Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar — Restaurant in San Antonio

Detailed Review of Sakana Restaurant, 10/27/2024

Today, I visited Sakana. As a passionate fan of Japanese cuisine who has tried it in numerous countries, my expectations were high for both food and service. Below are my thoughts on the interior, food, and service.

Interior The space felt cozy, with comfortable chairs and a large, inviting bar counter that gave the restaurant the charm of a real izakaya. However, the ambiance could benefit from cultural touches. Adding Japanese artwork, calligraphy, or paper lanterns would create a more immersive experience.

One thing disrupted the vibe: the TVs were playing American football. In a Japanese restaurant, this felt out of place. Japanese TV channels or cultural programs would be a better fit and help sustain the restaurant’s intended ambiance. This small change could elevate the overall experience.

Food This is where Sakana shone. Each dish had something unique to offer, and some exceeded expectations. Here’s my detailed breakdown:

Sushi & Sashimi: These were among the best I’ve had—not just in San Antonio but across the U.S. The fish was exceptionally fresh, and the sushi rice was perfectly balanced with vinegar.

Takoyaki: These had a delightful crisp exterior and soft interior with an irresistible aroma.

Tonkatsu Ramen: As the Japanese saying goes, “If ramen smells like ramen, looks like ramen, and tastes like ramen, it’s bad ramen.” Unfortunately, this ramen didn’t leave a strong impression on me. The broth was good but seemed like it had been simmered less than 24 hours which makes it ...ordinary. The noodles were fine, but the pork had a burnt smell, as if it had been overcooked. While the dish was tasty overall, I believe it has the potential to be even better.

Tempura Cheesecake: This dessert was a pleasant surprise, with a crispy exterior and creamy interior. It’s one of those rare desserts you’d find room for no matter how full you are.

Bubble Tea: Both Thai and taro tea were great w/o added sugar. I don’t recommend increasing the sweetness since the balance was perfect as is.

Service The service at Sakana was good but could improve to match the restaurant’s potential. Here are some observations:

We accessed the menu via a QR code, but the digital menu lacked photos, making it hard to visualize dishes. We requested a paper menu, which also lacked images and didn’t list drinks. Adding photos to both menus would improve the ordering experience.

We skipped water since many restaurants serve tap water, which I avoid. If Sakana offers bottled water, I hope they make it clear on the menu, as clean water enhances the dining experience.

Service was prompt, and the staff was polite. However, I was disappointed that the check was brought without being asked. Although I had finished my dessert, no one inquired if I wanted anything else. While this might be a common practice in America, I don’t consider it good service. At a Japanese restaurant, I expect a higher level of attentiveness and care, making me feel like a welcomed guest rather than just another table. This could really set you apart from other places.

I also noticed some staff on their phones instead of engaging with guests. For example, after telling the server I’d order in 10 minutes, I was ready earlier but had to wait an additional five minutes. Excellent service means staying attentive beyond what guests initially request. (I say this from my experience as a server.)

Conclusion Since Sakana is still in its soft-opening phase, it has time to make adjustments. As a fan of Japanese cuisine, I hope this restaurant succeeds—not just locally but throughout San Antonio.

The bar wasn’t open yet, but I look forward to seeing sake and Japanese beer added to the menu. I’ve given Sakana five stars - 4 for its current performance and 1 more for its potential.

I plan to return soon and follow the restaurant’s progress. If you’re considering visiting, I highly recommend giving Sakana a try—you won’t regret it. This place has the potential to become something...

Been here three times as of this review. Had take out on the soft opening night, dine in and take out as of last night of this posting.

Came in to dine with family and decided to splurge a bit and go for their sushi/sashimi. Was not disappointed, granted service was slow but was packed and it is fine since they are probably getting accustomed to the flow of their things. As other reviewers mentioned the menu is via QR code. The link kind of confuses into thinking you need to sign in....you don't, just look at the menu and server will be around to take your order. Staff is very courteous and the owner is very friendly and helpful.

I for one am thankful they opened Sakana, finally a proper sushi joint this side of town. Im sorry but heb sushi has not cut it for me ever. (used to live in south-east Asia) The only place to get decent sashimi in san antonio closed down years ago and you are pretty much left with alright decent sushi rolls in the north side of town.

Highly recommend their Red Dragon roll, but their Godzilla roll is most excellent. soft shell crab and tuna together? say no more. Their ramen is just perfect, a good alternative for non-sushi/sashimi eaters.

However lets be realistic here, you came to a sushi place for well sushi, go all the way and get their Sakana Platter. Bring friends or your family and also your appetite. its a good thing i skipped breakfast and lunch when my family and i took this on.

keep up the good work, and thanks for opening in the same place i used to go for Pho. now i can get Ramen which is...

I came here on grand opening night. When we went here, we knew we were going to have to be patient in case they were slow. I really loved the food, especially the ramen, but i will never come back. I give this place 2 stars because of the service. My waitress was rude and took 45 minutes to get our order. We didn't leave bc we were trying to be considerate, but it was like that the whole time, smh. She did not smile, nor did she check up on us to see if we needed anything (which we did) until we were almost done with our food; although, another waiter did refill our drinks when she didn't. Even though the service and waitress sucked we gave her a 20$ tip when paying for the check. After that, oh you damn right, her attitude changed. She was smiling, started talking to us, and even packed our leftovers. LIKE WTH? I just felt like she judged us already as if we weren't going to tip. I know we are young, and waiters expect us to not tip very well or not all, but that's not our case. We felt belittled, so we would not come back or recommend. Maybe, just maybe, we will try again in the future (but highly unlikely) to see if our experience is different, bc like I said, it was...