So many awards and accolades are given to Sansei Japanese Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar's raw menu, people forget about its cooked entrees.
"One of the goals of Sansei Kapalua for marketing is to focus on our fresh fish, and our kitchen food," says General Manager Aaron Trujillo.
"With Ivan Pahk, our Maui corporate chef and partner overseeing both the Kapalua and the Kihei restaurants, and our own talented Executive Chef Micah Honma, the kitchen puts out some amazing menu items, not to mention the freshest fish specials nightly," adds Trujillo. "Our owner, DK Kodama, says, 'If it's fresh enough to eat raw, imagine how good it will taste when you serve it as a cooked entree.' "
Article Photos
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Stirring the noodles are Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Kapalua’s Executive Chef Micah Honma (left), and his boss, Ivan Pahk, who oversees both the Kapalua and the Kihei culinary teams.
Pahk says Sansei runs with two to five fresh fish specials nightly. With the ban on bottom fish just lifted, expect to see a lot more snapper from local waters.
"Our focus is to keep things local," says Pahk. "When you ask, 'Where can I get a great piece of fish?' We want Sansei to be the first word out of your mouth."
Diners may savor fresh wild moi to ulua, fish you don't see on menus all of the time. In addition, Sansei brings in fresh salmon from Alaska as well as fresh halibut from the Columbia River.
Hot entrees include peppercorn-crusted grilled ahi, served with arugula and garlic jus, mashed potatoes and blue-cheese butter; ginger-steamed moi with roasted Hamakua mushrooms, baby tatsoi and black truffle butter; and sesame tempura-crust mahimahi with garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach and Japanese peppercorn sauce.
Or you may opt for seafood pasta packed with black-tiger prawns and shrimp, tender filet over fresh udon noodles in a savory garlic demi glace, grilled pork chops with Japanese au-poivre sauce or grilled New York steak.
"We hope people will recognize Sansei as a great restaurant serving great food, as well as having a terrific sushi bar!" Trujillo says.?"Come check us out."
For reservations, call 669-6286.
