50 Best Sushi Bars near La Mesa

“Very simple, casual Japanese dining. The food and service are great. It has a wide selection of Japanese meals, and one of the larger and varied sushi roll menus in town.“

“Always great food when I stop by #HWMYTastins #HWMY“

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

“We've enjoyed every roll, every appetizer, every visit. Left this afternoon planning a return trip on Friday.“

“the bestttttt japanese food!“

“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 :)“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“Makai Sushi offers a cozy, casual dining experience where the focus is clearly on the freshness of the ingredients. I tried their hapa roll, featuring Aji tuna and crab, and was impressed by how fresh everything tasted. The venue itself is small, with just four tables inside, but the patio provides a more spacious alternative. It’s a counter-service spot, so you order up front and they bring the food to your table—perfect for a relaxed meal. When I visited, the place wasn’t busy, allowing for quick service. A word of advice: the rolls are generous, and the large pieces make it a challenge to eat in one bite. I’m eager to return and explore their sushi burritos next time!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

“I’m not much of a reviewer unless an establishment is amazing or the opposite.
I must take the time to let everyone know that this was the BEST fish and sushi that I’ve ever had. It was incredibly fresh and each dish was better than the next. It is most certainly worth the price (although less expensive than some other spots). The drinks were also suberb and service was excellent and genuine.
Don’t be fooled by the exterior appearance. Once you go inside, it’s chic and modern.
Absolutely will give Hane 10+ stars.“

“The sushi was amazing! We tried the power roll, energy roll, and Mexican roll, and each one was delicious. Sara was super helpful with recommendations since it was our first time visiting. The sushi tasted really fresh, and the rolls were well-made. The atmosphere was also great—very chill and welcoming. Definitely recommend checking this place out!“

“Best sushi ever, very friendly“

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

“Best sushi ever!!! Umami roll is the most amazing roll I’ve ever had with tofu in it!“

“Fresh, absolutely. But let’s start with the basics. The rice is perfect. So many places don’t give any attention to the rice. They have it dialed in. The cuts also show amazing skills. If you are in San Diego and a sushi fan, you have to eat here!“

“Easily one of the best sushi experiences I’ve had in Southern California—period. From the moment you sit down, Matoi delivers a curated, thoughtful omakase that’s all killer, no filler. Nothing farm-raised, nothing phoned in—just wildly fresh, high-quality cuts that let the fish do the talking.

And the value? Ridiculous (in the best way). Easily the best bang-for-your-buck omakase in SoCal. You’re getting an elite sushi bar experience without the ego or the four-figure bill.

It was so good I forgot to take photos… and I never forget. That’s how locked in I was. Just me, the fish, and pure happiness.“

“Great place. have been here a few times now, staff is attentive, friendly and the food it great. We will be back for sure and highly recommend it!“

“Glad to find some Korean food in downtown San Diego. I’m visiting from out of town and was craving comfort food. Quite expensive for fishcake udon soup but it was good. I got the fried Mandu/gyoza because of a special. Usually I don’t buy dumplings when I eat out since they usually taste solid but never wow me. I was surprised I enjoyed them as much, of course the filling is good, but the texture stood out to me! It was so light and crispy - idk if it’s the skin or temperature they fried it but I looooved it. I just Wish they did not charge extra for kimchi, at least for the Korean dishes 😢 Service was good. Unsure if I’d come again for the traditional korean dishes, but I want to try the sushi and ofc get the dumplings. it was very clean and organized inside“

“The food is delicious! I love their chicken kelaquen and the pork ribs. Their food is always nicely presented! Highly recommend if you're craving Chamorro food!!“

“Pleasantly surprised by this place. First time trying it as I’m looking to make 2023 a year I explore new food places. This was my first new place of the year and I’m glad I found them! Friendly people and don’t be fooled by the small frontage. Hole in the wall places are the best. I also liked their happy hour menu….I was there for lunch but will be going back for happy hours and dinners😃“

“Great service Great food Delicious 😊😊“

“We had my dad’s retirement party here at JJ’s Island Grindz and our host was Ellis I cannot speak highly enough on the service he provided for us it will be unmatched. He treated us like family, very attentive, very respectful, on time with everything very professional. I just want to thank him and his crew for providing excellent customer service love and care to our family and friends. The food was amazing the drinks were delicious and had a great presentation. JJ’s Island Grindz is a good vibe. Thank you again for hosting our event.“

“Wonderful spot that's open late. It is a great izakaya style place to go to get some truly delicious Korean food offerings. The service has been excellent every time, and the atmosphere is fun and vibrant.

The Cheese Bul-Dak ( 치즈불닭 ) is exceptional!!! Lots of flavor and the perfect amount of spice. Bulgogi Japchae ( 불고기 잡채 ) is also excellent. The Deep-Fried Chicken Wings are VERY crunchy, but if you are looking for spice, they are a bit mild. Still delicious.

There is a dedicated parking lot right out front. The establishment is wheelchair accessible and there is wheelchair accessible parking available as well. If it's super busy, you might have to park on a nearby street and walk over.

