Sakura sits in a strip plaza on Eastern Boulevard in Canandaigua, which does not scream destination dining, but what happens inside is worth the unassuming entrance. This is a dual-format Japanese restaurant: one side runs a full hibachi grill where chefs work the teppanyaki tables with the expected theatrics — knife tricks, onion volcanoes, flaming shrimp — and the other side houses a proper sushi bar with an enormous specialty roll menu. The combination makes it one of the most versatile Asian restaurants in the Finger Lakes.

The sushi menu is genuinely extensive, running from straightforward California and tuna rolls through a long list of house specialties: Dragon Roll, Rainbow Roll, Volcano Roll, Spider Roll, Godzilla Roll, plus house creations like the Sakura Special and the Heart Roll. They won Gold for best sushi in the Finger Lakes in 2022, and the roll quality justifies it — fish is fresh, rice is properly seasoned, and the kitchen does not drown everything in spicy mayo. The hibachi side offers reliable crowd-pleasers: filet mignon, steak and shrimp combos, and salmon, all cooked tableside with clear soup, salad, vegetables, and fried rice. Lunch bento boxes at $15.95 are a strong value and come loaded — miso soup, salad, shumai, spring roll, California roll, and rice alongside your protein.

This is a great pick for families with mixed preferences (someone wants sushi, someone wants a steak cooked in front of them, everyone leaves happy) or for a fun group dinner around the hibachi table. It is not trying to be omakase or avant-garde — it is a well-executed Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar that delivers consistently. Hibachi requires groups of five or more, so plan accordingly or grab a seat at the sushi bar.