Sanjusan 33 North 1st Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401

"I love the aesthetic and the vibes this place brings. The food menu is small but exciting. The Italian-Japanese fusion works. The pizza is divine and the pasta is fresh. Got the Dungeness crab pasta, it was good, but definitely would have loved some chili crisp or heat to it. The Isaac Becker pizza works so well, I didn’t want to stop eating it. Who doesn’t love spicy tuna? I’ll be going back to try more. Service was great. Parking can be difficult as it’s street, but valet was only $10."

"On paper the idea of an Italian-japanese fusion restaurant is surprisingly to say the least. Given that, I had no real expectations of what to expect. Let me say, the food was great ! It is more like two menus, one Italian with pizza and one Japanese with yakitori and small plates, both done very well in the same kitchen. The number of items fusing both cuisine is small. The yakitori were delicious. The pizza was very well made. We had a great time and the service was very attentive."

"AMAZING! If you think the pictures look good then expect to be totally satisfied. The star of the show was the curry mayo had with the sweet potato korokke, but everything had was spot on: highball, yakitori, korokke, mentaiko lumache, squid ink pappardelle, and budino. The pizzas looked good but not so good to actually consider....so just get the pasta!"

"At Sanjusan, Italian and Japanese cuisine meld in a mouthwatering display of culinary prowess that takes the form of dishes such as hiramasa crudo, squid ink pappardelle, and okonomiyaki pizza. Accompanying the generous selection of pasta, pizza, and small plates are an exquisite array of cocktails and yakitori, grilled skewer dishes; I highly recommend the yakitori chicken thigh, which was eye-wideningly flavorful for what I expected to be relatively simple dish. The arancini elicited the same reaction. Everything was served by exceptionally friendly, welcoming, and professional staff who made us feel cared for without being overbearing. The atmosphere is elegant yet energetic, upscale yet approachable. It is a standout place to bring loved ones for a special occasion. And I haven’t even mentioned the exceptional bar that sits adjacent, Kado no Mise. If I had to critique, and this might just be me, it’s that I left wishing the portion sizes were a bit larger. Sharing family style between three friends left me at 70% full rather than my preferred 80—but to be fair, I have a big, Americanized appetite. I would also add that a bit more space between tables or an offset arrangement would be appreciated, so as to create a bit more privacy. All said, shoutout to the team at Sanjusan for making our dinner special, creating a memorable experience, playing great music, and dishing wonderful food. Hope to be back soon."

"Sanjusan is a super trendy dining experience that does not disappoint at any step along the way. Make sure you get an early reservation to avoid the crowd and you'll get treated like royalty. Every dish I had here was absolutely amazing and crafted with delicate flavors that were carefully curated and expertly executed. The non-alcoholic drink offerings were fantastic as well. The octopus appetizer was a total wow, as well as the eggplant- which was crisper than I've ever had. The wild boar gnochetti was a standout dish (and the portion size was incredible) and it was rich a hearty and filling. Great service and an amazing experience for my third time here."