48 Best Japanese Restaurants near Imperial Beach

“I don't have any pictures unfortunately. Inside was pretty alright. Nothing too fancy nor exotic like Sushi Roll off of Broadway. -Looked like it used to be a Fast Food chain before it became Meijo Sushi judging by the drive thru. This gave me vibes that of Niban Japanese Restaurant near Convoy. The food such as the sushi however is one of my top favorites of all sushi/Japanese restaurants I've been to. I highly recommend the Seared Ahi Roll. First time trying it, and haven't seen that anywhere else especially near home. Arguably to myself, one of my favorite sushis out there. I even took my girlfriend here and that was a successful date. This just goes to show, never judge a restaurant by its interior. The food was spectacular. It's in a plaza and parking is plentiful.“

“Taka is easily one of the best sushi spots I’ve ever been to (believe me — I went to multiple sushi restaurants in Japan, Thailand and USA) I had the best amaebi of my life here — incredibly sweet, fresh, and delicate. You can truly taste the quality, especially knowing they fly in ingredients from Japan.

The Hokkaido uni was rich, buttery, and perfectly clean. Overall, the quality is superb. And, don’t forget to try Saba Buttery! A must-visit for anyone who loves truly fresh, authentic sushi.“

“Been going to this place for over 20 yrs. Beside good excellent food , staff are always friendly never change.. love every time I’m here, it feels like my second home..“

“What a find! Completely unexpected gem in Chula Vista. Food was absolutely amazing. My garlic noodles with pork belly was the best pork belly I've ever had. By far. The cut of pork and preparation were perfect. My UK coworker gave a huge 2 thumbs up for their fish and chips. Said it was legit. Another coworker raved about their bao buns. Drinks from the bar were great as well. A must visit when in San Diego.“

“Everyone who works there is friendly With excellent customer service food was delicious 🤤“

“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!!“

“Best sushi in San Diego at reasonable prices! Delicioso!!!“

“I like simple handrolls, definitely a good spot to get them fast. I did come here after they opened in the afternoon so not many people. Everything seemed great to me. Only recommend thing I would do is ask for less cucumbers in the rolls but thats my preference.“

“delicious fresh tasting food, affordable prices, and great portions! I ordered the beef bowl

I stopped by here a few days ago on my lunch break. It’s a spot that joins with other food places making any sort of “food court”.“

“Awesome food. Service is great also. Prices are moderate.“

“Great prices! While everything seems to be getting more expensive it's good to know there are some places putting out delicious food for a decent price. The rice is good thats what makes or breaks a sushi spot. We had the Red Dragon roll, Rainbow roll, Philly roll, California roll and some orange chicken all were really good. If you live in National city and want to stay in the area and have goid sushi this is a place worth stopping at.“

“Sakura's Mystery, the new hibachi food truck, offers an exceptional dining experience. Their flavorful hibachi bowls and delectable sushi platters are absolutely delicious. The friendly staff and skilled chefs create a warm and inviting atmosphere. With a variety of options available, Sakura's Mystery is a must-visit for anyone seeking a culinary adventure on wheels. Five stars without hesitation!“

“This place bangs. Disagree heavily that the food was bad. This place is not a 2 star. Absolute insanity to give it such a low review. I love the atmosphere, and I wish more people would check it out.Also, maybe it's the location? Come to Convoy guys, we'll treat you better.“

“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! 🍱👍“

“Good food and friendly employees“

“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.“

“Rico rico muy recomendable El Salmon“

“Awesome staff and delicious options, plenty to choose from. I recommend the Go Go Godzilla or the Abre La Boca Mucho Roll. After six years, it's my number one place for Japanese style food.“

“I really enjoy dining here. I was introduced to this spot by an older friend and my wife. They had been coming here for years before any of us met (this place has been here for over 20 years). The food has always been on point, the service has always been excellent and everyone is just so nice when we visit. Consistency in these three things is such a hard thing to find these days and the folks at California Sushi deliver, spot on, everytime we have visited. Thank you all and we look forward to dining with you for years to come.“

“Good food that's fun! We've been here a few times and always enjoy it. Great sushi. The menu also has items for those who don't enjoy it. While you rarely interact with your server they're very pleasant when you do. I'll never forget how they helped feed military families during the shutdown.“

“Love their food and drinks!“

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

“If you’re seeking an authentic traditional omakase sushi experience, this place is the place to be. My wife and I, originally from Japan, had an incredible time here. It’s clear that the chef puts in a lot of effort and care for his guests. The simplicity of his dishes highlights the freshness of the ingredients. The snow crab nigiri was simply phenomenal! Imagine the meticulous preparation involved, extracting every last bit of crab meat from the shell and also crafting the exquisite crab miso sauce. The abalone was equally impressive, with its fantastic abalone sauce. The local sea urchin was simply delightful, and I personally prefer it to Japanese sea urchin. He ensures that his fish base broth complements the Chino farm vegetables without overpowering them. None of his dishes overpower the freshness of the ingredients. Maintaining simplicity is challenging because it’s impossible to hide. It’s true Japanese-style omakase sushi! He manages to do it effortlessly. The service was also top-notch. The floor staff’s training is evident in their attentive and personalized service. The chef and floor staff work in perfect harmony as a team. We would definitely return for another special night!“

“Inspiring, creative menu that rivals the best menus in the world. Surprising affordable and unforgettably crafted cocktails. Entire staff is friendly, approachable and highly knowledgeable.“

