San — Restaurant in Faʻaʻā

Super fresh sushi/sashimi for reasonable (for sushi) prices. I dined solo here right when it opened at 6 pm. Had done some homework so knew I wanted the sashimi sampler (4,200 FP), which consists of the 4 different types of sashimi that they serve here: salmon, yellowtail, white tuna, and red tuna, with a side of steamed rice (500). I got seated at the bar, and all the servers along with the chef were super nice. Without asking, they brought a carafe of tap water (still water is different and costs). There was a house complementary miso soup, and it was fine, with a a good amount of seaweed and tofu. The main meal followed after: the fish was very good, melt-in-your-mouth kind. When the atmosphere/service is this good, it's hard to complain...though looking back at it, I don't think I got any yellowtail...just more white tuna. As expected, the best were the ones that were local: white and red tuna. The salmon was also very good (assuming it had been frozen first). The chef gave a 'spicy' dipping sauce, which went marvelously with the salmon (a beautiful citrus tang came through). I'm glad I ordered it this way (instead of rolls), and would order another bowl of rice (and would pour the dipping sauce on top of that).

This is the only restaurant in the Hilton that outside folks would come to dine. The food...

Absolutely the best sushi restaurant in Papeete! This gourmet sushi bar sits on the ground floor inside Hilton Tahiti. It's named after its Sushi Chef Rangsan, who also makes San's House's special recipe of Thai Green Curry Chicken. We stayed 3 nights at Hilton and had 3 consecutive dinners with San. We sit at the bar/ counter and talked a bit with San between 6 - 7 pm when there were not too many customers. It opens at 6 pm but gets busier during the night. We ordered the Assorted Sashimi plate (Yellowtail, Salmon, and Tuna slices) each night, this is a must-try. We also had Thai Green Curry Chicken and Unagi Nigiri for two nights. The Unagi was so yummy! Every dish was amazing! You'll get The restaurant is very neat and clean, no mosquitos, no flying bugs at all (No surprise, you'll see tons of mosquitos on FP islands). Food is very fresh and top quality, at a reasonable price. Lighting and atmosphere are very welcome. Miso Soup is complementary and very Japanese style. Chef San is very kind and friendly, with an easygoing personality. I like this Sushi bar so much!!! Don't miss it if you love sushi! I'll definitely check it out the next time I...

San Sushi is a great spot for Japanese cuisine in Tahiti. It had some of the freshest and most flavorful sushi I’ve had in a while. The nigiri, sashimi, and maki rolls were all beautifully prepared and tasted absolutely divine. New to me was the red tuna nigiri and I am a fan.

However, there’s one significant drawback: the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the restaurant has a persistent mold and mildew smell that made dining less enjoyable. We both felt congested after our meal. A good dehumidifier or some serious attention to ventilation could transform the dining experience entirely.

If you’re willing to overlook the smell, the food is well worth it. San Sushi has incredible potential, and I truly hope they address...