Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Tried Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar for their 50% off early bird special (Sunday & Monday, 5:00pm-5:30pm). Includes everything except dishes with two asterisks. They charge an additional 4% for food service plus 20% automatic gratuity on the grand total. - Edamame ($4.00 USD) - standard fare - Crab ramen with truffle butter broth ($20.00 USD) - lacked depth, disappointing noodles - Nobu style miso butterfish ($22.00 USD) - tender, flakey and nicely roasted - Crispy fried calamari ($7.00 USD) - standard - Crispy brussel sprouts ($8.00 USD) - Negi hama roll ($6.00 USD) - California roll ($7.38 USD) - Scallop & cucumber roll ($7.50) - solid - Unagi roll ($7.50 USD) - standard - Tekka maki roll ($7.00 USD) - ahi was fresh - Ume shiso maki roll ($3.50 USD) - good - Cucumber & avocado roll ($4.75 USD) - Hamachi sashimi ($12.50 USD for 8) - Salmon sashimi ($21.75 USD for 16) - small but good quality - Shime saba ($9.38 USD for 8) - good but smaller slices than the salmon - Tamago sashimi ($2.94 USD)

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar is located within Waikiki Marriott Resort and Spa. Five of us went for dinner. Service was prompt. Allie, our server went over the extensive menu and made suggestions based on our answers to her questions. We selected different Rolls and shared many dishes among ourselves. All were very tasty.

We were really looking forward to fresh fish during our trip to Hawaii! We were disappointed overall, unfortunately the rolls lacked a bit in flavor and were poorly constructed (they fell apart) and were cut way too thick of slices. The restaurant was not busy but the service was just ok at best, which was a bit hard to understand as there were a lot of people working. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant seemed like it could have a cool vibe, we didn't experience it but my guess is things just weren't clicking when we were there.

A wonderful dining experience, particularly during happy hour where some of the dishes are half price. The restaurant shares space with a steakhouse (d. k.) and one can order from either menu, but sitting at the bar and sampling various sushi dishes is where it's at. Service is professional but friendly and speedy. Prices are high, but getting there early and taking advantage of the half-price menu can help make a great meal more affordable.

make sure to get a reservation in advance for the holiday season! sansei is connected to DK steakhouse and both menus are available. they serve a variety of “americanized” japanese dishes, and are famous for their dynamite shrimp — which although tastes good, is definitely not light or healthy. their pickled cucumbers were addictive. while the nobu style miso cod piqued our interest, it was rather underwhelming.

Great Sushi Restaurant! I enjoyed our dinner at Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar! During our stay in Hawaii we dine in here for 2 times, great service, delicious rolls and very clean! Our Server was very attentive and all time was checking on us! The rolls were fresh and fast made, we enjoyed our food! Highly recommend this place! P.S. You have to make a reservation prior, because they are too busy or fully booked!

The Sunday and Monday happy hour is intense. People who lined up for a table at 4:15 didn’t get in. There are two lines, left is table, right is bar. Know this trick!!! Most things on the menu is 50% off which is amazing and the food comes out real quick. Was it good? Yes, was it the best? Probably not. Good savings though.

The service was fantastic. Our server was very personable and offered great suggestions to help us narrow down our choices. The food was amazing. The sushi was excellent, and the flavors exploded in our pallets. We were pleasantly pleased with the dining experience here.

Sensei will ALWAYS be on our itinerary whenever we're in Honolulu. We've been traveling to Honolulu for many years and have dined at many of the restaurants in Waikiki, without question Sansei is our favorite. Great ambiance, outstanding service (Beigh has been our favorite server) and the food is always incredible!! The Cajun Seared Walu Sashimi is the best Sashimi that we've had anywhere in the world. If you're a fan of quality Sushi, Sensei won't disappoint!! I would highly recommend making a reservation. Moderately priced, great value!!

