Sen Dai Sushi - Something to Yelp About

is located in a very small shopping center at 224 N. Abel St. Chances are, you've driven past it many times.

What you may not know is, despite being tucked away, Sen Dai Sushi is living large on Yelp.com. With more than 1,000 reviews, it's Yelp's most reviewed Japanese restaurant in Milpitas.

Patch sat down with Sen Dai Sushi owner, Kiana Huang, to find out a bit more about her restaurant.

PATCH: What made you want to open a restaurant?

Kiana Huang: My parents. They have run a restaurant for a long time, ever since coming to the U.S. 20 years ago.

PATCH: What makes your restaurant different from other sushi restaurants?

Kiana Huang: We're busy! In Japanese restaurants, busy means fresh fish! We offer superb customer service; our staff is very friendly and attentive. Most of all, we have good food.

Sen Dai Sushi has been in business for seven years. The restaurant has modern decor, and hip-hop music can be heard playing in the background.

The "Catch of the Day" is posted on the wall near the cash register for all to see. Sen Dai has three main distributors that they get their fish from, and the fish is delivered to them fresh, within 24 hours of being caught. They do not use previously frozen fish - freshness is of the utmost importance at Sen Dai Sushi.

PATCH: What did you do prior to opening a restaurant?

Kiana Huang: I worked a corporate job, 8 to 5.

PATCH: What is the most popular item on your menu?

Kiana Huang: Our sushi rolls are very popular, especially the "237" (a fresh water eel, yellowtail roll, topped with avocado, salmon, red sauce, wasabi sauce and tobiko caviar) and the "Nissan" rolls (a tuna and avocado roll, topped with white tuna, red sauce, spicy sauce, green onion and kaiware radish sprout).  Our Bento Boxes are also a favorite with our customers.

Sen Dai Sushi's staff is young and energetic; they appear to be a happy bunch, full of smiles. It's nice to go into a restaurant and see a staff that seems to truly enjoy being there.

Through word of mouth and more than 1,000 reviews on Yelp, word has spread about Sen Dai.

One Yelp reviewer, Anna V., states, "Each bite of fish felt like biting at butter since the fish was so soft!  There wasn't any fishy taste to it, so the freshness was all there.  The salmon skin hand roll was also very good since it had the right amount of sauce and the skin was cooked so it was crispy."  

PATCH: What do you enjoy most about running a restaurant?

Kiana Huang: Making people happy after they get a full stomach! 

Business is steady at Sen Dai Sushi, with weekends being their busiest time of the week. They are open for lunch, Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and for dinner Monday through Sunday, 5-9 p.m. They also have a large to-go menu available.

PATCH: Is there anything else you would like to say to Milpitas Patch readers?

Kiana Huang: Come visit us! We are known to be the best sushi in Milpitas! 

When you visit Sen Dai Sushi, be sure to tell them Milpitas Patch sent you - and save room for the Tempura fried ice cream! 

Sen Dai Sushi is located at 224. N. Abel St. Call 408-263-1472.