50 Best Sushi Bars 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😃“

“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!“

“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!“

“First of all, it is extremely difficult to make a reservation. ???

It took us TWO YEARS to finally dinning at this exquisite restaurant.??

I deeply appreciate this waitress to allow me to record this video. ❤️❤️❤️

The service is absolutely excellent! And it is not bad at all to enjoy your omakase on the patio. They have an under table heater so you won't feel cold.???

Parking is only street parking.

This humble looking Japanese restaurant is actually a Michelin One Star.

The only way to make a reservation is via their reservation partner. They will send you an email notification like two hours ahead of your reservation.

However, you have to really "fast hand" to confirm your reservation. If you are like a sloth, you will never be able to complete your reservation.???

And, they will charge a despite of $50/ person when the reservation is confirmed.“

“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 always walk past this place every day and just happened to stumbled in here last night, I was pretty waisted. That being said the staff was very hospitable, was very social and took care of me hahahhaha omg I'm embarrassed. Well I ordered food to go and it was amazing, very good food. I highly recommend this place.“

“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.“

“Great place to grab some sushi and ramen for the kids! They have the Japanese soda's the kids loved as a "special" drink. This is a must try secret sushi spot! You gotta have the amazing fried rice. Cheers.“

“Update/Edit:
I would like to thank SoCal Sushi for setting the example for restaurants dealing with a negative experience on the customer end. They provided me a way to get in contact and they listened; they did not deny or make excuses. I spoke with the management and their responses were genuine, honest, and demonstrated professionalism. No business can be free from mistakes; it just matters how a mistake or issue is handled. I really appreciate their willingness to learn from this experience and I wish them all the best in the future.

Original Review: I don’t give this review lightly. I tried to find an email for an owner or manager so I could talk over this issue with someone rather than hashing it out like this, but I couldn’t find one. I felt bad even giving such a low rating given how great the sushi was, but this place will make me self-conscious go out as a solo female diner for a while.

I ate here for dinner on a Wednesday evening and had a great meal. The sushi was fresh and fantastic. I was thinking this would be a great place to bring my parents when they’re in town next time. I was just getting ready to leave after being seated at approximately 7:09 (based on their call to inform me I could be seated at exactly 7:08). I was then told to leave by the waitress after I paid as I tried to finish my drink. It was 8 pm exactly when I checked my phone in the parking lot.

The waitress had dropped off the check while I was still actively eating, but I thought maybe she was just trying to save a trip and not actually trying to rush me. I initially thought “oops, time must have gotten away from me, and I overstayed the 90 minute limit, my bad.” They have a small dining room, so having this limit makes perfect sense. However, I was only trying to finish my beverage before leaving. I paid for it, and it’s not like you can put a beer in a to-go cup. Again it was a weeknight, not a Friday or Saturday. I had to leave my drink a little less than half full on the table.

As I got to the parking lot, I realized my stay had been much shorter. I was immediately confused and embarrassed. She had asked me to leave in front of all the other guests. I even felt bad for “overstaying my welcome”, but it had only been approximately 50 minutes. I ate a little slow, but only because I really enjoyed the sushi and wanted to savor it. I don’t eat out much, and I wanted to make the most of my special “splurge” meal, as my bill totaled about 70 dollars. It was supposed to be a special treat. But I felt singled out as a solo female diner. I fought back tears as I got in my car. I felt terrible yet I did nothing wrong.

If the dining time limit was different for the bar area, I genuinely would have understood. Again, it’s a small restaurant. But the signs clearly state 90 minutes is the permitted time. I had no intention on even staying more than 60. I never want to be that person. The waitress singled me out even though I was just one woman at the end of the bar. Needless to say, I can’t recommend this place. The sushi chefs are wonderful, but don’t expect to be treated fairly if you’re alone as a woman.