They offer plenty of Korean alcohol beverages to choose from. Far more than most. You can also get a few Japanese beers and sakes here, too.“

“Very homey spot that I now call my favorite spot. Couldn’t find many authentic locations till this one. Menu is priced “wallet-friendly” in my opinion. Friendly staff and well-prepared dishes at any given time, I comfortably feel right at home the moment I enter. They have decent specials for specific days of the week, do be sure to check them out when you’re in the area!“

“very good food and service“

“Love they're food and prices are reasonable. Especially with discount of you eat in the restaurant. My favorite sushi restaurant!“

“When we lived in San Diego we were up the street from Obi's and we went at least twice a week. I still talk about it years later. If you are in the area definitely stop in its definitely worth the trip.“

“The food was great. Mango-Mango roll was exceptional!!“

“@kinmesd delivered a memorable experience for us. From beginning to end I was in awe with the attention to detail, precision and heart they put into every bite. There was never a moment we weren’t taken care of by the chef’s assistants. It was beautiful to watch a group of people work together, harmoniously, and the reflection that had on the food.

@kinmesd I will be thinking about this meal for a very long time. Thank you for making our anniversary dinner such a special experience.“

“Yi Sushi Review

Today I stopped in at Yi Sushi for a quick bite and ended up staying for an experience! I was greeted by a young lady with such a kind spirit, which set the tone for the visit.

They had plenty of specials and happy hour deals that immediately caught my attention. The Shrimp Consomé soup intrigued me right away, and there was also a Salmon Kama special that sounded amazing. I had originally planned to get my food to go, but since the salmon was dine‑in only, I decided to stay—and I’m so glad I did!

I sat at the sushi bar, where the chef served each dish directly to me, fresh from his hands. Let me tell you, that Shrimp Consomé soup was chef’s kiss! The flavor, the texture, and the crunch of the patty with the green onions on top—it was absolutely perfect. I could have easily gone for a second bowl.

Next came the Unagi, served as a pair. Fresh, rich, and so satisfying. Then came the star of the night: the Salmon Kama. I didn’t know what to expect, but it did not disappoint! The salmon was grilled to absolute perfection—tender on the inside with just the right amount of char. Honestly, all it was missing was a side of rice, which I’ll make sure to order next time.

I was so full by this point that I had my Crunch Roll packed to go. But before I left, I couldn’t resist trying a piece of Yellowtail tuna. It was exquisite—soft, delicate, flavorful, and not fishy at all. That’s definitely on my list for my next visit!

Special shoutout to my server, Anne, who was an absolute darling—kind, attentive, and made the whole experience even better.

I came for a quick sushi stop, but Yi Sushi turned it into a memorable meal. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Food already great here 💕 🍣 🍱“

“I love this place! It's very welcoming from the second you enter the door. Staff greeted each customer as they entered the door. The tables, counters and floors were very clean. The portions were great too! Definitely recommend this place!!!

Parking: It depends on the time of day that you go. During lunch time, finding parking can be a little tricky.

Wheelchair accessibility: Really easy to get to and there's parking right out front.“

“San Diego’s best sushi! Get the CATS roll!“

“Excellent service in this spacious asian restaurant. They offer sushi, noodles & chinese food too. We had a very tasty combination sushi lunch, General Tso chicken w peanuts, steamed gyoza, egg drop soup. No waiting & lots of staff.“

“We enjoyed our meal at Downtown Sushi. The sushi fresh and flavorful. We had the baked lango and lion sushi rolls, both excellent. The drinks on the other hand were not good. We went on two occasions and both times the drinks were subpar. They have the wait staff making the drinks instead of an actual bartender, which explains why the drinks are so weak. So overall, excellent sushi, just don't order any alcoholic beverages.“

“Best sushi in San Diego. We’ve been coming here for many years. As a local we’ve tried a lot of sushi in San Diego. This place is the best. Great prices, also. But as far as atmosphere goes, it’s not a lot. They have a large covered patio which is nice. But it’s very casual.“

“I’ve been to this sushi spot several times and always appreciated their variety and freshness. However, during my most recent visit, the rice was noticeably stiff and tasted as if it might have been old. Hoping this was just an off day, as I’ve usually enjoyed their food!“

“We got there around 800 or so. At about 830 we were told that they would be closing soon so we needed to order anything we wanted and close the bill. Oops, our bad. There was 4 of us and we just got the bill and paid in order to be out at 9pm. The food was great. The staff, were trying to get out of there so they probably weren't as friendly as they would have been had we come earlier. Overall the price was great, food was excellent and fast plus you get a discount if you pay with cash. Can't beat it. This was my first time here, although my kids have eaten here numerous times.“

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

“We ordered food to go from Sushiman and it is one of the best sushi that I have ever had in a long time. The price is also very affordable. This will be my new go to sushi restaurant. The shrimps were extremely fresh and tasty. Just writing this review now days later is already making me hungry. Maybe I'll go there again tonight!“

“super delicious and fresh. Great service“

“First time trying this place and it’s a winner in my book! Service was excellent and the food was outstanding! Definitely will be a place I frequent when in San Diego!“

“We do love Hana! However they do a few things that irk us. The first is they RUSH you. You sit down and they ask you a million times if you’re ready to order. Then your food comes way too fast. No separation of appetizers and meal. It all just comes out. They also put the rolls too close next to each other. And the rolls usually fall apart wince they smash the roll into the warm or cold plate interacting with the temperature of the roll. Their sushi making is just inconsistent.

Other than these specific annoyances which I will just start addressing when I come; we really do love Hana. The sushi is good but it has gone way down hill over the last year for some reason.“

“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.“