Maneki Sushi
1902 Taylor Road, Roseville, 916-846-5724, manekiroseville.com, @manekiroseville
My new go-to sushi spot has emerged. Sprouting from the Bay Area’s event-inspired Bay Boys Brewing, Maneki has taken the tradition of live music, good beer, and fun environs and injected some of the freshest sushi to hit Roseville.
Delivering unforgettable flavors since opening in December 2022, Head Chef Will Hunt brings over 15 years of experience in the sushi industry, and his expertise is clear from first sight. Having worked in many of the biggest sushi restaurants in the area, he brings an inspired level of craftsmanship to every plate.
SF Zoo Roll; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
It's evident from their Instagram that Maneki focuses on fresh flavors and high-quality ingredients, elaborating on sashimi and nigiri with welcome touches, like a brush of aged soy sauce and unique textural elements. You’ll also see very little fried sushi, which sets Maneki apart from most of the region’s other sushi spots.
49er Roll; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
Born from a brewery and inspired by the Bay Area, you can expect some good brews, too. We opted for the Bay Boys classic: a West Coast IPA. You should know, however, that they also brew an exclusive Japanese lager that pairs perfectly with sushi.
We were seated by our friendly waitress who showed us around the menu and made some (amazing) suggestions. We started with takoyaki, a classic round-shaped Japanese snack made from a slightly sweet batter filled with octopus and served with a drizzle of unagi sauce and Japanese mayo (kewpie). These were, by far, the best takoyaki I’ve had in the area—hands down.
Fog City Roll; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
We shared a second starter of seared Hokkaido scallops (found on the “Special Plates from Sushi Bar” portion of the menu) that were served over a small dollop of crab mix with garlic, cucumber, and a bit of lemon. The touch of lemon was exactly the ingredient needed to balance the dish, and with a slight hint of garlic, it immediately became one of my favorite appetizers.
Takoyaki; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
Next, we ordered three rolls: 49er, SF Zoo, and Fog City. Our server brought us some “real” wasabi (not the typical horseradish wasabi), which was an unexpected (and pleasant!) surprise and worth remembering to ask for. All the rolls were fantastic; the fish was fresh, the flavors were incredible, and the textures were layered, making each bite a moment to stop, close your eyes, and savor.
Maneki also hosts around two monthly events with music by award-winning, well-known DJs. Rumor has it they’re popular, so reservations are recommended.
Garlic Scallops; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
If you’re hungry for superior sushi in a nice setting with top-notch service and a good beer to accompany, keep Maneki top of mind.
Hours: Noon-9 p.m. (Sunday), 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (Monday-Thursday), 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (Friday), noon-10 p.m. (Saturday)
TRY THIS: Takoyaki, Tokyo Ramen, Garlic Scallops, 49er Roll, SF Zoo Roll, Fog City Roll, 24K Gold Dish, Sashimi, Japanese Cheesecake
DRINKS: Beer, wine, sake, & soju
TAB: $$
HEADS-UP: Kids’ menu; catering available; ample vegan and gluten-free options; extensive wine, sake, and soju list; happy hour from 2-4:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday); spacious, fun, bar-like atmosphere; reservations recommended; beer is locally made by Bay Boys Brewing
by Ryan Martinez | photos by TAYLOR GILLESPIE
Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group—please don’t steal our copyrighted photos. For more information about our editorial photos, please click here to contact us https://www.stylemg.com/pages/contact-us