50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Lemon Grove

“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 food for amazing prices. Try to order things thay ate slightly differe and you will get an idea of the different 5astes. I've tried the soups, bento box, sushi,and miso and it is all really good. I honestly like it better than several places on Convoy“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“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.“

“Cute outdoor bench area with paper lanterns, and nice roomy interior with ceiling lights. We got 5 rolls: three summer rolls (mango, eel, orange) and 2 smaller rolls (spicy yellowtail and crunchy california). The sushi was very fresh-favorite definitely either the yellowtail and mango one--but all were very delicious. Service was fast and attentive on a Friday night. Also got some sake and Sapporo. Def recommend and will visit again!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“We ate lunch here and had the most fantastic meal. I ordered the seared ahi, we also got the avocado salad bowl and the lamb kofta. My daughter is vegan and she had a great meal ordering the tofu selection. The flavors were so well balanced and the food so meticulously prepared, it was truly a five-star dining experience. Don't leave until you've had the banana tapioca with mango on top! The setting is beautiful, we sat outside. The lemonades were delicious .If you are looking for an elevated dining experience in the park, this is your place!“

“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. :)“

“Kumi has been one of my absolute favorite places to eat near my work. The prices are great and the food is even better. Josh was our server and he was attentive and kind and made us feel right at home. The quality is top tier and the place is clean and modern. I 100% recommend them❤“

“Been going to this place for over 20 yrs. Beside good excellent food , staff are always friendly never change.. love every time I’m here, it feels like my second home..“

“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.“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“Ichifuji Sushi was a major highlight of our family trip to San Diego. The atmosphere is very friendly and the shop itself has a great feel to it.
The chef was exceptional—not only was he incredibly kind, but he was also extremely good at explaining the details of every dish. One technical detail I really appreciated was his use of a 30-day fermented ponzu sauce. It effectively balanced the richness of the fish and acted as a perfect palate cleanser between courses.
The food was unforgettable, specifically:
• Lobster Sashimi: This was unbelievable and easily the best thing I had. I never realized lobster could be so naturally sweet.
• Sea Urchin: The uni was my second favorite—superb quality and very fresh.
I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for top-tier sushi and a warm, personal atmosphere!“

“I've only ordered takeout/delivery from this location since it is always a large line when busy. And parking is very scarce in this lot, for all of the businesses that are located here. Generally I've received their amazing compartmeted takeout containers with their delicious goods. A couple of times over the years I seemed to get some backup supplies for packaging, probably because there was a non-stop flow of curry leaving the place.

But the flavor is unmatched. I had been craving the delicious Curry House since I moved back to SD from O'ahu over a decade ago. There were multiple Curry House locations available to fill the void at any meal, and multiple competitors that offered similar fare. Then around covid this gem popped up.

I haven't found any business, anywhere, that can nail the Curry House style meal as consistently as they can for decades now. Oh yeah I also notice their ads on Padres games behind batters, doin alright here in SD.“

“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 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“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

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

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

“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!!“

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

“Best curry 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!“

“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.“

“My husband and I were able to get a fast reservation with the Quick Omakase Experience. The experience was ~ 1 hour.

This was our second visit (first one was the full omakase, several years ago).

Majority of the group was already seated for a full Omakase experience. Chef TJ served us at a great pace even though we had a slightly different menu than the rest.

Fish was fresh and there was an option to add on more nigiri at the end.

Chef TJ and staff were kind and refilled my tea throughout the night.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!! ❤️“

“Awesome food. Service is great also. Prices are moderate.“

“We love Chiba! We lived here 8 years ago and we’re back. I am glad to see the food is still as delicious as I remember! The food was fast and I recommend the sushi! Also, our waitress was great!“

“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.“

“I never had ube Japanese cheesecake before. It is light and fluffy like sponge cake. I think it would be better with cream and fruits on top. The matcha cheese tart and black sesame tastes more like a traditional cheesecake. It was more on the sweeter side but so yummy. The basque cheesecake was delicious and more creamy.“

“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!“

“We had a great time for late night dinner here! You order on an iPad whenever you want more food which is so convenient. The food itself is really yummy and high quality. We recommend the spicy miso ramen and shiso pork skewers as the highlights of our dinner. Will definitely be back.“

“Great food 😋 and friendly atmosphere 🥰.“

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

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“I owe Shin, our waiter for tonight, a life debt for the best service I’ve ever had at a restaurant in my life. He single handedly grew our crops, raised our children, did our homework, made us laugh, and got us our food in record time still steaming. He wins a gold record in serving and if he has a boss who is reading this, he deserves a raise and also maybe a smooch on the cheek. The food was stunning and the prices were great, amazing, will come here again (mostly for Shin)“