Sanmi Restaurant Taipei Review 2026: Ximending's Giant Salmon Sushi

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Taiwan

Taipei Sanmi Sushi

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Hello, I'm Tak Sajang, your travel blogger! :)

When you think of must-visit restaurants in Taipei, Taiwan,

there's one iconic spot that always comes to mind.

It's the famous Sanmi Sushi, a Taipei staple for ages.

It's renowned for its giant salmon sushi, so much so that

I heard it even made its way to Korea!

And finally, I got to try it at the original Taipei branch!

Today, I'll share an honest review of Sanmi Sushi, a must-try restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan, including tips on waiting times, reservation methods,

and of course, what the food actually tasted like!

#MyHonestReview #SelfFunded

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🚨 Today's Travel Log

This is my honest, self-funded review of a Taipei culinary gem, based on my personal experience. (As of September 2026)

I've included everything you need to know about Sanmi Sushi, famous for its giant salmon sushi: location, how to get there, menu, reservations, and waiting times.

If you're wondering whether to visit, don't miss this post!

⭐️ Today's Travel Difficulty ★☆☆

If you love salmon, it's a definite YES!

But do think carefully about how much you order.

As long as the waiting isn't too severe,

anyone can enjoy it without much difficulty.

1. Sanmi Sushi: Location & How to Get There

Sanmi Sushi is located about

a 10-minute walk from Ximen Station in Taipei.

While it's in the Ximending area, it's a bit far from the night market;

it's actually closer to Carrefour.

📍 Location: No. 116號, Section 2, Guiyang St, 萬華區 Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

✔️ Opening Hours: 11:20 - 21:00

✔️ Break Time: 14:30 - 17:10

✔️ Closed: Every Sunday and Monday

With a break time in the middle

and specific closing days, don't just show up without checking;

I highly recommend confirming their operating hours before your visit.

2. Sanmi Sushi: Waiting & Reservations

When I visited, reservations weren't possible,

and you had to sign up for the waiting list manually on site.

I'd heard so many stories about long queues even when visiting early,

so I arrived around 5:40 PM on a weekday Wednesday.

Hmm? No waiting!

I was able to go right in.

Although the restaurant has two floors,

the first floor is just the kitchen, and seating is only on the second floor,

so the space isn't incredibly large.

By around 6:30 PM, the seats started to fill up,

and a small queue began to form.

So if you're planning a dinner visit, it's best to arrive right when they open for the evening.

3. Menu Recommendations & Prices

When you come to Sanmi Sushi, the giant salmon sushi is definitely a must-try!

They had a Korean menu, so ordering

was no problem at all.

For sushi, they offer:

✅ Salmon only: 3pc / 6pc (230 NTD / 450 NTD)

✅ Squid only: 3pc / 6pc (220 NTD / 430 NTD)

✅ Half Salmon, Half Squid: 3pc / 6pc (230 NTD / 440 NTD)

Beyond that, they also had assorted sashimi, red shrimp, inari, sea urchin, and more.

✅ Chicken skewers (80 NTD), grilled shrimp (80 NTD), scallop skewers (140 NTD), and more.

A wide variety of grilled skewers were available.

The menu was truly extensive!

Beer and sake were also on offer.

You can expect the price per piece of salmon sushi to be around ~$2.

(For reference, 100 NTD was equivalent to ~$3, based on the exchange rate as of September 15, 2026)

Important Note

Cash payment only.

Please make sure to have cash ready before your visit!

4. My Honest Review of This Taipei Gem (Self-Funded)

Walked right in, no waiting!

The atmosphere inside was that of an authentic local Taiwanese eatery.

Korean and Japanese tourists

were particularly abundant.

There was a huge variety on the menu, but since I came for sushi,

Let's grab some sushi! So, we ordered sushi and beer.

There's miso soup at the self-service bar, so feel free to help yourselves.

Each sushi piece is pretty generous in size,

and they say one plate is enough for two people.

But honestly, I thought, "How big can one piece of sushi really be?"

So, with that mindset, we ordered two plates of 6 pieces each, right?

I was honestly surprised by how much food it actually was, much more than I expected!

You really need to know that these are much bigger than they appear in photos.

The sushi topping is incredibly thick, and there's a lot of rice too!

The salmon had a slightly sweet sauce on top,

and it paired quite well with the salmon.

I savored every bite of the salmon, which melted wonderfully in my mouth.

These are genuinely huge – you definitely can't eat them in one bite!

It's clear that one plate would be perfect for two people.

The salmon was pretty good, but the fresh squid sushi was also delicious!

Neither had any fishy taste at all;

they were both incredibly fresh.

However, there was one slight drawback.

It didn't feel like freshly made sushi.

(Definitely not Japanese style ❌)

The sushi rice (shari) seemed to be prepared in large batches, so it was cold.

But since the fish topping was so fresh and large,

everything was delicious apart from the shari.

But because the portions were so huge, after a while, I started to feel a bit overwhelmed...?

The salmon was thick, and the sauce was sweet, too!

Thankfully, I could finish it by adding plenty of wasabi.

Looking at other tables, I saw many groups ordering

not only sushi but also maki, rolls, and sashimi.

It seems like the best way to enjoy your meal here is to order

a variety of dishes and share them.

The first bite was absolutely delicious,

but my conclusion is that it's a flavor that can get overwhelming quite quickly.

If you ask if I'd go again?

I'd say not necessarily, as there are so many fantastic restaurants in Taipei's Ximending.

(I prefer Japanese-style sushi.)

Since tastes vary,

please just keep these points in mind,

and it might be worth visiting at least once. :)

Instead, try adding items little by little!

4. Sanmi Restaurant FAQ

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Q. Is the wait long?

No. As of 5:40 PM on a weekday evening, there was no wait, but a small queue started forming around 6:30 PM.

The wait wasn't as long as it used to be.

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Q. If two people go, how should they order?

Order one plate of 6 pieces and add one other menu item.

The portions are larger than you'd expect, and the food can be quite sweet, which might make it feel overwhelming.

Q. What about the price range?

Each piece of sushi is about ~$2.

Given the size, it didn't feel expensive.

Q. Is card payment accepted?

No. Only cash payment is available.

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✅ Today's travelogue complete!

Today, I've shared my review of Sanmi Restaurant, a famous spot for giant salmon sushi located in Taipei's Ximending.

While the visual appeal is absolutely insane,

I have to say the taste isn't necessarily out of this world.

Still, the salmon and squid were incredibly fresh.

The wait isn't as intense these days as it used to be

so if you're curious, it might be worth a visit!

I'll be back with more useful tips in my next travelogue.

Feel free to leave any questions in the comments, and have a wonderful trip!!

Thank you for reading today's post!

Thank you 🇹🇼

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📝 See the next travelogue

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