraid of dying from Mercury poisoning,…" read more »
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It's a bit pricy for lunch of you go for sushi and not a bento. It does take some time to get noodles if you order them.
They really shine at omakase at the bar for dinner. Sam does an excellent job of having an eclectic variety of fresh fish.
People thought this was:
Great sushi + exceptional service!
The sushi is really fresh and expertly prepared, and is well-priced for the quality; I ordered a bluefin nigiri which was the special that evening, and it melted in my mouth.
Sushi Sam's accommodated our rowdy four-top with good nature. We got there towards the time it was closing, but the establishment stayed open late and even made us some more rolls even after they "closed the kitchen." We were never shooed out or made to feel uncomfortable. They even brought us another kettle of hot tea right up until we left.
Even though I think we overstayed our welcome, taking photos and lollygagging, the chef came over to our table and had fun (see photos) with us.
Next time I'm in the San Mateo area, I will definitely stop back to Sam's!
People thought this was:
Over a year after my initial visit with sushi connoisseur Wei H., I returned to Sushi Sam's eager to recreate the experience of my first trip. Sushi Sam's is still as crowded as ever and their selection of fish rivals that of any sushi house, but the increasing prices and the heavy-hand of flavoring has tempered that first-time enthusiasm.
We made reservations and were promptly seated with our friends who we were eager to introduce to the Sushi Sam experience.
We tried ordering a chef special with 5 pieces (like regular customer Wei H. orders) but were unable to make it fly. We were told only an 8 order chef special was available. At $40 for 8 pieces, that makes each piece (not double piece) $5! Each couple decided to split an omekase order. We supplemented that with a variety of cooked items:
Nabeyaki Udon (~$12) - a large piping hot bowl of udon. Probably the best deal of the night
Chawan Mushi ($5.50) - each order was about the size of a tiny tea cup. Quality ingredients though, like shrimp, small crab leg, and fish cake.
Baby lobster - a favorite of my first visit, this time the lobster was still fresh, but a tad too much mayo was added
Toro - nicely seared (I don't mind the searing), a touch of salt and lemon, and ultra rich. The rice wasn't sticky enough and fell apart into pieces when being picked up
Baby tuna - a fresh, beautiful red cut of tuna. Scallions and soy sauce were added. Unlike my first visit, instead of being added in moderation, it was drenched.
Aji - excellent cut as well. Also heavily drenched in soy sauce and the rice, like all pieces, fell apart upon being lifted.
Spider roll - decent sized, but mediocre quality. Sloppily combined ingredients with large pieces fried crab in the middle. Nothing tasted outstandingly fresh.
Wow! What a difference a year makes...a year ago, the economy was booming and Sushi Sam's served me some of the best cuts of baby lobster, blue shrimp, and copper river salmon that I've ever had. Their pieces were lightly flavored with scallions and dabs of soy sauce that were both subtle and well nuanced, easily accentuating the great fish quality. (The copper river salmon had a lot of soy sauce the first time but was the exception)
Fast forward to tonight and things felt and looked mighty different. At $5/piece, Sam's is easily twice as expensive as places that I like quite a bit like Sushi Tomi and Akane and that's no longer easily dismissed in our current economy. But above all, the preparation deserves criticism tonight. The added flavoring in which they discourage you from using wasabi was once subtle but has now reached drenching proportions. There was enough soy sauce on my fish slices that it looked like the baby lobster and blue shrimp had been dipped in soy sauce too. The rice, although nicely warm, was too wet (whether from the soy sauce or moisture I'm not sure) and couldn't hold it's form even long enough to reach my mouth.
At the end of the meal, I felt a bit taken. As I enjoyed the tiny dessert (pumpkin cheesecake the size of a pencil eraser), I perused the bill and still felt hungry. I headed next door and had a bowl of hot ramen noodles for $5.
Next time, I'll just go to Sam's with a regular and have them ease up on the flavoring. Or maybe I just went on an off-night and got the wrong sushi chef. Too bad there's not much I can do about the escalating prices....3.5 stars.
Sushi Sam's accepts credit cards, but not American Express.
People thought this was:
Today, we had the pleasure of heading up to San Mateo and meeting up with local sushi connoisseur,… Read more »
Been here on several different occassions and still haven't found what I'm looking for. It's true what they say, it is quite pricey. I would not recommend this restaurant. You're better off at other sushi places in the downtown San Mateo area.
People thought this was:
Simply the best sushi I have had in North America. Bar none. It is all about the most fresh seafood, expertly prepared.
