Sansei Offers a Galaxy of Sushi Options

Vanessa Wolf is a former head chef. She offers her frank assessments in the interests of honesty and improving Maui’s culinary scene.

By Vanessa Wolf

The Tempura Asparagus. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

A weekend late night institution, if you’ve ever been to Sansei after 10 p.m. you developed a whole new appreciation for drunken karaoke performances.

But we’ll get to that.

The Boom Boom Pow? Sansei is a sushi Mecca.

Yes, they have grilled fish, salads and some appetizer-y items, but if you want the opportunity to read over a list of sushi rolls so vast that you’ll start to get indecisive and overwhelmed and… wait… there’s another menu to consider, as well?

Welcome to Sansei, Maui’s answer to Willy Wonka.

If you can dream it, they can do it. In fact, they probably already have. Just keep scanning the vast menu and see for yourself.

That there?

That’s a sushi roll made with foie gras.

The defense rests.

Calamari with “Japanese” cocktail sauce. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

We started with appetizers.

The Crispy Fried Calamari ($8.95) was crisp and flavorful and perfectly done. It comes with Japanese cocktail sauce which, it turns out, tastes exactly like American cocktail sauce.

The portion was a bit wee and the squidlets themselves may have been part of some sort of pygmy race. Yes, Lilliputian in all respects, but first-class flavor and got the job done.

Besides, too much fried stuff isn’t good for you anyway.

Tell that to our burgeoning muffin top.

We also gave the Tempura Asparagus Spears a whirl. Your $6.95 earns you five fresh perfectly battered and fried asparagus. Prepare to attempt to distract your dining partner and make a grab for the fifth one.

The Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll ($9.95) is a welcome treat for those suddenly fretting about the button straining to free itself from their pants. Accompanied by sweet Thai curry vinaigrette it’s quite possibly filled with a mix of crab and krabb. No matter, the net result is light and packed with glorious flavor.

The Issei combo. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

Meantime, courtesy of the nearby stage: Did you know “Girls Just Want to Have Fun?” is virtually impossible for anyone but Cyndi Lauper, dolphins, and the Vienna Boy’s Choir to sing?

**gleeful titter**

The Edamame ($2.95) arrives cold and lightly salted. It’s fine. The price is more than right. Won’t exactly change your life, but no soybean ever will.

The Issei Combo ($18.95) sounds like a bedroom set from IKEA, but it’s actually a mix of ahi, yellowtail, maguro and tomago sushi accompanied by a spicy tuna roll. The egg was a titch too sweet for us, but the fish was super fresh.

So about all that sushi…

Brace yourselves: we’re nitpickers. That’s our job.

Sansei has Goldilocks syndrome in the rice department: it’s inconsistent. Take your pick from too dry, too soggy, not enough vinegar and just right. Adjust expectations accordingly.

Still, the Unagi roll ($7.50) converted not one, but two, “I hate eel” people into eel enthusiasts. Sure, lies were told to get them to try it in the first place, but they thanked us in the end. It’s that good.

The Shrimp Tempura roll was having an off day. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

Sansei likes to dress up a California roll in more costumes than a Broadway show. The “69” roll ($13.95) is no exception. The inside-out Cali topped will do right for those of you who shy away from raw fish.

The Shrimp Tempura Roll ($7.95) suffered from the aforementioned rice issues. Picking it up without having it fall apart was not in the cards.

The Rainbow Roll ($13.25) is a Cali Roll in a coat of many colors. Topped with ahi, salmon and avocado slices, it has a good personality AND a pretty face.

Back to basics, the Cucumber and Avocado Tekka Maki ($4.95) is clean and simple, as it should be.

The Panko Crusted Ahi Sashimi ($12.95) was our rare venture into unusual sushi. Sashimi purists at heart, we kept an open mind.

The verdict?

The Rainbow and Cuke/Avo Tekka Maki make a beautiful pair. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

Interesting; and that’s not a euphemism for something else.

The sea of soy wasabi butter upon which it rested provided a rich, unctuous contrast to the powerful spinach and arugula flavors.

Then there was the Green Tea Creme Brûlée ($7.95).

No.

It tasted like something made from a freshly mowed lawn.

The tea was powdered and discovered in clumps. When we left most of it behind, the waitress who had enthusiastically recommended it earlier admitted she doesn’t like it either.

Booooo. Why you got to do us like that, friend? Maybe next time send out a warning look while pushing any inadvisable specials.  ::side eye:::

Treachery incident aside, service is friendly and somehow keeps up besides the crowds and vast menu. The servers hustle to keep it all flowing smoothly.

The Ahi Tempura Sashimi. Interesting. Velly velly interesting. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

If all that weren’t enough, the Sansei has one more trick up its sleeve.

For those who like to dine like a Spaniard, after 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday (plus a bonus fry night of Saturday in Kihei) the sushi and apps are 50% off.

And what’s even better than 50% off?

Karaoke so bad it’s good.

Oh yaaaaaaah.

Let’s get real: karaoke performed by pros is tedious. Yes, you’re a wonderful singer who has clearly been practicing this song for months. Our eardrums thank you.

But YOU, enthusiastic, shameless, tone deaf lady singing with a voice that reminded us of the Grinch?

You’re what makes life worth living.

The green tea creme brûlée. <> Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

And you, Sir, who sang the world’s worst rendition of “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and even gyrated on the floor at one point?

We salute you.

___

The Kihei Sansei is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday to Saturday.

The Kapalua Sansei keeps the same hours except it closes at 10 p.m. on Saturday.

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know if you hear of any new restaurants opening or reopening, total menu overhauls, or simply know of a hidden treasure you want to share. Have a restaurant you want reviewed (or re-reviewed)? Drop us a line – Vanessa(@mauinow.com)