50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Del Mar

“Heated outdoor, large menu, great food!“

“The food was delicious I recommend it everyone.... FrIendly waiter u can see them making the food I enjoyed it.. I’m coming to eat..“

“An amazing restaurant! The fish is so fresh that it sparkles!! Get the omakase!! And we will definitely be back And that means traveling there from Northern California. It’s that good.“

“Fantastic food quality. Purist food.“

“Great chefs, great staff, great food, great sake… what’s not to like when everything was great!?!?“

“It’s a large store that has a bit of everything—from Japanese snacks to cosmetics and quirky items. The place is clean, and the service is friendly and attentive; I’d definitely recommend a visit—it’s worth it, because once you step inside, you’re sure to end up buying at least one thing.“

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

“The sushi is amazing...baked salmon roll and Philly rolls are my go to!“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“This place was really good. I got a to-go order and was really surprised at how many extra sides I got along with my two rolls. I didn't think I ordered that much but was absolutely full when I ate everything. The Philadelphia roll had a generous amount of cream cheese. I'm definitely going back for more.“

“Josh was super friendly and seated us promptly. The food was all really delicious and the service was fast. They where on top of refills and clean up. Each roll tasted so fresh and flavorful. 10/10 recommend and can't wait to come back.“

“Now that's what I call an excellent execution of a sushi dinner.

Fantastic fish and variety, skilled chefs and recommendations, will go again!

Definitely my go to spot when I'm this part.of Sam Diego.

Chef Bryan and team are fantastic...and the extra touches on each piece/bite make it one to remember.“

“One word: Bitersweet
I was on my birthday trip when i went to moment sushi, im from Virginia so im SO SAD im so far but SO GLAD i went! It's been a month and i still dream about these Handrolls. From the food, to the ambience, to the staffs knowledge and from how they treat you when you first come in til when you leave? AMAZING.
The appetizers were my favorite, I'm a tuna gal so ofcourse we got the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice & the Bluefin Tuna Ponzu Wasabi (don't skip this one trust me - especially if you love tuna).

This is what I ordered for hand rolls:
Pictured Bottom Hand rolls (left to right): Albacore with mango ceviche, Hamachi with jalapeño, Panko shrimp tempura w tartar sauce, Tuna poke with crispy rice, Unagi with Avocado
Our server was so nice and advised me to eat the Unagi first since it came out hot (I agree should be eaten first BUT It's SOO GOOD i wish i would have ordered 2 one to start and one to finish) everything else was good - id probably skip the shrimp with tartar sauce.

We were lucky (we didn't have a reservation) but managed to snag a table outside in one of their heated bubbles. (They were so kind to offer a blanket as well)

Please know if I'm EVER in San Diego this is my first Dinner Stop.“

“Awesome. Food on par with the OG Japan locations. Not as techy though. I would love to see ordering kiosks at the tables and counter checkout or at least portable POS devices like Japan. The food was awesome and the small things are just nice to have recommendations.“

“Owner is from Hawaii. Great service and great taste. Spicy Miso Broth hit thr spot. definitely will be back when I'm in town for work. 🤙🤙🤙“

“Best curry in San Diego!!“

“yellowtail roll is amazing!“

“It's amazing. Simply amazing. Great customer service. Delicious sushi. Good music. Love love love.“

“I've been going here 3x already and been trying different dishes every time and I would say, it is good! It's inside the pyramid building. From snacks to drinks to meals, that are good for the price! Father and son working there. Very nice people also! Loved everything so far!“