You will probably have a 30 minute wait on weekend nights, which is a good sign folks! Worth every minute of it.
When you tuck into that tall, freezing cold Asahi and bite into your unagi, you will forget all about the wait.
Yet another failed sushi restaurant that is owned and operated by Chinese people. Ordered the seasonal sushi: toro, white king salmon, anago nigiri. All epic failures!! The presentation was extremely poor- rice fell apart upon contact, toro was separated, the anago eel was disproportionate and the grains of the eel nigiri were going different directions. But we still tried the sushi for taste. We spoke to the manager, who was nice about it and simply said," this is how we do it here" we tried the toro which instead of melting in your mouth like it's suposed to, it contained a large amount of hard cartiledge like meat. For beginner sushi eaters, I would stick with the basic dragon rolls, I would NOT recommend this restaurant. In fact, I would recommend HOTATE which is just 2 blocks away. At least they are japanese owned and operated!!!
im not sure why people love this place to death, or maybe im just in a negative mood lately. i overheard a lady who was waiting for a table that she took her friend straight from the airport to sushi sams. i sure wouldnt. we came on thurs and the place was packed. we sat at the sushi bar.
we ordered an ok amount of food and the bill came out to $90 for two people! that is a lot. we had the sashimi omakase for one person. we ordered mirugai sashimi which was fishy. tamago sushi. ikura, tobiko. salmon ochazuke. miso soup. seaweed salad. $90 dinner right there.
what is the hype ppl? i dont get it? its not cheap. its not authentic. the people are CHINESE! they are not japanese. and what annoys me is that they try to make their cantonese sound japanese. im like dude youre not fooling anyone.
People thought this was:
Hands down, the largest unique fresh fish sushi selection in the Bay Area. I drive 40 miles one-way to eat at Sam's twice a week. I only eat their sashimi and nigiri, and I always order the blue fin toro, seared toro, white king salmon, wagyu beef sashimi, and baby lobsters.
The service is also very good. All of the servers are helpful and good in recommending what are the special fish of the day.
I find it strange that some folks seem to care more about whether the fish at their favorite sushi bar is "straight from Japan!!!" moreso than uhhhh... the chefs.
To me, skill is more important than ingredients. And don't get me wrong, there are plenty of sushi bars in town run by Japanese chefs without the illustrious "three years of just washing rice" training of lore.
Yet it also seems overlooked that there is an abundance of world-class seafood to be had locally (uni, suzuki, salmon, oysters, crab, abalone, geoduck) or even domestically (blue fin tuna, kanpachi, fluke, freshwater eel, razor clam, monkfish, conch) that in my amateur opinion measure up to the best you can find in Japan.
Thus I prefer a chef who knows how to make proper sushi rice, knows how to cut a fish and knows how to handle nigiri using seafood brought in from a creative array of local, domestic and yes, international distributors, versus a shop that advertises "100% of our fish is from Japan and not only that but we will also overcharge you to pay for our high-rent lease and cheeeesy late 90s house music soundtrack!!!11"
So yeah "fresh fish straight from Japan!!!". Not sure how many of you have paid a visit to an international fish market, seafood distributor or the customs/freight forwarding port of call at your local international airport (esp on a hot summer day) but that may stretch the definition of "fresh" in my, your, and everyone else's book. In addition, SF is not a point of entry for the major seafood exporters so most of what we get here is split off from the international freight inbound to LAX/JFK on various JAL/ANA flights... so basically you're looking at probably 3-5 days of "shipping and handling" prior to your "ultra fresh straight from Japan fish" getting to your sushi bar. This is not even counting the time from when it was caught to get to the fish market, distributor, broker, etc. Something to keep in mind next time when you're eating some "fresh fish straight from Japan"...
What in the hell am I even talking about? Oh yeah. Still talking about old fish from Tokyo again. Or fish from Old Tokyo, still... again?
EDOMATA is like Old Tokyo... again or Old Tokyo... still.
After two trips to Japan already in 2009 I haven't really craved American sushi so much but after I got an offer from the daughter of a local sushi chef to come to Sushi Sam's, two seats reserved smack dab in front of Osamu-san himself, 8pm on a Saturday night... how could I say no?
Two of my favorite Yelp reviewers have been coming here since they were kids, but neither ever took me here. No names, but initials WU and AD... calling you out!
Sam is Oosamu-san, the itamae-san, aka your chef.
