Sushi Paradiso

It’s been awhile since my last review and many things have changed. They no longer offer the 3-​item combo, but only a 2-​item combo. When this place first changed to a 2-​item combo, the portions were plentiful to make up for losing one item, but now the portions are getting smaller and smaller. Also, they no longer offer sashimi as an option in the combo, which is a huge disappointment to me. They now offer «50% off» rolls and daily lunch bowls of teriyaki chicken, sesame chicken, bulgogi, spicy pork, salmon, tempura, and vegetarian.
I’ve dined-​in or gotten take out multiple times over the last year and sometimes the experience is above average and sometimes it’s below. On my last visit here, I phoned in a takeout order. I gave the hostess my order and sometime during the end of the call, we got randomly disconnected. I’m not sure how because we were both using land lines. Regardless, I tried phoning back in over 5 times in 10 minutes and no one answered the phone. After at least 15 minutes, I went to pick up my order (as I did put it in before getting cut off), but there was no order placed or ready. So while I’m there, I put in an order to-​go for the «hamachi lover» roll and had to wait at the store. Later, the sushi chef placed my roll on a plate for pick up, but it just sat there for a long time. The hostess kept telling me my order was not ready while I saw the roll sitting on the counter. Then awhile later, she talked to the sushi chef and realized that roll sitting on the counter was my order and had mistakenly put in the order for dine-​in. So after a long wait, I finally took my order to-​go. This roll was one that was marketed as a «50% off» roll and the half-​off price was $ 8. However, the roll was not worth $ 8 (let alone $ 16) as it was bland and seemed like a little California roll with a skinny piece of hamachi or mango on top. And there certainly wasn’t enough hamachi on this roll to call it «hamachi lover» or to satisfy any real hamachi lover. On a positive note, the hostess was friendly and super cool to talk to.
On another occasion, two of my friends came to dine-​in at Sushi Paradiso for lunch on a Thursday. After placing their order, their food did not come out for one full hour! There was soup brought to the table, but no one returned to bring spoons. Finally, after an hour, they spoke to management, left, and are never coming back. People do not have time to wait for an hour for their food during work lunch.
Sushi Paradiso started off very promising when they first opened, but since then, it’s been on a downward slope and their decline is accelerating. Their food use to taste delicious and be reasonably portioned. Currently, this place is not being properly managed or run and the quality and quantity of the food is being cheapened.

the resturaunt is very spacious & intimate. the staff are very friendly and the food is delicious!
my visit was a few weeks ago so I don’t remember what rolls I ordered but they were very delicious! I remember the bill being about $ 30 for my boyfriend and I and we have two rolls each. so, I would say that’s one hell of a deal!
they also put their soy sauce in a little tea pot container, which is absolutely adorable! I loved the presentation because it was different compared to other sushi bars.
I plan to revisit in a few more weeks. (:

Great place! I wish I had come here earlier. My work is next door and I can’t believe it took me that long to finally come. The lunch combo was good, there was lot more when you compare to the price. The spicy tuna roll and California roll was mind blowing. I am looking forward for my next visit to try other rolls.
The servers are fast and they are very friendly.
Love it!

