50 Best Japanese Restaurants in San Diego

“Fantastic food quality. Purist food.“

“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.“

“Fabulous sushi. I’ve been looking for a spot near me to ages and finally found one. Gets busy in the evenings but they were turning tables over and getting to us quickly so no big deal to wait. Ordering for takeout on their website is quick and easy too. Highly recommend!“

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

“What's not to love? Went for omakase with a friend and throughly enjoyed every morsel. Fresh and tasty across the board. Inventive bites and flavour combinations, great pairings of seafood with local ingredients, impeccable service and atmosphere, really top notch across every metric. Would highly recommend for a special occasion.“

“Luke is an amazing multitasker❤ made us feel very welcome.“

“Loved the smooth flavors, quality ingredients, so attentive and kind staff, and comfortable and inviting atmosphere! The miso soup and sushi rolls have an excellent balance of texture, temperature, and flavor. We loved how each piece of sushi held together in a single, mouth-filling bite. Chef also provided us with a generous serving of edemame and ginger. Their hot green tea was brewed just right, and we could taste a pleasant sweetness with every sip. And their affogato carajillo was just the perfect balance of robust espresso, vanilla ice cream, and liicor, creating a rich, velvety aromatic drink. Thank you to all the Taka team!“

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

“This Japanese restaurant is so cute and pretty!! The servers also add to the Japanese vibe~ There was a small wait on a Friday night.

The menu is pretty easy to navigate. I feel like everything looked really good, so it was hard to decide what to order. The dishes have small portion size despite the price. I think this kinda helps in that you have room to eat dessert!

The brown sugar Okinawa tea was good but the after taste of the sugar was not good. They kept the tea pot warm, and they served oat milk on the side.

Karaage had too much chicken skin for my preference. Guratan was penne pasta and not macaroni as specified in the menu. Yakisoba could have used more chicken. Omurice had the more flavor and the egg was really good. I want to try naporitan next time because of the tomato based sauce.

Of the desserts I tried, the parfait was most enjoyable because of the fruit with ice cream. The mushi pudding was good; it was the thick and “hard” type of flan. I want to try kakigori next time because I saw their shaved ice machine was legit.

Parking - free street parking only. Be prepared to walk up/downhill.
Credit card/apple pay accepted
Bathroom is only one room in the back. THE SEAT IS WARM.“

“The sushi is amazing...baked salmon roll and Philly rolls are my go to!“

“They were very busy when we got there and there was a bit of a wait for a party of 4 but once we were inside they were very friendly and quick to take our order and quick to serve our food. The rolls were really yummy. Everything tasted fresh and the veggie tempura roll was very big. We were very full by the end of the meal and took home leftovers.“

“We had a great time here tonight. The restaurant staffs and the sushi chef were friendly and the omakase dinner course portion was generous and super delicious. :)“

“Some of the best Japanese food in San Diego. I wish I had known about them sooner.“

“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.“

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“Covid-19 take out can be a hit or miss with food tasting like it's container. This place did not disappoint. I ordered the Vegan Ramen for a late lunch. Inside the restaurant is following proper protocol and is very clean. I have always ordered Vegan Ramen anywhere I visit outside of California, and have ordered all over San Diego. This by far is the BEST Vegan Ramen out there. The coconut milk, chili and miso broth is well balanced and buttery, the noodles and added ingredients are well proportioned, the tofu is not at all mushy or greasy..The noodles are fresh and delicious. for a couple dollars more you can add more noodles.. Definitely a stop for some comfort food!“

“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. 🤙🤙🤙“

“One word: Bitersweet
I was on my birthday trip when i went to moment sushi, im from Virginia so im SO SAD im so far but SO GLAD i went! It's been a month and i still dream about these Handrolls. From the food, to the ambience, to the staffs knowledge and from how they treat you when you first come in til when you leave? AMAZING.
The appetizers were my favorite, I'm a tuna gal so ofcourse we got the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice & the Bluefin Tuna Ponzu Wasabi (don't skip this one trust me - especially if you love tuna).

This is what I ordered for hand rolls:
Pictured Bottom Hand rolls (left to right): Albacore with mango ceviche, Hamachi with jalapeño, Panko shrimp tempura w tartar sauce, Tuna poke with crispy rice, Unagi with Avocado
Our server was so nice and advised me to eat the Unagi first since it came out hot (I agree should be eaten first BUT It's SOO GOOD i wish i would have ordered 2 one to start and one to finish) everything else was good - id probably skip the shrimp with tartar sauce.

