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Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar - WAIKOLOA, Hawaii, Waikoloa, HI

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar - WAIKOLOA, Hawaii

4.0
4
1617 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 31 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
We are now open 7 days a week for normal dinner service from 5pm-8:30pm! Sunday and Monday we have our early bird special the doors open at 4:45 and the special is over with at 5:30! Please call us to order 808.886.6286

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Sansei, meaning third generation, is a locally owned contemporary Japanese Restaurant offering new wave sushi. The force behind the food is Chef/Owner Dave "DK" Kodama. An Oahu native, he is fearless when it comes to flavors and one of the most adventurous chefs you will meet. At Sansei he has combined his Japanese heritage with Hawaii's incredible ethnic mix and flavors he experienced in his travels to create a New Wave Sushi. Japanese-inspired Pacific Rim, Contemporary Japanese type of cuisine. Call it whatever you like, what you will taste are the unique combinations of flavors and textures.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Sushi, Steak
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon, Sun 6:00 pm–8:30 pm Mon, Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–8:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (808) 886-6286
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Jaymar Barrios
  • Catering
    Custom catering. Please call the restaurant at 808-886-6286. Ask for Tom Alejado, General Manager.
  • Area
    Waikoloa
  • Cross Street
    Queen Kaahumanu Hwy
  • Parking details
    General Parking at the front or back area of the Queens Marketplace Shopping Center.
  • Public transit
    There is a resort shuttle bus that travels throughout the Waikoloa Resort area, drop off and pick up area at the Queens Marketplace shopping center. There is a minimal fee for shuttle rides.
  • Entertainment
    Friday Nights - Free Karaoke from 9:30pm to 12:00pm Saturday Nights - Live Music from 9:30pm to 12:00pm Must be 21 years or older with valid I.D.. 50% off Appetizers & Sushi items Special Bar Drink Prices
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,617 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.0
4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 3.7Ambience
  • 3.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Child-friendly

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Good for groups

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Waikoloa offers a memorable dining experience with "exceptional food" and "friendly service." Highlights include fresh sushi and unique dishes like lobster and shrimp mashed potatoes. While some guests note inconsistencies in service, many rave about the "best ribeye" and "delicious desserts." Perfect for sushi lovers!

1,617 Reviews
  1. Boris

    San Francisco

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We are sushi lovers from San Francisco, we know and appreciate good sushi, and we try them anywhere we go, from Japan to South America. This place set at least two records in our experience. First, they have to sell their sashimi with a microscope because you won't be able to see the tiny pieces of fish without it. Seriously, I've never seen sashimi pieces that small, though there was nothing small about its price. Second, their Rainbow roll is worth the Guinness book of records as the weirdest Rainbow roll ever. You know, Rainbow roll is such a well known standard that all sushi restaurants serve it, and you can use it as a test to compare different restaurants. Normal Rainbow roll has 4-5 different sorts of fish on top of California roll. Their roll has two sorts of "fish" - tuna and avocado. Have you ever seen a rainbow of two colors only? :) The inside is also nothing of California roll, e.g. no crab meat. But all that would be forgiven if the rolls were tasty. Alas, they were not. Sushi rolls in the nearby food court inside the grocery store are better (and cheaper too). Overall, grossly overpriced bad food and the feeling of wasted time and money.

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  2. Peter

    Denver

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had some sushi rolls and the hamachi nigiri. The rolls were fresh, delicious and beautifully prepared. Hamachi was melt in your mouth. Service was warm, friendly and attentive. Highly recommend.

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  3. Belinda

    Seattle

    44 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    44 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    This wasn’t the Sensei I expected. We got seated at a table that didn’t have a wait staff assigned. There were only 3 table in the back dining area. Someone was nice enough to take our order. We ordered a tempura roll, and the assorted sushi plate. It came quickly, looked and tasted like it’s mass-produced. Not the Sensei I expected. It took forever to get our check since no one was assigned our table. We won’t go back for a second time on this trip.

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  4. Kapelieli

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service and quality of food is worth the price. Would definitely recommend early bird specials.

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  5. Mercedes

    New York City

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Place was just ok . Kind of dated My food was cold not too appetizing to look at but had flavor , I order two small plates That where extra small for the price “be aware of broccolini side you’ll get one branch” Lol My boyfriend had fish was really good , his food was hot. Service was excellent!

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  6. Nita

    Hawaii

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Everything was great as usual. Hadn't gone there in a while but glad we came back.

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  7. Dr. Karlene

    New York City

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The service and fare were both excellent though very pricey. Still, living in Hawaii for 8 years we have learned to accept that. We were entertaining a friend visiting from La Vegas. Who thoroughly enjoyed her meal. However, after returning to our home in Waikoloa she realized that her glasses were left behind. We called restaurant and were told no one turned any in. We returned to Sansei’s and the previously polite hostess was suddenly rude and stated that no glasses were turned in. Our friend then went to our table to check under and around. The current customers were extremely polite and assisted in looking but to no avail. However, the hostess than became even more rude saying she had already looked and wouldn’t call us if she found them. This reaction was unacceptable and made our perfect evening into an unpleasant experience. We were polite through the encounter and gave no reason for her actions. FYI, we left a 35% tip for a wonder server.

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  8. Tina

    Hawaii

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Sushi is great there but we decided to have the boneless braised short ribs. They just melted in our mouths with such great flavor! This dish is a 10!

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  9. jan

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 16 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The roll 69 is amazing! So are tempura shrimp roll & the soft shell crab! The seafood pasta was filled with scallops, shrimp & veggies in a lovely broth. The only complaint we had was an additional 4% added on the bill. Our server explained that it was “tips for the kitchen”.

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  10. Stephanie

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 15 November 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Fantastic service! And a comfortable family atmosphere.

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FAQs

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar - WAIKOLOA, Hawaii is rated 4 stars by 1617 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 31 times today
Google Map for Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar - WAIKOLOA, Hawaii

201 Waikoloa Beach Drive Suite 801, Queen's Market Place, Waikoloa, HI 96738

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Queen Kaahumanu Hwy
  • Area
    Waikoloa
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon, Sun 6:00 pm–8:30 pm Mon, Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–8:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Sushi, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    General Parking at the front or back area of the Queens Marketplace Shopping Center.
  • Public transit
    There is a resort shuttle bus that travels throughout the Waikoloa Resort area, drop off and pick up area at the Queens Marketplace shopping center. There is a minimal fee for shuttle rides.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Jaymar Barrios
  • Entertainment
    Friday Nights - Free Karaoke from 9:30pm to 12:00pm Saturday Nights - Live Music from 9:30pm to 12:00pm Must be 21 years or older with valid I.D.. 50% off Appetizers & Sushi items Special Bar Drink Prices
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (808) 886-6286
  • Catering
    Custom catering. Please call the restaurant at 808-886-6286. Ask for Tom Alejado, General Manager.
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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