He is nice, funny, professional, tells good stories... many qualities that come as a bonus of being a good chef. And he is a good chef. Knife work lends to bigger cuts (we ate A LOT!), rice is good texture and good balance, handling was just right 4-5 turns per nigiri. My main criticism is that the seasoning, sauces and additional ingredients were a little heavy handed at times. This is no edomae sushi bar.
appetizers:
oysters (light, delicious)
ankimo - monkfish liver terrine (heavy on the ponzu)
ika no geso - grilled squid legs (good)
kinmedai no kama - gold eye snapper cheek (too moist and oily)
aji no hone - fried bones and cartilege of horse mackerel (good)
stuffed mushrooms (okay)
nigiri:
madai - sea bream (covered in sprouts, sesame oil and pine nuts... weird)
hirame - fluke (good texture)
suzuki - sea bass (not my favorite this time of year)
king salmon (very good)
umimasu - arctic char (excellent nutty flavor complimented the king salmon pairing)
kanpachi - amberjack (excellent)
hamachi - yellowtail (okay)
akami - lean tuna (great cut)
katsuo - bonito (seasoned really nicely)
chuutoro - medium fatty tuna (not so good, this was "fresh from japan!" aka freezer burnt and didn't taste fresh at all)
seki aji - horse mackerel from Saganoseki, Oita prefecture (excellent)
blue shrimp - from New Caledonia (awesome, seared and cured in yuzu juice)
ikura - marinated salmon roe (really bad, too bitter, salty and sweet)
anago - freshwater eel (okay, decent)
tamago meshi nashi - egg omelette sashimi (great)
umekyu hosomaki - pickled ume/cucumber roll (great umeboshi, so yummy)
(pretty sure I'm missing a few here)
For dessert, Sam's neice makes homemade small dishes like pannacotta, creme brulee, tarts, etc. but i forgot what we had! :-\
At the end of the meal Sam recommended we try "omakase" next time, perhaps not realizing that we navigated 90% of his the specials board on our own. Maybe there's something extra special that he reserves for omakase customers?
Damage including 5 beers was about $65/pp. Pretty sure we got hooked up majorly so I rounded it up to $100/pp. Such a good deal!
One last note: Sam serves sushi. So all those reviews talking about teriyaki, soba, bento... folks, go elsewhere, this is a damn sushi bar!
People thought this was:
A couple of weeks ago I had dinner with Rachel and we both agreed on sushi. I was willing to drive up closer to her area and she mentioned two places in San Mateo, Sushi Sam's or Joy Sushi. Both places offered excellent reviews on Yelp, sounded extremely delicious, and each averaged 4 stars, but at the end we decided to try Sushi Sam's. (http://static.px.yelp....)
Between the two of us, we ordered:
-Toro Sashimi
-Seared Toro
-Spider Roll
-Rainbow Roll
-2 Sam's Special
Toro Sashimi (4.5 Stars): Fatty tuna from the belly that melts in your mouth straight to your own belly. This is one of my favorites as Sushi Sam excelled with their fresh fish. Toro is soooooo good and to die for.
Seared Toro (3.5 Stars): Lightly seared toro with sea salt seasoning and yuzu juice was different compared to most toro I've experienced. It was good, but I could go without the extra amount of sauce or saltiness with the fish.
Spider Roll (3.5 Stars): These rolls are huge that comes with plump tempura soft shell crab wrapped in rice and covered with special sauce, was both full of flavor and quite delicious.
Rainbow Roll (3.5 Stars): One of my old favorites, as it has a mixture of Salmon, Tuna, and Hamachi. I've had better at other places, but I might have set the bar high because I dig into the Toro so quickly.
Sam Special (4 Stars): So simple, yet so simply delicious! It's a shrimp tempura that's rolled into a hand roll. It sounds very plain jane, but it's so good! I wanted to order more, but I was already full. :)
Next time I come back I want to try the Omakase.
Summary (3.5 Stars): Great place for sashimi lovers! The rolls are decent, but they are known for their sashimi. Aside from the toro, there was no 'WOW' factor for me.
People thought this was:
Who would have thought that they would have the quality of sushi that they have at a place called "Sushi Sam's"?
Not me...
The only way to go here is the omakase. Don't come here expecting a bunch of rolls with shrimp tempura and spicy tuna covered in more random fish. They have a great assortment of special fish choices that you would not really get at any regular sushi spots. It's $35 for 8 pieces including dessert. It's not cheap and it won't really fill u up but you do get to try a bunch of sushi that is rare to try. Amberjack, bonito, white unagi, butterfish, blue shrimp, and Spanish mackerel, just to name a few. The pieces aren't especially huge but the fish is fresh and very nom nom-ish. The desserts are also deelish. Green tea tiramisu was perfect.
