The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

REVIEW: Sushi and Ramen Dining at Brooks

REVIEW: Sushi and Ramen Dining at Brooks - The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar branded dishes and utensils set on a table on Jan. 18, 2025. Photo by Erik Estrada

Offering a fresh mix of flavorful ramen and vibrant sushi, Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar serves some of the best Japanese food on the Southside of San Antonio.

Where LA Crawfish used to be, Sakana is at the entrance of the Brooks area, just past South Presa Street. 

I discovered this spot through a video on TikTok. The video creator reviewed her experience and emphasized how delicious all the food was. To follow up on her review, I gave this place a chance.

When you first enter the restaurant, you’ll walk directly into the waiting area. There are two doorways, but you should go through the left door, where a team member will greet you, take your name, and ask you to wait if you are not seated immediately. The right doorway is used for exiting customers.

Once seated, you’ll notice the wood elements hanging from the ceiling, paper lanterns, and dim lighting with the feeling of stepping through a portal into Japan.

The sushi bar is at the center, surrounded by seating, with booths and tables filling the rest of the space. 

While you dine, you can watch the chefs as they are rolling sushi. Your server will take your drink order and provide Sakana-branded chopsticks, bowls and a plate for appetizers.

The menu for this restaurant is entirely online and each table has a QR code to access the menu easily. With a wide variety of options, I decided to try a mix of familiar and unfamiliar foods. 

To start, I ordered my all-time favorite Asian food: crab rangoons. With a crispy outside, creamy filling—not too cheesy and not too crabby—and a powerful punch of flavor, these were probably the best I’ve ever had. 

A six piece crab rangoons is served with sweet chili sauce priced at $7.50 at Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar. Photo by Erik Estrada

Next, I ordered two items from their House Special Rolls. I ordered the Dynamite Roll and the Volcano Roll. These took the longest for my table to receive because all sushi here is made to order. 

The Dynamite Roll consists of a deep-fried roll filled with smoked salmon, cream cheese, jalapeño, topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce, priced at $15 at Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar. Photo by Erik Estrada

The Dynamite roll is a deep-fried roll filled with smoked salmon, cream cheese and jalapeno, topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce.

This was my favorite of the two rolls. The roll itself was savory, with a spicy kick from the jalapeño, while the eel sauce added an extra layer of complexity, balancing the flavors with a touch of sweetness. 

I recommend the Dynamite roll to anyone who finds the taste of seaweed off-putting or feels intimidated by the strong flavor of fish in sushi. This roll doesn’t have those issues.

Although it wasn’t my favorite of the two rolls, the Volcano Roll—deep-fried and filled with tuna, jalapeño and cream cheese, then topped with spicy crab stick, spicy mayo and eel sauce—was still delicious. 

This roll was spicier than the Dynamite Roll and lacked the balance between spicy and sweet flavors. If you enjoy the flavor of spicy sushi with emphasis on the fish in the roll then the Volcano Roll is for you.

A Volcano Roll consists of a deep-fried roll filled with tuna, jalapeño and cream cheese, topped with spicy crab stick, spicy mayo and eel sauce, priced at $17 at Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar. Photo by Erik Estrada

Finally, I decided to end the night with ramen. With the waitress’s recommendation, I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen, a pork broth soup with bean sprouts, corn, scallions, menma (bamboo shoot), fish cake, sesame and nori. This was the most unfamiliar item tried that night. 

Spicy Miso Ramen with pork broth, bean sprouts, corn, scallion, menma, marinated egg, chashu, fish cake, sesame and nori, priced at $14 at Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar on Jan. 18, 2025. Photo by Erik Estrada

I enjoyed the dish, it was spicy, had a great combination of flavors and featured perfectly cooked noodles. 

One thing not as pleasant was the menma; this is an acquired taste and something I’d need to get used to if I continue ordering this dish. While there is the option to leave it out, I’d rather expand my flavor palette to hopefully enjoy other dishes with similar flavor profiles in the future. 

Overall, my experience was exceptional. Sushi and ramen lovers tired of making the drive to San Antonio’s Northside should give this place a chance. I will be returning to Sakana and look forward to trying more items from their menu. Sakana Sushi Hibachi Ramen and Bar earned a five-star rating from me. 2410 S.E. Military Dr.

Correction: This review piece was updated at 5 p.m.on Feb.4, 2025 to correct the former Brooks City Base area name to Brooks.

About the Author

Erik Estrada
Social Media Editor
Erik Estrada is a communications junior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. When not at school he is spending time with friends, at the gym, or hiking around Bexar county. After graduating, he hopes to pursue a journalism teaching certification to share his passion for the field.

Join the Conversation

© 2025 Jaguar Student Media | Texas A&M University-San Antonio. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved.
San Antonio Website Design & Development - Backyard Studios
Join Our Newsletter

Get the Mesquite News delivered straight to you.