This is the best sushi restaurant in Omaha. Period.
(5)
Wesley S.
Sakura-Bana has some of the best sushi and sashimi in the Midwest. For those who don't eat raw fish, Sakura-Bana's other dishes are excellent. Sushi aside, this little restaurant is an outstanding "peasant" style Japanese restaurant. Its sushi is national class. The restaurant used to be in a free-standing building that might have been something like a drive-in hamburger grill. Windows let in light from the outside, and the sushi bar, where the owner prepared the sashimi and sushi, was right in the center of the restaurant. Sakura-Bana no longer occupies that site near the hospitals. It now lives near Crossroads, in a storefront of one of the surrounding strip malls. The interior is darker, but actually nicer than the hospital site. The decor and ambience overall is a hair above average. I can't elaborate on the service. Very simply, it is excellent. The owner himself prepares the food and comes out to your table before and during the meal. The owner came from Japan as a sushi chef, opened Sakura-Ichiban, and simply made sushi, sashimi and other Japanese dishes that were as close to authentic as he could. For example, you can order something that resembles a fried crayfish, that is eaten head, shell and all. I am told this item is not available in most other Japanese restaurants in the Midwest. That might well be the case. I, for one, have never seen it before. Here is another example. Omaha residents will not be aware of this, but in most places throughout the Midwest where sushi is served, the sushi pieces are garnished with green plastic leaves that sometimes serve as dividers on the plate. This restaurant, in Omaha, uses the actual fresh leaf for this purpose, not a plastic replica. This leaf has a haunting, delicate, almost aromatic flavor that is difficult to describe. I think it is delicious. The owner would probably serve wasabi made directly from fresh wasabi leaves if he could. This would be not so much his attempt to match the upscale boutique restaurants' rare and unusual ingredients, so much as to strive for authenticity in reproducing the Japanese version of a dish here in Omaha, in Sakura-Ichiban. Other Japanese dishes such as tempura, ten-don, unagi-don, oyako-donburi, teriyaki, yakko tofu, and so on, are on the menu. These are all excellent, and authentic indeed. (Unfortunately the restaurant web site has been hijacked, and the menu is no longer available online.) Also on the menu are a combination sushi platter and a combination sashimi platter. Both are priced very reasonably. If you are a party of two, you might order one of each to share, supplemented by any a la carte sushi or other items that you care to order. All dinners come with sunomono, misoshiro, rice and tea. Finding the restaurant at its new location can be challenging. The storefronts do not all have numbers displayed. Call to get landmarks and further directions when you find the mall. There is plenty of parking. In fact, you can even park in the lot of the adjacent mall. In summary, Sakura-Bana serves some of the best sushi in the Midwest. The quality of its other menu items is outstanding. Service is excellent. Decor is slightly above average. Sakura-Bana is a true find, an exceptionally fine Japanese restaurant in Omaha that outshines most of the Japanese restaurants in all the Midwestern states. ==== 10-22-11: Sakura-Bana has reclaimed its formerly hijacked menu web site. The restaurant's Facebook page now has current photos and links to the menu.
(5)
Maren C.
Excellent service. Nice modern yet traditional decor (flat screens are nice, still felt Japanese). Sushi was divine. We had rolls. The dream rolls were dreamy. Highly recommend to sushi lovers.
(5)
Marc D.
What a great lunch place. Love the options for a quick lunch. Service is fabulous and starts with a hot moist towel.( how cool is that) I always get the largest combo I can. Miso soup, Salad with carrot dressing. steamed rice. 5 pieces of sushi, chicken teriyaki, a tempura mushroom, onion and carrot, 2 tempura shrimp. and an orange. Omg is everything great. A must try :)
(4)
Mark M.
When I go to Omaha which is like four or five times a year. I usually make Sakurabana as one of the stops for meal. I was disappointed about lack of professionalism when I rushed from the airport and saw the closed sign at 8:45pm Tuesday night. The listed hours is open until 9 pm. There was a guy counting the till from the day and told me everyone has gone home. No remaining customer, no one behind the sushi counter. I swung around the corner and had noodles at the Noodles Company. Sakurabana, you are the remaining authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha. Please do well to survive and keep the hours you claim to be open.
(3)
Kevin Q.
This place was simply ok. My coworkers and I (3/4 asian) came here for dinner during a business trip to Omaha. For most of our meals we had been going to American restaurants, so we decided to try something different for our last week. Sakura Bana is located in one of the various strip malls in Omaha and doesn't look like much from the outside. The interior is a pretty typical, American sushi, wood palette, kind of thing you'd come to expect. I did like the pens with appetizers and cartoons on them. As for the food, we got a whole variety of sushi, all of which came together on a neat wooden boat. I personally got the new mexico roll, which tasted a whole lot like an actual burrito. I wouldn't say it was delicious, but it was certainly interesting. As for the other rolls, I was disappointed. Nothing about them was special or notable. They were just normal sushi rolls. For dessert we got mochi and the tempura ice cream, all of which were good. The tempura ice cream in particular was really large, so I'd recommend splitting that. Overall, this place is alright considering it's in Omaha and that there aren't exactly hundreds of Asian restaurants around.
(3)
Steve S.
This place was mediocre at best. I did not begin to have sushi until later in life when I was in Japan and figured I had to actually try it since I was there. Unfortunately, that seems to have tainted my sushi taste buds. We ordered a huge variety of sushi. Everyone had a little bit of each, I am not sure which ones we ordered, the server was pretty unsure too which was which. It did come out on a boat which I guess was a nice touch, however, the ones that I ordered were stuck amidship and when the ship went down they went down with it...
(3)
Rachel S.
Amazing! They offer such a wide variety of items on the menu, not just a California roll with a different topping. The staff is extremely friendly as well. I wouldn't say this place is cheap or expensive but priced accurately for the quality of the cuisine. I did only get take out this visit but I do look forward to a sit down dinner experience very soon. The ambiance is very cute, on a Thursday night there were a lot of families and a lot of couples enjoying their meal.
(5)
Joseph V.
Yes, this place went through a rough patch like most small businesses do. It didn't phase me a bit. Growing up in Los Angeles with a huge selection of restaurants to eat at, usually the best places to go were the ones that recovered and came back even better. That's what Sakura Bana did and everything is not just fine, but also improved. I lived in Japan for 4 years and in my book, this is the only location in Douglas & Sarpy county that comes the closest to being there. I sampled everybody else around here and they were not comparable to this establishment with their authenticity of traditional dishes and sushi. I am definitely a fan of this place and will continue to bring my family here at least once a month. Now with that said, can we increase the menu with Tokyo Ramen, Honshu & Okinawa Soba and some dishes from Nagano please?
(5)
Judy N.
Good service, good atmosphere, terrible food. I really wanted to like it, but to no avail. We ordered the soba, King roll, and three types of sashimi. Basically the broth is flavored soy sauce. The sushi was like tuna from a can. And the sashimi was so bad I have no words. At least their hot green tea was decent.
(2)
Mike S.
We are regular visitors to Omaha and have eaten here s handful of times. The food and service have been great! For a land-locked location the sushi is above average. The cooked items have all been tasty and traditionally prepared. Definitely a family favorite!
(5)
Mar W.
Great sushi but the service is absolutely horrible!!! I also think the prices are high for what you get. The fish is very fresh and they have some fun rolls. Only giving 2 stars because I am really mad about waiting an hour to even get our sushi and they didn't even apologize for it!!! Would rather go to a sushi place with better service than this place!!!
(2)
Lynnsey B.
Sakura Bana is a sushi gem in Omaha!! This is the very best sushi I have found in the city. The rolls are traditional, delightfully flavorful, high quality and averagely priced. It's on par with what I've tasted in Florida when I lived there for 12 years. They are that good! If you're thinking about going, just head over and experience a fabulous sushi meal!
(5)
Danny D.
Best Sushi In Omaha by far. I constantly search but nowhere else compares. Best pickled ginger I've ever had. I highly recommend the spider and Nebraska rolls.
(5)
Jamie L.
It is with GREAT sadness that I am writing this. I truly never believed I would have to write a bad review about my favorite restaurant. As you may or may not know Sakura Bana was recently closed by the health department for failing their inspection. This is when things started to make sense for me. Let me start by saying I have eaten here for 10 years (even prior to moving buildings) and haven't had any issues until recently. For the past couple months my husband and I were noticing dried food pieces in our water glasses or plates. We would send them back and they would just bring us another glass like nothing was wrong. I was telling my husband not to be paranoid it happens all the time probably. Having worked in a busy restaurant I can tell you the dish washers don't always get everything. Okay we let this slide. I would order items containing chicken, like yakitori and it would not be cooked all the way through. I started to tell them to overcook it because I was "paranoid", I thought maybe it was just me. Then we started to order the dream rolls and noticed some of them were premade sitting around waiting for someone to order. If you sit at the sushi bar you will notice they get 4 slices out of the dream rolls and if you only order an order (2pieces) they save the other two. This wouldn't be an issue if they were being sold quickly but a couple times I've ordered the fantasy roll, containing raw tuna, and it was oxidizing and it tasted not good. Not wanting to cause conflict I discarded them or gave them to my husband to eat. However, several weeks back I ate there and became pretty sick. I tried to convince myself that it was the Starbucks I had and not my sushi, like please all that is good don't take away my favorite place. (I have a strict policy of not eating somewhere that makes me sick ever again). We ate there a couple times after and have the above mentioned issues. HOWEVER, 1 week ago they were shut down by the health department. I asked them on Facebook why and they stated "We were closed to repair portions of the restaurant and clean around areas of recent water leaking from an AC unit on our roof. " Obviously dodging the fact they did not close voluntarily. Well WOWT news did a report on them and here are the findings. In addition to what it was the copy of the paper on TV showed something having to do with improper handling of chicken. & something else I wasn't able to read quick enough. "THE RESTAURANT STACKED UP 30 VIOLATIONS 13 OF THOSE ARE CRITICAL. EMPLOYEES WEREN'T WASHING HANDS BETWEEN TASKS THEY WERE TOLD TO NOT WIPE KNIVES ON CLOTHS -- AFTER CUTTING RAW FISH. MOLD WAS FOUND IN THE ICE MACHINE AND SANITIZER WAS TOO WEAK IN THE DISH MACHINE THE RESTAURANT COULDN'T PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT RAW FISH FOR SUSHI WAS PROPERLY FROZEN. AND FOOD WAS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE COOLER -- WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON A SHELF TO KEEP PESTS FROM GETTING TO IT. THE RESTAURANT WAS FORCED TO CLOSE. INSPECTORS DID RETURN A WEEK LATER -- NOTICED AN IMPROVEMENT -- AND ALLOWED IT TO REOPEN." This is disgusting and shameful in my mind and I will not be returning to Sakura Bana to eat. Having spent a huge sum eating there this year this greatly saddens me. I guess I was wrong to hold them to higher standards, you would think the most popular sushi place in Omaha would have good health standards? I guess not. At the end of the day, I doubt mine or my family's opinions matter. The gentlemen who make the sushi are sweeties and MOST of the servers (not all of them) are sweet also but I cannot bring myself to eat here any longer. Goodbye my favorite restaurant =(
(1)
Jessica S.
Didn't find anything amazing about this place. A couple girlfriends and I ordered an abundance of sushi and it was good, but nothing that made me go "wow!" I will say that there deep fried avocado roll was really tasty and came with a sauce which everyone liked. I'd come back as the prices were decent.
(3)
Cathy C.
I only go to 3 Japanese restaurants in Omaha and this is one of them. I've been going here when they were still called Sushi Ichiban. Located on 74th and Dodge, it's easy to spot. This is where I first fell in love with sushi. The sushi chefs here are Japanese and some of the servers too. Excellent service all the time. Although sometimes, there could be a wait but it's all good. They're friendly, pleasant and always with a smile on their face. The rolls and sashimi are great. Fresh fish. I love their lunch/dinner combinations too - you get an entree, sushi, rice, salad and soup for less then $10 for lunch and about $16 for dinner. They have a special dinner combo for less than $30 - 2 appetizers, 1 entree and dessert. They have a jellyfish appetizer and one of my favorites, takoyaki (battered balls of octopus) ! Their tofu steak is amazing...nice and garlicky. Negimayaki (scallions wrapped in thinly sliced beef in teriyaki sauce) is delicious. Shrimp tempura, udon and katsudon are fantastic. But my absolute favorite dish here is the beef teriyaki. The BEST I've had anywhere (yes, even better than the ones I've had in Japan). Sliced tender beef cooked medium rare. It comes on a sizzling plate with carrots and broccoli. The teriyaki sauce isn't the dominant flavor and you can actually enjoy the taste of meat. I simply love this place. One of my favorite restaurants in Omaha.
(5)
Marc M.
I never thought I'd find a restaurant in Omaha that is as authentically Japanese as this place! Of course they have sushi but it's actually good! I love takoyaki and haven't had anything decent since leaving Japan and these were amazing! If you're looking for authentic Japanese food, this is it!
(5)
Ron D.
Great sushi, very friendly and helpful staff!! Overall fantastic place highly recommend!!
(5)
Lisa R.
After many great meals here, I have to say this place is a tasty spot in a central location in Omaha. Many family get togethers (mostly consisting of "the cousins" but this time, one of my uncles) center around eating and schmoozing, and sushi and us just go so well together. Our fabulous server was Teriko (forgive my spelling). We ordered a whole lot of things, but new to us included the ceviche, which ended up being salmon, yellowtail, tuna, and red snapper sliced sashimi style in our choice of spicy lime or spicy ponzu, with jalepeno slices, daikon, and kaiware sprouts. My brother and I also split the chirashi, a classic here with many assorted items (tamago, maguro, hamachi, nama sake, saba, masago, kanpyo, tako, tai, etc). The rest of the group ordered rolls. We had negi toro (nice and fatty!), the yellowtail special (avocado and smelt roe), Hawaiian (tuna and mango), cancun (yellowtail, jalepeno, avocado, cilantro), rainbow, and one of the eel rolls. Plenty to eat, lots of options, and some pretty great combinations, especially considering I am not much of a rolls person. The menu has lots of ways to go - ordering individually, sushi and sashimi combos, and even hand roll combos. Always a great time with a pretty presentation, this is a solid sushi bet for Omaha.
(4)
Britt C.
I absolutely love Sakura Bana. It's my family's go-to when we are craving sushi and that is more often than not. The atmosphere is authentic and the servers are so friendly. Being from hawaii, I took advantage of having great sushi whenever I wanted it. Now we finally have it!! We love nearly every sushi roll they serve and everything tastes amazing. Their sashimi, sushi, bentos are the best in Omaha and we refuse to go anywhere else. Sakura Bana has made us forever customers.
(5)
Alex P.
This is THE sushi place in omaha. We are moved here after living in California our whole lives and this beats some of the Bay Area sushi hands down. The sashimi was impressive and for a second this place makes you forget that you are in a landlocked place. It's so delicious, we are definitely making this our regular sushi spot
(5)
Tim B.
Ok maybe I am a bit on the picky side when it comes to sushi and perhaps its because I am here on work and live in Kansas City where there are much better sushi places yet I went here based off of the other reviews and I have to say, this was just OK. The service was pretty good overall but the sushi was poor at best. Not very good. I had a lot higher expectations. The sushi was a bit better than the sushi you get from Costco or a grocery store. Not the best quality at all. I think Omaha could do better in the quality anyway. As far as the other stuff like friendliness of staff and conditions I don't have any complaints there. I just wish the food was better quality. If I were you I would look for something better.
(2)
John K.
This place sucks. I had some chicken teriyaki, and it was the worst I've ever had. It was nothing like THIS: s3.amazonaws.com/foodspo… which is exactly what good teriyaki should be. Not to mention I paid like 40 fucking dollars for some crap meal when I've had teriyaki like the picture above for only about $7. Come on now, look at that picture and tell me it doesn't look better than everything ON THE WHOLE MENU! Great, I'm drooling now... no thanks to Sakura Bana.
(1)
Lorrie W.
I've been a customer of Sakura Bana for 25 years. This is truly the only sushi bar for me and my family. Truly authentic Japanese cuisine!
(5)
Becky S.
Great find! Left Ponzu and headed straight to this place. Superb service, delicious rolls and soup and a beautiful custom roll that was creative and met all of our expectations.
(4)
Jake S.
Best sushi in town. I ate at all the other sushi restaurants. This place is my favorite. No one serves it with dicon like they do. Great service. Bench seats are cramped. Other than that it's all good.
(5)
Justine R.
Great food and a lot of options for vegetarians...Great service also.
(4)
Marcy W.
I ventured out of my sushi safe-zones and tried Sakura Bana. I was thoroughly impressed with the rolls I selected and was delighted to see a true Japanese sushi chef behind the counter! The miso soup was unappetizing to me and I'll be sure to get the salad instead next time. Overall, a great experience and I'm happy to have another sushi place in town that I like! I feel late to the game on this one.
(4)
Ramon B.
I'm very ok with this place. I'm not the hugest asian cuisine person but my special lady friend is, so we end up going to various places and seeing what they offer. What helped this place stand out to me is that first off the prices are attractive. Secondly, the menu is expansive and has a good variety so that all parties have something to enjoy. My high praise goes to their sashimi though. Their fish is pretty darn good and the slices they give you are nice and worth a bite! Good portion sizes are always a winner. I will say some of their stuff doesn't work me well but maybe that's just do to my own personal tastes. Service is up and down from Great to ok-ish. That's prolly the only drawback. Other than that...eat up Minions!
(4)
Tanner E.
Great food and probably the most authentic Japanese restaurant around! All the food from the hot dishes to the share-able plates to the sushi is all excellent. The prices are also very good for the quality of the food!
(5)
Shawn G.
What's not to like about this place? Good sushi, good sake, good entrees, good service, good design... just good good good good good. I was a bit surprised walking in the door at Sakura Bana. Judging from the exterior of the building, I expected a loud, large, colorfully lit, modern dining room, but the reality was quite the opposite: a calm, cozy, authentic feeling Japanese restaurant. There is seating at the sushi bar, a number of more conventional dining room tables, and several enclosed semi-traditional rooms where you have to take your shoes off before entering. We were seated in one of the latter, and while it was a very calm place to enjoy dinner visually, it didn't do very much to quiet any of the restaurant's already moderate noise level. After spending some time with the large and wonderfully informative menu, we had some Sushi, Age Gyoza and Crab Shumai for appetizers, which were delicious, and two Yakisobas (one beef, one pork) and a Yakiniku for our entrees. Everything was very tasty, but the entrees did seem to be lagging behind the appetizers and sushi. I wish I had more detail to include here, but, well, sake makes fools of us all. All in all it was a great meal and I'll definitely be back to try more food, and hopefully report back with a little less drunken haziness.
(4)
Cassie Z.
I am a HUGE fan of Sakura Bana. This is my favorite sushi place in Omaha. It is fresh and simple. Here are the three meals I get every time I go: 1. tekka roll, California roll, and Godzilla roll 2. bento box e with teriyaki fish, rice, salad, sushi, miso, and an orange 3. hand roll special - spicy tuna (x2), California, and shrimp The salad dressings are so delicious--I get a side of both and drench the lettuce. If you go enough---they'll give you a sushi calendar. ha.
(5)
Michael V.
