50 Best Japanese Restaurants near La Jolla

“An amazing restaurant! The fish is so fresh that it sparkles!! Get the omakase!! And we will definitely be back And that means traveling there from Northern California. It’s that good.“

“We sat at Sam Cha’s sushi bar and it was amazing. This will be our go-to place for sushi. Great food, fun ambiance, easy parking. We can’t wait to return.“

“Shiku Sushi has the best atmosphere for dining, from their amazing menu and service. You are greeted the minute you enter and each server has a smile for you. I love the rolls, and I try different ones each visit. Casanova, Summer Beach Body to name a few. This Sushi bar is a MUST when you're visiting. You won't be disappointed!“

“It is an okay place for a fast bite of sushi. Atmosphere is average. Service was average. Food was just edible. Not bad but not really good. Mediocre.“

“Great chefs, great staff, great food, great sake… what’s not to like when everything was great!?!?“

“Love the sushi here it’s the only place I get sushi from. Well worth the price, plate feels loaded. The flavor just melts away and brings me back to Hawaii (my happy place). The staff are always so polite and doesn’t take long to get your order. There is tables inside and outside, it’s really nice and the vibes are always great. Thank you for having the best sushi in town!!!“

“Fantastic food quality. Purist food.“

“Dare you to find a better dining experience in San Diego. Best Omikase in San Diego County, regardless of what stars and mentions others may have. Incredible, knowledgeable staff; they know food, sake and wine. Food and service are spectacular. True artists delivering the best Omikase!“

“The food is SO good. The chef was super friendly and nice. We can’t wait to go back. 😄“

“Luke is an amazing multitasker❤ made us feel very welcome.“

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

“We dined at their SM North Edsa branch. Good food. 👌 Crews were accommodating. 💯“

“this is clearly one of my favorite Japanese markets in San Diego is not that big but I has enough stuff to make you happy in the dinner place is really good the ramen is amazing and I love you decoration because it makes you feel like you're in Japan looking at the samples you should totally go here will never regret it. prices are there regular has another Asian market but when you think about these being products that you don't get every where it is kind of cheap.“

“We are visiting from Mexico, and the food at Moment was absolutely delicious. The sushi was one of the best I’ve ever had. The quality of the food is exceptional, but what truly stands out is the extraordinary service. Everyone was incredibly kind and attentive. I made the mistake of ordering a roll without asking about the ingredients, and when it arrived, I realized it had truffle oil, which I really dislike. Without me saying anything or asking for a replacement, a young staff member noticed when I leaned in to smell the sushi and came over to check if everything was okay. I explained that I hadn’t asked about the ingredients and wasn’t a fan of truffle. They replaced it immediately, no questions asked. It was an incredible experience with top-notch service. Highly recommended!“

“We had a great time here tonight. The restaurant staffs and the sushi chef were friendly and the omakase dinner course portion was generous and super delicious. :)“

“Owner is from Hawaii. Great service and great taste. Spicy Miso Broth hit thr spot. definitely will be back when I'm in town for work. 🤙🤙🤙“

“I had a salad which was perfect except the chicken I ordered with it was excessively salty. Nobody seemed to apologize or even try to make things right. I tried one piece of chicken and it felt like I was eating a salt pack. I tried another in case I just happened to get the saltiest piece, but each of the pieces of chicken were very salty. After I told the waitress, I ordered it next with a side of shrimp. It was kind of disappointing because they give you a few baby shrimp and some of the pieces were also pretty salty, but I didn’t want to call them out on it. My daughter had the curry udon. The taste was great, but because they put the beef on top of it, it was quite oily. The salmon onigiri was fantastic and well worth the price. It was my favorite savory item we ordered.

The best part was dessert. We had strawberry and mango shaved ice. It was enormous and they use fresh fruit. I think they make their own flavored sauces too. It comes with whipped cream which adds a nice touch.

I also tried the 3 mochi sticks. It was not what I expected. I got it to go, and the three skewers of mochi were very puny soggy and wet. They packed the sauces on the side. It was not very appetizing for the price that you pay. You can get better mochi in the Japanese markets.

Overall, I think it’s a really great place to go for a beverage and dessert. The shop is very cute and beautifully decorated. It is like stepping into Japan and savoring the beauty of the cherry blossom season. It’s definitely worth trying as an overall experience.“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“Covid-19 take out can be a hit or miss with food tasting like it's container. This place did not disappoint. I ordered the Vegan Ramen for a late lunch. Inside the restaurant is following proper protocol and is very clean. I have always ordered Vegan Ramen anywhere I visit outside of California, and have ordered all over San Diego. This by far is the BEST Vegan Ramen out there. The coconut milk, chili and miso broth is well balanced and buttery, the noodles and added ingredients are well proportioned, the tofu is not at all mushy or greasy..The noodles are fresh and delicious. for a couple dollars more you can add more noodles.. Definitely a stop for some comfort food!“