The place is tiny and generally crowded, so expect a wait. The omakase might not fill you up so expect to order more if you go that route.
A nice place to try, but still a little pricey.
People thought this was:
This is definitely one of those 'when in Rome' places. Come with someone who knows the food, the language or can decipher what everything is on the menu's as there are three directions guess one can wander. The menu they hand you, the one sitting on the table and then the 'picture' ones also sitting on the table.
I'm still on training wheels and went with the grilled calamare'legs. Maguro, Uni and Teka Maki (eh I meant to order something else other than more tuna but was not paying attention). All I can say is the offerings here are fresh.. and aspire to learn more so I can sit at the 'chefs' roundtable with the 'bigdogs' one day who know their stuff.
They have sooo many small plates of things to try. Of course if bringing your non-fish folks, they have the usual bento teriyaki chicken, barbecue beef, a deep fried chicken dish.. and some fish bento that comes with rice, salad, soup. They start around $11+. The bigger bentos if you want a mix of the above with sashimi... or rolls.. start around $16+
I did not order much but then again can't eat a ton of food... the pricing is fair to pricey... the Uni was market price so ya either ask or just wait for your tab to find out.
This place gets busy busy.... the staff are moving their keasters off but don't take the bustle as rudeness. Its a busy place.... however all the staff are very nice and helpful if you have questions. Ya just got to get their attention if they are really busy. ITS ALL GOOD! Check it out folks!
People thought this was:
For my 300th review I decided to review this old-time favorite. In my opinion, worth 4.5 stars but rounded up to 5. I really cannot add much that hasn't been mentioned by others already, so I'll try to be brief.
Yes, it's usually crowded, the space is outdated, a few plates are chipped, seat arrangements could be better, needs remodeling, the waiters are always in a hurry, and not the best place for newbies.
But some people fail to appreciate the positives. It has an above average fish selection - as others have mentioned check the specials on the white board (daily sushi specials) and the black board (cooked item specials), despite the apparent chaos at the place, the staff keeps track of every order, and the kitchen still manages to prepare really good food. That skill level is not easy to achieve.
One day I noticed how a waiter took the time to calmly advice some children to put their toys away because the food was coming. And amidst all the rush of food orders, managed to find a rubberband that the mother had requested to tie the children's crayons. I call that outstanding service, that few people notice.
The sushi bar is the star here. But many other menu items are also great. One of the newest desserts I tried last time was the brown rice panacotta. It's topped with a brown rice flavored thin wafer, plus 2 very delicate small round pate a choux pastries. Delicious!
http://static3.px.yelp...
So for all these reasons, Sushi Sam's remains one of my favorite sushi places.
People thought this was:
I'm super surprised that this place has such a high rating because I thought that Sushi Sam's sushi was far from mediocre. Though edible I wouldn't choose to come back here again.
I ordered one of the assorted sushi platters, decent price but I was shocked when the sushi came because they were all so messily rolled. The presentation was horrible, the sushi were lopsided, full of rice and lacked filling, and tasted bland. I would forgive them if the restaurant was busy but it was during lunch and there were empty tables, perhaps it was just a bad day?!?
Besides rolls they had weekly lunch specials $7.95 for an entree, tempura, california rolls, soup, salad, the norm. Great deal, okay taste. Again the California rolls were 3/4 rice, I had to literally pick some off before eating it.
Sushi Sam's is a been there, done that for me.
I've walked by this place many times when in the area but never thought to check it out for one reason or another. Finally my sister and friend both confirmed it was worth trying so I went there for dinner the other night. The place is simple in decor. I recall in the past that all the times I've passed this restaurant it's ALWAYS had people waiting outside. Since we went in the later evening (approx. an hour to closing) there wasn't a wait at all.
It took a while to figure what I wanted to eat since there weren't enough detail descriptions for some things. NOTE: a lot of the maki items are veggie only. I was happy with the 'Chili Dog Hand Roll' I got otherwise better known as the Spicy Tuna Roll in other places. It was very fiery and packed a punch. I don't eat super spicy stuff but I loved it so much I had to order a second. The Nigiri Sushi items I had were: Salmon, Amaebi, Trout, and a few others. All of the seafood was fresh and delicious. Also had the Spider Roll which was crunchy and tasteful.
