The family and I are starting to dine at more Asian establishments which are abundant in San Diego! One of our favorites for Japanese cuisine is Hinotez on Balboa Avenue. The restaurant is beautiful with a charming, authentic Japanese vibe. The staff are all so welcoming, friendly and genuine. Hinotez features a variety of tasty menu items, including appetizers, yakitori, ramen, sushi, and rice dishes. On my most recent visit I enjoyed an outstanding “Pepper Tuna Roll”. Shrimp tempura, avocado and crab inside; topped with seared tuna, green onion and a sweet chili sauce. Beautifully presented and so delicious!
Loved this place!! The restaurant itself is actually really reminiscent to the sushi joints in Japan, but the food was also excellent! Our waitress was also really nice! Overall great experience and always a bonus when the sushi portions are generous!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hannah Nguyen
Good foods, open late and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
an0nny MyMouse
Con: the sushi specials averaging around $18 so be careful! they open @5pm, they also serve ur food, based on which one gets cooked first, instead all at the same time. some of the order screens are not working
Pro: the yakitori around 5-8, but you do get 2 per order.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Grilled Beef Yakitori
Norman Wollach
I recommend the Yakitori anything highly. Service was excellent & our server (I wish that I could remember her name) was outstanding. Parking is in the rear, off Balboa, with plenty of parking spaces. Enjoyable evening. Recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Beef Yakitori
dennis kongvongsai
09/28/24
7:28 pm
I asked how long the wait is for a party of 4
I was told, "there is a booth open, now" . I replied "great, let me grab the wife and kids, brb!"
I COME BACK...... My table was given away to another family........ And was asked to wait for the next avail table
Its been real Hinotez. What a fine way to treat a regular.
Best wishes, I guess I'll start giving other local spots a try now.
✌️
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Dennis Kongvongsai
09/28/24
7:28 pm
I asked how long the wait is for a party of 4
I was told, "there is a booth open, now" . I replied "great, let me grab the wife and kids, brb!"
I COME BACK...... My table was giv
Crabs Like Jazz
Food was decent but probably would have been better if we ordered the popular items, which were unavailable due to availability.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Iliana Avendano
Excellent food, service and atmosphere ✨
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel
One of the better Ramens I’ve had so far in SD but the service seems super hit or miss. First time I’ve gone, my server was fairly attentive but this time, the service was not that great.
I had to flag down who I believe was the manager to ask for a server as no one else came by my table. My order was inputted incorrectly, but it was a miscommunication which is fine honestly. It’s loud and stuff happens.
However, I wasn’t checked up on afterwards if I wanted water or anything. Had to wait awhile just for extra noodles. Just super disappointing as the vibe and food are really good.
They deserve 0 star for my experience last time. First of all I have been there many times and I know they were okey until last night. It says closed but they are open which is nice but they should improve their service unless they deserve to be closed. We have ordered chicken meat ball twice and other stuff, my drink didn’t come after I ordered, i had to ask twice from them. Our first meat ball was fine but they asked last call and we had meatball again, it came undercooked chicken inside and I informed the server it’s not cooked and I requested to waive the undercooked chicken after I opened the meatball. (Its very small 3 meatballs in the stick) The server she said “sorry i’m not sure you guys ate it, i need to check with my manager” ? very quickly rude attitude and gave us rolled eyes instead of apologies. If I ate them I could gotten poison already chicken has to cooked well! No one came says any apologies, “ if you are the owner or manager reading this comment you better to train your employees and teach them how to make apologies in service industry” your server bothered your business with her attitude!
Based on my last experience I would never recommend to any of my friends and family this place. So sad to say bye for them.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dan
One of the better Ramens I’ve had so far in SD but the service seems super hit or miss. First time I’ve gone, my server was fairly attentive but this time, the service was not that great.
I had to flag down who I believe was the manager to ask for a server as no one else came by my table. My order was inputted incorrectly, but it was a miscommunication which is fine honestly. It’s loud and stuff happens.
However, I wasn’t checked up on afterwards if I wanted water or anything. Had to wait awhile just for extra noodles. Just super disappointing as the vibe and food are really good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
Cece Sosa
The rolls and noodles were delicious! The atmosphere is great late at night. I will definitely be coming back to try the black garlic ramen and the yuzu pepper ramen! The service was good. There’s also limited traditional style Japanese floor seating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Feo Kozmin
If you are interested in consuming a palpable amount of plastic as part of your dinner, go ahead and order the katsu curry. When my girlfriend was eating the pork cutlet curry, she found not one but TWO sheets of saran wrap between the meat and bread coat.
When we told them about the plastic, they barely apologized, only took the dish off the bill and nothing else, and did not even come and apologize to my girlfriend after introducing a health hazard into her food.
On top of that the service was poor and they did not ID for alcohol, even though there was a minor present.
Overall, not a returnable establishment.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
E “SHARKY” S
I am totally satisfied with the food and service here. I personally recommend this place here. Masuke and staff are traditionally trained to the highest degree of Japanese excellence.