“this sushi place is hidden gem! the owner is a old man who is so welcoming and always smiling. He makes everyone feel at ease. I ordered chirashi bowl, and let me tell you that was one of the best I ever had! so fresh and so much in quantity! also the kind man gave chocolates, apple, water with it.. Will definitely visit again! ( the door might seem closed, they have a shade or something, but they are open! )“

“Some of the best Japanese food in San Diego. I wish I had known about them sooner.“

“As a long-time fan of Japanese curry, I was thrilled to finally visit a Curry House CoCo Ichibanya – my first time at this particular chain, though I'm no stranger to the style, having frequented a beloved (and now sadly closed) Curry House in Westwood pre-pandemic. I was so happy to find the menus quite similar, with all my old favorites present and accounted for!
We started with the Garlic Cheese Naan, which was absolutely delicious fresh and hot, though it did lose a bit of its magic as it cooled – so definitely enjoy it quickly! It was also my boyfriend's very first foray into Japanese curry, and I'm happy to report he absolutely loved it. He opted for the spicy teriyaki fried chicken, while I indulged in my classic chicken cutlet. Both dishes were just as rich and flavorful as I remembered, hitting all the right notes of comforting deliciousness.
My only minor disappointment was that they were out of iced coffee, which would have been a perfect complement. Nevertheless, the overall experience was fantastic, and I'm already planning my next visit to have my old favorite, the keema curry! I'll definitely be back when I'm in San Diego.“

“The sushi was amazing! Some of the best I have had! We decided to branch out and try some new nigiri and sashimi that we hadn’t tried and everything we had was great! The location is amazing! My one complaint is that the lighting was oddly bright for a 7 pm
Reservation. The rest of the atmosphere was great except for the lighting.“

“I really enjoyed the food. We got 2 sushi rolls and chicken katsu. All 3 were delicious. My only complaint would be the miso soup which had an odd taste, I believe due to the bowl holding the scent and slight taste of whatever soap was used to clean it. Other than that, it was an enjoyable meal.“

“Absolutely incredible! We have dined in with Chef Nghi and have ordered their Epic board for take out and every time it has been nothing short of incredible. We’ve tried just about all the high-end sushi spots in San Diego and we’re always left impressed by chef Nghi! Not only is their fish so fresh and their rolls fun and creative but the service is top notch! I highly recommend Ju-ichi!“

“Kumi Café is one of those hidden gems you find and just keep coming back to. My husband and I have been here multiple times, and every visit is just as good — if not better — than the last.

The service is always amazing. The staff is kind, fast, and really on top of things without ever making you feel rushed. They create the kind of experience that makes you feel genuinely taken care of.

Today, we had the Korean short rib, the bento box with gyoza and a California roll, and the tuna poke bowl. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. I normally don’t even like California rolls, but theirs are so good — fresh, not too mayo-heavy, and the rice is just right. My husband said his poke bowl was refreshing and delicious, and I couldn’t stop stealing bites.

We’ve also tried the sashimi and the chicken katsu curry on past visits, and both are incredible. The sashimi is super fresh and generous, and the curry — especially the chicken katsu version — is rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. Definitely one of our favorites on the menu.

The place has a chill, modern vibe — clean and simple, but welcoming. It’s become one of our go-to spots when we want something that hits the spot without breaking the bank.“

“This Brazilian temaki food truck is an absolute gem! The quality of the ingredients is outstanding—fresh fish, perfectly seasoned rice, and the seaweed is always crisp. Each bite is packed with flavor, and you can tell they put real care into making every temaki.

What really sets them apart is the price. For the quality you're getting, it's a great deal—affordable without compromising on taste. If you're craving a taste of Brazil with a unique twist, this is the spot to hit! Highly recommend.“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“If you’re visiting the Ikiru restaurant — or even just in the area — you absolutely must come here to eat! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and everything is prepared with such care. Highly recommended! Especially Hamachi Kama! 👍“

“We found this place thanks to Google Maps and their high ratings. It's in North Park, around the block from City Tacos (highly recommended).

My wife and kids were tired, hungry, and over stimulated. Needles to say, we were ready for good food and quick service.

It took them a while to get us seated with a lot of tables open. The lady serving us came and left whenever she felt like it. They were mopping the floors right next to us, and it smelled like chlorine a lot. The whole combination was putting my wife over the edge, and I just walked outside with our kid.

When I came back, food was served and ready. Very good, but a tad overpriced (probably the area). The food was a good experience, and everyone started to calm down a bit after eating, thankfully.

Will we be back? Probably not because we have much better sushi places around us. But, if you're around, food's good there.“

“Food is good. Drinks are expensive. Service is unimpressive, waitstaff do not seem to enjoy what they do, they are polite but do not care about customer or making sure the order is correctly submitted and received. Lovely dinning area and not overly crowded, so noise is not a problem.“

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

“Very good price for all you can eat premium waygu meats. Very simple and to the point menu. Only wish their sauces was a little better and they had one extra side like steamed egg or japchae. It's just missing one or 2 things that would make it excellent, but for the lunch price of $35 and dinner for $40 you get your value. The parking isn't too bad either compared to other spots in clairemont.“

“Authentic restaurant run by Japanese people. My son ordered Katsu-don and I ordered Chirashi. The seafood toppings were all fresh and good. I did not pick up on the smell issue someone mentioned in the review.

