Sakura Japanese Restaurant
4840 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, 38117
Sakura Japanese Restaurant Menu
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Address :
4840 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN, 38117 - Phone (901) 572-1002
- Website https://sakuramemphis.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Raymond B.
"Sushi in Memphis" is basically an oxymoron. Partly because there are so few places, but mainly because there is always cooked / fried items in everything. All that said, when the craving hits, we go to Sakura (on Poplar, behind a weird looking liquor store). Let's break it down on why the "A-Ok" three stars: - Nice service, they're good peoples... but unfortunately the 'sushi bar' is just not great. Where the great sushi places have chefs that interact directly with you, and serve your sushi in the rhythm which you are eating, these guys are behind a bar that is way too high up to basically see the diners, they don't talk to you, and have their head down the whole time. Then you get everything all at once. Not ideal, and not what makes a good sushi restaurant. - The non-sushi food is okay. Edamame, standard... udon, eh... yakitori, sure... and a million other options are on the menu. They have some fun Japanese items you rarely get in the states (i.e. hiyayako), but nothing is "blow your mind stellar." - The sushi has always been pretty good. There are a billion roll options (read: 76 options... I kid you not), but I have yet to find one that makes me say "Oh, let's definitely remember that one." In the end, it satisfies the sushi cravings, but doesn't make you say "Let's come back soon!" I don't want to give the place a bad name, because we have so few locations for such cuisine in Memphis, but I would really like to see Sakura or another one of these places (i.e. Sekisui, BlueFin, etc.) step up their game to establish a "must go" Sushi restaurant.
(3)Shu J.
This restaurant makes the most generous of sushi servings you have ever seen! Try the Mango roll, but I'm warning you about future cravings.
(4)David G.
I had the Sushi & Teriyaki Salmon. It was delicious. I had enough to take some home and I am not a light eater. It comes with Miso soup, salad, cole slaw, rice, a bit of seaweed salad and a piece of onion thinly sliced and dipped in tempura and fried. Our waiter was Kingman. He was excellent. Very personable and friendly.
(5)Rayna L.
Love it!! Love it!!! Best roll is jungle roll add garlic. BBQ squid is super delicious since it's not fried. Drank it down with some yummy flavor sake.
(5)Kamille W.
I have mixed feelings about how to write this review. On the one hand, I have no complaints about Sakura. However, it's not like a have a ton of praise for it either. To be fair, my brother almost lost a finger when he picked a couple of pieces of veggie tempura from my plate -- that tempura was SO good. However, sweet potatoes/onions/zucchini + batter + hot pan = delicious 99.9% of the time, so I would have been shocked if I didn't love Sakura's version. Other than that though, I don't have strong feelings about the food. The sushi was competently done, and my brother's katsudon was tasty enough. Everything seemed to be fairly priced, and the service was good. I'm giving Sakura three stars because it simply didn't make much of an impression on me. I don't think I'll be back. That shouldn't dissuade you, though. For sushi in Memphis, you could do much, much worse. Try Sakura yourself and see what you think.
(3)Susie B.
Make sure you're hungry or you're going to over- order. It specializes in American size sushi portions and lots if fried and sauced rolls. The Dynamite roll is my staple here and I order the Sushi lunch. (12.95) I'm not a fan of the tempura - battered rolls. But, the standard sushi meats are fresh and well prepped.
(5)Hailey B.
We had shrimp tempura for an appetizer. Fried noodles with shrimp and vegetables as a second appetizer. Four sushi rolls and some Masago. Sooooo good. And the service was awesome and everyone was really nice. Def recommend and will be back!
(5)Michael L.
Pretty fucking good. POSITIVE: +Attentive staff +Delicious fish +Spicy rolls that actually taste like spice rather than seasoned mayonaise. +Comfortable booths NEGATIVE: -Location is kinda hidden if you're not familiar with the area. BOTTOM LINE: I'll definitely come back my next trip to town. After several disappointments from following Yelp's advice, it was good to finally have one pay off.
(4)Sarah L.
I have always heard good things about Sakura but I've been a couple of times and never really enjoyed it. The ginger dressing on their house salad isn't good, and that's one of my favorite types of salads. The sushi was mediocre, nothing special.
(2)Sebastian D.
Sakura is by far the best Asian restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee. It has wonderful service, a warm atmosphere, great selection of food, and even clean bathrooms! I was seriously impressed with the decor. A lot of Asian restaurants have tacky and obligatory Chinese or Japanese decor, but everything in this restaurant was nice. It had a very warm feeling and the furniture was comfortable. We were greeted swiftly upon arrival by a very kind waiter. He seated us and was very attentive. He understood it was our first time here and was willing to answer any questions we had. We never had to wait too long for any drink refills or to order our food! Most importantly, the food was EXCELLENT! There was a plethora of wonderful choices on the menu. The menu is decently made and easy to understand. Some restaurants just don't completely explain what you're going to get, but don't worry about there here. I had the Sushi and Teriyaki Beef and it was fantastic! The sushi that comes with the meat is only four pieces with assorted fish. It sounds basic, but it was really tasty! The beef, unbeknownst to me, was actually steak. It was delicious! Next time I will try their sushi rolls, which my grandmother had. Portions are large, and well worth the money! I recommend the clear soup and creamy peanut dressing if you get a dinner meal. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody who wants to try a nice, professional Asian restaurant!
(5)Hunter M.
Good sushi, good prices. Nothing was necessarily outstanding but it was still enjoyable.
(3)Rayce W.
Sakura is my favorite sushi spot in Memphis. I've tried a lot of different rolls there and I am yet to be disappointed. The Joyce, the Phoenix, the Dragon are my favorites. The service is always is good too and the warm towels before the meal are a nice touch.
(5)Justin B.
I'm rather appalled at the great reviews for this place. As a Japanophile and lover of genuine, authentic Japanese cuisine, I've tried most of the Japanese restaurants in Memphis. Unfortunately, we don't have a great many that are very good. While I tried the Sakura near Saddle Creek some years back after coming home from Japan and really enjoying their ramen, I had not been to this location. I went with a party of about 30-40 people, which they were able to handle surprisingly well. The service is not my complaint, in fact the service was pretty good. However, I take issue with the food. If what you want is an Americanized version of Japanese food, then you can probably dismiss my opinion. However, don't be fooled into thinking this is anywhere close to good Japanese food. It simply resembles Japanese. Everything I had, from the yakitori to the sushi was a disappointment. I found myself wondering if they had ever seen Japanese food before? I would put it even below Osaka in terms of authenticity and flavor (and you can go see my review for them to see what I think there). For casual sushi lovers, this is probably a decent choice. Lots of variety and the sushi itself isn't bad if that's what you want. But the actual entrees are an insult to real Japanese cuisine. Go elsewhere if you want authenticity. If you don't care, then it's probably fine.
(2)Rick S.
Great food. Needs a reservation systems as it is fairly small and tables tend to linger. Also when we went the air conditioning was not working, which in the South is a definite negative. There was one fan when management should have made the meager investment in more. Also the use of outdoor space is woefully underutilized. There is a front and back patio area that could accommodate more seating (4 tops). Our server is friendly and accommodating. He was apologetic about the temperature.
(4)Ashley H.
Sushi here is very good. Also like the peanut dressing.
(4)Cedric B.
This place has the freshest sushi in Memphis. The Sexy Lady, Mexico Roll, and Joyce Roll are my favs.
(5)Brittney H.
I know, I know... Here I go again with my love for sushi, but y'all....... their sushi is kick ass! I have never had anything I didn't like!
(4)Mary Kate M.
This really is as good as it gets. Solid menu, drinks, and service. My family and my best friend came here for dinner. We ended up having wine and a few sushi rolls in addition to having miso soups. Specialty rolls come with 10-12 pieces. They're slightly more expensive, but 100% totally worth getting outside of your traditional California or Philly roll which were only $5 and under. All very fresh and creative items with clever names. Just to name a couple -- the Mango roll and Joe roll are amazing. My friend who is vegetarian was able to find some options for herself that otherwise she might not have gotten if she went to Sekisui. She liked her tofu item and asparagus roll. It worked for her. When I'm in Memphis again, this will definitely be my go to sushi from here on out. Sorry, Sekisui, you've lost a customer.
