Sakura Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar: A Hidden Treasure

Let me start by saying, I don't care for Sushi. The rest of my family does. What I do love is Salmon and zucchini. Put them on the Hibachi grill, add a steak and some fried rice: and I'm in culinary heaven. And I get that at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Bryant, Arkansas.

Tucked away in a strip mall, it shares center space with Target, Kohl's and Old Navy. Hungry shoppers could stop by Chili's, McAlister's, Starbucks, Pizza Hut or Subway, or drive right across the overpass to McDonald's or Sonic. But many, including me, often choose not to.

Did you know that there are 26 varieties of Sushi? I asked Mrs. Brenda, who co-owns the steakhouse with her husband. (They also have a location in Sherwood) Sakura makes them all. Whether you're hungry for a Peanut Avacado Roll or a Tuna Shashimi they have you covered.

Since I don't eat Sushi, I asked my daughters to point out their favorites. Sakura is open for lunch 7 days a week Monday-Thur from 11-2:30 and Fri-Sat-Sun from 11-3:00. Kristen graciously offered to review the Sushi on the lunch menu for me! Tyra and Lauren teamed up to rate the Sushi dinner menu after much arguing over what they should recommend.

Hi! It's Kristen, dropping by Mom's article to give you some information about my favorite place to eat: Sakura's Japanese Steakhouse. Did Mom tell you I also work there?

There are 21 Rolls available on the lunch menu. Your choice of two is $7.95 Three rolls are $11.95 and you can mix and match to your heart's content!
Some of the combinations I've ordered are:
1. a California Roll with a Cucumber Roll
2. the Crunchy, Spicy Salmon Roll with the Shrimp Tampura Roll (Tempura shrimp, lettuce, cucumber, avocado, eel sauce)
3. What I order most is the three roll combo with
an Alaska Roll (Salmon,Cucumber, Avacado);
a Crunchy Shrimp roll (Shrimp, Tampura Crunch & Mayo Sauce)
and an Avacado Roll!

Lunch Rolls Combinations do not come with Rice, Vegetables, Soup or Salad...though you can order those separately!
Miso or Sakura Clear Soup: $2.00
Sakura Sald (Lettus, carrot, cabbage & tomato with mustard sauce) $2.25
Seaweed Salad (Japanese marinated green seaweed) $4.95
Side of Vegetables (seasonal) $3.95
Fried or Steamed Rice $2.95

The Shashimi's come with Rice and your choice of Sakura Soup or Salad. My sister and I will often share the 12 piece Shashimi Deluxe assortment ($18.95). We each have our favorites. I get the Yellowtail or Octopus (3 pieces $5.50) She prefers a Spider Crab Handroll. ($4.95)

There is also a Sushi Combo that includes Miso Soup and Sakura Salad with a California Roll and a 7 piece assortment for $12.95.

While they don't run the Hibachi Grills (or as my 5 year old niece calls it the "Chef Show") at lunch, you can get food cooked Hibachi Style, and there are some fabulous lunch specials!

Each entree comes with Sakura Salad, Hibachi Vegetables and Fried Rice. I always add a Sakura Clear Soup to my order ($2.00)

Vegetarians are taken care of with a plateful of grilled zucchini, onions, carrots and broccoli that have been expertly grilled with soy and mustard sauces (and of course: BUTTER!) for $7.50

Poultry Lovers can order the Sesame Chicken ($7.95). They have Scallops ($8.95) for the seafood lovers and for those that need a slab of beef there's the Filet Mignon ($9.95)

Can't make up your mind? Put together a combination! These range in price from $10.95 for a Shrimp and Chicken Combo to $13.95 for the Filet & Chicken.

For those who aren't very hungry (lunch or dinner) and would prefer an appetizer sized meal, or for those families that want to share an appetizer before their meal: Sakura has lots of options. 6 pieces of Tuna Tataki (sliced and seared tuna) is just $8.95. Many like the Edamame (boiled Soybeans) $3.95 or the Gyoza: four of these Japanese Fried Pork Dumplings cost $4.95. If you're like me, you love the crunchiness of the Tampura batter, you have to try the Calamari ($6.50)!

Well, that about covers lunch, so now I'm going to turn it back over to Mom! Thanks for letting me put my two cents worth into this review!

How about something healthy and light? Try their specialty salads. For $6.95 you can choose an Avo Salad with either sliced Tuna or Salmon, Avacado and a special Spicy Dressing. My oldest daughter likes their Special Spicy Shashimi Salad. ($8.95) She normally pairs it with a cup of Hot Green Tea. ($1.95)

The salads are available at lunch, and make a full meal for some, or munch your way through them as a beginning course for their extended dinner menu! Let's talk about the Hibachi Grill first, since that is definately my favorite, then I'll pass along the girls Sushi favorites. Then I guess I should finish up with their wonderful desserts, though to be honest, I'm usually too full to order them!

All of the dinner entrees are served with Steamed Rice, Sakura Soup and Salad and freshly prepared Hibachi Grilled Seasonal Veggies. You can upgrade to Hibachi Fried Rice, also made right in front of you for $2.75. (I always do the upgrade!)

For those Early Bird eaters (You know who you are!) Sakura salutes you: with a great special. From opening until 7 p.m., choose a Chicken and Teriyaki Steak Combination for just $13.95. After 7 it's still a great deal at $17.95.
Of course, you can get all the proteins individually. Chicken is $12.95; Steak, Shrimp and Scallops are $13.95 and a delicious Filet Mignon is just $16.95. But where's the fun in that?

