Weewok.com
  • Videos
    • Business >
      • Company with No Rules
      • Inspire Action
      • Puzzle of Motivation
    • Career >
      • No One True Calling
      • Great Career
    • Creativity >
      • Creativity and Learning
      • Creative Confidence
      • Collective Creativity
    • Education >
      • Math Makeover
      • Patrick Speaks
      • The Power of Believing
    • Food >
      • Fell In Love with Fish
      • School Lunch
    • Health Care >
      • E-Patient Dave
      • Health Care Costs
      • Health Care Team Sport
    • Humor >
      • Web Startup
      • Old vs New Spock
    • Inspiration >
      • 600 Meter Race
      • Dream and Accomplish
      • Held Breath 17 Min
    • Music >
      • Evolution of Music
      • Joy in the Congo
    • Self Enrichment >
      • Power of Vulnerability
      • Power Poses
      • Time You Have
      • Magically Connect
      • Not to be Ignorant
      • The Secret
      • Happiness >
        • Happy Secret
        • Science of Happiness
      • Success >
        • 8 Secrets of Success
        • Key to Success? Grit
    • Technology >
      • Solar Roadways
      • We Can Edit DNA
    • Travel >
      • An and Ria's First Flight
      • Beagle Returns Lost Items
    • Miscellaneous >
      • Loss of Wisdom
      • Paradox of Choice
      • Self Deception
  • Articles
    • New York City
    • Travel Awards
    • Dining Awards
    • Best Food Awards
    • Our Sites
  • Cruise Ships
    • Princess Ships >
      • Coral Princess
      • Dawn Princess
      • Grand Princess
    • Silver Seas >
      • Silver Cloud
      • Silver Wind
    • Eurodam
    • Millennium
    • Rhapsody
    • Disney Ships
    • Carnival Ships
    • Other Ships
    • Indian Houseboat
    • Boats
  • Places
    • Australia >
      • Airlie Beach
      • Brisbane
      • Cairns
      • Melbourne
      • New Castle
      • Sydney
      • Seascapes
      • Travel
    • Caribbean >
      • Aruba
      • Bahamas (GBI)
      • Bahamas (PC)
      • Bahamas, Half Moon Cay
      • Curacao
      • Grand Cayman
      • Jamaica (MB)
      • Jamaica (OR)
      • San Juan
      • St. Thomas
      • Seascapes
    • Central America >
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico >
        • Acapulco
        • Cabo San Lucas
        • Cozumel
        • Huatulco
        • Ixtapa
        • Mazatlan
        • Puerto Vallarta
      • Panama
      • Rain Forest
    • Europe >
      • United Kingdom >
        • England >
          • Dover
          • Liverpool
          • London
          • Southampton
        • Ireland >
          • Belfast
          • Cobh
          • Dublin
        • Scotland >
          • Edinburgh
          • Greenoch
          • Invergordon
          • South Queensferry
        • St Peter Port
      • Greece >
        • Athens
        • Corfu
        • Katakolon
        • Mykonos
        • Rhodes
        • Santorini
      • Italy >
        • Civitavecchia
        • Florence
        • Livorno
        • Naples
        • Pisa
        • Pompei
        • Rome
        • Venice
      • Western Europe >
        • Amsterdam
        • Belgium >
          • Bruges
          • Brussels
        • France >
          • Cannes
          • Le Havre
          • Paris
        • Gibraltar
        • Lisbon
        • Monte Carlo
        • Spain >
          • Barcelona
          • Cadiz
          • Vigo
    • India >
      • Alleppey
      • Backwaters
      • Bangalore
      • Baga
      • Kanyakumari
      • Kochi
      • Mumbai
      • Old Goa
      • Varkala
      • Travel
    • Southeast Asia >
      • Hong Kong
      • Singapore
      • Bangkok
      • Ho Chi Minh
      • Hoi An
      • Ha Long Bay
    • USA >
      • Other US Cities >
        • Chicago, IL
        • Fort Lauderdale, FL
        • Kansas City, MO
        • Las Vegas, NV
        • New York City, NY
        • Portland, OR
        • Other US Places
      • Alaska >
        • College Fjord
        • Juneau
        • Ketchikan
        • Skagway
        • Yukon Rail
        • Whittier
        • Seascapes
      • California >
        • Los Angeles
        • Ojai
        • San Francisco
        • Wine Country
        • Other Places
      • Colorado
      • Maine >
        • Camden
        • Kennebunkport
        • Portland
        • Wiscasset
      • Massachusetts >
        • Boston
        • Newburyport
        • Salem
    • Other Places >
      • Casablanca
      • Dubrovnik
      • Ephesus
      • Kusadasi
      • Vancouver
      • Miscellaneous
  • Reviews
    • Restaurants
    • Gyms
    • Travel