“This place is wonderful....Good Japanese Traditional Sushi and Modern American Rolls for the Non Japanese. good service and quality is good.“

“This spot is a consistent favorite of mine and truly never disappoints! I always gravitate toward their Teriyaki Chicken—the combination of the flavorful sauce, fluffy rice, and perfectly cooked vegetables is one of the best I've ever had. What really impressed me, though, was the calamari. It's incredibly tender, fresh, and zero percent chewy—a rare find! For anyone in a hurry, their call-ahead ordering system is fantastic. I often place my order before heading out to work so I can just grab and go.“

“Cochinita is some of the best Teriyaki in the region, originally coming to us from about 50km south straight out of Ensenada, this is their flagship and only US location and if you’re in San Diego it’s a must; bold of me to say, but in my heart it’s one of the city’s speciality dishes. I’ve been coming here since I was a child, and we’ve always been faithful to the chicken Minoru or the chicken Nomuraki if you want a more flavorful dish. It’s basically just a bed of rice with grilled chicken on top, but the Nomuraki goes a step above and adds seasoning, green onion, and an accompanying side of a picked cucmever salad. It’s not intensely pickley though, and it’s a very refreshing side to enjoy with the chicken. Everything is always fresh and steaming hot as they cook the chicken thighs right in front of you the only thing I’ve been instructed by my mom to do is to ask for the chicken without any skin. It does cost a little extra but I’ve never not ordered it like that and I’ll continue to do so. Also be sure to let them know if you want any condiments, they have pickled red onions, pickled jalapeños, and a signature red salsa. But truly I recommend anything this place has to offer and it’s as local and authentically Chula Vista as it gets. I really love this place and I’m glad it’s survived the test of time which is why I hope y’all can give them a chance and see if you just found out one of your newest favorite restaurants. Overall, DAYGOEATSCERTIFIED✅✅📋“

“Delicious food! Excellent service!“

“The best place to eat, recommend it by me.“

“This is exactly the kind of Thai place you want. Small, authentic, personable, and delicious. And affordable, to top it all off. The owners have been here for 25 years, and they took the time to chat with us. And gave us free lemon tea when they heard my wife cough. Wish we lived here so we could go every week.“

“Food already great here 💕 🍣 🍱“

“Good experience! Friendly atmosphere“

“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.“

“Yum! Glad this inspired little joint opened up on East Plaza Blvd. We needed a Japanese dessert place close by. Just returned from my Japan trip and sure do missed it. Had the strawberry sando which was very good. I'm not sure they are the same Japanese strawberries because Japan had the best organics ones. You will know the difference but sando here is delicious. I loved the mango sticky rice blend smoothie was GREAT! You will need a spoon to eat the chunks of goodness (sweet rice and mangos). The Genmai Honeydew was good if you like roasted matcha. Look forward to trying more items next time. Oshi!“

“The food is amazing, from the bowls to the dessert. highly recommended for anymore in the area and looking for a great lunch or dinner.“

“This is a Great Date Night Place!. The Food is Great and the Vibe is Edgy!“

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

“I love you place. The lady working the register, so accommodating. The food always 💣 bomb!! A little wait but that's because it's always cooked fresh!! Best hibachi gets 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'd give more if I could!! Also open late!!“

“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.“

“I am writing to formally express my disappointment regarding the service I received during my recent visit to your restaurant.

One of the waitresses was extremely rude and unprofessional throughout my interaction with her. Additionally, I requested a few slices of lemon, and later noticed that I was charged for them without being informed there would be an additional cost. I found this practice both misleading and discourteous.“

“Absolutely delish sushi! My husband & I did takeout for date night & we will definitely be coming back!“

“Excellent service amd delicious food“

“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 🥰“

“Came by when I saw they had a happy hour menu from 3-6pm for $5-6 standard rolls and appetizers. For a smaller additional cost, you’re able to test out a selection of their premium rolls for $9. Restaurant is clean, service was passable but the highlight was the food - the quality of the appetizers and sushi was outstanding, fresh, and creative. The BOGO 50% off draft beer paired well with the delicious meal. Overall excellent value for both the happy hour and also the lunch menu.“

“si genial todo al millón 👌“

“Asia Wok is truly one of the most underrated restaurants I’ve ever been to. Every time I order from here, the food is absolutely amazing fresh ingredients, rich flavors, and perfectly cooked dishes that always hit the spot. Whether it's their entrees, sides, or even the sauces, everything tastes like it’s made with real care and consistency.

What really sets Asia Wok apart is how generous they are. They always hook up the portions way more than expected, and you can tell they value their customers. It’s rare to find a place that not only delivers great quality but also goes above and beyond to make sure you get your money’s worth. For the price you pay, the amount and quality of food you receive is unbeatable.

On top of that, the staff is friendly, fast, and always makes the experience easy and enjoyable. Asia Wok deserves way more recognition than it gets. If you’re looking for delicious food, great service, and portions that won’t disappoint, this is the place you want to go. Definitely a hidden gem that I’ll keep coming back to.“

“U love it. Good sushi chefs! Very enjoyed“

“Where do we begin?? First of all Joey was AMAZING! He gave us an experience. He was so very educated about every dish and recommended some interesting and unique dishes. This was not merely eating, this was dining. We will be back to try some others! The banana dessert was so yummy!“