Ch-Ch-Chain: Sansai Japanese Grill

*** This location of SanSai has closed

As much as I enjoy the San Diego Asian Film Festival, I lament the lack of what I consider decent eating choices nearby (except for Trophy's right, Ron!!! LOL!)...most of Mission Valley is pretty much littered with various chain, or chain like restaurants. Because of location, right next to the Hazard Center, it's either non-stop hot dogs, Jack in the Box, Quizno's, or SanSai Japanese Grill.

SanSai is a pseudo-Japanese "concept" Fast Casual chain, and this location is always crowded. Most menu items are in the $5 to $8 range and consists of various bowls, salads, and (gasp) sushi rolls.

So let's get to food shall we?

This is called the Spicy Chicken Bowl($5.99):

The term "spicy" is used very loosely here, it wasn't quite spicy, and the chicken was pretty much food court quality and dry. The green salad with an Asian dressing was fine. Coming from a place where you get two scoops of rice, a good quantity of meat, and macaroni salad for the same price, this seemed a bit on the chintzy side. But I guess it's much more "healthy", right? 407 Calories, 12.5 grams fat, 747mg sodium.

On another occasion I ordered the Tempura and Teriyaki Chicken Plate($7.99), which comes with your choice of two salads:

The teriyaki chicken confirmed my thoughts on the chicken at SanSai...it's not for me. Weak sauces and dry chicken(this is dark meat, can you imagine chicken breast - $1 more) is the MO. The tempura, which consisted of two shrimp, and various vegetable tempura, and to be honest it was pretty good, still crisp, and rather light. I've had worse in restaurants before. I chose the Tomato Salad, dressed with a very weak vinegar based dressing and the mixed greens. The plate came with rice.

There is one item from SanSai that I do enjoy once in a while. It's the Sumi Salad($4.99):

 

It's a far cry from the Sumi Salad that my Mom made, which was a Rice Vinegar based "slaw", and the secret ingredient was dry broken up ramen noodles(and sometimes the dry ramen broth mix as well)! This version is very mild, and short with regards to any vinegar flavor. Still it's not bad, if a bit on the bland side, the portion size is on the large side. What I think is a bit odd, is that the salad comes with an order of rice..... go figure. Rice and Sumi Salad?

When I order the Sumi salad, I do a little embellishment....

Yep, I add a nice amount of Baby Star Crispy Noodle Snack(it just ain't right without those dry noodles), and if I feel like it, a bit more rice vinegar...and it's almost close to Sumi Salad.

I guess if I had a choice between Baja Rash Fresh and SanSai, I'd probably choose SanSai....don't look at the fish they use for sushi, though.

Sansai Japanese Grill, they're all over California.

Comments

[clayfu]

when i'm feeling like i need to eat "healthy" and alot, i go here.

that salad is pretty decent. And really pouring on the reviews eh kirk?

[nhbilly]

Geesh only time to read no time to replying....thanks for the entertainment and senses teaser.

-nhb

[caroline]

Hey, I go to Sensai more often than I'd like to admit - the cashier knows us and asks for the missing family member if we don't all go together. I like that it's "healthy" (okay, I order the tempera plate, so it's not healthy, but it does come with two salads - you don't get anything green at Rubios/Baha Fresh/In-n-out) and my 2 year old likes to eat rice. I agree the chicken isn't good, but I've had good experiences with the tempera, the salads, and some of the roll sushi. Not wonderful, but good for the Fast Casual type resturant.

[mizducky]

Oh yeah, Hazard Center, and that entire end of Mission Valley, is such a culinary wasteland. But at least you didn't wind up at Crapplebee's like I did once with a bunch of folks grabbing a quick meal before a movie. Urk. Personally, I'd call the Joe's Crab Shack the least objectionable of the chains in that shopping center, though all the ersatz nautical decor makes me want to turn tail and "run away!" like the Monty Python knights. Who dreams up these joints, anyway?

[Joseph E]

DiningDiva has defended King's Fish House in the past as a better place in that part of Mission Valley. Have you ever eaten there? Not as cheap, for sure, and still a chain.

[Captain Jack]

I think King's is pretty good. Jeez Kirk, you are a posting monster. I am having a hard time keeping up.

[Kathy]

Ahhh, I LOVE Baby Star noodles! When I'm desperate and don't have any, I just crush of a bag of ramen and toss with the seasonings...but it looks like your mom had that great idea long before! :)

[habereno]

I don't eat at many chains, but I actually really enjoy SanSai Grill. I always get the same thing -- the salmon bowl with brown rice and an 'Oriental salad.' Okay, so it's not authentic Japanese, but the salmon's always perfectly done (not too dry!) and the short-grain brown rice is delicious. And you can't really mess up 'Oriental salad.' (I still haven't figured out why Chinese chicken salad aka Oriental salad is called Chinese/Oriental -- it's definitely not a Chinese dish!)

[Vicki]

Sansai's tempura kinda blows, and I've never bothered with the bowls. But their spicy sashimi salad is good, and most of the sushi rolls are decent...

[Passionate Eater]

WHOA, that a whole lotta "embellishment!" And did Ron get the trophy? I hope he thanked you when he won!

[elmomonster]

Oh how I love those Baby Star crispy noodles. I picked a bag up on a whim a few months ago and have been addicted to it since.

[Kirk]

Hi Clayfu - I'm not quite sure about the healthy statement - but you can get brown rice. I'm taking a few days off since it looks like I'm burning you all out!

Hi Billy - Take it easy...hope things get a bit better for you soon!

Hi Caroline - I agree, not too bad for a fast casual restaurant.

Hi mizducky - Mission Valley has just about every chain restaurant imaginable....hmmm, sounds like a post in the making!

Hi Joseph - I've never had a "full meal" at King's, but have enjoyed the oysters and some appetizers there. Not cheap by any means...and yes, not all "chains" are bad things(i.e Oceanaire).

Hi CJ - Well, I'll take a few days off so everyone can catch up!

Hi Kathy - You've never had Sumi Salad....it was a pretty popular "local" thing...but maybe before your time. Hmmm, just the mention of Baby Star Noodles will make me scrambling for a bag!

Hi Habereno - Well, you have to be eating healthy with all of that training your doing.

Hi Vicki - I thought the tempura was good for fast-foodish tempura. The fish at SanSai scares me.

Hi PE - Ron's movie did well at film festival, we ate at Trophy's during the evening...cause Ron has some "connections", and I made Ron eat a whole plate of onion rings......

Hi Elmo - That stuff is addictive....try using it as salad topping!

[jeff c]

Kirk, that Baby Star pic is so funny. My wife loves that stuff and says it reminds her of her childhood. I almost made the mistake of pouring hot water on it to make noodles.

[Kirk]

Hi Jeff - Hope all is well! Yeah, you don't want to be messing up your Wife's snacks....I don;t think it'll hold up too well under hot water.