(5)Jeannine H.
okay I have gotten out of the habit of writing reviews...but it is definitely time to get back in the game. It was a stressful saturday and I was hungry midday....for some reason I was craving suishi. Now I must admit to still being a bit leary of non cooked sushi and sashimi in the interior of the country I still confess to being a pushover for a nice non-traditional cooked roll from time to time. Shoot me I am not a sushi purist. I had seen the Sakura on Popular tucked into a little corner strip mall across from the gas station and thought I would give them a try instead of driving all the way out to my usual haunt Akasaka or to their Germantown location. I must say I was plesantly surprised. The atmosphere was nice, serene and refreshing. I love the nice hot towel they give you to clean your hands when you sit down....and the server I had was very helpful with suggestions. I had heard about their Joyce roll...and as it was on several lists of best things to eat in Memphis I figured I would get that....but also started with some salad and pot stickers. In addition to the Joyce roll I also got the Mango roll....their portions are good sized so I ended up taking stuff home for later What can I say....rarely does a food item live up to the hype but the Joyce roll was all that a bag of chips and a side of fries. lots of interesting flavors and textures going on. one of the better inventive rolls I have not just in Memphis....but ever. The mango roll was tasty as well. the salad I could have done without...which I think the issue there was the dressing....I think unless you have a peanut allergy you should get the peanut dressing...the Ginger dressing is NOT good something off with the flavor....too much ginger and too much acidity in the dressing make for a not at all enjoyable experience, The pot stickers were very tasty and well done. So if you are hanging like I was at the Target off colonial and want a nice sushi break in a great atmosphere....this is the place for you.
(4)Stephanie C.
I have died and gone to "omgmyfavoritesushirestaurantnowhasalocationalmostÂinmyneighborhood" heaven:. Did you know there was such a place? There is. It's called Sakura - and they now have a location in East Memphis. Half the drive for me as the original location. H.E.A.V.E.N. - OK - I don't know what to say other than go here. Eat here. Order white tuna sashimi, the joyce roll, and the alfredo roll. You will go home more than happy. My husband was a little jealous of the noises I was making with each bite... We'll just leave it at that.
(5)Halsey J.
Some of the best sushi and service I have ever had! The rolls are HUGE!! We had a house salad with the peanut dressing each. That was the best dressing I've ever eaten! My boyfriend had to stop me from picking up the bowl and drinking it. ;) I'm a classy gal! We ordered 3 rolls thinking that would be just enough. It was more than enough! They were delicious too! I liked the sexy lady and the Joyce. I tried the Mexico roll once when my roommate brought some home and it too was fabulous! Overall, great experience! I will be returning!
(5)Mindy W.
Sakura is one of our favorite places to eat sushi. The Joe roll, my favorite as I don't do raw seafood, is wonderful. My only partial complaint is that I prefer it with soy paper instead of seaweed and they charge an extra $2.50 which makes it a bit pricey BUT you get a lot of food. I know that they charge more, so I have the option to order it as is! The service has always been good, so no complaints there. I like the newness of the East Memphis location. Germantown's food and service are great also. I highly recommend Sakura.
(4)Paul C.
It's tough to find good sushi in Memphis, but this place definitely hits the spot. I'll give you that the rolls with sauces are a bit on the bland side, but the fish is fresh and tasty. If you're more into the rolls and cooked food, the stuff here is slightly above average. I'll give the nod because their rolls are definitely larger than the average sushi place. If you're into the nigri or sashimi, then this place is for you easily, as the fish is fresh and tasty. If you're more into rolls AND getting the best bang for your buck then this is your place. The apps that we tried (the pickled veggies and agedashi tofu were very well done. The decor is nice as well, fine for a date. I'll definitely be coming back to Sakura as the food is definitely above average for a Memphis Japanese restaurant.
(4)Jonathan R.
Excellent food and atmosphere! Great service! Will be back soon! Really liked the Tropical Roll for something fruity and refreshing.
(5)Casey B.
This is one if my go to sushi spots. I used to get the sushi lunch combo. It includes 3 rolls and soup and salad. Not bad for the price at all. Ever since my friend introduced me to the Joyce roll, I haven't looked back. It is amazing!! Someone posted a picture of it on here. If you haven't had it you gotta check it out. It's a big roll but they cut it into quarters so you don't have to stuff your mouth or bite it in half and spill the fillings (which annoys me with the large rolls but I still love em).
(5)Lisa R.
I am a sushi fanatic, and this is definitely the best sushi I've had in Memphis. The rolls are HUGE (so you don't need to order a bunch of sushi to fill you up!) and everything I've tried has been delicious. I come here every time I can get my boyfriend to go for sushi!
(5)Daniel M.
I think my favorite thing about this place is that they start your meal off in a different way than most. They give you a hot towel. Don't be surprised. It's so you can wipe off your hands before you use them to eat. This is especially useful for those who aren't "handy" with chopsticks. I work nearby and come here for lunch sometimes. The service is quick and friendly. The lunch special of pick 3 rolls is what keeps me coming back. The sushi always delivers on taste and originality.
(4)Amanda C.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for Sakura yet. Why, you ask? Because I eat here nearly once a week. Don't you judge me. I have a slight addiction to Sakura's Mango Roll. It is filled with shirmp, asparagus, crab mix, avocado and mango and mango sauce on top. It is absolutely delicious, and the one of the best rolls I have ever eaten. Every time I go, I get this delicious roll. And, I justify it because it has mango and asparagus. Fruit and veggies = healthy. A few other rolls that I love are the Mexico, the Joyce, the Shrimp Tempura, the Gustavo and the Crunchy Shrimp. Yes, I eat here a lot. No, I'm not ashamed.
(5)Vicki M.
This meal was less than special. We ordered the lunch special with three rolls. The rolls with snow crab have more of a mild snow crab salad in them... and not much taste. The spicy tuna and dynamite rolls tasted and looked like the fish had been mixed with salsa. I would NOT recommend the rolls on the lunch special. Save your time/money/taste buds.
(2)Lauren H.
This use to be the best sushi in Memphis. As a a frequent diner of this restaurant over the last 5 or 6 years, I have noticed a big change recently. Every roll you get now is stuffed full of a fake crab meat, mayonnaise concoction - They use it in every single roll. It's either stuffed inside it or they have it packed on top of the roll. We ordered nine rolls and it was literally all we could taste - they all tasted the same. Too bad - use to be one of my favorites but I dont know if I will go back again.
(2)K. K.
Consistent and kid friendly. Solid soups, salads, and the sushi is always fresh and the correct temperature. Some of the over sized rolls are a little ridicules but just ask if the roll is regular size or large so you do not over.order. I like sashimi (simple), miso soup, and the dynamite roll is great. Great sushi for the price. A must visit for anyone seeking good sushi in Memphis.
(4)Caitie C.
Best place for sushi lovers hands down. I have been to many Japanese restaurants and nothing compares to the rolls and there selection. I always enjoy the caterpillar, Jackson, crunchy and dynamite roll. Must go to if you love fresh sushi!
(5)Barbara S.
Coming from California, I was curious about sushi here. I can tell you the miso soup and sashimi appetizer was fabulous and just the right portion for dinner. Glad I came here on vacation.
(4)Katie K.
I had heard to try this location of Sakura by many people so we finally tried it out. The sushi was phenominal! You get so much sushi at a super affordable price. The volcano, mexico, and mango roll were my favorites! Also, the peach and green apple saki were so refreshing. Very casual spot with great sushi.
(5)Richard B.
This place has the best sushi in town by far! Their rolls are huge and I have yet to have one that I did not like.
(5)Julia S.
I've been there once soon after they opened on Poplar. It's much closer to midtown. We went there for dinner in Saturday. Make sure you look carefully when driving; it's easy to miss it. They have parking lot right by the entrance. The interior feels very good & new, and the best thing I like is that this place was not those super-noisy restaurants, just good for regular conversations. They have TV playing sports, although I don't remember if they had a bar. They provide hot towels, which was very nice (that was a really cold evening!) and the restroom was clean. We had sushi, udon and unagi don (eel with steamed rice), and I ordered a fried tofu as appetizer. Everyone had their main course at the same time. Their price is modest in Memphis, in comparison with several other places we used to go, and the Unagi Don I ordered was pretty authentic, although a little bit too sweet. The sushi was also good for their price. Will definitely go back again.
