Please note: This restaurant closed in January 2025. Please check our Travel & Dining Tab for more travel inspiration and dining guides.
Earlier this year we discovered Daniel San. We absolutely loved it! Charming atmosphere, delicious sushi and non-sushi options, and so much more!
WATCH OUR VIDEO ON THE GRAM!
This Lake Norman establishment has become a regular day-date spot for my hubby and I. It’s located in a cute-as-a-button refurbished house in downtown Cornelius, very close to Davidson College. When we were told that they were participating in Eat Sweet Restaurant Week, we were tickled orange to taste their specialty menu item! Haha… get my joke there? 😉 I love my friends over at the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission and will always be big supporters (make sure to check out these Sweetpotato Deviled Eggs we made together in partnership!)
TASTY APPETIZER CHOICES:
Whenever my husband and I get the opportunity to escape for lunch with just the two of us, we like to go all out. It’s always a nice end to the week where we can tuck ourselves into a cozy spot, relax with an adult beverage, and chat about our plans for the week ahead. In addition to what we ordered during this particular visit, we also really enjoy their Sassy Tofu in Sweet and Sour Mayo along with their Bang Bang Shrimp. Daniel San offers a few more items as apps, but we have yet to try them. Key word: yet. Will be returning soon!
TUNA POKE TOWER: Delicate sweet and sour hugged ahi tuna sandwiched between crunchy fried spring roll wrappers. The presentation is impressive, and the addition of sesame seeds with green onions tastes fantastic. It’s a light appetizer that satisfies your tuna cravings but isn’t over-filling… leaving room to explore more menu items!
KRAB RANGOON ROLLS: One of my favorites is the Crab Rangoon Rolls… so we pretty much order them every time we visit. There’s a double-crunch you get with the crusty wrappers surrounding the fresh cabbage interior. That, alongside the succulent and semi-sweet chunks of crab meat is totally crave-worthy. There’s a perfect pop of herbs inside, and the dipping sauce is ahh-mazing. Highly recommend!
SOUP AND SALAD, OF COURSE:
I’d describe this course as a playful fusion of classics with a new-age twist. It’s always exciting to read through their options! Previously we’ve tried their Loh Mee Soup and Smoked Squid Salad – both are awesome.
SHOYU RAMEN: Shoyu, meaning soy sauce in Japanese, is a colorful dish known for an array of toppings along with a strong umami flavor. Daniel San mixes this up a bit and adds Asian BBQ Chicken, which I thought was intriguing. When everything is mixed together, the flavors complement each other in the most perfect way! Topped with an over-easy egg… this turned out so fun! Will definitely order it again.
TUNA AVOCADO SALAD: This is totally a step up from your everyday tuna salad. It’s naturally creamy with the addition of avocado and perfectly seasoned by owner Paolo Jose. This dish is light, refreshing, and an excellent choice for the beginning of summer.
ONTO THE ENTREES!
We unquestionably gravitated towards the two dishes below. Obviously because one of them you can only get this week! Eat Sweet Restaurant Week runs from June 2nd – 11th, 2023. North Carolina grows one of the largest bounties of Sweetpotatoes in the United States (hello, it’s our state vegetable!), and this week’s collaboration is an excellent way to try them in unique ways while supporting your local restaurant owners!
SWEET CHILD O MINE: Nestled on a bed of sweetpotato puree, this sushi is stuffed with fresh ahi tuna, bright avocado, and savory sweetpotato shreds… rolled in sesame seeds topped with cilantro, and a crown of sweetpotato fries drizzled with house-made sauce. We finished off the whole plate! So good.
RACE CITY ROLL: What a beautiful and flavorful combination. Made-to-order sushi filled with fresh salmon, and orange roe. It is then tempura fried and topped with spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, red roe, and finished with thinly sliced scallions.
OUR OVERALL DINING EXPERIENCE:
Daniel San offers a covered patio outside for those who like to dine in the fresh air. Personally, we always like to tuck ourselves in their back room along the green tree painted walls and soft lighting. Their menu prices are affordable, and the service is always on point. When you visit, ask if Savannah is available to be your server. She was awesome!
This adorable, locally-owned restaurant is a great spot for brunch with friends, an intimate day-date (like we did!), or a night that you’re craving something a little different.
OTHER Eat Sweet Restaurant Week PARTICIPANTS:
Asali Café in Cary
Blue Jay Bistro in Littleton
Cast Iron Kitchen in Wilmington
Coquina Fish Bar in Wilmington
Larema Coffee – Rocky Mount in Rocky Mount
Pie Slayer in Wilmington
Sassool in Cary
Sassool in Raleigh
Satori Meals in Raleigh
Square Burger in Raleigh
State Farmer’s Market Restaurant in Raleigh
Storm Rhum Bar in Asheville
Sweetpotatoes in Winston-Salem
The Mecca Restaurant in Raleigh
Tonbo Ramen in Raleigh
All participants are competing to win up to a $1,000 gift card. Each like, comment or share on a specific restaurant’s post counts as a point, so make sure to show some love to your favorite eatery! If you want to get in on all the action be sure to use #MakeitNCsweet during your visit on social media for a chance to win cool North Carolina sweetpotato swag!
This post is sponsored in partnership with North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission. Per the usual, all opinions here are mine alone and I would never recommend a product or ingredient that I did not immensely enjoy myself. Thank you for supporting the brands that support SliceOfJess.com!
Make sure to check out North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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