The atmosphere was very friendly and the service was good.

For some reason, they could not make plum wine with soda (very typical drink in Japan), so I had to order plum wine and Perrier. But otherwise, we had a nice dinner.

Parking: We sent on Sat night, but there was enough parking available.“

“Best Sushi, Omakase, and experience hands down.
These chefs are masters and the nicest guys who put everyone at ease and take your taste buds on an journey of pure joy and deliciousness.

Everything is sooo fresh and top quality. Each bite feels sacred, you can't help but close your eyes when enjoying the symphony of flavors.

I wish I could give more than 5 stars. My only advice: sit at the sushi bar and enjoy the ride :)“

“My adult son and I attended the Romanian dinner and it was FABULOUS! Four course delicious and innovative! We will return:) Artifact is mot to be missed. I've enjoyed several lunches before theatre and last night's Romanian themed dinner. One of my fave restaurants:) thanks you and see you soon.“

“This restaurant is the most comfortable and delicious spot you can find in the area.
The Korean dishes are especially outstanding. I’ve tried the Korean-style short ribs and several types of soup, and everything was authentic and generously portioned.
The rolls and sushi are also excellent—great quality for the price.

I think the photos speak for themselves when it comes to the taste.
And the orange slices they serve at the end are always a sweet and refreshing touch. 5 STARS!“

“Curry: 4.5/5 This curry is very good. It is slightly sweet, savory, and has a depth to it. That being said, it stays within the parameters of a typical Japanese curry. The only thing that docked it from being perfect was that the texture was not perfectly smooth. There is this sort of floury grain to it that I associate with store-bought curries that took me slightly aback. I also sort of miss the flavor of having spiciness cooked in the sauce rather than just putting a powder on top. Oh, and more pickles!

Karaage: 4.5/5 The Curry Club does a phenomenal job at frying. The chicken was moist and crispy. I normally do not like karaage with my curry because it has that sort of karaage taste (ginger, soy, etc.) but this was recommended by my waitress and it was awesome.

Fried Again, great fried shrimp, almost no notes. It DOES have that slight mushy texture right between the coating and shrimp that I really detest, but I have accepted that is just part of the experience at this point. Solid choice if you want seafood.

This egg was shockingly good. It puts most of the ramen shops in San Diego to shame. Well marinated, perfectly gooey, a great balance between sweet and salty, the literal perfect egg. I’m not sure if it matched the curry, but I would just eat it as dessert to be honest.

Ambiance: The restaurant is casual but nice. I don’t see why you couldn’t make this a more special restaurant date.

Service: Service was very fast and kind. They “served” just the perfect amount.

Parking: The parking lot is a vast lot. Very easy, no pain.“

“II have to say it was so bussy and the cashier did a fantastic job in making sure we got our order asap ..! congratulations the service was spectacular the place was spotless the atmosphere was so inviting and the food was out of this world good I RAQUEL HIGHLY RECOMEND IT👏 YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED 👌 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟“

“the food was good and typical japanese cuisine. i wish they put more uni on the creamy udon and the seafood kamameshi had like 2 scallops, 3 shrimps, fish roe and it was like 30$. i feel like you can get a better deal in other japanese restaurants, but that’s just my opinion :)“

“👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🤗👍👍👍“

“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!“

“We had the most amazing meal there on Wednesday night! Everything was exceptional, especially the uni! The service was fantastic! We will be back!“

“Food is amazing.
Rose lychee green tea is refreshing and my new favorite

I had the chicken pad Thai level 1 spice and it was great. Not too spicy. But it has a decent kick to it.

I definitely want to try the bbq honey pork next.“

“To any first-timers and newcomers checking out the spot, It's an OLD restaurant, so I would let that slide personally. I remember going here with my parents as a kid since the mid or so 2000s. Recipe and portions haven't changed much nor the decour. Food-wise hits are different, especially the Bento Boxes. Niban was the first place to introduce me to Chicken Katsu.“

“Ordered for takeout and the staff were nice. The restaurant is clean and I love the mural! The food is super fresh and tasty. I highly recommend. The baked sushi is the best baked sushi I've ever gotten and their nigiri is soo good it melts in your mouth.“

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

“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.“

“Came here on a Saturday night. Place was busy. Most of the dishes were good. Servers were overall great. Main issue is that food comes out a bit slowly so there can be a wait between dishes. We sat in the patio but somehow diners inside the restaurant who sat down 2-3 dishes after us, caught up and finished before us. Overall took 2.5 hours for the Soichi omakase. There was a heater on the patio if needed which was nice.“

“The nigiri at Komatsuya is wonderful, I had salmon, chutoro and amaebi, they were truly great. We also had udon noodles and tofu, which were delicious and cucumber salad and edamame, both of which were exquisite. We are from San Francisco and have travelled in Japan. This place is really wonderful, it is a very nice environment and the service is perfect. What a pleasant surprise in our road trip !“