4 stars for the food. 3 stars for the service and the timing from the ordering to the delivery of food.
I’ve taken my order to go and have only waited about 10 minutes for my food. This really isn’t too bad of a wait for fresh sushi to be prepared. Plus, the sushi bar and sushi chef is right there in front of me so I can totally see how he’s preparing my food. I may be in a hurry at times but not when it comes to people handling my food, especially when it comes to fresh fish/​raw seafood.
Anyway, I’ve been here a couple of times for take out. The guy at the cashier table is friendly and he offers to give you suggestions if you aren’t quite sure what you want. Everything on their sushi menu looks so tempting that I just want to order everything in sight. Okay, so I always ask their opinion on things and they always ask me what I’m craving for whether it be spicy or more of the salmon or tuna variety. His suggestions are usually right on. I order one of the items he’s suggested and one of the items I’ve read about on Unilocal or whatever I’ve been eyeing at that moment. I wish there were more pictures.
Ordering take out is a breeze and you only sit there for a short amount of time from the time you order your food. You barely notice the time fly by.
Parking on the other hand is hit or miss. Since the restaurant is along the busy J street, you will have to be lucky to get some street parking, especially at lunch time. Usually I am lucky so it’s a breeze getting parking. There’s a special parking spot in front of the restaurant if you are ordering to go so that definitely makes things easier.
Okay, so I’ve recently come here with a couple of my coworkers to have a sit down lunch. Getting a table was simple. Being served our miso soups that were piping hot was a breeze. Getting water was easy too, except for my coworker only wanting half a glass of water so as to not waste water during this ridiculous drought and they gave her a full glass instead. Anyway, ordering was simple too. It took about 6 – 7 minutes (yes to be exact) to actually order because our server was serving food and taking orders in addition to filling refills, etc. He was a busy guy. There was another person helping out but in my opinion, I think they may have needed one more person to streamline things more smoothly.
Okay, so we ordered our food but we didn’t end up getting our food until maybe 20 minutes went by. By that time I had already finished a whole glass of water. That was a bit much time to go by. Other people had walked in and our server was pretty much scrambling. I felt bad for him.
Other than the timing, the food was delicious and plentiful. My coworkers ordered the lunch combos. There was a ton of food on their plates. It all looks so yummy. I ordered the bulgolgi bowl along with the spicy dragon sushi roll. I must have been hungry because I killed my food. My coworkers barely made it through their meals because there was so much food. 50% off sushi rolls is also a great deal. Their rolls are amazing. The sauce that complimented my sushi wasn’t overpowering or too much; there was just enough on it. The crunch that was on it was so tasty too. The fish was fresh and I could definitely taste the quality. After finishing my roll, I was contemplating on ordering more but I stopped myself. After all, I still had my bulgolgi bowl to attack. The rice was just enough, the veggies were semi raw and semi cooked so it was just ok. The meat was flavored perfectly and there was just enough in my order that I didn’t have to take some home where my oldest son would’ve just stolen it out of my hand and not left me any. The orders are huge. I can only imagine how large the dinner portions are.
You will not leave this place hungry. Everything I’ve ordered has sent my tastebuds into a full on dance routine in my mouth. But, if you do come here, allow yourself some extra time, just in case they are a little busy and there’s only 2 servers.
Happy eating!

Great service. They lost my ticket and brought me an appetizer to say sorry. That’s how you handle your business. Great job.

The appetizers are pricy. For edamame its $ 5!
Even at happy hour the rolls are $ 8 – 10. I’ve been to good, fresh sushi places where that’s the normal price for a roll. Not half price.
Regardless, the food was good. Karage was fried perfectly in panko. A bit greasy.
We had the scallop roll and a spicy tuna roll. I can’t remember the names. But it was all very good. The special sauce was tangy and there was a good amount of masago on each one.

Great dinner here last night! I had three different rolls and all were delicious and had a unique smoked flavor to two of them. I had The half priced rolls on a special menu with about 20 choices. Very reasonable prices for sushi. The staff was great and very accommodating for my gluten allergy which is not always the case. I can’t say how irritating it is when restaurants or staff are rude when you ask about gluten.
The bathrooms where super clean and the atmosphere was modern with a little warmth.
The server was a really nice girl with fun jewelry. She was the only waitress it looked like but was never slow and I always had full water and sake! Their sake was VERY good. Our sushi chef was fun to watch and very friendly. If I am ever in down town sac again I will certainly come back. Thanks for making such a great spot!

Their wasabi is weak! I didn’t even feel the rush! No tears, no runny nose, nothing, Nada. #wasabiisthenewcrack The sushi is not fresh! They cover it up with all the crappy sauce they make.

I don’t know.
I had lunch here a while back and it was okay. The menu was extensive. Lots of stuff ranging from traditional to bold items like Squid Ink Pasta. I actually tried to have a pasta and my server said it was only available for dinner. That should be notated in the menu. I just went for the lunch combo. It was a deal compared to the rest of the pricey menu.
Fast forward and I came back for dinner and the menu had slimmed down quite a bit and they now have a list of 50% sushi rolls. It was brighter in there than when I was there for lunch way back whenever I came for lunch. I wasn’t really feelin’ it.

