Maui Guidebook » Japanese | West

Sansei Restaurant & Sushi Bar (Kapalua)

Mark — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:56:55 +0000

Sansei Restaurant & Sushi Bar (Kapalua)

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
^{*how we rate restaurants}

In a nutshell: Award-winning contemporary sushi in a casual and lively setting.
Minuses: Show up without a reservation and you’re in for a long wait.
Sound-bite: “…karaoke! my friends sang their hearts out!”

Location:		Kapalua Resort, 600 Office Rd., Kapalua, HI 96761
Phone:		808-669-6286
Website:		www.sanseihawaii.com
Menus:		New Looks Award Winners Starters Soup & Salad Entrees Desserts Sushi Wine Sake Drinks

Hours:		Nightly 5:30 - 10:30pm (Thu & Fri till 1am)
Price:		Moderate
Credit Cards:		Yes
Views:		No
Outdoor Seating:		No
Entertainment:		Yes
Booze:		Yes
Reservations:		Strongly Suggested

Description:
Sansei has received dozens of awards and accolades from nationally recognized critics & magazines, from Bon Appetit, Food & Wine Travel + Leisure and Wine Spectator, to loads of local awards from Honolulu Magazine and the Maui News (among many others.)

This is a fun, casual and highly rated dining experience, and not just for Sushi. Sansai has a diverse menu with Pacific Rim and other non-sushi dishes, making it a great option to preserve the honeymoon when the honey (or moon) is squeamish at the thought of tentacles as culinary delight.

Awards and accolades spill over into the wine cellar too; wine enthusiasts will be delighted with their selection and knowledge.

Picture Perfect

Let's not forget the star of the show -
the sushi! Words like "innovative" and "contemporary" fall short in describing the fresh and inventive creations of Chef/Owner Dave (D.K.) Kodama. All the dishes are artistically plated - and some, you'll almost want to frame and hang on your wall (but, trust me, you won't think twice about dismantling the artistic masterpiece once you've put the first bite in your mouth!)

Sansei is not a formal or quiet atmosphere - this is definitely fun and festive. In fact, Thursday & Friday nights they really get their party on with karaoke nights and have half-off sushi. Karaoke + late night + booze = a fun party! (21+)

Notes on ratings from other sites

If you've been paying attention, you know that a big part of our rating system relies on gathering together all the user reviews on the Internet and giving these considerable weight in our final rating. This allows us to harness what is so powerful about online review sites, while moderating the garbage that litters the landscape.

Sansei suffers from this litter more than most - so much that Tripadvisor and Google in particular don't rate it accurately.

Why? Upon analyzing the negative reviews, I discovered that three basic complaints make up the majority. Here they are, and why I don't think they deserve to skew the ranking:

#1 - "This place is expensive."

This is just wrong. I understand that some folks come to Maui and are shocked that the pricing of everything is significantly more than it is back home. That is a fact that isolated island life goes hand-in-hand with. Sansei is very fairly priced in our restaurant market. In fact, you can easily pay the same amount for uninspired food at the average Lahaina tourist trap - and that is a fact anyone can verify with a walk down Front Street.

The average dinner bill will come to about ~$35 per person.

#2 - "Doesn't live up to the hype."

Well, does anything? This may be paradise, but just like back home, there are plenty of sources of information that rely on hype to sell magazines, products, vacation packages, activities and even guidebooks. This is very good sushi but the atmosphere may not be formal enough for some. Also, if you're on a budget and this is your one and only one splurge meal, be sure to write down the top three things you want in a restaurant, and check if anyone in this price range gives you all three - if not, recalibrate your expectations (or budget!)

Best tip for any restaurant: keep in mind your source of information when setting your expectations, and don't believe the hype!

#3 - "I had to wait for a table."

We're definitely very spoiled on Maui in this regard. We have great restaurants, virtually all of which accept walk-ins - and usually have a table readily available. But the most popular will be busy, and you should definitely make a reservation here if you don't want to wait to be seated.

Other Reviews: ^{*ordered by accuracy}

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Teppan-yaki Dan

Mark — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:31:53 +0000

Rating: 4.13 out of 5 stars

Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant at the Sheraton Ka’anapali Resort.

Artful, contemporary family-style Japanese. Restaurant has four shared large tables (seating up to ten each); your meal is cooked by the chef in front of you.

Eight kinds of sake, Japanese beer & specialty cocktails.

