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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Fantastic food quality. Purist food.“

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

“It’s a large store that has a bit of everything—from Japanese snacks to cosmetics and quirky items. The place is clean, and the service is friendly and attentive; I’d definitely recommend a visit—it’s worth it, because once you step inside, you’re sure to end up buying at least one thing.“

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

“What's not to love? Went for omakase with a friend and throughly enjoyed every morsel. Fresh and tasty across the board. Inventive bites and flavour combinations, great pairings of seafood with local ingredients, impeccable service and atmosphere, really top notch across every metric. Would highly recommend for a special occasion.“

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

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

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

“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!“

“This Japanese restaurant is so cute and pretty!! The servers also add to the Japanese vibe~ There was a small wait on a Friday night.

The menu is pretty easy to navigate. I feel like everything looked really good, so it was hard to decide what to order. The dishes have small portion size despite the price. I think this kinda helps in that you have room to eat dessert!

The brown sugar Okinawa tea was good but the after taste of the sugar was not good. They kept the tea pot warm, and they served oat milk on the side.

Karaage had too much chicken skin for my preference. Guratan was penne pasta and not macaroni as specified in the menu. Yakisoba could have used more chicken. Omurice had the more flavor and the egg was really good. I want to try naporitan next time because of the tomato based sauce.

Of the desserts I tried, the parfait was most enjoyable because of the fruit with ice cream. The mushi pudding was good; it was the thick and “hard” type of flan. I want to try kakigori next time because I saw their shaved ice machine was legit.

Parking - free street parking only. Be prepared to walk up/downhill.
Credit card/apple pay accepted
Bathroom is only one room in the back. THE SEAT IS WARM.“

“They were very busy when we got there and there was a bit of a wait for a party of 4 but once we were inside they were very friendly and quick to take our order and quick to serve our food. The rolls were really yummy. Everything tasted fresh and the veggie tempura roll was very big. We were very full by the end of the meal and took home leftovers.“

“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. :)“

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

“Josh was super friendly and seated us promptly. The food was all really delicious and the service was fast. They where on top of refills and clean up. Each roll tasted so fresh and flavorful. 10/10 recommend and can't wait to come back.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Now that's what I call an excellent execution of a sushi dinner.

Fantastic fish and variety, skilled chefs and recommendations, will go again!

Definitely my go to spot when I'm this part.of Sam Diego.

Chef Bryan and team are fantastic...and the extra touches on each piece/bite make it one to remember.“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“One word: Bitersweet
I was on my birthday trip when i went to moment sushi, im from Virginia so im SO SAD im so far but SO GLAD i went! It's been a month and i still dream about these Handrolls. From the food, to the ambience, to the staffs knowledge and from how they treat you when you first come in til when you leave? AMAZING.
The appetizers were my favorite, I'm a tuna gal so ofcourse we got the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice & the Bluefin Tuna Ponzu Wasabi (don't skip this one trust me - especially if you love tuna).

This is what I ordered for hand rolls:
Pictured Bottom Hand rolls (left to right): Albacore with mango ceviche, Hamachi with jalapeño, Panko shrimp tempura w tartar sauce, Tuna poke with crispy rice, Unagi with Avocado
Our server was so nice and advised me to eat the Unagi first since it came out hot (I agree should be eaten first BUT It's SOO GOOD i wish i would have ordered 2 one to start and one to finish) everything else was good - id probably skip the shrimp with tartar sauce.

We were lucky (we didn't have a reservation) but managed to snag a table outside in one of their heated bubbles. (They were so kind to offer a blanket as well)

Please know if I'm EVER in San Diego this is my first Dinner Stop.“

“Awesome. Food on par with the OG Japan locations. Not as techy though. I would love to see ordering kiosks at the tables and counter checkout or at least portable POS devices like Japan. The food was awesome and the small things are just nice to have recommendations.“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“I had such a wonderful experience at this sushi restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious ,everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. You can really tell they care about quality.
The atmosphere was just perfect ,clean, relaxing, and very inviting. It made the whole dining experience even more enjoyable.
And I have to mention the service ,the waiter was incredibly kind, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. That kind of service really makes a difference!
I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend this place to anyone who loves great sushi and a lovely dining experience“

