Sakura Palm Teriyaki House — Restaurant in Palm Desert

We stopped by Sakura Palm Teriyaki House on a Monday around 11 a.m., and the experience was refreshingly down-to-earth and authentic. Right off the bat, I noticed the lack of a central air conditioning system, but instead of it being uncomfortable, they had small fans set up throughout the restaurant, giving it a cozy, homestyle feel. If you're lucky, you might get a fan blowing your way, which really makes the experience enjoyable—especially if you're with family. That said, it was only in the low 80s that day, and the fans did their job. But in the middle of a Palm Desert summer, a full central AC system would make a world of difference.

The seating was very spacious. Lots of tables and chairs, and I especially appreciated the sturdy wooden seats. As a big guy, I often worry about comfort and stability at restaurants, and this place definitely passed the test.

Parking was abundant and easy, which is always a huge plus in this area.

Now let’s talk about the food—because that’s where Sakura really shines.

I ordered a teriyaki bowl, and it was loaded. The portion was massive, the meat was flavorful and juicy, the sauce had the perfect balance of sweet and savory, and the vegetables added a fresh crunch.

We also tried a few rolls (including the Philadelphia roll). While they were a bit on the smaller side, they were fresh and tasty. It's worth noting that this place leans toward traditional Japanese portioning, not the oversized American-style sushi you find at fusion spots.

To drink, we ordered a passion fruit tea with boba—super sweet but incredibly refreshing. Next time, I’ll ask for it a little less sweet, but the flavor was excellent.

Now for a few things to be aware of:

Payment with American Express didn’t go smoothly. Frank, the owner, explained there was a high fee involved, which caused some confusion. I had to use Google Wallet to pay with a different card. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely something to be aware of ahead of time.

The tip screen appears before you’ve even tasted the food since you pay up front at the counter. It threw me off, and with the Amex issue, I forgot to tip properly. Maybe a small sign reminding customers to tip or explaining that it's a small, family-run business would help. These folks deserve it.

One of the highlights of the experience was Frank, the owner. He’s a genuine, down-to-earth guy—the type of person who knows how to run a good business without all the fluff. He reminds me of an old friend: warm, hard-working, and straight to the point. You can tell he and his wife put their heart into the place, and they make you feel welcome just by being themselves.

Overall, I really enjoyed my visit. Yes, there are a few things that could be improved—mainly the AC and smoother payment experience—but the food is incredible, the vibe is humble and authentic, and the people running it are kind and hard-working. I’ll definitely be back.

Highly recommend Sakura Palm Teriyaki House if you’re looking for authentic Japanese food, good prices, and real people running...

I ordered the curry chicken Katsu. It seemed to take quite a long time to make and I was the only one in the entire place.

The chicken. It was dark meat and not very thick. Almost loose pieces of chicken. Not bad tasting but just little scraps and the panko breading didn't stick very well to it. (2 stars)

Curry. I like the curry sauce to be thick. This was not. Flavor was ok but I hate when they add so many vegetables that there isn't much room for the sauce. (1 star)

The rice. It was sticky. Not sure if it was old or it was sushi rice. Or both. But it was not fresh. Not horrible but teetering edible. (1 star)

Time to service. Very slow. (1 star)

Service. I did not expect that I would have to fetch my food from the counter as the cook waved at me like I was working for him. Most of these other problems I already mentioned may have been overlooked but after the long wait and the cook or server lady couldn't even be bothered (with not a single other customer in the store) to take my food out to me. And what do you know, you are asked to pretip. If you know me, you know that I hate pretip places. I have not found a single pretip place that has given even decent service, let alone TIPPED service. I honestly thought this place would be the exception. It looks like a husband and wife struggling to keep this place above water but they don't seem to really want to work for it. I actually gave a higher tip because I was hoping this would break my observation that any pretip gives bad service and instead, I get a long wait and the cook snapping his fingers at me to get my meal that I paid for and tipped for. Why couldn't the server take it out? (0 stars)

Value. Overall I was not satisfied for the price. I also ordered a mini can of imported soda from Japan. I did not think I would be paying imported prices. A half a can is 5 bucks and I hate how they don't put the price on it. 25 bucks for scraps of chicken with poorly made curry and zero service. (1 star)

This business isn't...

Very good food with welcoming atmosphere. I am so happy to find a place to have "snow" shaved ice!!!! If you are unfamiliar with it, do not think your shaved ice like a snow cone. Think silk velvet texture with a creamy taste, Not grinded chunks of ice. I would recommend trying it without the toppings first or if you are okay with trying new things, with toppings. It will Include a sweet syrup and chewy jelly pieces to add a nice texture! The perfect treat to beat a hot Coachella Valley summer day! On top of that their sushi is delicious! I prefer basic tuna rolls, nothing fancy with sauces and fried crunchy stuff on top. My nephew who is what he calls "sushi monster" enjoyed it soo much he had to go let the owner know and thank him for the wonderful meal. Definitly a must try if you are looking for a new Japanese spot. Good for a full meal or if you are just looking to beat the heat and order a simple dessert. I will definitly be back!

After reading other reviews I had to edit: the negative reviews are the guests experience with other rude customers not the food or the actual establishment. I wouldn't let that deter you, and I must say the Togo menu was right in the front so you know the owners take criticism into consideration and care about...