50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Poway

“Great atmosphere, great service , Great Food 🍶“

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

“Great chefs, great staff, great food, great sake… what’s not to like when everything was great!?!?“

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

“This market has a great selection of food, especially warm to-go options like onigiri, teriyaki bowls, and sushi. They also have a nice produce section, plenty of cold drinks, and a fun variety of Japanese candy. The store itself is clean, well-organized, and easy to browse.

We tried the spicy tuna onigiri, it was just okay, nothing special. One small downside: they charge 15¢ for a bag instead of the standard 10¢ most places charge. Parking was also pretty hectic and hard to find.

Overall, a solid spot for Japanese snacks and quick meals, just be prepared for the parking situation.“

“My sister and I were craving Japanese food, so she suggested Kumi Sushi Grill. I ordered a bento box with chicken teriyaki, yellowtail sashimi, and mixed tempura. My sister also got the chicken teriyaki bento box with mixed tempura, and fried gyoza. The Bento boxes come with miso soup and we also ordered Green Tea.
All I can say is everything was excellent. They give you 3 big pieces of yellowtail sashimi that melted like butter and their tempura was awesome.The portion sizes are huge. We should split a box. You can swe hiw much food my sister had in her to-go box. Mine was just as much food but not as pretty. I highly recommend this place.“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“Absolutely incredible! We have dined in with Chef Nghi and have ordered their Epic board for take out and every time it has been nothing short of incredible. We’ve tried just about all the high-end sushi spots in San Diego and we’re always left impressed by chef Nghi! Not only is their fish so fresh and their rolls fun and creative but the service is top notch! I highly recommend Ju-ichi!“

“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.“

“This is our first time here since the new ownership. We love the tables and the atmosphere here. Everyone is extremely nice and the owner is really funny guy! We had teriyaki steak with salad and rice. Meat was tender and great flavor. The other dish was teriyaki chicken also great flavor. Tempura was crispy and the miso soup very tasty.!“

“Our family has been coming here for years. The staff is always friendly and remembers our preferences even before we ask. The menu is solid. The sushi rolls are always fresh and delicious. My husband and daughter love the Star Wars roll, my favorite is the Playboy roll. My other kids love the udon and also the pork katsu. 10/10!“

“As a long-time fan of Japanese curry, I was thrilled to finally visit a Curry House CoCo Ichibanya – my first time at this particular chain, though I'm no stranger to the style, having frequented a beloved (and now sadly closed) Curry House in Westwood pre-pandemic. I was so happy to find the menus quite similar, with all my old favorites present and accounted for!
We started with the Garlic Cheese Naan, which was absolutely delicious fresh and hot, though it did lose a bit of its magic as it cooled – so definitely enjoy it quickly! It was also my boyfriend's very first foray into Japanese curry, and I'm happy to report he absolutely loved it. He opted for the spicy teriyaki fried chicken, while I indulged in my classic chicken cutlet. Both dishes were just as rich and flavorful as I remembered, hitting all the right notes of comforting deliciousness.
My only minor disappointment was that they were out of iced coffee, which would have been a perfect complement. Nevertheless, the overall experience was fantastic, and I'm already planning my next visit to have my old favorite, the keema curry! I'll definitely be back when I'm in San Diego.“

“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. 🤙🤙🤙“

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

“First time visiting Hakumaru Sushi in 4S Ranch and I was really impressed! Although the restaurant is small, it feels spacious. The vibe is decidedly classy with rich dark hues, yet well lit. Service could not have been more professional, friendly, and accommodating. I ordered the Chicken Yakitori Bowl and it was excellent. Chunks of tender, tasty chicken thigh grilled with tare, green onion, cabbage and bell pepper, served over white rice. I also appreciated their use of stemless wine glasses. Highly recommended.“

“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!“

“Great spot for sushi, the food was good, the vibes were there although they could have a better music selection, the servers were super sweet and personable, I would definitely go back especially that the prices are very reasonable and the quality is there.“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“Dual BBQ and hot pot tables if you have people who prefer one or the other. Otherwise I would probably stick to a dedicated place for BBQ or hotpot. It has everything and the all you can eat is pretty generous, it's just not as polished as some other BBQ or hotpot restaurants.“

“I come here often to get crunchy roll, California roll, mango habanero roll and gyoza. The service has been consistent . It’s a small restaurant with unique decor. There’s plenty of parking out front. I’ll continue to go back when i crave some crunchy rolls.“

“Curry: 4.5/5 This curry is very good. It is slightly sweet, savory, and has a depth to it. That being said, it stays within the parameters of a typical Japanese curry. The only thing that docked it from being perfect was that the texture was not perfectly smooth. There is this sort of floury grain to it that I associate with store-bought curries that took me slightly aback. I also sort of miss the flavor of having spiciness cooked in the sauce rather than just putting a powder on top. Oh, and more pickles!

Karaage: 4.5/5 The Curry Club does a phenomenal job at frying. The chicken was moist and crispy. I normally do not like karaage with my curry because it has that sort of karaage taste (ginger, soy, etc.) but this was recommended by my waitress and it was awesome.

Fried Again, great fried shrimp, almost no notes. It DOES have that slight mushy texture right between the coating and shrimp that I really detest, but I have accepted that is just part of the experience at this point. Solid choice if you want seafood.

This egg was shockingly good. It puts most of the ramen shops in San Diego to shame. Well marinated, perfectly gooey, a great balance between sweet and salty, the literal perfect egg. I’m not sure if it matched the curry, but I would just eat it as dessert to be honest.

Ambiance: The restaurant is casual but nice. I don’t see why you couldn’t make this a more special restaurant date.

Service: Service was very fast and kind. They “served” just the perfect amount.