Put those babies in a combination platter and enjoy more flavors. Mushroom fans can feast on the Hibachi Chateaubriand: a 9 oz Filet with nicely seasoned sauteed mushrooms. Pair a beautifully grilled Filet Mignon with Shrimp and Scallops or Shrimp and Chicken or even a fresh Salmon Steak. Combination prices start at $16.95 for Chicken and Shrimp and continue up to my favorite; the Seafood Lovers: Shrimp, Scallops and a Lobster Tail for $25.95!

Don't see your combination choice or menu item? Just ask and they'll do what they can to accomodate you.
I do this often with my sides. As I said earlier, I LOVE zucchini, and will often order my vegetables as zuchinni and carrots only! My son doesn't like onions in his fried rice. They make his on the side of everyone else's and leave out the onions!

They have a menu for the kiddos as well. A child sized portion of Hibachi favorites: Shrimp, Chicken or New York Steak. Served to those 10 years old or younger; it comes with either Sakura Soup or Sweet Corn!

Hey Mom! My turn! Hello AC... it's Tyra, Paula's oldest daughter. We're going to tell you about our favorite Sushi offerings on the dinner menu. It was really hard to narrow it down. We told Mom it would be easier to just copy and paste the entire menu, but she said that wasn't the idea of a restaurant review so...."OH My God!"

No, Tyra didn't hit me, I just had to throw that in to make her shut up so I could say something too. That's what happens when you're the youngest of four, you have to learn how to get your voice heard! Hi! It's Lauren and actually "OH my God" is on the menu- in the form of a Sushi Roll: Tempura fried spicy tuna & spicy sauce.
As Sakura's Menu Editor noted on the actual restaurant menu: I learned why this is called the "Oh My God!" roll... It's so good, after you eat the first one, you say..."Oh my God!" And he was right. This is, in my opinion, the best thing on the menu! Best part is that it's only $8.50!

Did you ever dream of Kings and Dragons? Many little girls do and we're no different! But now that we've grown up, our dreams have turned The King Dragon Roll: Crab, Cucumber, Avocado, Shrimp & Fish Roe with Eel on top. ($9.95) A Green Dragon Roll is Cucumber and Eel topped with Avocado: also $9.95.

I think it would be really cool if we could start on one coast and eat our way across the country. At Sakura, we can do that at least to some degree and never leave the table!

Let's start with an Alaska Roll: Salmon, Cucumber and Avacado.($5.50) and we can follow that with California Rolls (6 for $5.50). In honor of the University of Arkansas there's a "Razorback" Roll on the menu ($8.50). Several Central Arkansas towns have Sushi dishes named after them at Sakura. The "Little Rock" (Shrimp tempura, lettuce, cucumber, avocado, shrimp & fish roe) is $7.95. I like the "Sherwood": Crabstick, avocado, crunchy with spicy sauce ($5.50)

Then we move onto the East Coast! Boston (Shrimp, lettuce, cucumber, mayo sauce: $5.50), Philadephia (Smoked salmon, cream cheese, scallion: $5.75) and New York (Tuna, salmon, white fish & masago inside, crunch on top: $8.25) to be exact.

Finish it off by sliding down the "Rainbow" (Califorina roll inside, three-color fish on top: $8.95) Of course, if you want something A La Carte: Sakura offers a number of choices. You get two pieces and they range from everyday Tuna and Smoked Salmon (both $3.95) to the more exotic Flying Fish Roe and Fresh Water Eel (Both $4.50); and everything in between!

For those who are a bit hungrier, there is always the complete "Sakura Special Dinner" at $39.95. You get choice of Soup or Salad along with Sashimi: (2p tuna, 2p yellowtail, 2p salmon, 1p scallop, 1p sweet shrimp, 1p surf clam) and Sushi: (1p tuna, 1p yellowtail, 1p salmon, 1p eel, 1p salmon caviar roe, 1p flying fish egg, 1 black dragon roll, 1 spicy tuna)

A little too much? Try the Chirashi (Slices of raw fish on top of a bowl of seasoned rice
2p tuna, 2p white fish, 1p squid, 1p octopus, 1p salmon, 1p yellowtail, 1p omelet) for $16.95.

We'll turn it back to Mom now so she can handle the dessert menu!

I love Ice Cream. Sakura has my dessert- starting with a dish of Vanilla Ice Cream ($2.00)! There is also both Vanilla and Banana Tampura Ice Cream. ($4.50). But my weakness: Cheesecake Tampura Ice Cream worth every penny of it's $4.95 cost!

For more information, parties or large group reservations you can contact Sakura at (501) 778-9585. They are located at 7307 Alcoa Rd in Bryant, Arkansas.

To see a full menu, you can visit their website at www.sakuraar.com

Dinner hours vary during the week. Sunday evenings Sakura opens at 5 p.m. and closes at 9:00. Monday thru Thursday, they also open at 5, but they don't close until 9:30. Friday and Saturday, you can dine as early as 4:00 p.m. and if you want...stay until 10:00 p.m. Mrs. Brenda and her staff (including her son Jay and my daughter Kristen) will keep your sweet tea glass full and the fresh fish coming!