We stopped by here during a Spring Break trip. I was here with my wife and 3 kids and we sat at the sushi bar. The service is great. The sushi chef was a pleasure to talk to as well. We liked the place so much that we came back 2 days later for our anniversary dinner. It is a little on the expensive side but was very good. Definitely a favorite of ours when we visit Omaha!
(5)
Richard M.
Great sushi, highly recommended !
(4)
Elisa V.
My husband, my three kids and I are visiting from Colorado and decided to try Sakura Bana. We are all big fans of sushi and found this place extremely delicious. My kids all ordered a box with sushi, tempura, and chicken teriyaki in it and ate it all. They normally do not care for teriyaki, but my kids said it was the best teriyaki they had ever eaten. My husband and I ate a good amount of sushi and enjoyed it all. We have eaten at many sushi places over the years in a few states including large cities and we both thought this was some of the best sushi we have ever eaten. One of my favorite sushi is white tuna and Sakura Bana is in my top 5 places with the best white tuna. Every bit of sushi we ate there was delicious. We enjoyed it so much that we came back two nights later for our anniversary. The wait staff and sushi chefs were very friendly and attentive as well. We have no complaints about this place at all and will definitely eat here again if we are ever in Omaha again.
(5)
Jeff W.
I wouldn't normally give five stars with only one visit, but the sushi here was that good. I've lived in several big cities on the coast, with lots of access to fresh fish, and this sushi is right up there with the best of them. First off, the rolls melt in your mouth - the rice is perfectly prepared and not super glutenous or too dry. The menu has a great variety of traditional rolls, plus some unique variations on favorites. One recommended by our waitress was the Zombie Roll - an inside-out roll with spicy tuna, whitefish, and avocado that was absolutely perfect. For non-sushi lovers, they have a large menu of Japanese dishes. We hadn't had sushi in months, though, so we focused on that (although we did try the gyoza, which was excellent). Ambiance is good - nothing special, but clean, light, and airy. The restaurant is across the street from the Crossroads Mall, so this would be a great place to come after a day of shopping. Also, they do have a more limited happy hour menu, if price is a concern.
(5)
Ashley F.
This is probably the most authentic Japanese food that I've had in Omaha. It may not be the fanciest place in town, no leather lounge chairs, no silver chopsticks, etc., but where else in Nebraska will you find a traditional Japanese eating area with tatami mats? They also give you an oshibori (warm wash cloth) to clean your hands. Small details like this make this place truly authentic. I've had the agedashi tofu, hamachi kama, various sushi rolls, and most recently the beef udonsuki. All are very flavorful with no bells or whistles - just pure goodness. It reminds me of food my grandma makes at home, so needless to say I always come to Sakura Bana whenever I get homesick and want a nice home-cooked Japanese meal. Service is always 5+ stars - very attentive and prompt. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and service. All I've got to say is "gochisousama deshita!"
(5)
C P.
I haven't been to any other Japanese restaurants in Omaha, so I can't tell if this is the best, the worst, or somewhere in between. I wish my server had tried a little harder to explain to me the special combos and lunch deals they were having. I ended up ordering something just fine, but I definitely have overlooked the specials section and nobody cared to tell me about that. I think it really depends on your server. The folks at the next table seemed to have received some great recommendations. Oh well. The cashier and the chef seemed friendly. That's always a plus. The taste of their miso soup bothered me. It's very very bland. I've never tasted anything like that, whether it's when I made my own at home, when I was in Japan, France, or other parts of North America. I guess it was accidental?
(3)
Paul W.
Walked in to Sakura Bana at 10 till 10:00 (Closing time), the chef not only accommodated us, but there was absolutely no pressure or rush from the staff to get us out. So hospitable!
(5)
Michelle L.
Let me first say I am not an individual who goes online to post inflammatory reviews. In fact, before this experience (which occurred a few hours ago), Sakura Bana was among one of our favorite places to eat. No more. If I could give no stars, I would. The straw that broke the camel's back (during what was to be a birthday meal, no less) was when I had ordered a meal (the oyako don), only without chicken. I have been a vegetarian/sometimes vegan for more than seven years now, and I often have to ask for restaurants to either omit the meat or put it on the side. It's never a problem. Long story short, waiter finally returns with our meals. Even with the chicken being picked out, it tasted very much like chicken -- down to the rice in the meal (all the meal essentially is boils down to: rice, egg, some sauce, a few veggies and -- typically -- chicken). I thought I was going to be sick. I took only two bites of the meal. The first time around I thought it tasted nasty but I was going to give it a chance. I took another bite and immediately felt nauseous. As soon as we saw the waiter again, which alone took some time, we stopped him and explained the situation. My bowl of rice was obviously untouched, with a slight indentation from literally two little spoonfuls of food. Since it was obvious the meal was not as expected, and I had explained my dietary restrictions, the natural assumption was that I would be able to order a comparable meal. That was not the case. He informed me that their kitchen staff did not allow for any substitutions. I would have to pay for the meal, even though I did not eat any of it. Mind you, this "meal" was $12. As an aside, he also quite perplexingly brought the chicken that had been picked out and rewarmed (probably in the microwave) to our table -- as if that was some way of rectifying the situation. It made no sense! I'm a freakin' vegetarian! I told the waiter we would not be returning again, and he could not have cared less. This very much reminded of an episode of a program like "Kitchen Nightmares" or "Restaurant Impossible," whereby failing businesses boast such lack of customer service. In the end, we obviously left the bowls of empty food just sitting there. My bill was close to $40. Plus, the waiter never even came back to take our credit card. We had to go to the front of the restaurant to close the ticket. Although, I have to say, this was pretty typical of the meal even before the fiasco with my entree. I simply let things slide, as I was thinking it was just a fluke. As I mentioned, we went to Sakura Bana many times before, on special occasions and just for regular, everyday meals. I always enjoyed the veg yakisoba and veg soup. Any place worth its salt would have allowed a customer, if they value customers at all, to exchange. First, we were supposed to get soup and salad included with our meal. He didn't even offer or ask about the soup. We had an unusually long wait for our appetizer and salad -- and it was a lazy Wednesday evening. Not a lot of customers. Usually, when I've ordered green tea, the waiters will ask at least a couple of times if I need a refill. They're small cups so I typically do. This time I was done with my cup for some time before he even asked if I needed a refill, very late into the meal. In all, I left hungry (but the meal was so disgusting I actually couldn't eat then anyway) and $40 lighter in my pocket for what essentially amounted to a portion of edamame, a small bowl of salad and a cup and a half of green tea. But you know what? Sakura Bana is out the most, as we (longtime customers) will not be coming back and have already received some comments from Facebook friends who were pretty astounded by our experience, and will most certainly be thinking twice about going there. For me to be moved enough to actually write a negative review (and I just completed a positive one for a Kindle cover business) is really saying something. That's just how awful this experience was. In my more than 30 years on this planet, it is on my short list of the five to 10 worst customer service experiences I've ever had. On a positive note, if you ever find yourself in Omaha, stop by Amatos. We had a great lunch experience there! Friendly service, huge portions -- certainly live up to all the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" (I think that's the name of the show) hype.
(1)
Mark S.
Was passing thru Omaha on Interstate 80 and itching for some Japanese dinner. Better than I had expected. A lot of very Japanese items on a very large menu. I just ordered various appetizers; geso karaage (fried squid legs), ika sugatayaki (whole squid), ohitashi (blanched spinach). They even have shochu (yes!) and two glasses on the rocks later I was fat and happy. The young server was a bit meh, but good help is hard to find these days. She gave me the "look" for speaking Japanese to her and if she reads this I knew that she was Chinese. No, you don't all look the same. I don't look Japanese either, lol.
(4)
Sarah G.
I'm not really a fan of the food here. Which is too bad since it's the closest sushi restaurant to my house in town. Tried it for lunch and while they have a nice selection of menu items and lunch specials, nothing stood out enough to make me want to return.
(2)
Brett B.
The most authentic Japanese sushi experience in Omaha. This place is not 'trendy'. You won't find neon-colored cocktails or new age music playing in the background here. What you will find is a solid menu of authentic Japanese cuisine, using the highest quality, freshest fish (that can be found in Omaha). Obviously there are additional menu items that cater to mainstream Nebraskans, but the core sushi is very much the same as I have experienced in Japan. If you are looking for sushi like you get it in Japan, give this place a try. It comes pretty close. TIP: The 'sushi for two' is a good deal and is just about the right amount of food for two people. Me and my wife like to order that and then an additional item or two from the a la carte menu. Try it!
(5)
sonya h.
Service is attentive, restaurant is easy to find and conveniently located. The prices are reasonable but I was not wowed by the quality of the sashimi. It somehow did not taste or look super fresh. I think it's decent but not great! I ordered the sushi special which came with 8 assorted pieces of nigiris and 6 small pieces of sushi...it's way more than enough for 1 person, I think. I also tried their caffeine free hot tea. My total with tax and tip was $25 bucks.
(3)
John C.
I bumped this place up an extra star because the service is always very attentive and the food is consistently tasty. Even by land-locked Omaha standards, the sushi is not out-of-this world good, just okay. There is better sushi to be had elsewhere in town, but if you are nearby and have a hankering for some raw fish, this place will fit the bill. They offer most of the standard rolls and sushi you would come to expect, but there is not a real display of creativity in their "unique" rolls. Most of the selections are quite ordinary. They do have an extensive regular menu that offers bento boxes (a great lunch hour choice - allows you to have a selection of sushi/tempura/teriyaki meat/etc.), noodles and soups. Overall, a good place for sushi in Omaha, I just wouldn't drive across town to eat here.
(3)
George V.
It had been a while sine I had been in Omaha and Sakura Bana was just as good as I remembered it to be. The miso soup that came with my sushi hit the spot. As for the yakitori, I have eaten in many of Japanese restaurants in the mid-west and none have come close to Sakura Bana in my opinion. From the sauce to sesame seeds, they are perfect. I could eat their yakitori every day. Finally the sushi was fresh and the staff never once let my tea get empty. A great dining experience all around.
(4)
Tony F.
We had a diverse plate of all sushi last night. We arrived at 8 and the place was packed; not even a seat at the sushi bar was open which we prefer. While we waited, no less than 3 people asked if we had been helped. The sushi menu has expanded if you haven't been here for a couple of years. They have added some of the funky modern combo rolls in addition to the traditional ones. Recently we had been to Hiro and Okinawa, so this was a good opportunity to compare. In the past I would have ranked Hiro as #1, but not anymore. I have been regularly eating sushi for close to 20 years and the subtle differences in quality are sometimes hard to discern. The fish, seasoned rice and preparation we as good as it gets. Okay, maybe not NYC or Tokoyo grade but very, very excellent. A quick way to tell food quality is the strength of the wasabi. Last night it was like an ice pick in your nose! I would highly recommend ordering the hand roll combo. For the novice, they are the "ice cream cone" style. For $18 you get your choice of 4. All were excellent, although it was too much food. In conclusion, the food service and prices all added up to the rare 5 star for us.
(5)
Matt H.
Ate here again last night. Best thing about Sakura Bana is that is like Japanese family restaurant. It's not pretentious like many other sushi places. We had sushi, yakitori and tempura. As good as always. Have been coming here since it was sushi ichiban at the old IHOP. It's our favorite and rarely let's us down.
(5)
Ryan t.
When it comes to sushi, I'll eat just about anything you put in front of me, and I'm not difficult to please. My experiences with Sakura Bana have been mostly favorable, but I've also had some epic failures that I don't often experience when eating sushi other places. I ordered one of their rolls with tuna that came with some sort of sauce that was not specified on the menu, and that I could not identify. The only comparison that I can make is it's how I imagine mayonaise would taste if left outside for an afternoon in Arizona during July. Aside from this experience with this mystery sauce, I have been pleased with my meals here. The location is convenient and the service is always quite good.
(3)
Bobi L.
Second time I have been here and loved their food both times. Not only do they have sushi but also Japanese dishes as well. Service is awsome and the atmosphere is fun!
(5)
Matt G.
I've eaten at Sakura Bana twice. I wasn't impressed the first time, but decided to give it another shot a few months later. My first impression was correct. The sushi is bland. The rolls are loose and sloppy. Granted, looking at Sakura Bana's sushi didn't make me cringe the way Blue Sushi's did, but it just isn't very good. I used a lot of wasabi and soy sauce both times we ate there and that is never a good sign.
(2)
Brenna P.
The sushi here is ok, as are the prices. I've eaten here on several occasions, but it's not my favorite. The staff are always friendly.
(3)
Leslie P.
Amazing- Extrodinary Sakura Bana has FRESH succulent fish, tasty Tempura and Saaa-WEET appetizers. Noodles, beautiful noodles make your mouth water, OH! and don't forget dessert. This food will make your mouth ZING! WOW- Sakura Bana is so good it makes you want to cry
(5)
Drew P.
Really wasn't too impressed.
(2)
Neil G.
As other have noted, this is the generally the most authentic stuff I've found so far in Omaha, although I've still got a few to try. It's also much more convenient for the Midtown crowd, as many of Omaha's Japanese restaurants seemed to have settled way out west. The menu is large, varied, and a pretty good value. The sushi is also good, although I usually try to vary my meal and get a little sushi and some other things. Specifically, though, I highly recommend the spicy seared tuna salad. Definitely good lunch deals as well. For happy hour hunters, they have one, although I haven't personally been there for it as of yet.
(4)
Kuang J.
This review is for their new location, which was quite nice. I liked the decor, lots of wood--but they did have a few flat screens showing ESPN, which was a bit distracting. Luckily while I was there they were showing softball, so I did not feel compelled to watch the screen, but if you were on a date and have trouble not looking at the game, beware. Went to Sakura Bana for lunch, and ordered two box lunches. For under 10 bucks each, I think it was a stellar deal, and I left feeling stuffed. The food was good, but both the teri chicken and the grilled tuna (from a special) were a bit overcooked. The tempura was excellent and the sushi that came with one of the box lunches was OK--nothing special, but the price was right. Excellent service--that was one thing that stood out here.
(3)
S A.
Wow - I was so underwhelmed by this place. I ordered two rolls (crunchy spicy tuna and mango and tuna) and, had I not been hungry, would have been fine leaving them on the plate - there was just nothing about these to enjoy. The fish on the mano roll was, well, fishy. And that's a no-no for me. I should say that the service was fine, although the ambiance feels more late night diner than sushi bar to me. So, food - two stars, Ambiance - two stars, Service - 3 stars. This place barely earns its two stars in my opinion.
(2)
Lelay P.
Whoa, tempura ice cream is to die for. I had the tempura plate, to say it was delicious is to say that the pacific ocean is damp.
(5)
Kellie W.
Sakura Bana is my favorite sushi restaurant in Omaha. The sushi is great and its a great value...very reasonably priced. The carrot ginger salad dressing rocks. This has become a once a week treat for my husband and I. We really love it.
(5)
Isaac P.
It's not possible not to like this place! That is if you like REAL Japanese food. And it is very kid friendly, my friend's little brother loves this place. Omaha is full of unauthentic sushi bars and Japanese steak houses. This restaurant, I can say with full confidence is the best sushi place in Omaha. And if you don't like sushi, no problem, there's is a lot of other food too. The tempura udon is extremely good and satisfying. The staff is also very friendly and ready to make sure you're having a good time and are enjoying your food! If you like sushi and a cool restaurant this is the place for you.
(5)
David G.
I may be biased. I'm not from Omaha and currently, I'm a Chicago native who's spent extensive time in Japan. Not trying to toot my own horn here, but when it comes to Japanese food, I'll say I've had quite a bit. As for Sakurabana, I've been more than once, so I guess that's saying something. Anyway, I wont claim to have tried the majority of the menu, but what I've seen of it, its passable Japanese food. To be honest, I have nothing negative to say. I guess it just doesn't jump out at me for being above average. So with a 3-star rating, YELP gives a little explanation as a reference point. I.E. 3 Stars = 'A-OK.' And I think that's appropriate. You wont be blown away, but youll have a decent time and enjoy decent Japanese food.
(3)
Rosalina R.
Glad to report I did not experience buyers remorse here. I purchased a living social deal here on a whim...I wasn't expecting much based on the reviews...however I found both the service and food to be of the value that I paid.. While this place certainly isnt first class it does give a much more authentic vibe that say...Hiro or Blue..I had rolls, nigiri, tempura squid, some unsual detox tea, and a bento box...the appetizer was my fave (which was recommended byt he waitress) the rolls were OK and my fish in the bento was awesome...antoher intresting note: we were one of the only tables not filled with people of asian ancestry...that was my clue that the place must be doing someting right...I'll go back.
(4)
David R.
I've been going to Sakura Bana since it was in the old IHOP down the street and my daughter and I have left way too much money there. It is not fancy California style sushi but it is unpretentious, unfailing fresh and cleanly served and full of very friendly servers and sushi chefs. I've tried many of the other sushi places in Omaha, many of whom are trying to wow the younger crowd with "cutting edge" stuff, but always come right back here. I always get a spicy tuna roll wherever in the country I am, as it is the simplest thing you can make (sort of like garlic bread at an Italian place or salsa at a Mexican), and Sakura Bana's is still the best I've ever had.
(5)
Benji B.
This place is decent. The sushi wasn't bad, but it was a little bland, and they could have a better selection of rolls. I really liked the sesame salad dressing. The decor and staff are nice. I'll probably go back, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)
Matt M.
I was a big fan of Sushi Ichiban, and so naturally gave this place a try when it opened. It was really disappointing. We gave it another shot a few months later, and it was disappointing again. The atmosphere is OK--clean, open spaces. And I guess the service was OK. But the food was not great. Not bad, really, but nowhere near the quality one used to expect from Ichiban. Perhaps that's an unfair standard, but I can't help using it.
(2)
Vincent k.
The food was okay. My stomach wasn't feeling too well after eating the tempura that came with my dinner box. Maybe I just wasn't feeling well that day. Its a nice little place for sushi, fish, or have a little shabu shabu (hot pot) going. Can't really go with a lot of people, because the place is tight, but there are private rooms where you eat in a japanese setting - (shoes off, short tables, etc) that fits around 8.
(3)
Dylan G.
cool atmosphere, excellent service, decent prices, delicious soup, sashimi, sushi and sake. sold. not the best thing i've ever eaten and didn't reinvent any wheels, but a great place nonetheless. will definitely return.
(4)
Sandy J.
This place is pretty nice. I like that they sell Japanese snacks at the front counter. (There aren't many Asian grocery markets in Omaha.) The food is also pretty good, sushi and entrees. I've had better, but it's in a land locked state, so you can't have high expectations. It's one of my top three favorite Japanese restaurants in Omaha. Hiro Sushi and Sushi Yakiniku Boy are the other two.
(3)
Dieter J.
I am a regular customer of this place. Their happy hour special priced rolls are great value. This is the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha (it's actually run by Japanese), and the Japanese really tend to be the best at making Japanese food. It used to be sushi ichiban. It has always been a work in progress getting better. Now it's really quite good with very high quality sushi and innovative appetizers and rolls. I have spent a decent amount of time in Japan, and this is my favourite in Omaha for Japanese. Not that things HAVE to be "authentic"; taste is the end measure. But, when they understand how the basics are "supposed" to taste, then the modern items tend to be better. Things are a bit pricey, and I think they still have room for improvement so I'll leave off a 5th star for now. I live in that part of town, and when I think where I want to go out to eat close by, it is always the top of the list. The staff is always very friendly, and the decor is quite nice.
