If I could give this Sakura location negative stars, I would. We've eaten at this Sakura for every birthday and every special occasion for years. At least 5. We have probably spend thousands of dollars here. We're good customers, loyal and tip generously (18-20% on a $300 bill isn't easy but we do it) we never cause a ruckus, we don't ask too much of the wait staff. We just like a place with good food to celebrate. We've had NUMEROUS horrible experiences with Jay, the alleged "owner" and tacky dressing host. The first ever run in was when my father asked for his rice in a bowl, and Jay came out and yelled loudly about how they don't do that because its hard and they'd have to specially train their chefs to do it and do extra dishes. Restaurant Ownership 101: don't raise your voice at customers while they are just sitting there calmly. Restaurant Ownership 101a: don't yell about how lazy you are After that, it was all downhill. After dozens of food experiences where our entire party was disrespected by Jay, or wee witnessed him verbally abusing his staff as well as other customers, we've decided we've had enough. During our most recent poor experience, my mother said something to the waitress about his attitude, and her response? "I hear that A LOT"... Last night after the final straw, I asked Jay where I could write a letter of complaint about his disrespect and he loudly told me to "Take some chopsticks, call the numbers on the back - my name is Jay, that's J A Y.... Jay" and then told made it clear he didn't care if we never came back again, and in fact would prefer it. From now on, the only establishments that get my hard earned dollar are those who want it. Kobe, another Sakura location, or Benihana are worth driving to for good hibachi owned by classier people.
(1)
Scott W.
Ordered take-out sushi. Not our usual spot, but I had business nearby. NEVER AGAIN. We have eaten at every sushi place in the are and we have NEVER felt so cheated. They put $100 "worth" of food in 2 small boxes. It was like they worked at making the rolls tiny. Even the the nigiri had a minuscule amount of rice. If you want to overpay to see some guy slap spatulas on the grill, this is the place. You want sushi? Go anywhere else.
(1)
June R.
Not a bad experience but I have a few suggestions. Jay needs to hire staff other than High School kids. Sorry (Jay) you might have to pay a few more bucks. Also, why is the food so expensive?? Kind of ridiculous if you ask me. People are seeking value these days...this place doesn't necessarily deliver good value.
(3)
Terri W.
Been here many times during our last visit my daughter is a vegetarian ALWAYS orders the vegetable plate dinner. Her meal has always been cooked first before any meat hits the grill this time the chef cooked meat first then cooked all of her veggies without cleaning the grill. Went and spoke with the "OWNER" Jay about this situation he was so rude and was refusing to remove meal from bill even though my daughter didn't eat anything on her plate. Jay informed me I was suppose to tell the waiter she was a vegetarian never before have we ever had to tell the waiter or cook of this situation and we have eaten here numerous times. Jay who is suppose to be the owner stood in the middle of the restaurant fighting with me in front of other customers. Jay is very unprofessional and I'm sad to say this is one of my favorite places to dine but after this experience I will not return.
(1)
Alexandria R.
I would also give negative stars if I could. The chefs, sushi, and servers are great, the food is ok, but the management is horrible. Jay the owner is incredibly rude and mistreats his staff, it's some of the worst service I've ever seen. The wait is always too long and the food is overpriced. The servers work very hard but there isn't enough staff it seems and the overall experience isn't very organized during a large birthday party. I used to love the fried rice and salads but I'd rather go to another location to get it.
(1)
Mike M.
Nice food. We had a friendly chef but he wasn't as entertaining as some of the others. Other chefs were flipping things around and such, and all we got was the onion volcano. Not sure its enough to want to switch from our normal Japanese steakhouse.
(2)
Jenn B.
Jay is unbelievably rude, overbooks for reservations and when you check in he doesn't mark it so that when you ask when you'll be seated, its your fault for being late..I will never go back..awful service and so rude. We made reservations for my birthday and I waited 10 minutes right by Jay to tell him we were there. When he finally acknowledged me, he told me we would be the last to be seated because our party was 10 minutes late. Yes, because I was ignored and passed over for over 10 minutes (I'm always earlier than my reservation). The place was swamped and I asked what time we would be seated and he said the others waiting had the same reservation time and we would be after them now. It was such a terrible experience. And apparently he's the "owner" HORRIBLE!
(1)
Junior H.
