42 Best Japanese Restaurants near Santee

“Their pork gyoza is the best! We went for sushi and enjoyed everything. Their hand rolls are large and stuffed. My only complaint was that my spicy scallop hand roll had sand or rocks or something in it, I thought I was going to bust out a filling, so I would skip the scallops next time. Lunch was pretty reasonable and wine pours are awesome“

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

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

“The sushi was amazing! We tried the power roll, energy roll, and Mexican roll, and each one was delicious. Sara was super helpful with recommendations since it was our first time visiting. The sushi tasted really fresh, and the rolls were well-made. The atmosphere was also great—very chill and welcoming. Definitely recommend checking this place out!“

“Great atmosphere, great service , Great Food 🍶“

“Our server seemed to be the only front-of-house employee for most of our visit yesterday, and she dealt with call-ins, walk-ins, sit-downs, and pick-ups gracefully and without faltering for a moment yesterday. Husband & I were very impressed with her customer service skills, the food, the drinks, and the atmosphere (especially the pretty string lights on the ceiling)!“

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

“Fresh and delicious sushi at Kotobuki! Ordered takeout of the sashimi bowl (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, comes with miso soup), hamachi jalapeño roll, rainbow roll, and dragon roll. The rice tastes really good and makes for a really nice chew. The staff is very friendly and waited about 20 minutes to pick up my order. Recommend!“

“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!“

“I've been coming here since I was a little kid. I don't come often, but I love this place. It hasn't changed much, but that's a good thing. My bf and I had a great time, the sushi chef overheard me talking about being a long time customer and took very good care of us. The lemon roll is my favorite and we also ordered a caterpillar roll and salmon skin hand rolls. Everything was delicious and reminded me that I should eat here more often.“

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

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“

“Just went for the first time at Shabu Works!! Absolutely loved it… can’t wait to go back 😋“

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

“Oishii is such a hidden gem! Very clean, and the insanely friendly and attentive staff make you feel right at home. The highlight for me was the pork noodle soup—seriously, it’s the closest thing I’ve found to authentic street noodle soup from Thailand. Such a rare find! Everything we tried was fresh and delicious. I’m already planning my next visit. Highly recommend!

Also 50% off apps and some rolls, beer and Thai tea for happy hour. Can’t beat it. Everyday from 2-5pm.“

“The workers were very kind to us. When I paid, he gave me a free water. When I asked for a medium, he gave me a large, and he spoke in a very gentle manner. The lady that took my order would point towards the menu to make sure that I knew what I was ordering.

The place seemed very orgainized, and the counters were spotless.

As for the food, it was high quality and delicious. We ordered the Udon, Caterpillar Roll, and the Green Dragon Roll.

The crab in both rolls was creamy and soft on the inside and out. Along with that, The udon was rich with flavor along with garnish. The noodles were bouncy and gummy, and the broth would have a rich, deep, brown color that made it feel like I couldn't leave my table without finishing.

Overall, I would come here again, being one of my first food options at this mall.

(I didn't get their names)“

“Nice staff. Great food. They serve you a plate of salad w/ homemade tofu and a pitcher of lemon water with no extra charge once you're seated. At the end they serve you ice cream, no extra charge too!“

“Wow the ramen here is so delicious! My husband and I got the Yokohama shoyu and the tonkotsu ramen, which were good. The broth of both is super flavorful and authentic. Restaurant is nice and modern, but I’m taking one star off because we had to end our meal early after a huge party came in with screaming kids and the servers couldn’t quiet them down. I will come back on a weekday instead“

“affordable, friendly and fast service“

“The food was really good! Bursting with flavor. I marked it down to 4-stars because I felt that their prices are too high. Maybe if the portions were bigger they could justify the high prices, but their dinner meal portions are standard 16oz takeout cartons with a small white rice.“

“the bestttttt japanese food!“

“Great place. have been here a few times now, staff is attentive, friendly and the food it great. We will be back for sure and highly recommend it!“

“Pleasantly surprised by this place. First time trying it as I’m looking to make 2023 a year I explore new food places. This was my first new place of the year and I’m glad I found them! Friendly people and don’t be fooled by the small frontage. Hole in the wall places are the best. I also liked their happy hour menu….I was there for lunch but will be going back for happy hours and dinners😃“

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

“Very fast service, friendly people. Delicious food especially the ramen.“

“I moved away from San Diego in 2017 and their salt and pepper tofu is the one meal I miss the most 😂 Sooo good“

“A hidden gem in San Diego

Sushi Hana is hands-down one of the best sushi spots I’ve found in San Diego! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and authentic. The staff is friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do.

