When we come every few months to Cleveland to go to the Clinic, this is a must visit. We absolutely love this place. The food is amazing and so close to what we ate in Japan when we went two years ago. You also always get amazing service and everyone is super friendly. It's also really cute in there. Here is the food we have tried and enjoyed. Gyoza was all kinds of crispy deliciousness. We also enjoyed the Kobe meatballs. For dinner, we enjoyed the crispy and tasty chicken katsu. Love the sauce that comes with it. The shrimp with udon noodles was so flavorful and there is a good breading on the shrimp. This will sound weird in a Japanese restaurant but the star was the French fries. They are crispy and have an amazing flavorful. No fry will ever compare. Ah-mazing!! If you love Asian food, do yourself a favor and eat here. It's one of the best restaurants in Cleveland by far. read more

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Sasa at Shaker Square absolutely nailed it. Super friendly, kind service -- our waitress was at the table in about 3 minutes, and drinks + water came out within 5. Love that kind of efficiency. She helped us choose specialty rolls and every pick was on point. Lobster roll was excellent with great presentation. The salmon roll was a standout: spicy salmon inside, torched salmon on top, finished with a dill sauce that gave it almost a Scandinavian vibe -- really unique and delicious. Beautiful decor, not overly bright, which made the whole place feel comfortable and relaxed. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Definitely coming back. read more

We shared some dishes and they all were delicious. Lobster roll, meatballs and brisket sliders were all delicious. Quality food and comfortable service. I would definitely go back and bring a group. read more

I spend a lot of time in Cleveland and I have yet to find a Sushi spot I just loved, that Changed today, our meal at SASA was amazing! First obviously our Waitress was phenomenal, she took great care of us, The fish tasted very fresh and of good quality and everything was prepared with care, all the nigiri and rolls were phenomenal, and the uni was so buttery and delicious. I will now be visiting SASA every time I am in Cleveland! read more

SASA - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Shrimp shumai was tasty, the standout here are for sure the fries which are amazing. Everything else I've had in previous visits is fine to good, nothing that really stand out as amazing for the prices. Small restaurant, can get loud but not a horrible vibe Service is always fantastic read more

Food is fantastic. The short ribs are perfectly prepared, the calamari is just the right amount of crispy, and the shrimp shumai is delicious. The gyoza, ramen, and bok choy are all great as well. The staff are very friendly, and our food came out very quick (although we came on a wednesday, so it may be slower on busier nights). The whole place has a very nice vibe. Classy, but not overly so and the lighting and music are very pleasant. read more

SASA - Crispy Fried Calamari - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Japanese/sushi restaurant. You can see that the food is fresh, with some minor hiccups. We ordered few different things (3 rolls of large sushi's, few appetizers, one main course). Essentially everything was good. The hiccups were that one of the sushi's was very fishy and the Sasa fries were a bit oversalted. Tuna steak was good, but just not my style so hard to judge it. read more

SASA - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Came here for NYE dinner on a whim. This place wasn't on my radar previously, and that's a shame because this place was excellent! I love sushi but not all the places that I have tried sushi. But this place was soo good. The Sasa fries that are thick cut extra crispy with tangy sauce was a hit. The fish was fresh! Menu was varied and sure to excite all sushi lovers. They have some meat options as well. The service was a little slow, but likely due to NYE. The ambiance was cozy and endearing. Can't wait to come back to try more in a more casual setting. read more

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They serve Otoro and Chutoro sashimi, and fresh. Automatic 5 stars. If you're a sushi aficionado, this is all you need to know. These cuts of "Toro" represent fattier parts of the Tuna, and an indicator that the place is legit. There are only two other Japanese restaurants that have it: Goma in East 4th and Issho Ni Ramen Sushi in Willoughby. These are about as uncommon as palm trees. My next quest is to find real wasabi made from wasabi root (and not the imitation wasabi made from radish that is ubiquitous). read more

We had a wonderful dinner for eight. The atmosphere is exquisite and the food was fine. Everyone raved. The service was gracious and efficient. Not that happy with our hotel, but SASA made up for it. Finest dinner of the journey! read more

