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    Sakura Bana

    4.1 (187 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars

    Order Sakura Bana Takeout or Delivery

    Sakura Bana Photos

    Business Info

    SAKURA BANA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Sakura Bana

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    I'll
    Brent B.

    Having never been to Sakura Bana I wanted to check it out after the owner of Yoshitomo bought it. They had yet to update the menu so I got to see why it was an Omaha staple for sushi for so many years. It offers an authentic array of Japanese cuisine. The pork Katsu was crispy and delicious, the nigiri was well prepared with quality fish and the roll was equally as good. Excited to so see how David Utterback and team can elevate the experience further!

    Front entrance
    Justin W.

    Good standard sushi fare that is well prepared and quickly served! Wait staff were incredibly attentive. Atmosphere was inviting but more traditional than the fancy exterior would indicate.

    Sushi
    Lauren J.

    Sakura Bana is at the top of my list for Sushi in Omaha. What you get here is authentic, unique and delicious rolls and dishes that you won't be able to find at other sushi areas around. They have unique flavors, like the Volcano Roll, and some more classic rolls like the Mango Roll. Whether you like sashimi or teriyaki chicken or a good California Roll you will be able to find something here. We got our food relatively quickly but the ambiance was simple, easy, and authentic to what we were going to eat. It wasn't anything flashy - it was just what we needed. All of the servers we interacted with were kind and helpful in picking our food and getting us what we needed. Give this one a try!

    Lunch combo C
    Carolyn P.

    Picture is of Lunch combo C. Teriyaki fish and sushi I'm not sure how I have never reviewed this before? I have only been here a handful of times. Only because it is out of my regular bubble. The food ia great. The service is always good. Quick kitchen times work well for a lunch visit. They are closed from 2-5 between lunch and dinner service. Well worth the stop. Way better than anything else in this plaza. :)

    Super Sushi Special
    Chelsea Y.

    Sakura Bana is my to go restaurant for authentic Japanese food and sushi in Omaha. The super sushi special is one of my favorite dishes to get as well ask the chriashi don or sukiyaki. They have a great variety of sushi. The service is very good & all the workers are so friendly.

    We were very impressed with not only the quality of the food, but the quantity in the Bento box was generous. Our server forgot a few things but she was in fact busy. Same interior as years gone by so no need to change anything as long as the product is good. Definitely going back.

    New menus. Sushi menu has a sashimi/nigiri page on the front as well.
    Jake T.

    I never thought the day would come where I'd leave a negative review about Sakura Bana, but time makes fools of us all. They are apparently under new management and have made substantial changes that will keep me from returning. The aesthetic changes to the restaurant I can live with. Most of the classic photos and decor are gone. The lighting is now dim with individual pendant lights above most tables. A new coat of paint on the walls. All a bit bland but not really a deal breaker. The classic Sakura Bana menu, however, has been butchered. This was the only place in town serving a sizable compliment of authentic Japanese dishes and now they're gone, whittled down to basic noodle and rice dishes with higher price tags slapped on. The sushi menu seems to be about half of what it once was. There's a handful of old favorites left but most are now memories. We ordered some basic sushi and a tempura plate because you don't get soup or salad with a sushi order anymore apparently. The tempura platter was fine, a bit small for the price. The sushi though, was soul crushing. After eating here for more than 15 years, such a marked drop in quality was jarring. We got salmon, tuna, and yellowtail and none tasted fresh. The yellowtail frankly didn't taste much of anything. The nori on the outside of the maki was rubbery, a sign of old stock. The tempura shrimp in my roll was barely room temp and stringy. Somehow, even the wasabi paste was bland. The days of a cozy neighborhood sushi joint seem to be gone. Dishes prepared by hands proud to serve them have gone as well. The focus on freshness, on flavor pairings, on quality, gone. I saw a few familiar faces among the staff tonight and they alone earned the second star on this review. They seem to know the changes are unpopular and I can only wish them the best as the faces of their regular customers become scarcer. I hope the management rolls back some of the changes before it's too late. Or they might just remove the Sakura Bana name so people don't come expecting the same quality. Sakura Bana was my favorite restaurant and my first sushi place. I first walked in 15 years ago and tonight I think I walked out for the last time.

    Menu 2
    David R.

    Sakura Bana is an authentic Japanese restaurant. The miso soup has plenty of Dashi, miso, and other ingredients to be flavorful to the last drop. Like the gyoza, but thought the dipping sauce was a tad sour. The katsu don tasted just like I remember in Japan! Delicious!! I will be back here!

