San Sai Japanese Grill

For residents of Oregon seeking a convenient and approachable spot for Japanese cuisine in Portland, San Sai Japanese Grill on NW 21st Avenue offers a casual and quick dining experience. Nestled in a vibrant and bustling neighborhood, San Sai provides a diverse menu featuring both sushi and grilled Japanese staples, aiming to cater to a variety of tastes and preferences. It's a place that has cultivated a loyal following among those who appreciate its specific blend of accessibility and friendly service.

San Sai Japanese Grill has been described as a "mixed bag" by some, highlighting that while it may not always aim for gourmet, high-end dining, it excels in providing a "quick, affordable lunch." This makes it an ideal option for busy professionals, students, or anyone in the area looking for a reasonably priced meal without a long wait. With its inviting outdoor seating and consistently praised service, it offers a comfortable and straightforward dining experience that has earned it dedicated fans, particularly for its sushi offerings.

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San Sai Japanese Grill is conveniently situated at 539 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209, USA. This address places it squarely in Portland's highly desirable Northwest District, often referred to as "Nob Hill" or "Alphabet District." This area is renowned for its charming Victorian architecture, tree-lined streets, upscale boutiques, and a dense concentration of restaurants and cafes, making it a popular destination for both locals and visitors.

The location on NW 21st Avenue ensures excellent accessibility. The street itself is a major thoroughfare with good pedestrian activity. Public transportation is readily available, with several TriMet bus lines serving the immediate vicinity, and the Portland Streetcar also runs nearby, providing easy connections to downtown and other parts of the city. While street parking can sometimes be competitive in the lively Northwest District, options are generally available on NW 21st Ave and its adjacent streets. The ability to enjoy "outdoor seating on NW 21st Avenue" is a significant plus, allowing diners to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of this iconic Portland neighborhood.

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San Sai Japanese Grill offers a broad menu designed to provide a quick and satisfying Japanese meal, whether you're craving sushi, a grilled entree, or a light appetizer. Their offerings blend traditional flavors with casual dining convenience. Here’s a detailed overview of their services and menu items:

• Sushi Rolls: A wide selection of rolls, catering to various preferences. Popular and specialty rolls mentioned include:

  • Red Bull Roll: Surimi crab meat, shrimp tempura, cucumber, and yamagobo, topped with spicy tuna, Unagi sauce, and tempura crunch.

  • Sansai Special: A house special roll.

  • Baked Snapper: A baked roll, a favorite among regulars.

  • Spider Roll: Deep-fried soft shell crab with tempura, kaiware sprouts, yamagobo, avocado, crab surimi, and cucumber.

  • Rainbow Roll: California roll generously topped with tuna, salmon, red snapper, albacore, and boiled shrimp.

  • Tiger Roll: Freshwater eel, shrimp tempura, surimi, avocado, cucumber, and yamagobo inside, topped with spicy tuna and avocado.

  • Dragon Roll: California Roll topped with freshwater eel.

  • Hawaiian Roll: California roll topped with tuna.

  • Washington Roll: California roll topped with salmon.

  • Las Vegas Roll: Crispy deep-fried Philadelphia roll.

  • Crunch Roll: A popular choice for those who enjoy a crispy texture.

  • Traditional Rolls: Including California Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Salmon Roll, Philadelphia Roll, Vegetable Roll, Tuna Roll, Shrimp Roll, Tempura Roll, Avocado Roll, and Cucumber Roll.

• Nigiri & Sashimi: Basic selections of fresh fish over rice or sliced, with options like Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, and Red Snapper available in combo boxes.

• Teriyaki Bowls: A popular and satisfying option for a quick meal, served with white or brown rice and a side salad. Choices include:

  • Chicken Bowl (Dark Meat or Breast): Grilled chicken with San Sai Yakitori Sauce.

  • Spicy Chicken Bowl: Grilled spicy marinated chicken.

  • Salmon Bowl: Grilled teriyaki salmon.

  • Steak Bowl: Grilled teriyaki steak.

  • Tofu Bowl: Deep-fried tofu.

  • Curry Bowl (Chicken or Steak): Served with rice, curry, and salad.

  • Katsu Bowl (Chicken Breast or Pork): Crispy fried cutlets.

  • Kalbi Korean Short Ribs: Grilled and marinated short ribs.

  • Tempura Bowl: Featuring shrimp tempura and mixed veggie tempura.

• Plates: Larger portions of their grilled items, often served with white or brown rice, a veggie skewer, and a choice of two signature salads or miso soup. Options mirror the bowls, including various chicken, salmon, steak, shrimp, and spicy pork plates.

• Appetizers: A range of Japanese small bites to start your meal:

  • Ahi Poke: Ahi Tuna with cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, spicy Unagi sauce, and Ponzu.

  • Albacore Delight: Albacore, imitation crab, asparagus, and avocado wrapped in soy paper.

  • Baked Green Mussels.

  • Calamari Tempura & Calamari Bombs: Deep-fried squid options.

  • Chicken Karaage: Boneless deep-fried chicken thigh.

  • Pork Potstickers & Vegetable Spring Rolls.

  • Edamame & Miso Soup.

  • Shrimp Tempura & Vegetable Tempura.

