Michael Holland - Updated on November 15th, 2024
We analyzed 75 recent customer reviews using our unique SENTY75 system to uncover whether this place is a hit or a miss.
Check out what we found.
What is Sakura Sushi Japanese Restaurant?
Sakura Sushi has been serving creative Japanese food in Coral Springs since 1998.
This long-standing gem has been delighting locals for decades with its artfully crafted rolls, warm service, and enjoyable private booth dining experience.
The quality of their experiences is reflected in their Google and SENTY75 ratings.
As you see, Sakura has attracted well over 800 lifetime Google reviews with a 4.4 rating. And 75 recent customers agree with that rating, as per the SENTY75 score of 4.3.
But let’s see what’s lurking in the details.
Top Current Customer Sentiments
First, the following tables highlight the overall vibes and impressions recent diners got from their visit.
Positive Sentiments Explained
Here’s a closer look at what keeps diners coming back:
– With a whopping 28 mentions, the ultra-fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sushi is undoubtedly the star attraction. From innovative specialty rolls to traditional nigiri, reviewers rave about the premium, skillfully prepared fish.
– Excellent, attentive service also emerges as a major strength, praised 25 times for making diners feel truly valued and welcome like family.
– The unique private booth seating setup with sliding doors gets 19 enthusiastic callouts for cultivating an intimate, cozy ambiance perfect for date nights or relaxed meals.
17 reviews highlight the food’s overall deliciousness, indicating a commitment to quality ingredients and flavors across the entire menu.
– 14 mentions of it being a long-time local favorite.
"Food was excellent and loved the private booth the waiter was on point bringing everything without being asked since the booth doors close shut she would be prepared to have everything we needed the first time. Definitely one of my favorite places to have dinner."
Negative Sentiments Explained
While the negatives are outnumbered, there are a few recurring areas that could use some improvement based on the feedback:
– The biggest complaint, cited 9 times, is that certain dishes like the sushi rolls contain an overpowering, gummy amount of rice that overshadows the fresh fish.
– 8 reviews felt the pricing was too high, especially for Americanized or fried sushi roll selections.
-6 reviewers were let down by the limited sushi menu selection, as they hoped for more inventive options beyond the standard fare.
-5 mentions of poor, inattentive service show that this can be hit-or-miss and that it is an area where quality control needs to be tightened up.
– 4 reviews mentioned receiving old, cold, or not-so-fresh food preparations.
So, in summary, while Sakura excels on fresh, flavorful sushi and attentive service in a fun setting, tightening up execution on a few fronts could take it to an even higher level.
Top Foods & Dishes
Next, here are the tables for the top positively and negatively mentioned specific foods/dishes:
Positively Mentioned Foods/Dishes Explained
Regarding standout menu items, Sakura Sushi’s forte is its sushi offerings, as evidenced by the Positive Foods table.
– Sushi rolls, in general, received a whopping 32 separate positive mentions across the reviews.
– More specifically, the unique Mango Tango roll was a clear fan favorite called out 9 times for its delicious tropical flavor profile.
– Tuna lovers gave an 8-mention shoutout to the variety of fresh tuna nigiri, sashimi, and tuna-based rolls.
– The ramen (6 mentions) and chicken stir fry (4 mentions) dishes also earned praise for delivering delicious non-sushi options.
– So whether you’re craving traditional raw fish, creative rolls, or flavorful cooked Japanese fare, Sakura has multiple crowd-pleasers to satisfy.
Negatively Mentioned Foods/Dishes Explained
There were a few specific items that fell short of expectations:
– The sushi rice itself garnered the most criticism (11 mentions) for being overused or having an unpleasant gummy, overcooked texture that overpowered the fish.
-6 reviewers felt the sushi fish, while usually touted as fresh, sometimes failed to live up to that quality standard with skimpy, thin slices.
– A couple cooked items like the teriyaki steak (3 mentions) and spring rolls (2 mentions) missed the mark due to being overcooked or simply not fresh enough.
– On a lesser note, the spicy tuna salad had 1 mention wishing for more creative salad options beyond this standard offering.
A few minor tweaks to quality control and menu diversification could further elevate the Sakura Sushi experience.
Perceived Quality/Value Ratings for Key Foods/Dishes
Next, here’s a table that summarizes the perceived quality and value of frequently mentioned foods and dishes at Sakura Sushi based on customer reviews.
The table reveals several key insights about the food quality and customer preferences at Sakura Sushi:
• Sushi Excellence: Sushi rolls, in general, maintain a high rating of 4.5 across 32 mentions, indicating consistent quality and customer satisfaction. Specialty rolls like the Mango Tango, Coral Springs, and Hot Mama rolls received perfect 5.0 ratings, albeit with fewer mentions.
