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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Fantastic food quality. Purist food.“

“Straight 🔥 and delicious recommend for everyone“

“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.“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

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

“Overall a great omakase experience. Nice combo of both tasty traditional sushi (loved the chutoro and aji) as well as some fun courses (tartare puff and chawanmushi were great). Chefs are friendly and service was attentive. Definitely a pricy experience, but given the creativity and quality it is worth it.“

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

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

“The shrimp head moving scared the crap out of me but everything was delicious and awesome“

“We celebrated my husband's birthday here. Staff are so friendly and attentive. We didn't wait long eventhough we just came. Food was awesome to my taste preference. Flavors are not overwhelming. I usually don't ask for desserts and drinks in my meal but here I felt like I wanted to experience everything. Ambiance was relaxing and inviting. It's a small space but staff moves fast without having people wait for long.“

“Clean store with polite staff and good quality sushi. It’s my go to when I’m feeling too lazy to make anything for lunch or if I’m shopping nearby. I also love that they are one of the only places around here that have zaru soba, and my husband says their baked salmon roll is his favorite of all time. The staff remember you if you come in more than once and have excellent service too!“

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

“Great place. True European feel.“

“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. :)“

“Such a great dining experience in the heart of Balboa Park.

Emiliano was our waiter and absolutely made the experience. We let him help guide us through the menu, and he did not disappoint.

We started with the pear and beet salad and masa-fried squash blossoms, then worked our way through the Vietnamese pork meatballs and lamb seekh, and finished with the Wagyu burger. Every dish brought something completely different to the table, which made sharing everything even more fun.

The food was beautifully presented, full of flavor, and just adventurous enough without trying too hard. Add the atmosphere of being right in the heart of Balboa Park, and it made for such a memorable meal.

Definitely ask for Emiliano and let him help you choose you won't be disappointed.“

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

“I almost really don't want to post this review, because if I let others know how great Riki is, it's going to make the place more crowded, and then I'm not going to feel special. Every time I go there, I'm treated like royalty. But the reality is, I'm not special, and they treat everyone that way. If that wasn't enough, the sushi is phenomenal and it's likely the lowest price in town. I used to be a general manager of a sushi restaurant, so when I tell you the sushi is fresh, I mean it, and it comes with experience. If you like rolls, get rolls, but if you really want to know how fresh the sushi is, stick to sashimi. And if you really want to know how fresh everything is, get a mixed Sashimi platter. You can thank me when you do. I sit at the bar, and I'm there every single Friday, and for good reason. You're welcome.“

“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!“

“It is so delicious!! and beautiful. so kind peoples.“

“This place was perfect after a long swim in La Jolla! THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. Best handroll we’ve ever had!
Super grateful to have the best service by staff and our food prepared by the owner himself! 🙏
P.s - Whoever is in charge of the playlist is the real MVP.“

“Just like Oki....iykyk 💛 🔥“

“I have never experienced a restaurant near San Diego that delivers such an incredible combination of delicious flavors, sophistication, and authentic Japanese taste. This is truly a place for anyone who appreciates and loves Japanese cuisine, whether they are Asian or from any other background.
The yakitori is beyond anything I expected — honestly, it feels like it surpasses even what I’ve had in Japan. Every dish was satisfying, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious.
I believe this may be the best Japanese restaurant in the San Diego area. In fact, it might even be one of the best Japanese dining experiences I’ve ever had anywhere, including Japan itself.“

“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. 🤙🤙🤙“

“This was the BEST sushi we have ever had. The entire experience was so wonderful. We left feeling relaxed and happy. Highly recommend this place and the staff were all fantastic and very attentive.“

“Absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. Everyone was so friendly, kind, and welcoming, and you could tell how much care went into every single course. The food was honestly indescribable!!!! Every bite somehow got better and better. The quality, flavors, presentation, everything was just amazing. One of those meals you’re still thinking about after you leave. We will 100% be back!“