Came here for a casual date night and had a great time! Prices are high and portions are small but on par with Gingko and Goma yet slightly less pretentious. Loved the quiet, red-toned, romantic ambiance. Lighting was dim and decor was minimalistic. There's not much of an entrance and I had to look hard for the front door but once inside, it was welcoming. It's right next to Atlas movie theatres on Shaker Square so parking is wonky. But on a nicer day, the walk is nice. I was able to order off menu for one piece nigiri uni! Every sushi place I've been last year in Cleveland seemed to be out of sea urchin so what were the chances that a place that doesn't list this on their menu would have it and be so fresh? It did set me back $9 but it was fresh and buttery and perfect! They also have red chili oil and did not charge extra for it. We also ordered the chicken skewers and kobe beef meatballs. Taste was great and presentation was simple but pretty. read more

SASA - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

The best shrimp shumai. Also the best sashimi in town. Also the freshest tuna and scallops.

The Best Sushi! The Best Atmosphere! The Best Service our favorite dining establishment! If you want to go out and enjoy every aspect of a great meal, celebration or just sitting at the Sushi Bar and having a conversation with the Morgan, Kelly, Brenda, Sydney, Scott and all of the special staff , you will never regret going to Sasa! read more

A friend and I had a terrific meal at SASA tonight. We started with the delicious SASA fries, nice and crispy with a dash of seaweed and two tangy sauces. Next was delicious shrimp shumai. We added shrimp pad Thai, which was steaming and tasty . We added a special roll with crab on the outside and temporary shrimp on the inside. Service was swift and friendly. The indoor was spacious and clean. We had a great time. read more

SASA is one of my professor's favorite sushi places in Cleveland, and I can see why. I came here for a little birthday dinner with friends, and we made a reservation for a party of seven at 6:30PM. We were all able to be seated promptly which was nice, and the waiter was attentive and asked us our drink orders. Some of us had the cocktails such as the lychee one, which were absolutely delicious. We decided to collectively share a variety of dishes. - toro roll: i'm a huge fan of toro, and I find getting the rolls to be much more economical than the nigiri. This was delicious, highly recommend, 10 out of 10 - Fire island: This was quite delicious. I liked the spicy tuna on top. I overall personally find California rolls kind of underwhelming, so while this was good, would be wary of recommending it to those who prefer more raw fish. - Fuji volcano: this was also a delicious combination. You can't go wrong with shrimp tempura, and if you're a fan of Unagi, this role will be great for you. The texture of the tempura was great and crunchy. - Fresh salmon donburi: This was incredible. All of the fish were very tender and fresh, and it really felt like it was a good bang for your buck - Chicken katsu donburi: definitely a solid bit of chicken Katsu, however, I wish the dish overall were hotter. I felt like that chicken wasn't as hot and crispy as I would've liked. - Sasa fries: I saw that these were highly recommended on yelp, and I love fries, and these definitely did not disappoint. I never thought that the combination of seaweed and french fries would be so delicious. While we put in our order prior to 7 PM, by 8 PM we still have not received our food and we were all quite hungry. The waitress did come over to apologize for the delay and gave us a complementary bowl of edamame. We were so hungry that I forgot to take a picture of the sushi, but it was delicious. While I was definitely disappointed by how long it took for the food to come out, when we finally did receive our food, it was very delicious. I would definitely come back, but would hope that the kitchen would be faster next time. read more

SASA - chicken katsu donburi, fresh salmon donburi, edamame - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

I came here with a friend after going to the movies (which are pretty much next door, so convenient) and let me tell you, great choice. The interior is very modern and our server was super helpful. It was definitely a chilly day so we both started out with miso ($3) that did a great job at warming us up. I opted for the Fuji Volcano ($18). Shrimp tempura and unagi? Completely here for it. The seafood tasted fresh and it wasn't overly spicy despite the sauce. My friend got the Tako Nigiri ($3) and the Salmon Sashimi ($7) and she really enjoyed both. Overall I enjoyed this place. I will say that their specialty rolls hedge on the pricier side so that may be something to take into account. It's a bit of a drive for me but if I'm in the area it's definitely a great place to stop. read more

SASA - Fuji Volcano Roll - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Thank you SASA sushi. I mistakenly ordered from another state and you were kind enough to give me a refund. I appreciate your kindness and d customer service read more

