33 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.“

“Ive been to many sushi places from SD to LA. From high-end Michelin Star restaurants to hole in the walls. I gravitate to this place the most and I keep coming back after all these years. The food is incredible, fresh ingredients, great service.
All of the above!“

“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!“

“Cute outdoor bench area with paper lanterns, and nice roomy interior with ceiling lights. We got 5 rolls: three summer rolls (mango, eel, orange) and 2 smaller rolls (spicy yellowtail and crunchy california). The sushi was very fresh-favorite definitely either the yellowtail and mango one--but all were very delicious. Service was fast and attentive on a Friday night. Also got some sake and Sapporo. Def recommend and will visit again!“

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

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

“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!!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

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

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

“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😃“

“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!“

“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.“

“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 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.“

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

“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“

“the bestttttt japanese food!“

“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 💕 🍣 🍱“

“First time to visit and the food was sooo good. I love the scallops the most. We had 14 person party and we were sitted immediately. Food was prepped and cooked in front of us, very entertaining for all. I felt that they wanted to make sure we had the best time. Thanks for making my family experience a good one.“

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

“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.“

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

“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 quick Japanese meal!
I stopped by Sarku Japan at Plaza Bonita and was really impressed! The teriyaki meals are full of flavor and cooked fresh right in front of you and the sauce is tasty, the chicken was tender, and the veggies were crisp. The portions were generous, and it was a great value for what you get. I also tried some of their sushi rolls, and they were surprisingly good too. Service was fast and friendly even during a busy food-court lunch, and everything tasted fresh. Definitely my go-to spot when I want a quick, delicious Japanese meal while shopping! 🍱👍“

“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 🥰“

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