If you want to try the sushi I don’t blame you, it’s wonderful, but go with a group who can stick up for you.“

“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.“

“This place is wonderful....Good Japanese Traditional Sushi and Modern American Rolls for the Non Japanese. good service and quality is good.“

“I’ve been to many sushi restaurants around the world. Matoi would stand up to any omakase style sushi experience in Japan. Exceptional attention to detail goes into every course. From the rice to the various type of fish imported from Japan. Most of them you won’t find at any other restaurant. It’s hard to eat at other sushi restaurants around San Diego once you’ve gone here. It’s better than the Michelin starred one.“

“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!!“

“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“

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

“Great service Great food Delicious 😊😊“

“Food was on par with sushi quality around the area and within southern California restaurants. I did not have steak so I cannot comment on the steak dishes. The sashimi was fresh. I ordered mostly sashimi (about 6 different ones) and 3-4 appetizer. They were all delicious and high quality. The server was available shortly after we were seated. However, the appetizers came out, I had to ask the host who walked by (and who was more attentive to the tables) to ask for placing more orders.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Sushiroll is a visually stunning restaurant that exudes warmth and a welcoming atmosphere. As soon as I entered, I was struck by its aesthetic charm and commitment to sustainable practices, especially their use of sustainable water. The service was top-notch; our server was not only polite but also incredibly kind, making the experience even more enjoyable.
The food at Sushiroll is a delightful surprise, showcasing a unique blend of Japanese and Mexican flavors that creates a tantalizing fusion. Each dish was crafted with care, and the generous portion sizes left me feeling satisfied. The creative combination of flavors added an exciting twist to traditional sushi that I hadn’t experienced before.
Overall, my visit to Sushiroll was a memorable one, and I can’t wait to return to explore more of their delicious offerings. I highly recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a fresh and innovative dining experience!“

“@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.“

“This is actually two different restaurants combined; Chinese and Japanese. The Japanese food was good (but the teriyaki beef was a little overdone and I wasn't a fan of the salad dressing). The staff is very attentive and the food portions are huge but very inexpensive. Definitely going back.“

“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!!“

“Good Japanese restaurant! The Japanese food here was well-made and delicious. They have a pretty extensive sushi menu. However, I ordered the pork tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), and it was one of the best katsu's I've ever had. Other components of the meal -- the gyoza, salad with ginger dressing, and the appetizer of chicken karage -- were tasty as well. The sushi was delicious too. We had the Alaska roll, tempura vegetable roll, and cucumber roll. The service was nice and attentive. I recommend this establishment if you are in the mood for Japanese food, sushi and non sushi.“

“Food already great here 💕 🍣 🍱“

“very good food and service“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Sushi is great but try the non-sushi items rock. Try tue shishito pepper bao bun! Always delicious!“

“This spot earned a 3 Star rating, but the quality of the sushi, coupled with the fantastic service from Mika brought it up to a solid 4. The missing star is from no nigiri combo on the menu, coupled with no natto and prices that are above average. Will come back to see if owner really reads these and does something about it in the future….“

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

“The lady's here are very clean and attentive to the customers!!! If you want quick good clean sushi come here.. Thank you lady's! Always a pleasure seeing you twice a week lol

Kid-friendliness: Yes

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“Always great sushi and never too busy. The best hole in the wall sushi place I’ve ever eaten at, and definitely the best sushi joint in east county. It’s also so reasonably priced (feel like it’s honestly pretty cheap) which is astounding because the quality is top tier.“

“super delicious and fresh. Great service“

“Rico y buenos precios, me gusta ir por mi sushi y de paso voy a café 35 por mi bobba, la combinación perfecta“

“Sushi house is the toyota/honda of sushi places in south SD. You cant go wrong here. Its not trying to reinvent the wheel, its not trying insane new ideas. Its providing the same service, consistently, which is why I keep coming back. Please never change sushi house.“

“Our family go to sushi place! Great Sushi rolls, Ramen, Sashimi, and beer. Friends love when we bring them here too. Service is always great, staff is prompt and friendly and deserve big Tips!! Some of our favorite rolls are Crazy, Sergio, Sexy, Citrus, Rainbow, and always get a Chef choice off the menu. So fun when they bring it out on the big sushi boat. Recommend 10/10!!“