Samurai Sam’s Teriyaki Grill

The newly named Toshi’s is the worst food I’ve had in my life. Not only bad «Asian» but bad FOOD. Sure, the previous incarnation of Samuri Sam’s wasn’t fantastic, but I adored the spicy teriyaki sauce and would crave that shit fortnightly! When I saw the name change recently, I thought I’d give it a try. Ya can’t really screw up Asian, right? Oh-​Em-​Gee –was I wrong. So so so painfully wrong. I will never ever ever return.
BTW, I wanted to give no stars, but I’m forced otherwise … they owe ME a star or two for even giving them $ 8.

If you work in the area and want a quick rice-​bowl lunch, this place will do the trick. But it’s a cafeteria-​like «choose your next selection» menu where you choose your meat type your sauce and your vegetable (unless you’re taking a real risk by getting the sushi — but why would you do that?), so don’t expect rainbows and unicorns. Beats Lean Cuisine heated in the microwave — but not by much; the flavors the same, but someone else is doing the reheating for you.

Here’s my two word review: Shit Sandwich.

I walked across the street thinking I’d get some great inexpensive order at the counter asian fusion but I was wrong. With a name like Samurai Sam’s you’d think there’d be something fun about their concept but it’s just bland, frozen, tastless food that you’d sooner find in the 99 cent store.
«Oh, Sam with your permission I’d like to take my own life now.»

When this joint opened right across the street from the building in which I work I was all «Hell yes.» Now that I’ve been there like a million times I’m like «Hell NO.» What went wrong? Let’s piece it together. Firstly, your bowls SUCK, you bastards. Their ingredients are sucky at best. Secondly, the sushi isn’t good by any means (it’s actually not bad) — but it’s way overpriced and they always run out of it too early. Thirdedly, the décor is inoffensive but bland and it’s always so hot in there. The peeps who work there are pretty cool though. One girl has worked at literally every restaurant in the litlle block. That’s either awesome or horrifying. She’s cool though. But seriously, I’m gonna continue eating Baja Fresh 45 times a week instead of keeping up the false hopes I have about SS. «Maybe it’ll be better this time…» You’re just making it worse, Lewis. PS – most generic name ever. I keep unintentionally calling it Safari Sam’s. No samurai would ever degrade his stomach by eating here.

This place serves «asian fusion» in the same way that AM/​PM serves «gourmet». I’m pretty sure the noodles they use are just spaghetti pasta noodles.
Samurai Sam’s needs to close for a month and revamp their offerings. Put the grill at the end of the line instead of the start. Cook the food from the line all together like they do at those Mongolian BBQ places in the mall — MAYBE if they used some sort of seasoning in the chicken, and fried the noodles in some sort of sauce, it would be ok.
This just goes to show that the Subway /​Chipotle service-​line style doesn’t work everywhere.

Dear Jesus.
Who the hell shat this out of their anus? Samurai Sams is fucking DISGUSTING.
When asked whether they had dumplings, they replied «Sorry, we didn’t receive the shipment yet.»
Shipment? Are you kidding me?
Its fucking reheated disgusting nasty shit. Seriously, do yourself a favor, save the post lunch belly ache and just hit the KooKooRoo next door instead.
There are so many delicious cheap places in LA, and a place this nasty is inexcusable. They are clearly capitalizing off of the nearby office buildings where workers are forced to choose between nasty, nastier, and nasiest.
Even if I were a refugee, with flies buzzing around my head and a big inflated belly, I would still refuse Samurai Sams. THATS HOW FUCKING SICK IT IS.
Avoid.

When Samurai Sams opened I was so excited since I work across the street. There is not a great variety for us who do not want to drive for lunch so we have a few options, albeit a good variety, within walking distance.
Samurai Sams could have done a much better job. I wish I could give this 2.5 stars, but I rounded it up to 3. The rice tastes like they attempted to flavor it and failed. They do not have a good vegetable selection and I think it is overpriced for what it is.
My co-​worker recently had the sushi and said it was nothing to scream about, especially at $ 10-​$ 15 a roll. Who pays $ 10 for a California roll, especially since it’s not real sushi.
Anyway, I keep eating there and I am not sure why because everytime I go I am grossly disappointed. I am probably so tired of the other options that I settle on Samurai Sams.

just like everyone else who works in the area, i anticipated the opening of Samurai Sams.
unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. the supposed «steak» was really dry and chewy. but i did like how they let u choose brown rice or white rice. the FIRECRACKER sauce is pretty good if u ask me. if you like spicy, the firecracker sauce is the winner! haha
havent tried the sushi yet. ill get back to Unilocal on that one.
3 stars because im optimistic (about their sushi) and also because the Firecracker sauce is OH SO BOMB! :)
**update**
tried their rolls… shrimp tempura to be exact. its good but not good enough for another star!
way too expensive. about 10 bucks a roll!

I hope to wake up one day and find that this place has turned into FAMIMA. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

Why can’t we give 0 stars? This place would definitely deserve that.
I will say I was very excited to see a new place popping up. Each day we’d walk by to see when they were opening. This is a big thing for workers in the area.
Well it opened… and that’s about all I have to say. You can have better food eating a frozen lean cuisine than dining here.
Let’s start with the rice… over cooked and no flavor… even for the «not fried» rice. Mixed veggies… that’s a joke. Carrots, broccoli and snap peas tasted like they were once FROZEN and definitely over cooked. As far a picking your «protein», they do not have a vegetarian option. Then you pick your sauce… they don’t carry 2 of the sauces that I wanted. Lame. You just opened up and you don’t even have everything you advertised.
This is one place I will not be going back to for lunch.

A little variety for the local crowd is a welcome addition to the usual suspects, however, Sam dropped the ball.
First, anytime an Asian place tries to satisfy too many palates by «fusing» them all together while using the same basic ingredients usually fails. Sam failed as well. When I walked in, I only wondered where the Korean BBQ option was on the menu because that is what the place smells like. Give it another month and it could be disconcerting.
I can forgive the assembly line service as they work out the kinks, but the food was truly average. The «Japanese» sushi in the front cooler looks appetizing, but I worried about the quality. I think I will stick with the Ralph’s up the street for take out sushi.
My lunch was simply a rice bowl with some veggies and meat (chicken for me) splashed with manufactured sauce (mine was a bit sweet). Nothing more, nothing less. As my friend and I sat and had lunch we wondered, what is better, Panda Express or this place? We concluded Sam’s is less greasy then Panda, so Sam’s would probably get the nod. However, the close call gives you a feel for the overall experience.
This neighborhood does need a little variety and Sam’s provides that, however, it is just not up to par.