Sasa

3 star rating
Menu:  Japanese Izakaya (small plates)
Address:  1432 N. Main St.
Location:  Walnut Creek, California 94596
Lunch Hours:  Mon-Sat 11:30-2:30
     Bar Menu 2:30-5pm
Dinner Hours:  Mon-Thurs 5-9:30
  Fri & Sat 5-10:30
  Sun 12-9
Price:  Average

Sasa
When you are tired of the same old thing, Sasa offers a culinary refuge with a nice range of familiar and not-so-familiar dishes that satisfy both your appetite and your culinary curiosity. The most important thing to remember is that these plates are small, so although the prices are good at first glance, they can add up quickly. On the other hand, you get a chance to try many new things, without the commitment that goes along with a large entree. Go early, or make sure you have a reservation.


Atmosphere

Inside Sasa
Located on Walnut Creek's main drag, Sasa is a welcome refuge of culinary sophistication in an area otherwise filled with either large, impersonal chains, or nondescript Italian joints. Dining is divided into two main areas: the front a shadowy club-like feel with dark tables, a long silkily-lit bar, and a Zen-like water curtain, and the back area done in brighter colors of copper and soft blue, with tables and high-backed banquettes, and a more family-oriented atmosphere. Arriving at the early hour of 5:30, without a reservation, the bar area was already starting to fill up, attesting to the fact that we weren't the only ones who appreciated Sasa's existence, and by the time we left at 7 the place was packed. We were seated at first at one of the high tables by the sushi counter but, not being comfortable for the shorter of our company (me), we moved to the back, which was overall a more comfortable choice for seating, if one does not mind dining in the company of children. 

Service

With a menu like this, where many of the dishes are unique and their ingredients more-than-slightly obscure, it helps to have a staff that is well-trained and knowledgeable, and our server at Sasa was polite and quick to answer our questions and offer advice. That said, his delivery might have been taken more seriously if he had not spent the whole time leaning against the wall as he spoke to us but, whatever, we can get over the over-familiarity as long as you bring the food on time.

Food

Food at Sasa
Sasa is a Japanese restaurant that features Izakaya, kind of like Japanese pub food served on small plates. The menu reads extremely well, with your biggest problem being what to choose (I love that problem). Our server suggested that we start with the more delicate flavors at the top of the menu, things like sashimi and vegetables, and move down ending with fish and meat. So, taking his advice, we began with a Rock-n-Roll  BBQ eel roll with avocado and tobiko ($8 ) that, besides being a little too sweet, was soft and fresh, and basically melted in the mouth. Next, a Spicy Ahi Parfait ($11) offered delicate layers of crunchy mochi rice, ripe avocado, tender ahi tuna, and bursts of tiny caviar, with a nice contrast of lemon oil and crème fraiche. It was not the easiest of dishes to divide between us, but it didn't stop us from eating every last morsel. Moving to the meats, a warm dish of Crispy Duck Legs Confit on steamed buns with hoisin sauce ($14) reminded me of  my old Chinese standby Moo Shoo, but oh so much better. The perfect blend of hot and fatty crisp duck with the slight sweetness of sauce and spongy breadiness of the buns was outrageously, lick-your-fingers delicious. The order came with only 3 pieces, though. So if you order this to share, be ready to negotiate the last bite. Our ending dish of spicy Braised Pork 'Toro' (jowl) ($11) was spicy with a flavorful wasabi broth and, although very good, the meat was extremely fatty on the tongue and altogether not as satisfying as the other dishes.

Sasa also has an extensive wine and cocktail list, though we would suggest a sake flight, 3 2-oz pours of different sakes, prices vary.


Cleanliness

Very clean.

Pros

Nice atmosphere, interesting menu, some excellent food.

Cons

Gets busy and noisy, overly-casual service at times, need to eat a lot to fill up.
Cruise Ships
Articles
City Galleries
Restaurants
Travel
Gyms