Historic Roseville is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for an evening out. My husband and I recently tried Ninja Sushi and Teriyaki, which relocated to its current, much larger, locale in March. 

We were immediately seated, and by the time I took in my surroundings (there’s a huge stage for live music on Fridays and karaoke on Saturdays, a gigantic TV screen for Monday Night Football, and an impressive sushi bar) we already had complimentary miso soup on the table. 

Décor is modern and hip—light wood tabletops with vibrant orange and lime green chairs—and the service equally impresses by being both friendly and knowledgeable. Our server was quick to rattle off recommendations after we became a bit overwhelmed with the massive sushi selection. 

We started with the orange chicken “appetizer,” which size-wise was more like an entrée. The chicken was tender and surprisingly spicy—something to keep in mind for heat-averse palates. 

Up next was the Spicy Rhonda Roll, which featured crab salad, deep-fried shrimp and spicy tuna, topped with avocado, red tuna, salmon, sliced jalapeños, teriyaki, spicy mayo, creamy white sauce, sriracha, green onion, masago and sesame seeds. Reading the ingredient list was a mouthful, but the delectable roll was surprisingly well-balanced, as the creamy white sauce and avocado toned down the spice quite a bit. 

I opted for the Dinner Combo with chicken teriyaki, agedashi tofu and tempura vegetables. Arriving in a stuffed-to-the-brim bento box with cucumber salad (sunomono), green salad, steamed rice and an order of deep-fried shrimp (due to a mix-up in the kitchen), our table was absolutely filled with food. The vegetables were still firm (no mushy broccoli here), and the salads were a refreshing break from the fried delights.

Though we still had enough food left to fill up two-and-a-half takeout boxes, we couldn’t say no to ice cream (served gratis). The green tea variety was ultra-creamy, and hadn’t melted in the slightest, despite being deep-fried to chewy perfection in a sweet batter. 

We were eating leftovers for days, but the next time I found myself on Vernon Street, I already wanted more. 

by Jennifer Resnicke // photos by Dante Fontana

Ninja Sushi and Teriyaki, 238 Vernon Street, Roseville, 916-784-3441.