I had high expectations from the other reviews, maybe I ordered the wrong thing or came on a bad day but this restaurant did not live up too any of the expectations. We ordered the Chinese style catch of the day, 22oz ribeye, and the kids chicken wings. The Chinese style catch of the day had beautiful mahi mahi which was ruined by a super salty sauce that seemed like they just poured soy sauce under the fish and the shittake mushrooms were overcooked to the point they were rubber. The ribeye was good quality but there was no sear and it was swimming in butter which meant I couldn't taste anything, another thing that bothered me is for $85 I would at least expect some simple sides like mashed potatoes... There was nothing. The service was great and atmosphere was good but the sub par food at crazy prices ruined it.

It was hyped up for sure, so perhaps a little overrated. We had ordered sashimi, crab dip, 3 rolls, a wedge salad, and wing dings, plus drinks. It might have been the concoction of all the things, but my stomach was rallied early immediately afterwards and through the night. Considering another spot we enjoyed better, I don't think I'll return, but I'm glad we tried it nonetheless.

Just went here for Thanksgiving dinner. First let's start with the parking. I would pay for valet if I had to come back here again. The parking lot is awful. It's two way with barely enough room for two cars to pass each other let alone make the turns and heaven forbid someone not be fully pulled into a stall. If you're able take the stairs. The elevators are incredibly slow. We were greeted by the host staff and seated fairly quick. But we were given the worst table in the place despite it being 2/3 empty. We were up against the wall squeezed right between the door to go to the outdoor seating and the service station with the water jugs. Our waiter was nice especially since he seemed to be almost the only one there and working a holiday can be stressful. We ordered drinks that took longer to come out than the appetizers. When we asked the person (not or waiter) who brought the apps about the drinks we were told that's not his area that's the bar. For apps wre got the dynamite shrimp which was pretty mid and the hamachi carpaccio which was good. My mom ordered the ramen which came out at the same time as the apps which didn't seem appropriate. The ramen was good. The broth was flavorful and you could taste the crab really well. My dad and I got sushi which was fine. Nothing on the dessert menu really seemed enticing so we skipped. They add a 4% kitchen fee that is not stated prior anywhere. Overall a pretty disappointing thanksgiving dinner out. It'll be a while before I come back if ever. There are way better japanese restaurants for comparable prices.

make sure to get a reservation in advance for the holiday season! sansei is connected to DK steakhouse and both menus are available. they serve a variety of "americanized" japanese dishes, and are famous for their dynamite shrimp -- which although tastes good, is definitely not light or healthy. their pickled cucumbers were addictive. while the nobu style miso cod piqued our interest, it was rather underwhelming.

We enjoyed their delicious, fresh sushi and fish during their early bird special (Sundays & Mondays at 5:00pm almost everything was 50% off). Get there a half hour early to get a table. The butterfish was melt in your mouth, and their sushi and sashimi is so fresh. Highly recommend.

We've dined here in the past and were disappointed on this latest visit. It's now more a bar than a restaurant and the menu has been scaled back significantly. It's mainly a drink and rolled sushi kind of place. Gone are the foie gras sushi, green lipped mussels and other items we've had on prior visits. We started with Macallan 12 on the rocks ($21) and Bombay Sapphire gin & tonic ($16). My friend ordered the Issei Combo ($29.50), featuring a spicy ahi roll and four nigiri (tamago, ahi, Hamachi, and salmon). He added an order of Hotategai ($11). I ordered Hamachi ($13) and Unagi nigiri ($12) and the Raw Blue Crab Poke ($19). The sushi was just okay; I felt that the rice was underseasoned. The raw crab poke was really halves of raw crab over a salad. The crab tasted okay but there was too much dressing, so the greens were soggy. Another round of drinks followed. The bill came to just short of $203 (including tip). Afterward, we went to Island Gourmet Market and found better sushi for far less money. Later, I felt ill and think it was revenge of the raw crab. Thus, this will be our last visit to Sansei at Waikoloa. One and a half to two stars.

Having arrived on the island late on a Sunday, I wanted a good meal, focusing on local flare like fresh fish, but bear my hotel. I was able to get in here right before closing. I ordered the wakame and cucumber salad with mixed seafood (blue crab, shrimp, and octopus) and the chirashi bowl. Wakame salad - there was very little wakame. It was mostly cucumber that was a little too sweet for my liking. It was a small portion. There was very little crab. It was ok. 2.5/5 Chirashi bowl - sushi rice, omelette, flying fish roe, salmon roe, ahi, salmon, yellow tail, seared savored, spicy tuna, pickled radish, and more cucumber. The fish was fresh. The portion was massive. I enjoyed almost everything. The omelette. Was too dense. They put cucumber again, which as a I said previously was too sweet. 3/5 Value? Two dishes - one a big portion, one small. No drinks. $66 with tip. That's a high price normally. But the quality is there and the service is good.

