I may be Asian, but I've never liked sushi. Raw things simply make me...squeemish. Sansei, recently relocated to the Waikiki Beach Marriott, however, makes ""raw stuff"" superb. The staff that greets is hardly friendly, but servers are affable and smily. With a blend of Asian and Hawaiian decor, Sansei offers an enormous menu of specialty sushi and entrees, including a judiciously spiced shichimi-crusted filet. Signature mango crab salad hand roll is served with a sprightly Thai chili vinaigrette and boosted further with a good hand of cilantro. It's smooth and smooth with a fantastically fresh seared 'ahi with sensual soy butter sauce pooled around. Shrimp dynamite, lightly battered and fried to a tantalizing crisp, is delicious topped off with smelt roe-garlic aioli. Even a simple local favorite like misoyaki butterfish is prepared beautifully. A true showstopper, however, is the ethereal Dungeness crab and black truffle ramen. I always feel obligated to order one of the spectacular desserts, whether it be a Granny Smith apple and caramel tart or tempura-fried ice cream. Food at Sansei is a far better deal than its sister restaurant D.K. Steak House next door.
Pros: Wonderful, creative sushi and homey desserts
Cons: Unreliable service
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