    Hand written happy hour menu!  It means change at regular intervals!
    Dave B.

    This, thus far, my favorite Japanese restaurant in Omaha. I very much enjoy the sushi bar. They've a good sell toon of fish, always have specials, and the menu is diverse and tasty. The environment is proper for a sushi place, warm and inviting. The staff are always friendly and the service is great! Been here twice already. It's guaranteed I'll be back.

    Seafood Yakisoba
    Bill M.

    Food: 3 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 3 Value: 3 Sakura Bana has a long and rich pedigree. It is the successor of Omaha's first sushi restaurant, which once existed at 84th and Dodge. Way back when it was always packed with customers, and there was frequently a wait for a table. That was then. This is now. The present location is a bit hard to locate, despite being on Omaha's busiest street. It is tucked into a corner of a small strip mall, next to a stereo store. The interior is fairly nondescript, with the dining room festooned with TV monitors, mercifully muted. The actual sushi bar is small, and difficult to even see from the dining room. The menu is large, as is typical of most Japanese restaurants. Of course there is sushi, but it's also easy to order dozens of non sushi or sashimi dishes. In fact, 5 of the 6 in our dinner party did not order sushi. Our group sampled a variety of different dishes. Everyone liked their meals, but no one was particularly impressed. "It's fine" was the general consensus. Several basic menu items were unavailable for whatever reason on the night of our visit, which complicated ordering. Our server did her best, but forgot to deliver my salad until after my meal was served. I would have brought it to her attention but she completely disappeared for almost 10 minutes. On the plus side, water glasses and tea cups were quickly replenished without needing to request refills. Prices are certainly fair. Parking is available in the adjacent parking lot.

    Special Box Aa

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    This restaurant seems to be permanently Closed. Could detect No activity inside. Flyers and leaflets are accumulating inside the foyer.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Sakura Bana

    What time are their happy hours and where can I find their happy hour menu?

    5-7. Menu is hand-written, and could change. All rolls.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Koji

    Koji

    4.6(143 reviews)
    1.2 miWest Omaha

    Koji is a top notch restaurant....do I dare say even the best overall in Omaha? Once you have a…read moremeal here, you won't be able to stop thinking about it. The Fukui cocktail (cucumber vodka flavors) is a great pairing with the menu items. One thing I really enjoy about this restaurant is that you order as you go, so you never leave hungry and it's a safe bet that you won't over order. The wait staff will frequently check in on you and see if you need to order more. The Bunzai Buns (runza inspired) and Gyoza are my favorite options outside of the sushi. The Gyoza are fresh, chewy, and are paired with a very flavorful sauce. Our favorite Nigiri is the Sea Bream And you truly can't go wrong with any of the rolls. Don't forget to end your meal with the cereal milk ice cream! Reservations are highly recommended as time slots will fill up fast. The atmosphere is well thought through - I enjoy how it is fairly dark in there, but the lights are shining so they are focused on the food. Can't recommend this restaurant enough!

    The sushi, service, drinks and atmosphere were great. We started with the bunzai buns, which was…read moretheir take on a runza. They were small but good. The edamame was standard. We also got the Hama toast and hotate, very fresh. For maki rolls we got the go-San, stinger and royale. None stuck out more than the other. Our server was very kind and knowledgeable and offered a great amount of suggestions while navigating the menu. The restaurant is small and cozy with very cool woodwork throughout. I got the cocktail that was similar to a Paloma, very delicious.

    Photos
    Koji - The interior wall of koji as you enter

    The interior wall of koji as you enter

    Koji - Tsukune yakitori

    Tsukune yakitori

    Koji - Rare skewer item of the day: chicken inner thigh wrapped in peppers

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    Rare skewer item of the day: chicken inner thigh wrapped in peppers

    Sakai Sushi Train and Grill - Pork Ramen

    Sakai Sushi Train and Grill

    3.8(28 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    My daughter and I came in for lunch and decided to try several things on the train. It was a fun…read moreexperience and definitely worth trying once, but things that are supposed to be hot weren't hot (no way to tell how long a plate has been traveling around), and most of the rolls we tried were just okay. You don't have to order off the train and they have a good sized menu. Unfortunately, as I said, what I did try off of the train was just okay, and I wouldn't rush to come back in.