Tried Sasa for the first time, tucked away in Shaker Square. Plenty of bar seating and a lovely outdoor patio. The food however fell short. The Sasa fries were under seasoned. The Sasa rock was a disappointment too. Server neglected to mention that it comes with a hot stone where you need to cook your own meat. Server must have been new. We had to ask repeatedly for a second hot stone. Wasted half the raw steak since we were unable to fully cook it.... Tasted like boiled meat :( The Sasa Fire roll was delicious although. The only good thing we ate. We left unsatisfied and won't be returning soon. read more

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I really like this place...the people, place and things!!! Welcomed by Eunice, the vibrant and personable bartender who can describe any item on the menu as if she created each and every one. She has passion and delivers it in word so you know exactly what you are ordering and how it will be presented! Brenda, is the modest and down to earth owner who obviously enjoys what she is doing. She offers creative and authentic cuisine with class and flair! Her Chefs are talented and use the freshest ingredients from local markets and present dishes of art. From the Beef Clay Pot which has tender little beef bites with a steamy hot broth (more like a stew) to the perfectly crunchy Beef Potstickers with delicate strips of cabbage. I think it will be difficult to find negative comments here. Have you ever tried Japanese Yams in a dessert? A little darker and a little sweeter, they pureed this and wrapped it in a galette with candied pecans and cinnamon sugar. Topped with fresh vanilla bean ice cream just dripping from the heat below, I just wanted to know why, oh why, I could not have another one. Who cares about the calories? So sad, this was the very last one made to order as it is a seasonal delight. read more

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SASA is a great spot for sushi in Shaker, and I'm really glad I discovered this place! Even though SASA may be on the more expensive side, you can definitely taste the quality here. They have an extensive menu with appetizers, noodles & rice bowls, specialty rolls, and sushi you can order a la carte. They also have $6 happy hour specials Tuesday thru Saturday if you sit at the bar, in addition to daily specials such as half off sake on Tuesdays and half off wine on Thursdays. I've personally never ordered their sake or wine but they also have a pretty solid cocktail list here that I've tried 1 or 2 drinks from. The ambiance of this place is kind of more upscale - great for a date night or if you're just looking for a nicer place for dinner! The servers I've encountered here have been warm, welcoming, and great at making suggestions. Overall, I highly recommend checking this place out if you're craving sushi or just looking for a nice spot for dinner - I'm sure I'll be back again in the near future! read more

SASA - Fresh salmon donburi! - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Due to covid, we have not eaten out in a long time. However, after calling and seeing what their steps to ensure a safe environment were, we decided to take the chance and we are so happy we did. From the moment we walked in, we felt safe in this location. All the staff were wearing masks and shields and we watched as the deeply santifized every area a person had touched. Now that we felt safe, we could relax and enjoy our dinner and that we did! We got three different rolls, with the best being Fire Island. We started with edamame that was super fresh and finished the night with a mouth watering chocolate cake. From the staff to the food, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We will definitely be back! read more

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Unique specialty rolls. I usually don't like a warm/fried sushi roll but was Pleasantly surprised with the Spicy dynamite roll. Jacob was our waiter, exceptional service. read more

SASA - Spicy dynamite roll - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

We went here for Valentines Day dinner. The food and the service was excellent. My only complaint was that the tables were a little too close together making it feel a little overpacked. read more

SASA - Tekka Tuna - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

If you want an authentic sushi place, I wouldn't recommend this place. It's expensive for what you are paying for. There was a few interesting dishes like the French fries. I couldn't tell the French fries were made out of potatoes because of their unique seasoning. However, the sushi rolls did not blow me away like a simple french fries dish. They missed the mark on taste. Furthermore, their beef brisket sliders were so-so as well. The marinating didn't stand out. The fried oysters tasted weird to me. I didn't particularly like the breading. Nevertheless, they did have interesting cocktails selection read more

SASA - Dumplings - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Delicious sushi as always. We took our Japanese friend with us and she approved. She said the scallop with yuzu roe hit the spot... "it was everything I wished it would be". My salmon nigiri special of the day melted in my mouth. It was delightful. We savored the snow mountain and the tiger roThe poached pear is our go to dessert. read more