“Sipz Vegetarian Fusion Café in Clairemont is DELICIOUS! And ALL vegetarian! That’s right none of this is meat!! BBQ Chicken Appetizer and Tangy Orange Protein: "Chicken" Spice Level: Not Spicy (I forgot to take pictures before starting to eat sooo they give you more than what’s in the photos 🤣) You can even customize which type of protein you want and spice level so you get what you really want! And it is SO yummy!! I haven’t had Chinese in SO long!! ❤️“

“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.“

“Wonderful ambiance and even our great VP of the US came to eat there. Compliments 👏 🙌 Sashimi and homemade ice cream 😊“

“Very reasonable prices, fair but not huge portions. We loved everything we ordered. The vegetable tempura is to die for! Can't find exactly what you want? The chef is right there, tell him what you're looking for and he'll help make something up. Super nice staff, attentive. Clean bathrooms.

I'm glad we just happened to drive by our first night in town.“

“Went here for my 3 year anniversary and it was amazing. My partner and I were told what to expect because it was our first time. I loved the Tom Yum broth and will definitely order that one again. I loved that everything was kinda open bar and included with the AYCE. If I were to come back I'd definitely only pick hotpot not because the KBBQ was bad, it was really good but I had more fun with the hotpot. Hoping to come back soon!“

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

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

“What a great find!
While the place has zero curb appeal and, honestly, is pretty run down, it’s GREAT.
Very large rolls, delicious, and friendly.
My husband and I had the red caterpillar, spider roll, dragon roll, and the vampire, anll of them were very good. I recommend eating here and supporting a local family!“

“Best curry in San Diego!!“

“The food was good.I had an albacore roll, and I thought it was very good.The service was excellent.The only thing negative was that it smelled a little bit like sewage or something when I first walked in. there was a slight bad smell.I don't know what it was.“

“I recently picked up some food to go, and it was the perfect choice for a night out by the water. Everything was packed thoughtfully, including those cute heart-shaped containers that made for such a fun beach picnic setup.

The sushi was fresh and flavorful, and the ramen had a perfectly cooked egg with a rich broth. We really enjoyed the variety in our order. It was such a great meal under the moon, and I will definitely be back for more soon.“

“I sat at the bar and was served by Jon. Jon was super attentive and answered every question I had. Roger, the owner, was making my sushi and sashimi. The service by Jon and Roger were absolutely wonderful. The food was amazing, fresh, and each piece perfectly flavor balanced. I will absolutely come back here and bring friends. I cannot recommend Hane enough. The whole staff was friendly and greeted most guests that walked in by name giving me the impression that this place has a lot of repeat locals.“

“Had to stop by and try this ramen straight from Japan! I can tell you it was authentic from my visits to Japan, and you can taste the care they put into each bowl. We tried the shoyu, corn butter miso and spicy pork belly tonkatsu; all of them were so delicious and rich without feeling heavy. The shoyu broth is very clean and flavorful, the egg was perfectly jammy and marinated, the noodles were chewy, the chashu had great flavor and was nicely tender. Absolutely worth it, go eat it and appreciate the effort that goes into each bowl!“

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

“When I lived here I ate at Niban at least once a month. Moved almost a year ago. Bento box was fantastic. Sushi not as fresh as it used to be. Rice was dry. Seafood salad has also lost its spark. Kind of disappointing. Server didn't seem to care too much. Not the Niban I remember.“

“Delicious Japanese yakiniku barbecue at Tsuruhashi on Convoy Street! The meat was so tasty, we had high quality A5 wagyu short rib, Kobe misuji, pork belly, beef tongue, and lettuce wrap and rice. Friendly staff and the meat comes out quickly. It is not all you can eat. We enjoyed the Sapporo beer. Recommend!“

“Chef TJ treats you like family! It’s the best Omakase experience my fiancee and I ever had. Whenever I have visitors or just want to treat my fiancee to a date, this place is best for all occasions. Here’s some photos of just a few of the things we have eaten there (there would be more but you honestly don’t want to be on your phone and just be in the moment…also it’s all delicious). Highly recommend this place!“