Looked at the reviews and the menu and the food pics I was excited to try this place out for lunch. when I first walked in, I like the vibe and the décor casual and a lil fancy. From my observation looks like everyone was taking advantage of the 3 item combo with salad and miso soup for 10 bucks.
When the server came and took our order. we tried to ask a question what does he recommend and then named something so we ask another question. he stopped and said well I am quite busy if you are not ready I need to go on to the next table. that was rude.
I then saw the Unilocal offer about the free social roll and I asked and he said our menu is so cheap with 50 percent off and we dont have it and dont know what your talking about. I was like can u ask and make sure and double check. he went and ask the sushi chef and said no and shake head and etc. I was disappointed. dont offer something if your not going to give it.
we ordered 2 sushi rolls. pink cadillac roll and sea steak asparagus roll. the sushi rolls were good and were pretty well portioned.
Clean bathrooms. spacious inside thw restaurant. have a sushi bar. need work on customer service. and faster service.

Sushi Paradiso is just more than sushi. They have ramen and the usual bento boxes.
This is a fairly new restaurant. The ambience is similar to Sapporos and has a lounge atmosphere.
They do have half rolls as advertised but it’s only on select sushi rolls. The selection is still a lot though. The half off rolls are all under $ 9.
The ninja was spicy— it definitely had a (ninja) kick to it. Seared steak roll was my favorite. The sashimi here was really fresh.

Went here with a coworker for lunch for the first time. The bottom line — great lunch menus at great prices.
Service was great; the waiters are both polite and prompt. The sesame chicken is flavorful and crispy on the outside, but not dry at all on the inside. The spicy tuna roll was about average, but I say that in a good way as it hits the spot without going overboard with sauces or the like.
I will be coming back again!

Why must I give them one star???
So this guy friend requests me on Facebook, turns out he’s one of the sushi chefs here… hmm, I must have met him somewhere.
In we goooo, great looking place. Sushi bar right up front and the kitchen in the back… nice, right? After asking about the contents of the Chirashi, our waitress didn’t know if it came with tako (octopus) so she goes to ask. We ordered the Chirashi, CA Rolls, and tempura shrimp… our standard for the first visit. I asked that the tempura shrimp come out with the rest of the order, she said that would be no problem.
The CA Rolls came out first, very basic with imitation crab. Then my Chirashi. My first bite of the sashimi had bones, I spit it out into my napkin. When I told our waitress, she practically schooled me on the difference between sashimi and fish sticks. She did take it back along with my napkin, never did bring me another napkin. The second Chirashi looked great on top but the undersides of the sashimi looked like someone sliced it with a hatchet.
Still waiting for our tempura shrimp, I asked our waitress and got a snappy «yes, I know» now this is AFTER my second Chirashi arrived. Must say the shrimp was pretty good.
The whole time waiting and trying to eat, I eyes kept gravitating to the nasty fingerprints all over the front door.
When we were almost finished, the chef that friend requested me came over with a plate of tako carpaccio and apologized. There really was anything to apologize about, what happened it what happened. And I was served bones… sushi chef, NOPE!
Turns out this guy doesn’t know me, he told me he hired a social media manager who handles all of that… FAIL!

Came here for my best friends birthday dinner and the place is really nice! It’s perfect for large groups and it has a classy/​fancy vibe to it.
We had a party for about 15 for dinner and were practically the only people there. The server mentioned that it gets packed during lunch since it’s located in downtown, but slower at night because it’s not in the heart of downtown where people are always walking around.
We shared the boat ($ 80) between 4 people and it was enough food (we don’t eat A LOT and it was 2 guys and 2 girls). I think I could’ve eaten more if I was hungrier, so I probably would’ve ordered something extra. There was about 20 pieces of nigiri, two chief’s choice sushi rolls and about 8 pieces of sashimi. I was really disappointed with the mackerel sashimi because it was very fishy and they seemed to give more because it wasn’t as tasty. Everything else was okay. The salmon nigiri was very fresh, but I was a little disappointed with some of the other fish. Some of it wasn’t as fresh as I hoped it to be.
Overall, the quality of the fish is okay. I would definitely come back for the environment though. I’ll probably try some of the smaller sashimi combo plates again or come by for their lunch specials to see if it’s better.

