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Sakura Teppanyaki & Sushi in San Carlos: A Cut Above Benihana

Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi: A Sizzling Show with Top-Notch Sushi in San Carlos

If you’re looking for a meal that’s as entertaining as it is delicious, Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi in San Carlos is where it’s at – a perfect blend of theatrical teppanyaki cooking and fresh sushi delights. Whether you’re here for an action-packed hibachi dinner or a sushi feast, Sakura delivers on all fronts. Let’s dive into what makes this place a must-visit.

Ambiance: Lively, Entertaining, and Cozy

The moment you step into Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi, you’re greeted by a warm, bustling atmosphere. The teppanyaki grills steal the show, with skilled chefs flipping, slicing, and setting food ablaze right before your eyes. It’s part-dining, part-performance, and 100% engaging. The restaurant also has a cozy sushi bar for those who prefer a more relaxed meal. Whether you’re on a date, celebrating a birthday, or just catching up with mates, the vibe here is energetic yet comfortable.

Onion Volcanoes at Sakura

The Food: 7 Must-Try Dishes

In addition to their grilled specials, these also are the dishes you don’t want to miss:

Filet Mignon and Shrimp Combo – Juicy, tender, and perfectly seared, this hibachi combo is a winner.
Chicken Fried Rice – Not your average fried rice. Sakura’s version is rich, flavorful, and packed with umami.
Salmon Sushi – Simple, fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Vegetable Tempura – Crispy, light, and golden perfection for vegetarians and tempura lovers alike.
California Roll – A classic done right. Fresh crab, avocado, and cucumber wrapped in seaweed.
Hibachi Scallops – Butter-seared and bursting with oceanic sweetness.
Miso Soup – A warm, comforting starter that sets the tone for a great meal.

Sakura San Carlos Menu (5)

Service: Friendly and Engaging

Sakura’s service is consistently praised across online reviews. The staff is attentive, friendly, and efficient—especially the teppanyaki chefs, who bring humor and energy to every table. Servers are quick to refill drinks, recommend dishes, and ensure you have everything you need. Expect a bit of a wait during peak hours, but rest assured, the experience is well worth it.

Flaming Grill at Sakura

Price: Worth Every Penny for the Experience

Sakura falls into the moderate-to-premium price range. While you can find cheaper sushi spots around, you’re paying for the entertainment and quality ingredients. A full teppanyaki meal, including protein, rice, and vegetables, runs around $25–$50 per person, depending on what you order. Sushi rolls are fairly priced at $6–$15 each, with specialty rolls on the higher end. Given the generous portions and interactive dining experience, the price feels well justified.

Final Verdict: A Must-Visit in San Carlos

Whether you’re after a fun, interactive teppanyaki dinner or a fresh sushi fix, Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi delivers. With its lively atmosphere, top-quality service, and mouth-watering dishes, it’s no surprise that locals keep coming back. Next time you’re in San Carlos, treat yourself to the Filet Mignon and Shrimp Combo, raise a glass of sake, and enjoy the show.

Sources:

Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi Yelp Page
Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi Instagram
Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi Facebook
Official Website of Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi

Back to San Carlos Restaurants and Services

Top Reviews

Cisco C. | Rancho Santa Fe, CA
I try to avoid rice and many other foods, but this place was really good. The ambiance was not bad at all. Service was great, and of course, they put on a good show while you’re at the table.

And YES, I had to have rice even though I don’t think it’s a healthy choice, but it was really good, so we ended up ordering a second side of rice (_) LoL.

Donna G. | Sunnyvale, CA
We had our 11-year-old daughter’s birthday party there, and it was absolutely perfect for them!

Nine friends sat around a U-shaped hibachi while the chef kept them entertained with antics. The food was yummy, but what really made it for me was the wonderful Maria, who could not have been nicer as we planned and emailed back and forth. She’s a true gem, and I hope management will keep her!

Colette W. | Austin, TX
This place is good. They are so nice. Service is great. Food is great. Prices are great.

What we love:

Sushi/sashimi/rolls, especially the salmon
Fried rice, chicken, or veg
Tofu appetizer (my 4-year-old loves this)
Salad & soup you get with your meal
The chicken & shrimp dinner
Tempura

Try it out!

Laureen C. | San Mateo, CA
We love this restaurant for its fun style of cooking, meeting other patrons, and the ambiance.

I crave the fried rice—best in town—and the Couples Dinner. Can’t go wrong with any of the seafood dishes.

I recommend it for birthday celebrations or any celebration. Fun family and friends dining experience.

Trish K. | Los Angeles, CA
Service was great, and the food was delicious.

Been to Benihana MANY times, and Sakura Teppanyaki was seasoned with a lighter hand—making it even better in my opinion.