More of a place to eat in person due to the expensive nature of the food- the price likely accounts for the swanky ambiance of the restaurant as it was certainly not in line with the food. For $36ish I got two skewers (four total chunks) of pork belly which had a nice sweet soy glaze but weren't particularly melt in your mouth like they should've been at over 2 bucks per small chunk. The $11 spicy orange margarita like cocktail was just the liquid in a small cuplet and when I got home and added ice I took a small sip and it immediately burned my tongue and lips into oblivion. I mean one small sip set my mouth ablaze. There wasn't an enjoyable spice but instead pure hellish heat. I poured it out and there was a nice layer of pepper seeds lining the bottom! Yikes. The fried calamari was very tasty although also expensive. It wasn't soggy and was all rings with some fried shishito I believe intermixed which wasn't too spicy. read more

Came here for the first time last week, and really enjoyed it. At our table, the miso soup & seaweed salad were popular items. I enjoyed the gyoza and the tempera shrimp with noodles. We all split a sushi roll and got our own desserts (the creme brulee and the brownie were more successful than the chocolate cake). Their cocktail menu included twists on classics (I had the lychee cosmo) and they had an extensive sake list. A good place to keep in mind for Japanese on the east side! read more

Good fish!! Quality tasting sushi, good drink menu and nice specialties. Nice service, small spot

Great sushi option for the Shaker / Cleveland Heights area. Everything was packages well, fresh, delicious and made with my specifications. Plus, my husband was able to get a beer to go! We will definitely be ordering again- this was one of our go-to spots before Covid and when I crave sushi, I know it's available! read more

I love Japanese food and this place hit the spot! The service was incredibly fast, they were very attentive to my food sensitivities and they were all friendly. Our waitress, Zara, was fantastic! Some of the best sushi I think I've ever had and everything tasted delicious. The place had a cozy atmosphere without feeling too cramped or too loud. This goes on my list of favorite places in the area! read more

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Good to pretty good food, however I feel like nearly everything is really overpriced given the portion sizes. $23 for a sushi roll which was quite small when I can get a larger and frankly better roll at my local joint for considerably less $$.. Pear cocktail was good, but again expensive considering it was pretty weak. I'd go back because we did like most of he items we got, but we'd stick to the tapas style and skip the rolls next time. read more

This is my first time here! I think its great. We came after a movie and I am very pleasantly surprised. I do not normally come to Shaker square. I'm not that familiar with the area. Sasa is an Asian fission type of place. There is a large selection of sushi, salads, and Asian inspired cuisine. There were such things as tofu sliders, daikon vegetable wraps, and flaming meat that is cooked by a hot stone. I can say that one of my favorite items tonight were the Sasa fries. They were served in a fried rice paper bowl sprinkled with seaweed. They were lightly battered and fried. Absolutely exceptional. Another surprise was the desert selection. While Sasa offered traditional deserts, they also had poached pears and homemade ice cream. Finally, the service was also exceptional. Our server was very attentive and answered all of our questions about the menu. I absolutely recommend Sasa. They have a great combination of sushi and Asian Flair. read more

SASA - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

So amazing. We went for NYE and had an amazing meal. The SASA fries are so good and we had so much sushi. The service ( always!) is fantastic and we left perfectly full. Get the ice cream- they make it there and it's simply the best . Highly recommend. read more

Had a great happy hour here with friends on Monday! Loved being able to sit at the tables with our group of four. The shrimp shumai is delicious! The plum pork ribs were also great! The Kobe beef gyoza was good--not noticeably better than normal dumplings though. The edamame hummus was pretty good, great texture. The chicken clay hot pot was surprisingly French-inspired with a red wine sauce. A bit hard to share, but it had really nice deep flavors. The SASA fries have two types of nori and two amazing sauces to boot! Great recommendation for a sharing app from our waitress! The service was quick and friendly, and we had a great time! Definitely a perfect start to a dinner / movie combo at the Shaker Square theater next door! read more

SASA - Happy hour menu Monday specials - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Tonight is our fifth visit to SASA in the last three years. It started out great. Tonight: Drinks were tasty but pricey - $15 each. Restaurant was very cold and drafty and the door kept loudly banging shut. Food was mediocre to good but rolls were small for the price (average of $19). Service was slow. Fifteen minutes after being seated a server came over. Order in at 6:45; ordered three specialty rolls and last one was served at 8:31 pm. Drink refills were slow. The restroom was dirty. The one-seater ladies room had a stall with a non-functioning hinge. There were no towels and the cheap sink-top hand dryer was broken. Looks like this visit, for the price, will be our last. Update: the morning after our dinner we realized our credit card was missing. We called the restaurant which was not open. Called back later in the day and asked to speak to the manager, explaining that we may not have gotten our card back. The host went to get the manager and returned to the phone stating she was too busy to take our call. We left a name and number and NEVER received a courtesy call back. Needless to say we cancelled the card and will NEVER return to SASA, nor will we recommend it. read more