(4)
Wesley S.
Sakura-Bana has some of the best sushi and sashimi in the Midwest. For those who don't eat raw fish, Sakura-Bana's other dishes are excellent. Sushi aside, this little restaurant is an outstanding "peasant" style Japanese restaurant. Its sushi is national class. The restaurant used to be in a free-standing building that might have been something like a drive-in hamburger grill. Windows let in light from the outside, and the sushi bar, where the owner prepared the sashimi and sushi, was right in the center of the restaurant. Sakura-Bana no longer occupies that site near the hospitals. It now lives near Crossroads, in a storefront of one of the surrounding strip malls. The interior is darker, but actually nicer than the hospital site. The decor and ambience overall is a hair above average. I can't elaborate on the service. Very simply, it is excellent. The owner himself prepares the food and comes out to your table before and during the meal. The owner came from Japan as a sushi chef, opened Sakura-Ichiban, and simply made sushi, sashimi and other Japanese dishes that were as close to authentic as he could. For example, you can order something that resembles a fried crayfish, that is eaten head, shell and all. I am told this item is not available in most other Japanese restaurants in the Midwest. That might well be the case. I, for one, have never seen it before. Here is another example. Omaha residents will not be aware of this, but in most places throughout the Midwest where sushi is served, the sushi pieces are garnished with green plastic leaves that sometimes serve as dividers on the plate. This restaurant, in Omaha, uses the actual fresh leaf for this purpose, not a plastic replica. This leaf has a haunting, delicate, almost aromatic flavor that is difficult to describe. I think it is delicious. The owner would probably serve wasabi made directly from fresh wasabi leaves if he could. This would be not so much his attempt to match the upscale boutique restaurants' rare and unusual ingredients, so much as to strive for authenticity in reproducing the Japanese version of a dish here in Omaha, in Sakura-Ichiban. Other Japanese dishes such as tempura, ten-don, unagi-don, oyako-donburi, teriyaki, yakko tofu, and so on, are on the menu. These are all excellent, and authentic indeed. (Unfortunately the restaurant web site has been hijacked, and the menu is no longer available online.) Also on the menu are a combination sushi platter and a combination sashimi platter. Both are priced very reasonably. If you are a party of two, you might order one of each to share, supplemented by any a la carte sushi or other items that you care to order. All dinners come with sunomono, misoshiro, rice and tea. Finding the restaurant at its new location can be challenging. The storefronts do not all have numbers displayed. Call to get landmarks and further directions when you find the mall. There is plenty of parking. In fact, you can even park in the lot of the adjacent mall. In summary, Sakura-Bana serves some of the best sushi in the Midwest. The quality of its other menu items is outstanding. Service is excellent. Decor is slightly above average. Sakura-Bana is a true find, an exceptionally fine Japanese restaurant in Omaha that outshines most of the Japanese restaurants in all the Midwestern states. ==== 10-22-11: Sakura-Bana has reclaimed its formerly hijacked menu web site. The restaurant's Facebook page now has current photos and links to the menu.
(5)
Maren C.
Excellent service. Nice modern yet traditional decor (flat screens are nice, still felt Japanese). Sushi was divine. We had rolls. The dream rolls were dreamy. Highly recommend to sushi lovers.
(5)
Marc D.
What a great lunch place. Love the options for a quick lunch. Service is fabulous and starts with a hot moist towel.( how cool is that) I always get the largest combo I can. Miso soup, Salad with carrot dressing. steamed rice. 5 pieces of sushi, chicken teriyaki, a tempura mushroom, onion and carrot, 2 tempura shrimp. and an orange. Omg is everything great. A must try :)
(4)
Mark M.
When I go to Omaha which is like four or five times a year. I usually make Sakurabana as one of the stops for meal. I was disappointed about lack of professionalism when I rushed from the airport and saw the closed sign at 8:45pm Tuesday night. The listed hours is open until 9 pm. There was a guy counting the till from the day and told me everyone has gone home. No remaining customer, no one behind the sushi counter. I swung around the corner and had noodles at the Noodles Company. Sakurabana, you are the remaining authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha. Please do well to survive and keep the hours you claim to be open.
(3)
Kevin Q.
This place was simply ok. My coworkers and I (3/4 asian) came here for dinner during a business trip to Omaha. For most of our meals we had been going to American restaurants, so we decided to try something different for our last week. Sakura Bana is located in one of the various strip malls in Omaha and doesn't look like much from the outside. The interior is a pretty typical, American sushi, wood palette, kind of thing you'd come to expect. I did like the pens with appetizers and cartoons on them. As for the food, we got a whole variety of sushi, all of which came together on a neat wooden boat. I personally got the new mexico roll, which tasted a whole lot like an actual burrito. I wouldn't say it was delicious, but it was certainly interesting. As for the other rolls, I was disappointed. Nothing about them was special or notable. They were just normal sushi rolls. For dessert we got mochi and the tempura ice cream, all of which were good. The tempura ice cream in particular was really large, so I'd recommend splitting that. Overall, this place is alright considering it's in Omaha and that there aren't exactly hundreds of Asian restaurants around.
(3)
Steve S.
This place was mediocre at best. I did not begin to have sushi until later in life when I was in Japan and figured I had to actually try it since I was there. Unfortunately, that seems to have tainted my sushi taste buds. We ordered a huge variety of sushi. Everyone had a little bit of each, I am not sure which ones we ordered, the server was pretty unsure too which was which. It did come out on a boat which I guess was a nice touch, however, the ones that I ordered were stuck amidship and when the ship went down they went down with it...
(3)
Rachel S.
Amazing! They offer such a wide variety of items on the menu, not just a California roll with a different topping. The staff is extremely friendly as well. I wouldn't say this place is cheap or expensive but priced accurately for the quality of the cuisine. I did only get take out this visit but I do look forward to a sit down dinner experience very soon. The ambiance is very cute, on a Thursday night there were a lot of families and a lot of couples enjoying their meal.
(5)
Britt C.
I absolutely love Sakura Bana. It's my family's go-to when we are craving sushi and that is more often than not. The atmosphere is authentic and the servers are so friendly. Being from hawaii, I took advantage of having great sushi whenever I wanted it. Now we finally have it!! We love nearly every sushi roll they serve and everything tastes amazing. Their sashimi, sushi, bentos are the best in Omaha and we refuse to go anywhere else. Sakura Bana has made us forever customers.
(5)
Alex P.
This is THE sushi place in omaha. We are moved here after living in California our whole lives and this beats some of the Bay Area sushi hands down. The sashimi was impressive and for a second this place makes you forget that you are in a landlocked place. It's so delicious, we are definitely making this our regular sushi spot
(5)
Joseph V.
Yes, this place went through a rough patch like most small businesses do. It didn't phase me a bit. Growing up in Los Angeles with a huge selection of restaurants to eat at, usually the best places to go were the ones that recovered and came back even better. That's what Sakura Bana did and everything is not just fine, but also improved. I lived in Japan for 4 years and in my book, this is the only location in Douglas & Sarpy county that comes the closest to being there. I sampled everybody else around here and they were not comparable to this establishment with their authenticity of traditional dishes and sushi. I am definitely a fan of this place and will continue to bring my family here at least once a month. Now with that said, can we increase the menu with Tokyo Ramen, Honshu & Okinawa Soba and some dishes from Nagano please?
(5)
Judy N.
Good service, good atmosphere, terrible food. I really wanted to like it, but to no avail. We ordered the soba, King roll, and three types of sashimi. Basically the broth is flavored soy sauce. The sushi was like tuna from a can. And the sashimi was so bad I have no words. At least their hot green tea was decent.
(2)
Mike S.
We are regular visitors to Omaha and have eaten here s handful of times. The food and service have been great! For a land-locked location the sushi is above average. The cooked items have all been tasty and traditionally prepared. Definitely a family favorite!
(5)
Mar W.
Great sushi but the service is absolutely horrible!!! I also think the prices are high for what you get. The fish is very fresh and they have some fun rolls. Only giving 2 stars because I am really mad about waiting an hour to even get our sushi and they didn't even apologize for it!!! Would rather go to a sushi place with better service than this place!!!
(2)
Lynnsey B.
Sakura Bana is a sushi gem in Omaha!! This is the very best sushi I have found in the city. The rolls are traditional, delightfully flavorful, high quality and averagely priced. It's on par with what I've tasted in Florida when I lived there for 12 years. They are that good! If you're thinking about going, just head over and experience a fabulous sushi meal!
(5)
Danny D.
Best Sushi In Omaha by far. I constantly search but nowhere else compares. Best pickled ginger I've ever had. I highly recommend the spider and Nebraska rolls.
(5)
Jessica S.
Didn't find anything amazing about this place. A couple girlfriends and I ordered an abundance of sushi and it was good, but nothing that made me go "wow!" I will say that there deep fried avocado roll was really tasty and came with a sauce which everyone liked. I'd come back as the prices were decent.
(3)
Jamie L.
It is with GREAT sadness that I am writing this. I truly never believed I would have to write a bad review about my favorite restaurant. As you may or may not know Sakura Bana was recently closed by the health department for failing their inspection. This is when things started to make sense for me. Let me start by saying I have eaten here for 10 years (even prior to moving buildings) and haven't had any issues until recently. For the past couple months my husband and I were noticing dried food pieces in our water glasses or plates. We would send them back and they would just bring us another glass like nothing was wrong. I was telling my husband not to be paranoid it happens all the time probably. Having worked in a busy restaurant I can tell you the dish washers don't always get everything. Okay we let this slide. I would order items containing chicken, like yakitori and it would not be cooked all the way through. I started to tell them to overcook it because I was "paranoid", I thought maybe it was just me. Then we started to order the dream rolls and noticed some of them were premade sitting around waiting for someone to order. If you sit at the sushi bar you will notice they get 4 slices out of the dream rolls and if you only order an order (2pieces) they save the other two. This wouldn't be an issue if they were being sold quickly but a couple times I've ordered the fantasy roll, containing raw tuna, and it was oxidizing and it tasted not good. Not wanting to cause conflict I discarded them or gave them to my husband to eat. However, several weeks back I ate there and became pretty sick. I tried to convince myself that it was the Starbucks I had and not my sushi, like please all that is good don't take away my favorite place. (I have a strict policy of not eating somewhere that makes me sick ever again). We ate there a couple times after and have the above mentioned issues. HOWEVER, 1 week ago they were shut down by the health department. I asked them on Facebook why and they stated "We were closed to repair portions of the restaurant and clean around areas of recent water leaking from an AC unit on our roof. " Obviously dodging the fact they did not close voluntarily. Well WOWT news did a report on them and here are the findings. In addition to what it was the copy of the paper on TV showed something having to do with improper handling of chicken. & something else I wasn't able to read quick enough. "THE RESTAURANT STACKED UP 30 VIOLATIONS 13 OF THOSE ARE CRITICAL. EMPLOYEES WEREN'T WASHING HANDS BETWEEN TASKS THEY WERE TOLD TO NOT WIPE KNIVES ON CLOTHS -- AFTER CUTTING RAW FISH. MOLD WAS FOUND IN THE ICE MACHINE AND SANITIZER WAS TOO WEAK IN THE DISH MACHINE THE RESTAURANT COULDN'T PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT RAW FISH FOR SUSHI WAS PROPERLY FROZEN. AND FOOD WAS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE COOLER -- WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON A SHELF TO KEEP PESTS FROM GETTING TO IT. THE RESTAURANT WAS FORCED TO CLOSE. INSPECTORS DID RETURN A WEEK LATER -- NOTICED AN IMPROVEMENT -- AND ALLOWED IT TO REOPEN." This is disgusting and shameful in my mind and I will not be returning to Sakura Bana to eat. Having spent a huge sum eating there this year this greatly saddens me. I guess I was wrong to hold them to higher standards, you would think the most popular sushi place in Omaha would have good health standards? I guess not. At the end of the day, I doubt mine or my family's opinions matter. The gentlemen who make the sushi are sweeties and MOST of the servers (not all of them) are sweet also but I cannot bring myself to eat here any longer. Goodbye my favorite restaurant =(
(1)
Cathy C.
I only go to 3 Japanese restaurants in Omaha and this is one of them. I've been going here when they were still called Sushi Ichiban. Located on 74th and Dodge, it's easy to spot. This is where I first fell in love with sushi. The sushi chefs here are Japanese and some of the servers too. Excellent service all the time. Although sometimes, there could be a wait but it's all good. They're friendly, pleasant and always with a smile on their face. The rolls and sashimi are great. Fresh fish. I love their lunch/dinner combinations too - you get an entree, sushi, rice, salad and soup for less then $10 for lunch and about $16 for dinner. They have a special dinner combo for less than $30 - 2 appetizers, 1 entree and dessert. They have a jellyfish appetizer and one of my favorites, takoyaki (battered balls of octopus) ! Their tofu steak is amazing...nice and garlicky. Negimayaki (scallions wrapped in thinly sliced beef in teriyaki sauce) is delicious. Shrimp tempura, udon and katsudon are fantastic. But my absolute favorite dish here is the beef teriyaki. The BEST I've had anywhere (yes, even better than the ones I've had in Japan). Sliced tender beef cooked medium rare. It comes on a sizzling plate with carrots and broccoli. The teriyaki sauce isn't the dominant flavor and you can actually enjoy the taste of meat. I simply love this place. One of my favorite restaurants in Omaha.
(5)
Marc M.
I never thought I'd find a restaurant in Omaha that is as authentically Japanese as this place! Of course they have sushi but it's actually good! I love takoyaki and haven't had anything decent since leaving Japan and these were amazing! If you're looking for authentic Japanese food, this is it!
(5)
Ron D.
Great sushi, very friendly and helpful staff!! Overall fantastic place highly recommend!!
(5)
Lisa R.
After many great meals here, I have to say this place is a tasty spot in a central location in Omaha. Many family get togethers (mostly consisting of "the cousins" but this time, one of my uncles) center around eating and schmoozing, and sushi and us just go so well together. Our fabulous server was Teriko (forgive my spelling). We ordered a whole lot of things, but new to us included the ceviche, which ended up being salmon, yellowtail, tuna, and red snapper sliced sashimi style in our choice of spicy lime or spicy ponzu, with jalepeno slices, daikon, and kaiware sprouts. My brother and I also split the chirashi, a classic here with many assorted items (tamago, maguro, hamachi, nama sake, saba, masago, kanpyo, tako, tai, etc). The rest of the group ordered rolls. We had negi toro (nice and fatty!), the yellowtail special (avocado and smelt roe), Hawaiian (tuna and mango), cancun (yellowtail, jalepeno, avocado, cilantro), rainbow, and one of the eel rolls. Plenty to eat, lots of options, and some pretty great combinations, especially considering I am not much of a rolls person. The menu has lots of ways to go - ordering individually, sushi and sashimi combos, and even hand roll combos. Always a great time with a pretty presentation, this is a solid sushi bet for Omaha.
(4)
Tim B.
Ok maybe I am a bit on the picky side when it comes to sushi and perhaps its because I am here on work and live in Kansas City where there are much better sushi places yet I went here based off of the other reviews and I have to say, this was just OK. The service was pretty good overall but the sushi was poor at best. Not very good. I had a lot higher expectations. The sushi was a bit better than the sushi you get from Costco or a grocery store. Not the best quality at all. I think Omaha could do better in the quality anyway. As far as the other stuff like friendliness of staff and conditions I don't have any complaints there. I just wish the food was better quality. If I were you I would look for something better.
(2)
John K.
This place sucks. I had some chicken teriyaki, and it was the worst I've ever had. It was nothing like THIS: s3.amazonaws.com/foodspo… which is exactly what good teriyaki should be. Not to mention I paid like 40 fucking dollars for some crap meal when I've had teriyaki like the picture above for only about $7. Come on now, look at that picture and tell me it doesn't look better than everything ON THE WHOLE MENU! Great, I'm drooling now... no thanks to Sakura Bana.
(1)
Lorrie W.
I've been a customer of Sakura Bana for 25 years. This is truly the only sushi bar for me and my family. Truly authentic Japanese cuisine!
(5)
Becky S.
Great find! Left Ponzu and headed straight to this place. Superb service, delicious rolls and soup and a beautiful custom roll that was creative and met all of our expectations.
(4)
Jake S.
Best sushi in town. I ate at all the other sushi restaurants. This place is my favorite. No one serves it with dicon like they do. Great service. Bench seats are cramped. Other than that it's all good.
(5)
Justine R.
Great food and a lot of options for vegetarians...Great service also.
(4)
Marcy W.
I ventured out of my sushi safe-zones and tried Sakura Bana. I was thoroughly impressed with the rolls I selected and was delighted to see a true Japanese sushi chef behind the counter! The miso soup was unappetizing to me and I'll be sure to get the salad instead next time. Overall, a great experience and I'm happy to have another sushi place in town that I like! I feel late to the game on this one.
(4)
Ramon B.
I'm very ok with this place. I'm not the hugest asian cuisine person but my special lady friend is, so we end up going to various places and seeing what they offer. What helped this place stand out to me is that first off the prices are attractive. Secondly, the menu is expansive and has a good variety so that all parties have something to enjoy. My high praise goes to their sashimi though. Their fish is pretty darn good and the slices they give you are nice and worth a bite! Good portion sizes are always a winner. I will say some of their stuff doesn't work me well but maybe that's just do to my own personal tastes. Service is up and down from Great to ok-ish. That's prolly the only drawback. Other than that...eat up Minions!
(4)
Tanner E.
Great food and probably the most authentic Japanese restaurant around! All the food from the hot dishes to the share-able plates to the sushi is all excellent. The prices are also very good for the quality of the food!
(5)
Shawn G.
What's not to like about this place? Good sushi, good sake, good entrees, good service, good design... just good good good good good. I was a bit surprised walking in the door at Sakura Bana. Judging from the exterior of the building, I expected a loud, large, colorfully lit, modern dining room, but the reality was quite the opposite: a calm, cozy, authentic feeling Japanese restaurant. There is seating at the sushi bar, a number of more conventional dining room tables, and several enclosed semi-traditional rooms where you have to take your shoes off before entering. We were seated in one of the latter, and while it was a very calm place to enjoy dinner visually, it didn't do very much to quiet any of the restaurant's already moderate noise level. After spending some time with the large and wonderfully informative menu, we had some Sushi, Age Gyoza and Crab Shumai for appetizers, which were delicious, and two Yakisobas (one beef, one pork) and a Yakiniku for our entrees. Everything was very tasty, but the entrees did seem to be lagging behind the appetizers and sushi. I wish I had more detail to include here, but, well, sake makes fools of us all. All in all it was a great meal and I'll definitely be back to try more food, and hopefully report back with a little less drunken haziness.
(4)
Cassie Z.
I am a HUGE fan of Sakura Bana. This is my favorite sushi place in Omaha. It is fresh and simple. Here are the three meals I get every time I go: 1. tekka roll, California roll, and Godzilla roll 2. bento box e with teriyaki fish, rice, salad, sushi, miso, and an orange 3. hand roll special - spicy tuna (x2), California, and shrimp The salad dressings are so delicious--I get a side of both and drench the lettuce. If you go enough---they'll give you a sushi calendar. ha.
(5)
Michael V.
