Sakai Japanese And Korean Restaurant

The cost is not cheap at all, however you get what you pay for

The quality of the food is hard to beat. Really to be honest it's the best locally

They have wonderful cuts of sashimi
Sushi

So why not give this place the 5 starts

Easy. Here are my complaints and I don't go looking for them but these ones can't be missed and I have enjoyed eating here many times and have a answer to my complaints

The quick answer.cone at lunch time
This is the only time I would give them the 5 starts

Majority of the time, dinner time is a bit of a headache.

Today is December and I was sitting in a private room at the back near the outside wall. Freezing cold? And also the door kept opening and nothing but many cold front every time the door opens.

And yes the door opens lots and this is due to the the pickup orders. It's non stop. So many people in and out getting the takeout?

Worst then that is. The people picking up food is disturbing. Based on the restaurant setup.

And they prioritize the people with takeout over the people sitting waiting for service. I have informed them of this and they don't care. How is it that if I called in and ordered my food, i would get it before the people sitting.and I have done that

For dinner, they always seem short staffed and always waiting at the end for the bill. Always. Such slow dinner service

Disappointed because the food is so amazing.

Service was inadequate (had to self serve and walk to counter multiple times) and was rushed to get out even before closing closing (9pm).

This remains the best sushi experience in Burlington. I wish I had photographed the Maki we had which was called the Rocky Mountain. So original and delicious! Not to mention the Korean dishes on the menu. All in all this is the place sushi fans!

Due to inflation, the famous large serving size has been reduced which ruins the experience and prize per serving went up.

I have been going here for a few years and It is one of the best Sushi places I have been too!
Their food served is always fresh and the service is great!

Food was good, but they were adamant about leaving at 9pm! (Closing time)
We arrived at 830pm and they almost didn't even want to serve us?
In the end, we were rushed to eat and then it was like being forced out the door after spending $159 in 30 minutes
The sushi was decent, however extremely poor service.

The experience is always great at rhis place. John and the whole team goes the extra mile to make your experience great. Best sushi and short ribs!

Our 2nd time here. Ordered the udon noodles and a sushi/sashimi platter. Lovely and friendly service. Udon noodles were tasty and the veggies in the soup fresh. The sushi and sashimi platter was fresh and very filling. Would highly recommend and would love to return back. The place was busy on a Saturday so do make reservations in advance.

Great Service, Clean and great atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and said bye when we left. Will be returning:)

This was very good sushi! There were some unique flavour combinations and the overall quality of the ingredients were super fresh and delicious. The size of each piece was generous and was very filling. For the 3 of us, we had 4 rolls shared and were definitely full afterwards. I would recommend this sushi location in Burlington as I have no complaints!

Place was a mess. I assume they are short staffed as i was starring at a dirty table the entire time i was there. They definitely cared more about take out then the customers inside. I ordered their kalbi dinner for $36. Comes with kalbi, rice and soup. Asked for 1/2 rice and vegetables. Got a small dish of bean sprouts. I asked for steamed vegetables, they brought a plate of cabbage with 3 small broccoli crowns and a raw zucchini. $9 was the charge. I really understand the challenges of the restaurants in these times. They should make an effort to keep customers happy for return business. Sadly this will be the last time I come.

Great first experience! Staff were amazing. Food was quick and delicious! Good variety on menu. Will be back for sure!

We usually order the med Sushi Sashimi Platter and it is fresh and tasty. They are very accommodating with my Gluten Free dietary restrictions, providing GF Soya Sauce and changing up some of the ingredients.

Amazing food! Everything is delicious fresh and the portions are very generous. The staff is incredibly friendly and service is outstanding!

Great place to immerse into both Japanese and Korean cuisines. Try the Bokkum, Yuzu tea, We-bap, so tasty!

We have been eating at Sakai most Saturday nights for years, and know of others who do the same. This place would not attract a loyal crowd of regulars if it were not great.

Mr Kim, the owner and head chef, is always in front preparing food, and is fascinating to watch from the convenience of the sushi bar. He slices and dices while overseeing the other two sous-chefs in full view of customers, with whom he occasionally converses.

My wife does not like sushi (silly woman), but very much enjoys his salmon Terriyaki, which, like his sushi, as always extremely fresh, and beyond delicious.

