Sansei - Hayward

This restaurant can be quite inconsistent. There are times when the food is absolutely fantastic—like the teriyaki beef, which I absolutely love. There have been occasions when I’ve received a generous portion of perfectly cooked beef on my plate. However, there are also times when I’ve been served a disappointing dish with hardly any beef at all. It’s usually the same staff, so I’m not sure why this happens. When they get it right, it’s one of my favorite places to dine.

There was no line at this restaurant. Not a single person approached to order while I was standing nearby. The menu consists of just two chicken dishes served with white rice and two sushi rolls. I didn’t see any food in the steam table, and there was no staff member present to prepare the meals. My stomach advised me against ordering anything here, so I opted not to. Instead, I went next door to Charley's Philly, which had a line and a grill cook working right in front.

I ordered through DoorDash because the restaurant had a 4.8 rating, but I wish I had checked Yelp first. The food didn't taste good; it was very oily and greasy, and most of the beef in my teriyaki was burnt. I won't be dining here again.

The food was lacking in flavor and overly sauced. While it was served hot, it didn't have much taste, and the vegetables were dry and probably quite old. There aren't many dining options in this mall, which is also in a state of disrepair.

I stopped in for a quick lunch and ordered the chicken and shrimp combo. The shrimp was incredibly fresh and cooked to perfection. The staff were friendly, and the service was prompt. Plus, the prices were reasonable! Overall, I give the food a 5/5.