We stopped by here during a Spring Break trip. I was here with my wife and 3 kids and we sat at the sushi bar. The service is great. The sushi chef was a pleasure to talk to as well. We liked the place so much that we came back 2 days later for our anniversary dinner. It is a little on the expensive side but was very good. Definitely a favorite of ours when we visit Omaha!
(5)
Richard M.
Great sushi, highly recommended !
(4)
sonya h.
Service is attentive, restaurant is easy to find and conveniently located. The prices are reasonable but I was not wowed by the quality of the sashimi. It somehow did not taste or look super fresh. I think it's decent but not great! I ordered the sushi special which came with 8 assorted pieces of nigiris and 6 small pieces of sushi...it's way more than enough for 1 person, I think. I also tried their caffeine free hot tea. My total with tax and tip was $25 bucks.
(3)
Sarah G.
I'm not really a fan of the food here. Which is too bad since it's the closest sushi restaurant to my house in town. Tried it for lunch and while they have a nice selection of menu items and lunch specials, nothing stood out enough to make me want to return.
(2)
Brett B.
The most authentic Japanese sushi experience in Omaha. This place is not 'trendy'. You won't find neon-colored cocktails or new age music playing in the background here. What you will find is a solid menu of authentic Japanese cuisine, using the highest quality, freshest fish (that can be found in Omaha). Obviously there are additional menu items that cater to mainstream Nebraskans, but the core sushi is very much the same as I have experienced in Japan. If you are looking for sushi like you get it in Japan, give this place a try. It comes pretty close. TIP: The 'sushi for two' is a good deal and is just about the right amount of food for two people. Me and my wife like to order that and then an additional item or two from the a la carte menu. Try it!
(5)
C P.
I haven't been to any other Japanese restaurants in Omaha, so I can't tell if this is the best, the worst, or somewhere in between. I wish my server had tried a little harder to explain to me the special combos and lunch deals they were having. I ended up ordering something just fine, but I definitely have overlooked the specials section and nobody cared to tell me about that. I think it really depends on your server. The folks at the next table seemed to have received some great recommendations. Oh well. The cashier and the chef seemed friendly. That's always a plus. The taste of their miso soup bothered me. It's very very bland. I've never tasted anything like that, whether it's when I made my own at home, when I was in Japan, France, or other parts of North America. I guess it was accidental?
(3)
Paul W.
Walked in to Sakura Bana at 10 till 10:00 (Closing time), the chef not only accommodated us, but there was absolutely no pressure or rush from the staff to get us out. So hospitable!
(5)
Michelle L.
Let me first say I am not an individual who goes online to post inflammatory reviews. In fact, before this experience (which occurred a few hours ago), Sakura Bana was among one of our favorite places to eat. No more. If I could give no stars, I would. The straw that broke the camel's back (during what was to be a birthday meal, no less) was when I had ordered a meal (the oyako don), only without chicken. I have been a vegetarian/sometimes vegan for more than seven years now, and I often have to ask for restaurants to either omit the meat or put it on the side. It's never a problem. Long story short, waiter finally returns with our meals. Even with the chicken being picked out, it tasted very much like chicken -- down to the rice in the meal (all the meal essentially is boils down to: rice, egg, some sauce, a few veggies and -- typically -- chicken). I thought I was going to be sick. I took only two bites of the meal. The first time around I thought it tasted nasty but I was going to give it a chance. I took another bite and immediately felt nauseous. As soon as we saw the waiter again, which alone took some time, we stopped him and explained the situation. My bowl of rice was obviously untouched, with a slight indentation from literally two little spoonfuls of food. Since it was obvious the meal was not as expected, and I had explained my dietary restrictions, the natural assumption was that I would be able to order a comparable meal. That was not the case. He informed me that their kitchen staff did not allow for any substitutions. I would have to pay for the meal, even though I did not eat any of it. Mind you, this "meal" was $12. As an aside, he also quite perplexingly brought the chicken that had been picked out and rewarmed (probably in the microwave) to our table -- as if that was some way of rectifying the situation. It made no sense! I'm a freakin' vegetarian! I told the waiter we would not be returning again, and he could not have cared less. This very much reminded of an episode of a program like "Kitchen Nightmares" or "Restaurant Impossible," whereby failing businesses boast such lack of customer service. In the end, we obviously left the bowls of empty food just sitting there. My bill was close to $40. Plus, the waiter never even came back to take our credit card. We had to go to the front of the restaurant to close the ticket. Although, I have to say, this was pretty typical of the meal even before the fiasco with my entree. I simply let things slide, as I was thinking it was just a fluke. As I mentioned, we went to Sakura Bana many times before, on special occasions and just for regular, everyday meals. I always enjoyed the veg yakisoba and veg soup. Any place worth its salt would have allowed a customer, if they value customers at all, to exchange. First, we were supposed to get soup and salad included with our meal. He didn't even offer or ask about the soup. We had an unusually long wait for our appetizer and salad -- and it was a lazy Wednesday evening. Not a lot of customers. Usually, when I've ordered green tea, the waiters will ask at least a couple of times if I need a refill. They're small cups so I typically do. This time I was done with my cup for some time before he even asked if I needed a refill, very late into the meal. In all, I left hungry (but the meal was so disgusting I actually couldn't eat then anyway) and $40 lighter in my pocket for what essentially amounted to a portion of edamame, a small bowl of salad and a cup and a half of green tea. But you know what? Sakura Bana is out the most, as we (longtime customers) will not be coming back and have already received some comments from Facebook friends who were pretty astounded by our experience, and will most certainly be thinking twice about going there. For me to be moved enough to actually write a negative review (and I just completed a positive one for a Kindle cover business) is really saying something. That's just how awful this experience was. In my more than 30 years on this planet, it is on my short list of the five to 10 worst customer service experiences I've ever had. On a positive note, if you ever find yourself in Omaha, stop by Amatos. We had a great lunch experience there! Friendly service, huge portions -- certainly live up to all the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" (I think that's the name of the show) hype.
(1)
Elisa V.
My husband, my three kids and I are visiting from Colorado and decided to try Sakura Bana. We are all big fans of sushi and found this place extremely delicious. My kids all ordered a box with sushi, tempura, and chicken teriyaki in it and ate it all. They normally do not care for teriyaki, but my kids said it was the best teriyaki they had ever eaten. My husband and I ate a good amount of sushi and enjoyed it all. We have eaten at many sushi places over the years in a few states including large cities and we both thought this was some of the best sushi we have ever eaten. One of my favorite sushi is white tuna and Sakura Bana is in my top 5 places with the best white tuna. Every bit of sushi we ate there was delicious. We enjoyed it so much that we came back two nights later for our anniversary. The wait staff and sushi chefs were very friendly and attentive as well. We have no complaints about this place at all and will definitely eat here again if we are ever in Omaha again.
(5)
Jeff W.
I wouldn't normally give five stars with only one visit, but the sushi here was that good. I've lived in several big cities on the coast, with lots of access to fresh fish, and this sushi is right up there with the best of them. First off, the rolls melt in your mouth - the rice is perfectly prepared and not super glutenous or too dry. The menu has a great variety of traditional rolls, plus some unique variations on favorites. One recommended by our waitress was the Zombie Roll - an inside-out roll with spicy tuna, whitefish, and avocado that was absolutely perfect. For non-sushi lovers, they have a large menu of Japanese dishes. We hadn't had sushi in months, though, so we focused on that (although we did try the gyoza, which was excellent). Ambiance is good - nothing special, but clean, light, and airy. The restaurant is across the street from the Crossroads Mall, so this would be a great place to come after a day of shopping. Also, they do have a more limited happy hour menu, if price is a concern.
(5)
Ashley F.
This is probably the most authentic Japanese food that I've had in Omaha. It may not be the fanciest place in town, no leather lounge chairs, no silver chopsticks, etc., but where else in Nebraska will you find a traditional Japanese eating area with tatami mats? They also give you an oshibori (warm wash cloth) to clean your hands. Small details like this make this place truly authentic. I've had the agedashi tofu, hamachi kama, various sushi rolls, and most recently the beef udonsuki. All are very flavorful with no bells or whistles - just pure goodness. It reminds me of food my grandma makes at home, so needless to say I always come to Sakura Bana whenever I get homesick and want a nice home-cooked Japanese meal. Service is always 5+ stars - very attentive and prompt. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and service. All I've got to say is "gochisousama deshita!"
(5)
Susan S.
This is the best sushi restaurant in Omaha. Period.
(5)
Mark S.
Was passing thru Omaha on Interstate 80 and itching for some Japanese dinner. Better than I had expected. A lot of very Japanese items on a very large menu. I just ordered various appetizers; geso karaage (fried squid legs), ika sugatayaki (whole squid), ohitashi (blanched spinach). They even have shochu (yes!) and two glasses on the rocks later I was fat and happy. The young server was a bit meh, but good help is hard to find these days. She gave me the "look" for speaking Japanese to her and if she reads this I knew that she was Chinese. No, you don't all look the same. I don't look Japanese either, lol.
(4)
John C.
I bumped this place up an extra star because the service is always very attentive and the food is consistently tasty. Even by land-locked Omaha standards, the sushi is not out-of-this world good, just okay. There is better sushi to be had elsewhere in town, but if you are nearby and have a hankering for some raw fish, this place will fit the bill. They offer most of the standard rolls and sushi you would come to expect, but there is not a real display of creativity in their "unique" rolls. Most of the selections are quite ordinary. They do have an extensive regular menu that offers bento boxes (a great lunch hour choice - allows you to have a selection of sushi/tempura/teriyaki meat/etc.), noodles and soups. Overall, a good place for sushi in Omaha, I just wouldn't drive across town to eat here.
(3)
George V.
It had been a while sine I had been in Omaha and Sakura Bana was just as good as I remembered it to be. The miso soup that came with my sushi hit the spot. As for the yakitori, I have eaten in many of Japanese restaurants in the mid-west and none have come close to Sakura Bana in my opinion. From the sauce to sesame seeds, they are perfect. I could eat their yakitori every day. Finally the sushi was fresh and the staff never once let my tea get empty. A great dining experience all around.
(4)
Tony F.
We had a diverse plate of all sushi last night. We arrived at 8 and the place was packed; not even a seat at the sushi bar was open which we prefer. While we waited, no less than 3 people asked if we had been helped. The sushi menu has expanded if you haven't been here for a couple of years. They have added some of the funky modern combo rolls in addition to the traditional ones. Recently we had been to Hiro and Okinawa, so this was a good opportunity to compare. In the past I would have ranked Hiro as #1, but not anymore. I have been regularly eating sushi for close to 20 years and the subtle differences in quality are sometimes hard to discern. The fish, seasoned rice and preparation we as good as it gets. Okay, maybe not NYC or Tokoyo grade but very, very excellent. A quick way to tell food quality is the strength of the wasabi. Last night it was like an ice pick in your nose! I would highly recommend ordering the hand roll combo. For the novice, they are the "ice cream cone" style. For $18 you get your choice of 4. All were excellent, although it was too much food. In conclusion, the food service and prices all added up to the rare 5 star for us.
(5)
Matt H.
Ate here again last night. Best thing about Sakura Bana is that is like Japanese family restaurant. It's not pretentious like many other sushi places. We had sushi, yakitori and tempura. As good as always. Have been coming here since it was sushi ichiban at the old IHOP. It's our favorite and rarely let's us down.
(5)
Ryan t.
When it comes to sushi, I'll eat just about anything you put in front of me, and I'm not difficult to please. My experiences with Sakura Bana have been mostly favorable, but I've also had some epic failures that I don't often experience when eating sushi other places. I ordered one of their rolls with tuna that came with some sort of sauce that was not specified on the menu, and that I could not identify. The only comparison that I can make is it's how I imagine mayonaise would taste if left outside for an afternoon in Arizona during July. Aside from this experience with this mystery sauce, I have been pleased with my meals here. The location is convenient and the service is always quite good.
(3)
Bobi L.
Second time I have been here and loved their food both times. Not only do they have sushi but also Japanese dishes as well. Service is awsome and the atmosphere is fun!
(5)
Matt G.
I've eaten at Sakura Bana twice. I wasn't impressed the first time, but decided to give it another shot a few months later. My first impression was correct. The sushi is bland. The rolls are loose and sloppy. Granted, looking at Sakura Bana's sushi didn't make me cringe the way Blue Sushi's did, but it just isn't very good. I used a lot of wasabi and soy sauce both times we ate there and that is never a good sign.
(2)
Brenna P.
The sushi here is ok, as are the prices. I've eaten here on several occasions, but it's not my favorite. The staff are always friendly.
(3)
Leslie P.
Amazing- Extrodinary Sakura Bana has FRESH succulent fish, tasty Tempura and Saaa-WEET appetizers. Noodles, beautiful noodles make your mouth water, OH! and don't forget dessert. This food will make your mouth ZING! WOW- Sakura Bana is so good it makes you want to cry
(5)
Drew P.
Really wasn't too impressed.
(2)
Neil G.
As other have noted, this is the generally the most authentic stuff I've found so far in Omaha, although I've still got a few to try. It's also much more convenient for the Midtown crowd, as many of Omaha's Japanese restaurants seemed to have settled way out west. The menu is large, varied, and a pretty good value. The sushi is also good, although I usually try to vary my meal and get a little sushi and some other things. Specifically, though, I highly recommend the spicy seared tuna salad. Definitely good lunch deals as well. For happy hour hunters, they have one, although I haven't personally been there for it as of yet.
(4)
Kuang J.
This review is for their new location, which was quite nice. I liked the decor, lots of wood--but they did have a few flat screens showing ESPN, which was a bit distracting. Luckily while I was there they were showing softball, so I did not feel compelled to watch the screen, but if you were on a date and have trouble not looking at the game, beware. Went to Sakura Bana for lunch, and ordered two box lunches. For under 10 bucks each, I think it was a stellar deal, and I left feeling stuffed. The food was good, but both the teri chicken and the grilled tuna (from a special) were a bit overcooked. The tempura was excellent and the sushi that came with one of the box lunches was OK--nothing special, but the price was right. Excellent service--that was one thing that stood out here.
(3)
S A.
Wow - I was so underwhelmed by this place. I ordered two rolls (crunchy spicy tuna and mango and tuna) and, had I not been hungry, would have been fine leaving them on the plate - there was just nothing about these to enjoy. The fish on the mano roll was, well, fishy. And that's a no-no for me. I should say that the service was fine, although the ambiance feels more late night diner than sushi bar to me. So, food - two stars, Ambiance - two stars, Service - 3 stars. This place barely earns its two stars in my opinion.
(2)
Lelay P.
Whoa, tempura ice cream is to die for. I had the tempura plate, to say it was delicious is to say that the pacific ocean is damp.
(5)
Kellie W.
Sakura Bana is my favorite sushi restaurant in Omaha. The sushi is great and its a great value...very reasonably priced. The carrot ginger salad dressing rocks. This has become a once a week treat for my husband and I. We really love it.
(5)
Isaac P.
It's not possible not to like this place! That is if you like REAL Japanese food. And it is very kid friendly, my friend's little brother loves this place. Omaha is full of unauthentic sushi bars and Japanese steak houses. This restaurant, I can say with full confidence is the best sushi place in Omaha. And if you don't like sushi, no problem, there's is a lot of other food too. The tempura udon is extremely good and satisfying. The staff is also very friendly and ready to make sure you're having a good time and are enjoying your food! If you like sushi and a cool restaurant this is the place for you.
(5)
David G.
I may be biased. I'm not from Omaha and currently, I'm a Chicago native who's spent extensive time in Japan. Not trying to toot my own horn here, but when it comes to Japanese food, I'll say I've had quite a bit. As for Sakurabana, I've been more than once, so I guess that's saying something. Anyway, I wont claim to have tried the majority of the menu, but what I've seen of it, its passable Japanese food. To be honest, I have nothing negative to say. I guess it just doesn't jump out at me for being above average. So with a 3-star rating, YELP gives a little explanation as a reference point. I.E. 3 Stars = 'A-OK.' And I think that's appropriate. You wont be blown away, but youll have a decent time and enjoy decent Japanese food.
(3)
Rosalina R.
Glad to report I did not experience buyers remorse here. I purchased a living social deal here on a whim...I wasn't expecting much based on the reviews...however I found both the service and food to be of the value that I paid.. While this place certainly isnt first class it does give a much more authentic vibe that say...Hiro or Blue..I had rolls, nigiri, tempura squid, some unsual detox tea, and a bento box...the appetizer was my fave (which was recommended byt he waitress) the rolls were OK and my fish in the bento was awesome...antoher intresting note: we were one of the only tables not filled with people of asian ancestry...that was my clue that the place must be doing someting right...I'll go back.
(4)
David R.
I've been going to Sakura Bana since it was in the old IHOP down the street and my daughter and I have left way too much money there. It is not fancy California style sushi but it is unpretentious, unfailing fresh and cleanly served and full of very friendly servers and sushi chefs. I've tried many of the other sushi places in Omaha, many of whom are trying to wow the younger crowd with "cutting edge" stuff, but always come right back here. I always get a spicy tuna roll wherever in the country I am, as it is the simplest thing you can make (sort of like garlic bread at an Italian place or salsa at a Mexican), and Sakura Bana's is still the best I've ever had.
(5)
Benji B.
This place is decent. The sushi wasn't bad, but it was a little bland, and they could have a better selection of rolls. I really liked the sesame salad dressing. The decor and staff are nice. I'll probably go back, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)
Matt M.
I was a big fan of Sushi Ichiban, and so naturally gave this place a try when it opened. It was really disappointing. We gave it another shot a few months later, and it was disappointing again. The atmosphere is OK--clean, open spaces. And I guess the service was OK. But the food was not great. Not bad, really, but nowhere near the quality one used to expect from Ichiban. Perhaps that's an unfair standard, but I can't help using it.
(2)
Vincent k.
The food was okay. My stomach wasn't feeling too well after eating the tempura that came with my dinner box. Maybe I just wasn't feeling well that day. Its a nice little place for sushi, fish, or have a little shabu shabu (hot pot) going. Can't really go with a lot of people, because the place is tight, but there are private rooms where you eat in a japanese setting - (shoes off, short tables, etc) that fits around 8.
(3)
Dylan G.
cool atmosphere, excellent service, decent prices, delicious soup, sashimi, sushi and sake. sold. not the best thing i've ever eaten and didn't reinvent any wheels, but a great place nonetheless. will definitely return.
(4)
Sandy J.
This place is pretty nice. I like that they sell Japanese snacks at the front counter. (There aren't many Asian grocery markets in Omaha.) The food is also pretty good, sushi and entrees. I've had better, but it's in a land locked state, so you can't have high expectations. It's one of my top three favorite Japanese restaurants in Omaha. Hiro Sushi and Sushi Yakiniku Boy are the other two.
(3)
Dieter J.
I am a regular customer of this place. Their happy hour special priced rolls are great value. This is the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha (it's actually run by Japanese), and the Japanese really tend to be the best at making Japanese food. It used to be sushi ichiban. It has always been a work in progress getting better. Now it's really quite good with very high quality sushi and innovative appetizers and rolls. I have spent a decent amount of time in Japan, and this is my favourite in Omaha for Japanese. Not that things HAVE to be "authentic"; taste is the end measure. But, when they understand how the basics are "supposed" to taste, then the modern items tend to be better. Things are a bit pricey, and I think they still have room for improvement so I'll leave off a 5th star for now. I live in that part of town, and when I think where I want to go out to eat close by, it is always the top of the list. The staff is always very friendly, and the decor is quite nice.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Susan S.
