37 Best Japanese Restaurants near Encinitas

“Me encanta el sushi y tienes muchas opciones!“

“Greeeat food, service and music.- Loved it, I’ll definitely comeback when I’m im town again!! — PS.- Shaky/Shivering tables was weird to my Amigo Joe though.- What was that!? 😆“

“Fantastic food quality. Purist food.“

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

“Happy Hour is such a good deal - pretty much everything is 50% off - apps, sushi, special rolls, entrees. Only sashimi, drinks and a small section of the rolls are not on sale.
the yellowtail nigiri I had was super fresh.
Crispy rice was excellent!
Rolls are huge! But not in a good way. I like traditional size that fits nicely in your mouth in one bite, but they have american size rolls, oh well.“

“Food was great, service was good, I got the animal lovers with brussels sprouts, it’s got a rich broth, great noodles, and everything came out fresh and warm, went on a rainy day so it was a busy. What stood out to our table most was our server Zarina. She was amazing and incredibly attentive, checking in on us at the perfect times. She gave amazing recommendations and made the whole experience feel even better. Definitely a spot I’d come back to with reasonable prices.“

“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.“

“1st timer here!

I read through the bad reviews and happy to share some advice. As far as wait time, it’s to be expected for this type of dining. I went in with the expectation of waiting, just check in and they will text when ready. As far as the quality, everything tasted fresh!! You get a full plate of veggies with tons of oils, sauces, and spice to add to your broth. Make sure to ask questions about the broth, some are simple so that you can add your preferred flavors. It seems like this isn’t a typical traditional hot pot set up and I’m totally okay with it. I actually enjoyed having my own pot and I was able to eat the entire thing.

Paid a little more for the premium meat, ribeye and short rib… I regret NOTHING! I guess I’m only sad that I didn’t have more of their pumpkin slices - pairs so well with the meat!!“

“Act of kindness and respect. My husband is a Vietnam vet. We ordered our food at the counter. We didn’t notice the placard at the counter saying “ we give discounts to vets”. Our number was called and we went to the counter, paid and brought the delicious Japanese food to our table. I asked Buddy, did you get your discount? He was unaware. We inquired about it mid meal. They offered to re-ring our tab. We said don’t bother, we’ll get you next time. The owner or manager not sure who he was didn’t let it go. He noticed we were drinking water with our meal. He came over with bottled water and said this is for you. We honor all veterans. Thank you for your service. It really touched our hearts. Made our day. Not to mention the food was excellent and fresh“

“Food is awesome n delicious“

“I usually don’t to restaurants that are overly broad with the foods they serve, but I’m glad I did! This place is excellent. I shared the 2 x $25 meal (gyu-don and chicken karaage) and a salmon poke bowl. Karaage was super light and crispy and the gyu-don was exactly what I was imagining. The salmon poke bowl also great, with a mix of raw and seared salmon. The seared salmon was a great touch! Overall, everything was delicious and very good portions. I will definitely be returning to try some other menu items!“

“yellowtail roll is amazing!“

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

“Amazing sushi and noodles at Ayu Sushi & Noodles in Pacific Highlands Ranch in Carmel Valley. We loved everything, the tempura udon, the yume, sachi, and anata rolls, the bluefin crudo, and the salmon hand rolls. Great selection of species on the menu, next time will need to get more nigiri and sashimi. Great service, friendly and quick. We sat on the dog friendly patio. Recommend!“

“It is a fun place to be! variety of foods available.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Awesome the freshest sushi I’ve ever had“

“We went on a Friday night and it was packed. Waited about 20 min to get seated. While the server was nice, service was horrendously slow and getting our food was even worse. We ordered 3 appetizers, a bento box, ramen and about 8 rolls. The appetizer rook so long that the owner gave me a free beer and apologized. Then my hubby's bento box and daughter's ramen came out first. They were fully finished while we were still waiting on our rolls. The owner came by again to apologize and gave us a free roll. She also came by when we were finished and again apologized profusely for the long delays with our food.

With that said, everything was fresh and delicious. We will definitely go back, but not on a Friday night.“

“I love it“

“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..“

“Loved this hidden gem. We’ll be back! Everything including wine was delicious. 🥰🙏🏼“

“Where can I begin? Have you ever walked into a place and just felt like you were in heaven? The attention to detail as you walk into the restaurant and look around, every detail seems to have been given great thought. There was a place for women to store their bags without putting them on the floor. The food was absolutely breathtaking. From the sashimi that melts in your mouth, the appetizers that start the meal just right, the rolls you can’t find anywhere else to your classic favorites, the drinks that are exceptional, to the desserts that you just don’t want to stop at one, this place will not disappoint! I don’t think I can ever go to another sushi restaurant again after this meal! If you ever want to see heaven on earth in a restaurant, be sure to book a reservation so you do not miss out!!!“

“Heated outdoor, large menu, great food!“

“good sushi, and the teriyaki samon is delicious.“

“This place is amazing. So yummy and the owners and staff are so kind and always attentive and the food is fresh.“

“Today was our first time visiting, and to be perfectly honest, this will be our new go to for sushi, even though we live in Ramona. Everything from the appetizers to the drinks and service was great. It seems like it would be a great spot for game or fight nights as well!“

“Came with a few friends, clean quiet place to eat, waitress was nice and friendly. Took a while for the food to come but overall it was good. Would recommend most rolls except the surf and turf, weird flavor combination but still decent. A little pricy but a good experience to go and eat. Would come back again.“

“Fresh fish, a great variety, and friendly staff! While it can get very busy with both dine-in and takeout orders, the team stays on top of it well. The chefs are happy to customize orders upon request. The outdoor patio is a huge plus, and their 50% off specials are awesome!“

“Best sushi since Iroha in Sherman oaks. Just way above the others in san diego“

“Hooked on sushi never fails us. Always great food. We love this place“

“We have been enjoying Katana sushi for the 3+ years that we've lived in Carmel Valley. It is an amazing go to for a great meal when we have company in town or just want to enjoy a date or family night out. The food is always expertly prepared, the prices are great and the staff are courteous and quick. In our opinion it is the best sushi in the Carmel Valley area.“

“I ordered sashimi at the sushi bar for lunch also had 2 piece Ikura (salmon roe) and a soft shell crab appetizer. Fish was very fresh it was obvious since they were still breaking it down in front of me. 2 guys on the sushi bar 3 in the back and one waitress. I was probably 2nd customer and only person at the bar. I got a weird look from waitress when I asked for the bar and she had to ask one of the guys if it was ok. I soon realized that it was not a real sushi bar after I looked at the menu and realized that they did not have sashimi on the menu.
When I go to a new place I usually order sashimi before I look at a menu because I know what I want.
The place filled up quick and the one waitress was running hard but the guys at the bar took care of me. Fresh fish good beer and sake I was very happy.
Music was very loud and irritating some kind of pop but the guys had no problem turning it down (they did not like it either).
I found it strange that they were pre-cutting the fish into slices but I guess if you are doing production that makes sense, I just have never seen it.
I read a lot of the reviews and part of the problem is people going to a sushi bar for something other than sushi. On the other hand if a restaurant is going to offer it it should be good.

Spent $120 after tip but it was at the coast on pch so location and all. Not to much more than my normal spot maybe $20 or so.

I was happy with my dining experience.“

“Absolutely Delicious! SO Fresh! Great Customer service as well!“

“Delicious options for vegans, nice customer service, outdoor dining 👍🏻“

“This place is always amazing. The staff are always great and the food is so good it’s absurd. Ninja rolls all day long! Mmmmm“

“Really good food and service“