Now let’s talk about the sushi—absolutely phenomenal. The fish is incredibly fresh, with melt-in-your-mouth texture and perfect cuts. Their specialty rolls are creative without being over-the-top, and each one is beautifully plated. I highly recommend the Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll and Hana Special Roll—they’re packed with flavor and perfectly balanced. The nigiri and sashimi options are top-tier, too.

Beyond the food, the prices are very reasonable for the quality you get. Whether you’re a sushi connoisseur or just looking for a great night out, Sushi Hana delivers every time. It’s the kind of place you want to keep coming back to—and I definitely will“

“When we lived in San Diego we were up the street from Obi's and we went at least twice a week. I still talk about it years later. If you are in the area definitely stop in its definitely worth the trip.“

“Yi Sushi Review

Today I stopped in at Yi Sushi for a quick bite and ended up staying for an experience! I was greeted by a young lady with such a kind spirit, which set the tone for the visit.

They had plenty of specials and happy hour deals that immediately caught my attention. The Shrimp Consomé soup intrigued me right away, and there was also a Salmon Kama special that sounded amazing. I had originally planned to get my food to go, but since the salmon was dine‑in only, I decided to stay—and I’m so glad I did!

I sat at the sushi bar, where the chef served each dish directly to me, fresh from his hands. Let me tell you, that Shrimp Consomé soup was chef’s kiss! The flavor, the texture, and the crunch of the patty with the green onions on top—it was absolutely perfect. I could have easily gone for a second bowl.

Next came the Unagi, served as a pair. Fresh, rich, and so satisfying. Then came the star of the night: the Salmon Kama. I didn’t know what to expect, but it did not disappoint! The salmon was grilled to absolute perfection—tender on the inside with just the right amount of char. Honestly, all it was missing was a side of rice, which I’ll make sure to order next time.

I was so full by this point that I had my Crunch Roll packed to go. But before I left, I couldn’t resist trying a piece of Yellowtail tuna. It was exquisite—soft, delicate, flavorful, and not fishy at all. That’s definitely on my list for my next visit!

Special shoutout to my server, Anne, who was an absolute darling—kind, attentive, and made the whole experience even better.

I came for a quick sushi stop, but Yi Sushi turned it into a memorable meal. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Great service and food was yummy.. I had the TJ Roll and another one with albacore, spicy tuna and shrimp. 2nd one was delicious.“

“I’ve been to this sushi spot several times and always appreciated their variety and freshness. However, during my most recent visit, the rice was noticeably stiff and tasted as if it might have been old. Hoping this was just an off day, as I’ve usually enjoyed their food!“

“Best sushi in San Diego. We’ve been coming here for many years. As a local we’ve tried a lot of sushi in San Diego. This place is the best. Great prices, also. But as far as atmosphere goes, it’s not a lot. They have a large covered patio which is nice. But it’s very casual.“

“San Diego’s best sushi! Get the CATS roll!“

“We ordered food to go from Sushiman and it is one of the best sushi that I have ever had in a long time. The price is also very affordable. This will be my new go to sushi restaurant. The shrimps were extremely fresh and tasty. Just writing this review now days later is already making me hungry. Maybe I'll go there again tonight!“

“Delicious 😋 my preferred place“

“We do love Hana! However they do a few things that irk us. The first is they RUSH you. You sit down and they ask you a million times if you’re ready to order. Then your food comes way too fast. No separation of appetizers and meal. It all just comes out. They also put the rolls too close next to each other. And the rolls usually fall apart wince they smash the roll into the warm or cold plate interacting with the temperature of the roll. Their sushi making is just inconsistent.

Other than these specific annoyances which I will just start addressing when I come; we really do love Hana. The sushi is good but it has gone way down hill over the last year for some reason.“

“Food and service so good the workers where so nice and friendly and the food is so good it's so fresh. The workers are u nice when u walk in they greet u in with the most nice smiles and give the best service. The food is on a another level the ramen is so good u have to come the best sushi place in the U.S FOR SURE.“

“Fast and friendly service, Great tasting food my favorite is the honey walnut shrimp💜“

“personale gentilissimo. qualità del pesce ottima e.menu molto vasto e di qualita“

“One of the best Japanese Restaurant in town, highly recommended!“

“Favorite sushi place! Fantastic service and food every time we eat there. Absolutely love the uni shots when they have them available. The restaurant itself is also beautiful. 10 out of 10 would recommend.“