50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Poway

“Great atmosphere, great service , Great Food 🍶“

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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❤“

“This place was perfect after a long swim in La Jolla! THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. Best handroll we’ve ever had!
Super grateful to have the best service by staff and our food prepared by the owner himself! 🙏
P.s - Whoever is in charge of the playlist is the real MVP.“

“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. 🤙🤙🤙“

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

“Just like Oki....iykyk 💛 🔥“

“I recently visited Genki Sushi at Bernardo Center Drive with my colleague, and we had a fantastic experience! The food was great—everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. The sushi was expertly prepared, and the variety on the menu made it hard to choose!

The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed. A special shoutout to the sushi chefs, who clearly take pride in their craft; their skill and passion really showed in the presentation and taste of the dishes.

Overall, I highly recommend Genki Sushi for anyone looking for a delightful dining experience. I can't wait to come back!“

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

“I have never experienced a restaurant near San Diego that delivers such an incredible combination of delicious flavors, sophistication, and authentic Japanese taste. This is truly a place for anyone who appreciates and loves Japanese cuisine, whether they are Asian or from any other background.
The yakitori is beyond anything I expected — honestly, it feels like it surpasses even what I’ve had in Japan. Every dish was satisfying, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious.
I believe this may be the best Japanese restaurant in the San Diego area. In fact, it might even be one of the best Japanese dining experiences I’ve ever had anywhere, including Japan itself.“

“Absolutely amazing food! Me and my husband are a huge fan of tempura so we got the Crazy (our favorite), the shrimp Crunch, and the Dragon. All were amazing! Do not come here if you’re in a rush, there are only a few staff (all of which are so friendly and welcoming), and the place was busy even on a Wednesday night! Everything is made to order. Highly recommended and would definitely come again.“

“Went here for my 3 year anniversary and it was amazing. My partner and I were told what to expect because it was our first time. I loved the Tom Yum broth and will definitely order that one again. I loved that everything was kinda open bar and included with the AYCE. If I were to come back I'd definitely only pick hotpot not because the KBBQ was bad, it was really good but I had more fun with the hotpot. Hoping to come back soon!“

“Best curry 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.“

“Great restaurant with delicious, high-quality food. This was our second visit, and we enjoyed it just as much as the first time.

Michael was our server today, and he was wonderful—friendly, attentive, and always smiling. Excellent service and a great experience overall. We’ll 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 !!“

“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!“

“Looking for not -so -sweet delicious cheesecakes?

This spot is my favorite to grab an affordable and easy dessert for potlucks, celebrations, or just a treat for myself.
It’s an easy in and out to grab one of the delicious cakes!

My favorites? Original and matcha!

Newest seasonal? Mango!

They’re light, airy and make you feel guilt free.“

“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!“

“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!! ❤️“

“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“

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

“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)“

“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.“

“A solid sushi spot with fresh food and a good variety of rolls. We were seated quickly, which was a nice bonus, and the service was friendly throughout the meal. Everything tasted good, and the presentation was nice. Overall, a pleasant experience and a good place for a casual sushi dinner.“

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“

“My highest commendations for this place. Tonight is my fourth or fifth time, and now I feel comfortable coming by myself, at 11pm, on a Sunday. Because the food is good. Really good. They do something with the rice and spices and garlic that I can’t do and that I don’t do, so when I come here it’s like fireworks in my mouth.“

“We had a magnificent dinner last evening at Elvira in Ocean Beach. It's the less formal sister restaurant to Cesarina. They put as much care into their food as to their creative and fun-loving website, and their decor and truly personal service are outstanding. We don't say this often in San Diego, but they serve cuisine, not just food. At last, a San Diego restaurant which serves hot, al dente pasta, and the pork ragu was luscious and the meaty baby back rib was an extra treat in the Fettucine Maile e Spuntature. Both of our entrees were excellent: half chicken and lamb chops prepared on a wood fired grill, with slightly crisp Yukon gold potatoes with a wonderful flavor and fantastic Romanesco broccoli with a beautiful texture. The choux pastry in the dessert was lighter than air and would be proudly served in a Parisian restaurant. Having the chocolate sauce in its own dish and the chantilly cream in its own pastry piping bag meant each of us could fashion our preferred dessert combination. The accompanying fresh peaches were delectable. Sparkling wine and red wine were also good and very fairly priced. I understand Elvira opened in November 2023 - wish we hadn't taken this long to experience the wonderful ambiance, service, decor, and Italian cuisine.“

“I want to start off by saying that the service alone should be the reason why you come here. I am always greeted with so much joy and happiness. The owners and their daughter are running this place beautifully.

Now the food!! I have tried the chicken wings, chicken and broccoli, beef lo mein, veggie fried rice and plenty more… every single time they execute each meal wonderfully, so much that I don’t even consider any other restaurant in the area. I highly recommend this place, When you are looking for some comfort food and great hospitality This is the place to go“

“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.“

“The staff was super friendly and served us with a smile. The restaurant was very clean. We waited very little time for our food. The Karage is amazing, light, and crunchy. Everything about this restaurant was excellent. Can't wait to return.“

“very good company and service“

“It’s been years since I last visited. It’s smaller and different. I ordered mostly sushi rolls and sashimi and they were good. I liked that sliced fish is bigger than rice for nigiri which is how it’s done in Japan. I ordered a bulgogi bibimbap from Korean menu. It’s good but not so much bulgogi in it. The service was ok, nothing special. I think waitress could be a bit more friendly. Overall, it’s a good place in the area.“

“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.“

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

“Great food 😋 and friendly atmosphere 🥰.“

“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.“

“Great place for a Teriyaki bowl or plate. Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Staff are very friendly and hard working. You can tell they had their regulars. It was busy and over half of the patrons were known to the employees and knew their regular orders. Decor typical for mom and pops place with decent amount of seating. Will definitely go back if in the area again.“

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

“Delicioso y excelente servicio“

“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.“

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“