Been here a good amount of times with some friends, I actually grew up in the area so I've been to quite a few restaurants in Bel Air. I'd have to say as far as nice, affordable, and delicious dining experiences go, Sakuras in Bel Air ranks amongst the best. The hibachi experience is just one you have to experience in your life time and if you aren't into that, they have great sushi at great prices as well. Also a great place for a both formal/casual occasions due to it's elegant and cultural decor. I definitely recommend going if you happen to stop by the Bel Air area.
(4)
Sherrie M.
I was a frequent customer at the bel air location and have brought many friends and family members here to eat. My husband and I and our 4 young children went here for dinner tonight and they made our sushi wrong and we tried it, ate about 3 pieces and sent it back and simply asked if they could either remake what we originally ordered or take it off the bill. The waiter said his manager was not allowing him to take it off & we had to pay anyway. I spoke with the manager " JAY" and he was EXTREMELY RUDE! He was yelling at me in front of my kids telling me he now has to waste food and it was made correctly he said sarcastically "do you know how to make our sushi?'' so when i asked him to review the ingredients on the menu with me he told me "you cant just get everything for free and do whatever you want" and i told him this was outrageous and i would never come back there after the way he spoke to me. he said "Oh no since you wont come back we better close our doors tomorrow" I told him he was a complete ***hole and then he repeatedly asked me "Why you call me ***hole?" while aggresivly getting closer and closer to my face. i thought he was going to push/hit me honestly Then he insisted he call the cops on me because "i wouldnt pay my bill" which i never said i asked him to resolve this issue. i gave up arguing over $12 and paid my bill and when we were leaving my husband said im sorry for the confusion but you should not talk to women like that and he said he was calling the cops for racial discrimination. my husabnd went to leave and the manager stood in front of the door and grabbed him by his shirt and arm and said no your waiting here for the cops. my husband went to leave again telling him you cannot hold me here and the manager pushed him into the door leaving a mark on his elbow. THIS IS THE WORST MANAGEMENT IVE EVER EXPERIENCED. I CANNOT BELIEVE HE CAN PUT HIS HANDS ON MALE CUSTOMERS AND TALK TO FEMALE CUSTOMERS THAT WAY. I WILL NEVER RETURN HERE AGAIN!
(1)
Frank L.
Been to several of this style of Japanese Steak Houses. We went for a birthday. It was OK at best, but then when you add the price tag to it, you really are let down. First, the chef were not entertaining. a couple of flips and a few bangs but nothing to write home about. I have been to steak houses in which they go out of their way to perform and almost have a contest with the other grill. Lets face it, the reason why you accept the marked up food price is because you know you are paying for the show. Then lets talk about the service. Our party of 6 ordered 4 drinks from the bar. Each of the drinks came out a different times and we had to remind the waitress that we still did not have one of our drinks half way through the meal. One the the first rules in the restaurant business is to bring the drinks early. Chance are the customer will finish it before the meal gets started and will order a second round. Well they missed out on that sale. Anyway, Will I go here again...if someone is paying my way or I get a gift card, but not if I am paying the bill....
(2)
Tina C.
Took my husband here for his birthday because whatever daddy wants, daddy gets. The waiter was incredibly nice and we didn't have to wait to be seated. They even adjusted one of the sushi rolls to accommodate my tastes, not a big fan of the spicy tuna so they made it with regular, not that big of a deal but they didn't have to do it. My husband even got a free desert for his birthday. Great experience although a little pricy, almost 100 for the two of us!
(4)
Tim H.
Who doesn't like dinner with a show to entertain? If you are a fan of Hibatichi and are not in a rush, check this place out. The food is good and the show can be entertaining at times. (Entertainment depends on how into the chef is into performing and the level of excitement the people whom are sitting with you have). The sushi was fresh and tasted great. The chicken was good and the ribeye was cooked to my liking. My extra order of shrimp was delicious. The soup and salad that came before my entree was good as always. I've been to Sakura's many different times but at other locations throughout MD and VA. Always nice to visit this chain and even though you'd expect the same from all locations it really does depend on the group of people and the chef you are dining with since they are the one's to either bring you into the entertainment or leave you sitting by the side to just watch. Thank you for reading my review. This review is based off of my personal experience and opinion.
(4)
Andy L.
The food has always been very good there. Prepared fresh right in front of you and the chefs are always fun to watch and very friendly.
(4)
Lyric L.