While I first had my doubts about the concept, Sushi Paradiso quickly one me over with quality dishes backed by great presentations and attentive service. It’s refreshing to see a great sushi place in a town full of imitators.
The concept I referred to is mostly sushi with some Italian flare. Nothing on this menu fails to deliver. My dinner guest and I had the Fire Cracker roll (jalapeño tempura, spicy tuna, avo, seared white tuna, green onion, masago, teriyaki and garlic chili) along with the Deep in the Forest roll (spicy tuna, avo, tuna, salmon, albacore, yellowtail, seaweed salad, cucumber, pasta garlic with spicy sesame vinaigrette). Both were made with high quality ingredients and expertly assembled for the perfect balance of flavors. We complimented both with some cold sake, Japanese beer and miso soup.
They’ve set up shop in a location a block off of Cesar Chavez Plaza that should be a hit with the downtown lunch crowd. I look forward to trying out more of their menu on a return visit!

Decided to dine at Sushi Paradiso for lunch yesterday because I wanted to see if I should purchase the LivingSocial deal for it. Conclusion: deal is on!
We arrived around 1pm, peak of lunch hour, so it was a full house when we walked in. The hostess told us there was a 10 minute wait so we just sat down and admired the décor. It’s pretty nice inside, I love all the gold details. There are a few minor kinks but they’re only minor things that a slightly OCD person like myself would even notice. One thing that had me «literally» hot and bothered was the heat! For a sushi restaurant especially, it was pretty warm in there. By the end of our meal, my bf felt really uncomfortable and we had to rush out of there to enjoy some fresh air. Besides customer comfort, isn’t that bad for the sushi, too?
Anyway! Besides that, almost everything else about our experience was great! I say almost because I was pretty bummed that I wasn’t able to order the Paradiso Roll for lunch. It’s only available for dinner now. Also, their lunch combos have gone from $ 9 to $ 10, which is fine because they are running a business after all. In the end, I was actually glad we didn’t order the Paradiso Roll because our 2 lunch combos had us really full!
For my «choose your side, sushi and entrée» combo, I opted for their NY steak ($ 4 more), sashimi (another $ 4 more) and calamari! That means my lunch combo was actually $ 18 but it was so worth it! The miso soup was a bit lukewarm but I don’t usually eat miso soup anyway. The salad was so refreshing! It was a spring mix with a couple cucumber slices and drizzled with a very light dressing. The NY steak was UH-​MAZING. At first, I was disappointed because I expected maybe a COUPLE more pieces for the additional $ 4. However, I bit into my first slice and had an orgasm in my mouth! They somehow managed to keep my steak medium rare while maintaining a thin and crispy outer edge. The sauce that went over it wasn’t too overpowering, either. If I can order that on its own, I would! The sashimi was really fresh and melted in my mouth. It came with shredded daikon and cucumber, which I love because I need the crunch to pair with sashimi after a few bites. The calamari was also a hitter! However, you have to eat it quick because it’ll lose its crunch real fast. The lemon garlic aioli that came with it was divine!!!
As for my bf, he opted for the black cod ($ 4 more), jalapeño bombers and spicy tuna roll. Everything on his plate was pretty good, too. He only chose those because I had already called the shots for the good picks, haha.
Not quite the full 5 stars but solid 4 stars in my book! I can’t wait to come back for that Paradiso Roll! WIsh I lived closer and parking wasn’t such a B, I’d come here for that lunch combo often!
P. S. I did take note that they have a perfect area for big groups in case I wanted to throw a birthday dinner here. They have a booth along the wall that could connect a few tables and fit about 15 people comfortably!

