Rancho Cordova, CA — Samurai

Samurai 12251 Folsom Blvd Rancho Cordova, CA

916.353.1112  map

I was in Folsom, California and I asked my colleagues for sushi recommendations. Several of them suggested Samurai. At lunch today a colleague and I went to try it out.

Samurai is a large modern restaurant with a wrap-around sushi bar. The restaurant  wasn't too busy but there were five or six sushi chefs at the sushi bar. The restaurant looked like it could seat 200 or more people. We sat at the sushi bar and were taken care of by Richard.

I knew this would be a good place when I saw the specials board. There were eight or nine specials including live scallops. A waitress brought us hot towels and Richard gave us a plate of edamame to share.

We ordered giant clam, live scallop, yellowtail and and a special roll with seared scallops and a mayonnaise-based sauce. The giant clam was fresh and tasty, the texture was perfect — firm but not chewy. The yellowtail was excellent, it was delicate and flavorful. Next Richard gave us the scallops. The scallops were served as nigiri with lemon wedges on a scallop shell. The presentation included another scallop shell with a soy sauce, scallion, ginger mixture with a little bit of hot sauce. The sauce was the perfect accompaniment for the delicate texture and flavor of the scallops.

As good as everything was to this point the best was yet to come. The special roll was absolutely awesome. I am a sucker for scallops and the sauce served with the roll was very good. The only thing I did not enjoy was the tobiko (flying fish roe) used to garnish the roll.

Everything about Samurai was perfect.

Samurai: 5 rice bowls