I was very disappointed with the service. We were there about 9 minutes before anyone took our drink order. The place was pretty much empty. Then another family of 4 joined our table, they were waited on immediately. Once drink orders were brought out the family of 4 were served first. This agitated me to the point of tears because I felt it was racially related. I respectfully brought it to the servers attention. She pacified me saying no it's not and it was a oversight not intentionally. I go back to my table. Again the family of four order was taken first, then it's cooked first and our food was handed to us last! I go up to the host and ask for a comment card, he informs me he is the owner. Again I respectfully express my concerns telling the owner how I feel. I did not ask for anything free I wanted to be HEARD and he was not even trying to hear me. Constantly cutting me off letting me know he was from Korea and they are not like that. I explained to him you may not be but as the customer that is the perception I am getting. Feeling completely dismissed I was resorted to tears yet again. Went back to my seat, where my order was cooked well done after slowly saying to the cook 3 times I wanted medium RARE! On top of that we were both served the wrong drink. My experience here was horrible. I feel the staff and the owner are not African American friendly and completely dismissive of my feelings. Not once did the owner attempt to make the situation better or serve us first since we had been there the longest. I will never visit this restaurant again.
(1)
Justin G.
Been here many times since it opened but came back in today for my sisters birthday. I don't think I have ever had bad food here. Simply put, the food is incredible. Yes, it is expensive and probably over-priced, so I'll knock off a star to keep it from being perfect. Otherwise, come here if you're looking for a fun experience and awesome Japanese cooking.
(4)
Becca H.
Pretty typical hibachi. I personally like Kobe's food better, but I liked the chef who made our food her at Sakura better (better meaning he was more entertaining) The service was good, nice waitress. Overall nothing to write home about.
(3)
Be H.
We usually eat out on the weekend and when we've exhausted all other choices...this is THEE place to ate. I LOVE eating here....and you get yummy leftovers too! Even though it could use a much needed face lift but the staff is friendly and the food is good. One of my favorite go to places!
(4)
Tim G.
A friend and I went to Sakura after having went to Kobe Japanese Steak House & Seafood. We found the wait much too long (and I'm not terribly picky!) and the price to food ratio too poor. At Kobe you might pay $30, but it's for a HUGE plate of food that leaves you busting at the seams. At Sakura you pay $25 for a plate of food that MIGHT fill your stomach, depending on how small you are, but me and my friend left with room to spare... and for $25 I expect a bit more. Oh, and the wait for our food was unbearable. Perhaps it was our mistake to drop in on a partially hungry stomach already, but the waitress looked like she was 12 years old and over worked. She left our glasses empty for much too long, we didn't get our soup until we'd been seated for a good 20-25 minutes, our salad came about 10 minutes after that, and so by the time the food came out, 30-35 minutes later, yea, I was bloody starving -- and no, I don't think I'm being ridiculous here. Anyways, I won't be returning. There's too many other great places to go to. If you REALLY love Japanese steak houses, try Kobe. I know the reviews don't seem too good, but my friend and I really liked it.
(2)
Bobby F.
I really enjoy this location. My family always ends up here for Christmas Eve every year. The staff is very friendly, especially the hibachi chefs. I read some recent reviews before we went this past week and they seem to center around the fact the owner is not very customer service oriented. I cannot comment on that because I have never personally met the owner. I can just say that while they will not seat "incomplete" parties, which I totally understand. My wife and I arrived to meet our family, we were immediately seated. No questions asked! The only thing that bugged me this past visit was we had a server that was maybe unintentionally rushing us and she didn't realize it. I understand that the holidays can make a restaurant crazy busy, but I'll be damned if I am gonna shovel down my food when we are laying out $250 plus tip! I am enjoying every bite. The food was awesome as usual, we had sushi and hibachi. A little pricey but I don't mind splurging every now and then!
(4)
Real M.
As a disclaimer, I am a big fan of Hibachi and sushi, and Sakura didn't disappoint. The hibachi menu is slightly larger than other places I have been to but still has all the classics. I usually judge a Hibachi place based on the entertainment from the chef. I know most of the tricks are the same everywhere but if I am at a Hibachi place, I want to be slightly entertained. Our chef was great, kept us laughing and did a great job with all the food. This place was pretty crowded and you will be sitting with others so be aware if you are looking for a romantic one on one this might not be the place. Otherwise, give it a try and I bet you will enjoy it. Didn't have any sushi this time but they had a full sushi bar there and there were quite a few people there.