Overall I would definitely go there again. The prices were reasonable and all of the ingredients were fresh. Items came to the table very quickly and the service was good. I would suggest to either go before or after the dinner rush if you can as I'm not sure how long the waits can be normally. Good eats!
I used to be a regular here for lunch when I used to work in Foster City. The food is awesome and the service is pretty good considering this place is always packed. I would not recommend this place for large groups. You'll end up waiting a really long time. Plus they won't be able to accommodate you enough space for the experience to be comfortable. I like to go in small groups (4 is probably the next #) so we can share and try multitude of dishes.
I am a sashimi/sushi guy so that's what I usually order. Uni is my fav! I'll let rest of the table order rolls and get to try a piece of each.
what stands out the most about this place is the variety of fish on the white board. not a lot of places can have that
o-toro: 2 pieces $12
very fatty and tasty
also had hotate, aji, sake
not blown away but good nonetheless
light vinegar rice, and sometimes too heavy dressing on top
People thought this was:
Not bad...although a bit crowded for a Wed. night. Note to self: restaurant is small, seats 49, ideal for party of 2, not for group of 5. We waited 20 minutes at 8pm. But once the food arrived things looked up. Beef teriyaki was great, kids loved and ate all of their chicken teriyaki (of course, they were starving), enjoyed the $2 tempura handroll. Price of sushi a bit expensive -- $13.50 for rainbow roll? Lots of people love it, as it's always crowded when I drive by, with lots of people waiting outside. Wanted to try something different than our usual standby. Still like Isobune for their atmosphere. I think I know who Sam is.
People thought this was:
This is definitely one of the best sushi places I have been especially in downtown San Mateo. I only come here to eat their sushi because of their wide variety of exotic fish. My favorite is the white salmon and Spanish mackerel. Toro is fabulous but a bit pricey.
This place does get really crowded so if you want to go be prepared to go once it opens for dinner. The owner does like to have vacations so the restaurant may close for a week.
I ordered the Assorted Sushi #3 for $35. The sushi variety was pretty good, but I did think it wasn't that much food for $35. I do think I am on the frugal side, but I've been to other sushi restaurant where $35 gets you a lot more than here.
Personally, I think this restaurant is more on the expensive side. Call me crazy, I don't know, but I wouldn't go there again.
Woohoo! As good as it gets!
I went there for the 1st time about 2 weeks ago. The place was crowded which was a sign that the place was good. And because it was crowded we sat elbow to elbow with other folks. It took the waiter 20 minutes to finally come and take our order. We ordered the Assorted version of Sushi for $40. It did not taste good and I was not full. Maybe I should've tried something else, but my one time experience is all I need not to return.
My cool sis recommended we try this place post HP6 movie; thankfully no line as she has seen countless times (it was 5:30 pm).
Quick friendly service & tasty sushi-fresh, especially the couple of handrolls I had.
I'd like to go back & try their cooked meals next time.
Thanks, lulubelle. Itadakimas!
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I had to get a tshirt.
I was out in San Bruno because Deana I. was working out there today. We came with a couple people: Deana's cousin- Julie D. (a local) and my buddy from LA- Archie A. Julie had been here before and with the reviews, we had to give it a shot.
When we arrived, it was packed. Our wait was about 20min. As we waited we found out which was chef was 'Sam' and read the menu. 'Chili Dog Roll' was the first thing I noticed and my decision was made.
Our table was the perfect spot to people-watch, entrance of the restaurant (front window) and within earshot of the sushi bar. Everyone seemed to be having a blast. The server (number 1, as it was stated on our receipt) was really funny and friendly. We order our first round, I chose the 'Chili Dog' and 'Super Sam Special.' When the food came out, I was quite surprised. I was expecting to see actual hot dogs/chili/beans in my roll, but in reality it looked like a spicy tuna roll. Before I took a bite I had to make sure. Turns out that the 'Chili Dog' part meant an EXTRA spicy tuna roll. Both rolls were great.
For the second round I asked #1 what he recommended, he asked if I liked eel, I agreed, he wrote something down and walked away. I was a little worried, but trusted him. The roll came out. It looked like a super fancy California Roll with sliced avacado and dark sauce garnished over it. They call it the 'Special California Roll' - Eel, Crab Salad, Avacado and the Secret Sauce. It was the perfect ending to a great dinner.
We really enjoyed the dinner - great company, fantastic food and we couldn't ask for better service.
People thought this was:
This place is okay if you've never had really good sushi (like Kirala or Rikyu).