We came in 15 minutes before closing which I know can be annoying, but we had a long day and just wanted some fresh fish appetizers and a beer. The manager seated us at the bar. The bartender was immediately rude and annoyed. He informed us that it was 5 minutes until last call. We proceeded to order fast. We ordered a beer and 3 appetizers. The Guy literally disappeared for 20 minutes. I had to get up and go find him hiding in the corner talking to the manager that sat us. I asked if we could get our drinks. The guy started throwing a major attitude and told us" maybe you shouldn't come in 5 minutes before closing". He was beyond rude. I asked to see the manager. No one ever even came to talk to us. I was beyond frustrated with the entire experience. I asked again if the manager was coming over and the bartender ignored us. I usually don't leave bad reviews but this Guy should not be in the service industry. He was a local guy with tattoos on his neck. I have been coming to Sansei sushi since this location opened in the early 2000's and I have never experienced such horrible service. He made the food taste bad. And if this place is okay with treating people like that, then I would not come back. Who closes at 9:30 on a Thursday in a busy Waikiki location?

Umm, this restaurant is 2 restaurants which doesn't work. One is Japanese, the other is DK Steak. Strange really. Both are unrelated and I imagine the back of the house cooks for both. Translation is, neither is done well. DK Steakhouse is a disaster. You can read my review. Drinks were run of the mill, over the top expensive and the Bartenders were not welcoming. Zero personality, zero warmth. I guess they thought they were doing a large party a favor. Not so much. The food was average, nothing more. Could have enjoyed similar food, anywhere in the area. Started with soups. meh, ok but forgettable. Main courses varied from meats to Rolls. No one at the table was enthusiastic about the experience. By the end of the next day, no one remembered the dinner in the least.

The Hawaiian Diablo roll was !!!! The service was incredibly slow. There was a "glitch" with their reservation system so they wouldn't seat us until that was resolved. It was silly since they just opened and there were two other parties in the whole place. Had. 5 pm reservation and didn't get out of there til 6:40 and missed the sunset we hoped to see. Overall the sushi was amazing and that's why it deserves 4 stars!

During our staycation in Waikiki, we came here for dinner on a Saturday evening. We walked in at 5:30 and was able to get a table for four without a reservation. Our server was very nice and gave us a lot of recommendations on what to order - all of which were excellent. The panko crusted ahi was my fave. The early bird specials are only available on Sunday and Mondays from 4:45 - 5:30. Go before opening, as there are usually people lined up for the EB (no reservations are available for the early bird).

I'm a regular at Sansei but since change in management the quality and service has gone downhill. During dinner we were served one appetizer and waited almost 40 minutes for the rest of our order (we ordered everything at once). We came for the early bird special. Usually a really good deal but the rolls aren't even 50% off anymore. They're only $4 off... mind you, our server did not explain the changes in the menu either. As for food: Our Crab ramen was almost cold and my favorite apple tart dessert was burnt!

Best sushi in the strip -among the Waikiki restaurant I've been to yet! And I lived here along time! What makes it very special is the fact that they have very attentive service Andy was so accommodating and very customer service oriented! His picture is included In this review so you know who to ask for. The food is always fresh and tasty ! They stick with what they know best which includes the the most excellent Butter Fish! The spider ( softshell crab ) rolls are to die for!! Elevators were out and it took a long time to get up there had to walk from one end of the hotel to the other to catch the one elevator that was working! After explain this to Sean, he loved me too six minutes early for the early bird special! so accommodating!

The Big Daddy sashimi platter is a very reasonable $76 and well worth it. The kizami wasabi it comes with is amazing. The Sansei special roll was delicious, as was the lobster shrimp mashed potatoes and the fried chicken wings. I thought this might be a watered down sushi spot, but the fish was fresh and everything reasonably priced. They now offer a combined menu (DK Steakhouse and Sansei). The inside is a bit crowded but we sat by the window at a big table so it was a good experience. Service was great.