(4)
Adam M.
I am always treated well here. Depending on our party size there is not very much of a wait, and we always have a reservation if it's more than two of us. The entertainment varies, of course, depending on who the chef is.
(4)
Katharine T.
"As good as it gets!" in Harford County. This place has damn good haibachi/teppanyaki/(that thing where they cook the food at the table). Even discounting the for Harford County disclaimer, I'd probably give it a four star review. The service is friendly, though I recommend getting a reservation. Food is good, but I've had it be a little on the raw side (ie, ordered in Medium Rare, came out Rare, but idc enough to make him put it back on the grill). Each haibachi meal comes with vegetables, rice (no extra charge for fried), clear soup (I believe substituting miso is extra), salad (yummy ginger dressing), and an appetizer (either mushrooms, chicken livers or shrimp). The veggies contain mushrooms but are light on them, so if you are a big fan I'd order the mushroom appetizer. I usually order the shrimp and pass it off to whomever I'm with, because I won't eat any of the appetizers. Can't comment on the sushi as I don't eat it. They have ramune asian soft drinks though (as well as a selection of Asian beer), definitely worth a try! Good to come with a group, or just a few, but keep in mind haibachi style means no privacy - they don't seat those tables half full (I think they hold about 12 people). Also keep in mind that its a bit loud, so convo is limited to the persons immediately next to you, unless you want to lean over them.
(5)
Emily L.
Pretty good food and "entertainment." The wait can get a bit long, as they fill up the communal tables (8 people I think) before taking orders and serving anyone. The service is on the slower side and it takes awhile to get refills. The food is good, but expensive. Depending on what you order, prices can run $20-50 a person. However, I usually have enough to leave feeling full and take home the rest.
(3)
Enrique A.
If you have Children, don't come here! It was the worst experience I've EVER had at a restaurant. I came here with my little nieces, and after trying some of their chicken, we noticed there was something very wrong with it. The chicken had gone BAD... After raising our concern, the restaurant management tried to insinuate we wanted to skip the bill and threatened to call the cops. I've never been more offended by a restaurant in my life.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Heather J.
If I could give this Sakura location negative stars, I would. We've eaten at this Sakura for every birthday and every special occasion for years. At least 5. We have probably spend thousands of dollars here. We're good customers, loyal and tip generously (18-20% on a $300 bill isn't easy but we do it) we never cause a ruckus, we don't ask too much of the wait staff. We just like a place with good food to celebrate. We've had NUMEROUS horrible experiences with Jay, the alleged "owner" and tacky dressing host. The first ever run in was when my father asked for his rice in a bowl, and Jay came out and yelled loudly about how they don't do that because its hard and they'd have to specially train their chefs to do it and do extra dishes. Restaurant Ownership 101: don't raise your voice at customers while they are just sitting there calmly. Restaurant Ownership 101a: don't yell about how lazy you are After that, it was all downhill. After dozens of food experiences where our entire party was disrespected by Jay, or wee witnessed him verbally abusing his staff as well as other customers, we've decided we've had enough. During our most recent poor experience, my mother said something to the waitress about his attitude, and her response? "I hear that A LOT"... Last night after the final straw, I asked Jay where I could write a letter of complaint about his disrespect and he loudly told me to "Take some chopsticks, call the numbers on the back - my name is Jay, that's J A Y.... Jay" and then told made it clear he didn't care if we never came back again, and in fact would prefer it. From now on, the only establishments that get my hard earned dollar are those who want it. Kobe, another Sakura location, or Benihana are worth driving to for good hibachi owned by classier people.
(1)Scott W.
Ordered take-out sushi. Not our usual spot, but I had business nearby. NEVER AGAIN. We have eaten at every sushi place in the are and we have NEVER felt so cheated. They put $100 "worth" of food in 2 small boxes. It was like they worked at making the rolls tiny. Even the the nigiri had a minuscule amount of rice. If you want to overpay to see some guy slap spatulas on the grill, this is the place. You want sushi? Go anywhere else.
(1)June R.
Not a bad experience but I have a few suggestions. Jay needs to hire staff other than High School kids. Sorry (Jay) you might have to pay a few more bucks. Also, why is the food so expensive?? Kind of ridiculous if you ask me. People are seeking value these days...this place doesn't necessarily deliver good value.
