10/29/09

Great service, great sushi

by TripleM

Made a reservation at Sakura and showed up late due to traffic. Not only that, but we were going to a show at the Ordway, so we told the host that we only had about 40 minutes. He was very accommodating and prioritized our order. We were very appreciative to have received such great service. On top of all that, the sushi was some of the best I’ve had in the Twin Cities. The restaurant itself is unique and inviting. Can’t think of anything negative to say about this place, other than the fact that it is in downtown St Paul, which is too far away from me to afford me the ability to dine here frequently.

• Pros: Great service

02/17/09

YummY!

by HockeyBabe1234

All I have to say is AMAZING and YUMMY. I could eat here everyday of my life if I could !!!!!!!!!!!

02/07/09

Favorite Sushi Restaurant in Twin Cities

by duckapoo

Sakura is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in the Twin Cities area, and I have been to quite a few. Compared to others, the food is just as great if not better but more affordable. Since it is in St. Paul (hence, more low-key), it is almost never too busy to accommodate walk-ins (I've only made reservations once) and the food is very authentic, offering not only great sushi and sashimi plates but also bento boxes, shabu shabu, tempura, yose nabe, and other Japanese dishes. And the service, contrary to what some reviewers have said, has always been superb. Highly, highly recommended to all my friends.

• Pros: Parking (meters free @ night), Service, Sushi, Price
• Cons: Quieter (if you're looking for a more happenin' place, go downtown or uptown)

01/08/09

One of the best in the Twin Cities.

by KassyJo

I love Japanese food, especially sushi. I've eaten at several sushi places in the Twin Cities, and I think Sakura is one of the best. The fish always tastes fresh and is prepared very well. They also have a great selection of sushi at pretty reasonable prices. (For sushi!) The parking is easy if you take their advice and park in the Lawson ramp and they also validate your parking afterwards; so it's free! The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is that sometimes the service feels a little impersonal (especially when they're busy). But they've always been friendly and for the most part, I've always received my food fast. I recommend the Adam Hall roll (eel roll with salmon and yellowtail) and also, their Sakura Sushi Entree is great. And if you want a real treat, order their Toro (fatty tuna) - it is SO good and SO worth it! :)

• Pros: Great sushi, reasonable prices, free parking, friendly staff.
• Cons: Sometimes a little impersonal.

11/03/08

consistently good

by latte4me

I've been here many times and the seafood is always incredibly fresh and delicious. Service is attentive without being intrusive. Plus if you're not a sushi eater, there's something here for you, too.

• Pros: good sushi and other Japanese food for non-sushi folks
• Cons: nothing

10/22/08

Great Shabu Shabu

by Armani13

Shortly moving from New York City and deprived of good food, I found this place refreshing. I called atleast 10 Japanese restaurants to see if they served Shabu Shabu (thinly sliced beef dipped in boiling water at your table with veggies) and this is the only one that did. The service was good and the staff was super nice. The shabu shabu was Amazing! and I'd totally recommend this to anyone that's ready for an authentic Japanese dish and ready to try something totally different from the way OVERDONE downtown/uptown minneapolis sportsbar/restaurants.

• Pros: great staff

04/18/08

Never, never, never go....unless you are desperate

by theadamsfamily6

I called Sakura and was glad to hear they could take 8 for dinner and made a reservation. First time here. Afterwards, I thought, I better read the reviews. Some said the service was bad, and yet, some liked it. So, I called back, mentioned we had a show at 8 and wanted to know if they really could accommodate us with prompt service? The lady (mioko) on the phone said she would make sure. I felt better after the call. We got there and the table wasn't ready for us. They took a long time to take our order. When the rice and sauce came out before our meals, the lady (a different one) passed only some of them out and left. My family noticed that she left the rest of them on the other table. We waited for her to return and pass them ourt, she didn't. So, i did. Finally six meals came. Two of us had ordered sushi, and she said it takes a long time to make. We waited. And waited some more. Finally, we flagged Mioko down. It's not ready yet, "Last time I ask the chef to try and hurry he was mad at me for 6 months, do you want him mad at me," she asked? Our sushi arrived and it was time to go. We got it boxed, ate a few while waiting for our check. It tasted old and dry. Normally, we both really like sushi, and have eaten it at other restaurants in other states. There is no comparison, it definitely is not fresh. If we weren't in such a hurry I would have had her remove it from the bill. Would we ever go back? Never, never, never. Normally I do not take the time to write a bad review. But I felt maybe I could spare some people the distress of a bad night out at this restaurant. By the way, who gave this restaurant a 4 star rating? It needs to be changed to a 1 star. They may have gotten an award in 2001, but this is 2008 and I think they have ridden on that good word for too long. This restaurant needs to be humbled. Stay away. Do not give them any business, and then maybe they will get better or better yet, go away.

• Pros: Ummm...I'm still thinking. Oh, you get a discount on parking. Yippie
• Cons: Wish I could write my bill off on gambling losses on my taxes.

03/11/08

Very good tempura

by auom

My friend and I went here on a Monday, so it was a slower night. The food was good; we both had their shrimp tempura which was delicious. The service was good; the server wasn't too pushy but was still attentive at the same time. I would recommend this restaurant if you're ever in the St. Paul downtown area and crave sushi. Their menu is also pretty big so you?ll have a lot to choose from.

• Pros: Good food, good service, ambience is nice.
• Cons: Parking is kind of difficult to find.

01/23/08

My favorite restaurant. anywhere.

by ljbehrens

Since moving to the Twin Cities four years ago, I have eaten at Sakura seemingly countless times. I love the terrific ambiance, and I can't get enough of the selection of authentic Japanese cuisine. I found their sushi to be of very high quality, and their entrees are fantastic (I'm a huge fan of their tempura dishes). This is an ideal spot for a first date.

I noticed that there are a number of reviews here telling angry stories about the quality of service here. Well, here's my $0.02 on the matter: Of the approximately two dozen times I've eaten at this restaurant, I have had one incredibly subpar server. She was obviously new, and very inattentive. It was very disappointing and somewhat upsetting to my dinner party, considering one of the charms of the place had previously always been the positive service. That being said, are you really going to write off an otherwise outstanding restaurant because you have a 4% chance of having bad service? If so, you are missing out.

• Pros: Wonderful entrees and sushi, great ambience
• Cons: the sushi adds up fast on your bill, don't go the night of a Wild game

12/23/07

New Opinion on Sakura

by jayleck

I ate here once four years ago and I vowed never to come back again. Just having eaten here a month ago has put Sakura back on my list of the best Japanese restaurants in the Twin Cities. The service was excellent; the food was fresh and very tasty. Love the redesign of the restaurant. Will recommend this place to others for sure.

• Pros: Quality and freshness of food