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!?!?“

“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. 😄“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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. 🤙🤙🤙“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“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.“

“Best curry in San Diego!!“

“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!“

“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 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!“

“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 🥰.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!!“

“Delicioso y excelente servicio“

“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!! ❤️“

“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.“

“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!“

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“I love going to lunch at Musashiya! Especially for the beef gyudon bowls! I love that they have a small and large size to choose from. Family oriented, friendly polite staff, fast service, tasty food and there are so many items on the menu to choose from!“

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