DK'S CRAB RAMEN WITH TRUFFLE BUTTER BROTH. SIGN ME UP EVERY DAY. This restaurant was at our hotel so we made reservations and good thing because this place was poppin. The server we had was great, she was really apologetic about the kitchen being slow that night. That's why I'd say my review is really a 3.8/5. Since the food arrived at different times, the experience wasn't as solid as I would have expected but the food was delicious. I'd eat that ramen every day if I could. The restaurant has 2 sides to it - sushi/seafood side and the other for the steakhouse. Both areas serve the full menu. It's on the 3rd floor of the hotel facing the courtyard so it's very pretty, especially at night. I'd recommend this place for sure. Hopefully next time the kitchen will be a little more on time.

We went there twice in two days! We loved the food and the ambiance! What a wonderful restaurant and the food is incredible !, highly recommend the shrimp dynamite and miso butterfish!

My husband and I had our date night here during their half-off Monday. I gotta say, after all these years, the food is still delicious! We enjoyed every bite. The service was great from the very beginning as the hostess took our information till the moment we walked out the door.

We were a group of 8 people. We started off with a cocktail at the bar. Martini was excellent. We were seated and Andrew was our server. We ordered starters and our meals. Soup came out. Salad was ordered but we had to ask several times for that. Several ordered sashimi, rolls and two ordered steaks. The steaks arrived before the salad, but no silverware to eat the steak. We asked several times for a wine menu, for water and he just never got it. Never got a wine menu. Had to ask for the rice. Then the bill arrived with an automatic 20% gratuity. We stated we would not be paying that. The manager and server came out but never apologized for lack of service. It appeared that others dining here were having the same issues. Customer service was a zero. Sad that no one seems to be concerned on the lack of service. Won't be returning.

Excellent food and service. Love the crab truffle ramen. Our family reserved the party room and the service was excellent. Justin and Jen were the best waiters for our larger party. Great place for a large group. The brownie sundae and apple tart was delicious.

Had a great dinner with the family. First off, our server was awesome - super friendly and always checking how we were doing even though she was busy with other tables. Overall the food quality was good, although some dishes were definitely better than others. We sat outside which was nice to overlook Waikiki. It wasn't the cheapest dinner because we just shared and ordered a bunch of appetizers. All in all, we had fun and would consider coming back. I liked that they had free 3-hour parking in their garage.

The food was amazing! We started with the calamari as an appetizer and the sauce added was so delicious. And for a sushi restaurant they have a great dry aged bone-in rib eye and it is one of the best I've had. Their service was also top-tier. Our waiter Bri was perfect. She catered to our every request. She was so attentive and great to chat with throughout the night. She even noticed when we were getting low on napkins and brought us some more without us asking. That was the epitome of fine dining service as it should be! Lastly the restaurant itself was very tidy and there was little to no wait for a table. Highly recommend this as a dinner spot!

You know, this wasn't my favorite. But I was pleasantly surprised about a few things. The spicy tuna? Actually spicy. Did the color throw me off? Yes. Did the flavor wow me? No. But it was actually spicy. Forreal. The scallop? Too much. Too creamy. But I understood. And it tasted fine. Eel? Torched that bad boy and I loved it.

This was a good option for a last minute meal in Waikiki! The location is a bit funky as it is located in a hotel. You'll need to take the elevator up to the third floor to get to the restaurant. We were seated quickly, but our waitress was very very forgetful. We had to ask for things multiple times and even asked other waiters for help. Panko crusted ahi- 7/10! Really good sauce, small portion. Sushi roll was 10/10- we got the one with Thai chili sauce and crispy sweet potato on top- delicious! Overall, a bit overpriced for the amount of food you get. Not sure we would return!