David D. | Newark, CA
Great fresh-tasting food!

I went with my wife and kids to celebrate our anniversary. I found this place by a friend’s recommendation, and it’s really worth the price you pay for it. Nice customer service, excellent cooks, and a very clean place.

I had the best experience ever eating here. I recommend this restaurant for any special occasion. I am very satisfied with the customer service I received from the restaurant cooks and waitresses.

Terri D. | San Francisco, CA
We came in for dinner on Friday night to celebrate my dad’s birthday. We thought it might be nice to have teppanyaki with the family, and that it might be entertaining for the nieces and nephew.

The service was excellent—accommodating three kids under seven years of age and my dad in his wheelchair. The chef was great and put on a great show for the kids.

Great food and reasonably priced. We will definitely be back! Thank you!

J Marie A. | Daly City, CA
I love teppanyaki.

This, in my opinion, is far better than Benihana in terms of flavor and quality. Their fried rice is off the hook!!

No reservations are needed unless you have a large party. Highly recommend.

Melzie C. | San Mateo, CA
Overall, this is a fantastic place to visit. Thinking Benihana? No… don’t waste your money. This is just as good—better!

Our kids had the time of their lives. What kind of waiters do the floss with little kids??? Gilbert and Kevin, that’s who! Our kids laughed and were entertained. Priceless.

My biggest pet peeve is when waiters/servers aren’t real people. My husband wanted to celebrate my niece’s graduation (no, not underage, but it’s college season, folks). He recommended the best sake, brought us sake bombs, and brought the kids Shirley Temples. Entertained everyone.

We’ve been to the Redwood City location numerous times, but this took the cake—we would love to be back anytime.

Brandon L. | San Carlos, CA
The food was sooo good!!

My family and I ordered three lunch boats and a portion of fried rice. The food was amazing and at an affordable price. I highly recommend this place.

Shelley L. | Foster City, CA
Always wanted to try this teppanyaki place in San Carlos.

It was great that we were seated according to our reservation and served right away. We didn’t have to wait until our teppanyaki table was full to start our meals like other places.

The menu is great, with many choices from steaks, seafood, and even combos. The teppanyaki chef was very friendly with his fire shows, and the food was not salty at all.

We definitely booked here for our Christmas dinner.

Saige F. | San Bruno, CA
I don’t usually write Yelp reviews, but I just LOVE this place. It’s better tasting, faster, AND cheaper than Benihana.

Crist was super sweet and funny, and all the staff was very friendly. Definitely coming here again soon!

Roxy N. | San Mateo, CA
WOW! I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars. I was SO impressed with absolutely everything.

We came here on a Saturday night with a party of 8 to celebrate my BF’s birthday. We were running 15 minutes late and called ahead to let them know. Whoever answered the phone was very sweet and said it would not be a problem.

We arrived 15 minutes after our reservation and were seated immediately. Our server came over right away, took our drink orders, and a few minutes later was back with our drinks and ready to take our order.

The food was amazing! Tasted just as yummy as Benihana but so much cheaper!

I’m not sure if we will ever go back to Benihana after finding Sakura. Everyone we encountered here was friendly and prompt.

I wish every restaurant we visited had service like Sakura!

Thank you for a wonderful evening, Sakura staff. We WILL be back!

Madison J. | Valley Oak, Stockton, CA
I got seated right away, and the employee saw I was cold and brought me a sanitized blanket. This just proves that the employees here care about their guests.

Food was amazing with great prices. Love it here!

Radha P. | Kent, WA
Sakura has two other locations, and I’ve been to one of the ones in Redwood City, but this San Carlos location, I have to say, was the BEST!

I went on a Friday night and, of course, made reservations, which is ideal. If you don’t make one, then no biggie—they’ll get to you accordingly. Keep in mind there’s a line by 7 PM.

Our hostess got us seated earlier than our reservation time, and we started with drinks and appetizers. Lee was our server, and he’s so adorable—super friendly with a great smile to greet you!

Our chef had wonderful tricks up his sleeve and was quite entertaining, and the food was great!

Most definitely, I would be returning to this location vs. the other Redwood City locations.

Teri S. | San Carlos, CA
Of course, you’ll compare it to Benihana, so here are the differences: the sauces are different, and there are two choices of fried rice. And, they do a lot more fire here—it startled me when they started out with a huge fire in front of me!

But the best differences are that we walked in without a reservation and got seated immediately, and the drink service was wonderful! You know how you never see a waiter after the chef starts at Benihana? Here, they constantly came by, filled up our waters, and offered more drinks. Our chef was nice and read his table well.

The atmosphere was friendly, although a little loud. I don’t think we’ll be back at Benihana any time soon!