(4)David J.
Food was great but some of the worst service I've ever had. First it took the server 20min to take our order and she basically ignored us the entire time we were there. We and other patrons Practically had to chase her down to get napkins and utensils. About 50min in we received 3 of our 5 entrees. The other 2 meals were sushi but everyone at the table ordered a few rolls. After waiting 45min the server brought us someone else's sushi order so again we were going to have to wait. Finally she figured out our order had not been placed. She started bringing out our order 1 roll at a time which took another 15min. It made it extremely hard to enjoy our meal. Again the food was great and we will go back but was very disappointed in my first experience .
(2)Robert O.
The sushi sushi lunch is really something you need to try. It is all sushi. Well you get a bowl of soup and a ginger salad pretty standard fair. The sushi is quite nice, fresh, tasty and just what you want for a nice lunch. Is this what you would find in Japan on any corner - I think not - but most Americans wouldn't like that I think. Is this the place you can go to and be pleased with your meal and happy about the price - YES. Give this place a try and you will thank me. The speciality rolls are very tasty and the standard fare is very good also.
(5)Brian C.
Best bang for your buck in Memphis! They make the biggest, freshest rolls around and they are reasonably priced as well. The service and atmosphere are great. If you like sushi this place needs to be at the top of your list in Memphis. Good stuff!
(5)G G.
Very good sushi! The nicer rolls are a bit pricy but very tasty. Good service, will go back.
(4)Karen I.
Love Sakura! This is the only place we really eat sushi anymore. My favorite is the Mexico Roll. Service is always good and we love eating at the bar.
(5)Tanya M.
Best sushi restaurant in town. Great rolls and services.
(5)Elle S.
Sakura sushi is my favorite in the city even though they make up their own hours of operation. The rolls are bigger and tastier here. And their peanut dressing is amazing.
(4)Karen I.
Love Sakura! This is the only place we really eat sushi anymore. My favorite is the Mexico Roll. Service is always good and we love eating at the bar.
(5)Tanya M.
Best sushi restaurant in town. Great rolls and services.
(5)Jason Y.
Joyce, DJ, Sexy Lady plus 5 other jumbo rolls. Excellent sushi everytime here! Great service too. Ask for Betty!
(5)Ben B.
I have visited this place only once and came away really impressed. The sushi was well priced and were above average in size. If you are in town and looking for a sushi fix, i suggest you stop here.
(4)Vaish P.
Yep, this is my favorite sushi place in Memphis, no question. I'm not so adventurous to eat sashimi so 5 stars for incredible speciality rolls, drinks and service. The menu is extensive but luckily they give a good description of the items so what you're eating is not a mystery. My go to rolls are Sexy Lady, Mexico and Mango roll. All the rolls are beautifully messy, fresh and delicious. Also the cool thing is that they have a lot of "off menu rolls" which you can ask your waiter about. I just discovered the Jungle roll and it's basically life altering. It's a spicy roll with an equally spicy noodle vegetable salad on top, perfection. If you like spice, order it asap!! Service is good but kinda depends on how busy they are. We usually go closer to closing time and the service is excellent and fast. Plus they give you hot towels when you are seated.! And don't forget to order a tall glass of Ichiban to complete the perfect meal.
(5)Andy S.
The food is not too expensive, which is a plus. It's Japanese food. We pretty much all went with sushi. I had the miso soup, which was what I expected. i also had the edamame, which was also fine. I ordered the sushi sampler which had several nigiri rolls. My friends ordered specialty rolls. They were amazing! Unfortunately, I can't remember the names, but I would definitely go for the specialty rolls. Of course, the specialty ones are more expensive, but well worth it. They are also filling. A person doesn't need to order very many. The server was nice and asked my friend if she really wanted the amount of rolls that she ordered because there were so many.
(4)Jim H.
We had visited this Sakura several times before leaving this review. This visit was on a Thursday night around 7pm. It was steadily busy, but not packed. One of the great things here, is that you can almost always get seated as soon as you arrive. Our party ordered the chicken tempura entree, 2 pieces of albacore tuna nigiri, 2 crunchy shrimp sushi rolls, 2 vegetable rolls the Tofu Sukiyaki Don and a crunchy spicy tuna roll. The albacore tuna nigiri is usually outstanding, because of the quality and the size of the nigiri cut. My wife loves the seaweed salad. The chicken tempura is okay, but lacking a bit of flavor - definitely need the dipping sauce it comes with. The rolls are good. The Tofu Sukiyaki Don was just okay. The service is variable. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here and fortunately don't have to. But, I also wouldn't avoid it. I'll still come for the nigiri.
(3)Elle S.
Sakura sushi is my favorite in the city even though they make up their own hours of operation. The rolls are bigger and tastier here. And their peanut dressing is amazing.
(4)Hannah G.
In search of some good sushi, my husband and I found this place. We got there right at dinner, and about ten minutes after we arrived, the crowds came flooding in. That's almost always a good sign that you're in a good place! There isn't much left to say that hasn't already been said. I ate some of my husband's food and it was delicious. I ordered the Chicken tempura and would have eaten more than half of it if it wasn't such a huge plate of food. We really enjoyed our experience here and have probably found a new staple in our regular places!
(4)Tom G.
I've seen some reviews that say this is the best sushi in Memphis. I can only believe this might be the only sushi restaurant those people have been to. Placed an order to go last night for - 2 crunchy shrimp rolls, 2 Eel Sashimi's, 2 Ginger salads, Miso soup, and a Pork Tonkatsu bowl. The place was packed, so this had to be a goo sign, right? Not. The salads were pretty good. The ginger dressing had a different flavor to it, but it was good. And, my wife loved the eel. That's where it stopped, however. The Miso soup, not quite sure how to describe the taste, not good? She tasted, and pushed it my way, I tasted and pushed it to the sink. The Pork Tonkatsu said it was I think fried pork, onions, eggs over rice bowl. It looked like dog poo on top of rice, didn't taste much better. Again, after about 2 bites, it made its way to the garbage. So on to the crunchy shrimp. Not so fast. There were 2 sushi rolls, but they were not crunchy shrimp. See pic posted. They were like the sushi in Kroger. I swear, they had the texture and taste of Kroger premade sushi. There was no crunch, the shrimp were not fried, no flavor at all. Well, at least there were 3 pieces consumed before they made their way to, well, you know.
(1)Jen M.
Sakura is my favorite sushi spot, my family and I come here about once a week. I definitely prefer this location over the one in Germantown. Service is better at this one, however even the service here can be hit or miss. Most of the time it is good, though. Sometimes parking can be a pain, the lot gets crowded and you have to park on the side street and walk up a ways. Some of our usual meals are the Joyce roll, the Alaska roll, the Alfredo roll, Tuna roll. Occasionally we get the plum wine, and sometimes I will get dessert - either green tea or red bean ice cream. I've definitely had better ice cream, plus they are a little cheap on the amount. Unless I find something better, this will remain our favorite sushi spot.
(4)Logan H.
Best sushi in Memphis!!! Can't go wrong with the Mexico roll or the Sakura roll. I try to go try something different each time and I haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)Karen Y.
Food is great but had a really bad experience with a waitress that was nowhere to be found. Manager needs to train the waiters/waitresses better. I will not be going back.
(1)Ashley F.
My husband and I love Sakura. We have been regular visitors since before this much more convenient location opened. Service is always great, atmosphere is warm and inviting and the rolls are why we keep coming back. I noticed that the negative reviews mostly come from people that order the most basic sushi rolls. This place is about the deluxe, big portion, American style sushi rolls. Messy, saucy, crunchy, yummy. Sometimes we start by splitting the delightful mermaid salad. Wonderful chopped pieces of raw salmon, tuna, avocado, cucumber, flying fish roe and spicy mayo. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! The big raves are for the Joyce Roll, but I just don't like fried rolls. I'm sure it's great for those that love them. There are three rolls we consistently order, though we do occasionally omit one so we can try something new on the menu. So far, the same three rolls are still on top. The Mardi Gras, Mexico and Mother of All Rolls (the 3 M's). The Mardi Gras is sweet, crunchy with delicate pieces of tuna and salmon layered on top. The Mexico is creamy and crunchy and salty. And the Mother is difficult to describe because it has so many textures and flavors going on and a dipping sauce that complements it. These three have never failed us. And by the time the bill arrives, we are usually completely stuffed and have to take home leftovers. The cost is extremely reasonable considering we have in the past spent twice as much at Sekisui, with no leftovers and still a bit on the hungry side. If you visit Sakura, you won't really experience it unless you stray away from the rolls you know. It's all about their special rolls.