We've been coming here for over ten years and it continues to slip which is sad as our trip to Hawaii and Sansei is a family tradition. Definitely don't think we'll be returning. We came for happy hour and it's changed dramatically. On the website, the menu is very different- different items and pricing. In addition, there's a significant difference in what is half off and what is discount only. Hey look, it's not a big deal but just be transparent, don't tell ur customers online things are half off when it's really about 20% off on average. The food quality is ok, not excellent like the past. Service was real slow. But we were warned. The GM came out while we were getting seated and spent five minutes... started off with appreciating our business... then pandemic impact... then less servers....then please be patient for slower service... then order all at once or expect a wait... and then and then and then. Yes, pandemic has had lots of impact.... Long term impact, unfortunate impact. But it's a bit much before we try to enjoy a nice dinner on vacation.

Terrible experience. Extremely slow service, food was mediocre. I used to love this place but they have lowered their standards a lot.

Hey, part of being a YES member is to share the love right? For those persons that enjoy high quality sushi for 50% off, listen up. Sansei Sushi in Waikiki, Hawaii has this limited offer engagement that you'll only read about on their website. As of Jan 2024, it's being offered from 4:45 - 5:30p first come first serve on Sunday and Monday nights only. The line forms early so plan accordingly. I'm telling you the portions, quality and service are consistent and I've been coming here for years. Cold rolls (like the Sansei special roll), hot rolls (think spider roll), sashimi and nigiri (I personally think their tobiko is lights out delicious) are all exceptional and I have never had a bad experience. I'm so confident that my team dined here last week (6 people) and they also felt the same. Navigate yourself to the second floor of the Waikiki Marriott building (Sansei is co-located next to DK Steakhouse) and you'll be all set. I'm not sure how long the 50% off early bird special will be around so I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy it while you can!

Heard the happy hour deal was good here and looking at the menu it certainly is a great spot for happy hour! Items are 50% off (unless stated otherwise) and the menu was very generous! FOOD: I would say overall, the food is all right with some dishes being a lot better than others. But out of all the dishes we had, I would say only 1-2 dishes really felt like they were done very well. Crab truffle ramen - Tasty dish! And the truffle broth went well with the savory broth. I liked that there were visible pieces of crab meat in this dish. Often times I feel like places cut them up so small, you can't even see them. Tako Wasabi - Way too much wasabi. 100% cleared my nostrils. I think this one was way stronger than it needed to be. But for the 1/2 prize it's certainly a deal! Pork Chops - One of the favorites! This was cooked so well and so tender. I truly enjoyed this dish and would recommend it! Lobster Crab Ravioli - Surprisingly, this was my least favorite dish which I thought had a lot of potential to be really good. The sauce/gravy that was used was extremely sweet and overpowering. It took away from the ravioli I feel. Sushi Rolls - One was the Sansei Roll and the other was an Eel roll. Both were good! Nothing too special but good. SERVICE: Service was relatively quick and we got seated fast! We did wait 30min for the happy hour opening since a line tends to form way before they open but once they opened things moved fast. AMBIANCE: Comfortable and cozy! A bit dim lit but the windows provide a great view of Waikiki and it's gorgeous during sunset. Overall, I'd come again for the happy hour since it was a good deal!

We love this restaurant. We have only eaten at the Maui location. This location was terrible! For the price of the food you expect a certain level of service...Not here. They forgot an order, our kids food came out after we had finished. We had to ask for the items we needed multiple times. So sad as the food is good but service ruined the night.

The food was very average. Steaks came before salad and then before sushi. Hot food before cold food is a disaster!'. No utensils to eat the food so again hot food sat longer and got cold. Finally food arrived and one person was finished before everyone else. No one offered drinks and people around us felt the same about the service- not a fun environment . Our group was 7 and they gave us an automatic 20 percent gratuity. Ask the manager about this and honestly no one cared other than to remove my gratuity. Terrible experience! Don't recommend this place. I wish this experience was difference!

We've eaten at Sansei's Kapalua and Kihei locations on Maui so had to check out Honolulu. Reservations at 8:00 and we arrived 15" early and they seated us right away. Similar menu creations as their other restaurants - yea! Always fresh fish and sushi ingredients. We had the delicious misoyaki butterfish, variety of nigiri sushi from toro, uni, spicy tuna, hamachi, spider rolls some of the other specialty rolls. Great ambiance and sushi bar and stellar service!

Located on the second floor! Food was amazing, service was excellent & definitely coming back! Sushi rolls are small but the ramen is worth it!!!!