This is the best sushi restaurant in Omaha. Period.
(5)Wesley S.
Sakura-Bana has some of the best sushi and sashimi in the Midwest. For those who don't eat raw fish, Sakura-Bana's other dishes are excellent. Sushi aside, this little restaurant is an outstanding "peasant" style Japanese restaurant. Its sushi is national class. The restaurant used to be in a free-standing building that might have been something like a drive-in hamburger grill. Windows let in light from the outside, and the sushi bar, where the owner prepared the sashimi and sushi, was right in the center of the restaurant. Sakura-Bana no longer occupies that site near the hospitals. It now lives near Crossroads, in a storefront of one of the surrounding strip malls. The interior is darker, but actually nicer than the hospital site. The decor and ambience overall is a hair above average. I can't elaborate on the service. Very simply, it is excellent. The owner himself prepares the food and comes out to your table before and during the meal. The owner came from Japan as a sushi chef, opened Sakura-Ichiban, and simply made sushi, sashimi and other Japanese dishes that were as close to authentic as he could. For example, you can order something that resembles a fried crayfish, that is eaten head, shell and all. I am told this item is not available in most other Japanese restaurants in the Midwest. That might well be the case. I, for one, have never seen it before. Here is another example. Omaha residents will not be aware of this, but in most places throughout the Midwest where sushi is served, the sushi pieces are garnished with green plastic leaves that sometimes serve as dividers on the plate. This restaurant, in Omaha, uses the actual fresh leaf for this purpose, not a plastic replica. This leaf has a haunting, delicate, almost aromatic flavor that is difficult to describe. I think it is delicious. The owner would probably serve wasabi made directly from fresh wasabi leaves if he could. This would be not so much his attempt to match the upscale boutique restaurants' rare and unusual ingredients, so much as to strive for authenticity in reproducing the Japanese version of a dish here in Omaha, in Sakura-Ichiban. Other Japanese dishes such as tempura, ten-don, unagi-don, oyako-donburi, teriyaki, yakko tofu, and so on, are on the menu. These are all excellent, and authentic indeed. (Unfortunately the restaurant web site has been hijacked, and the menu is no longer available online.) Also on the menu are a combination sushi platter and a combination sashimi platter. Both are priced very reasonably. If you are a party of two, you might order one of each to share, supplemented by any a la carte sushi or other items that you care to order. All dinners come with sunomono, misoshiro, rice and tea. Finding the restaurant at its new location can be challenging. The storefronts do not all have numbers displayed. Call to get landmarks and further directions when you find the mall. There is plenty of parking. In fact, you can even park in the lot of the adjacent mall. In summary, Sakura-Bana serves some of the best sushi in the Midwest. The quality of its other menu items is outstanding. Service is excellent. Decor is slightly above average. Sakura-Bana is a true find, an exceptionally fine Japanese restaurant in Omaha that outshines most of the Japanese restaurants in all the Midwestern states. ==== 10-22-11: Sakura-Bana has reclaimed its formerly hijacked menu web site. The restaurant's Facebook page now has current photos and links to the menu.
(5)Maren C.
Excellent service. Nice modern yet traditional decor (flat screens are nice, still felt Japanese). Sushi was divine. We had rolls. The dream rolls were dreamy. Highly recommend to sushi lovers.
(5)Marc D.
What a great lunch place. Love the options for a quick lunch. Service is fabulous and starts with a hot moist towel.( how cool is that) I always get the largest combo I can. Miso soup, Salad with carrot dressing. steamed rice. 5 pieces of sushi, chicken teriyaki, a tempura mushroom, onion and carrot, 2 tempura shrimp. and an orange. Omg is everything great. A must try :)
(4)Mark M.
When I go to Omaha which is like four or five times a year. I usually make Sakurabana as one of the stops for meal. I was disappointed about lack of professionalism when I rushed from the airport and saw the closed sign at 8:45pm Tuesday night. The listed hours is open until 9 pm. There was a guy counting the till from the day and told me everyone has gone home. No remaining customer, no one behind the sushi counter. I swung around the corner and had noodles at the Noodles Company. Sakurabana, you are the remaining authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha. Please do well to survive and keep the hours you claim to be open.
(3)Kevin Q.
This place was simply ok. My coworkers and I (3/4 asian) came here for dinner during a business trip to Omaha. For most of our meals we had been going to American restaurants, so we decided to try something different for our last week. Sakura Bana is located in one of the various strip malls in Omaha and doesn't look like much from the outside. The interior is a pretty typical, American sushi, wood palette, kind of thing you'd come to expect. I did like the pens with appetizers and cartoons on them. As for the food, we got a whole variety of sushi, all of which came together on a neat wooden boat. I personally got the new mexico roll, which tasted a whole lot like an actual burrito. I wouldn't say it was delicious, but it was certainly interesting. As for the other rolls, I was disappointed. Nothing about them was special or notable. They were just normal sushi rolls. For dessert we got mochi and the tempura ice cream, all of which were good. The tempura ice cream in particular was really large, so I'd recommend splitting that. Overall, this place is alright considering it's in Omaha and that there aren't exactly hundreds of Asian restaurants around.
(3)Steve S.
This place was mediocre at best. I did not begin to have sushi until later in life when I was in Japan and figured I had to actually try it since I was there. Unfortunately, that seems to have tainted my sushi taste buds. We ordered a huge variety of sushi. Everyone had a little bit of each, I am not sure which ones we ordered, the server was pretty unsure too which was which. It did come out on a boat which I guess was a nice touch, however, the ones that I ordered were stuck amidship and when the ship went down they went down with it...
(3)Rachel S.
Amazing! They offer such a wide variety of items on the menu, not just a California roll with a different topping. The staff is extremely friendly as well. I wouldn't say this place is cheap or expensive but priced accurately for the quality of the cuisine. I did only get take out this visit but I do look forward to a sit down dinner experience very soon. The ambiance is very cute, on a Thursday night there were a lot of families and a lot of couples enjoying their meal.
(5)Joseph V.
Yes, this place went through a rough patch like most small businesses do. It didn't phase me a bit. Growing up in Los Angeles with a huge selection of restaurants to eat at, usually the best places to go were the ones that recovered and came back even better. That's what Sakura Bana did and everything is not just fine, but also improved. I lived in Japan for 4 years and in my book, this is the only location in Douglas & Sarpy county that comes the closest to being there. I sampled everybody else around here and they were not comparable to this establishment with their authenticity of traditional dishes and sushi. I am definitely a fan of this place and will continue to bring my family here at least once a month. Now with that said, can we increase the menu with Tokyo Ramen, Honshu & Okinawa Soba and some dishes from Nagano please?
(5)Judy N.
Good service, good atmosphere, terrible food. I really wanted to like it, but to no avail. We ordered the soba, King roll, and three types of sashimi. Basically the broth is flavored soy sauce. The sushi was like tuna from a can. And the sashimi was so bad I have no words. At least their hot green tea was decent.
(2)Mike S.
We are regular visitors to Omaha and have eaten here s handful of times. The food and service have been great! For a land-locked location the sushi is above average. The cooked items have all been tasty and traditionally prepared. Definitely a family favorite!
(5)Mar W.
Great sushi but the service is absolutely horrible!!! I also think the prices are high for what you get. The fish is very fresh and they have some fun rolls. Only giving 2 stars because I am really mad about waiting an hour to even get our sushi and they didn't even apologize for it!!! Would rather go to a sushi place with better service than this place!!!
(2)Lynnsey B.
Sakura Bana is a sushi gem in Omaha!! This is the very best sushi I have found in the city. The rolls are traditional, delightfully flavorful, high quality and averagely priced. It's on par with what I've tasted in Florida when I lived there for 12 years. They are that good! If you're thinking about going, just head over and experience a fabulous sushi meal!
(5)Danny D.
Best Sushi In Omaha by far. I constantly search but nowhere else compares. Best pickled ginger I've ever had. I highly recommend the spider and Nebraska rolls.
(5)Jamie L.
It is with GREAT sadness that I am writing this. I truly never believed I would have to write a bad review about my favorite restaurant. As you may or may not know Sakura Bana was recently closed by the health department for failing their inspection. This is when things started to make sense for me. Let me start by saying I have eaten here for 10 years (even prior to moving buildings) and haven't had any issues until recently. For the past couple months my husband and I were noticing dried food pieces in our water glasses or plates. We would send them back and they would just bring us another glass like nothing was wrong. I was telling my husband not to be paranoid it happens all the time probably. Having worked in a busy restaurant I can tell you the dish washers don't always get everything. Okay we let this slide. I would order items containing chicken, like yakitori and it would not be cooked all the way through. I started to tell them to overcook it because I was "paranoid", I thought maybe it was just me. Then we started to order the dream rolls and noticed some of them were premade sitting around waiting for someone to order. If you sit at the sushi bar you will notice they get 4 slices out of the dream rolls and if you only order an order (2pieces) they save the other two. This wouldn't be an issue if they were being sold quickly but a couple times I've ordered the fantasy roll, containing raw tuna, and it was oxidizing and it tasted not good. Not wanting to cause conflict I discarded them or gave them to my husband to eat. However, several weeks back I ate there and became pretty sick. I tried to convince myself that it was the Starbucks I had and not my sushi, like please all that is good don't take away my favorite place. (I have a strict policy of not eating somewhere that makes me sick ever again). We ate there a couple times after and have the above mentioned issues. HOWEVER, 1 week ago they were shut down by the health department. I asked them on Facebook why and they stated "We were closed to repair portions of the restaurant and clean around areas of recent water leaking from an AC unit on our roof. " Obviously dodging the fact they did not close voluntarily. Well WOWT news did a report on them and here are the findings. In addition to what it was the copy of the paper on TV showed something having to do with improper handling of chicken. & something else I wasn't able to read quick enough. "THE RESTAURANT STACKED UP 30 VIOLATIONS 13 OF THOSE ARE CRITICAL. EMPLOYEES WEREN'T WASHING HANDS BETWEEN TASKS THEY WERE TOLD TO NOT WIPE KNIVES ON CLOTHS -- AFTER CUTTING RAW FISH. MOLD WAS FOUND IN THE ICE MACHINE AND SANITIZER WAS TOO WEAK IN THE DISH MACHINE THE RESTAURANT COULDN'T PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT RAW FISH FOR SUSHI WAS PROPERLY FROZEN. AND FOOD WAS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE COOLER -- WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON A SHELF TO KEEP PESTS FROM GETTING TO IT. THE RESTAURANT WAS FORCED TO CLOSE. INSPECTORS DID RETURN A WEEK LATER -- NOTICED AN IMPROVEMENT -- AND ALLOWED IT TO REOPEN." This is disgusting and shameful in my mind and I will not be returning to Sakura Bana to eat. Having spent a huge sum eating there this year this greatly saddens me. I guess I was wrong to hold them to higher standards, you would think the most popular sushi place in Omaha would have good health standards? I guess not. At the end of the day, I doubt mine or my family's opinions matter. The gentlemen who make the sushi are sweeties and MOST of the servers (not all of them) are sweet also but I cannot bring myself to eat here any longer. Goodbye my favorite restaurant =(
(1)Jessica S.
Didn't find anything amazing about this place. A couple girlfriends and I ordered an abundance of sushi and it was good, but nothing that made me go "wow!" I will say that there deep fried avocado roll was really tasty and came with a sauce which everyone liked. I'd come back as the prices were decent.
(3)Cathy C.
I only go to 3 Japanese restaurants in Omaha and this is one of them. I've been going here when they were still called Sushi Ichiban. Located on 74th and Dodge, it's easy to spot. This is where I first fell in love with sushi. The sushi chefs here are Japanese and some of the servers too. Excellent service all the time. Although sometimes, there could be a wait but it's all good. They're friendly, pleasant and always with a smile on their face. The rolls and sashimi are great. Fresh fish. I love their lunch/dinner combinations too - you get an entree, sushi, rice, salad and soup for less then $10 for lunch and about $16 for dinner. They have a special dinner combo for less than $30 - 2 appetizers, 1 entree and dessert. They have a jellyfish appetizer and one of my favorites, takoyaki (battered balls of octopus) ! Their tofu steak is amazing...nice and garlicky. Negimayaki (scallions wrapped in thinly sliced beef in teriyaki sauce) is delicious. Shrimp tempura, udon and katsudon are fantastic. But my absolute favorite dish here is the beef teriyaki. The BEST I've had anywhere (yes, even better than the ones I've had in Japan). Sliced tender beef cooked medium rare. It comes on a sizzling plate with carrots and broccoli. The teriyaki sauce isn't the dominant flavor and you can actually enjoy the taste of meat. I simply love this place. One of my favorite restaurants in Omaha.
(5)Marc M.
I never thought I'd find a restaurant in Omaha that is as authentically Japanese as this place! Of course they have sushi but it's actually good! I love takoyaki and haven't had anything decent since leaving Japan and these were amazing! If you're looking for authentic Japanese food, this is it!
(5)Ron D.
Great sushi, very friendly and helpful staff!! Overall fantastic place highly recommend!!
(5)Lisa R.
After many great meals here, I have to say this place is a tasty spot in a central location in Omaha. Many family get togethers (mostly consisting of "the cousins" but this time, one of my uncles) center around eating and schmoozing, and sushi and us just go so well together. Our fabulous server was Teriko (forgive my spelling). We ordered a whole lot of things, but new to us included the ceviche, which ended up being salmon, yellowtail, tuna, and red snapper sliced sashimi style in our choice of spicy lime or spicy ponzu, with jalepeno slices, daikon, and kaiware sprouts. My brother and I also split the chirashi, a classic here with many assorted items (tamago, maguro, hamachi, nama sake, saba, masago, kanpyo, tako, tai, etc). The rest of the group ordered rolls. We had negi toro (nice and fatty!), the yellowtail special (avocado and smelt roe), Hawaiian (tuna and mango), cancun (yellowtail, jalepeno, avocado, cilantro), rainbow, and one of the eel rolls. Plenty to eat, lots of options, and some pretty great combinations, especially considering I am not much of a rolls person. The menu has lots of ways to go - ordering individually, sushi and sashimi combos, and even hand roll combos. Always a great time with a pretty presentation, this is a solid sushi bet for Omaha.
(4)Britt C.
I absolutely love Sakura Bana. It's my family's go-to when we are craving sushi and that is more often than not. The atmosphere is authentic and the servers are so friendly. Being from hawaii, I took advantage of having great sushi whenever I wanted it. Now we finally have it!! We love nearly every sushi roll they serve and everything tastes amazing. Their sashimi, sushi, bentos are the best in Omaha and we refuse to go anywhere else. Sakura Bana has made us forever customers.
(5)Alex P.
This is THE sushi place in omaha. We are moved here after living in California our whole lives and this beats some of the Bay Area sushi hands down. The sashimi was impressive and for a second this place makes you forget that you are in a landlocked place. It's so delicious, we are definitely making this our regular sushi spot
(5)Tim B.
Ok maybe I am a bit on the picky side when it comes to sushi and perhaps its because I am here on work and live in Kansas City where there are much better sushi places yet I went here based off of the other reviews and I have to say, this was just OK. The service was pretty good overall but the sushi was poor at best. Not very good. I had a lot higher expectations. The sushi was a bit better than the sushi you get from Costco or a grocery store. Not the best quality at all. I think Omaha could do better in the quality anyway. As far as the other stuff like friendliness of staff and conditions I don't have any complaints there. I just wish the food was better quality. If I were you I would look for something better.
(2)John K.
This place sucks. I had some chicken teriyaki, and it was the worst I've ever had. It was nothing like THIS: s3.amazonaws.com/foodspo… which is exactly what good teriyaki should be. Not to mention I paid like 40 fucking dollars for some crap meal when I've had teriyaki like the picture above for only about $7. Come on now, look at that picture and tell me it doesn't look better than everything ON THE WHOLE MENU! Great, I'm drooling now... no thanks to Sakura Bana.
(1)Lorrie W.
I've been a customer of Sakura Bana for 25 years. This is truly the only sushi bar for me and my family. Truly authentic Japanese cuisine!
(5)Becky S.
Great find! Left Ponzu and headed straight to this place. Superb service, delicious rolls and soup and a beautiful custom roll that was creative and met all of our expectations.
(4)Jake S.
Best sushi in town. I ate at all the other sushi restaurants. This place is my favorite. No one serves it with dicon like they do. Great service. Bench seats are cramped. Other than that it's all good.
(5)Justine R.
Great food and a lot of options for vegetarians...Great service also.
(4)Marcy W.
I ventured out of my sushi safe-zones and tried Sakura Bana. I was thoroughly impressed with the rolls I selected and was delighted to see a true Japanese sushi chef behind the counter! The miso soup was unappetizing to me and I'll be sure to get the salad instead next time. Overall, a great experience and I'm happy to have another sushi place in town that I like! I feel late to the game on this one.
(4)Ramon B.
I'm very ok with this place. I'm not the hugest asian cuisine person but my special lady friend is, so we end up going to various places and seeing what they offer. What helped this place stand out to me is that first off the prices are attractive. Secondly, the menu is expansive and has a good variety so that all parties have something to enjoy. My high praise goes to their sashimi though. Their fish is pretty darn good and the slices they give you are nice and worth a bite! Good portion sizes are always a winner. I will say some of their stuff doesn't work me well but maybe that's just do to my own personal tastes. Service is up and down from Great to ok-ish. That's prolly the only drawback. Other than that...eat up Minions!
(4)Tanner E.
Great food and probably the most authentic Japanese restaurant around! All the food from the hot dishes to the share-able plates to the sushi is all excellent. The prices are also very good for the quality of the food!
(5)Shawn G.
What's not to like about this place? Good sushi, good sake, good entrees, good service, good design... just good good good good good. I was a bit surprised walking in the door at Sakura Bana. Judging from the exterior of the building, I expected a loud, large, colorfully lit, modern dining room, but the reality was quite the opposite: a calm, cozy, authentic feeling Japanese restaurant. There is seating at the sushi bar, a number of more conventional dining room tables, and several enclosed semi-traditional rooms where you have to take your shoes off before entering. We were seated in one of the latter, and while it was a very calm place to enjoy dinner visually, it didn't do very much to quiet any of the restaurant's already moderate noise level. After spending some time with the large and wonderfully informative menu, we had some Sushi, Age Gyoza and Crab Shumai for appetizers, which were delicious, and two Yakisobas (one beef, one pork) and a Yakiniku for our entrees. Everything was very tasty, but the entrees did seem to be lagging behind the appetizers and sushi. I wish I had more detail to include here, but, well, sake makes fools of us all. All in all it was a great meal and I'll definitely be back to try more food, and hopefully report back with a little less drunken haziness.
(4)Cassie Z.
I am a HUGE fan of Sakura Bana. This is my favorite sushi place in Omaha. It is fresh and simple. Here are the three meals I get every time I go: 1. tekka roll, California roll, and Godzilla roll 2. bento box e with teriyaki fish, rice, salad, sushi, miso, and an orange 3. hand roll special - spicy tuna (x2), California, and shrimp The salad dressings are so delicious--I get a side of both and drench the lettuce. If you go enough---they'll give you a sushi calendar. ha.
(5)Michael V.
