The Yasai: Vegan Japanese Experience at Little Italy

I came here with friends this weekend! I absolutely loved the food here. I am vegetarian and have not had many vegetarian/vegan sushi spots. I would come back here again.

We had gyoza, sushi, and ramen. Everything was great but the gyoza blew me away! Might want to make a reservation on weekends it’s not very big inside

This place is a gem. As others have stated, you are asked upon entering which menu you would like. I ordered a few things but what I would like to highlight are the super jumbo crispy vegan gyoza and the classic ramen. The gyoza was the best gyoza I’ve ever had. Absolutely delicious. The ramen was well balanced. Delicious broth, well cooked noodles, and some interesting additions like squash. You can’t go wrong dining here.

Yasai is a hidden gem for vegan foodies in San Diego! I recently visited and was blown away by the flavors and service. I ordered the Kyoto Suyu Ramen, and it was love at first sip. The rich, savory broth was perfectly balanced, and the noodles were cooked to perfection. The portion was generous, and the presentation was beautiful. What really impressed me, though, was the thoughtful service – my server asked if I was vegan or non-vegan, which was a nice touch and showed they truly care about their customers' dietary needs. The staff were friendly and attentive, making sure I had everything I needed. If you're a vegan or just looking for a delicious, plant-based meal, Yasai is a must-try. Highly recommend the Kyoto Shoyu Ramen – you won't be disappointed!

Food was excellent, service was inattentive despite having very few people in the restaurant; ambience was really disappointing...feels very sterile and industrial and poorly decorated.

The food was delicious and service was excellent. We had crispy gyoza and yam-wrapped tofu as appetizers and 2 sushi rolls as our entrees. The flavor combinations were extraordinary. Highly recommend.

Amazing vegan sushi rolls, and ramen. Whole separate vegan menu.

Excellent dinner as usual, highly recommend! We had the brussels sprouts, garlic edamame, and because it was cold out, hot sake and ramen (1 of us had the Classic, 2 of us had the Triple Tomato - watch out for the add-ons, they are spicy!)

I would 100% recommend these sushi. No but seriously, is there any negative I can point to about the sushi rolls I've had numerous times at this place?? NO! I even drive from Carlsbad to get them. which would maybe be a negative??

The sign outside says "Vegan Sushi Bar", which is a bit misleading as this place is NOT 100% vegan. However, they do have a dedicated vegan menu to make up for it. Not the best vegan sushi experience, but if you are in the mood for Japanese food, it does the job.

The best Ramen I have ever ate

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Funny, but I couldn't find the front door.🤣 The restaurant layout was interesting. The decor was nice and bright. We sat at the bar but I would choose a table next time. We were impressed with almost all of the dishes we ordered~ especially the vegan gyoza and bao. Wow! I'm craving both of them. Looking forward to my next visit to Yasai!

best vegan Japanese food we’ve ever had by far
Love the quaint, comfortable atmosphere
Service was really quick and friendly

Really appreciated that they had a separate vegan menu

Honestly, my wife had an issue ordering because there were so many choices

I went with the dream come true platter, and my wife chose the little Italy

It was clear that someone put a lot of thought and pride into providing an amazing culinary vegan experience. This team really love what they’re doing in the kitchen.

Everything we were served was delicious with an extra bonus of the amazing presentation .

food quantity was generous and I felt pricing was reasonable

For sure, we’re going to come back

We sat inside, which was super comfortable, but I would agree with the earlier review that if you sat outside, you should be aware that the planes are flying overhead … frequently !!

Vegetarian options: 100% vegan options on this menu
Makes selection a little challenging because there’s so many choices
We try to And and both of them were outstanding
Excited at the thought of coming back and trying more dishes

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Little Italy Roll

Yasai delivers a memorable dining experience with a creative plant-based menu that stands out. The mushroom bao buns were an absolute highlight—fluffy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Their sushi was also impressive, with the purple rice adding a unique and visually striking variation that pairs beautifully with the fresh ingredients. For dessert, the pistachio ice cream was a delightful conclusion—rich, creamy, and perfectly sweetened. It's clear that attention to detail extends through every dish, making Yasai a must-visit for anyone exploring vegan cuisine or simply looking for a fresh culinary adventure. Highly recommend!

Absolutely no customer loyalty. Especially for a place I've given countless dollars to.

Constantly given gluten when i ask for gluten free, and they always expect me to just "understand" when my thyroid was affected on multiple occasions.
But I didnt get the same consideration in return.

Honestly hurt by how all of this went. But I cant say that im surprised.

I never leave reviews on restaurants, but today felt like a huge slap in the face. 👍 Thanks for nothing.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1