50 Best Japanese Restaurants near La Mesa

“the bestttttt japanese food!“

“One of the best Japanese Restaurant in town, highly recommended!“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“Straight 🔥 and delicious recommend for everyone“

“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 bomb.com! The atmosphere, the abundant amount of creative and delicious sushi options and dare I say the best fried garlic tofu! I love it here and will definitely be coming back! Shoutout to Sara who made this dining experience amazing!“

“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.“

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

“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. 😄“

“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.“

“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. :)“

“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.“

“Eaten here numerous times. Excellent quality food, and service. Equivalent to San Francisco Bay Area Japanese restaurants..which are outstanding.“

“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 💛 🔥“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“If you're in the mood for sushi this has got to be the place you go to. The fish was extremely fresh and melts in your mouth, the rice was perfectly textured and flavored, and the toppings/cream cheese was all well proportioned. Not to mention we were caught off guard with how large the sushi rolls were. Only got 4 rolls and had to take a few pieces home. 4 sushi rolls, a curry, an udon, gyoza, and drinks all for under 100 dollars, in California? You can't ask for better. This will be our go to spot for sushi for sure.“

“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. 🤙🤙🤙“

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

“We always have a good experience here. Food is always fresh and tasty and the service is impeccable. The owners take a lot of pride in making sure everyone has a good experience. So lucky to have a hibachi steakhouse in Eastlake now so we don’t have to drive to Benihana’s crowded place!“

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

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

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Best curry in San Diego!!“

“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!!“

“Sushi was very good 😋 edamame green beans also ! Great service 👍🏼“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Nice staff. Great food. They serve you a plate of salad w/ homemade tofu and a pitcher of lemon water with no extra charge once you're seated. At the end they serve you ice cream, no extra charge too!“

“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!“

“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”.“

“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!“

“Very fast service, friendly people. Delicious food especially the ramen.“

“Delicioso y excelente servicio“

“We had a wonderful time celebrating a birthday here! Geena was an amazing server; her dish recommendations were incredible, and her attentive service made the occasion feel extra special. Between the outstanding food, great drinks, and wonderful atmosphere, this place never disappoints. Highly recommended!“

“My highest commendations for this place. Tonight is my fourth or fifth time, and now I feel comfortable coming by myself, at 11pm, on a Sunday. Because the food is good. Really good. They do something with the rice and spices and garlic that I can’t do and that I don’t do, so when I come here it’s like fireworks in my mouth.“

“It's in the mall, but SO much better than Panda Express, been going here since I was 15, they make amazing Sushi whivh is very hearty/savory and light, they also offer combination plates with basic Asian cuisine like orange chicken, beef and broccoli, and curry chicken. They also offer rice bowls and bento boxes.“

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“

“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!“

“Love this place . The food is really good and nice reasonable priced. For two people we usually pay $40-$50 , when I go it’s not that busy which tells me not everyone knows how great this place is. With all the expensive sushi places these days it’s nice to know I can get a great meal without going broke“

“Looking for not -so -sweet delicious cheesecakes?

This spot is my favorite to grab an affordable and easy dessert for potlucks, celebrations, or just a treat for myself.
It’s an easy in and out to grab one of the delicious cakes!

My favorites? Original and matcha!

Newest seasonal? Mango!

They’re light, airy and make you feel guilt free.“

“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!“