43 Best Japanese Restaurants near San Marcos

“Food was great, service was good, I got the animal lovers with brussels sprouts, it’s got a rich broth, great noodles, and everything came out fresh and warm, went on a rainy day so it was a busy. What stood out to our table most was our server Zarina. She was amazing and incredibly attentive, checking in on us at the perfect times. She gave amazing recommendations and made the whole experience feel even better. Definitely a spot I’d come back to with reasonable prices.“

“I usually don’t to restaurants that are overly broad with the foods they serve, but I’m glad I did! This place is excellent. I shared the 2 x $25 meal (gyu-don and chicken karaage) and a salmon poke bowl. Karaage was super light and crispy and the gyu-don was exactly what I was imagining. The salmon poke bowl also great, with a mix of raw and seared salmon. The seared salmon was a great touch! Overall, everything was delicious and very good portions. I will definitely be returning to try some other menu items!“

“yellowtail roll is amazing!“

“good sushi, and the teriyaki samon is delicious.“

“Loved this hidden gem. We’ll be back! Everything including wine was delicious. 🥰🙏🏼“

“Came with a few friends, clean quiet place to eat, waitress was nice and friendly. Took a while for the food to come but overall it was good. Would recommend most rolls except the surf and turf, weird flavor combination but still decent. A little pricy but a good experience to go and eat. Would come back again.“

“Today was our first time visiting, and to be perfectly honest, this will be our new go to for sushi, even though we live in Ramona. Everything from the appetizers to the drinks and service was great. It seems like it would be a great spot for game or fight nights as well!“

“Umai Sushi is a hidden gem! The sushi is always fresh and delicious—especially the baked salmon roll, which is hands-down the best I’ve ever had. The staff is super friendly, and the owners go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Great service, great food, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Highly recommend!“

“This place is always amazing. The staff are always great and the food is so good it’s absurd. Ninja rolls all day long! Mmmmm“

“Happy Hour is such a good deal - pretty much everything is 50% off - apps, sushi, special rolls, entrees. Only sashimi, drinks and a small section of the rolls are not on sale.
the yellowtail nigiri I had was super fresh.
Crispy rice was excellent!
Rolls are huge! But not in a good way. I like traditional size that fits nicely in your mouth in one bite, but they have american size rolls, oh well.“

“Super tasty food, super reasonably priced. Highly recommend!“

“This is our first time here since the new ownership. We love the tables and the atmosphere here. Everyone is extremely nice and the owner is really funny guy! We had teriyaki steak with salad and rice. Meat was tender and great flavor. The other dish was teriyaki chicken also great flavor. Tempura was crispy and the miso soup very tasty.!“

“Hakamaru is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant outside of Japan. The fish is fresh daily, the specials are amazing, food quality is always great, staff and service are excellent.*Shout-out to Stelle!!* I highly recommend the tempura veggie and shrimp combo, as well as the udon, and any nigiri orders. Do not sleep on this restaurant. 10/10.“

“1st timer here!

I read through the bad reviews and happy to share some advice. As far as wait time, it’s to be expected for this type of dining. I went in with the expectation of waiting, just check in and they will text when ready. As far as the quality, everything tasted fresh!! You get a full plate of veggies with tons of oils, sauces, and spice to add to your broth. Make sure to ask questions about the broth, some are simple so that you can add your preferred flavors. It seems like this isn’t a typical traditional hot pot set up and I’m totally okay with it. I actually enjoyed having my own pot and I was able to eat the entire thing.

Paid a little more for the premium meat, ribeye and short rib… I regret NOTHING! I guess I’m only sad that I didn’t have more of their pumpkin slices - pairs so well with the meat!!“

“Teriyaki Chicken and Tempura Vegetables“

“Fresh sushi. I loved the fish selection. If you want the freshest fish, this is a go to place.“

“LOVE the order ahead pick up drive through! Food is delish and service is on point! Thank you Mirin you never disappoint“

“We love Mikko Sushi - Carlsbad“

“This place was a 10 upon walking in. Super Friendly and welcoming staff and great lunch specials. Portion sizes are opulent and food quality is superb. I happened upon this place, and will be a frequent patron. I highly recommend the Caterpillar roll.“

“It's amazing. Simply amazing. Great customer service. Delicious sushi. Good music. Love love love.“

“Food is awesome n delicious“

“LOVE the order ahead pick up drive through! Food is delish and service is on point! Thank you Mirin you never disappoint“

“They say the 3rd time is a charm.
We tried to get in 2 different times but they were full.
On the 3rd try we understood why it's so crowded the food was fabulous. Hubby got drunken noodles loved them and I had Crispy Chickee and loved it also.
Try it you'll love it.“

“The Sunset roll is my go to! The staff here is so attentive, we dine here often. I appreciate the various offerings they have at the restaurant. When I'm not in the mood for sushi, I get their curry, it's so great on a cold or rainy day!“

“What to say...I loooove this place!!! The Ramen is amazing! The soup/broth is a sensory overload. The noodles are perfect never soggy! You can order a side of 'heat' to spice it up if you want! All the servers know what's good if it's your first time and what I love is consistency, it's good everytime! It's cute inside bright and fresh. Try it out! It's a place I will return to on a regular!!!“

“This place has been one of my must-visit spots every time I'm in the San Diego area, and it never disappoints! Every dish I’ve tried here has been consistently delicious, making each visit a memorable experience.

