Sakura Sushi & Grill — Restaurant in Hawaii

This location has gone through several venders over the years and I wasn’t in a rush to try them. I was pleased on my first visit. What impressed me most was the rice. It is usually my gauge on how much care the establishment puts in on such a basic item which I think carries over to everything else they serve and do.

When I saw my wife’s Chirashi sushi, I was impressed with their presentation of sashimi on a large plate with crushed ice. But what really caught my eye was the sushi rice. Each individual grain gleamed and was perfectly made - garnished with a little furikake. I had to try it and the flavor was wonderful- a balance of vinegar and sugar that did not overpower the rice.

My tempura and chicken katsu was good. The breading did not fall off and the size of the shrimp was definitely the largest in town. The rice was done well with each grain intact. Mushy sticky rice is a turn off for me because often the starch powder wasn’t washed off in the preparation and often too much water used.

The fried oyster appetizer was very good. Yum.

The waiter was very accurate and attentive. I’ll definitely visit again.

Update May 2022:

I have changed my rating after visiting 2 more times since my original post because I wanted to confirm my observations.

I base a lot of my views based on something as simple as rice preparation and presentation because caring really shows a quality product.

On my last two visits to Sakura, the rice portion is now a small scoop of rice in a chawan (rice bowl) that fills the bowl around 50 percent. The scooped rice was compressed so the grain integrity is not the same. The careful rice preparation is lost because the rice was closer to a mochi texture because of the compression.

All Japanese restaurants that I have visited around Japan and USA use a shakushi (paddle) to serve rice in a chawan. Plate lunch venues or family restaurants that serve rice on the same plate with the entree give two larger rice scoops.

BTW, if you want another bowl of rice which is usually not charged in all Japanese restaurants that I have visited in the past, it will cost $2.50 for another small scoop.

On the positive side, the sashimi portions for my wife’s chirashi...

After hearing good things from most people, we tried this for lunch today.

I'm sorry, but this was the worst sushi I have ever had.

I ordered the crispy salmon skin roll, two orders of quail egg sushi, and two orders of uni sushi.

There were a number of problems. First, there was a hair in one of the quail egg sushi, sitting on the cucumber slice. From all appearances I would say it was a black nose hair.

Second, one of the quail eggs was broken. I don't really have a problem with that - but that should not have been served that way and be properly set served sushi.

But the #1 problem was with the nori. It was tough and rubbery, rather than crisp and bitable. I ended up removing the nori wrap from half the meal (after realizing I couldn't bite through it, and had to chew chew chew).

After I removed the nori wrap, it was apparent. The wrap was stretchable (I could stretch it over an inch or two). It was very rubbery. This is not fresh nori. Unacceptable on all levels. It made the entire order (everything) chewy and very difficult to eat.

In fact, you could see that the nori was not fresh in that rather than being neatly wrapped, the nori was more 'molded', because it was not fresh and crispy.

My friend had tempura, and said it basically just tasted of fried oil and not much else.

Finally, my dish came with plastic decorations. In my case, a strange plastic berry branch, a small plastic flower thing, stuck into an unknown plastic thing, affixed to my plate with wasabi. The berry branch was missing one of the berries, so I can only assume someone thought it was edible and tried one (yikes). That also probably means they are reusing these in other people dishes (yuck).

I saw other similar dishes get served, with large plastic flowers stuck into the dish.

My SO's dish had a giant 'broom' made of what appeared to be tempura fried noodles (somewhat creative, but inedible and it dominated at least half the dish).

So... recap... nose hair in sushi, stale nori wrap (inedible), bizarre decorations.

Just not...

A True Culinary Gem: Sakura Sushi Delivers Excellence in Hilo! Stepping into Sakura Sushi feels like discovering a hidden treasure on the Big Island. In my eyes, this isn't just a sushi restaurant; it's the sushi restaurant, hands down the best on the island. Every visit is a delight, largely thanks to their truly exceptional team.

From the moment you walk through the door, the staff at Sakura Sushi are nothing short of wonderful. They are incredibly nice, remarkably attentive, and astonishingly fast – whether it's getting your drinks to the table or serving up your delicious food. What truly sets them apart is their ability to make you feel like you're the only guests in the bustling restaurant, even when it's packed to the brim. That level of personal, dedicated service is a rare find and a testament to their commitment to their diners.

Our family has an unwavering list of favorites that we simply can't get enough of. The Philly Roll is, without exaggeration, AMAZING – a perfect blend of creamy and fresh. The Godzilla Roll packs a fantastic punch, and the Super Crispy Gyoza live up to their name with every delightful bite. And then there's the BEEF TATAKI (no apologies for the spelling, it's just that good!) – a dish so sublime, it alone is worth the trip.

While these are our go-to choices, believe me when I say we've explored most of their menu, and you truly cannot go wrong with anything you choose. Every dish is crafted with passion and precision. The chefs, no matter who is behind the counter, are consistently AMAZING and deserve every bit of praise they receive. Their skill, creativity, and dedication shine through in every perfectly prepared piece of sushi and every flavorful plate.

I would confidently put Sakura Sushi's best against any other sushi establishment around the Big Island, and they would win hands down. Hilo is incredibly fortunate to have such a magnificent culinary gem. We absolutely...