“First time at Elvira after many dinners at Cesarina. The food is the same level of authenticity and quality. But at Elvira, you can find parking and actually reserve a table (I am not criticizing Cesarina for being popular, just noting how difficult reserving a table can be). Last time I ate at Cesarina was with my wife who was wheelchair bound and two friends. The person who served us that night - Denis, I think - was also our wine server last night and remembered me. I am not famous and not worth looking at. So, I really appreciate that level of interest. I had the Amatriciana sauce last night. It's wonderful - worth a detour. It's simple on the surface, but getting the flavors balanced with the right amount of spiciness and fruitiness takes real skill in the kitchen. They have it. As our waiter last night suggested, it's like a big hug - just makes you feel loved and wanted. We also had the beet salad and the mixed salad both of which are well prepared, balanced and each sufficient for two people (we were three). We appreciate the low corkage fee that brings on a good decanter and appropriate glassware. We may never go back to Cesarina - not because it isn't worthy and surely not to miss the care Iris brings to her customers - but because Elvira is so darn good and easier to access. Also the service in Elvira is truly wonderful - not pushy, not fancy - knowledgeable, great sense of humor and attention at the right moments. And the free dessert is in insufficient bribe to get me to say such nice things about him and the restaurant.“

“Great food 😋 and friendly atmosphere 🥰.“

“I always talk about theirs places that give you great portions of food and thats not what this place is but a place that true elegance comes in the form of a plate . The quality of the food has surpassed the standards of what most consider excellent.“

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“

“FABULOUS LUNCH ! Hey I have never been inside a Japanese restaurant in my life. On the other hand my wife has traveled to Japan many times for her work and loves Japanese food...her fav is Chicken Yakitori. NOTE ! I saw a video a few days ago of Chicken Katsu Curry posted by my mate Jack...one of my best friends on Yelp. It looked so delicious that I had to have it. TODAY ! My wife and I were down in La Jolla taking care of business. I had previously looked up URBN Sushi and knew they served Chicken Katsu Curry and Chicken Yakitori. After a slow 10 minute drive due to roadworks...we arrived here at around 2pm. A friendly server named Henry greeted us with a big smile when we entered. Glasses of iced water came out quick followed by COMPLIMENTARY bowls of Miso soup and Edamame Beans. My wife ordered a Chicken Yakitori Starter and I had to have the Chicken Katsu Curry of course. A few more customers trickled in while we waited for our lunch order to arrive. WHOO HOO ! My wife's Chicken Yakitori Starter...2 skewers arrived first followed soon after by my beautiful looking Chicken Katsu Curry. TOTALLY DELICIOUS ! There is a first time for everything and now I know I love this dish. MORE ! My wife loved her Chicken Yakitori skewers but needed more food so a Vegetable Tempura Starter came out within a few minutes. And I pinched a few pieces...so delicious. THE MENU IS HUGE ! We were more than happy with our first lunch visit but there is so much more to try on the menu. TOP SERVICE ! Our server Henry was great the whole time answering all my questions about items on the menu. WE LOVED IT !“

“I had such a great experience at Ayu Sushi in Carmel Valley! What I loved most was their dog-friendly patio—it's so spacious and convenient for pet owners. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, making sure both we and our pup were comfortable. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxing outdoor lunch. The sushi was fresh and the service was top-notch. Definitely our new favorite local spot!“

“The service, prices, and atmosphere were all great. The woman at the cash register was so kind and offered us table service since we had our dog and baby. She made the experience special. My husband got the bento C and he really liked everything. Unfortunately, I got the sushi lunch and didn’t love it. Typically I love ahi nigiri, but I found theirs chewy. All the other fish were good.“

“Went to Kotobuki for the second time with my daughter and took take out home for my husband and mother in law. We got an avocado roll, miso soup, edamame. Rooibos tea. We took spicy tuna, crunchy roll and California roll home. We all enjoyed the food. The sushi rice was very well done. Perfect texture. The tempura crunchies were not overly greasy. Everything tastes so fresh. The flavors are very balanced. The atmosphere and the general vibe are very calming and peaceful. We will definitely be back.“

“Great experience, I felt transported to 2023 and my trip to Tokyo! The food had that scent of being really char'd, or bbq, that roasted flavor, although the portions were small. This seems small, but the beer I ordered came in a frozen mug, which stayed cold the entire duration of my dinner. Impressed!!“

“We had the most amazing meal there on Wednesday night! Everything was exceptional, especially the uni! The service was fantastic! We will be back!“

“Solid neighborhood joint for Japanese and Korean food. The ramen is decent as are the rolls. The staff is always friendly.

We come here on a pretty regular basis for a simple and well priced evening meal out.