I don't write many reviews, but felt compelled to after my last trip to Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar. They're hands down one of the best sushi spots in the craziness that is Waikiki. I've been coming here for years, and it never disappoints. I knew I had to take my friend who was visiting from out of town here before she left -- and it didn't disappoint, per usual. Whether you're a local or just visiting, this place is a must-visit for sushi lovers. The staff is absolutely amazing. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with aloha and top-notch service. Our server, Jenn, was fantastic. I tend to ask a lot of questions, and Jenn handled every single one with patience and grace. I even misordered something, and she went above and beyond to make it right. 10/10 recommend. Food is always on point. Chefs are experienced and pay attention to the details. If available, please treat yourself to some toro to complete the meal. I do every time. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an exceptional sushi experience. It's one of the only reasons I'll venture into Waikiki ;)

Service was unacceptable. Food was good but service was erratic. Was hard to even get the waters refilled. Not sure if there was a staffing shortage but would not recommend for people to dine at.

The food was amazing! I had an appetizer (I think it was hamachi) and a Salmon inside Out roll! Both were outstanding!! The service was great as well. I highly recommend this restaurant!

Would you pay $16 for three pieces of ravioli? Half price on many items Sunday, Monday before 6pm at Waikiki, 530pm at Kihei and Waikoloa. Came here Sunday at 4:30pm and we were among the first in line for the half price Sunday dinner. The first 48 people in the table line get in starting at 5:15pm in small groups. The first 18 people in the bar line get in. All prices are the regular prices before 50% discounting. The $10.25 california roll was relatively bland, with the artificial crab not even tasting like a good fresh fish. May as well get the 69 roll which is a jazzed up California roll. The $21 crab ramen was the real deal, a ramen soup that even my wife liked. The crab was body crab, not leg crab, the type of crab you find in canned crab. Loved the thin ramen noodles, and the broth was tasty without being too salty, mixed in with vegetables and sliced jalapenos for kick. The $13 mango crab handroll was delicious, if on the small side, with tasty crab in a wrap with sliced mango on the side. The $16 lobster ravioli was to die for. Great lobster taste, but only three small pieces of ravioli, probably the priciest dish for the serving size. Not many people would reorder this dish at regular prices. The $15 misoyaki chicken was a large serving of grilled chicken cooked in that delicious misoyaki sauce. We didn't order the $25 misoyaki butterfish, our long time favorite, as the discounted price is $19, not $12.50 as in the past, pricey for 4 small pieces. We would come back the following day on a Monday at 5pm. The dining line was way too long, so we got in the shorter bar line. More people than Sunday probably because Monday was a rainy cloudy day, and Sunday every one was at the beach. 20% mandatory gratuity added to the non discounted food total, along with a 3% surcharge. Tax included on the discounted food, the 3% surcharge, and the 20% gratuity. Sunday we paid a mandatory gratuity of $19.41 on $48.55 discounted food bill. Monday we paid a mandatory gratuity of $16.15 on a $40.40 discounted food bill. We were effectively paying a mandatory 40% gratuity on our discounted food bill. The gratuity, since it is mandatory, is taxable, as is the 3% kitchen service surcharge. My only other regret is that the wife, who is not a ramen fan, counted our two days of eating crab ramen toward my allotment of ramen for our Waikiki stay.

This visit was my last dinner on vacation in Hawaii and the service didn't live up to the aloha spirit (or really any nicer restaurant). Got here around 8:50 pm as the place closes at 9:30 pm. Just looking to get some quick and good sashimi. Upon arrival, the Maitre Dee first tells us that the kitchen closes at 9:30 so we have 40 minutes to order food. No problem. Then she turns the small clock atop her stand towards us to show us the time (we have watches). Again, we can order sashimi in under 40 minutes. Then she tells us it'll be 5 minutes before our table is ready but the place is like 90% empty? They tell us that they need to sweep a lot of sand away from the table we're supposed to sit at. We said sand is fine since we're in Hawaii next to the beach but they wanted to clean the area around this table as opposed to seating us at any other open table. So, with 40 minutes before the kitchen closes and warning from hostess, they want us to wait an extra 5 minutes to be seated when 90% of the tables are open??? Then, our waitress shows up but seems very uninterested. We needed a minute to figure out our order but then we had to flag her down. Food arrives. The salmon and yellowtail sashimi are good. The pricier fatty tuna (toro) had a lot of fish sinew which was disappointing considering the higher price. They gave us pickled wasabi which was a nice treat. Kudos to the two folks on water duty as they were very attentive to refill our waters. But sadly, the whole experience trying to get a table/food plus the fish sinew made for a pretty bad dining experience and hence the low stars.

