At the last minute we decided neither of us wanted to cook so we settled on trying this restaurant. We love Asian food of most any variety and friends had spoken highly of Sakura. We were smart enough to call early for a reservation (highly recommended) and so it was with smug satisfaction that we elbowed our way through diners lined up two deep trying to get a table. It being Valentine’s weekend may have explained the crush but I would still call for a reservation as it’s a real reservation with a sign on your table…not one of those where you still have a half hour wait.
We had asked for a table in the small dining room this time and left the Hibachi room for our next visit.
I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki which had a delicious but subtle sauce. The serving was plentiful and came with a bowl of white rice, a beautifully composed side of colorful vegetables (al dente) and also a fresh, crisp salad topped with Carrot Ginger dressing that was very good.
The rest of our group went for the Shrimp Tempura and were wide eyed as the plates were set before them displaying a dramatic assortment of Shrimp and Vegetables. A very big portion especially considering the delicately crisp Tempura Batter was filling. Two people can share it. I find Tempura a little bland, but the texture was lovely and a bit of salt brought it to perfection.
Two things should be noted: I ate my entire meal with Chop Sticks - Bravo for me. And next time I'm determined to try the Sushi that I spied at a table we passed on the way out as it looked like bejeweled works of art.
Sakura Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar
10722 Big Bend Rd, Riverview, FL 33579
(813) 671-2388
www.sakurajapanesesteakhousefl.com
That Shrimp tempura sounds fantastic! Takes a lot of skill to keep the batter so light and crispy as so many places either overdo the amount of batter or let it sit so it comes out soggy :(
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