If you try something new, you might really enjoy it, even if it's filling balloons with Hot Wheels and throwing them off a bridge to see if they'll float. Try some ring-of-fire fare with today’s Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of Pacific Island–inspired fare, sushi, and drinks at Bamboo Hut Pacific Grill & Sushi Bar on Mira Mesa Boulevard.

Our skilled chefs adroitly meld the flavors of specialties from Japan and Hawaii on its multifarious menu of fresh sushi, bento boxes, and more. Prime incisors with starters such as the shrimp and veggie tempura, which ensconces tempting seafood and greens behind a veneer of golden-brown batter ($6.95, 8 pieces).

Sashimi, nigiri, hand rolls, and traditional rolls share prime palate real estate with specialty rolls, including the deep fried Star roll, which wraps together a tantalizing mixture of crab, eel, cream cheese, avocado, and tops it off with spicy scallops ($10.95).

Single-plate bento boxes partner rice, salad, and miso soup with an array of entrees, such as the garlic beef tri-tip, featuring sautéed vegetables sprinkled with sesame-seed oil and soy sauce ($6.95).

A litany of libations helps lube food passageways with selections such as bottled Sapporo ($3.75–$5.75), wine ($4.75–$5.75), and sake ($3.75–$5.75).