  • Jalapeño Bombs: Sliced tempura jalapeños with cream cheese and imitation crab.

  • Korokke: Crispy breaded sweet potato croquettes.

  • Yakitori (Chicken Skewer) & Veggie Stick.

• Yakisoba & Combo Plates: Noodle dishes and combinations that pair grilled proteins with sushi or tempura.

• Online Ordering & Delivery: Customers can order online for pickup or through delivery services like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Seamless.

• Outdoor Seating: A pleasant option for dining outside on NW 21st Avenue.

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San Sai Japanese Grill on NW 21st Ave offers several distinct features and highlights that make it a notable option for locals in Oregon:

• Excellent Sushi Quality (for its fans): While one reviewer, who doesn't eat sushi, noted their companion "loves this place" for its sushi, indicating that for those who are fans, the "excellent ingredient quality" of their sushi is a major draw. Specific rolls like the "Redbull, Sansai Special, and the baked snapper" are highlighted as favorites.

• Friendly Owner and Staff: The owner, Sunan, is praised for being "always friendly and chats with us," creating a welcoming and personal atmosphere. The service overall is described as "great from start to finish" and "quick," which is a significant positive for many diners.

• Convenient Location with Outdoor Seating: Its prime spot on NW 21st Avenue is a big plus, and the availability of "outdoor seating" is a real highlight, especially on a "beautiful day," enhancing the dining experience.

• Quick and Affordable Lunch Option: For those in need of a fast, reasonably priced meal, San Sai is "best suited for a quick, affordable lunch." This positions it as a practical choice for daily dining without breaking the bank.

• Broad Menu Selection: Beyond sushi, the extensive menu of teriyaki bowls, plates, and appetizers means there's something for almost everyone, even for those who "don't eat sushi." This versatility makes it suitable for groups with varied preferences.

• Consistent Experience for Regulars: The fact that the owner consistently interacts with customers and they have "favorite rolls to get here" suggests a loyal customer base due to a reliable and familiar experience.

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San Sai Japanese Grill, as part of a franchise or a chain with multiple locations, often provides specific promotions to attract and retain customers. Based on available public data from various San Sai locations and common practices, the Portland location may offer:

• Online Ordering Discounts: Some San Sai locations offer discounts for first-time online orders (e.g., "30% off on your first online order" through specific platforms). This encourages customers to use their direct ordering channels.

• Appetizer Deals: Promotions like "Buy 1 Potsticker, Get 1 FREE!" or "Buy 1 Edamame, Get 1 Free!" are sometimes available with coupon codes for online orders. These are great for adding value to a meal.

• Combo Deals for Rolls and Sushi: They often have bundled offers such as "Sushi (4 Pieces) and Roll (6 Pieces) Combo" or "Hand Roll Combo (3 Hand Roll)" which include a main dish, a side salad, and miso soup, providing a complete meal at a set price.

• Party Trays & Catering: For larger gatherings, they offer "Sushi & Roll Party Trays" in various sizes (e.g., 24 pieces mixed sushi, 40 pieces mixed rolls, or combinations) which can be a cost-effective way to serve groups for events, though these often require advance notice.

• Partnerships with Delivery Platforms: While not a direct discount from San Sai, being available on platforms like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Seamless means customers can take advantage of platform-specific promotions, such as free delivery, percentage discounts, or loyalty rewards offered by these services.

It's important for Oregon locals to check San Sai Japanese Grill's official website, their online ordering portals, or specific delivery apps for the most current promotions and special offers, as these can change periodically.

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To experience the quick service and diverse Japanese menu at San Sai Japanese Grill, here is their contact information:

• Address: 539 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209, USA

• Phone: (971) 544-1500

• Mobile Phone: +1 971-544-1500

Their general operating hours are:

• Monday - Sunday: 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Please note that hours can sometimes vary, especially on holidays or due to unforeseen circumstances. It is always recommended to call ahead or check their official website or listings on popular food delivery platforms for the most up-to-date information before planning your visit or placing an order.

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For residents of Oregon, especially those in Portland's bustling Northwest District, San Sai Japanese Grill offers a highly suitable and convenient option for Japanese cuisine. Its prime location on NW 21st Avenue ensures easy accessibility, and the added benefit of outdoor seating makes it a pleasant spot to dine, particularly on nice days, allowing patrons to enjoy the vibrant neighborhood atmosphere.

San Sai shines as an ideal destination for a "quick, affordable lunch" or a casual dinner. While some individual menu items might be described as "fine" rather than "premium," the overall consensus among its loyal customers points to "excellent ingredient quality" for its sushi and consistently "friendly" service from the owner, Sunan, and the staff. This combination of reliable quality, efficiency, and a welcoming demeanor creates a comfortable and familiar dining experience that resonates with regulars.

The broad menu, encompassing both fresh sushi rolls and hearty grilled teriyaki bowls and plates, ensures that there's a satisfying option for diverse tastes, whether you're a sushi enthusiast or prefer cooked Japanese fare. For those in the area seeking a straightforward, reasonably priced, and friendly Japanese meal in a convenient setting, San Sai Japanese Grill stands as a dependable local choice.

San Sai Japanese Grill

539 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209, USA