We were lucky (we didn't have a reservation) but managed to snag a table outside in one of their heated bubbles. (They were so kind to offer a blanket as well)

Please know if I'm EVER in San Diego this is my first Dinner Stop.“

“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!“

“Great place. True European feel.“

“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.“

“I had such a wonderful experience at this sushi restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious ,everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. You can really tell they care about quality.
The atmosphere was just perfect ,clean, relaxing, and very inviting. It made the whole dining experience even more enjoyable.
And I have to mention the service ,the waiter was incredibly kind, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. That kind of service really makes a difference!
I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend this place to anyone who loves great sushi and a lovely dining experience“

“Eaten here numerous times. Excellent quality food, and service. Equivalent to San Francisco Bay Area Japanese restaurants..which are outstanding.“

“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!!!“

“Best sushi in San Diego at reasonable prices! Delicioso!!!“

“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!!“

“Everyone who works there is friendly With excellent customer service food was delicious 🤤“

“The food was average, I found the sushi to taste decent but the mussels were very dirty tasting. The restaurant was run down and seemed a little dirty; sticky tables, sticky high chair, and a dirty fish tank sitting in the back. The staff was very kind and attentive. Overall not a bad place but I don’t think I would go back“

“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.“

“Fantastic fresh food; great sushi bar. Wonderful service from Kaz. I highly recommend..best sushi and sashimi around!“

“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!“

“We arrived right before noon on a Friday. It was not busy, and I got a space close to the entrance in their parking lot shared with several other businesses. My friend and I both ordered the Friday lunch special, sesame chicken. My friend didn't expect the chicken to be deep-fried, but we didn't ask how it was prepared. The lunch came with a cup of miso soup, salad, and rice. I enjoyed my food. We also ordered fried calamari, which were all tentacles--my favorite. They weren't too big, which I prefer. I liked them. Service was great, too. I remember it was quiet, and traditional decor. Prices were reasonable.“

“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!“

“Fire. Sushi tastes like it’s fresh off the docks. Super fresh fish, great flavors, and a cool vibe. PB really needed a Japanese restaurant like this. Stoked to have a spot like Cherry Fish in the neighborhood. 🤙🏻“

“This place bangs. Disagree heavily that the food was bad. This place is not a 2 star. Absolute insanity to give it such a low review. I love the atmosphere, and I wish more people would check it out.Also, maybe it's the location? Come to Convoy guys, we'll treat you better.“

“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!“

“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 !!“

“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 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!“

“Sushi was very good 😋 edamame green beans also ! Great service 👍🏼“

“FABULOUS LUNCH ! Hey I have never been inside a Japanese restaurant in my life. On the other hand my wife has traveled to Japan many times for her work and loves Japanese food...her fav is Chicken Yakitori. NOTE ! I saw a video a few days ago of Chicken Katsu Curry posted by my mate Jack...one of my best friends on Yelp. It looked so delicious that I had to have it. TODAY ! My wife and I were down in La Jolla taking care of business. I had previously looked up URBN Sushi and knew they served Chicken Katsu Curry and Chicken Yakitori. After a slow 10 minute drive due to roadworks...we arrived here at around 2pm. A friendly server named Henry greeted us with a big smile when we entered. Glasses of iced water came out quick followed by COMPLIMENTARY bowls of Miso soup and Edamame Beans. My wife ordered a Chicken Yakitori Starter and I had to have the Chicken Katsu Curry of course. A few more customers trickled in while we waited for our lunch order to arrive. WHOO HOO ! My wife's Chicken Yakitori Starter...2 skewers arrived first followed soon after by my beautiful looking Chicken Katsu Curry. TOTALLY DELICIOUS ! There is a first time for everything and now I know I love this dish. MORE ! My wife loved her Chicken Yakitori skewers but needed more food so a Vegetable Tempura Starter came out within a few minutes. And I pinched a few pieces...so delicious. THE MENU IS HUGE ! We were more than happy with our first lunch visit but there is so much more to try on the menu. TOP SERVICE ! Our server Henry was great the whole time answering all my questions about items on the menu. WE LOVED IT !“

“Great no frills Japanese fare.“