35 Best Japanese Restaurants near El Cajon

“It's in the mall, but SO much better than Panda Express, been going here since I was 15, they make amazing Sushi whivh is very hearty/savory and light, they also offer combination plates with basic Asian cuisine like orange chicken, beef and broccoli, and curry chicken. They also offer rice bowls and bento boxes.“

“Can't praise this place enough from Oyster Wednesdays to Tgif happy hour or just any time! Quality of food exceptional, priced just right & all the staff does everything right... the food, service, cleanliness & comfort.
Crazy enough my favorite spot to decompress even with my kids“

“Fast and friendly service, Great tasting food my favorite is the honey walnut shrimp💜“

“Best fresh food in town by far! Comfortable environment with a.c, cute koi murals, but can i clean your fish tank maybe put two plecos in there to eat the algae. The sushi was very good, best I've had here in California finally found a new spot. Server was new but very nice and friendly staff. Clean restaurant, sushi boats are awesome, the shrimp with coconut is a must. The fried rice, chefs kiss i definitely recommend!“

“the bomb.com! The atmosphere, the abundant amount of creative and delicious sushi options and dare I say the best fried garlic tofu! I love it here and will definitely be coming back! Shoutout to Sara who made this dining experience amazing!“

“Eaten here numerous times. Excellent quality food, and service. Equivalent to San Francisco Bay Area Japanese restaurants..which are outstanding.“

“If you're in the mood for sushi this has got to be the place you go to. The fish was extremely fresh and melts in your mouth, the rice was perfectly textured and flavored, and the toppings/cream cheese was all well proportioned. Not to mention we were caught off guard with how large the sushi rolls were. Only got 4 rolls and had to take a few pieces home. 4 sushi rolls, a curry, an udon, gyoza, and drinks all for under 100 dollars, in California? You can't ask for better. This will be our go to spot for sushi for sure.“

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

“The food is amazing, as is the service. My family have eaten there since they opened in 1986. They were small then, when Swenson's ice cream used to be next door. My favorite dish was the champon noodles. It still tastes the same!!“

“Sushi was very good 😋 edamame green beans also ! Great service 👍🏼“

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

“Lee is truly an asset to this restaurant. She’s always kind, welcoming, and makes every customer feel valued. Good service is what brings people back, and Lee is the kind of person who builds loyal customers to add to that the chefs know exactly what they are doing and the establishment is spotless clean thank you all for being a part of the community!“

“Sushi is DELICIOUS! Customer Service is Awesome! Place is Mellow and Relaxing and very Enjoyable!“

“We love Chiba! We lived here 8 years ago and we’re back. I am glad to see the food is still as delicious as I remember! The food was fast and I recommend the sushi! Also, our waitress was great!“

“It is my favorite ramen place, I always come here to socialize with friends, and I love how spacious it is. Even on a busy day it doesn't feel cramped up. Their food is excellent, both ramen and sushi.“

“Pleasantly surprised by this place. First time trying it as I’m looking to make 2023 a year I explore new food places. This was my first new place of the year and I’m glad I found them! Friendly people and don’t be fooled by the small frontage. Hole in the wall places are the best. I also liked their happy hour menu….I was there for lunch but will be going back for happy hours and dinners😃“

“the bestttttt japanese food!“

“I moved away from San Diego in 2017 and their salt and pepper tofu is the one meal I miss the most 😂 Sooo good“

“Sai Japanese Bistro is one of those places we always come back to. The fish is consistently fresh, everything is amazing and really well done, and the service just feels genuinely welcoming. It’s an easy go-to when we want something comforting but still a little special.“

“I got the teriyaki chicken bowl and it was so delicious! Nice service!“

“I got the Box A sushi box! I got a Philadelphia roll, dragon roll, and seaweed salad. Paid a little extra to sub a soda for their Daily Matcha. Total was around $25. I am honestly so surprised at how good the sushi is! I've definitely paid much more for this quality, really amazing value for all the food you get. Fish is generous and has a very fresh taste to it! Matcha is very good, balances sweet and bitter perfectly, overall smooth and refreshing. Inside there is some seating and tables, this makes a great study location for National City. Staff was super sweet/polite and accommodating! I would say, as long as prices don't increase too much this is a fantastic place to get solid quality sushi.“

“This is the second time I’m trying the food at Sarku Japan at Plaza Bonita. The first time I ordered was chicken teriyaki. It was flavorful. The latest one I ordered was green dragon rolls rolls. I notice that the cashier who prepared my dragon rolls didn’t change his disposable clear gloves. He didn’t change it even to the customer before me. When preparing food, he has to change the disposable gloves. Food safety first. I was watching him making the dragon rolls from afar. I was asking myself, what if I get a stomach ache or food poisoning? I hope the cashiers/food preparer knows how to handle food. There will always be contamination. I may not be the only one notices it. Don’t wait until someone complains about having a stomach ache. Handling food is very important. Workers, please wash your hands after bathroom breaks and change gloves for God’s ’ sake.“

“Amazing service! The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The food came out quickly, everything was fresh and delicious, and the overall experience was excellent. Definitely recommend this place and will be coming back! Johanna was very helpful“

“Great food for amazing prices. Try to order things thay ate slightly differe and you will get an idea of the different 5astes. I've tried the soups, bento box, sushi,and miso and it is all really good. I honestly like it better than several places on Convoy“

“Amazing food while we were visiting the area. Best service and the food presentation was perfection. Portions and pricing are both outstanding. 10/10 recommend.“

“Food already great here 💕 🍣 🍱“

“Bang for your buck on sushi. I always get sashimi platter and salt and pepper tofu. Ginza house noodles, orange chicken, all of it amazing.

Wait staff could use some training on service and how to look for tables that may need assistance. They seem to lose their way when they have more than 4 of 5 tables.“

“Getting a 5 star overall for the food, since that’s the point of coming to sushiman! My first time coming here ever and the atmosphere was nice, quiet but with some nice music in the back, nice decorations and just a cute environment without doing the most, just cozy and chill type off vibes. The food was great, tasted amazing, zero complaints about it. Ordering food wasn’t an issue at all, I didn’t feel rushed by the cashier (that’s always a thing for me) but she was patient. My only complaint will be is, they should bring out the plates for customers who are dining in, I don’t know I just think it’s a nice gesture, and if a place like Carl’s Jr can do it, then they could as well for the price we are paying. Kinda of a hurry up and eat type of thing:P“

“San Diego’s best sushi! Get the CATS roll!“

“Came to celebrate mom’s birthday as a party of 5. We had a reservation for 6pm (Monday), and upon arriving they weren’t very busy yet.

Upon looking into their menu I immediately noticed they are much less expensive than other places like Benihana. They offer a nIce selection of hibachi style combination dinners. If you enjoy sushi, they have that too!

The portions are generous, and the flavors are amazing! The chef cooks your meats exactly to your liking. And you get to enjoy watching them as they prepare your food. Before they start cooking you can sit back, relax, and watch the chef perform a few tricks.

Overall, we had a great time. The service was friendly, and our hibachi chef was fun and entertaining! We are definitely coming back!“

“Very good service and great food. We are planing to go back for lunch or dinner. The prices are Awesome, my Salmon was delicious and the salad all our food was good.!!!♥️ Thank you Del & Dora Delgado 🥰“

“The food was great. Mango-Mango roll was exceptional!!“

“One of the best Japanese Restaurant in town, highly recommended!“