We stopped by here during a Spring Break trip. I was here with my wife and 3 kids and we sat at the sushi bar. The service is great. The sushi chef was a pleasure to talk to as well. We liked the place so much that we came back 2 days later for our anniversary dinner. It is a little on the expensive side but was very good. Definitely a favorite of ours when we visit Omaha!
(5)Richard M.
Great sushi, highly recommended !
(4)Elisa V.
My husband, my three kids and I are visiting from Colorado and decided to try Sakura Bana. We are all big fans of sushi and found this place extremely delicious. My kids all ordered a box with sushi, tempura, and chicken teriyaki in it and ate it all. They normally do not care for teriyaki, but my kids said it was the best teriyaki they had ever eaten. My husband and I ate a good amount of sushi and enjoyed it all. We have eaten at many sushi places over the years in a few states including large cities and we both thought this was some of the best sushi we have ever eaten. One of my favorite sushi is white tuna and Sakura Bana is in my top 5 places with the best white tuna. Every bit of sushi we ate there was delicious. We enjoyed it so much that we came back two nights later for our anniversary. The wait staff and sushi chefs were very friendly and attentive as well. We have no complaints about this place at all and will definitely eat here again if we are ever in Omaha again.
(5)Jeff W.
I wouldn't normally give five stars with only one visit, but the sushi here was that good. I've lived in several big cities on the coast, with lots of access to fresh fish, and this sushi is right up there with the best of them. First off, the rolls melt in your mouth - the rice is perfectly prepared and not super glutenous or too dry. The menu has a great variety of traditional rolls, plus some unique variations on favorites. One recommended by our waitress was the Zombie Roll - an inside-out roll with spicy tuna, whitefish, and avocado that was absolutely perfect. For non-sushi lovers, they have a large menu of Japanese dishes. We hadn't had sushi in months, though, so we focused on that (although we did try the gyoza, which was excellent). Ambiance is good - nothing special, but clean, light, and airy. The restaurant is across the street from the Crossroads Mall, so this would be a great place to come after a day of shopping. Also, they do have a more limited happy hour menu, if price is a concern.
(5)Ashley F.
This is probably the most authentic Japanese food that I've had in Omaha. It may not be the fanciest place in town, no leather lounge chairs, no silver chopsticks, etc., but where else in Nebraska will you find a traditional Japanese eating area with tatami mats? They also give you an oshibori (warm wash cloth) to clean your hands. Small details like this make this place truly authentic. I've had the agedashi tofu, hamachi kama, various sushi rolls, and most recently the beef udonsuki. All are very flavorful with no bells or whistles - just pure goodness. It reminds me of food my grandma makes at home, so needless to say I always come to Sakura Bana whenever I get homesick and want a nice home-cooked Japanese meal. Service is always 5+ stars - very attentive and prompt. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and service. All I've got to say is "gochisousama deshita!"
(5)C P.
I haven't been to any other Japanese restaurants in Omaha, so I can't tell if this is the best, the worst, or somewhere in between. I wish my server had tried a little harder to explain to me the special combos and lunch deals they were having. I ended up ordering something just fine, but I definitely have overlooked the specials section and nobody cared to tell me about that. I think it really depends on your server. The folks at the next table seemed to have received some great recommendations. Oh well. The cashier and the chef seemed friendly. That's always a plus. The taste of their miso soup bothered me. It's very very bland. I've never tasted anything like that, whether it's when I made my own at home, when I was in Japan, France, or other parts of North America. I guess it was accidental?
(3)Paul W.
Walked in to Sakura Bana at 10 till 10:00 (Closing time), the chef not only accommodated us, but there was absolutely no pressure or rush from the staff to get us out. So hospitable!
(5)Michelle L.
Let me first say I am not an individual who goes online to post inflammatory reviews. In fact, before this experience (which occurred a few hours ago), Sakura Bana was among one of our favorite places to eat. No more. If I could give no stars, I would. The straw that broke the camel's back (during what was to be a birthday meal, no less) was when I had ordered a meal (the oyako don), only without chicken. I have been a vegetarian/sometimes vegan for more than seven years now, and I often have to ask for restaurants to either omit the meat or put it on the side. It's never a problem. Long story short, waiter finally returns with our meals. Even with the chicken being picked out, it tasted very much like chicken -- down to the rice in the meal (all the meal essentially is boils down to: rice, egg, some sauce, a few veggies and -- typically -- chicken). I thought I was going to be sick. I took only two bites of the meal. The first time around I thought it tasted nasty but I was going to give it a chance. I took another bite and immediately felt nauseous. As soon as we saw the waiter again, which alone took some time, we stopped him and explained the situation. My bowl of rice was obviously untouched, with a slight indentation from literally two little spoonfuls of food. Since it was obvious the meal was not as expected, and I had explained my dietary restrictions, the natural assumption was that I would be able to order a comparable meal. That was not the case. He informed me that their kitchen staff did not allow for any substitutions. I would have to pay for the meal, even though I did not eat any of it. Mind you, this "meal" was $12. As an aside, he also quite perplexingly brought the chicken that had been picked out and rewarmed (probably in the microwave) to our table -- as if that was some way of rectifying the situation. It made no sense! I'm a freakin' vegetarian! I told the waiter we would not be returning again, and he could not have cared less. This very much reminded of an episode of a program like "Kitchen Nightmares" or "Restaurant Impossible," whereby failing businesses boast such lack of customer service. In the end, we obviously left the bowls of empty food just sitting there. My bill was close to $40. Plus, the waiter never even came back to take our credit card. We had to go to the front of the restaurant to close the ticket. Although, I have to say, this was pretty typical of the meal even before the fiasco with my entree. I simply let things slide, as I was thinking it was just a fluke. As I mentioned, we went to Sakura Bana many times before, on special occasions and just for regular, everyday meals. I always enjoyed the veg yakisoba and veg soup. Any place worth its salt would have allowed a customer, if they value customers at all, to exchange. First, we were supposed to get soup and salad included with our meal. He didn't even offer or ask about the soup. We had an unusually long wait for our appetizer and salad -- and it was a lazy Wednesday evening. Not a lot of customers. Usually, when I've ordered green tea, the waiters will ask at least a couple of times if I need a refill. They're small cups so I typically do. This time I was done with my cup for some time before he even asked if I needed a refill, very late into the meal. In all, I left hungry (but the meal was so disgusting I actually couldn't eat then anyway) and $40 lighter in my pocket for what essentially amounted to a portion of edamame, a small bowl of salad and a cup and a half of green tea. But you know what? Sakura Bana is out the most, as we (longtime customers) will not be coming back and have already received some comments from Facebook friends who were pretty astounded by our experience, and will most certainly be thinking twice about going there. For me to be moved enough to actually write a negative review (and I just completed a positive one for a Kindle cover business) is really saying something. That's just how awful this experience was. In my more than 30 years on this planet, it is on my short list of the five to 10 worst customer service experiences I've ever had. On a positive note, if you ever find yourself in Omaha, stop by Amatos. We had a great lunch experience there! Friendly service, huge portions -- certainly live up to all the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" (I think that's the name of the show) hype.
(1)Mark S.
Was passing thru Omaha on Interstate 80 and itching for some Japanese dinner. Better than I had expected. A lot of very Japanese items on a very large menu. I just ordered various appetizers; geso karaage (fried squid legs), ika sugatayaki (whole squid), ohitashi (blanched spinach). They even have shochu (yes!) and two glasses on the rocks later I was fat and happy. The young server was a bit meh, but good help is hard to find these days. She gave me the "look" for speaking Japanese to her and if she reads this I knew that she was Chinese. No, you don't all look the same. I don't look Japanese either, lol.
(4)Sarah G.
I'm not really a fan of the food here. Which is too bad since it's the closest sushi restaurant to my house in town. Tried it for lunch and while they have a nice selection of menu items and lunch specials, nothing stood out enough to make me want to return.
(2)Brett B.
The most authentic Japanese sushi experience in Omaha. This place is not 'trendy'. You won't find neon-colored cocktails or new age music playing in the background here. What you will find is a solid menu of authentic Japanese cuisine, using the highest quality, freshest fish (that can be found in Omaha). Obviously there are additional menu items that cater to mainstream Nebraskans, but the core sushi is very much the same as I have experienced in Japan. If you are looking for sushi like you get it in Japan, give this place a try. It comes pretty close. TIP: The 'sushi for two' is a good deal and is just about the right amount of food for two people. Me and my wife like to order that and then an additional item or two from the a la carte menu. Try it!
(5)sonya h.
Service is attentive, restaurant is easy to find and conveniently located. The prices are reasonable but I was not wowed by the quality of the sashimi. It somehow did not taste or look super fresh. I think it's decent but not great! I ordered the sushi special which came with 8 assorted pieces of nigiris and 6 small pieces of sushi...it's way more than enough for 1 person, I think. I also tried their caffeine free hot tea. My total with tax and tip was $25 bucks.
(3)John C.
I bumped this place up an extra star because the service is always very attentive and the food is consistently tasty. Even by land-locked Omaha standards, the sushi is not out-of-this world good, just okay. There is better sushi to be had elsewhere in town, but if you are nearby and have a hankering for some raw fish, this place will fit the bill. They offer most of the standard rolls and sushi you would come to expect, but there is not a real display of creativity in their "unique" rolls. Most of the selections are quite ordinary. They do have an extensive regular menu that offers bento boxes (a great lunch hour choice - allows you to have a selection of sushi/tempura/teriyaki meat/etc.), noodles and soups. Overall, a good place for sushi in Omaha, I just wouldn't drive across town to eat here.
(3)George V.
It had been a while sine I had been in Omaha and Sakura Bana was just as good as I remembered it to be. The miso soup that came with my sushi hit the spot. As for the yakitori, I have eaten in many of Japanese restaurants in the mid-west and none have come close to Sakura Bana in my opinion. From the sauce to sesame seeds, they are perfect. I could eat their yakitori every day. Finally the sushi was fresh and the staff never once let my tea get empty. A great dining experience all around.
(4)Tony F.
We had a diverse plate of all sushi last night. We arrived at 8 and the place was packed; not even a seat at the sushi bar was open which we prefer. While we waited, no less than 3 people asked if we had been helped. The sushi menu has expanded if you haven't been here for a couple of years. They have added some of the funky modern combo rolls in addition to the traditional ones. Recently we had been to Hiro and Okinawa, so this was a good opportunity to compare. In the past I would have ranked Hiro as #1, but not anymore. I have been regularly eating sushi for close to 20 years and the subtle differences in quality are sometimes hard to discern. The fish, seasoned rice and preparation we as good as it gets. Okay, maybe not NYC or Tokoyo grade but very, very excellent. A quick way to tell food quality is the strength of the wasabi. Last night it was like an ice pick in your nose! I would highly recommend ordering the hand roll combo. For the novice, they are the "ice cream cone" style. For $18 you get your choice of 4. All were excellent, although it was too much food. In conclusion, the food service and prices all added up to the rare 5 star for us.
(5)Matt H.
Ate here again last night. Best thing about Sakura Bana is that is like Japanese family restaurant. It's not pretentious like many other sushi places. We had sushi, yakitori and tempura. As good as always. Have been coming here since it was sushi ichiban at the old IHOP. It's our favorite and rarely let's us down.
(5)Ryan t.
When it comes to sushi, I'll eat just about anything you put in front of me, and I'm not difficult to please. My experiences with Sakura Bana have been mostly favorable, but I've also had some epic failures that I don't often experience when eating sushi other places. I ordered one of their rolls with tuna that came with some sort of sauce that was not specified on the menu, and that I could not identify. The only comparison that I can make is it's how I imagine mayonaise would taste if left outside for an afternoon in Arizona during July. Aside from this experience with this mystery sauce, I have been pleased with my meals here. The location is convenient and the service is always quite good.
(3)Bobi L.
Second time I have been here and loved their food both times. Not only do they have sushi but also Japanese dishes as well. Service is awsome and the atmosphere is fun!
(5)Matt G.
I've eaten at Sakura Bana twice. I wasn't impressed the first time, but decided to give it another shot a few months later. My first impression was correct. The sushi is bland. The rolls are loose and sloppy. Granted, looking at Sakura Bana's sushi didn't make me cringe the way Blue Sushi's did, but it just isn't very good. I used a lot of wasabi and soy sauce both times we ate there and that is never a good sign.
(2)Brenna P.
The sushi here is ok, as are the prices. I've eaten here on several occasions, but it's not my favorite. The staff are always friendly.
(3)Leslie P.
Amazing- Extrodinary Sakura Bana has FRESH succulent fish, tasty Tempura and Saaa-WEET appetizers. Noodles, beautiful noodles make your mouth water, OH! and don't forget dessert. This food will make your mouth ZING! WOW- Sakura Bana is so good it makes you want to cry
(5)Drew P.
Really wasn't too impressed.
(2)Neil G.
As other have noted, this is the generally the most authentic stuff I've found so far in Omaha, although I've still got a few to try. It's also much more convenient for the Midtown crowd, as many of Omaha's Japanese restaurants seemed to have settled way out west. The menu is large, varied, and a pretty good value. The sushi is also good, although I usually try to vary my meal and get a little sushi and some other things. Specifically, though, I highly recommend the spicy seared tuna salad. Definitely good lunch deals as well. For happy hour hunters, they have one, although I haven't personally been there for it as of yet.
(4)Kuang J.
This review is for their new location, which was quite nice. I liked the decor, lots of wood--but they did have a few flat screens showing ESPN, which was a bit distracting. Luckily while I was there they were showing softball, so I did not feel compelled to watch the screen, but if you were on a date and have trouble not looking at the game, beware. Went to Sakura Bana for lunch, and ordered two box lunches. For under 10 bucks each, I think it was a stellar deal, and I left feeling stuffed. The food was good, but both the teri chicken and the grilled tuna (from a special) were a bit overcooked. The tempura was excellent and the sushi that came with one of the box lunches was OK--nothing special, but the price was right. Excellent service--that was one thing that stood out here.
(3)S A.
Wow - I was so underwhelmed by this place. I ordered two rolls (crunchy spicy tuna and mango and tuna) and, had I not been hungry, would have been fine leaving them on the plate - there was just nothing about these to enjoy. The fish on the mano roll was, well, fishy. And that's a no-no for me. I should say that the service was fine, although the ambiance feels more late night diner than sushi bar to me. So, food - two stars, Ambiance - two stars, Service - 3 stars. This place barely earns its two stars in my opinion.
(2)Lelay P.
Whoa, tempura ice cream is to die for. I had the tempura plate, to say it was delicious is to say that the pacific ocean is damp.
(5)Kellie W.
Sakura Bana is my favorite sushi restaurant in Omaha. The sushi is great and its a great value...very reasonably priced. The carrot ginger salad dressing rocks. This has become a once a week treat for my husband and I. We really love it.
(5)Isaac P.
It's not possible not to like this place! That is if you like REAL Japanese food. And it is very kid friendly, my friend's little brother loves this place. Omaha is full of unauthentic sushi bars and Japanese steak houses. This restaurant, I can say with full confidence is the best sushi place in Omaha. And if you don't like sushi, no problem, there's is a lot of other food too. The tempura udon is extremely good and satisfying. The staff is also very friendly and ready to make sure you're having a good time and are enjoying your food! If you like sushi and a cool restaurant this is the place for you.
(5)David G.
I may be biased. I'm not from Omaha and currently, I'm a Chicago native who's spent extensive time in Japan. Not trying to toot my own horn here, but when it comes to Japanese food, I'll say I've had quite a bit. As for Sakurabana, I've been more than once, so I guess that's saying something. Anyway, I wont claim to have tried the majority of the menu, but what I've seen of it, its passable Japanese food. To be honest, I have nothing negative to say. I guess it just doesn't jump out at me for being above average. So with a 3-star rating, YELP gives a little explanation as a reference point. I.E. 3 Stars = 'A-OK.' And I think that's appropriate. You wont be blown away, but youll have a decent time and enjoy decent Japanese food.
(3)Rosalina R.
Glad to report I did not experience buyers remorse here. I purchased a living social deal here on a whim...I wasn't expecting much based on the reviews...however I found both the service and food to be of the value that I paid.. While this place certainly isnt first class it does give a much more authentic vibe that say...Hiro or Blue..I had rolls, nigiri, tempura squid, some unsual detox tea, and a bento box...the appetizer was my fave (which was recommended byt he waitress) the rolls were OK and my fish in the bento was awesome...antoher intresting note: we were one of the only tables not filled with people of asian ancestry...that was my clue that the place must be doing someting right...I'll go back.
(4)David R.
I've been going to Sakura Bana since it was in the old IHOP down the street and my daughter and I have left way too much money there. It is not fancy California style sushi but it is unpretentious, unfailing fresh and cleanly served and full of very friendly servers and sushi chefs. I've tried many of the other sushi places in Omaha, many of whom are trying to wow the younger crowd with "cutting edge" stuff, but always come right back here. I always get a spicy tuna roll wherever in the country I am, as it is the simplest thing you can make (sort of like garlic bread at an Italian place or salsa at a Mexican), and Sakura Bana's is still the best I've ever had.
(5)Benji B.
This place is decent. The sushi wasn't bad, but it was a little bland, and they could have a better selection of rolls. I really liked the sesame salad dressing. The decor and staff are nice. I'll probably go back, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)Matt M.
I was a big fan of Sushi Ichiban, and so naturally gave this place a try when it opened. It was really disappointing. We gave it another shot a few months later, and it was disappointing again. The atmosphere is OK--clean, open spaces. And I guess the service was OK. But the food was not great. Not bad, really, but nowhere near the quality one used to expect from Ichiban. Perhaps that's an unfair standard, but I can't help using it.
(2)Vincent k.
The food was okay. My stomach wasn't feeling too well after eating the tempura that came with my dinner box. Maybe I just wasn't feeling well that day. Its a nice little place for sushi, fish, or have a little shabu shabu (hot pot) going. Can't really go with a lot of people, because the place is tight, but there are private rooms where you eat in a japanese setting - (shoes off, short tables, etc) that fits around 8.
(3)Dylan G.
cool atmosphere, excellent service, decent prices, delicious soup, sashimi, sushi and sake. sold. not the best thing i've ever eaten and didn't reinvent any wheels, but a great place nonetheless. will definitely return.
(4)Sandy J.
This place is pretty nice. I like that they sell Japanese snacks at the front counter. (There aren't many Asian grocery markets in Omaha.) The food is also pretty good, sushi and entrees. I've had better, but it's in a land locked state, so you can't have high expectations. It's one of my top three favorite Japanese restaurants in Omaha. Hiro Sushi and Sushi Yakiniku Boy are the other two.
(3)Dieter J.
I am a regular customer of this place. Their happy hour special priced rolls are great value. This is the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha (it's actually run by Japanese), and the Japanese really tend to be the best at making Japanese food. It used to be sushi ichiban. It has always been a work in progress getting better. Now it's really quite good with very high quality sushi and innovative appetizers and rolls. I have spent a decent amount of time in Japan, and this is my favourite in Omaha for Japanese. Not that things HAVE to be "authentic"; taste is the end measure. But, when they understand how the basics are "supposed" to taste, then the modern items tend to be better. Things are a bit pricey, and I think they still have room for improvement so I'll leave off a 5th star for now. I live in that part of town, and when I think where I want to go out to eat close by, it is always the top of the list. The staff is always very friendly, and the decor is quite nice.