Parking: The parking lot is a vast lot. Very easy, no pain.“

“Food is amazing.
Rose lychee green tea is refreshing and my new favorite

I had the chicken pad Thai level 1 spice and it was great. Not too spicy. But it has a decent kick to it.

I definitely want to try the bbq honey pork next.“

“the food was good and typical japanese cuisine. i wish they put more uni on the creamy udon and the seafood kamameshi had like 2 scallops, 3 shrimps, fish roe and it was like 30$. i feel like you can get a better deal in other japanese restaurants, but that’s just my opinion :)“

“Great food 😋 and friendly atmosphere 🥰.“

“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)“

“We had the most amazing meal there on Wednesday night! Everything was exceptional, especially the uni! The service was fantastic! We will be back!“

“Hands down the best ramen I’ve had! Everything was delicious - we had the garlic spicy edamame, oxtail ramen, and spare-rib ramen. We asked for non-pork broths and were given two great alternatives that were perfectly paired with our ramen orders. The atmosphere and service were excellent. Highly recommend! Will definitely be back“

“BEST JAPANESE BBQ SPOT EVER! My family have been consistently coming to this resturant for years to celebrate any special occasions or birthdays. The meat, rice, side dishes, and rice are always delicious. The staff are welcoming, accomodating, and even recognize my family now. I highly reccomend the family combo as it offers a good balance of beef variety and value, especially for larger parties. The portions are not the largest and on the pricier side but I think it's worth it for the quality over quantity. Free parking but it's difficult to find available spots especially at night, as expected of Convoy tho. The restroom is nothing special, single room, and in the back next to the kitchen. Will definitely continue to eat here !!“

“Amazing sushi and noodles at Ayu Sushi & Noodles in Pacific Highlands Ranch in Carmel Valley. We loved everything, the tempura udon, the yume, sachi, and anata rolls, the bluefin crudo, and the salmon hand rolls. Great selection of species on the menu, next time will need to get more nigiri and sashimi. Great service, friendly and quick. We sat on the dog friendly patio. Recommend!“

“The service, prices, and atmosphere were all great. The woman at the cash register was so kind and offered us table service since we had our dog and baby. She made the experience special. My husband got the bento C and he really liked everything. Unfortunately, I got the sushi lunch and didn’t love it. Typically I love ahi nigiri, but I found theirs chewy. All the other fish were good.“

“I look forward to coming here every week during my lunch break. It is such a calm and relaxed atmosphere where I can unwind and read a book with green tea and my favorite sushi roll. The service is amazing and they are all so kind. I bring friends and family here every chance I get and am always told that this place exceeded their expectations. 100% recommend“

“Just went for the first time at Shabu Works!! Absolutely loved it… can’t wait to go back 😋“

“Though under the same ownership (I believe) as Yakitori Taisho, Hino has more of sushi bar feel whereas Taisho has more authentic Japanese Izakaya. I felt Taisho had a bit more yakitori selections than Hino. But, Hino had better sake options including sake flights.“

“We were recommended to Ginza and it’s is good and fresh, we love it so much this is our 2nd time in less then a week! Picante roll is so good if you like spice! The monkey brain 10/10 We have never tried anything like it anywhere else. And the stuffed jalapeños deli deli! Abel the Chef has amazing customer service and makes every roll an experience! So flavorful! The food was so good I didn’t get a chance to take a picture! For sure my top places to come and have a nice clean sushi in such a comfortable atmosphere.“

“The Sunset roll is my go to! The staff here is so attentive, we dine here often. I appreciate the various offerings they have at the restaurant. When I'm not in the mood for sushi, I get their curry, it's so great on a cold or rainy day!“

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“

“Very good sushi and ramen. Great service! Comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. We will be back when we return to San Diego.“

“The best yakitory I've found in the US so far
Just like in Japan the restaurant is set up for single eaters of groups. The flavor and food always take me back to adventuring across Japan. It's so good my wife and I have to mark on the calendar when we go because we blow so much of our food budget here. So worth it!“

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“

“Delicioso y excelente servicio“

“The cheesecakes here are so good. Super soft, moist, and fluffy! They’re slightly sweet, which is so addicting. I love the original flavor the most. The pandan one wasn’t that good.
The strawberry burnt basque cakes is also very good. It’s better than the original one.
Parking sucks though because the shop shares a small lot with many other stores, so it’s always difficult to find parking unless you come right when they open.“

“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!! ❤️“

“Such nice people working here. Went after work, I work nights so thats about lunch rush. Parking can be difficult at lunch but I got a good spot. Ordered chef lo mien to go. They made it fast & were so kind to add some deeelicious dumpling. So yummy, lots of protein & chewy yummy noodles. This will more than likely be my new noodle place.“

“Please please please support this place!

Incredible service, the food is so good, it's extremely reasonably priced especially for San Diego. I can't say enough about it. Transports me back to Japan and soothes the soul.“

“Great place to go when you’re craving ramen. They are very generous with the pork portions.“

“Our first time after trying places when Akai Hana and we loved it. it's clean, inviting, friendly and the food/sushi is quality! We will be back.“

“Stumbled upon this little restaurant in Miramar when I was in the area. Came in for a late lunch and the place was empty. There was a musty smell and I think it must be because the building is old. But the restaurant was clean and service was quick.
I ordered my chicken,beef, and veggie combo rice bowl to go. There was a lot of food and the price was very reasonable. Good place to grab lunch on the go.“

“Pranzo spesso da Sai Japanese Bistro con i colleghi e mi piacerebbe usare i buoni pasto Coverflex, sapete se li accettate? Non vi trovo nell’app e sarebbe comodo poterli usare qui.“

“We love Kappa! Good food Good service Good vibe“