Sanppo Restaurant

Have you ever seen the movie Tampopo? Well, it wasn't based on the soup this place makes. If you can call it that. It's more a melange of leftover vegetables all shoved into a bowl of hot, dirty-gym-sock-soaked stew. And oh don't even get me started on the SUPPOSED sushi. You get the point! more

I've tried all of the very similar looking Japanese restaurants over the years in the Japantown mall, and Osakaya is my go-to favorite. Very consistent quality and service, at least for my experience of the last 5 years. I'm a fan of their yakinuku, yakisoba, hiyashi ramen. I like that most combos come with potato salad and pickles, and hot green tea. I do not recommend any of their sushi, even California rolls, though...lots of better places for that. But for the comfort foods, they do a nice job. The service is typical casual Japanese -- you get dishes as the kitchen finishes them, in any order, and you might be done eating when someone else at the table gets their food. Typical in my experience, and no big deal for me, but I understand how it could be annoying to some. I go at least twice a month. Give them a shot! Pros: Great noodles, karaage, yakinuku Cons: Warm inside, mediocre sushi more

I think things are going on a heck in a handbasket (is that the proper expression?) at Japantown. I swear! more

I have been a customer here for several years now. The best thing I like about this restaurant is the amazing selection of menu choices. The Chief has been working here for like some 30+ years and has the recipe for so many styles of Japanese foods. I recommend the Shoyu Stake, and Komoku ramen as Sanppo's special unadvertised menu. Try Them if you ever go! more

Haven't tried Sanppo in a long time, but it's been in the JapanTown area a long, long time. The combination came with tempura, sashimi and gyoza. Their tempura has a light batter and is crispy with 2 pieces of shrimp, 1 slice of potato, yam, 2 slices carrot, 1 broccoli Skip the gyoza, it was mushy and the filling inside wasn't that tasty, but they gave you 5 pieces. The tuna sashimi was good, nice thick, dark slices. It came w/a sm. salad and miso soup. We had 2 sushi rolls which were very good. Our friends had the teriyaki beef, the outside was burnt but the inside wasn't dry. As Japanese restaurants go, this place isn't too bad, but the food isn't spectacular. Unlike previous reviewers, I didn't find the waitress staff to be rude at all. Pros: good combination selections Cons: parking is hard in the neighborhood more

Found this place by mistake, and since have returned several times. It is a family run business, therefore there is not a lot of staff (mother and daughter are the wait staff), which can make the service seem rude or unattentive to some (like the other reviewer), but they almost always accomodate requests and are typically very friendly. Chirashi is plentiful and excellent, as are the nigiri and specialty rolls. The sushi dinner specials are a good deal as well and are quite tasty, and there is always a sign advertising 'fresh oysters'. This place is not fancy, but if you are looking for a quite evening and good food, check it out. Pros: Not crowded, great sushi Cons: Parking can be a hassle more

Revisited this restaurant a handfull of times. The food has always been good, but this last time it was exceptional! They recently redid their menus to include an extensive specialty rolls menu and colorful pictures. You will not be disappointed, the sushi is even better than it looks. Delicious original combinations! I haven't tried the entrees yet. Service has always been fast and courteous. If you are bored with your local sushi restaurantl, Sanppo is the place to go! Pros: value, quality, atmosphere Cons: parking more

The waitresses are rude and curt. I went to Sanppo several times to see if their attitudes changed; unfortunately, each and every time I received bad service. Cons: rude waitresses more