Sansai

OK so I realize this is a chain and times are tough. However, I have been here about 6 or 7 times and always order the Caterpillar Roll. The main reason for ordering that roll is the heaping avocado on top. We are in California so avocados are bountiful in these parts. So today I called my food in, picked it up and when I got back to work to eat it I noticed how much rice I saw and only SLIVERS of avocado. Come on Sansai. Get it together. I attached a picture of this pathetic roll for your review. All I can say is if you get this roll better bring yourself an avocado as Sansai sure won’t give you much. That’s $ 9.00 I’ll never get back.

It was okay. My friend and I were really craving sushi, but settled on Sansai because it was close and affordable. I got Miso soup and she got the udon noodles, these were delicious. But we also got the chicken teriyaki (I think it was teriyaki) some sushi and tempura. The sushi I got a Cali roll was cold and tasted like something you might buy at the grocery store (not good!) and cold as in kept in the fridge instead of made fresh. If you’re in a hurry its an okay place and the soups were actually really good. But I personally won’t be coming back when there’s much better options out there.

I go here for lunch a few times a month. The cons are that parking can be hard and finding a table can be even harder during normal lunch hours. The portions are good and the ingredients are quality. Be a member and get on their email list for weekly special offers! Without the special offers, food can be a tad pricey. The place is always very clean. Even the restroom is well maintained.

I had the steak bowl and it was really good, not dry and it wasn’t all salty. For my side I had the Asian salad which was the bomb. Sorry I was to hungry to get a pic and it was gone in minutes.

It is a Japanese fast-​ish food lunch counter, not Nobu.
I don’t get sushi at rice bowl places so I can only comment on their hot food and salads. Their chicken bowl is better than Flame Broiler’s if only because it comes with a side salad. «Bowl» is actually a misnomer since it comes served on a plate. If you order the chicken plate it is the same as the bowl but it comes with a choice of two sides and a skewer of grilled veggies. Spicy chicken and spicy pork loin are even better choices. Tempura varies — sometimes the veggies are crisp, sometimes the piece of kabucha (Japanese pumpkin) is a bit mealy. Most times though, I get a meal that is a bit better than what the other teri bowl counters are serving.
For salads I get the sumi salad (think oriental slaw), or the oriental (field greens, almonds, mandarin oranges and wonton skin strips in vinegarette) or the cucumber with seaweed. Miso soup is just OK, I generally opt for a salad as my side. I generally throw a splash of ponzu on my salads at the counter because they always seem to need just a bit more acid.

Really good place. I get the teryaki chicken and shrimp kabob plate. Comes with 2 salads, the chicken, a kabob of shrimp and a kabob of grilled veggies with amazing mushrooms! Side of rice too. Good amount of food for a reasonable price. 4 stars because i haven’t tried everything on the menu so i cant speak for their sushi, fish, steak etc.

Perfect combo of quality, price and speed. I stop in once a week for lunch, and typlically go with the chicken bowl /​sumi salad.

Sansai Mission Valley has a split personality. Go in when it’s slow and you’ll find fresh Japanese fast food at a decent price. The Oriental salad is the best side. The Udon soup is awesome. The sushi is average. And the Chicken plate is a great deal. However, if you find yourself in the middle of the Sansai rush hour, watch out. The food will be overcooked and the service, although sometimes polite, will most definitely be apathetic. I’ve eaten here many times over the years and I truly believe nobody on the staff gives a damn.

I go to Sansai a couple of times a week for lunch and the food is great. The chicken bowl is great and plenty of food. Udon soup is great and any of the rolls I’ve tried are good. Salads are good. The service is good and the restaurant is clean. Quick casual lunch. Fair value.

THey sushi was pretty good, but for the EXTREMELY long wait for a take out order, it wasn’t really worth it.

This place is disgusting. I got my food and I had two fat black hairs on my chicken. I returned my plate and whispered to the cashier about the hair and she said «um where?» Uh right there can’t miss it lady! And then she says «oh» and turns to the kitchen and let’s them know. Then asks me what I want? I asked her to make me another plate as I stood there to make sure that plate of nastiness was thrown out. Well gee, thanks for your apology!!!
I got my new plate and although I was hesitant to eat I was starving !!! So I’m eating my chicken and move into my sushi… what do you know. another hair. Freakin GROSS!!! Get some DAMN HAIR NETS!!! I should call the health department. I was grossed out and mad I just left. I should have gotten my $ 11 back. God.