• Strong Non–Sushi Options: Ramen (4.7), Chicken Stir Fry (4.5), and Udon (4.5) all scored well, suggesting that Sakura Sushi offers quality beyond just sushi.
• Areas for Improvement: The sushi rice, a fundamental component of sushi, received a low 2.8 rating due to complaints about excessive use and texture issues.
• Mixed Performance on Cooked Dishes: While some cooked items, like the Chicken Stir Fry, performed well, others, like the Teriyaki Steak (2.3) and Spring Rolls (2.5), fell short of expectations, primarily due to preparation issues.
Overall, the data suggests that Sakura Sushi excels in its core offering of sushi, particularly with specialty rolls.
Important Note: Usually, the most passionate clients leave positive and negative reviews. So when you see a rating based on 2 or 3 mentions, don’t take that as the gospel since the sample size is so tiny. Other diners likely left great reviews but didn’t mention any particular food/dish.
Additional Bites
Here are some additional valuable insights that the reviews revealed:
• Lunch Specials: A few reviewers specifically mentioned good value lunch specials.
• Takeout Quality: Some customers noted that the quality of takeout orders matched the dine-in experience.
• Vegetarian Options: A couple of reviewers praised the variety of vegetarian sushi options available, which isn’t always common at sushi restaurants.
• Parking Availability: Several reviewers mentioned easy parking as a plus.
• Ambiance: Beyond the private booths, reviewers described the overall atmosphere as cozy and authentic Japanese, with some mentioning a sushi bar if you enjoy watching your food prepared.
• Beverage Selection: A few reviews mentioned enjoying the plum wine and commented on the limited beer selection.
• Wait Times: Some reviews indicated that the restaurant can get busy, particularly on weekends.
Fresh and delicious. They remember everyone that comes through the door. My go to sushi place!
Restaurant Cleanliness
As of this review, Sakura Sushi was inspected by the Florida Health Department in July 2024. There were 4 violations, and the inspector assigned the status of “Met Inspection Standards.”
The inspection revealed four violations, ranging from basic to intermediate in severity. Here’s a breakdown of each:
1. Basic Violation: Damaged Ceiling
– Issue: Ceiling damage observed in the left side of the walk-in unit.
– Disposition: Not corrected on-site, likely requiring repair.
2. Basic Violation: Improper Knife Storage
– Issue: A meat cleaver was stored in a crack between a table and wall near the stove area.
– Disposition: Corrected on-site. The operator removed the knife when alerted.
3. Basic Violation: Rusted Walk-in Cooler Shelves
– Issue: Shelves in the walk-in cooler showed pitted rust.
– Disposition: Not corrected on-site. Notably, this was marked as a repeat violation, suggesting it’s an ongoing issue.
4. Intermediate Violation: Unlabeled Chemical Spray Bottle
– Issue: A spray bottle containing a blue chemical was not properly labeled.
– Disposition: Not mentioned as corrected on-site, likely requiring proper labeling.
To get the latest inspection report, click here.
Restaurant Profile:
–Type of Cuisine: Sushi, Stir-Fry, Teriyaki, Udon, Tempura
–Menu Options: Lunch & Dinner, Takeout & Delivery
–Ambiance: Casual
–Average Prices: Multi-Piece Sushi Entree ($27), Tempura Dinner ($20), Beef/Shrimp/Chicken Stir-Fry ($21)
Location & Hours:
- Address: 1750 N University Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33071
- Phone: (954) 344-3500
- Hours of operation: Tuesday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Monday (Closed)
- Website: http://www.sakuracoralsprings.com/
Sakura Sushi Japanese Restaurant Review - FAQ
What is SENTY75?
Offering a refreshingly current perspective, SENTY™ analyzes only the latest detailed reviews with comments from Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
In stark contrast to Google’s approach of combining all feedback over the business’s life, SENTY75 surfaces an authentic understanding of how people genuinely feel about a company right now by ignoring old reviews and those with no comments.
The “75” represents the ideal number of fresh reviews examined to gauge sentiment for Coral Springs restaurants accurately.
Is Sakura Sushi worth visiting for both sushi enthusiasts and those new to Japanese cuisine?
According to the reviews, the answer is yes. Sakura Sushi’s diverse menu caters to a wide range of palates. Sushi lovers will appreciate the fresh, innovative rolls, while those less familiar with Japanese cuisine can enjoy well-prepared ramen, udon, and stir-fry dishes.
The unique private booth seating adds a special touch to the dining experience.
Wrap Up.
With a current sentiment rating of 4.3, Sakura Sushi offers a local dining experience with fresh, delicious sushi and attentive service in a unique, intimate setting.
Minor improvements in rice preparation would benefit it, but it has a loyal following that has existed for decades.
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