(3)Terri W.
Been here many times during our last visit my daughter is a vegetarian ALWAYS orders the vegetable plate dinner. Her meal has always been cooked first before any meat hits the grill this time the chef cooked meat first then cooked all of her veggies without cleaning the grill. Went and spoke with the "OWNER" Jay about this situation he was so rude and was refusing to remove meal from bill even though my daughter didn't eat anything on her plate. Jay informed me I was suppose to tell the waiter she was a vegetarian never before have we ever had to tell the waiter or cook of this situation and we have eaten here numerous times. Jay who is suppose to be the owner stood in the middle of the restaurant fighting with me in front of other customers. Jay is very unprofessional and I'm sad to say this is one of my favorite places to dine but after this experience I will not return.
(1)Alexandria R.
I would also give negative stars if I could. The chefs, sushi, and servers are great, the food is ok, but the management is horrible. Jay the owner is incredibly rude and mistreats his staff, it's some of the worst service I've ever seen. The wait is always too long and the food is overpriced. The servers work very hard but there isn't enough staff it seems and the overall experience isn't very organized during a large birthday party. I used to love the fried rice and salads but I'd rather go to another location to get it.
(1)Mike M.
Nice food. We had a friendly chef but he wasn't as entertaining as some of the others. Other chefs were flipping things around and such, and all we got was the onion volcano. Not sure its enough to want to switch from our normal Japanese steakhouse.
(2)Jenn B.
Jay is unbelievably rude, overbooks for reservations and when you check in he doesn't mark it so that when you ask when you'll be seated, its your fault for being late..I will never go back..awful service and so rude. We made reservations for my birthday and I waited 10 minutes right by Jay to tell him we were there. When he finally acknowledged me, he told me we would be the last to be seated because our party was 10 minutes late. Yes, because I was ignored and passed over for over 10 minutes (I'm always earlier than my reservation). The place was swamped and I asked what time we would be seated and he said the others waiting had the same reservation time and we would be after them now. It was such a terrible experience. And apparently he's the "owner" HORRIBLE!
(1)Junior H.
Been here a good amount of times with some friends, I actually grew up in the area so I've been to quite a few restaurants in Bel Air. I'd have to say as far as nice, affordable, and delicious dining experiences go, Sakuras in Bel Air ranks amongst the best. The hibachi experience is just one you have to experience in your life time and if you aren't into that, they have great sushi at great prices as well. Also a great place for a both formal/casual occasions due to it's elegant and cultural decor. I definitely recommend going if you happen to stop by the Bel Air area.
(4)Sherrie M.
I was a frequent customer at the bel air location and have brought many friends and family members here to eat. My husband and I and our 4 young children went here for dinner tonight and they made our sushi wrong and we tried it, ate about 3 pieces and sent it back and simply asked if they could either remake what we originally ordered or take it off the bill. The waiter said his manager was not allowing him to take it off & we had to pay anyway. I spoke with the manager " JAY" and he was EXTREMELY RUDE! He was yelling at me in front of my kids telling me he now has to waste food and it was made correctly he said sarcastically "do you know how to make our sushi?'' so when i asked him to review the ingredients on the menu with me he told me "you cant just get everything for free and do whatever you want" and i told him this was outrageous and i would never come back there after the way he spoke to me. he said "Oh no since you wont come back we better close our doors tomorrow" I told him he was a complete ***hole and then he repeatedly asked me "Why you call me ***hole?" while aggresivly getting closer and closer to my face. i thought he was going to push/hit me honestly Then he insisted he call the cops on me because "i wouldnt pay my bill" which i never said i asked him to resolve this issue. i gave up arguing over $12 and paid my bill and when we were leaving my husband said im sorry for the confusion but you should not talk to women like that and he said he was calling the cops for racial discrimination. my husabnd went to leave and the manager stood in front of the door and grabbed him by his shirt and arm and said no your waiting here for the cops. my husband went to leave again telling him you cannot hold me here and the manager pushed him into the door leaving a mark on his elbow. THIS IS THE WORST MANAGEMENT IVE EVER EXPERIENCED. I CANNOT BELIEVE HE CAN PUT HIS HANDS ON MALE CUSTOMERS AND TALK TO FEMALE CUSTOMERS THAT WAY. I WILL NEVER RETURN HERE AGAIN!
