Sensei Asian Bistro

Name: Sensei Asian Bistro
Address: 4860 Steve Spurrier Way, Ste. 10, Gainesville, FL, United States, 32608
Telephone: (352) 214-1239
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (250)

$50 and over

Contemporary Asian

4860 Steve Spurrier Way, Ste. 10, Gainesville, FL 32608

Make a reservation

2 people

May 4, 2025

10:30 PM

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Romantic
Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions

At Sensei, tradition meets innovation. Our menu blends timeless Asian techniques with modern culinary artistry, all set in a sophisticated yet welcoming space designed for both casual gatherings and special celebrations.

Led by Chef Xiaoqian Hu, our kitchen is known for standout creations like our A5 Wagyu tasting, fresh catch flown directly from Toyosu Market in Tokyo, and refined tasting plates.

Golden Hour (4:30 PM–6:00 PM)
Savor our exclusive early evening menu featuring hors d'oeuvres, tasting courses, and seasonal seafood sourced directly from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market—perfectly complemented by sommelier-selected wines, handcrafted cocktails, and premium drafts. A graceful start to your evening awaits.

Celebrating something special? Let us know your details—we love creating personal, memorable moments for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and beyond.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Contemporary Asian, French / Japanese, Cocktail Bar
Hours of operation
Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(352) 214-1239
Website
http://www.insensei.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Xiaoqian Hu

Location
4860 Steve Spurrier Way, Ste. 10, Gainesville, FL 32608
Neighborhood
Gainesville
Cross street
Across Street from Regal Cinema at Celebration Pointe
Parking details
Free Parking Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Experiences

Chef’s Tasting Menu
$95.00 - $295.00 per person
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
Experience a culinary journey with our Chef's Tasting Menu. Meticulously crafted by chef Hu and his team, each course is a harmonious blend of contemporary Asian flavors, seasonal ingredients, and innovative techniques. This exclusive dining experience offers a multi-course exploration of our signature dishes, designed to delight your senses and leave a lasting impression.
The Commencement
$145.00 per person
Prepaid
May 1, 2025 - May 4, 2025
Celebrate graduation at Sensei with a specially curated sharing menu designed exclusively for this special milestone. Featuring three thoughtfully crafted snack courses, two inspired main courses, and one delightful dessert, our contemporary Asian dishes are perfect to enjoy course-by-course or shared family-style at your table. Immerse yourself in an elegant ambiance, celebrating today's achievement and tomorrow's exciting adventures, whether you're gathering leisurely or dining on a tight schedule.
The Heart of Home | Mother's Day
$145.00 per person
Prepaid
May 9, 2025 - May 11, 2025
Honor the love, care, and strength at the center of every home with The Heart of Home, a special Mother’s Day menu crafted to celebrate the women who inspire us. This thoughtfully curated multi-course experience blends seasonal ingredients with Sensei’s signature contemporary Asian approach—elegant, warm, and memorable. Whether gathered for a long-awaited reunion or a quiet moment of thanks, this experience invites you to share a meaningful celebration in the spirit of home.

What 250 people are saying

Sensei Asian Bistro reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Orlando / Central Florida East
Healthy
Orlando / Central Florida East
Romantic
Ocala / Gainesville
Best Overall
Ocala / Gainesville
Best Food
Ocala / Gainesville
Best Service
Ocala / Gainesville
Best Ambiance
Ocala / Gainesville
Innovative
Ocala / Gainesville
Healthy
Ocala / Gainesville
Great for fine wines
Ocala / Gainesville
Romantic
Ocala / Gainesville
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Sensei Asian Bistro offers an unforgettable dining experience with "delicious and luxurious" Asian-fusion cuisine. The ambiance is "serene and intimate," and the staff, particularly servers like Kiki and Liam, provide "outstanding" service. Despite some minor mishaps, guests appreciate the "creative" dishes and "stellar" service, making it a top choice in Gainesville.

250 Reviews

J
Jeff
Dallas1 review
1.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
Fixed grad menu was extremely overpriced. Place was nearly vacant on a Sat night. I would not recommend.
Is this helpful?
R
Rick
Orlando3 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was delicious. Server was courteous and knowledgeable.
Is this helpful?
S
Saide Carolina
Tampa7 reviews
4.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Honestly, the food is not worth the $145 per person. It was supposed to be a degustation menu that ended being a family style service for the main dishes served with lots of fried rice. I am very dissapointed but the value is not there.
Is this helpful?
S
Stephanie
Orlando9 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our first experience at Sensei. It was a wonderful! Very peaceful atmosphere. Liam was our server and helped us navigate food choices. Presentation of the food was excellent. We had Lobster wontons, Wagyu Tataki, Applewood Smoked NY Strip and Wagyu fried rice. Dessert was Yin/Yang cheesecake snd Pana Cotta. Everything was delicious. Nothing was overly seasoned. We will definitely be back to choose different dishes!
Is this helpful?
J
Jackson VIP
Tampa4 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Awesome service, food and ambiance….great cocktail menu
Is this helpful?
K
Kenneth
Tampa1 review
5.0
Dined on April 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing as always! Service was stellar Food was delicious
Is this helpful?
C
Cheryl
Philadelphia3 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 12, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
the greeting as we arrived was exceptional and general service superb. The food was creative and beautifully displayed, very artistic. the unusual tastes for example lemon on the lamb chops made us raise out eyebrows. Two areas of disappointment 4 out of 5 of out meals arrived together but the 5th meal was almost 10 mins late. Bit awkward for everyone waiting and the usual fuss about please start no we will wait etc. The drinks were great but the bill steep.
Is this helpful?
R
Richard VIP
Miami3 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
After arriving in Gainesville for a brief stay, I searched for an Asian-Fusion type restaurant to enjoy. Sensei Asian Bistro immediately caught my eye. It did not disappoint, and frankly knocked it out of the park. The food was delicious, the menu was elaborate, and the ambiance was ideal. However, it was our food server who truly enhanced the evening. I highly recommend Sensei and will return when back in town.
Is this helpful?
C
Christina
Orlando1 review
5.0
Dined on April 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The best place to treat yourself in Gainesville! We loved the wagyu fried rice, lamb chops, and sea bass. We have been back three times within the past couple months and everything we have ordered has not disappointed.
Is this helpful?
J
J
Orlando1 review
2.0
Dined on April 7, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Waiter spiled my wine on my hand and on the tabletop and outside the bottle on TWO ATTEMPTS until I showed him how to pour it INto the wine glass. Rack of lamb was as tough as shoe lesther. Waiter offered to take it away, but I don’t waste any food at all, so the price was reduced by 50%. The “diver scallop and one big shrimp” on the menu came out with several small shrimp and several tiny scallops. The four samples of sake were the very best I’ve ever enjoyed. It took too long for the waiter to bring my wine because he was preoccuoied speaking with a bartender. THE RACK OF LAMB WAS SERVED WHILE I WAS ONLY 1/3 THROUGH MY APPETIZER!!! The lobster wonton had no pieces of lobster, stuffing was a lobster-tasting paste. Lobster wonton and the 4-sake selection and the very friendly employees would bring me back. A Yamaha keyboard instrument was haphazardly parked, but I was told that its music would occur only on Mothers Day. Waiter was very friendly, informative, respectful! No one sang happy birthday to me. Just a “happy birthday” sign and a nice complimentary dessert. I will take my ladyfriend elsewhere for her birthday.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Sensei Asian Bistro offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (352) 214-1239.

Sensei Asian Bistro is rated 4.7 stars by 250 OpenTable diners.

Sensei Asian Bistro does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.