After looking at their menu online, I was looking forward to trying this place. The interior is really nice and modern. I like the 2 large rounded booths. We sat in a booth near the kitchen. I would’ve preferred to sit at the booths facing the windows. I felt kind of awkward because we were the only ones there at that time (late lunch).
I started off with the baked avocado as an appetizer. It wasn’t on the lunch menu, but I asked the waitress about it and they were able to accommodate my request. The avocado was topped with imitation crab, mixed with small pieces of fish, scallions, tobiko, and sauce– warm and yummy.
I wanted to try the uni pasta, but found out they only serve that during dinner. :/​Instead I ordered the Deep in the Forest roll. It was more of a spicy tuna roll topped with avocado and a side of sashimi salad. The salad consisted of tuna, salmon, albacore, yellowtail, seaweed salad, with sesame vinaigrette. The fish was really fresh.
Lastly, I ordered the green tea crème brulee. It was what I was most excited about. I love green tea everything and crème brulee is one of my favorite desserts. It was light in flavor but a bit runny. I still liked it though and my friend loved it.
My friend had the lunch combo, a great deal at $ 10. It came with miso soup, side salad, rice and a choice of three items (side, sushi, and main). The gyoza weren’t fried and the chicken teriyaki was bland, but she liked the spider roll.
Fresh fish, innovative menu; hopefully they can do well.

3.5 Stars for Sushi Paradiso…
I want to love this place. The service is wonderful. The staff is working hard and wanting to please. The food is good and the menu is innovative. Nice salad options, rolls, lunch options, etc. But the dam prices are too high!!! Not that great, so not worth the prices. With so many sushi options in downtown Sacramento, unfortunately this will not be my go to spot. If they consider lowering their prices a bit I will be back.
Service A+
Food B
Location/​Venue A
Price D–
Overall 3.5 Stars

Sushi Paradiso has what it takes to become one of the best sushi restaurants in Sacramento. Innovative dishes, fresh fish, and masterful flavor pairings.
Had a seat at the sushi bar, which faced the large windows looking out onto J St. The dining room is elegant and modern, and has a good sized bar situated on the right side of the restaurant. (No hard alcohol though, beer/​wine/​sake only).
Their menu is fantastic, I wanted to order everything! Luckily for us, the chef overheard our dilemma and made us a sampler of carpaccio. You could definitely tell the fish they use is of very high quality. The fusion of Japanese and Italian is pure genius! Each and every combination of ingredients was truly impeccable. We stuck mainly to sushi, but we did try the spinach and mushroom dish and I would come back just for that! So simple, yet prepared so well it is a must-​have!
Staff was beyond friendly and even told us all about their omakase menu, which includes a «Best of the Best» option, (you need to book a few days in advance), where they will specially order just for your party.
Keep in mind that this place is more on the expensive side, but it is WELL worth it!

I came here on the recommendation of a friend. I wasn’t impressed but I wasn’t necessarily let down either.
First, I’ll start with happy hour. Wait… there’s happy hour? No one told us or offered us a HH menu. Our server mentioned after I ordered two kinds of edamame that they were on HH, but that was it.
Server: young, but very friendly and polite. She was a total sweetheart so if I could I’d give just her 4.5 stars.
Edamame: Thai chili edamame blew my MIND. so delicious. The roasted garlic edamame was pretty good. Both were overcooked though which was a let down.
Sushi rolls: they didn’t really have a great selection. Yet they had Italian dishes on the menu… who goes to a sushi restaurant to order pasta carbonara? Pro: fish was SUPER fresh. I got the rainbow roll and it was delicious. Boyfriend got whatever the Italian roll was called with pesto. He said it was tasty but the pesto overwhelmed any other tastes.
There was no gluten free soy sauce. This alone makes me not want to go back. It’s such a simple and cheap thing to stock.
We wanted to try the deep fried mochi. They were out of ALL DESSERTS but one. How is that possible? It was a Thursday night prior to 6pm. This shouldn’t happen.
Another con: the music was this odd mix of jazz and acoustic pop songs that were BLARING the entire hour we were in there. And it wasn’t even busy or loud enough for them to have it that loud.
After two rolls, a glass of wine, a beer, and two HH edamame, the bill was close to $ 60. A little pricey if you ask me, especially since the soy beans and wine were HH specials.