The family and I are starting to dine at more Asian establishments which are abundant in San Diego! One of our favorites for Japanese cuisine is Hinotez on Balboa Avenue. The restaurant is beautiful with a charming, authentic Japanese vibe. The staff are all so welcoming, friendly and genuine. Hinotez features a variety of tasty menu items, including appetizers, yakitori, ramen, sushi, and rice dishes. On my most recent visit I enjoyed an outstanding “Pepper Tuna Roll”. Shrimp tempura, avocado and crab inside; topped with seared tuna, green onion and a sweet chili sauce. Beautifully presented and so delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boneless Fried Chicken Thigh, Grilled Beef Yakitori, Sauce
Loved this place!! The restaurant itself is actually really reminiscent to the sushi joints in Japan, but the food was also excellent! Our waitress was also really nice! Overall great experience and always a bonus when the sushi portions are generous!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good foods, open late and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Con: the sushi specials averaging around $18 so be careful! they open @5pm, they also serve ur food, based on which one gets cooked first, instead all at the same time. some of the order screens are not working
Pro: the yakitori around 5-8, but you do get 2 per order.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Grilled Beef Yakitori
I recommend the Yakitori anything highly. Service was excellent & our server (I wish that I could remember her name) was outstanding. Parking is in the rear, off Balboa, with plenty of parking spaces. Enjoyable evening. Recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Beef Yakitori
09/28/24
7:28 pm
I asked how long the wait is for a party of 4
I was told, "there is a booth open, now" . I replied "great, let me grab the wife and kids, brb!"
I COME BACK...... My table was given away to another family........ And was asked to wait for the next avail table
Its been real Hinotez. What a fine way to treat a regular.
Best wishes, I guess I'll start giving other local spots a try now.
✌️
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
09/28/24 7:28 pm I asked how long the wait is for a party of 4 I was told, "there is a booth open, now" . I replied "great, let me grab the wife and kids, brb!" I COME BACK...... My table was giv
Food was decent but probably would have been better if we ordered the popular items, which were unavailable due to availability.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Excellent food, service and atmosphere ✨
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the better Ramens I’ve had so far in SD but the service seems super hit or miss. First time I’ve gone, my server was fairly attentive but this time, the service was not that great.
I had to flag down who I believe was the manager to ask for a server as no one else came by my table. My order was inputted incorrectly, but it was a miscommunication which is fine honestly. It’s loud and stuff happens.
However, I wasn’t checked up on afterwards if I wanted water or anything. Had to wait awhile just for extra noodles. Just super disappointing as the vibe and food are really good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
Restaurantji Recommends
They deserve 0 star for my experience last time. First of all I have been there many times and I know they were okey until last night. It says closed but they are open which is nice but they should improve their service unless they deserve to be closed. We have ordered chicken meat ball twice and other stuff, my drink didn’t come after I ordered, i had to ask twice from them. Our first meat ball was fine but they asked last call and we had meatball again, it came undercooked chicken inside and I informed the server it’s not cooked and I requested to waive the undercooked chicken after I opened the meatball. (Its very small 3 meatballs in the stick) The server she said “sorry i’m not sure you guys ate it, i need to check with my manager” ? very quickly rude attitude and gave us rolled eyes instead of apologies.
If I ate them I could gotten poison already chicken has to cooked well!
No one came says any apologies,
“ if you are the owner or manager reading this comment you better to train your employees and teach them how to make apologies in service industry” your server bothered your business with her attitude!
Based on my last experience I would never recommend to any of my friends and family this place. So sad to say bye for them.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
One of the better Ramens I’ve had so far in SD but the service seems super hit or miss. First time I’ve gone, my server was fairly attentive but this time, the service was not that great.
I had to flag down who I believe was the manager to ask for a server as no one else came by my table. My order was inputted incorrectly, but it was a miscommunication which is fine honestly. It’s loud and stuff happens.
However, I wasn’t checked up on afterwards if I wanted water or anything. Had to wait awhile just for extra noodles. Just super disappointing as the vibe and food are really good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
The rolls and noodles were delicious! The atmosphere is great late at night. I will definitely be coming back to try the black garlic ramen and the yuzu pepper ramen! The service was good. There’s also limited traditional style Japanese floor seating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you are interested in consuming a palpable amount of plastic as part of your dinner, go ahead and order the katsu curry. When my girlfriend was eating the pork cutlet curry, she found not one but TWO sheets of saran wrap between the meat and bread coat.
When we told them about the plastic, they barely apologized, only took the dish off the bill and nothing else, and did not even come and apologize to my girlfriend after introducing a health hazard into her food.
On top of that the service was poor and they did not ID for alcohol, even though there was a minor present.
Overall, not a returnable establishment.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I am totally satisfied with the food and service here. I personally recommend this place here. Masuke and staff are traditionally trained to the highest degree of Japanese excellence.
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