Sakura - Essex

We went here during the Santa Parade, the food was awesome!! If I had to critique it a little I would say hire more wait staff, that is what will make or break this place cause we thought the all you can eat sushi was great and so were the prices, but we saw people that waited to order so long that they left, I never received my pop and some tables waited a very long time to be cleaned, once you ordered the food it was quick :)

Visited Essex on business and after googling a place for Chinese in town, Golden Roll Chinese and Thai came up as an option. So I decided to take a look. The location of the restaurant isn't called Golden Roll Chinese and Thai its under a new name as Sakura Chinese and Japanese Restaurant. Visiited around 12:45 pm. Asked if they had any combination takeaway. They have only 3 options. I was told all the combo's are teriyaki. So I ordered N1 the chicken and the N2 the beef combo's. Also I decided to try their curry. I ordered J1 Red Curry Chicken $8.99(not a combo). The combo's were each $8.49.The server said it would be 15 mins. 15 minutes turned into 40 mins. Not a big deal. Server was very apologetic. They have a promotion of 20% off until September on the menu. My bill came out to $24 and change after discount. Not sure how he got that number but I think it was off by about .64 cents. No big deal. When the food was ready they forgot my soups. Luckily the server noticed it right away. Got home and boy were we disappointed. I took pictures. My wife and I couldn't believe how cheap the portions were. The amount of chicken or beef was a joke. A few slices of each on a small bed of bean sprouts. Usually when I get Chinese the takeout container is overflowing with food and the takeout bags are heavy. I don't understand why a Chinese place would cheap out on some rice or a little more meat. Every other Chinese place I order from you get a whole chicken breast. Not a 1/4 breast sliced thin. Ridiculous! Also the soups that were incluced in our combo's weren't filled. They were 1/4 filled. What?? LOL! Also the salads were not even filled. Really how much does some extra broth cost to at least make the customer happy having an actual bowl of soup? or a full salad and not just about 3 fork fulls. Does ice burg lettuce cost that much?? It made me feel like I was being ripped off. And just because of their 20% off promotion do they make the portions smaller as well to compensate? probably not then this place is really expensive. I tried taking some pictures to show how ridiculous the portions are. Pictures don't really do it justice. Also the order of Curry I ordered was not even 1/4 full in the container and they served the hot curry in a styro foam container where it melted from the heat of the curry. That can't be good for you. Every other restaurant serves these dishes in foil containers. Now the soup had no flavour. The rice was good after sprinkling some soy on it, The chicken and the beef stripes where dry. The Sakura egg roll was just folded egg in a roll kinda. What? it was ok. The curry was good but hot. They didn't bother to ask how hot I wanted it. My wife couldn't eat the curry because it was too hot for her. I noticed they had signs for all you can eat. Lunch was $11.99 and Dinner was $15.99 I believe. That might have been a better option. I won't be going back to this place and won't recommend it either. The food is for the most part good but the portions are just cheap. Makes you as a customer feel like your getting ripped off.

This is a gem in Essex. Do take the drive in, you will absolutely not be disappointed. We have been twice, and the food was delicious, and the staff warm and more than willing to please. We ordered from the Lunch Buffet Menu. You simply write your requests on the pad provided, and the food is then prepared and comes to the table piping hot, and again delicious. For the quality of food served, the presentation, and service, the cost is a steal. Do yourself a favour...... visit Sakura.

Attended Jan 2 post New Years. Had eated Sushi in BC, Dim Sum in Vancouver and Toronto, all in 2 weeks prior. I am an Asian Foodie to be sure. Better Sushi tha BC, as good as anywhere I have eated it. The fried rice (not a rice fan) was awesome. Great sashimi counts, and for me a barometer is always Edamame.

This is the best sushi and Oriental restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of dining at. Will go again and again.