(5)Joe A.
Excellent sushi! The specialty rolls are very large and delicious. Everyone I went with was very happy with their meal. One of the better if not best sushi places I have had in memphis yet.
(5)Miss M.
The mermaid salad....delicious! I the Madison roll!! I think ill be back. The waitress was very helpful and nice helping with my handroll options!! Great place!! This was take out. Next time ill dine in!
(5)Corey E.
Hey, what can I say, I'm a sushi guy. If you are a sushi person then I highly suggest you check out Sakura on Poplar Ave. This place is very nice. I haven't had one bad sushi roll entree here yet. The restaurant is very clean and neat and the staff are always pleasant and friendly. The sushi is some of the best in the city. My all-time favorite roll here is the Sexy Lady. And trust me she is one sexy roll! This roll is has shrimp tempura, snow crab mix, cajun tuna and avocado. My second favorite here is the Joyce Roll. The Joyce is deep fried with crawfish, shrimp tempura, fish eggs, avocado, and sauce. You can't go wrong with either roll.
(5)Haven M.
Only issue here is that it is not a buffet, the sushi is good and fresh. Joyce and Alfredo rolls are my favorite. I need to try other rolls. Nice cozy restaurant.
(5)Lee C.
Unfortunately there are a lot of places in Memphis that are starting to sneak some weird chopped fish-meal like substance in or on their sushi, it's disgusting! This place is great! The rolls are HUGE and oh so delicious! Let's see, we ordered the Mexico, the Joyce, and the Sexy Lady. The sexy lady was just okay but, oh my, the Mexico and the Joyce were amazing!!! The joyce was definitely the most original roll I've ever had and I will definitely be back for more. I'm usually a nigiri orderer but I only saw rolls and a sashimi appetizer. I didn't ask further, we just ordered rolls this time. I'd like to know about nigiri the next time I come here though because it seems odd that they'd have sashimi and rolls but not nigiri. Anyway, don't pass it up. For the size of these rolls the prices are very reasonable and you'll probably have left overs for a midnight snack!!
(4)Manuel S.
Hungry for sushi once more. Based on reviews this looked like a good option so I gave it a try. Service was friendly from the moment I walked in, beer cold with a cold glass, that is always a good start. I sat at the bar and promptly they brought me a hot towel that smelled of Clorox (well at least was clean) I ordered the big time roll and a couple of sushis. The cooks are all Mexican being led by a Japanese guy, I think it is a good sign, every time a Mexican has prepared my sushi has been outstanding. So sushi and roll arrived and looked good portions are big, above average but the roll they cut it in way too many pieces, it is easier to eat but they are too thin and come apart. It was fresh and flavor was ok, may be not the best option for my taste but I am sure they have other good rolls nevertheless the eel was kind of dry. Afterward to finish I ordered the Green Tea Ice cream, it had a good flavor and portion again was big, it was creamy but had bits of ice which makes it loose the flavor and texture in your mouth. Over all was a good experience, if you are around don't be fraud to stop by and try. As for me, I'm not local so when I'm visiting again I will try a different place. Be safe enjoy food!!
(3)Cris W.
The food here is just as good as the offerings from their sister restaurant in Germantown. Excellent service, too. I highly recommend the Joyce and Alfredo rolls.
(5)Robert B.
Best sushi in Memphis, hands down! The albacore Nigiri is excellent, as is everything else on the menu. Very friendly and attentive staff.
(5)Sam S.
Went here with a coworker, we were visiting from out of town. The ambiance is nice, and they bring a warm wash cloth to the table (as one would expect at a place that has decent sashimi). However, the food quality was mediocre at best. We started with tempura squid. It wasn't tempura, it was beaded. The squid wasn't properly cleaned/prepared. Overall, heavy on the Panko, light on flavor. We ordered 5 cut rolls and 2 sushi (nigiri). The rolls were blah, huge portions but poor quality. You could tell the wasabi was left out, it was hard and starting to turn color on the outside. Also the sushi was not as fresh as it should be, the rice was a little hard and the seaweed papers were chewy. I'm not sure if it's the location, or the part of the country but, I would not go back here for sushi.
(2)Joelle P.
Ok...the sushi was good. Real good. But I have to deduct 1 1/2 stars for the service...but I'll round it back up to 4 because my sashimi was just that delightful. The waitresses barked at us, gave no personal interaction, kept asking if we were ready...done...wanted anything else, and generally treated us as an imposition. Not impressed. I have to spend a minute on the sashimi though because it was amazing. The fresh salmon made me never want to eat salmon anywhere else. And the cuts were quite generous. Everything was well-priced and I have to admit that I probably won't be going to SPR again. In comparison Sakura wins hands down (I've never been too impressed with SPR's service either).
(4)Shawn L.
I have only been to this place one time. I actually forget about this place. The one time I went the service and food were great.
(4)Cory P.
Joyce Roll will change your life. Peanut dressing on salad is fantastic, too Never had a bad experience here
(4)Chealsy L.
They have a great sushi bar and personally speaking I am more accustomed to benihanas and stix and even thought their rolls are smaller their flavor can directly compete with those high dollar places.
(5)Ann-Marie T.
This location is just as good as the one in Germantown! I will definitely be going more often. Sakura is my favorite place to get sushi. You get SO much sushi for what you pay. It surprises me every time. The mango roll is my favorite and it always is very fresh. I was surprised how quiet it was, but it was a Tuesday night. It was extremely clean and the sushi bar was really cool. They had multiple TVs at the sushi bar. Absolutely love the place and it is by far the best sushi spot in Memphis!
(5)Jordan B.
Found this place thanks to Yelp and took my Boyfriend for part one of his birthday this past weekend. Let's just say I'm glad I had a part two... The service overall was mediocre. We arrived at about 9pm; close to closing time. I hoped against hope that we would still be served well. I guess I should have known lol. The hostess was sweet and effective. She was great about providing a birthday dessert that fit his dietary needs! Our server was nice. However, we had some trouble communicating with her. Unfortunately, they decided that making our table close ready was an appropriate thing to do while we were eating. "Can you pass me the salt and pepper?" "Can I have your soy sauce?" Sigh. The food was...decent. To start we got the Tuna Tataki from the Sushi bar. It was good. I'm a sucker for seared tuna. For dinner I ordered the Spicy Tuna and some Shrimp roll I can't remember. Both were just... there. Nothing memorable. I didn't finish either. He ordered the Mackerel he loved it. I tasted it. It was good and the rice was so fluffy! He also ordered Unagi, his favorite. I didn't get to taste it, it left his plate so fast. I assume that means it was good. He also ordered a Salmon roll which he wasn't a fan of. For his birthday dessert they were kind enough to swap out the ice cream for the mango sorbet. We enjoyed it. The banana tempura is delicious! The menu is OVERWHELMING. Tons of options. FYI: No reservations on Fridays. -_- Also, it was a little hard to find. It's behind a liquor store (not really visible from the street) and tucked in a corner with a European Wax Center. In sum, it was a decent enough place. Not somewhere I will keep as a special occasion restaurant though. He just moved out to Memphis so I'm hoping he'll keep his ears out for new restaurants for us. Until then, Yelp it is!
(3)Vim I.
I'm so happy I could burst! Sakura has finally opened up its location in East Memphis--so I no longer have to trek over to Germantown to get my sushi fix--(sorry Germantown location--you still hold a special place in my heart but having my favorite sushi place closer to home is definitely a good thing). It's in the Erinway shopping center--at Poplar and St Nick. From what I heard, Sakura officially opened their doors on July 9th. I was very impressed with the ambiance of this restaurant--the decor is very inviting. The first thing you notice is how big it is...I think it could accommodate large parties better than the Germantown location and there's a much bigger wait area and bar. Most importantly, the sushi was spot-on--just what i would expect from Sakura. I had the Joyce roll, Sexy Lady, Tornado and Spicy Tuna. Our server was also wonderful and attentive. Until they secure their alcohol permit, they are allowing customers to bring their own wine--but I'm sure this will be temporary. Call ahead to find out.
(5)Vickie W.
With some hesitation I post this review. I read other reviews and decided to try the Joyce roll last night. Wow were the reviews right. It is now one of my favorites. I added a cali roll and had plenty of food. Definitely having the Joyce roll again and again
(5)Wayne R.
I don't know what the hype is about, but this place is sub par. The quality is not there (the food was cold). The wait staff was not great. The price to pay for what you get is not worth it, in my opinion.
(2)Vickie W.
With some hesitation I post this review. I read other reviews and decided to try the Joyce roll last night. Wow were the reviews right. It is now one of my favorites. I added a cali roll and had plenty of food. Definitely having the Joyce roll again and again
(5)Katie K.
I had heard to try this location of Sakura by many people so we finally tried it out. The sushi was phenominal! You get so much sushi at a super affordable price. The volcano, mexico, and mango roll were my favorites! Also, the peach and green apple saki were so refreshing. Very casual spot with great sushi.
(5)Richard B.
This place has the best sushi in town by far! Their rolls are huge and I have yet to have one that I did not like.
(5)Julia S.
I've been there once soon after they opened on Poplar. It's much closer to midtown. We went there for dinner in Saturday. Make sure you look carefully when driving; it's easy to miss it. They have parking lot right by the entrance. The interior feels very good & new, and the best thing I like is that this place was not those super-noisy restaurants, just good for regular conversations. They have TV playing sports, although I don't remember if they had a bar. They provide hot towels, which was very nice (that was a really cold evening!) and the restroom was clean. We had sushi, udon and unagi don (eel with steamed rice), and I ordered a fried tofu as appetizer. Everyone had their main course at the same time. Their price is modest in Memphis, in comparison with several other places we used to go, and the Unagi Don I ordered was pretty authentic, although a little bit too sweet. The sushi was also good for their price. Will definitely go back again.
(4)David J.
Food was great but some of the worst service I've ever had. First it took the server 20min to take our order and she basically ignored us the entire time we were there. We and other patrons Practically had to chase her down to get napkins and utensils. About 50min in we received 3 of our 5 entrees. The other 2 meals were sushi but everyone at the table ordered a few rolls. After waiting 45min the server brought us someone else's sushi order so again we were going to have to wait. Finally she figured out our order had not been placed. She started bringing out our order 1 roll at a time which took another 15min. It made it extremely hard to enjoy our meal. Again the food was great and we will go back but was very disappointed in my first experience .
(2)Robert O.
The sushi sushi lunch is really something you need to try. It is all sushi. Well you get a bowl of soup and a ginger salad pretty standard fair. The sushi is quite nice, fresh, tasty and just what you want for a nice lunch. Is this what you would find in Japan on any corner - I think not - but most Americans wouldn't like that I think. Is this the place you can go to and be pleased with your meal and happy about the price - YES. Give this place a try and you will thank me. The speciality rolls are very tasty and the standard fare is very good also.
(5)Brian C.
Best bang for your buck in Memphis! They make the biggest, freshest rolls around and they are reasonably priced as well. The service and atmosphere are great. If you like sushi this place needs to be at the top of your list in Memphis. Good stuff!
(5)G G.
Very good sushi! The nicer rolls are a bit pricy but very tasty. Good service, will go back.
(4)Vaish P.
Yep, this is my favorite sushi place in Memphis, no question. I'm not so adventurous to eat sashimi so 5 stars for incredible speciality rolls, drinks and service. The menu is extensive but luckily they give a good description of the items so what you're eating is not a mystery. My go to rolls are Sexy Lady, Mexico and Mango roll. All the rolls are beautifully messy, fresh and delicious. Also the cool thing is that they have a lot of "off menu rolls" which you can ask your waiter about. I just discovered the Jungle roll and it's basically life altering. It's a spicy roll with an equally spicy noodle vegetable salad on top, perfection. If you like spice, order it asap!! Service is good but kinda depends on how busy they are. We usually go closer to closing time and the service is excellent and fast. Plus they give you hot towels when you are seated.! And don't forget to order a tall glass of Ichiban to complete the perfect meal.
(5)Jim H.
We had visited this Sakura several times before leaving this review. This visit was on a Thursday night around 7pm. It was steadily busy, but not packed. One of the great things here, is that you can almost always get seated as soon as you arrive. Our party ordered the chicken tempura entree, 2 pieces of albacore tuna nigiri, 2 crunchy shrimp sushi rolls, 2 vegetable rolls the Tofu Sukiyaki Don and a crunchy spicy tuna roll. The albacore tuna nigiri is usually outstanding, because of the quality and the size of the nigiri cut. My wife loves the seaweed salad. The chicken tempura is okay, but lacking a bit of flavor - definitely need the dipping sauce it comes with. The rolls are good. The Tofu Sukiyaki Don was just okay. The service is variable. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here and fortunately don't have to. But, I also wouldn't avoid it. I'll still come for the nigiri.
(3)Tom G.
I've seen some reviews that say this is the best sushi in Memphis. I can only believe this might be the only sushi restaurant those people have been to. Placed an order to go last night for - 2 crunchy shrimp rolls, 2 Eel Sashimi's, 2 Ginger salads, Miso soup, and a Pork Tonkatsu bowl. The place was packed, so this had to be a goo sign, right? Not. The salads were pretty good. The ginger dressing had a different flavor to it, but it was good. And, my wife loved the eel. That's where it stopped, however. The Miso soup, not quite sure how to describe the taste, not good? She tasted, and pushed it my way, I tasted and pushed it to the sink. The Pork Tonkatsu said it was I think fried pork, onions, eggs over rice bowl. It looked like dog poo on top of rice, didn't taste much better. Again, after about 2 bites, it made its way to the garbage. So on to the crunchy shrimp. Not so fast. There were 2 sushi rolls, but they were not crunchy shrimp. See pic posted. They were like the sushi in Kroger. I swear, they had the texture and taste of Kroger premade sushi. There was no crunch, the shrimp were not fried, no flavor at all. Well, at least there were 3 pieces consumed before they made their way to, well, you know.
(1)Jen M.
Sakura is my favorite sushi spot, my family and I come here about once a week. I definitely prefer this location over the one in Germantown. Service is better at this one, however even the service here can be hit or miss. Most of the time it is good, though. Sometimes parking can be a pain, the lot gets crowded and you have to park on the side street and walk up a ways. Some of our usual meals are the Joyce roll, the Alaska roll, the Alfredo roll, Tuna roll. Occasionally we get the plum wine, and sometimes I will get dessert - either green tea or red bean ice cream. I've definitely had better ice cream, plus they are a little cheap on the amount. Unless I find something better, this will remain our favorite sushi spot.
(4)Logan H.
Best sushi in Memphis!!! Can't go wrong with the Mexico roll or the Sakura roll. I try to go try something different each time and I haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)Andy S.
The food is not too expensive, which is a plus. It's Japanese food. We pretty much all went with sushi. I had the miso soup, which was what I expected. i also had the edamame, which was also fine. I ordered the sushi sampler which had several nigiri rolls. My friends ordered specialty rolls. They were amazing! Unfortunately, I can't remember the names, but I would definitely go for the specialty rolls. Of course, the specialty ones are more expensive, but well worth it. They are also filling. A person doesn't need to order very many. The server was nice and asked my friend if she really wanted the amount of rolls that she ordered because there were so many.
(4)Karen Y.
Food is great but had a really bad experience with a waitress that was nowhere to be found. Manager needs to train the waiters/waitresses better. I will not be going back.
(1)Hannah G.
In search of some good sushi, my husband and I found this place. We got there right at dinner, and about ten minutes after we arrived, the crowds came flooding in. That's almost always a good sign that you're in a good place! There isn't much left to say that hasn't already been said. I ate some of my husband's food and it was delicious. I ordered the Chicken tempura and would have eaten more than half of it if it wasn't such a huge plate of food. We really enjoyed our experience here and have probably found a new staple in our regular places!
(4)Cory P.
Joyce Roll will change your life. Peanut dressing on salad is fantastic, too Never had a bad experience here
(4)Chealsy L.
They have a great sushi bar and personally speaking I am more accustomed to benihanas and stix and even thought their rolls are smaller their flavor can directly compete with those high dollar places.
(5)Ashley F.
My husband and I love Sakura. We have been regular visitors since before this much more convenient location opened. Service is always great, atmosphere is warm and inviting and the rolls are why we keep coming back. I noticed that the negative reviews mostly come from people that order the most basic sushi rolls. This place is about the deluxe, big portion, American style sushi rolls. Messy, saucy, crunchy, yummy. Sometimes we start by splitting the delightful mermaid salad. Wonderful chopped pieces of raw salmon, tuna, avocado, cucumber, flying fish roe and spicy mayo. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! The big raves are for the Joyce Roll, but I just don't like fried rolls. I'm sure it's great for those that love them. There are three rolls we consistently order, though we do occasionally omit one so we can try something new on the menu. So far, the same three rolls are still on top. The Mardi Gras, Mexico and Mother of All Rolls (the 3 M's). The Mardi Gras is sweet, crunchy with delicate pieces of tuna and salmon layered on top. The Mexico is creamy and crunchy and salty. And the Mother is difficult to describe because it has so many textures and flavors going on and a dipping sauce that complements it. These three have never failed us. And by the time the bill arrives, we are usually completely stuffed and have to take home leftovers. The cost is extremely reasonable considering we have in the past spent twice as much at Sekisui, with no leftovers and still a bit on the hungry side. If you visit Sakura, you won't really experience it unless you stray away from the rolls you know. It's all about their special rolls.
(5)Joe A.
Excellent sushi! The specialty rolls are very large and delicious. Everyone I went with was very happy with their meal. One of the better if not best sushi places I have had in memphis yet.
(5)Miss M.
The mermaid salad....delicious! I the Madison roll!! I think ill be back. The waitress was very helpful and nice helping with my handroll options!! Great place!! This was take out. Next time ill dine in!
(5)Corey E.
Hey, what can I say, I'm a sushi guy. If you are a sushi person then I highly suggest you check out Sakura on Poplar Ave. This place is very nice. I haven't had one bad sushi roll entree here yet. The restaurant is very clean and neat and the staff are always pleasant and friendly. The sushi is some of the best in the city. My all-time favorite roll here is the Sexy Lady. And trust me she is one sexy roll! This roll is has shrimp tempura, snow crab mix, cajun tuna and avocado. My second favorite here is the Joyce Roll. The Joyce is deep fried with crawfish, shrimp tempura, fish eggs, avocado, and sauce. You can't go wrong with either roll.
(5)Haven M.
Only issue here is that it is not a buffet, the sushi is good and fresh. Joyce and Alfredo rolls are my favorite. I need to try other rolls. Nice cozy restaurant.
(5)Lee C.
Unfortunately there are a lot of places in Memphis that are starting to sneak some weird chopped fish-meal like substance in or on their sushi, it's disgusting! This place is great! The rolls are HUGE and oh so delicious! Let's see, we ordered the Mexico, the Joyce, and the Sexy Lady. The sexy lady was just okay but, oh my, the Mexico and the Joyce were amazing!!! The joyce was definitely the most original roll I've ever had and I will definitely be back for more. I'm usually a nigiri orderer but I only saw rolls and a sashimi appetizer. I didn't ask further, we just ordered rolls this time. I'd like to know about nigiri the next time I come here though because it seems odd that they'd have sashimi and rolls but not nigiri. Anyway, don't pass it up. For the size of these rolls the prices are very reasonable and you'll probably have left overs for a midnight snack!!
(4)Manuel S.
Hungry for sushi once more. Based on reviews this looked like a good option so I gave it a try. Service was friendly from the moment I walked in, beer cold with a cold glass, that is always a good start. I sat at the bar and promptly they brought me a hot towel that smelled of Clorox (well at least was clean) I ordered the big time roll and a couple of sushis. The cooks are all Mexican being led by a Japanese guy, I think it is a good sign, every time a Mexican has prepared my sushi has been outstanding. So sushi and roll arrived and looked good portions are big, above average but the roll they cut it in way too many pieces, it is easier to eat but they are too thin and come apart. It was fresh and flavor was ok, may be not the best option for my taste but I am sure they have other good rolls nevertheless the eel was kind of dry. Afterward to finish I ordered the Green Tea Ice cream, it had a good flavor and portion again was big, it was creamy but had bits of ice which makes it loose the flavor and texture in your mouth. Over all was a good experience, if you are around don't be fraud to stop by and try. As for me, I'm not local so when I'm visiting again I will try a different place. Be safe enjoy food!!
(3)Cris W.
The food here is just as good as the offerings from their sister restaurant in Germantown. Excellent service, too. I highly recommend the Joyce and Alfredo rolls.
(5)Robert B.
Best sushi in Memphis, hands down! The albacore Nigiri is excellent, as is everything else on the menu. Very friendly and attentive staff.
(5)Sam S.
Went here with a coworker, we were visiting from out of town. The ambiance is nice, and they bring a warm wash cloth to the table (as one would expect at a place that has decent sashimi). However, the food quality was mediocre at best. We started with tempura squid. It wasn't tempura, it was beaded. The squid wasn't properly cleaned/prepared. Overall, heavy on the Panko, light on flavor. We ordered 5 cut rolls and 2 sushi (nigiri). The rolls were blah, huge portions but poor quality. You could tell the wasabi was left out, it was hard and starting to turn color on the outside. Also the sushi was not as fresh as it should be, the rice was a little hard and the seaweed papers were chewy. I'm not sure if it's the location, or the part of the country but, I would not go back here for sushi.
(2)Sebastian D.
Sakura is by far the best Asian restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee. It has wonderful service, a warm atmosphere, great selection of food, and even clean bathrooms! I was seriously impressed with the decor. A lot of Asian restaurants have tacky and obligatory Chinese or Japanese decor, but everything in this restaurant was nice. It had a very warm feeling and the furniture was comfortable. We were greeted swiftly upon arrival by a very kind waiter. He seated us and was very attentive. He understood it was our first time here and was willing to answer any questions we had. We never had to wait too long for any drink refills or to order our food! Most importantly, the food was EXCELLENT! There was a plethora of wonderful choices on the menu. The menu is decently made and easy to understand. Some restaurants just don't completely explain what you're going to get, but don't worry about there here. I had the Sushi and Teriyaki Beef and it was fantastic! The sushi that comes with the meat is only four pieces with assorted fish. It sounds basic, but it was really tasty! The beef, unbeknownst to me, was actually steak. It was delicious! Next time I will try their sushi rolls, which my grandmother had. Portions are large, and well worth the money! I recommend the clear soup and creamy peanut dressing if you get a dinner meal. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody who wants to try a nice, professional Asian restaurant!
(5)Hunter M.
Good sushi, good prices. Nothing was necessarily outstanding but it was still enjoyable.
(3)Rayce W.
Sakura is my favorite sushi spot in Memphis. I've tried a lot of different rolls there and I am yet to be disappointed. The Joyce, the Phoenix, the Dragon are my favorites. The service is always is good too and the warm towels before the meal are a nice touch.
(5)Cedric B.
This place has the freshest sushi in Memphis. The Sexy Lady, Mexico Roll, and Joyce Roll are my favs.
(5)Brittney H.
I know, I know... Here I go again with my love for sushi, but y'all....... their sushi is kick ass! I have never had anything I didn't like!
(4)Joelle P.
Ok...the sushi was good. Real good. But I have to deduct 1 1/2 stars for the service...but I'll round it back up to 4 because my sashimi was just that delightful. The waitresses barked at us, gave no personal interaction, kept asking if we were ready...done...wanted anything else, and generally treated us as an imposition. Not impressed. I have to spend a minute on the sashimi though because it was amazing. The fresh salmon made me never want to eat salmon anywhere else. And the cuts were quite generous. Everything was well-priced and I have to admit that I probably won't be going to SPR again. In comparison Sakura wins hands down (I've never been too impressed with SPR's service either).
(4)Shawn L.
I have only been to this place one time. I actually forget about this place. The one time I went the service and food were great.
(4)Justin B.