REALLY SMALL portions. Fish quality was okay. I mean, REALLY small portions tho... about 1/2 the size of Kirala or Rikyu's nigiri's.
The best way I can describe this place as is:
Not bad considering these guys are Cantonese. Good place if you're a sushi newbie or you're still in college. If you have a full time job, why eat here when there is that other sushi place across the street? Doesn't make sense.
Pretty pricey considering the food quality and the environment.
Service was zippy, but definitely Chinese... ie. elbows in your face, check slapped on the table, lots of yelling.
People thought this was:
3.75 really. Just went there today for lunch with my wifey and youngest daughter, and Audrey had a lunch combo, and then sushi for the adults. The combo was just OK. The California rolls were too mayonnaisey, and the chicken teriyaki was a touch undercooked. It seemed pan fried. I prefer grilled chicken, then finished off with some teriyaki sauce in a pan (that's how I make it at home at least).
The sushi was good. We had lots of the specials - artic char, butterfish, amberjack, fatty tuna, seared ahi, uni and some basics like salmon, hamachi, chili dog (their version of spicy tuna in a miniature roll), and spicy scallops. It's about the same as I remember it. For the money (the bill was over $70), it wasn't really worth it, but the UNI was absolutely fantastic. Superfresh and delicious. The rest of fish seemed a bit small, but subtle and soft. Some of their special nigiri were a bit stringy which was disappointing (like the amberjack and artic char). The butterfish was pretty yummy though.
In the future, I think I'll stick with the normal stuff and stay away from their $7 or $8 seasonal nigiris which are actually reasonable, but they still add up quite quickly. OK, maybe get 1 or 2 instead of 5... :)
The lunch special is $7.50 so it was reasonable and looked filling (my 4 year old has a hefty appetite so I didn't get to try much), and the sushi was very good for the price (at least the normal stuff), and just good for the seasonal sushi. Their big rolls are good as well, but we don't get them usually unless we know it is great...
Did you know a piece of nigiri is about 50 calories? Like you care.
If you can sit at the sushi bar and order off of the fish board...do it.
Some of the staple sashimi (i.e. fatty tuna) are great as well.
You won't need to add any soy sauce or wasabi. The items by themselves are seasoned perfectly.
The quality of the fish is superb and I think it is the best in the Bay Area.
The wait after 6pm is almost a good hour and the parking can also be difficult at times, however, it is worth leaving work early to get a seat at the bar. Otherwise the wait might ruin the experience for you.
People thought this was:
Perhaps I was in on the wrong night, but from the bad/slow service to the uncomfortably crowded sitting arrangements, I was not impressed. They seemed to forget my order, came back to ask what it was again as well.
The food was ok, the prices are decent, but it really didn't seem like they cared if the service was any good or not. It felt like they could care less...
Did I mention the even forgot to serve a plate? Yeah, I had to actually ask for it.
People thought this was:
I have turned away from this place in the past few months now that I am getting to try other sushi places down town. I am giving them 2 stars now because their food is great and always fresh...
HOWEVER....the service is terrible, the waiters are not very welcoming and always seemed pissed off. I always get forgotten.
People think this is like the best place downtown because it always looks packed but its because its super small inside and people are like sheep and go wherever other people go...
I would try the other sushi place down town...
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Yum! is all i have to say! i love this place. its a little hole in the wall, amazing sushi place.… Read more »
Amazing sushi. Be sure to order the specials off the white board. I've tried almost everything on there, and the majority of them were superb. The chu-toro is so tender melt in your mouth goodness. The place gets packed so be sure to head out there a little early if you don't want a long wait. Bar seating is best so you can see the board menu items.
People thought this was:
Pseudo-Japanese Food for Authentic Japanese Prices. Skip it.
People thought this was:
Damn you San Mateo for colluding to situate all my favorite restaurants in your city! I blame you for global warming, forcing me to burn fossil fuel driving my non-hybrid to many glorious gluttony sessions on 3rd Ave. My only saving grace today is driving a fully loaded 8-passenger van to Sushi Sam's.
Me likey!
My 6 yr old likey too. He tells me he wants 10 orders of toro and I think to myself, what kind of spoiled brat asks for 10 orders of toro? Hell no! 3 orders of toro for you. Fill up on other nigiri, fruit of my loins! And, ahem, 7 orders of toro for me.