I usually order the small sushi or sushi/sashimi platter for myself, or his extremely delightful Korean dish "Spicy squid bokum". Mix it with rice to soak up the sauce. Yummie.

His prices are reasonable, if not cheap, and dinner for 2, with saki usually costs me around $60, before tip. I consider it good value.

But, if you go on a Saturday evening, PLEASE DO NOT sit at the sushi bar. He only has about 8 seats there, and we want two of them.

Absolutely outstanding. I think I might have mentioned other good sushi places in the GTA but this tops them all. Everything was perfect. Sushi was exceptional, especially the tuna (which lacks quality in most places). Staff are very warm and attentive to detail.

Will surely be back to this place many many times. Can’t wait to try more menu items

I go here once a week or so as it's around the corner from my office. Staff is friendly, lunch entrees are delivered quickly, sushi/sashimi has always been fresh.

Absolutely great quality sushi! During winter I was offered complimentary tea while I waited for my food. Great service! Thank you so much

Food is pretty good but pricey compared to other similar establishments. Good service. Ample parking. No choice, only decent Japanese/Korean restaurant in Burlington.

One of the best sushi places in town they accept dine in now, and you can also enjoy the patio, staff are very kind portions are big and the chef is artistic.

What an amazing sushi place! We absolutely loved it and WILL be ordering from here more often! The freshness and flavours they deliver with their rolls are, what we feel the best in the Burlington! John and his Team are great to deal with and would highly recommend you check this out if you’re looking for quality and flavour popping!

We had the sashimi and sushi player and everything was spot on. The sashimi was fresh, sushi was exactly as I expected and the roll and salad was delicious. Service was quick and friendly as well. We'll definitely be coming back. Cost was $57 before tax. The complimentary side dishes consisted of kimchi, pickled cucumbers and flavoured peanuts and those were excellent as well. Very very delicious

Loved the sushi here! Spicy Tuna Maki roll is a must, and the kimchi they served was delicious as well

Exceptional Korean and Japanese food. Prepared fresh made to order sushi, sashimi and maki. The chef plates beautiful works of food art, like the Red Dragon sushi dish. Friendly staff, two Chef's. Opened in 2004, we had this restaurant as neighbors in the Fairview Gardens Plaza, Burlington. They offer a daily high value lunch special, and allow substitutions for a very small fee. Highly recommended, menu available on website. Take out is prepared well to travel. A highly desirable restaurant for a dine in experience.

Had the sushi lunch special from Sakai today with my daughter for the first time. It included 7pcs nigiri sushi, 6 pcs maki and miso soup. Highly recommend

For Xmas Eve lunch, we ordered takeout from Sakai and had it at home. When we got to the restaurant to pick up the food, it was all ready, waiting for us to pick up. We didn’t have to wait. The waitress helping us was very friendly and made sure we picked up the right order. (There were quite a lot of orders on the table waiting for pickup. It’s COVID time after all.)

We ordered sashimi starter, spicy salmon rolls, dynamite rolls and rainbow rolls. The sashimi was very fresh and the sushi rolls were really good. We really enjoyed the food and would definitely order from Sakai again! Or go to the restaurant when COVID is over!

By far the best sushi I've ever had! Crazy flavors and unbelievable service. Highly recommend going. Also dont be afraid to try obscure things. I'll never go all you can eat again. I'm wrecked for anything else. I thought I knew about sushi but I was wrong lol.

High quality ingredients used, you can taste the freshness. Spacious seating area. Nice staff, and price is decent

Have always loved this restaurant! High quality authentic food at affordable prices. The staff are always so welcoming and lovely. Have been going for years and will continue to visit for years to come!

I have been going to Sakai since it started over 15 years ago. It is easily the best sushi restaurant I have been too and the best in not just Burlington but surrounding cities too. John and his family welcome you with open arms and ALWAYS deliver the highest quality of sushi possible. I would highly recommend Sakai and looking forward to our take out tonight.

Finest spot to buy something when in a rush. Their customer service is prompt, rates are affordable, awesome character. I highly recommend this spot.

I sent my friends to this restaurant with my highest recommendations. I visit this restaurant often. This recommendation is always successful. The the cooking is delicious and the stuff is welcoming and cooperative. Every time we visit this place we have a splendid evening.highly recommended.