    A Saturday night out with a friend led us to Sakai Sushi Train & Grill, and in true Midwestern…read morefashion, we just beat the dinner rush. We walked in at 5:15 PM, sat down, and the place was packed within minutes. Not an empty seat in sight--good timing on our part! Our server greeted us quickly, and after a quick look at the drink menu, we went all in with water, Coke Zero (YES, a Coke Zero establishment!), and a cocktail--the amusingly named Sex in Okinawa. No regrets. As the sushi train made its rounds, we grabbed a crab rangoon. It was tasty but had cooled off from its little journey, so we opted for a fresh batch from the kitchen. The spring rolls? Crispy, hot, and on point. I did have to ask for sriracha a few times (our server kept forgetting), but to be fair, they were busy, so I didn't hold it against them. One thing we noticed was that some of the sushi rolls lacked descriptions. A tiny sign with ingredients would be helpful. I am a sushi newbie, and I wasn't about to roll the dice on a Volcano Roll without knowing what was inside. For what I did try: California rolls - classic and exactly what you'd expect. Sexy jalapeño - surprisingly good! (If there was fish in there, I didn't notice.) Tempura sweet potato roll - crispy, slightly sweet, and a winner. Pro tip: They offer a veteran/military discount, but double-check your receipt--ours wasn't applied at first, but they fixed it without issue. Final bill: about $68, and let's be honest, a good chunk of that was drinks. Not bad for a fun dinner out! Would I go back? Absolutely. There's plenty more to try, and the atmosphere makes for a great night with friends. Final Verdict: Worth the ride!

    Photos
    Sakai Sushi Train and Grill
    Sakai Sushi Train and Grill - Rock shrimp tempura& chicken Katu comes with tempura.sushi. Rice. Soup. Salad.

    Rock shrimp tempura& chicken Katu comes with tempura.sushi. Rice. Soup. Salad.

    Sakai Sushi Train and Grill - Delicious cocktails

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    Delicious cocktails

    Ota - Sekisaba

    Ota

    5.0(3 reviews)
    2.1 miBenson

    This is our absolutely favorite food experience in Omaha. We have done both the main counter and…read morethe Kanji counter and each time the experience was phenomenal. If you're feeling indulgent, splurge on the sake pairing as well to truly round out the experience. Service is always excellent and the hidden door entrance starts the night off right, letting you know from the start you are in for a treat. The food differs every time, but the foie gras rice starts it off every time and sets the stage for what's to come.

    If you heard about a sushi omakase place in the middle of America, what would you think? I bet…read moreit's probably not fresh-tasting raw dishes or wow-level sushi omakase. But there is a James Beard-level recognized chef here, in Omaha, that is delivering fresh-tasting raw and other omakase dishes week after week - geography be damned. His name is David Utterback. It's incredibly difficult to get reservations at this eight-seat omakase called Ota. Moreso than any omakase in my hometown on an island in the middle of the Pacific. In fact, I dont think he needs this review - the best don't need to advertise. I also don't think we have a sushi chef here in Hawaii that is as nationally-acclaimed as Utterback. So we were very interested to try. And we were very lucky to get reservations. I dont think there is a parking lot for this restaurant, which is tucked within his also highly-regarded Yoshitomo restaurant. So if you from Hawaii like me, and get lucky with the reservations, gotta roll da dice on parallel street parking. That's code for come early ;) (parking is free in the area) W-h-e-n you do arrive at Yoshitomo, there is a small - hidden - waiting area within Yoshitomo where you will be asked to wait for the omakase to begin. The dark photo with the lantern and Ota sign is in that waiting room. - And frankly - That's all that needs to be shown in a photo cause the omakase course itself varies depending on chef's tastes and what's available that week. The courses we had will likely not be the entirety of the courses you have. But the rice might be the same. There is a special black vinegar that chef uses to add to the rice. Ask him about it. There is a whole story behind it ;) So my photos are small in number. They are the highlights of our experience and what stood out to me that is beyond anything I've tried in Hawaii or elsewhere (including the black-vinegar sushi rice) Enjoy - cause we most certainly did :)

    Photos
    Ota - The lantern and sign in the small, hidden waiting room. A door that leads to the omakase counter is next to the sign.  Very cool touch.

    The lantern and sign in the small, hidden waiting room. A door that leads to the omakase counter is next to the sign. Very cool touch.

    Ota
    Ota - Ika with toppings that included fingerlime - always a fan of Ika that melts in the mouth and isn't chewy.

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    Ika with toppings that included fingerlime - always a fan of Ika that melts in the mouth and isn't chewy.

    Sakura Bana - japanese - Updated May 2026

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