46 Best Japanese Restaurants near Imperial Beach

“Decided to stop in for some sushi on my last night here in San Diego. The place was small, but flavors were huge! I ordered two appetizers and two rolls, and all of it was fantastic quality. I definitely left full. I will be back several times over the next 6 months, and I will absolutely come back here. Highly recommended!“

“Loved the smooth flavors, quality ingredients, so attentive and kind staff, and comfortable and inviting atmosphere! The miso soup and sushi rolls have an excellent balance of texture, temperature, and flavor. We loved how each piece of sushi held together in a single, mouth-filling bite. Chef also provided us with a generous serving of edemame and ginger. Their hot green tea was brewed just right, and we could taste a pleasant sweetness with every sip. And their affogato carajillo was just the perfect balance of robust espresso, vanilla ice cream, and liicor, creating a rich, velvety aromatic drink. Thank you to all the Taka team!“

“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..“

“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!!!“

“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.“

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

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

“I saw this restaurant was close to my hotel and gave it a shot. I wanted to try Ramen here in San Diego in hopes that there is a difference in taste compared to where I live. It's 100 times better. The pork was so tender and the crab was delicious. I got a crunchy dragon roll and they didn't skimp on anything. I will definitely add this place as my go-to for Ramen when I come back!!!“

“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”.“

“WOW ! One of the best experience I have dining out! We were there for my daughter's birthday but think I enjoyed it more than she did. We went through a wonderful 20 course meal ... each one elevating in taste and texture. Chef Maru was very fun, engaging and of all things a VERY fine host and chef. If you are not shy, kanpay with him and your guests and keep it going, he has one of the best sake pairings that I have had. Also his staff were wonderful and was on top of their game. Definitely one for the books!“

“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.“

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

“Good food and friendly employees“

“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 place, beautiful experience with magnificent food.
People who work there are really knowledgeable and kind.

The food is DELICIOUS and affordable!!!
Delicate food with sake pairing makes the experience unique. A must try. I don't usually drink but the glass of sake served with the meal made the difference.

100% recommend.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Delicious food! Excellent service!“

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

“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.“

“Food already great here 💕 🍣 🍱“

“Really awesome place! You can tell from the taste the fish is very fresh, and the little cars that bring your order to you is so cute. They even have fresh REAL wasabi! And $4 beers?!? This place is going to be my new go to sushi spot. My favorite was their yellowtail sashimi and they loaded up the hand rolls. Highly recommend! You won’t be disappointed.“

“Rico rico muy recomendable El Salmon“

“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.“

“Love their food and drinks!“

“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.“

“Delicious food, great service and amazing value. This unassuming spot just a bit outside of the busy gaslamp district was a great find. 2 entrees and an appetizer was somehow under $40 - we had drunken noodles, Thai basil chicken and Spring rolls.“

“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! 🍱👍“

“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!“

“Good experience! Friendly atmosphere“

“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.“

“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✅✅📋“

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

“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.“

“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 🥰“

“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.“

“si genial todo al millón 👌“

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