We have been coming here for years and are always greated with a smile and impeccable service. Best sushi and Korean food around!

Fantastic weekday lunch spot.

Covid compliant, great service, and food was fantastic.

Highly recommend.

Superb vibes and super affable service. The food was fresh and enchanting. Will definitely recommend this spot to anyone. Affordable prices and generous portions. Great job.

One of the best customer service I have ever received. My guy Tim was a phenomenal waiter, he knew the menu inside and out. Food was delicious also. Would definitely recommend.

The sushi was very tasty and the customer service was fantastic. Very satisfied with my visit, would be coming back.

This place is my number one site. Of all restaurants I know I favor it most. I always suggests to my friends to go to visit this place. Whenever I feel like having a good meal, this is the place that comes instantly to my mind.extremely good and many types of food and a large list of dishes.generous staff members, and agreeable mood. Also, the tariff is reasonable. I sent my friends to this restaurant with no hesitation.

Amazing place with even better people working there. Even during Covid-19 they have been amazing. The best in the area.

The food is so good. The service is very friendly.
It'll be hard to eat Sushi anywhere else. I've done the entire menu about 2 times now.

I am not one who enjoys sushi at all, however, I do appreciate when my perspective is changed, and their sushi is wonderful. Their restaurant is also very well kept, the staff are kind, and it is an easily accessible location

It's a shame that I need to drive so far out of Toronto for the most amazing Sushi. Very nice people on top of it.

Fantastic food. The best Maki I've ever had. The food is always extremely fresh and delicious. The staff is always very friendly. Can't wait to try dining in.

I am not a person who leave a review even though I've experiened amazing hospitality. However, I would strongly believe and toss a comment that here is the best sushi restaurant in Halton even in GTA. Why? If you go and stop by any restaurant in near by your foot, how can you strongly believe that the restaurant you chose is perfectly clean. The top priority which every restaurant should take care of are cleanliness and Freshness, for sure. I absolutely emphasize that these factors should be a ruler of how you will judge your favorite restaurant. Cost, Service, or how well you treated by server are subsequent matters. As a norm in my list about restaurant should be equal to this restaurant.
Emphasizing again, this restaurant has been taking care of their concrete role as the top sushi restaurant in Ontario. I have seen that the owner and his family have grapsed what is their role and goal for the food business and they have consistantly considered how to serve their customers as a king and queen with their clean foods, indeed. That's all.

Terrific. Absolutely fresh sushi and sashimi. Go to.place if you want best sushi locally in Burlington. Service is good too.

Our first time trying Sakai and we will be back soon! Not only was the contactless pickup exceptional they treated us to an extra roll - loved the yam tempura. The lunch time bento boxes were delicious and big portions. Awesome local spot.

Finest spot to eat some food when in a hurry. The customer service is quick, pricing is convenient, good atmosphere. Will visit here again

Sakai is a delicious adventure into classic Japanese Sushi and sashimi.

John the owner is by far one of the greatest people I know running a business today.

Every meal is special and he always wants to make sure that you had a great time!

Whether or not it’s lunch in the middle of a long workday, dinner with a colleague, or meal with a loved one I know that it’s gonna be a great experience.

I’ve literally eaten at hundreds of sushi restaurants over the last three decades and let me tell you it’s right up there with something you might find in downtown Manhattan.

Ate at Sakai on Feb 22. The food and service were average. The salmon and shrimp special was mixed. The salmon teriyaki wasn't fresh and was overcooked. The tempura shrimp was very good. The flavour of the Korean short ribs was one dimensional instead of the multi-layered flavours you get with great short ribs, and the serving was smaller than expected. The banana tempura with mango ice cream was good but the tempura batter had a slight unpleasant aftertaste; I suspect it was because it was fried in the same oil used for the fish and vegetables. The creme brulee was curdled and unpleasant. Korean and Japanese food can be so much better than this.