This time, we enjoyed the spicy pork and fish cake soup, and both were fantastic! The spicy pork had a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors but was less sugary than what you’d typically find at other Korean restaurants—making it feel healthier while still being incredibly tasty. The fish cake soup was an absolute highlight! It instantly transported me back to the flavors of my childhood in Korea. I’ve tried making this kind of fish cake soup at home to recreate the nostalgic taste of the street food I grew up with, but I’ve never quite succeeded. This restaurant, however, nailed it! I was so happy to finally enjoy that authentic flavor again.

Beyond the amazing food, the service was warm and welcoming. We arrived just after opening on a Sunday, and despite there being only one server handling multiple tables, she was incredibly friendly, efficient, and attentive.

If you're craving authentic Korean flavors with a cozy and inviting atmosphere, this spot is a must-visit! Whether you’re reminiscing about home-cooked Korean meals or simply looking for a delicious and satisfying dining experience, you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend it!“

“This place makes the best Tonkatsu ramen (and probably the best ramen period) of 5 different joints I tried in my area including 3go, Ramen Mik, Mirin Cafe, Akita restaurant. The broth tastes the best and they have a special marinated soft boiled egg that no other place knows how to do (so good I order an extra egg). I get mine with chashu (grilled pork) which is also superior in flavor and preparation than all the other places. If you want Japanese ramen, look no further.“

“Me encanta el sushi y tienes muchas opciones!“

“We came in after a hard day loading and wanted A great meal they went ahead and made our food even thought it was closing time, they could have told us they were closed! What awesome customer service, beautiful and very clean restaurant! Delicious food! Thank You for your hospitality! I wish I could give you 100 star rating!“

“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.“

“The sushi is absolutely amazing! I haven't gotten sick once from them, where I have at other sushi places. Service is timely, pickup orders are always ready when they say it will be. I go to the Escondido location 😊“

“Where can I begin? Have you ever walked into a place and just felt like you were in heaven? The attention to detail as you walk into the restaurant and look around, every detail seems to have been given great thought. There was a place for women to store their bags without putting them on the floor. The food was absolutely breathtaking. From the sashimi that melts in your mouth, the appetizers that start the meal just right, the rolls you can’t find anywhere else to your classic favorites, the drinks that are exceptional, to the desserts that you just don’t want to stop at one, this place will not disappoint! I don’t think I can ever go to another sushi restaurant again after this meal! If you ever want to see heaven on earth in a restaurant, be sure to book a reservation so you do not miss out!!!“

“This place is amazing. So yummy and the owners and staff are so kind and always attentive and the food is fresh.“

“My family and I eat here all the time! Whether it be a birthday, or just a free Saturday, Waraii is the best choice. They always have such great service and the music is in great taste-never too loud. I recommend the crunch dragon and the spicy garlic edamame when you come! See you tomorrow!“

“Ordered the Alaskan Roll for pick up. Excellent online ordering system with easy payment (and flexible options). I was concerned that the salmon would be smoked (I’m not a fan of the smoked variety), so I made a note about it. They prepared my order perfectly and included a note, “Not smoked… enjoy!” They even included the extra ginger I requested. Easy pick up and the sushi roll was excellent and very tasty! When I went inside to pick up my order, it was packed and the energy in the room was very happy and warm. Highly recommend this place!“

“Absolutely Amazing! I've been a 3GO customer for many years and they have always had the best Sushi in Escondido and great prices too! During the pandemic I started ordering their food for delivery and they do an excellent job of packing too! 10/10 don't bother going anywhere else.“

“Sky Sushi has great service . The staff is great . The food is amazing. If you haven’t been there you need to go and try the food .“

“Best all you can eat sushi in north county“

“The staff is vey sweet sand helpful“

“Absolutely Delicious! SO Fresh! Great Customer service as well!“

“Greeeat food, service and music.- Loved it, I’ll definitely comeback when I’m im town again!! — PS.- Shaky/Shivering tables was weird to my Amigo Joe though.- What was that!? 😆“

“absolutely great. if ever back in Cali will definitely do again“