Located directly along Highway 50 in Rancho Cordova, Samurai Sushi is a popular dining venue for local Japanese food aficionados. And while the cavernous restaurant, with its bright flashy signage, big televisions and boisterous ambience, might remind you of your local Mikuni, Samurai is actually a more restrained—and less manic—dining option. Since it sits alongside the highway, all the shutters are closed, which results in a dimly lit environment reminiscent of a gambling casino. A very handsome, round black marble sushi bar dominates the restaurant, but if you’d prefer a table, check out the nicely upholstered booths in the back. Service is unerringly friendly, and I appreciate the little touches, like the fact that the edamame beans arrive warm, not cold, that make customers feel well attended-to. Rolls are a big deal here, and the sushi chefs outdo themselves with colorful sauce artistry. (Check out the yellow, orange and red “basketweave” on the “Hwy 50” roll, and the radiant, spider-like sauce design encircling the “tuna bomb” roll.) Popular selections include the “Hole in One” (a deep-fried roll stuffed with eel, salmon, cucumber and cream cheese) and the Titanic, sporting deep-fried shrimp and snow crab and topped with strips of tuna, salmon and avocado. If overly creative sushi rolls make you shudder, try the robust beef udon (hot noodle soup), crispy chicken karage (Janpanese-style chicken nuggets) or the tongue-twisty spicy salmon skin salad. The menu is enormous—you’ll have no problem finding something yummy to devour. — Kira O'Donnell

Insider tip: Samurai has a large selection of cold sakes – ask your waiter for a recommendation

Reservations: Recommended for parties of eight or more

Payment methods: AmEx, Discover Card, MasterCard, Visa

Alcohol: Full bar

Corkage fee: $10

Hours: Monday–Thursday: Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner 5–9:30 p.m.
Frdayi: Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner 5–10 p.m.
Sat: 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. (open continuously, one menu)
Sun: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. (open continuously, one menu)