Menu: Menu

Location: 2605 Kaanapali Pkwy., Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone: 808-662-8053
Rating source: Google

Web: http://www.sheraton-maui.com/dining/teppanyakidan

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Nagasako Okazu-ya (Deli)

Mark — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:07:22 +0000

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ^{*how we rate restaurants}

Location:		845 Wainee St., Kahana, HI 96761
Phone:		808-661-0985
Website:
Menus:		Not Available

Hours:		6A - 10P
Price:		Affordable
Credit Cards:		Yes
Views:		No
Outdoor Seating:		Maybe
Entertainment:		No
Booze:		No
Reservations:		No

Description:
Totally local mom-and-pop Japanese-Hawaiian-style deli & mix plate. A lot of food for not a lot of dough.

This place caters to those who know about it, and may even appear closed to the casual visitor walking by (if you even notice it at all!)

A few places to sit outside and if those are taken - take-out at the beach!

Other Reviews: ^{*ordered by accuracy}

Yelp

Tripadvisor

Google

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Kai Sushi Restaurant

Mark — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 08:09:40 +0000

Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars ^{*how we rate restaurants}

Location:		One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Kapalua, HI 96761
Phone:		808-669-6200
Website:		www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Propert...
Menus:		Menu

Hours:		Thurs-Mon 5:30pm - 9pm
Price:		Expensive
Credit Cards:		Yes
Views:		Ocean & Sunset
Outdoor Seating:		Yes
Entertainment:		No
Booze:		Yes
Reservations:		Suggested

Description:
A real mixed bag. Pretty much an option for those staying at the Ritz, not a go-to place.

On the one hand you get fresh fish of the highest sushi-grade quality, alongside spectacular service.

But on the other hand the price tag is steep, the quality can be inconsistent and the menu is pretty limited.

We have plenty of sushi on Maui; I'm leaving this one for the Ritz guests.

Other Reviews: ^{*ordered by accuracy}

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Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Oku’s Sushi Bar

Mark — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:44:15 +0000

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Teppanyaki tables, steak, seafood & sushi. Karaoke & dancing Fri & Sat nights.

More reasonably priced than the resort option in West Maui.

Key Info:
Price: Moderate | Hours: Daily 5P – 11P
Booze: Yes | Credit Cards: Yes | Res: Recommended | Views: No
Entertainment: Teppanyaki, Dancing & Karaoke (Fri-Sat)

Menu: Teppanyaki | Sushi | Groups | Drinks

Location: 136 Dickenson St., Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone: 808-667-5555
Rating source: Google

Web: http://www.kobemaui.com/

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Genki Sushi

Mark — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:27:49 +0000

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars ^{*how we rate restaurants}

Location:		Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center, 305 Keawe St., Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone:		808-661-0333
Website:		www.genkisushiusa.com
Menus:		Menu

Hours:		Su-Th 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; F-Sa 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Price:		Affordable
Credit Cards:		Yes
Views:		No
Outdoor Seating:		No
Entertainment:		No
Booze:		No
Reservations:		No

Description:
Genki Sushi is a Hawaii chain kaiten sushi joint. Kaiten means tehre is a conveyor belt running through the booths, where hungry diners snatch tasty sushi dishes on impulse.

The sushi is fairly good for a chain, likely because the sushi chefs are all trained in Japan - and we also have a very significant Japanese population in Hawaii, so lame sushi doesn't go very far. You'll be very satisfied if you're just expecting fast-food.

Rating this one for price was difficult. While it is inexpensive as far as sushi goes, expect to drop about per hungry adult.

Other Reviews: ^{*ordered by accuracy}

Yelp

Tripadvisor

Google

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Edo Japan (Lahaina Cannery)

Mark — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:42:09 +0000

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars ^{*how we rate restaurants}

Location:		1221 Honoapiilani Hwy., Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone:		808-661-7784
Website:		www.edojapan.com
Menus:		Menu

Hours:		10:30am-9pm
Price:		Affordable
Credit Cards:
Views:		No
Outdoor Seating:		No
Entertainment:		No
Booze:		No
Reservations:		No

Description:
Pretty decent Japanese fast food in the Lahaina Cannery Mall. This Canadian franchise does fast teppanyaki, and puts McDonalds to shame. Check it out.

Other Reviews: ^{*ordered by accuracy}

Yelp

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Maui Guidebook » Japanese | West

Sansei Restaurant & Sushi Bar (Kapalua)

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