(4)Wesley S.
Sakura-Bana has some of the best sushi and sashimi in the Midwest. For those who don't eat raw fish, Sakura-Bana's other dishes are excellent. Sushi aside, this little restaurant is an outstanding "peasant" style Japanese restaurant. Its sushi is national class. The restaurant used to be in a free-standing building that might have been something like a drive-in hamburger grill. Windows let in light from the outside, and the sushi bar, where the owner prepared the sashimi and sushi, was right in the center of the restaurant. Sakura-Bana no longer occupies that site near the hospitals. It now lives near Crossroads, in a storefront of one of the surrounding strip malls. The interior is darker, but actually nicer than the hospital site. The decor and ambience overall is a hair above average. I can't elaborate on the service. Very simply, it is excellent. The owner himself prepares the food and comes out to your table before and during the meal. The owner came from Japan as a sushi chef, opened Sakura-Ichiban, and simply made sushi, sashimi and other Japanese dishes that were as close to authentic as he could. For example, you can order something that resembles a fried crayfish, that is eaten head, shell and all. I am told this item is not available in most other Japanese restaurants in the Midwest. That might well be the case. I, for one, have never seen it before. Here is another example. Omaha residents will not be aware of this, but in most places throughout the Midwest where sushi is served, the sushi pieces are garnished with green plastic leaves that sometimes serve as dividers on the plate. This restaurant, in Omaha, uses the actual fresh leaf for this purpose, not a plastic replica. This leaf has a haunting, delicate, almost aromatic flavor that is difficult to describe. I think it is delicious. The owner would probably serve wasabi made directly from fresh wasabi leaves if he could. This would be not so much his attempt to match the upscale boutique restaurants' rare and unusual ingredients, so much as to strive for authenticity in reproducing the Japanese version of a dish here in Omaha, in Sakura-Ichiban. Other Japanese dishes such as tempura, ten-don, unagi-don, oyako-donburi, teriyaki, yakko tofu, and so on, are on the menu. These are all excellent, and authentic indeed. (Unfortunately the restaurant web site has been hijacked, and the menu is no longer available online.) Also on the menu are a combination sushi platter and a combination sashimi platter. Both are priced very reasonably. If you are a party of two, you might order one of each to share, supplemented by any a la carte sushi or other items that you care to order. All dinners come with sunomono, misoshiro, rice and tea. Finding the restaurant at its new location can be challenging. The storefronts do not all have numbers displayed. Call to get landmarks and further directions when you find the mall. There is plenty of parking. In fact, you can even park in the lot of the adjacent mall. In summary, Sakura-Bana serves some of the best sushi in the Midwest. The quality of its other menu items is outstanding. Service is excellent. Decor is slightly above average. Sakura-Bana is a true find, an exceptionally fine Japanese restaurant in Omaha that outshines most of the Japanese restaurants in all the Midwestern states. ==== 10-22-11: Sakura-Bana has reclaimed its formerly hijacked menu web site. The restaurant's Facebook page now has current photos and links to the menu.
(5)Maren C.
Excellent service. Nice modern yet traditional decor (flat screens are nice, still felt Japanese). Sushi was divine. We had rolls. The dream rolls were dreamy. Highly recommend to sushi lovers.
(5)Marc D.
What a great lunch place. Love the options for a quick lunch. Service is fabulous and starts with a hot moist towel.( how cool is that) I always get the largest combo I can. Miso soup, Salad with carrot dressing. steamed rice. 5 pieces of sushi, chicken teriyaki, a tempura mushroom, onion and carrot, 2 tempura shrimp. and an orange. Omg is everything great. A must try :)
(4)Mark M.
When I go to Omaha which is like four or five times a year. I usually make Sakurabana as one of the stops for meal. I was disappointed about lack of professionalism when I rushed from the airport and saw the closed sign at 8:45pm Tuesday night. The listed hours is open until 9 pm. There was a guy counting the till from the day and told me everyone has gone home. No remaining customer, no one behind the sushi counter. I swung around the corner and had noodles at the Noodles Company. Sakurabana, you are the remaining authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha. Please do well to survive and keep the hours you claim to be open.
(3)Kevin Q.
This place was simply ok. My coworkers and I (3/4 asian) came here for dinner during a business trip to Omaha. For most of our meals we had been going to American restaurants, so we decided to try something different for our last week. Sakura Bana is located in one of the various strip malls in Omaha and doesn't look like much from the outside. The interior is a pretty typical, American sushi, wood palette, kind of thing you'd come to expect. I did like the pens with appetizers and cartoons on them. As for the food, we got a whole variety of sushi, all of which came together on a neat wooden boat. I personally got the new mexico roll, which tasted a whole lot like an actual burrito. I wouldn't say it was delicious, but it was certainly interesting. As for the other rolls, I was disappointed. Nothing about them was special or notable. They were just normal sushi rolls. For dessert we got mochi and the tempura ice cream, all of which were good. The tempura ice cream in particular was really large, so I'd recommend splitting that. Overall, this place is alright considering it's in Omaha and that there aren't exactly hundreds of Asian restaurants around.
(3)Steve S.
This place was mediocre at best. I did not begin to have sushi until later in life when I was in Japan and figured I had to actually try it since I was there. Unfortunately, that seems to have tainted my sushi taste buds. We ordered a huge variety of sushi. Everyone had a little bit of each, I am not sure which ones we ordered, the server was pretty unsure too which was which. It did come out on a boat which I guess was a nice touch, however, the ones that I ordered were stuck amidship and when the ship went down they went down with it...
(3)Rachel S.
Amazing! They offer such a wide variety of items on the menu, not just a California roll with a different topping. The staff is extremely friendly as well. I wouldn't say this place is cheap or expensive but priced accurately for the quality of the cuisine. I did only get take out this visit but I do look forward to a sit down dinner experience very soon. The ambiance is very cute, on a Thursday night there were a lot of families and a lot of couples enjoying their meal.
(5)Britt C.
I absolutely love Sakura Bana. It's my family's go-to when we are craving sushi and that is more often than not. The atmosphere is authentic and the servers are so friendly. Being from hawaii, I took advantage of having great sushi whenever I wanted it. Now we finally have it!! We love nearly every sushi roll they serve and everything tastes amazing. Their sashimi, sushi, bentos are the best in Omaha and we refuse to go anywhere else. Sakura Bana has made us forever customers.
(5)Alex P.
This is THE sushi place in omaha. We are moved here after living in California our whole lives and this beats some of the Bay Area sushi hands down. The sashimi was impressive and for a second this place makes you forget that you are in a landlocked place. It's so delicious, we are definitely making this our regular sushi spot
(5)Joseph V.
Yes, this place went through a rough patch like most small businesses do. It didn't phase me a bit. Growing up in Los Angeles with a huge selection of restaurants to eat at, usually the best places to go were the ones that recovered and came back even better. That's what Sakura Bana did and everything is not just fine, but also improved. I lived in Japan for 4 years and in my book, this is the only location in Douglas & Sarpy county that comes the closest to being there. I sampled everybody else around here and they were not comparable to this establishment with their authenticity of traditional dishes and sushi. I am definitely a fan of this place and will continue to bring my family here at least once a month. Now with that said, can we increase the menu with Tokyo Ramen, Honshu & Okinawa Soba and some dishes from Nagano please?
(5)Judy N.
Good service, good atmosphere, terrible food. I really wanted to like it, but to no avail. We ordered the soba, King roll, and three types of sashimi. Basically the broth is flavored soy sauce. The sushi was like tuna from a can. And the sashimi was so bad I have no words. At least their hot green tea was decent.
(2)Mike S.
We are regular visitors to Omaha and have eaten here s handful of times. The food and service have been great! For a land-locked location the sushi is above average. The cooked items have all been tasty and traditionally prepared. Definitely a family favorite!
(5)Mar W.
Great sushi but the service is absolutely horrible!!! I also think the prices are high for what you get. The fish is very fresh and they have some fun rolls. Only giving 2 stars because I am really mad about waiting an hour to even get our sushi and they didn't even apologize for it!!! Would rather go to a sushi place with better service than this place!!!
(2)Lynnsey B.
Sakura Bana is a sushi gem in Omaha!! This is the very best sushi I have found in the city. The rolls are traditional, delightfully flavorful, high quality and averagely priced. It's on par with what I've tasted in Florida when I lived there for 12 years. They are that good! If you're thinking about going, just head over and experience a fabulous sushi meal!
(5)Danny D.
Best Sushi In Omaha by far. I constantly search but nowhere else compares. Best pickled ginger I've ever had. I highly recommend the spider and Nebraska rolls.
(5)Jessica S.
Didn't find anything amazing about this place. A couple girlfriends and I ordered an abundance of sushi and it was good, but nothing that made me go "wow!" I will say that there deep fried avocado roll was really tasty and came with a sauce which everyone liked. I'd come back as the prices were decent.
(3)Jamie L.
It is with GREAT sadness that I am writing this. I truly never believed I would have to write a bad review about my favorite restaurant. As you may or may not know Sakura Bana was recently closed by the health department for failing their inspection. This is when things started to make sense for me. Let me start by saying I have eaten here for 10 years (even prior to moving buildings) and haven't had any issues until recently. For the past couple months my husband and I were noticing dried food pieces in our water glasses or plates. We would send them back and they would just bring us another glass like nothing was wrong. I was telling my husband not to be paranoid it happens all the time probably. Having worked in a busy restaurant I can tell you the dish washers don't always get everything. Okay we let this slide. I would order items containing chicken, like yakitori and it would not be cooked all the way through. I started to tell them to overcook it because I was "paranoid", I thought maybe it was just me. Then we started to order the dream rolls and noticed some of them were premade sitting around waiting for someone to order. If you sit at the sushi bar you will notice they get 4 slices out of the dream rolls and if you only order an order (2pieces) they save the other two. This wouldn't be an issue if they were being sold quickly but a couple times I've ordered the fantasy roll, containing raw tuna, and it was oxidizing and it tasted not good. Not wanting to cause conflict I discarded them or gave them to my husband to eat. However, several weeks back I ate there and became pretty sick. I tried to convince myself that it was the Starbucks I had and not my sushi, like please all that is good don't take away my favorite place. (I have a strict policy of not eating somewhere that makes me sick ever again). We ate there a couple times after and have the above mentioned issues. HOWEVER, 1 week ago they were shut down by the health department. I asked them on Facebook why and they stated "We were closed to repair portions of the restaurant and clean around areas of recent water leaking from an AC unit on our roof. " Obviously dodging the fact they did not close voluntarily. Well WOWT news did a report on them and here are the findings. In addition to what it was the copy of the paper on TV showed something having to do with improper handling of chicken. & something else I wasn't able to read quick enough. "THE RESTAURANT STACKED UP 30 VIOLATIONS 13 OF THOSE ARE CRITICAL. EMPLOYEES WEREN'T WASHING HANDS BETWEEN TASKS THEY WERE TOLD TO NOT WIPE KNIVES ON CLOTHS -- AFTER CUTTING RAW FISH. MOLD WAS FOUND IN THE ICE MACHINE AND SANITIZER WAS TOO WEAK IN THE DISH MACHINE THE RESTAURANT COULDN'T PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT RAW FISH FOR SUSHI WAS PROPERLY FROZEN. AND FOOD WAS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE COOLER -- WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON A SHELF TO KEEP PESTS FROM GETTING TO IT. THE RESTAURANT WAS FORCED TO CLOSE. INSPECTORS DID RETURN A WEEK LATER -- NOTICED AN IMPROVEMENT -- AND ALLOWED IT TO REOPEN." This is disgusting and shameful in my mind and I will not be returning to Sakura Bana to eat. Having spent a huge sum eating there this year this greatly saddens me. I guess I was wrong to hold them to higher standards, you would think the most popular sushi place in Omaha would have good health standards? I guess not. At the end of the day, I doubt mine or my family's opinions matter. The gentlemen who make the sushi are sweeties and MOST of the servers (not all of them) are sweet also but I cannot bring myself to eat here any longer. Goodbye my favorite restaurant =(
(1)Cathy C.
I only go to 3 Japanese restaurants in Omaha and this is one of them. I've been going here when they were still called Sushi Ichiban. Located on 74th and Dodge, it's easy to spot. This is where I first fell in love with sushi. The sushi chefs here are Japanese and some of the servers too. Excellent service all the time. Although sometimes, there could be a wait but it's all good. They're friendly, pleasant and always with a smile on their face. The rolls and sashimi are great. Fresh fish. I love their lunch/dinner combinations too - you get an entree, sushi, rice, salad and soup for less then $10 for lunch and about $16 for dinner. They have a special dinner combo for less than $30 - 2 appetizers, 1 entree and dessert. They have a jellyfish appetizer and one of my favorites, takoyaki (battered balls of octopus) ! Their tofu steak is amazing...nice and garlicky. Negimayaki (scallions wrapped in thinly sliced beef in teriyaki sauce) is delicious. Shrimp tempura, udon and katsudon are fantastic. But my absolute favorite dish here is the beef teriyaki. The BEST I've had anywhere (yes, even better than the ones I've had in Japan). Sliced tender beef cooked medium rare. It comes on a sizzling plate with carrots and broccoli. The teriyaki sauce isn't the dominant flavor and you can actually enjoy the taste of meat. I simply love this place. One of my favorite restaurants in Omaha.
(5)Marc M.
I never thought I'd find a restaurant in Omaha that is as authentically Japanese as this place! Of course they have sushi but it's actually good! I love takoyaki and haven't had anything decent since leaving Japan and these were amazing! If you're looking for authentic Japanese food, this is it!
(5)Ron D.
Great sushi, very friendly and helpful staff!! Overall fantastic place highly recommend!!
(5)Lisa R.
After many great meals here, I have to say this place is a tasty spot in a central location in Omaha. Many family get togethers (mostly consisting of "the cousins" but this time, one of my uncles) center around eating and schmoozing, and sushi and us just go so well together. Our fabulous server was Teriko (forgive my spelling). We ordered a whole lot of things, but new to us included the ceviche, which ended up being salmon, yellowtail, tuna, and red snapper sliced sashimi style in our choice of spicy lime or spicy ponzu, with jalepeno slices, daikon, and kaiware sprouts. My brother and I also split the chirashi, a classic here with many assorted items (tamago, maguro, hamachi, nama sake, saba, masago, kanpyo, tako, tai, etc). The rest of the group ordered rolls. We had negi toro (nice and fatty!), the yellowtail special (avocado and smelt roe), Hawaiian (tuna and mango), cancun (yellowtail, jalepeno, avocado, cilantro), rainbow, and one of the eel rolls. Plenty to eat, lots of options, and some pretty great combinations, especially considering I am not much of a rolls person. The menu has lots of ways to go - ordering individually, sushi and sashimi combos, and even hand roll combos. Always a great time with a pretty presentation, this is a solid sushi bet for Omaha.
(4)Tim B.
Ok maybe I am a bit on the picky side when it comes to sushi and perhaps its because I am here on work and live in Kansas City where there are much better sushi places yet I went here based off of the other reviews and I have to say, this was just OK. The service was pretty good overall but the sushi was poor at best. Not very good. I had a lot higher expectations. The sushi was a bit better than the sushi you get from Costco or a grocery store. Not the best quality at all. I think Omaha could do better in the quality anyway. As far as the other stuff like friendliness of staff and conditions I don't have any complaints there. I just wish the food was better quality. If I were you I would look for something better.
(2)John K.
This place sucks. I had some chicken teriyaki, and it was the worst I've ever had. It was nothing like THIS: s3.amazonaws.com/foodspo… which is exactly what good teriyaki should be. Not to mention I paid like 40 fucking dollars for some crap meal when I've had teriyaki like the picture above for only about $7. Come on now, look at that picture and tell me it doesn't look better than everything ON THE WHOLE MENU! Great, I'm drooling now... no thanks to Sakura Bana.
(1)Lorrie W.
I've been a customer of Sakura Bana for 25 years. This is truly the only sushi bar for me and my family. Truly authentic Japanese cuisine!
(5)Becky S.
Great find! Left Ponzu and headed straight to this place. Superb service, delicious rolls and soup and a beautiful custom roll that was creative and met all of our expectations.
(4)Jake S.
Best sushi in town. I ate at all the other sushi restaurants. This place is my favorite. No one serves it with dicon like they do. Great service. Bench seats are cramped. Other than that it's all good.
(5)Justine R.
Great food and a lot of options for vegetarians...Great service also.
(4)Marcy W.
I ventured out of my sushi safe-zones and tried Sakura Bana. I was thoroughly impressed with the rolls I selected and was delighted to see a true Japanese sushi chef behind the counter! The miso soup was unappetizing to me and I'll be sure to get the salad instead next time. Overall, a great experience and I'm happy to have another sushi place in town that I like! I feel late to the game on this one.
(4)Ramon B.
I'm very ok with this place. I'm not the hugest asian cuisine person but my special lady friend is, so we end up going to various places and seeing what they offer. What helped this place stand out to me is that first off the prices are attractive. Secondly, the menu is expansive and has a good variety so that all parties have something to enjoy. My high praise goes to their sashimi though. Their fish is pretty darn good and the slices they give you are nice and worth a bite! Good portion sizes are always a winner. I will say some of their stuff doesn't work me well but maybe that's just do to my own personal tastes. Service is up and down from Great to ok-ish. That's prolly the only drawback. Other than that...eat up Minions!
(4)Tanner E.
Great food and probably the most authentic Japanese restaurant around! All the food from the hot dishes to the share-able plates to the sushi is all excellent. The prices are also very good for the quality of the food!
(5)Shawn G.
What's not to like about this place? Good sushi, good sake, good entrees, good service, good design... just good good good good good. I was a bit surprised walking in the door at Sakura Bana. Judging from the exterior of the building, I expected a loud, large, colorfully lit, modern dining room, but the reality was quite the opposite: a calm, cozy, authentic feeling Japanese restaurant. There is seating at the sushi bar, a number of more conventional dining room tables, and several enclosed semi-traditional rooms where you have to take your shoes off before entering. We were seated in one of the latter, and while it was a very calm place to enjoy dinner visually, it didn't do very much to quiet any of the restaurant's already moderate noise level. After spending some time with the large and wonderfully informative menu, we had some Sushi, Age Gyoza and Crab Shumai for appetizers, which were delicious, and two Yakisobas (one beef, one pork) and a Yakiniku for our entrees. Everything was very tasty, but the entrees did seem to be lagging behind the appetizers and sushi. I wish I had more detail to include here, but, well, sake makes fools of us all. All in all it was a great meal and I'll definitely be back to try more food, and hopefully report back with a little less drunken haziness.
(4)Cassie Z.
I am a HUGE fan of Sakura Bana. This is my favorite sushi place in Omaha. It is fresh and simple. Here are the three meals I get every time I go: 1. tekka roll, California roll, and Godzilla roll 2. bento box e with teriyaki fish, rice, salad, sushi, miso, and an orange 3. hand roll special - spicy tuna (x2), California, and shrimp The salad dressings are so delicious--I get a side of both and drench the lettuce. If you go enough---they'll give you a sushi calendar. ha.
(5)Michael V.
We stopped by here during a Spring Break trip. I was here with my wife and 3 kids and we sat at the sushi bar. The service is great. The sushi chef was a pleasure to talk to as well. We liked the place so much that we came back 2 days later for our anniversary dinner. It is a little on the expensive side but was very good. Definitely a favorite of ours when we visit Omaha!