“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. 🤙🤙🤙“

“One of the best hotpot places I’ve ever eaten at!! The meats are incredibly delicious and although the stations for picking your own foods is slightly limited compared to other places, it is more than made up for by their meats available. The fish was incredibly soft and the lamb was very flavorful. They also have milk tea and calico on tap basically. And for dessert, there is self-serve Ice cream. The available flavors are butter pecan, strawberry cheesecake, mint chocolate chip, and cookies and cream.“

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

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

“The food was average, I found the sushi to taste decent but the mussels were very dirty tasting. The restaurant was run down and seemed a little dirty; sticky tables, sticky high chair, and a dirty fish tank sitting in the back. The staff was very kind and attentive. Overall not a bad place but I don’t think I would go back“

“Fantastic fresh food; great sushi bar. Wonderful service from Kaz. I highly recommend..best sushi and sashimi around!“

“The soft shell crab appetizer was ok but the seafood ramen was good. Probably wouldn’t order the soft shell crab again because the batter was not the tempura batter I was expecting. The ramen on the other hand was good and something I would order again.“

“We arrived right before noon on a Friday. It was not busy, and I got a space close to the entrance in their parking lot shared with several other businesses. My friend and I both ordered the Friday lunch special, sesame chicken. My friend didn't expect the chicken to be deep-fried, but we didn't ask how it was prepared. The lunch came with a cup of miso soup, salad, and rice. I enjoyed my food. We also ordered fried calamari, which were all tentacles--my favorite. They weren't too big, which I prefer. I liked them. Service was great, too. I remember it was quiet, and traditional decor. Prices were reasonable.“

“Best curry in San Diego!!“

“I've been going here 3x already and been trying different dishes every time and I would say, it is good! It's inside the pyramid building. From snacks to drinks to meals, that are good for the price! Father and son working there. Very nice people also! Loved everything so far!“

“First time at Elvira after many dinners at Cesarina. The food is the same level of authenticity and quality. But at Elvira, you can find parking and actually reserve a table (I am not criticizing Cesarina for being popular, just noting how difficult reserving a table can be). Last time I ate at Cesarina was with my wife who was wheelchair bound and two friends. The person who served us that night - Denis, I think - was also our wine server last night and remembered me. I am not famous and not worth looking at. So, I really appreciate that level of interest. I had the Amatriciana sauce last night. It's wonderful - worth a detour. It's simple on the surface, but getting the flavors balanced with the right amount of spiciness and fruitiness takes real skill in the kitchen. They have it. As our waiter last night suggested, it's like a big hug - just makes you feel loved and wanted. We also had the beet salad and the mixed salad both of which are well prepared, balanced and each sufficient for two people (we were three). We appreciate the low corkage fee that brings on a good decanter and appropriate glassware. We may never go back to Cesarina - not because it isn't worthy and surely not to miss the care Iris brings to her customers - but because Elvira is so darn good and easier to access. Also the service in Elvira is truly wonderful - not pushy, not fancy - knowledgeable, great sense of humor and attention at the right moments. And the free dessert is in insufficient bribe to get me to say such nice things about him and the restaurant.“

“This is easily one of our absolute favorite spots in San Diego! My wife says the food tastes exactly like traditional Japanese home cooking. Honestly, everything on the menu is incredible, so you truly cannot go wrong. The service is always fast and friendly. We have been coming here regularly for over 12 years, and their quality has never dipped.