Toro (fatty tuna from the belly), Hotate (raw scallop), and Amaebi (sweet raw shrimp) were all yummers. The toro melts in your mouth. It also burns a hole in your wallet, the kind that reminds you next time don't go crazy with the sashimi orders ok?
I usually don't eat the deepfried shrimp heads that they serve up from your amaebi order. But man these were so tasty today!
The wait was borderline ridiculous. We got there at 6pm, got seated almost at 7pm. Yeah, they don't have any large tables so it's like towers of hanoi waiting for people to leave. It's also maddening to see parties of 4 walk in and getting seated immediately since they have plenty of small tables.
I eat sushi because of this place!
I've never had sushi until I went to this place (no joke!). From sushi to bento boxes, their menu is mouth-watering and appetizing. I ordered the Shrimp Tempura bento, but my boyfriend's sushi looked so good, I had to try it and now I'm hooked! To make the experience even better, the service is top-notch. Our server was very friendly, helpful and funny. We became instant fans of the place that my boyfriend got a shirt!
TIP: Order the "Sam's Special." Their special house sauce is yummy and you won't be disappointed.
Fresh fish, attentive staff. A very busy restaurant all the time but waiters and on top of it. Always reliable. Order the specials on the blackboard behind sushi counter, expect them to be pricey, but worth it. They have lunch specials that won't break the bank. Wish they were open Sunday and Monday too.
Dear Sam,
Will you please open a location say in San Francisco? Ok email me when you do!
I've been going to Sushi Sam's for well over 10 years. It is the standard that I rate all other sushi places. Most everything is bomb here. The fish is fresh and cut thick... the servings are hearty. There's nothing worse then going somewhere else for sushi... and then being full of "ok" sushi and regret. Wishing I had gone to Sushi Sam's instead... those are sad nights I don't like to even think about.
Lets go through my favorites:
Karaage: Their lightly battered deep fried chicken. The pieces are big, thick and juicy the batter is light, crisp and it not oily!? how do you do it sam you minx! It would be worth it to come here for the fried chicken alone. ( It "would" be... but if I'm here or w/in walking distance I'm getting the TMS!)
Chawanmushi: A delicious savory egg custard w/ a lil mushroom, imitation something that's a half circle of white and has a hot pink exterior....u know what I'm talk'n about!? chicken, shrimp. Mmmm takes about 15 minutes to make so order it early, comes boiling hot in a single serving tea cup that's really good at retaining heat... be careful!
Spider Roll: Massive! Easily 2 inches in diameter almost all crab...definitely makes all the other spider rolls feel insecure. More importantly Delicious! which matters more.
ok... this is the one...
Toro Maki Special: Write it down. Go on I'll wait. ... Ready? Its so good its not even on the menu. I waited till now to tell you because I'm not sure I want to share any of it with you. I even feel a little guilty about posting this... Will it be any less special now? Will there be any left? Will Sam be mad? Don't tell him it was me...I'm willing to deal with the consequences as long as its still available for me when i go there... so don't eat it all! Its got delicious buttery toro with some of the pickled turnip, rolled in seaweed and rice and then they put some sort of asian basil ( I don't like basil... but iLOVE this) thinly sliced on the outside and then there are these teeny tiny crispy balls on the outside. Its beautiful. To the eyes and to the tongue. its one of those things were you won't be able to get the memory of this taste out of your mind and all you will want to do is ask for it burrito sized (its not burrito sized! that's why in this fantasy you'd have to ASK. Its actually one of the average sized rolls... but if i could dream it... it would be burrito sized), stock a freezer full of it and have it everyday. No joke. Its last meal good. If i could give 6 stars I'd give 7! Do you feel how much I love this? Oh so good I may have to have it tomorrow... twice.
Other delicious yummies:
Rainbow Roll: again huge... a great way to try raw fish if all you've ever had is california roll. bc it is a california roll with a variety of colorful fish on top (hamachi, salmon, tuna) and avocado. Hamachi and Salmon are two of my faves... must haves if I'm having sushi... does anyone else think hamachi tastes a lil like mango? yumm
Unagi hand roll: this roll has a big slice of unagi (+sauce) and avocado in it. My cousin (a self proclaimed unagi connoisseur) took one bite of her first hand roll and before the waiter could walk away raised her hand and ordered another two before even chewing the one bite that was in her mouth. Yes, that good. A must have especially for those who don't do raw fish.
Spicy tuna hand roll is another good one... I haven't had it ( I can't do spicy) but I always order it for those S.S. first timers that are with me and they always rave.