Sasa has to to one of my favorite restaurants here in the city. First, the atmosphere is exceptional and the whole place reminds me and my family of a really great New York City bar. If you are a fan of sushi, this is the place to go. For me, the salmon, Ika squid, and the Ebi shrimp are the best things on the menu. The portions are great and if you add in a specialty sushi roll--Scandinavian roll and White Spider Web--are the favorites in our family, you have the perfect meal that is brimming with flavor and exploding with umami. As for the service, it is impeccable and each server I have ever had is spot on with the menu and making sure you are taken care of in the most professional manner. Additionally, the prices are not too pricey for such an exceptional meal. If you like sushi and love an uptown atmosphere, this is the place to eat. read more

SASA - Fire Roll - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

My husband and I both had to work night shift last Christmas and we wanted to celebrate a little together before going into work. SASA was open and it was a restaurant we've wanted to try for some time. SASA is surprisingly contemporary with almost house like music so be warned it is not your romantic date night hot spot (but definitely yes to birthday dinners and social gatherings and I guess romantic date nights if you're just that trendy). The wall art is beautiful and something to enjoy. We ordered a myriad of appetizers and rolls which were all quite interesting and they all tasted good but maybe there was a little too much going on with each roll; too many ingredients to really enjoy any individual taste. But what a spectacle when the server came out and set our sushi on fire! Surrounding tables looked on while our sushi dish was cooked at tableside. It was a fun addition to dinner. read more

SASA - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Small, decent place for an intimate dinner. Sushi is tasty (we got the SASA fire roll, the torched island, the fire island) and the drinks make you want to keep ordering more (get the lychee and the pear drink). Good food, good service, solid place to keep coming back to. read more

I have been eating at Sasa for years every time I visit Cleveland. I am surprised I have not written a review. My favorites at this place is the fries and the Rock. The fries are crispy and comes with two sauces to choose from. It is served on an lightly fried edible wonton wrap. The Rock is an appetizer of marinated beef that comes raw that you will cook yourself on a rock. It cooks quick and when you bite into the beef it is tender and flavorful. The meat is delicious and melts in your mouth. Some of the items on the menu are a hit or miss and I have tried a lot of items on the menu. I am not a fan of the pork belly flatbread. I like pork belly but Sasa's pork belly is too salty for me. My brother tried the ramen and he wasn't a fan of that menu item either. My mom had the beef sliders in the past which she seemed to like. On this visit, we all had the speciality rolls which were eight big pieces and all of the rolls were pretty good. I liked my tuna confit roll and fire island roll. The fire island roll had a nice spicy kick go it and filled me up. I also tried the sake flight. It's a good way to try the different sake. I now know I like the drier sakes than the sweet ones. The reason why I gave Sasa four stars instead of five is the service. The service is pretty good in the beginning but at the end of the night my water needed refreshing and the waitress took awhile to come back. read more

SASA - Sake flight - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

First time dining here, and my only regret is not having been here sooner! This is a really trendy Japanese restaurant right next to the Shaker Square Cinema, which makes it a convenient location for a pre/post-movie dinner. You can make reservations through Opentable on their website, and parking is free if you park in the lot behind the Theatre and Daves Market. I went here with a friend for a pre-movie dinner, and for drinks, we ordered the Traditional Sake tasting ($10 - great deal!) of 5 different cold Sake, ranging from very dry to very sweet. I'm no Sake expert, but it was a neat experience to sample out their selection of Sake. We also ordered the Tofu sliders and the Beef Brisket ramen. Both dishes were excellent and delicious! The creamy ramen broth was savory and spicy, and the noodles tasted very fresh. I wish it did have more slices of beef, especially since it is a bit pricy of a bowl ($14). However I still highly recommend trying out this ramen because it is so flavorful and filling. Also the service was friendly and professional. Our waitress was very knowledgable of the menu and accommodating for food substitutions. They have so many dishes on their menu, so we look forward to returning here to try out more items, especially the sushi rolls! read more

SASA - Beef brisket ramen. - Japanese Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio