I'm so sad they closed down their branch in Kihei! I always love to come here for a good Japanese meal. I haven't had a bad meal here. They're always busy. Good idea to make reservations always. We came early for the happy hour special. Lucky we got in.

This place was recommended to me by a friend who was here years ago. I was looking forward to sushi but when I arrived just before they opened I waited in my car for the closed sign to change to open. Never did so I walked up to the door and saw a sign that said sorry due to a water outage we are closed today. Very disappointed but gave them the four stars based on the recommendation and information from my friend. Interesting parking lot, saw a family of chickens walking around..

Great service, excellent food! Got there and was promptly seated. We ordered some sushi rolls, panko crusted ahi, 30 day dry aged ribeye, and apple tart for dessert. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Go in and ask for Jar. She's been working there for over 14 years and will recommend great dishes. Support local and dine here for your next family meal.

If you like eating at the bargain price, come here for their half off happy hour (well, happy half hour). It's from 5:00 to 5:30 on Sunday and Monday only, but they limit the number of people who can partake. The line outside started to form at about 3:30, but we arrived a little after 4 and were safe. Bring a folding chair, enjoy the sunshine, and chat with the other patrons while you wait. The hostess came out to get names of the patiently waiting groups of customers and the number of people in each party. She said 70 people would be included in the happy hour. Groups were staggered in seating, so the staff wasn't overwhelmed. We were shown to our table, and Jarnelle took our orders. It's a good idea to study the menu ahead of time because you can't negotiate for a lot of extra time to make up your mind. You should have some backup choices, too, just in case. I wanted the pan seared catch of the day, but it wasn't available. Well, the restaurant had just opened. How could they be out of the catch of the day already? No, I didn't ask. Never mind. Just move on. Our other choices were the miso soup, dragonfly roll, rainbow roll, and spider roll. I'm not sure why they call it a spider roll when it contains soft shell crab, but I remember a 3 stooges episode where Larry thought a crab was a tarantula. Anyway, our food arrived in about 15 minutes. The miso soup was very good. Likewise for the dragonfly roll and the rainbow roll. The spider roll was disappointing, though. Not much flavor and chewy. Maybe the soft shell wasn't so soft? The sauces on the plate provided some much needed flavor. Anyway, it was a nice meal and we had a good time talking story with friends.

I still think since a sushi is a good restaurant since this last review, they've moved locations they updated a former sports bar That seems a little too basic for the nice restaurant that sensei. This is our first post pandemic visit to the restaurant and most of front of house have changed They were pleasant and professional but something seems a little bit missing. the happy hour covers there signature rolls, but there the beef which this restaurant does very well unfortunately is no longer included. Everything we ate was very good. The drinks are very good this is still a very good restaurant. It's still a good deal but our happy hour meal with some drinks came out to a little bit less than $200. The price reflects the quality of the food and the cost of operations. I just wish the place had a little bit warmer, feeling, which I remember the old location having

When sitting down to write a review for Sansei, I got the option to 'update my review' ...don't even recall ever writing a review for Sansei Kihei as we usually go to the location in Kapalua. It looks like I wrote a review for the Kihei location in 2010, so this must've been the last time we ate at this location. I am happy to report that the food, service, and ambiance are all as consistent and solid as I remember this location being. On a recent trip to Maui, we were lucky enough to get a reservation for 13 people at the Kapalua location. Unluckily, we got a call the day of our reservation informing us that the Kapalua location will be closed for a few days due to a Covid outbreak so they had to cancel our reservation. As busy as Maui was, we didn't think we would be able to get a reservation anywhere else much less Sansei's Kihei location. I decided to take my chances and try anyway. Nicholas answered the phone and was accommodating and so awesome! He was able to get us a table the same night. Upon arriving, we were seated right away even though the restaurant was pretty busy. Our server came to take drink orders shortly after. We went a little crazy with the food and ordered: Panko crusted ahi sashimi Shrimp dynamite - still one of our faves Crispy fried calamari - the one dish we won't order again - it wasn't bad, just average Roasted Japanese eggplant - can't believe we never ordered this in the past, it is so delish Crab ramen Mom's teriyaki steak - used to be called Maui style teriyaki beef Miso butterfish - another fave Calif roll, unagi roll, Hawaiian rainbow roll, salmon skin roll, negihama roll, spicy hamachi roll, dragonfly roll, red snapper sashimi, ahi tuna sashimi Kauai pie A dessert must order is the granny smith apple tart with ice-cream. We always order this when dining at Sansei and never share! We all get our own order of this dessert no matter how full we are! If discounts are your thing, visit Sansei on Sunday or Monday. Every Sunday and Monday, there is a 50% off between 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM on most of the dishes on their menu. Check specific location for exact times and days this is offered. Parking is plenty as the restaurant has a lot onsite. Overall rating is 4-stars, but Sansei gets an extra star for the full 5-stars in my book as we have been dining here for many years and is always a stop whenever we are in Oahu or Maui. Consistency matters to me and Sansei is always consistent.

The first Sansei with plenty of empty tables on 50% discount Sundays and Mondays before 6pm. Tried to get a reservation here three weeks in advance, and they said thanks but no thanks. If I had called 22 days in advance they would have taken it. Told Yelper De A. and her husband that we would stand in line for them, starting at 4:45pm, half an hour before they open at 5:15pm, to get the 50% off discount available until 6pm on Sundays and Mondays. Got here at 4:15pm, and sizeable lines, one for those with reservations, and one for those without reservations. Employee with clipboard comes out taking down last name and numbers in each party. 4:53pm they start letting those with reservations in. 4:58pm, we go in without DeA and her husband in sight, letting them know our last name. Our two arrive, just as we are about to start ordering. Prices are normal prices before 50% discount. The $5 sunomona is sliced cucumbers soaked in a tangy citrus juice. Decent portion size for the price. Would order again. The $20 teriyaki beef comes with a heavy sauce over sliced beef, with lettuce underneath. The lettuce soaks up the excess sauce, and prevents the meat from drowning in sauce. Not available at Sansei Waikoloa. The $17 69 roll is one of my favorite rolls, a California roll of crab, avocado, and cucumber, topped with unagi, $23 miso butterfish comes as 5 chunks, delicate and delicious in a sauce to give it flavor. Same dish is $50 for 7 ounces at Roy's Waikiki. $5 wok tossed local vegetables comes with too much black bean sauce -the dish is drowning in it. Notable in that no bell peppers, as too costly in Hawaii. We arrived 45 minutes baking in the sun in the standing line outside. All unnecessary as people arriving at 5pm had no trouble getting a table. A first for Sansei, compared to the Waikiki and Waikoloa locations.