Teriyaki : Big portions ... great to share if you want to fill up and you can't afford all sushi/sashimi. Chicken good (nothing special) Beef again large portion great for sharing... a bit tougher than I like my beef... but that's why i have teeth.
Udon: good. wish it came with a couple more ingredients... and Tip: get the tempura on the side... I hate my tempura soggy.
Having never even checked yelp before going here ... well I've been going here before yelp (i think)... I just go get what I'm craving. I think next time I go I'll have to try the baby lobster, chilean sea bass and kobe beef so many of you have been raving about.
See you there!
This place is all right...
Maybe I came on a bad day. But I've been reading about lunch specials so I wondered in there at around 12:30pm. It was pretty crowded so I had high hopes.
The service was mediocre. I wanted to sit at the sushi bar because I was by myself, but as soon as I sat down the waiter rushed me to a corner table. Ok fine, I was just trying to save you guys some space. "Sushi bar is for sushi only. Lunch box at tables."
ok fine... i don't care THAT much .
Now the food came, and it was NOTHING special. Really, I've had better at many other places and seeing that there are so many Japanese places in San Mateo, I'd go elsewhere .
I can't believe we just blew $150 for lunch. Last time we did that was at Mama's Fishhouse in Hawaii, but it came with a view of a private beach and palm trees and tide pools. Can't say the same about this place which definitely lacks ambience. I was in sashimi heaven the first 20 minutes, then I over ate and saw the bill and started feeling sorry for my waste line and my savings account.
We had a salmon skin salad, a chili dog, about 12 different kinds of sashimi, and a green tea tiramisu. I know we totally pigged-out! Salad was a large portion, a meal in itself for only $7, but very mediocre. The chili dog was just a spicy tuna roll without mayo, it wasn't anything to rave about, just a-ok. Definitely recommend the tiramisu which is only $4, very tasty. In a nutshell, anything that didn't involve same-day air shipping was reasonably priced.
About their sashimi. I've only been to Japan once but am a sashimi addict. Hands down the freshest and most unique selections I've ever had, no doubt about that. But I can't say they dress it up with the best flavors. We ordered toro, seared toro, scallop, blue shrimp, miyuzaki beef (is that how you spell it?), white salmon, giant clam, yellow tail, butter fish, uni, snow crab, and spanish mackerel. Everything has its own uniqueness.
They love to use lime and seasalt as dressing. Sometimes they over do it and the fish is so salty that it loses its orginal sweetness. That happened to my seared toro. I was mad especially it was about 3 bucks a bite.
A lot of yelpers also recommended the Spanish mackerel and white salmon, they were just ok for me. After I mend the burn in my wallet, which means no expensive meals for a couple of weeks, I may go back just for my favorites, the toros and the scallops and blue shrimps.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! this has got to be one of my most FAVORITE restaurants! My friend brought me here for lunch years ago, and I've been hooked ever since.
It's a little tiny, and its ALWAYS crowded. But the prices are pretty reasonable, and its just a great place to bring your friends and have a nice evening eating great food and drinking sake.
Since I dont really eat a ton of raw fish, I usually base my Japanese restaurants on their beef teriyaki. Sometimes it looks a little burnt, but it really adds to the flavor and its not dry at all!
A must for me everytime I go there: beef teriyaki, agedashi tofu, tempura, unagi hand roll and the spicy tuna maki. Their other handrolls are really good too (sam's super special and the chili dog). I also tried the spicy scallop nigiri...which was suprisingly good, seeing that I dont really eat much raw seafood.
I know there are a lot of restaruants around 3rd avenue, but I cant seem to go anywhere else. I'll be a loyal fan of Sushi Sam's FOREVER!
I've had my fair share of sushi and let me tell you, Sushi Sam's is the BEST PLACE in the Peninsula.
Great value for the quality and cut of fish you get.
This is the first place I ever had Barracuda nigiri! Don't miss out on their "chili dog" and "sam's special" handrolls for some cheap tasty eats and of course the nigiri.
Good special rolls, sit at the bar and talk to Sam himself! Don't miss this one. Seriously.
sushi sam's has been my family's "go-to" sushi spot for year's. the spider roll here is incomparable and the sam's special is simple but superb. this is for the true hard-core traditional sushi lover. if you're looking for the fancy rolls covered in mayo, then this place is not for you. walk a couple blocks over to joy sushi. if you want high quality fish, and sushi made right, then sushi sam's is where its at.
People thought this was:
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
San Mateo, CA
Category: Sushi Bars
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
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