Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar - WAIKIKI, Oahu

Review summary

1. A

   Arash

   Sacramento

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   Absolutely horrible service, food mediocre. Overall not worth it. On our most recent visit, the server never brought out our appetizer. My wife did not receive her side order of rice that she had ordered. They also mixed up our sushi order bringing out wrong orders. The incompetence and the poor quality of service were beyond belief. Sadly we have been coming here for several years. But the service and management have badly deteriorated since the pandemic. But we still enjoy the location in Lahaina on Maui.
   

   Is this helpful?

2. E

   Ernie

   Hawaii

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on 15 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Micah at the bar was great! Makes good drinks and very friendly!
   

   Is this helpful?

3. R

   Ron

   Portland

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 15 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Delicious! We always go to Sansei when in Hawaii. It is a little out of the way at the far end of the beach but totally worth walking to. Try the dynamite shrimp and the butterfish, they are dynamite!!
   

   Is this helpful?

4. P

   Pamela

   VIP

   San Francisco

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 15 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   Menu at the restaurant was quite different than the one online. Would have preferred the online one. Outdoor dining was suboptimal although waitress tried to make it good. Music across the way was loud and sansei was only willing to turn down its competing music a little. Food was better than the ambience. Edamame is better served hot.
   

   Is this helpful?

5. R

   Rossi

   Indiana

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on 12 February 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   We arrived a bit early hoping to get to be seated to the bar while we waited for our table, the restaurant or the bar were not busy, however we noticed 3 hostesses and 2 servers. The hostess told us that the bar was full that we have to seat and wait, which we did however another couple came in about 20 mins after us and asked for the bar and got seated there immediately. So we decided to ask why we were not given that opportunity and the hostess said: “oh I’m sorry o forgot all about you, my bad, I think I san sit you down now”. So we proceed to sit down, our server took about 10 minutes to come by, she was friendly but rushed, took our initial appetizer order and drinks and left. 20 mins passed we got our drinks and my bf got his soup right then too. I was waiting for my fried calamari that came about 5 mins after that. The place was loud but not jammed pack, on top of that the music was super loud and it was hard to talk to each other. Anyway, she came by about 10 mins later to check on us and took our order. I requested sushi plate and my bf requested the 30day special edition steak, my sushi came within 20 mins of my order and my bf steak was MIA, by 30 mins after our initial main course order and me almost done with my sushi we decided to get the check and leave. Then suddenly the waiter came by to apologize that the kitchen got backed up and the steak was coming out just about now. True within a minute or two she brought it in, the steak was delicious but my sushi not so much for the price. Few minutes later she came back to apologize again and said that the manager told her that we were not going to get charged for my sushi because of the delay of the steak. At that point we were somewhat satisfied but annoyed with the service and the quality of my sushi. I guess the server noticed that and offered us a free dessert, which we took the brownie option. Needless to say we will not return or recommend this place.
   

   Is this helpful?

6. D

   Dylan

   Hawaii

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 9 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great spot for some delicious Sushi and Steak! We were beyond thrilled with both of our experiences there and will definitely be return guests. Justin & Jen really took our second dining experience to the next level & we appreciated their kindness, exceptional customer service & all of their recommendations. 10/10 would recommend Sansei to anyone visiting, or to any local that braves Waikiki!
   

   Is this helpful?

7. s

   stephen

   Puerto Vallarta

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 31 January 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   the food was great ...the ambiance for a restaurant that expensive wasn't that great..tiny paper napkins for a $29 appetizer sushi and $41 entree.... come on...lol...room looked like a dining hall at a college ....our server seemed alittle scattered even tho the restaurant wasn't that busy...but again the food was delicious and presented well
   

   Is this helpful?

8. S

   Stephanie

   Orange County

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on 21 January 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Food was okay, but service was horrible. Sushi bar was backed up, which we only found out because we heard other servers telling their tables. Our server dropped off two of our three meals (one of which was sushi) then disappeared for 45 minutes. When she finally came back to tell us the other sushi was running behind, she asked if we still even wanted it, when it was the only item my daughter had ordered and we had been waiting for an hour. It still took another 15 minutes after that. She did end up comping that sushi item, but the item was still only so so after all that time. And I ended up getting sick later that night (did not eat or drink anything after we left the restaurant).
   

   Is this helpful?

9. R

   Richard

   San Francisco

   28 reviews

   5.0

   28 reviews

   Dined on 16 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We decided to eat at the bar. Joey was wonderful. Food was fantastic as expected. Drinks and wine were perfect
   

   Is this helpful?

10. C

    Chuck

    VIP

    Orange County

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on 8 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3

    The California Roll was excellent. Also, the miso soup was delicious.
    

    Is this helpful?