We’ve been going to Sakai almost since the very beginning, and it never disappoints. The food is always fresh, they continue to surprise and innovate with new menu ideas yet know what favorites to keep and they bring in fresh catches when available that may not be on the regular menu. The staff are always very friendly and efficient, food comes quickly and is always hot when it is supposed to be, sushi rice is perfectly seasoned and the perfect texture, sushi fish is cut generously and not too thin, and edamame is not overcooked. There are also numerous other Korean specialties on the menu that are perfectly executed. Everything is served with attention to detail and style; they understand that food is “eaten first with the eyes”. We moved away from the area for several years but still came back whenever possible because we just never found anywhere that quite measured up to Sakai standards. Now that we live close again, and they have many more competitors nearby there is still no competition in our mind for sushi and Korean/Japanese food in the Burlington area, or for a long way.

Superb. Especially for Burlington where there is not a lot of selection for fresh sushi. Sakai is absolute quality food and extremely fresh fish. They're always accommodating, open around holidays like Christmas eve and reasonably priced. Highly, highly recommend to come here from Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville areas.

This is THE place for sushi in Burlington. EVERYTHING is always fresh and tasty. The rolls are huge. The SASHIMI is always fresh. The staff and chefs are all very friendly. I highly reccomend going there at least once.

Just finished an absolutely fantastic meal at Sakai, we sat at the sushi bar and watched the talented chefs as food was exquisitely prepared! Thank you John for the amazing experience! Highly recommended!

I really want to give this restaurant 5 out of 5 stars because the food was so delicious! However, the server although started off okay, really ruined the experience by the end. Sakai's menu is printed with minimal descriptions and photos. We ordered the sushi and sashimi medium platter which feeds 2 to 4 people. It does not tell you what is included or how many pieces; however we ordered it and it was delicious! Some of the best and fresh sushi I have had! After eating for about 30 minutes or more our server comes to us and says the one roll was not for us (we had already ate half of it). She then said if we had not ate it she would have given it to the proper table (that concerns me as it was on our table for over 30 minutes). We apologized and said that we had no idea it wasnt included in our order as she is the one who brought it to us. She then proceeded to tell us that we had to pay for it. I told her we were not paying for something we did not order and that I understand this was a mistake, however we did not ask for it and we had no way to know it was not a part of our order. Our server then left and came back about 3 minutes later and said since we arent paying for it we dont get to keep it (about half remaining), and she removed the plate from the table. I found this extremely rude. I understand I refused to pay for it but when the error was on the server and not us, we should not have to pay and as someone who has been in customer service for many years, I know how other restaurants and retailers operate and it is not like this. Very disappointed in the service to say the least! But the food was delicious!

Sushi is really expensive if you're used to all you can eat but very good. We had the sukiyaki which is like a hot pot style meal, really amazing broth with meat/veggies to cook yourself. Will definitely be coming back to try the other hot pot "shabu shabu".

I've been visiting sakai since it was a dairy queen. The family run, and truly special place is accommodating and so sweet, my mother has disabilities so they always give her extra help getting to the table and more. While I'm a fiend for sushi, the korean dishes are some of the best - and luckily they dont shy away from the level of spice if you ask for it "authentic". I'm so proud to have a great place in this city! Support local, support a great family, and support amazing cuisine.

This restaurant is outstanding! The service is wonderful not to mention the amazing food! The spicy fish stew is a wonderfully hearty meal perfect for a cold winter day. The shrimp Bokum is also amazing but I would be weary about the spice levels because it was quite hot. The service is smiley and inviting and the chef is a sweetheart and came out to check on us. Overall a great spot and would highly recommend to anyone who wants some authentic Japanese/Korean food!

The food is amazing per usual whenever I am here. However, today the service was slightly disappointing since the waiter didnt come by to see if we were ready to order. After waiting 15 minutes, I had to get a different waiter's attention to take my order. Hopefully on my next visit the service is much better.

Amazing food, can’t recommend this place enough. Awesome atmosphere, and very friendly staff. I highly recommended the Friday lunch special, Chicken Karashi. Can’t beat the price for fresh food in good portions.

Amazing quality of food and great for a family night out. I've never been and had a bad experience, the staff are super humble and friendly. The prices are moderately expensive; with a party of 4 the bill ends up around 100$ - 120$, but you absolutely pay for what you get at Sakai because of their amazing quality and flavour of the food.

One of the best I've ever been to, with great and really fresh fish. Tuna taste is way too good to define. I've been looking for great j-food restaurants over Brazil and US and found this one to be the best ever.