41 Best Japanese Restaurants near Santee

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-Star Lunch Gem in Santee!
Had a wonderful lunch at Okawa Steak House & Sushi today! The service was excellent—attentive and friendly from start to finish.
The food was delicious! We had the shrimp and steak, and it was perfectly cooked and incredibly flavorful. It's so nice to know that this little place sits right here in Santee and is not overpriced for the great food and the fun hibachi show you get.
A little detail that really stood out was the iced tea; it was wonderful and you could truly taste the fresh brew.
They also have lunch specials which are very reasonable, making this a great value for the quality. We will definitely be back!“

“We had a great experience at Jump Tokyo Sushi. The tonkotsu ramen was rich, comforting, and full of flavor—exactly what you want from a good bowl of ramen.

The truffle edamame was so good and addictive, and the chef’s pick sashimi platter was amazing with super fresh cuts and a nice variety. I also loved the shishito peppers—simple but perfectly done.

I was there in February 2026 and they had a happy hour (Mon-Wed) and it definitely looks like its worth checking. They had $1 off sashimi, nigiri, and special rolls, which is a great deal. Service was quick and friendly, making the whole experience even better. Solid spot for both sushi and ramen.“

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

“Great atmosphere, great service , Great Food 🍶“

“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“

“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!“

“Great spot for sushi, the food was good, the vibes were there although they could have a better music selection, the servers were super sweet and personable, I would definitely go back especially that the prices are very reasonable and the quality is there.“

“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)“

“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“

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

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

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

“affordable, friendly and fast service“

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“

“Love this place . The food is really good and nice reasonable priced. For two people we usually pay $40-$50 , when I go it’s not that busy which tells me not everyone knows how great this place is. With all the expensive sushi places these days it’s nice to know I can get a great meal without going broke“

“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!“

“the bestttttt japanese food!“

“Such nice people working here. Went after work, I work nights so thats about lunch rush. Parking can be difficult at lunch but I got a good spot. Ordered chef lo mien to go. They made it fast & were so kind to add some deeelicious dumpling. So yummy, lots of protein & chewy yummy noodles. This will more than likely be my new noodle place.“

“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.“

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

“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😃“

“Pranzo spesso da Sai Japanese Bistro con i colleghi e mi piacerebbe usare i buoni pasto Coverflex, sapete se li accettate? Non vi trovo nell’app e sarebbe comodo poterli usare qui.“

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

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

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“This is our go to sushi spot! Great rolls. We had their lunch bulgogi bento box which included a miso soup, salad, and vegetable tempura. We also had their tuna takaki roll and their tuna takaki salad. The tuna was seasoned and seared nicely.“

“This is one of the best sushi spots in San Diego as far as I'm concerned, I've eaten from here numerous times and my order has always been perfect. The staff here are diligent and prompt, the menu is versatile and delicious, I reccomend this place to everyone!“

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

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely Fantastic!

Sushi Hana hands down one of the best sushi spots I’ve ever visited. The fish is unbelievably fresh, the rolls are beautifully prepared, and every bite bursts with flavor. The staff are warm, attentive, and make you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is cozy yet modern—perfect for both a casual lunch or a special night out.“

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

“Right as I walked in, the person was already there! I said, table for two because I went with a friend, they sat us down and they took our drink order and after that they took our food order, and them we ate and it was amazing! Overall, this a great place for sushi, definitely recommend going.“

“Delicious 😋 my preferred place“

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

“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.“