For lunch, their bento boxes always hit the spot. For dinner, we love ordering a mix of individual dishes and sides to share. We highly recommend this place as an absolute must-try for anyone in the area!“

“Great food 😋 and friendly atmosphere 🥰.“

“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 👌 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟“

“I always talk about theirs places that give you great portions of food and thats not what this place is but a place that true elegance comes in the form of a plate . The quality of the food has surpassed the standards of what most consider excellent.“

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“

“FABULOUS LUNCH ! Hey I have never been inside a Japanese restaurant in my life. On the other hand my wife has traveled to Japan many times for her work and loves Japanese food...her fav is Chicken Yakitori. NOTE ! I saw a video a few days ago of Chicken Katsu Curry posted by my mate Jack...one of my best friends on Yelp. It looked so delicious that I had to have it. TODAY ! My wife and I were down in La Jolla taking care of business. I had previously looked up URBN Sushi and knew they served Chicken Katsu Curry and Chicken Yakitori. After a slow 10 minute drive due to roadworks...we arrived here at around 2pm. A friendly server named Henry greeted us with a big smile when we entered. Glasses of iced water came out quick followed by COMPLIMENTARY bowls of Miso soup and Edamame Beans. My wife ordered a Chicken Yakitori Starter and I had to have the Chicken Katsu Curry of course. A few more customers trickled in while we waited for our lunch order to arrive. WHOO HOO ! My wife's Chicken Yakitori Starter...2 skewers arrived first followed soon after by my beautiful looking Chicken Katsu Curry. TOTALLY DELICIOUS ! There is a first time for everything and now I know I love this dish. MORE ! My wife loved her Chicken Yakitori skewers but needed more food so a Vegetable Tempura Starter came out within a few minutes. And I pinched a few pieces...so delicious. THE MENU IS HUGE ! We were more than happy with our first lunch visit but there is so much more to try on the menu. TOP SERVICE ! Our server Henry was great the whole time answering all my questions about items on the menu. WE LOVED IT !“

“I had such a great experience at Ayu Sushi in Carmel Valley! What I loved most was their dog-friendly patio—it's so spacious and convenient for pet owners. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, making sure both we and our pup were comfortable. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxing outdoor lunch. The sushi was fresh and the service was top-notch. Definitely our new favorite local spot!“

“BEST JAPANESE BBQ SPOT EVER! My family have been consistently coming to this resturant for years to celebrate any special occasions or birthdays. The meat, rice, side dishes, and rice are always delicious. The staff are welcoming, accomodating, and even recognize my family now. I highly reccomend the family combo as it offers a good balance of beef variety and value, especially for larger parties. The portions are not the largest and on the pricier side but I think it's worth it for the quality over quantity. Free parking but it's difficult to find available spots especially at night, as expected of Convoy tho. The restroom is nothing special, single room, and in the back next to the kitchen. Will definitely continue to eat here !!“

“The service, prices, and atmosphere were all great. The woman at the cash register was so kind and offered us table service since we had our dog and baby. She made the experience special. My husband got the bento C and he really liked everything. Unfortunately, I got the sushi lunch and didn’t love it. Typically I love ahi nigiri, but I found theirs chewy. All the other fish were good.“

“Worth a try 100%

We tried Artifact on mothers day, they were busy so i am taking that into consideration. Their appetizers were 10/10. Solid drinks as well.
But the main dishes were so underwhelming. Came out cold and with unbalanced flavours.

The interior design and atmosphere is very nice!
Service was slow given the business but friendly overall.
Would like to give them a shot on a regular day!“

“Went to Kotobuki for the second time with my daughter and took take out home for my husband and mother in law. We got an avocado roll, miso soup, edamame. Rooibos tea. We took spicy tuna, crunchy roll and California roll home. We all enjoyed the food. The sushi rice was very well done. Perfect texture. The tempura crunchies were not overly greasy. Everything tastes so fresh. The flavors are very balanced. The atmosphere and the general vibe are very calming and peaceful. We will definitely be back.“

“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.“

“The sushi and sashimi were the best I’ve had in the USA. The fish was extremely fresh and tasted amazing. I recommend the Otoro and uni nigiri. Our server is recommended the kenpachi sashimi and it’s very delicious. The only issues I had were that the soy sauce seemed a little strong? the soy sauce was a little too salty and dark for my liking. In Japan they use a lighter soy sauce when serving sushi to balance out the sodium. Other than that the ambiance and service was awesome.“