When you’re in a hurry and hungry this is the place to be. The food is reasonably priced and the selection is wide!
It’s easy to get in and out of and is an excellent healthy choice.
I ordered the spicy tuna salad… It was large enough to share but didn’t really have much spicy tuna…
My wife ordered the chicken and steak plate. It was filling and I had to help her finish it.
All in all, we made it out in time to watch a movie and didn’t feel sluggish as we would have if he had eaten a burger or burrito.
San Sai isn’t the best place to enjoy fresh made sushi but it also isn’t the worst.
Give them a try when you want to try something other than fast food but don’t want the long wait of eating in a fancier place.

Came here as it was rated 4 out of 5 stars on google and I didn’t want to open Unilocal — my fault. While this place is convenient, the sushi leaves so much to be desired. I don’t live in San Diego but if I did, I wouldn’t be coming back again. Was so disappointed in the food.
On the bright side, the person I was with said the salad tasted really good.

I am very satisfied with service and quality and speed of serving :-D.
I ordered sushi and a salad for $ 1 more and i was much satisfied and actually took some home. Great food and not pricey

Do you like waiting 20+ minutes for your food? If the answer is yes, this place is for you. Food isn’t bad, they’re juuuuuuust a little slow.

I’m a glutten for punishment — tried it again and today:
1. Small piece of bone was in there I realized after chewing it
2. No teriyaki sauce as requested
3. Spit out a few chunks of fat

Well… It’s a chain, what can I say. The ginger is pink! Boo. Food is served on styrofoam plates & cups. So much waste!
The food is ok. I ordered a combo plate (10.99) sushi roll & sashimi. The rice was dry, not very sticky & didn’t taste fresh. The rice was loose & falling off the nori. The yellowtail sashimi was disgusting; grainy & fishy ;(. obviously frozen for a while. The wasabi was gritty. It came with 2 sides; I got oriental salad & miso soup. The salad was great. Fresh tender greens with a light sesame oil dressing.
The décor was nice & the store was clean.

I purchased an Amazon Local and thought it might be a nice way to give this place a try… eh! First, I was almost run over by a trash can while they were wheeling it out the front door. Then, there was an employee very comfortably laying in a booth. Finally, there was a new employee wearing a bracelet that said «butt lord» that we said «what» and «huh» to like 20 times… speak up son!
So then there was the food… I ordered the spicy chicken plate with 2 salads. The chicken was all dark meat and I bit into 2 bones. The vegetables on the skewer were probably cooked the day before as they were completely mush. I also ordered the tempura shrimp and veggies which wasn’t bad. The tempura was a little papery, but to be expected at a fast food joint.
I would recommend Flame Broiler, while they don’t have sushi they have more flavorful dishes. And fast food sushi is probably not a good idea anyway!

I’ve been a few times. It’s usually not too bad for a fast food like Japanese joint. However, yesterday was terrible. I found a big (nickel sized) beetle in my food. I brought it to the front desk and the young lady didn’t seem too concerned. She approached it like it was an everyday occurrence and said «I’ll get you a new plate.» I responded with «I’d rather have my money back.» Then she went about her business, gave me my $ 9.99 back and that was it. No, real apology. No, can I get you something else or at least give you the other plate you paid for, for free. That was it and then she showed a laughing kitchen.
It’s too bad, because I used to enjoy this place from time to time. The beetle would have been gross but maybe a one time mistake, if the service attendant responded in a different matter. She didn’t and I will no longer go to this place.

Decent place to grab lunch in the mission valley area if your craving Japanese or Sushi. I usually get a combo plate which comes with rice, two sides (your choice of salad or miso soup) and either tempura, chicken teriyaki or ca rolls (choose 2) it’s a lot of food for around $ 10. Food comes out and hot and fresh! If you get tempura, let it cool down a bit so you don’t burn your tongue!
I personally haven’t ordered any raw sushi rolls here, but my coworker ordered a salmon hand roll and said the fish was really fresh. Prices for rolls are comparable to any sushi restaurant.