I'm rather appalled at the great reviews for this place. As a Japanophile and lover of genuine, authentic Japanese cuisine, I've tried most of the Japanese restaurants in Memphis. Unfortunately, we don't have a great many that are very good. While I tried the Sakura near Saddle Creek some years back after coming home from Japan and really enjoying their ramen, I had not been to this location. I went with a party of about 30-40 people, which they were able to handle surprisingly well. The service is not my complaint, in fact the service was pretty good. However, I take issue with the food. If what you want is an Americanized version of Japanese food, then you can probably dismiss my opinion. However, don't be fooled into thinking this is anywhere close to good Japanese food. It simply resembles Japanese. Everything I had, from the yakitori to the sushi was a disappointment. I found myself wondering if they had ever seen Japanese food before? I would put it even below Osaka in terms of authenticity and flavor (and you can go see my review for them to see what I think there). For casual sushi lovers, this is probably a decent choice. Lots of variety and the sushi itself isn't bad if that's what you want. But the actual entrees are an insult to real Japanese cuisine. Go elsewhere if you want authenticity. If you don't care, then it's probably fine.
(2)Raymond B.
"Sushi in Memphis" is basically an oxymoron. Partly because there are so few places, but mainly because there is always cooked / fried items in everything. All that said, when the craving hits, we go to Sakura (on Poplar, behind a weird looking liquor store). Let's break it down on why the "A-Ok" three stars: - Nice service, they're good peoples... but unfortunately the 'sushi bar' is just not great. Where the great sushi places have chefs that interact directly with you, and serve your sushi in the rhythm which you are eating, these guys are behind a bar that is way too high up to basically see the diners, they don't talk to you, and have their head down the whole time. Then you get everything all at once. Not ideal, and not what makes a good sushi restaurant. - The non-sushi food is okay. Edamame, standard... udon, eh... yakitori, sure... and a million other options are on the menu. They have some fun Japanese items you rarely get in the states (i.e. hiyayako), but nothing is "blow your mind stellar." - The sushi has always been pretty good. There are a billion roll options (read: 76 options... I kid you not), but I have yet to find one that makes me say "Oh, let's definitely remember that one." In the end, it satisfies the sushi cravings, but doesn't make you say "Let's come back soon!" I don't want to give the place a bad name, because we have so few locations for such cuisine in Memphis, but I would really like to see Sakura or another one of these places (i.e. Sekisui, BlueFin, etc.) step up their game to establish a "must go" Sushi restaurant.
(3)Shu J.
This restaurant makes the most generous of sushi servings you have ever seen! Try the Mango roll, but I'm warning you about future cravings.
(4)Mary Kate M.
This really is as good as it gets. Solid menu, drinks, and service. My family and my best friend came here for dinner. We ended up having wine and a few sushi rolls in addition to having miso soups. Specialty rolls come with 10-12 pieces. They're slightly more expensive, but 100% totally worth getting outside of your traditional California or Philly roll which were only $5 and under. All very fresh and creative items with clever names. Just to name a couple -- the Mango roll and Joe roll are amazing. My friend who is vegetarian was able to find some options for herself that otherwise she might not have gotten if she went to Sekisui. She liked her tofu item and asparagus roll. It worked for her. When I'm in Memphis again, this will definitely be my go to sushi from here on out. Sorry, Sekisui, you've lost a customer.
(5)Ann-Marie T.
This location is just as good as the one in Germantown! I will definitely be going more often. Sakura is my favorite place to get sushi. You get SO much sushi for what you pay. It surprises me every time. The mango roll is my favorite and it always is very fresh. I was surprised how quiet it was, but it was a Tuesday night. It was extremely clean and the sushi bar was really cool. They had multiple TVs at the sushi bar. Absolutely love the place and it is by far the best sushi spot in Memphis!
(5)Rick S.
Great food. Needs a reservation systems as it is fairly small and tables tend to linger. Also when we went the air conditioning was not working, which in the South is a definite negative. There was one fan when management should have made the meager investment in more. Also the use of outdoor space is woefully underutilized. There is a front and back patio area that could accommodate more seating (4 tops). Our server is friendly and accommodating. He was apologetic about the temperature.
(4)Ashley H.
Sushi here is very good. Also like the peanut dressing.
(4)David G.
I had the Sushi & Teriyaki Salmon. It was delicious. I had enough to take some home and I am not a light eater. It comes with Miso soup, salad, cole slaw, rice, a bit of seaweed salad and a piece of onion thinly sliced and dipped in tempura and fried. Our waiter was Kingman. He was excellent. Very personable and friendly.
(5)Rayna L.
Love it!! Love it!!! Best roll is jungle roll add garlic. BBQ squid is super delicious since it's not fried. Drank it down with some yummy flavor sake.
(5)Halsey J.
Some of the best sushi and service I have ever had! The rolls are HUGE!! We had a house salad with the peanut dressing each. That was the best dressing I've ever eaten! My boyfriend had to stop me from picking up the bowl and drinking it. ;) I'm a classy gal! We ordered 3 rolls thinking that would be just enough. It was more than enough! They were delicious too! I liked the sexy lady and the Joyce. I tried the Mexico roll once when my roommate brought some home and it too was fabulous! Overall, great experience! I will be returning!
(5)Kamille W.
I have mixed feelings about how to write this review. On the one hand, I have no complaints about Sakura. However, it's not like a have a ton of praise for it either. To be fair, my brother almost lost a finger when he picked a couple of pieces of veggie tempura from my plate -- that tempura was SO good. However, sweet potatoes/onions/zucchini + batter + hot pan = delicious 99.9% of the time, so I would have been shocked if I didn't love Sakura's version. Other than that though, I don't have strong feelings about the food. The sushi was competently done, and my brother's katsudon was tasty enough. Everything seemed to be fairly priced, and the service was good. I'm giving Sakura three stars because it simply didn't make much of an impression on me. I don't think I'll be back. That shouldn't dissuade you, though. For sushi in Memphis, you could do much, much worse. Try Sakura yourself and see what you think.
(3)Susie B.
Make sure you're hungry or you're going to over- order. It specializes in American size sushi portions and lots if fried and sauced rolls. The Dynamite roll is my staple here and I order the Sushi lunch. (12.95) I'm not a fan of the tempura - battered rolls. But, the standard sushi meats are fresh and well prepped.
(5)Hailey B.
We had shrimp tempura for an appetizer. Fried noodles with shrimp and vegetables as a second appetizer. Four sushi rolls and some Masago. Sooooo good. And the service was awesome and everyone was really nice. Def recommend and will be back!
(5)Jordan B.
Found this place thanks to Yelp and took my Boyfriend for part one of his birthday this past weekend. Let's just say I'm glad I had a part two... The service overall was mediocre. We arrived at about 9pm; close to closing time. I hoped against hope that we would still be served well. I guess I should have known lol. The hostess was sweet and effective. She was great about providing a birthday dessert that fit his dietary needs! Our server was nice. However, we had some trouble communicating with her. Unfortunately, they decided that making our table close ready was an appropriate thing to do while we were eating. "Can you pass me the salt and pepper?" "Can I have your soy sauce?" Sigh. The food was...decent. To start we got the Tuna Tataki from the Sushi bar. It was good. I'm a sucker for seared tuna. For dinner I ordered the Spicy Tuna and some Shrimp roll I can't remember. Both were just... there. Nothing memorable. I didn't finish either. He ordered the Mackerel he loved it. I tasted it. It was good and the rice was so fluffy! He also ordered Unagi, his favorite. I didn't get to taste it, it left his plate so fast. I assume that means it was good. He also ordered a Salmon roll which he wasn't a fan of. For his birthday dessert they were kind enough to swap out the ice cream for the mango sorbet. We enjoyed it. The banana tempura is delicious! The menu is OVERWHELMING. Tons of options. FYI: No reservations on Fridays. -_- Also, it was a little hard to find. It's behind a liquor store (not really visible from the street) and tucked in a corner with a European Wax Center. In sum, it was a decent enough place. Not somewhere I will keep as a special occasion restaurant though. He just moved out to Memphis so I'm hoping he'll keep his ears out for new restaurants for us. Until then, Yelp it is!
(3)Vim I.