Went during happy hour because some of the items are 1/2 off during mon and Sun 4:45 to 5:30. After looking at the menu most of the rolls or appetizers that we want is not included in the happy hour menu. Also our waiter gave us our bill but over charged us by $55 because some of the discounted items that we ordered she forgot to deduct the discount.

Sunday special - Half priced most things until 6:00 pm. First, parking. This was the first time we couldn't find public parking in the garage. We ended up using the valet. It is $25, even with the validation, + tip. Second, they start seating at 5:15 pm. We send someone early to wait in line about 4:00pm. Today, they got in line at 4:15pm, and there were 5 parties ahead of them. One party had over a dozen people. We had 8 in our party. (Warning, get there early, or you may not get in for the special.) Now for the main review - Another great visit to a favorite restaurant. Our server this evening was Kai. He's from Maui, and it's good to know his family is all OK. Kai was pleased that we came with our written list of items we wanted. (According to my SIL, they've been going to Sansei for about 17 years. So, we know pretty much know what we want.) The restaurant was quite busy. Kai was, and everyone pitched in to deliver the food to the table and pick up empty plates. Some new thing that was ordered: Spicy Tuna Crunch roll Shrimp tempura in a sushi with spicy tuna on top. It's very colorful and tasty. ( not 1/2 priced) Shrimp Dynamite. Battered fried shrimp, with light sweet Thai chili sauce with greens. Everyone liked it. One of our guests ordered the Moonstone Asian Pear Sake (cold) and really enjoyed it. The Miso Butterfish is always a must-have for us. We got a total of about ten kinds of sushi, the ahi salad and other side dishes. For dessert, they happened to have the vanilla Panna cotta available. So we ordered some of those and also a couple of apple tarts with ice cream. (Note: the apple tart has gotten smaller over the years. We used to split it in fourths. Now we just half it. ) We went out to the balcony to see the beautiful sunset. (See photo)

Took a trip to Kona May 2024 and came here twice. First time was a friday with friends. 5 adults and 1 kid came out to over $500. Only afterwards we realized we had a discount card staying in Hilton that could get us 15% off on food purchases. So we decided to come back on the following Thursday just the two of us and was able to use the 15% off. Everything we had was good: shrimp dynamite*, butterfish, dragon roll, "The Kraken" roll, braised short ribs*, and the Chirashi bowl. Those in asterisks we ordered again. The only issue we had is their spicy edamame we ordered the 2nd night was super salty. We mentioned it to the waiter but nothing happened. We ordered regular edamame the first night and it tasted normal. Overall it was good and the discount was definitely an incentive for us to return. Service with Ambre as a group was good. Had to wait for the beer and the short ribs the 2nd night. I have heard too many stories about their early bird being super crowded so we didn't attempt.

Tried to get in for happy hour but did not make it!! Gotta get there suuuuuuper early and stand in line. But it was good. We put our names on the wait list and they were more than accommodating with us taking a walk down Kalakaua. When we got there, we got seated right away. My favorite dish was the AHI CARPACCIO!!!!! Omg I must go again to eat that. I am probably only gonna go back for that. Although all the dishes we had was amazing!!

