50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Poway

“Great atmosphere, great service , Great Food 🍶“

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

“This is my go-to spot for authentic Japanese ingredients. I was impressed by the variety in the frozen dumpling section. Make sure to visit the bakery for the fresh milk bread—it sells out fast! Parking can be a bit tight on weekends, so try to go on a weekday morning if you can.“

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

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“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.“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“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.“

“Josh was super friendly and seated us promptly. The food was all really delicious and the service was fast. They where on top of refills and clean up. Each roll tasted so fresh and flavorful. 10/10 recommend and can't wait to come back.“

“The best sushi spot at this time.
Owner and his manager are here and serving, they are from Korea, the good Korea. Sushi chefs are Japanese and awesome. Food is delicious, amazing, mouthwatering, beautiful… I simply do not have enough epithets to describe the quality and taste of this art.
Ambiance is tasteful, quiet “bring your best half” type.
Simply the best“

“Awesome. Food on par with the OG Japan locations. Not as techy though. I would love to see ordering kiosks at the tables and counter checkout or at least portable POS devices like Japan. The food was awesome and the small things are just nice to have recommendations.“

“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“

“Food is exceptional!
Staff is friendly, and the restaurant is comfortable.
Pictured is the Rainbow Sashimi Salad I had today - scrumptious! Had some spicy mayo on the side.
I've also had handrolls here, which are very good, and my wife has had the baked rolls, which she likes.
Highly recommend this place!!!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Best curry in San Diego!!“

“Went to Kotobuki for the second time with my daughter and took take out home for my husband and mother in law. We got an avocado roll, miso soup, edamame. Rooibos tea. We took spicy tuna, crunchy roll and California roll home. We all enjoyed the food. The sushi rice was very well done. Perfect texture. The tempura crunchies were not overly greasy. Everything tastes so fresh. The flavors are very balanced. The atmosphere and the general vibe are very calming and peaceful. We 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 !!“

“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“

“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!“

“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 had such a great experience at Ayu Sushi in Carmel Valley! What I loved most was their dog-friendly patio—it's so spacious and convenient for pet owners. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, making sure both we and our pup were comfortable. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxing outdoor lunch. The sushi was fresh and the service was top-notch. Definitely our new favorite local spot!“

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“

“Great food 😋 and friendly atmosphere 🥰.“

“I always talk about theirs places that give you great portions of food and thats not what this place is but a place that true elegance comes in the form of a plate . The quality of the food has surpassed the standards of what most consider excellent.“

“Great experience, I felt transported to 2023 and my trip to Tokyo! The food had that scent of being really char'd, or bbq, that roasted flavor, although the portions were small. This seems small, but the beer I ordered came in a frozen mug, which stayed cold the entire duration of my dinner. Impressed!!“

“By far the best sushi in RB. If you’re new to the area or consider yourself local. Their sushi is legit. Ive been to Japan and I can tell you their sushi is as authentic as it gets. Ive also traveled to Korea and I can tell you their bulgogi reminds of the time I visited. Abel makes the sushi roles (amazing) and Jenny the server is really nice and adds to the authenticity of the restaurant. 10/10 recommend! Must make a priority to visit and try their red dragon roll and bulgogi bowl. Beer glasses are always cold/frozen for fresh japanese beer (sapporo/asahi) available. They also have fresh kimchi. Best of Japanese and Korean food all in one spot. All this at reasonable prices in San Diego.“

“Solid neighborhood joint for Japanese and Korean food. The ramen is decent as are the rolls. The staff is always friendly.

We come here on a pretty regular basis for a simple and well priced evening meal out.

Good food but not a destination.“

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

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

“Delicioso y excelente servicio“

“Stopped by Domo Kitchen while I was next door at Charlie Rose and I’m so glad I did! I don’t usually eat in Clairemont, but this place was such a great find.

The customer service was honestly the sweetest. I wish I had gotten their names because they were so kind and welcoming. The cook (the cutest elderly man!).

The food was fresh and full of flavor, and the Hawaiian sushi roll was so delicious. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to!“

“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.“

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“

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

“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!! ❤️“

“Super authentic Japanese karaage; juicy, tender chicken and perfectly cooked rice. The sauce was flavorful (I got the yuzu aioli), and everything felt thoughtfully prepared with care and Japanese pride. I hope this restaurant sticks around for a long time!“

“The sushi , hibachi, fried rice is amazing could be bigger of a sitting for Japanese restaurant. I think they need more staff we came here for dinner and the servers, boh were confused about orders to go and the guy from boh was really loud with the lady servers in the front of house the women were very busy. Other than that the food is delicious.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“This is a restaurant in the market with a shared common eating area. My daughter refuses to eat anywhere else.The udon is actually very well done, as are the pork & beef rice bowls. Healthy portions, and you can add whatever you want. It's all pretty tasty.“

“Sai Japanese Bistro is one of those places we always come back to. The fish is consistently fresh, everything is amazing and really well done, and the service just feels genuinely welcoming. It’s an easy go-to when we want something comforting but still a little special.“

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

“Good experience! Friendly atmosphere“

“very good food and service“