Photo by Jesse Scott
Audio By Carbonatix
Saiko-i Sushi Lounge & Hibachi arrives in Plantation as it knows precisely what kind of night it wants to be — loud enough to celebrate, polished enough to feel intentional, and unfussy enough that nobody’s pretending this isn’t about eating very well and having a good time.
The spot opened in late November and has sister locations in Parkland and Boca Raton.
Photo by Jesse Scott
Funky and Elaborate Decor Galore
On a Monday at 7:30 p.m., the dining room was already in full swing. Birthday tables dotted the space, singer-waiters paraded sparkler-topped mochi through the crowd, and the restaurant leaned into its grand-opening energy. A balloon arch frames the entrance, flanked by branded statues, signaling that Saiko-i isn’t easing into Plantation so much as announcing itself proudly.
Inside, the room balances spectacle and style. A long, sleek bar anchors one side, while a wall of hyper-realistic moon imagery adds an unexpectedly dreamy backdrop. Hibachi tables hum throughout the dining room, while the sushi bar glows beside a neon “Seafood Open” sign capped with a neon lobster — kitschy, yes, but knowingly so. It’s playful without being chaotic, celebratory without remotely crossing into Miami excess.
Photo by Jesse Scott
From Hibachi and Wagyu Gyozas to Sushi Rolls and Ceviche
The menu, while reportedly trimmed down from other Saiko-i locations, still reads like a choose-your-own-adventure. It’s expansive, but mercifully not Cheesecake Factory-level overwhelming. Hibachi offerings ($27 and up) range from filet mignon and duck to Japanese and American wagyu, with lobster upgrades for diners feeling particularly festive.
The sushi and small plates are where the kitchen flexes. Blue crab gyoza ($18) lands somewhere between a deluxe crab rangoon fantasy and a dumpling, perched atop a fabulous pool of guacamole that actually works. The seafood ceviche ($20) leans generous, packed with lobster and brightened by a sweet yuzu tang that keeps things lively. Wagyu beef gyoza ($16) is the quiet showstopper — deeply savory, indulgent, and best ordered fried.
Rolls arrive big, bold, and unapologetically filling. The “Blue Crab Dynamite” ($22) roll is practically a meal on its own, dense with crab and richness, and judging by neighboring tables, restraint is not a house value when it comes to roll portion size.
Photo by Jesse Scott
Dessert keeps the fun going. Cheesecake comes in classic, fried, or ube-tinted — a playful ending that feels right at home here. Cocktails skew creative, sparkling sake makes a cameo, and happy hour runs daily from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended bar-only deals (daily until 7 p.m.) that encourage lingering.
Saiko-i Plantation doesn’t pretend to be a snob, and it isn’t. It’s here for birthdays, big appetites, shared plates, and nights where nobody leaves hungry…. or bored, for that matter.
Saiko-i Sushi Lounge & Hibachi. 8160 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation; 754-701-4417; saikoihibachi.com.