(1)Frank L.
Been to several of this style of Japanese Steak Houses. We went for a birthday. It was OK at best, but then when you add the price tag to it, you really are let down. First, the chef were not entertaining. a couple of flips and a few bangs but nothing to write home about. I have been to steak houses in which they go out of their way to perform and almost have a contest with the other grill. Lets face it, the reason why you accept the marked up food price is because you know you are paying for the show. Then lets talk about the service. Our party of 6 ordered 4 drinks from the bar. Each of the drinks came out a different times and we had to remind the waitress that we still did not have one of our drinks half way through the meal. One the the first rules in the restaurant business is to bring the drinks early. Chance are the customer will finish it before the meal gets started and will order a second round. Well they missed out on that sale. Anyway, Will I go here again...if someone is paying my way or I get a gift card, but not if I am paying the bill....
(2)Tina C.
Took my husband here for his birthday because whatever daddy wants, daddy gets. The waiter was incredibly nice and we didn't have to wait to be seated. They even adjusted one of the sushi rolls to accommodate my tastes, not a big fan of the spicy tuna so they made it with regular, not that big of a deal but they didn't have to do it. My husband even got a free desert for his birthday. Great experience although a little pricy, almost 100 for the two of us!
(4)Tim H.
Who doesn't like dinner with a show to entertain? If you are a fan of Hibatichi and are not in a rush, check this place out. The food is good and the show can be entertaining at times. (Entertainment depends on how into the chef is into performing and the level of excitement the people whom are sitting with you have). The sushi was fresh and tasted great. The chicken was good and the ribeye was cooked to my liking. My extra order of shrimp was delicious. The soup and salad that came before my entree was good as always. I've been to Sakura's many different times but at other locations throughout MD and VA. Always nice to visit this chain and even though you'd expect the same from all locations it really does depend on the group of people and the chef you are dining with since they are the one's to either bring you into the entertainment or leave you sitting by the side to just watch. Thank you for reading my review. This review is based off of my personal experience and opinion.
(4)Andy L.
The food has always been very good there. Prepared fresh right in front of you and the chefs are always fun to watch and very friendly.
(4)Lyric L.
I was very disappointed with the service. We were there about 9 minutes before anyone took our drink order. The place was pretty much empty. Then another family of 4 joined our table, they were waited on immediately. Once drink orders were brought out the family of 4 were served first. This agitated me to the point of tears because I felt it was racially related. I respectfully brought it to the servers attention. She pacified me saying no it's not and it was a oversight not intentionally. I go back to my table. Again the family of four order was taken first, then it's cooked first and our food was handed to us last! I go up to the host and ask for a comment card, he informs me he is the owner. Again I respectfully express my concerns telling the owner how I feel. I did not ask for anything free I wanted to be HEARD and he was not even trying to hear me. Constantly cutting me off letting me know he was from Korea and they are not like that. I explained to him you may not be but as the customer that is the perception I am getting. Feeling completely dismissed I was resorted to tears yet again. Went back to my seat, where my order was cooked well done after slowly saying to the cook 3 times I wanted medium RARE! On top of that we were both served the wrong drink. My experience here was horrible. I feel the staff and the owner are not African American friendly and completely dismissive of my feelings. Not once did the owner attempt to make the situation better or serve us first since we had been there the longest. I will never visit this restaurant again.
(1)Justin G.
Been here many times since it opened but came back in today for my sisters birthday. I don't think I have ever had bad food here. Simply put, the food is incredible. Yes, it is expensive and probably over-priced, so I'll knock off a star to keep it from being perfect. Otherwise, come here if you're looking for a fun experience and awesome Japanese cooking.
(4)Becca H.
Pretty typical hibachi. I personally like Kobe's food better, but I liked the chef who made our food her at Sakura better (better meaning he was more entertaining) The service was good, nice waitress. Overall nothing to write home about.
(3)Be H.
We usually eat out on the weekend and when we've exhausted all other choices...this is THEE place to ate. I LOVE eating here....and you get yummy leftovers too! Even though it could use a much needed face lift but the staff is friendly and the food is good. One of my favorite go to places!
(4)Tim G.