Was in Waikiki to enjoy some Lunar New Year festivities. Took a walk and no availability for an hour. Hostess was nice and informed us if any MK shows she'd seat us. Waited in the waiting area about 25 minutes and lucky us! Got a nice table across the sushi bar and able to see outside as well. Friendly waitstaff and very efficient service. For dinner crab ramen with butter truffle broth, bagel roll and a cali smoked salmon topped with aioli and torched. Ramen came out first. I could immediately smell the truffle. My first taste and OMG! It's the best ramen I've had here on Oahu. Tender morsels of crab and the texture of the noodles were perfect. The best part? The BROTH! I took a spoonful before anything and the depth and richness were unbelievable. The portion was generous. Sushi was flavorful but the ramen was the prize winner! Definitely will return but, with a reservation! :0)

The staff was fantastic and the location is also great. The waitress who helped us was fantastic! She was knowledgeable about the food, and one could tell that she had pride on what she was serving. It was refreshing to witness, actually. The food was great! My favorite thing was the salmon flower. It was absolutely delicious! We also ordered one of the special rolls. It was a soft shell crab with white fish and spicy sauce and it was delicious. But it was big and hard to eat. But delicious! The Pablo crusted ahi sashimi we ordered for appetizer was just a promise. It read delicious on the menu, but it fell flat. Solid sashimi, great special rolls, outstanding staff.

Our celebration dinner with a party of seven at Sansei Seafood Restaurant in Waikiki had the absolutely worse dining experience ever. Although the waitress was very friendly and helpful, as soon as we sat down, we already felt pressured to go ahead and order right away even though for most of the diners it was their first time at the restaurant and they wanted to take a look at the menu. Then we were highly pressured to order everything at once and not just appetizers first followed by entrees later. So after being pressured to order everything at once, it got even worse. It took a good half hour to 40 minutes just to get the first two entrées, and another 20 minutes to get the second two entrées, and finally another 20 minutes to get to the last of the entrées, while everyone else had finished their entrées. And our appetizers came in last after they cleared the table of all of ourplates, and although the appetizers were rolls of sushi, we sat right across at the sushi bar and it certainly did not look as if it was very busy. We had asked to see the manager many times, and the waitress apologized, but she said that the manager Does not want hear any complaints or has never come to any table before, she said that one of the tables behind us were also complaining and wanted to see the manager, but the manager refused to go and talk with them. We finally had to get up off of our table and walk out to the front to voice our complaints and there was an assistant manager named Anna, who seemed very helpful and apologetic, but even she could not get the managers to come and talk with us. Last time we will ever dine there and will tell everybody about a horrible dining experience until and if and when they change managers and find more managers that are professional and caring and are real managers, not just people walking around and clearing a plate or two from empty tables, which is what we were seeing. One star rating. End of discussion.

Restaurant is at a great location overlooking the Waikiki beach area. The servers are all very helpful and friendly. We ordered a kid's little ninja sushi combo, a big daddy sashimi platter and my LO loved the food so much he asked for more fish! So we added a unagi roll as well as the Nobu style miso butterfish which all fish are fresh and delicious, especially the freshly made wasabi! My hubby wanted to indulge the entire dish but just way too spicy for him to take it all in! Overall I enjoyed every bit of the meal and would definitely come back again.

Delicious food, very much worth it! Anything you get is delicious. We got a variety of food; from calamari to Brussel sprouts to the sushi rolls that came highly recommended! Very pleased with the service and the waiter. He was very kind and tended to us. The cuteness of the restaurant was very inviting!

Crab ramen was superior! Sooo yummy and the broth had so much flavor as well. Will definitely be returning when I visit Hawaii again

Sansei has been one of our favorite restaurants when spending time in Wikiki. Unfortunately after our visit the other night, we will not be returning. The service was not acceptable, it took 30+ minutes before our waiter came for beverages, then after another 20 + minutes he returned and asked for our beverage order ( he forgot he had taken it). The rest of the meal went the same way. Our start to finish meal was 3 hours 22 min. Just a couple of highlights: brought wrong sushi rolls, never brought soy sauce, Wasabi, or refilled our beverages. We asked for manager and he said he was new, kitchen had merged from 2 to 1, revamping the menu, and basically blamed service & food on Covid! It is a shame as this was a 5 Star restaurant in our experience. I normally can find something positive about every experience, but this time came up with a 0 Zero. Oh, and don't let me forget that this restaurant is also participating in a "kitchen fee"!

Came here to celebrate a birthday night. The miso soup was oversalted, there was a piece of plastic tag in one of our rolls. Not a great experience. The only saving grace was our server Kai, who was attentive and caring to the issues. He was the only thing that was good about this experience. Would not return. The ambience also felt dead and outdated.