Nara Sushi — Restaurant in Folsom

I will preface this review by saying I know it sounds like I’m being paid to say all this, it’s so complimentary, but I assure you I am not so easily bought. They have earned every ounce of this praise: Easily one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. We’ve all been to so many of these mom and pop sushi places and they all kind of feel the same after a while: the same rolls that are cobbled together from the same few ingredients 50 different ways, topped haphazardly with the same 3 sauces, the same mochi ice cream for dessert, etc. These places have their charm, but that had kind of worn thin for me over the years. Nara was none of that. It’s definitely down home, but the food and service was literally incredible. Staff were so attentive and helpful, provided exceptional recommendations and kept us topped up on anything we needed. And not just us, either; our server took care of everyone in the restaurant very personally and you could tell everyone was very happy and impressed. For the food, I started with the miso soup, which was so flavorful and warming. Literally the perfect start to our meal and did not taste like a packet or paste. Then I had the hot day and heart attack rolls and they were both so delicious. The ingredients were fresh, the portions were generous, and everything complemented each other so nicely. All the flavors were spot on and didn’t overcrowd each other; you can tell these were crafted with careful intent. Not overly sauced, spicy in all the best ways, just fantastic. And they do NOT skimp on the fish! My partner got the Philly roll and the salmon they gave him was most of the roll. We also had the shrimp tempura and it was classically light, airy, crispy, hot and fresh. It tasted clean, not greasy. Then, after having the amazing salmon in our rolls, we had to try the salmon belly and it was amazing. So fatty and tender, simply salted and cooked to perfection. It literally melted in my mouth. It was kind of unbelievable really; you never catch me ordering salmon belly at a sushi place, but I was so glad I did here. Finally, they came out with some of the freshest, crispest watermelon I’ve ever had for dessert, free of charge. All of this said, hopefully you can see why we’ll be back. As full as we were, it was an invigorating experience that I think anyone should try....

I wish I could tell you how good the food is in words, but they would not be adequate. I will give it a try, though. I will be the first to tell you I am not usually a miso soup fan, but I tried their miso soup, and I could never go back. It was delicious with a perfectly balanced flavor.

I also got the Philadelphia roll first with some Ponzu Sauce. The salmon was so good that it melted in my mouth. You could also tell that the Ponzu was made and not store-bought because it had a hint of citrus but in a way that made it taste like a fine wine in the best way possible.

The second thing I got was the Eel and Avocado roll. The eel was cooked perfectly and was nice and tender. All the ingredients tasted very fresh and were top-notch.

The next item we got was a shrimp tempura, which was fried perfectly. It was not greasy, and it was delightfully fresh. When I took a bit, it had a great crunch. It was so so good!

The next thing I got was the salmon belly, and again, I am not usually a fan of cooked salmon, but this was different. The salmon was perfectly tender and had a juicy taste that made me smile.

The last thing topped it off nicely because we got a watermelon for free, which was a perfect refreshing touch after our meal and to combine with the heat outside.

Overall, this place excelled in all categories. The staff was friendly and attentive, the food was no joke perfect, and the atmosphere was beautiful. It had a homey vibe that made people relax and enjoy their meal.

I have traveled all over California and to places like Mikuni in Sacramento and Akira Seabright in Santa Cruz, and this place is by far the best. So what are you waiting...

The food is great, but service is poor/slow, to the point where it makes me not want to go back. Both times I've gone (dinner time) there has just been one waitor working, and they seem to be not very well trained. When you walk in it usually takes a minute before somebody sees you and brings you to a table. Then another 5 minutes go by before they check what you'd like to drink. I knew service was slow so I immediately placed my food order at the same time. The first time I came, they brought us soup but no utensils to eat with, which took another few minutes to resolve. The second time I came they brought 2 sushi rolls but no extra plates or bowls to hold soy sauce, which again required us flagging down the waitor to fix. Also they only brought 2 napkins for a party of 4, which wasnt great especially with kids. The sushi rolls came about 10 minutes before any of the other hot food, which was also not ideal. They also got the order wrong, which added an additional delay. The first time we came, the waitor had to literally run around the restaurant on a few occasions, which I've never seen before and felt unprofessional. There's also long delays before they give you the check as well. All in all, these are all minor things, but they add up to an unpleasant experience.

I really wish I could rate this place higher, as the food is high quality, they give you cute fruit appetizer plates, and have a friendly family owned vibe. I hope they can...