I'm so happy I could burst! Sakura has finally opened up its location in East Memphis--so I no longer have to trek over to Germantown to get my sushi fix--(sorry Germantown location--you still hold a special place in my heart but having my favorite sushi place closer to home is definitely a good thing). It's in the Erinway shopping center--at Poplar and St Nick. From what I heard, Sakura officially opened their doors on July 9th. I was very impressed with the ambiance of this restaurant--the decor is very inviting. The first thing you notice is how big it is...I think it could accommodate large parties better than the Germantown location and there's a much bigger wait area and bar. Most importantly, the sushi was spot-on--just what i would expect from Sakura. I had the Joyce roll, Sexy Lady, Tornado and Spicy Tuna. Our server was also wonderful and attentive. Until they secure their alcohol permit, they are allowing customers to bring their own wine--but I'm sure this will be temporary. Call ahead to find out.
(5)Jeannine H.
okay I have gotten out of the habit of writing reviews...but it is definitely time to get back in the game. It was a stressful saturday and I was hungry midday....for some reason I was craving suishi. Now I must admit to still being a bit leary of non cooked sushi and sashimi in the interior of the country I still confess to being a pushover for a nice non-traditional cooked roll from time to time. Shoot me I am not a sushi purist. I had seen the Sakura on Popular tucked into a little corner strip mall across from the gas station and thought I would give them a try instead of driving all the way out to my usual haunt Akasaka or to their Germantown location. I must say I was plesantly surprised. The atmosphere was nice, serene and refreshing. I love the nice hot towel they give you to clean your hands when you sit down....and the server I had was very helpful with suggestions. I had heard about their Joyce roll...and as it was on several lists of best things to eat in Memphis I figured I would get that....but also started with some salad and pot stickers. In addition to the Joyce roll I also got the Mango roll....their portions are good sized so I ended up taking stuff home for later What can I say....rarely does a food item live up to the hype but the Joyce roll was all that a bag of chips and a side of fries. lots of interesting flavors and textures going on. one of the better inventive rolls I have not just in Memphis....but ever. The mango roll was tasty as well. the salad I could have done without...which I think the issue there was the dressing....I think unless you have a peanut allergy you should get the peanut dressing...the Ginger dressing is NOT good something off with the flavor....too much ginger and too much acidity in the dressing make for a not at all enjoyable experience, The pot stickers were very tasty and well done. So if you are hanging like I was at the Target off colonial and want a nice sushi break in a great atmosphere....this is the place for you.
(4)Stephanie C.
I have died and gone to "omgmyfavoritesushirestaurantnowhasalocationalmostÂinmyneighborhood" heaven:. Did you know there was such a place? There is. It's called Sakura - and they now have a location in East Memphis. Half the drive for me as the original location. H.E.A.V.E.N. - OK - I don't know what to say other than go here. Eat here. Order white tuna sashimi, the joyce roll, and the alfredo roll. You will go home more than happy. My husband was a little jealous of the noises I was making with each bite... We'll just leave it at that.
(5)Paul C.
It's tough to find good sushi in Memphis, but this place definitely hits the spot. I'll give you that the rolls with sauces are a bit on the bland side, but the fish is fresh and tasty. If you're more into the rolls and cooked food, the stuff here is slightly above average. I'll give the nod because their rolls are definitely larger than the average sushi place. If you're into the nigri or sashimi, then this place is for you easily, as the fish is fresh and tasty. If you're more into rolls AND getting the best bang for your buck then this is your place. The apps that we tried (the pickled veggies and agedashi tofu were very well done. The decor is nice as well, fine for a date. I'll definitely be coming back to Sakura as the food is definitely above average for a Memphis Japanese restaurant.
(4)Jonathan R.
Excellent food and atmosphere! Great service! Will be back soon! Really liked the Tropical Roll for something fruity and refreshing.
(5)Casey B.
This is one if my go to sushi spots. I used to get the sushi lunch combo. It includes 3 rolls and soup and salad. Not bad for the price at all. Ever since my friend introduced me to the Joyce roll, I haven't looked back. It is amazing!! Someone posted a picture of it on here. If you haven't had it you gotta check it out. It's a big roll but they cut it into quarters so you don't have to stuff your mouth or bite it in half and spill the fillings (which annoys me with the large rolls but I still love em).
(5)Lisa R.
I am a sushi fanatic, and this is definitely the best sushi I've had in Memphis. The rolls are HUGE (so you don't need to order a bunch of sushi to fill you up!) and everything I've tried has been delicious. I come here every time I can get my boyfriend to go for sushi!
(5)Daniel M.
I think my favorite thing about this place is that they start your meal off in a different way than most. They give you a hot towel. Don't be surprised. It's so you can wipe off your hands before you use them to eat. This is especially useful for those who aren't "handy" with chopsticks. I work nearby and come here for lunch sometimes. The service is quick and friendly. The lunch special of pick 3 rolls is what keeps me coming back. The sushi always delivers on taste and originality.
(4)Amanda C.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for Sakura yet. Why, you ask? Because I eat here nearly once a week. Don't you judge me. I have a slight addiction to Sakura's Mango Roll. It is filled with shirmp, asparagus, crab mix, avocado and mango and mango sauce on top. It is absolutely delicious, and the one of the best rolls I have ever eaten. Every time I go, I get this delicious roll. And, I justify it because it has mango and asparagus. Fruit and veggies = healthy. A few other rolls that I love are the Mexico, the Joyce, the Shrimp Tempura, the Gustavo and the Crunchy Shrimp. Yes, I eat here a lot. No, I'm not ashamed.
(5)Wayne R.
I don't know what the hype is about, but this place is sub par. The quality is not there (the food was cold). The wait staff was not great. The price to pay for what you get is not worth it, in my opinion.
(2)Michael L.
Pretty fucking good. POSITIVE: +Attentive staff +Delicious fish +Spicy rolls that actually taste like spice rather than seasoned mayonaise. +Comfortable booths NEGATIVE: -Location is kinda hidden if you're not familiar with the area. BOTTOM LINE: I'll definitely come back my next trip to town. After several disappointments from following Yelp's advice, it was good to finally have one pay off.
(4)Sarah L.
I have always heard good things about Sakura but I've been a couple of times and never really enjoyed it. The ginger dressing on their house salad isn't good, and that's one of my favorite types of salads. The sushi was mediocre, nothing special.
(2)Mindy W.
Sakura is one of our favorite places to eat sushi. The Joe roll, my favorite as I don't do raw seafood, is wonderful. My only partial complaint is that I prefer it with soy paper instead of seaweed and they charge an extra $2.50 which makes it a bit pricey BUT you get a lot of food. I know that they charge more, so I have the option to order it as is! The service has always been good, so no complaints there. I like the newness of the East Memphis location. Germantown's food and service are great also. I highly recommend Sakura.
(4)Vicki M.
This meal was less than special. We ordered the lunch special with three rolls. The rolls with snow crab have more of a mild snow crab salad in them... and not much taste. The spicy tuna and dynamite rolls tasted and looked like the fish had been mixed with salsa. I would NOT recommend the rolls on the lunch special. Save your time/money/taste buds.
(2)Lauren H.
This use to be the best sushi in Memphis. As a a frequent diner of this restaurant over the last 5 or 6 years, I have noticed a big change recently. Every roll you get now is stuffed full of a fake crab meat, mayonnaise concoction - They use it in every single roll. It's either stuffed inside it or they have it packed on top of the roll. We ordered nine rolls and it was literally all we could taste - they all tasted the same. Too bad - use to be one of my favorites but I dont know if I will go back again.
(2)K. K.
Consistent and kid friendly. Solid soups, salads, and the sushi is always fresh and the correct temperature. Some of the over sized rolls are a little ridicules but just ask if the roll is regular size or large so you do not over.order. I like sashimi (simple), miso soup, and the dynamite roll is great. Great sushi for the price. A must visit for anyone seeking good sushi in Memphis.
(4)Caitie C.
Best place for sushi lovers hands down. I have been to many Japanese restaurants and nothing compares to the rolls and there selection. I always enjoy the caterpillar, Jackson, crunchy and dynamite roll. Must go to if you love fresh sushi!
(5)Jason Y.
Joyce, DJ, Sexy Lady plus 5 other jumbo rolls. Excellent sushi everytime here! Great service too. Ask for Betty!
(5)Ben B.
I have visited this place only once and came away really impressed. The sushi was well priced and were above average in size. If you are in town and looking for a sushi fix, i suggest you stop here.
(4)Barbara S.
Coming from California, I was curious about sushi here. I can tell you the miso soup and sashimi appetizer was fabulous and just the right portion for dinner. Glad I came here on vacation.
(4)