(5)Richard M.
Great sushi, highly recommended !
(4)sonya h.
Service is attentive, restaurant is easy to find and conveniently located. The prices are reasonable but I was not wowed by the quality of the sashimi. It somehow did not taste or look super fresh. I think it's decent but not great! I ordered the sushi special which came with 8 assorted pieces of nigiris and 6 small pieces of sushi...it's way more than enough for 1 person, I think. I also tried their caffeine free hot tea. My total with tax and tip was $25 bucks.
(3)Sarah G.
I'm not really a fan of the food here. Which is too bad since it's the closest sushi restaurant to my house in town. Tried it for lunch and while they have a nice selection of menu items and lunch specials, nothing stood out enough to make me want to return.
(2)Brett B.
The most authentic Japanese sushi experience in Omaha. This place is not 'trendy'. You won't find neon-colored cocktails or new age music playing in the background here. What you will find is a solid menu of authentic Japanese cuisine, using the highest quality, freshest fish (that can be found in Omaha). Obviously there are additional menu items that cater to mainstream Nebraskans, but the core sushi is very much the same as I have experienced in Japan. If you are looking for sushi like you get it in Japan, give this place a try. It comes pretty close. TIP: The 'sushi for two' is a good deal and is just about the right amount of food for two people. Me and my wife like to order that and then an additional item or two from the a la carte menu. Try it!
(5)C P.
I haven't been to any other Japanese restaurants in Omaha, so I can't tell if this is the best, the worst, or somewhere in between. I wish my server had tried a little harder to explain to me the special combos and lunch deals they were having. I ended up ordering something just fine, but I definitely have overlooked the specials section and nobody cared to tell me about that. I think it really depends on your server. The folks at the next table seemed to have received some great recommendations. Oh well. The cashier and the chef seemed friendly. That's always a plus. The taste of their miso soup bothered me. It's very very bland. I've never tasted anything like that, whether it's when I made my own at home, when I was in Japan, France, or other parts of North America. I guess it was accidental?
(3)Paul W.
Walked in to Sakura Bana at 10 till 10:00 (Closing time), the chef not only accommodated us, but there was absolutely no pressure or rush from the staff to get us out. So hospitable!
(5)Michelle L.
Let me first say I am not an individual who goes online to post inflammatory reviews. In fact, before this experience (which occurred a few hours ago), Sakura Bana was among one of our favorite places to eat. No more. If I could give no stars, I would. The straw that broke the camel's back (during what was to be a birthday meal, no less) was when I had ordered a meal (the oyako don), only without chicken. I have been a vegetarian/sometimes vegan for more than seven years now, and I often have to ask for restaurants to either omit the meat or put it on the side. It's never a problem. Long story short, waiter finally returns with our meals. Even with the chicken being picked out, it tasted very much like chicken -- down to the rice in the meal (all the meal essentially is boils down to: rice, egg, some sauce, a few veggies and -- typically -- chicken). I thought I was going to be sick. I took only two bites of the meal. The first time around I thought it tasted nasty but I was going to give it a chance. I took another bite and immediately felt nauseous. As soon as we saw the waiter again, which alone took some time, we stopped him and explained the situation. My bowl of rice was obviously untouched, with a slight indentation from literally two little spoonfuls of food. Since it was obvious the meal was not as expected, and I had explained my dietary restrictions, the natural assumption was that I would be able to order a comparable meal. That was not the case. He informed me that their kitchen staff did not allow for any substitutions. I would have to pay for the meal, even though I did not eat any of it. Mind you, this "meal" was $12. As an aside, he also quite perplexingly brought the chicken that had been picked out and rewarmed (probably in the microwave) to our table -- as if that was some way of rectifying the situation. It made no sense! I'm a freakin' vegetarian! I told the waiter we would not be returning again, and he could not have cared less. This very much reminded of an episode of a program like "Kitchen Nightmares" or "Restaurant Impossible," whereby failing businesses boast such lack of customer service. In the end, we obviously left the bowls of empty food just sitting there. My bill was close to $40. Plus, the waiter never even came back to take our credit card. We had to go to the front of the restaurant to close the ticket. Although, I have to say, this was pretty typical of the meal even before the fiasco with my entree. I simply let things slide, as I was thinking it was just a fluke. As I mentioned, we went to Sakura Bana many times before, on special occasions and just for regular, everyday meals. I always enjoyed the veg yakisoba and veg soup. Any place worth its salt would have allowed a customer, if they value customers at all, to exchange. First, we were supposed to get soup and salad included with our meal. He didn't even offer or ask about the soup. We had an unusually long wait for our appetizer and salad -- and it was a lazy Wednesday evening. Not a lot of customers. Usually, when I've ordered green tea, the waiters will ask at least a couple of times if I need a refill. They're small cups so I typically do. This time I was done with my cup for some time before he even asked if I needed a refill, very late into the meal. In all, I left hungry (but the meal was so disgusting I actually couldn't eat then anyway) and $40 lighter in my pocket for what essentially amounted to a portion of edamame, a small bowl of salad and a cup and a half of green tea. But you know what? Sakura Bana is out the most, as we (longtime customers) will not be coming back and have already received some comments from Facebook friends who were pretty astounded by our experience, and will most certainly be thinking twice about going there. For me to be moved enough to actually write a negative review (and I just completed a positive one for a Kindle cover business) is really saying something. That's just how awful this experience was. In my more than 30 years on this planet, it is on my short list of the five to 10 worst customer service experiences I've ever had. On a positive note, if you ever find yourself in Omaha, stop by Amatos. We had a great lunch experience there! Friendly service, huge portions -- certainly live up to all the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" (I think that's the name of the show) hype.
(1)Elisa V.
My husband, my three kids and I are visiting from Colorado and decided to try Sakura Bana. We are all big fans of sushi and found this place extremely delicious. My kids all ordered a box with sushi, tempura, and chicken teriyaki in it and ate it all. They normally do not care for teriyaki, but my kids said it was the best teriyaki they had ever eaten. My husband and I ate a good amount of sushi and enjoyed it all. We have eaten at many sushi places over the years in a few states including large cities and we both thought this was some of the best sushi we have ever eaten. One of my favorite sushi is white tuna and Sakura Bana is in my top 5 places with the best white tuna. Every bit of sushi we ate there was delicious. We enjoyed it so much that we came back two nights later for our anniversary. The wait staff and sushi chefs were very friendly and attentive as well. We have no complaints about this place at all and will definitely eat here again if we are ever in Omaha again.
(5)Jeff W.
I wouldn't normally give five stars with only one visit, but the sushi here was that good. I've lived in several big cities on the coast, with lots of access to fresh fish, and this sushi is right up there with the best of them. First off, the rolls melt in your mouth - the rice is perfectly prepared and not super glutenous or too dry. The menu has a great variety of traditional rolls, plus some unique variations on favorites. One recommended by our waitress was the Zombie Roll - an inside-out roll with spicy tuna, whitefish, and avocado that was absolutely perfect. For non-sushi lovers, they have a large menu of Japanese dishes. We hadn't had sushi in months, though, so we focused on that (although we did try the gyoza, which was excellent). Ambiance is good - nothing special, but clean, light, and airy. The restaurant is across the street from the Crossroads Mall, so this would be a great place to come after a day of shopping. Also, they do have a more limited happy hour menu, if price is a concern.
(5)Ashley F.
This is probably the most authentic Japanese food that I've had in Omaha. It may not be the fanciest place in town, no leather lounge chairs, no silver chopsticks, etc., but where else in Nebraska will you find a traditional Japanese eating area with tatami mats? They also give you an oshibori (warm wash cloth) to clean your hands. Small details like this make this place truly authentic. I've had the agedashi tofu, hamachi kama, various sushi rolls, and most recently the beef udonsuki. All are very flavorful with no bells or whistles - just pure goodness. It reminds me of food my grandma makes at home, so needless to say I always come to Sakura Bana whenever I get homesick and want a nice home-cooked Japanese meal. Service is always 5+ stars - very attentive and prompt. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and service. All I've got to say is "gochisousama deshita!"
(5)Susan S.
This is the best sushi restaurant in Omaha. Period.
(5)Mark S.
Was passing thru Omaha on Interstate 80 and itching for some Japanese dinner. Better than I had expected. A lot of very Japanese items on a very large menu. I just ordered various appetizers; geso karaage (fried squid legs), ika sugatayaki (whole squid), ohitashi (blanched spinach). They even have shochu (yes!) and two glasses on the rocks later I was fat and happy. The young server was a bit meh, but good help is hard to find these days. She gave me the "look" for speaking Japanese to her and if she reads this I knew that she was Chinese. No, you don't all look the same. I don't look Japanese either, lol.
(4)John C.
I bumped this place up an extra star because the service is always very attentive and the food is consistently tasty. Even by land-locked Omaha standards, the sushi is not out-of-this world good, just okay. There is better sushi to be had elsewhere in town, but if you are nearby and have a hankering for some raw fish, this place will fit the bill. They offer most of the standard rolls and sushi you would come to expect, but there is not a real display of creativity in their "unique" rolls. Most of the selections are quite ordinary. They do have an extensive regular menu that offers bento boxes (a great lunch hour choice - allows you to have a selection of sushi/tempura/teriyaki meat/etc.), noodles and soups. Overall, a good place for sushi in Omaha, I just wouldn't drive across town to eat here.
(3)George V.
It had been a while sine I had been in Omaha and Sakura Bana was just as good as I remembered it to be. The miso soup that came with my sushi hit the spot. As for the yakitori, I have eaten in many of Japanese restaurants in the mid-west and none have come close to Sakura Bana in my opinion. From the sauce to sesame seeds, they are perfect. I could eat their yakitori every day. Finally the sushi was fresh and the staff never once let my tea get empty. A great dining experience all around.
(4)Tony F.
We had a diverse plate of all sushi last night. We arrived at 8 and the place was packed; not even a seat at the sushi bar was open which we prefer. While we waited, no less than 3 people asked if we had been helped. The sushi menu has expanded if you haven't been here for a couple of years. They have added some of the funky modern combo rolls in addition to the traditional ones. Recently we had been to Hiro and Okinawa, so this was a good opportunity to compare. In the past I would have ranked Hiro as #1, but not anymore. I have been regularly eating sushi for close to 20 years and the subtle differences in quality are sometimes hard to discern. The fish, seasoned rice and preparation we as good as it gets. Okay, maybe not NYC or Tokoyo grade but very, very excellent. A quick way to tell food quality is the strength of the wasabi. Last night it was like an ice pick in your nose! I would highly recommend ordering the hand roll combo. For the novice, they are the "ice cream cone" style. For $18 you get your choice of 4. All were excellent, although it was too much food. In conclusion, the food service and prices all added up to the rare 5 star for us.
(5)Matt H.
Ate here again last night. Best thing about Sakura Bana is that is like Japanese family restaurant. It's not pretentious like many other sushi places. We had sushi, yakitori and tempura. As good as always. Have been coming here since it was sushi ichiban at the old IHOP. It's our favorite and rarely let's us down.
(5)Ryan t.
When it comes to sushi, I'll eat just about anything you put in front of me, and I'm not difficult to please. My experiences with Sakura Bana have been mostly favorable, but I've also had some epic failures that I don't often experience when eating sushi other places. I ordered one of their rolls with tuna that came with some sort of sauce that was not specified on the menu, and that I could not identify. The only comparison that I can make is it's how I imagine mayonaise would taste if left outside for an afternoon in Arizona during July. Aside from this experience with this mystery sauce, I have been pleased with my meals here. The location is convenient and the service is always quite good.
(3)Bobi L.
Second time I have been here and loved their food both times. Not only do they have sushi but also Japanese dishes as well. Service is awsome and the atmosphere is fun!
(5)Matt G.
I've eaten at Sakura Bana twice. I wasn't impressed the first time, but decided to give it another shot a few months later. My first impression was correct. The sushi is bland. The rolls are loose and sloppy. Granted, looking at Sakura Bana's sushi didn't make me cringe the way Blue Sushi's did, but it just isn't very good. I used a lot of wasabi and soy sauce both times we ate there and that is never a good sign.
(2)Brenna P.
The sushi here is ok, as are the prices. I've eaten here on several occasions, but it's not my favorite. The staff are always friendly.
(3)Leslie P.
Amazing- Extrodinary Sakura Bana has FRESH succulent fish, tasty Tempura and Saaa-WEET appetizers. Noodles, beautiful noodles make your mouth water, OH! and don't forget dessert. This food will make your mouth ZING! WOW- Sakura Bana is so good it makes you want to cry
(5)Drew P.
Really wasn't too impressed.
(2)Neil G.
As other have noted, this is the generally the most authentic stuff I've found so far in Omaha, although I've still got a few to try. It's also much more convenient for the Midtown crowd, as many of Omaha's Japanese restaurants seemed to have settled way out west. The menu is large, varied, and a pretty good value. The sushi is also good, although I usually try to vary my meal and get a little sushi and some other things. Specifically, though, I highly recommend the spicy seared tuna salad. Definitely good lunch deals as well. For happy hour hunters, they have one, although I haven't personally been there for it as of yet.
(4)Kuang J.
This review is for their new location, which was quite nice. I liked the decor, lots of wood--but they did have a few flat screens showing ESPN, which was a bit distracting. Luckily while I was there they were showing softball, so I did not feel compelled to watch the screen, but if you were on a date and have trouble not looking at the game, beware. Went to Sakura Bana for lunch, and ordered two box lunches. For under 10 bucks each, I think it was a stellar deal, and I left feeling stuffed. The food was good, but both the teri chicken and the grilled tuna (from a special) were a bit overcooked. The tempura was excellent and the sushi that came with one of the box lunches was OK--nothing special, but the price was right. Excellent service--that was one thing that stood out here.
(3)S A.
Wow - I was so underwhelmed by this place. I ordered two rolls (crunchy spicy tuna and mango and tuna) and, had I not been hungry, would have been fine leaving them on the plate - there was just nothing about these to enjoy. The fish on the mano roll was, well, fishy. And that's a no-no for me. I should say that the service was fine, although the ambiance feels more late night diner than sushi bar to me. So, food - two stars, Ambiance - two stars, Service - 3 stars. This place barely earns its two stars in my opinion.
(2)Lelay P.
Whoa, tempura ice cream is to die for. I had the tempura plate, to say it was delicious is to say that the pacific ocean is damp.
(5)Kellie W.
Sakura Bana is my favorite sushi restaurant in Omaha. The sushi is great and its a great value...very reasonably priced. The carrot ginger salad dressing rocks. This has become a once a week treat for my husband and I. We really love it.
(5)Isaac P.
It's not possible not to like this place! That is if you like REAL Japanese food. And it is very kid friendly, my friend's little brother loves this place. Omaha is full of unauthentic sushi bars and Japanese steak houses. This restaurant, I can say with full confidence is the best sushi place in Omaha. And if you don't like sushi, no problem, there's is a lot of other food too. The tempura udon is extremely good and satisfying. The staff is also very friendly and ready to make sure you're having a good time and are enjoying your food! If you like sushi and a cool restaurant this is the place for you.
(5)David G.
I may be biased. I'm not from Omaha and currently, I'm a Chicago native who's spent extensive time in Japan. Not trying to toot my own horn here, but when it comes to Japanese food, I'll say I've had quite a bit. As for Sakurabana, I've been more than once, so I guess that's saying something. Anyway, I wont claim to have tried the majority of the menu, but what I've seen of it, its passable Japanese food. To be honest, I have nothing negative to say. I guess it just doesn't jump out at me for being above average. So with a 3-star rating, YELP gives a little explanation as a reference point. I.E. 3 Stars = 'A-OK.' And I think that's appropriate. You wont be blown away, but youll have a decent time and enjoy decent Japanese food.
(3)Rosalina R.
Glad to report I did not experience buyers remorse here. I purchased a living social deal here on a whim...I wasn't expecting much based on the reviews...however I found both the service and food to be of the value that I paid.. While this place certainly isnt first class it does give a much more authentic vibe that say...Hiro or Blue..I had rolls, nigiri, tempura squid, some unsual detox tea, and a bento box...the appetizer was my fave (which was recommended byt he waitress) the rolls were OK and my fish in the bento was awesome...antoher intresting note: we were one of the only tables not filled with people of asian ancestry...that was my clue that the place must be doing someting right...I'll go back.
(4)David R.
I've been going to Sakura Bana since it was in the old IHOP down the street and my daughter and I have left way too much money there. It is not fancy California style sushi but it is unpretentious, unfailing fresh and cleanly served and full of very friendly servers and sushi chefs. I've tried many of the other sushi places in Omaha, many of whom are trying to wow the younger crowd with "cutting edge" stuff, but always come right back here. I always get a spicy tuna roll wherever in the country I am, as it is the simplest thing you can make (sort of like garlic bread at an Italian place or salsa at a Mexican), and Sakura Bana's is still the best I've ever had.
(5)Benji B.
This place is decent. The sushi wasn't bad, but it was a little bland, and they could have a better selection of rolls. I really liked the sesame salad dressing. The decor and staff are nice. I'll probably go back, but it's not at the top of my list.
(3)Matt M.
I was a big fan of Sushi Ichiban, and so naturally gave this place a try when it opened. It was really disappointing. We gave it another shot a few months later, and it was disappointing again. The atmosphere is OK--clean, open spaces. And I guess the service was OK. But the food was not great. Not bad, really, but nowhere near the quality one used to expect from Ichiban. Perhaps that's an unfair standard, but I can't help using it.
(2)Vincent k.
The food was okay. My stomach wasn't feeling too well after eating the tempura that came with my dinner box. Maybe I just wasn't feeling well that day. Its a nice little place for sushi, fish, or have a little shabu shabu (hot pot) going. Can't really go with a lot of people, because the place is tight, but there are private rooms where you eat in a japanese setting - (shoes off, short tables, etc) that fits around 8.
(3)Dylan G.
cool atmosphere, excellent service, decent prices, delicious soup, sashimi, sushi and sake. sold. not the best thing i've ever eaten and didn't reinvent any wheels, but a great place nonetheless. will definitely return.
(4)Sandy J.
This place is pretty nice. I like that they sell Japanese snacks at the front counter. (There aren't many Asian grocery markets in Omaha.) The food is also pretty good, sushi and entrees. I've had better, but it's in a land locked state, so you can't have high expectations. It's one of my top three favorite Japanese restaurants in Omaha. Hiro Sushi and Sushi Yakiniku Boy are the other two.
(3)Dieter J.
I am a regular customer of this place. Their happy hour special priced rolls are great value. This is the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Omaha (it's actually run by Japanese), and the Japanese really tend to be the best at making Japanese food. It used to be sushi ichiban. It has always been a work in progress getting better. Now it's really quite good with very high quality sushi and innovative appetizers and rolls. I have spent a decent amount of time in Japan, and this is my favourite in Omaha for Japanese. Not that things HAVE to be "authentic"; taste is the end measure. But, when they understand how the basics are "supposed" to taste, then the modern items tend to be better. Things are a bit pricey, and I think they still have room for improvement so I'll leave off a 5th star for now. I live in that part of town, and when I think where I want to go out to eat close by, it is always the top of the list. The staff is always very friendly, and the decor is quite nice.
(4)