A friend and I went to Sakura after having went to Kobe Japanese Steak House & Seafood. We found the wait much too long (and I'm not terribly picky!) and the price to food ratio too poor. At Kobe you might pay $30, but it's for a HUGE plate of food that leaves you busting at the seams. At Sakura you pay $25 for a plate of food that MIGHT fill your stomach, depending on how small you are, but me and my friend left with room to spare... and for $25 I expect a bit more. Oh, and the wait for our food was unbearable. Perhaps it was our mistake to drop in on a partially hungry stomach already, but the waitress looked like she was 12 years old and over worked. She left our glasses empty for much too long, we didn't get our soup until we'd been seated for a good 20-25 minutes, our salad came about 10 minutes after that, and so by the time the food came out, 30-35 minutes later, yea, I was bloody starving -- and no, I don't think I'm being ridiculous here. Anyways, I won't be returning. There's too many other great places to go to. If you REALLY love Japanese steak houses, try Kobe. I know the reviews don't seem too good, but my friend and I really liked it.
(2)Bobby F.
I really enjoy this location. My family always ends up here for Christmas Eve every year. The staff is very friendly, especially the hibachi chefs. I read some recent reviews before we went this past week and they seem to center around the fact the owner is not very customer service oriented. I cannot comment on that because I have never personally met the owner. I can just say that while they will not seat "incomplete" parties, which I totally understand. My wife and I arrived to meet our family, we were immediately seated. No questions asked! The only thing that bugged me this past visit was we had a server that was maybe unintentionally rushing us and she didn't realize it. I understand that the holidays can make a restaurant crazy busy, but I'll be damned if I am gonna shovel down my food when we are laying out $250 plus tip! I am enjoying every bite. The food was awesome as usual, we had sushi and hibachi. A little pricey but I don't mind splurging every now and then!
(4)Real M.
As a disclaimer, I am a big fan of Hibachi and sushi, and Sakura didn't disappoint. The hibachi menu is slightly larger than other places I have been to but still has all the classics. I usually judge a Hibachi place based on the entertainment from the chef. I know most of the tricks are the same everywhere but if I am at a Hibachi place, I want to be slightly entertained. Our chef was great, kept us laughing and did a great job with all the food. This place was pretty crowded and you will be sitting with others so be aware if you are looking for a romantic one on one this might not be the place. Otherwise, give it a try and I bet you will enjoy it. Didn't have any sushi this time but they had a full sushi bar there and there were quite a few people there.
(4)Adam M.
I am always treated well here. Depending on our party size there is not very much of a wait, and we always have a reservation if it's more than two of us. The entertainment varies, of course, depending on who the chef is.
(4)Katharine T.
"As good as it gets!" in Harford County. This place has damn good haibachi/teppanyaki/(that thing where they cook the food at the table). Even discounting the for Harford County disclaimer, I'd probably give it a four star review. The service is friendly, though I recommend getting a reservation. Food is good, but I've had it be a little on the raw side (ie, ordered in Medium Rare, came out Rare, but idc enough to make him put it back on the grill). Each haibachi meal comes with vegetables, rice (no extra charge for fried), clear soup (I believe substituting miso is extra), salad (yummy ginger dressing), and an appetizer (either mushrooms, chicken livers or shrimp). The veggies contain mushrooms but are light on them, so if you are a big fan I'd order the mushroom appetizer. I usually order the shrimp and pass it off to whomever I'm with, because I won't eat any of the appetizers. Can't comment on the sushi as I don't eat it. They have ramune asian soft drinks though (as well as a selection of Asian beer), definitely worth a try! Good to come with a group, or just a few, but keep in mind haibachi style means no privacy - they don't seat those tables half full (I think they hold about 12 people). Also keep in mind that its a bit loud, so convo is limited to the persons immediately next to you, unless you want to lean over them.
(5)Emily L.
Pretty good food and "entertainment." The wait can get a bit long, as they fill up the communal tables (8 people I think) before taking orders and serving anyone. The service is on the slower side and it takes awhile to get refills. The food is good, but expensive. Depending on what you order, prices can run $20-50 a person. However, I usually have enough to leave feeling full and take home the rest.
(3)Enrique A.
If you have Children, don't come here! It was the worst experience I've EVER had at a restaurant. I came here with my little nieces, and after trying some of their chicken, we noticed there was something very wrong with it. The chicken had gone BAD... After raising our concern, the restaurant management tried to insinuate we wanted to skip the bill and threatened to call the cops. I've never been more offended by a restaurant in my life.
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