Good food but not a destination.“

“Very good sushi and ramen. Great service! Comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. We will be back when we return to San Diego.“

“I’ve never had a bad time at Glass Box! The food is amazing and the servers, sushi chefs, and management team will make you feel kind you’re a VIP from the second you walk in their establishment. I highly recommend the omakase experience!“

“Delicioso y excelente servicio“

“Shiku Sushi has the best atmosphere for dining, from their amazing menu and service. You are greeted the minute you enter and each server has a smile for you. I love the rolls, and I try different ones each visit. Casanova, Summer Beach Body to name a few. This Sushi bar is a MUST when you're visiting. You won't be disappointed!“

“This is quite easily the best sushi restaurant we’ve eaten in since moving to San Diego years ago. The fish is fresh, always consistent and the owners treat us like regulars. Because we are. If you like sushi that’s inventive, tasty and fresh consider Samurai!“

“Sipz Vegetarian Fusion Café in Clairemont is DELICIOUS! And ALL vegetarian! That’s right none of this is meat!! BBQ Chicken Appetizer and Tangy Orange Protein: "Chicken" Spice Level: Not Spicy (I forgot to take pictures before starting to eat sooo they give you more than what’s in the photos 🤣) You can even customize which type of protein you want and spice level so you get what you really want! And it is SO yummy!! I haven’t had Chinese in SO long!! ❤️“

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“

“Great place to go when you’re craving ramen. They are very generous with the pork portions.“

“Me encanta el sushi y tienes muchas opciones!“

“Stopped by Domo Kitchen while I was next door at Charlie Rose and I’m so glad I did! I don’t usually eat in Clairemont, but this place was such a great find.

The customer service was honestly the sweetest. I wish I had gotten their names because they were so kind and welcoming. The cook (the cutest elderly man!).

The food was fresh and full of flavor, and the Hawaiian sushi roll was so delicious. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to!“

“I never had ube Japanese cheesecake before. It is light and fluffy like sponge cake. I think it would be better with cream and fruits on top. The matcha cheese tart and black sesame tastes more like a traditional cheesecake. It was more on the sweeter side but so yummy. The basque cheesecake was delicious and more creamy.“

“I haven’t come here in over a year, but I think it’s time to address my issues. Back then I used to think it was decent, definitely not the most authentic sushi, but it was still pretty good. I still think it’s okay, but I feel like the quality and portions of food are inconsistent, some days it tastes good and some days it tastes like 💩. The drinks are good and overall I think this place is okay but just fix the portions and quality. 👍“

“I always have fantastic service and wonderfully tasty food every time I come here. This visit was no exception.“

“Super authentic Japanese karaage; juicy, tender chicken and perfectly cooked rice. The sauce was flavorful (I got the yuzu aioli), and everything felt thoughtfully prepared with care and Japanese pride. I hope this restaurant sticks around for a long time!“

“My husband and I were able to get a fast reservation with the Quick Omakase Experience. The experience was ~ 1 hour.

This was our second visit (first one was the full omakase, several years ago).

Majority of the group was already seated for a full Omakase experience. Chef TJ served us at a great pace even though we had a slightly different menu than the rest.

Fish was fresh and there was an option to add on more nigiri at the end.

Chef TJ and staff were kind and refilled my tea throughout the night.“

“This is a restaurant in the market with a shared common eating area. My daughter refuses to eat anywhere else.The udon is actually very well done, as are the pork & beef rice bowls. Healthy portions, and you can add whatever you want. It's all pretty tasty.“

“Stumbled upon this little restaurant in Miramar when I was in the area. Came in for a late lunch and the place was empty. There was a musty smell and I think it must be because the building is old. But the restaurant was clean and service was quick.
I ordered my chicken,beef, and veggie combo rice bowl to go. There was a lot of food and the price was very reasonable. Good place to grab lunch on the go.“

“We sat at Sam Cha’s sushi bar and it was amazing. This will be our go-to place for sushi. Great food, fun ambiance, easy parking. We can’t wait to return.“

“Good experience! Friendly atmosphere“

“very good food and service“