VKI or Sakura or??
 

The wife's birthday is coming up and she's been wanting to go to a Japanese restaurant. Which do you prefer, VKI, Sakura or somewhere else?

There are two Sakura's, Spanish Springs and Colony Plaza. I would recommend the Spanish Springs one because that is where they throw the food around. More entertaining.

We ate at the Sakura @. Colony last week. The food was delicious!

I've never been to the other one, but this one is not like the typical Benihanna, where they grill at your table...

Vki

Sakura, Spanish Springs

I like them both but VKI has my vote.

ditto on VKI

It really depends on what you order. For sushi I prefer Sakura at colony. For Habachi VKI. For Asian fusion I prefer Bamboo Bistro.

VKI is a better atmosphere and has better food.

Thank you for the replies. I think we'll do VKI this time and put Sakura(s) on the to do list.

Sakura in Spanish Springs hands down. They give you enough food for 2 meals. Also they have 2 for 1 specials. You can also customize your dinner example I don't get veggies instead I get extra rice and there's no extra charge. Hope your wife has a happy birthday.

Disney Springs has a great Japanese Restaurant but you need a reservation or try checking Ocala

For the hibachi grill VKI……. For sushi Sakura Spanish Springs

We've only gotten take out at the Colony Sakura. We have sushi night once a week so when I tell you their food was consistently wonderful, I'm not kidding. We only have sushi and sashimi. None of the cooked items , Soo we can't comment on that. Happy Birthday to your wife!

Sakura by far
 

Sakura in Spanish Springs they do both cook at their hibachi tables with a trained show chef or have food brought to your regular table or booth. Food is excellent and reasonable, restaurant is clean and airy highly recommend it.

VKI Japanese Steakhouse for a traditional Japanese meal and Sakura Spanish Springs for hibachi.

Vki

Vki

Sakura vs VKI
 

That’s a great question! I enjoy both of them. Here are my experiences: For a special occasion like a birthday, VKI has a better atmosphere. It is also more expensive. And frankly, the last two recent times I’ve been there, service was not friendly. Our waitress did not crack a smile the entire time. Cocktails are great there though!

Sakura is a special place because the food is quite good, and offers good value. The Bento Box I had there recently (Colony location) for $20 was so fresh and delicious! My beef negamaki was better than VKI’s, and the beef teriyaki was made to order, that’s unusual. Soup and salad came with it as well. Sakura has beer, wine and sake while VKI has a full bar. You can get a bottle of house wine (red and white varietals) for just $20. Colony Sakura is in a strip mall, for me that’s a plus because I can shop at Publix (outlet Bealls also there) as well while I’m there. Hopes this helps!

Sukura
 

Sukura Colony has the best seafood I have eaten in TV.

Sakura Spanish Plains
 

Took our entire family there during their recent visit. Great food and service. We opted for the Japanese-style Teppanyaki.

One side of the restaurant is traditional tables and dining. The other side has maybe ten hibachis for the Teppanyaki preparation.

They are both good. VKI has Hibachi, Sakura doesn’t. Sakura very consistent as is VKI. If you like the Hibachi show try VKI

Japanese
 

Arigato on 27/441 going towards Leesburg is amazing for hibachi tables

Sakura in Spanish Springs does have teppanyaki tables. The one in Colony does not.

Also, the restaurant in Disney Springs is Morimoto. Iron Chef Morimoto of both Japan and US fame. Very very good, but mucho dinero.

Both are good. VKI is more consistently good.

If you are going to the Disney area then Kobe is the place to go.

Totally agree, I am a sushi lover and prefer Sakura. In the past, both were so close it was a toss up. However, the last couple of times getting Sushi from Viki it was noticeably inferior to Sakura. The crab fried rice from Bambo Bistro is excellent.

I was very disappointed with the hibachi meal I ordered in VKI. I ordered the same meal I always order at Sakura in Colony........

Hibachi Filet Mignon - cooked medium.

The presentation does not compare at VKI to Sakura starting with the dinner ware. Sakura has rectangular plates and dipping sauce plates which are also rectangular and line up with the main entrée plate. It is the Sakura dipping sauce (the pink one) that I absolutely LOVE to dip the filet and the veggies in. The other dipping sauce is great too but that Sakura sauce is by far, the reason I go to Sakura. The Filet Mignon is always cooked to perfection, never over or under done.....just the perfect amount of pink in the middle of the meat and very juicy.

Now for VKI......my meal was served on a round plate, NO DIPPING SAUCES and the filet was barely pink inside with no visible juices. Just a pure disappointment considering this restaurant charges more than Sakura. And I must have had that same waitress that does not crack a smile......EVER.

PLEASE!
It's not Hibachi...
It's Teppanyaki... (Grilled on a hot plate.)
Hibachi is a charcoal burning bowl.

Oh, my vote is any fancy light-up meal from either Sakura locations.
Kevin will make it wonderful.

Skip

The Sakura menu lists "Hibachi Entrée". For example........
Hibachi Filet Mignon
Hibachi Salmon
Hibachi Chicken
Hibachi Twin Lobster Tail
etc. etc.

Yeah, but that's not accurate as the teppanyaki grill does not use charcoal. Proper Japanese hibachi cooking is called robatayaki.

Confused yet.
 

Everyone seems to have a different opinion. I love Spanish Springs Sakura. Just walk in both look around and decide. The food is comparable at both but the chefs at Sakura have a little more pizzaz.

Are there any real Japanese owned restaurants nearby besides Morimoto's? I would presume chef Morimoto's would be far superior food, but for the time being VKI is decent but not authentic.

I love sushi. I mostly eat nigiri. Some of the rolls are ok but you can have the fake crab and cream cheese. VKI has the better nigiri of the two. We usually go and get the sushi boat for two. I eat all of the nigiri and sashimi and the better half takes care of the rolls. Sakura is also good but the sushi at VKI is better.

never been disappointed at VKI

I love sushi and almost always get take out. Both restaurants are good. In my opinion, the sushi is slightly better at Sakura in Spanish Springs, but they have a lousy set up for picking up take out. Getting take out at VKI is very fast and easy, so we get food there more often, especially during the pandemic.

Sakura in SS has my vote. Plus a happy hour to boot.

Agree.
 

I agree. Both good but not not authentic.

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We love VKI for lunch. Always get the Bento Box. And a great value, was $9.99 a few years ago, $14 now. But comes with a wonderful selection and your choice of protein. Always reminds me of trips to Japan, getting a Bento Box at the Bullet Train station and eating on board.

Sample of some of the lunch selections>


VKI LUNCH BOX 14

Served with miso soup, house salad, steamed rice, 2 pcs shumai, and fruit,
Pork Katsu and California Roll

Chicken katsu and California Roll

Tempura and California Roll

Chicken Teriyaki and California Roll

Shrimp Teriyaki and Gyoza

Salmon Teriyaki and Gyoza

Tilapia Teriyaki and Spring Roll
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After reading a number of comments on VKI, we tried it last week. We normally go to Sakura near Spanish Springs. VKI was more expensive, I got far less food, but most important of all, the flavors were very bland and boring. I will never go to VKI again based on the taste and flavor of the food.

I vote Sakura Spanish Springs.