Minami Sushi for a hungry stomach

Bento boxes, sushi rolls, shrimp tempura, oh my! Make sure to come with a hungry stomach because Minami Sushi, a restaurant located at 699 Lewelling Blvd #142 in San Leandro offers all these great choices and much more.

Walking into Minami, one can expect a friendly greeting and prompt service. All the waitstaff is super friendly and willing to go above and beyond to accommodate a customer’s needs. The restaurant itself is in an obscure little corner of Greenhouse Marketplace. On a usual day it’s not too busy and there shouldn’t be much of a wait.

The dining experience starts off with a complimentary appetizer of edamame, soy beans, and hot tea. Appetizers such as tofu, pot stickers (gyoza), or calamari are also available to order.

From there, you can opt for a bento box, a meal platter, or the classic sushi roll. Meal platter or bento box entrees include teriyaki chicken, shrimp or vegetable tempura, chicken katsu, and many others. The entrees come with miso soup, salad, and white rice.

Minami also offers a wide variety of sushi rolls anywhere from the classic California Roll to fun, spicy treats like the Kamikaze Roll. My personal favorite is the Dragon Roll, which layers unagi and avocado on top of a shrimp tempura roll. Their rolls are generously portioned and go for a great price. You can get most eight-piece rolls for under ten dollars.

If you’re not one for sushi rolls, you can opt for the sashimi option: fresh, raw meat or fish thinly sliced and served without the typical sushi rice block. These options are decently priced but should be recommended to only hardcore fish lovers. If raw fish makes your stomach turn, then sashimi is not for you.

To finish off the meal, there are many Japanese dessert options for your sweet tooth, such as green tea ice cream or mochi.

Overall, one can expect a great sushi dining experience at Minami without hurting the wallet too much.

4.5 out of 5 stars.