38 Best Japanese Restaurants near Santee

“Came to celebrate mom’s birthday as a party of 5. We had a reservation for 6pm (Monday), and upon arriving they weren’t very busy yet.

Upon looking into their menu I immediately noticed they are much less expensive than other places like Benihana. They offer a nIce selection of hibachi style combination dinners. If you enjoy sushi, they have that too!

The portions are generous, and the flavors are amazing! The chef cooks your meats exactly to your liking. And you get to enjoy watching them as they prepare your food. Before they start cooking you can sit back, relax, and watch the chef perform a few tricks.

Overall, we had a great time. The service was friendly, and our hibachi chef was fun and entertaining! We are definitely coming back!“

“the bomb.com! The atmosphere, the abundant amount of creative and delicious sushi options and dare I say the best fried garlic tofu! I love it here and will definitely be coming back! Shoutout to Sara who made this dining experience amazing!“

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

“Great atmosphere, great service , Great Food 🍶“

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

“good food, friendly staff and atented“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“It's in the mall, but SO much better than Panda Express, been going here since I was 15, they make amazing Sushi whivh is very hearty/savory and light, they also offer combination plates with basic Asian cuisine like orange chicken, beef and broccoli, and curry chicken. They also offer rice bowls and bento boxes.“

“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!“

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

“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“

“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“

“Our favorite spot for sushi and sashimi😍“

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

“The person that greeted was so nice and welcoming. My first time here and she was very helpful with the menu. Food tastes amazing-so well seasoned and generous especially the lunch bowl-it was a lot! This place will now be my go to since it’s so close to work!“

“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😃“

“affordable, friendly and fast service“

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

“Sai Japanese Bistro is one of those places we always come back to. The fish is consistently fresh, everything is amazing and really well done, and the service just feels genuinely welcoming. It’s an easy go-to when we want something comforting but still a little special.“

“Friendly and fast. The food was great!“

“Getting a 5 star overall for the food, since that’s the point of coming to sushiman! My first time coming here ever and the atmosphere was nice, quiet but with some nice music in the back, nice decorations and just a cute environment without doing the most, just cozy and chill type off vibes. The food was great, tasted amazing, zero complaints about it. Ordering food wasn’t an issue at all, I didn’t feel rushed by the cashier (that’s always a thing for me) but she was patient. My only complaint will be is, they should bring out the plates for customers who are dining in, I don’t know I just think it’s a nice gesture, and if a place like Carl’s Jr can do it, then they could as well for the price we are paying. Kinda of a hurry up and eat type of thing:P“

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

“the bestttttt japanese food!“

“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.“

“Ive been to many sushi places from SD to LA. From high-end Michelin Star restaurants to hole in the walls. I gravitate to this place the most and I keep coming back after all these years. The food is incredible, fresh ingredients, great service.
All of the above!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Great food for amazing prices. Try to order things thay ate slightly differe and you will get an idea of the different 5astes. I've tried the soups, bento box, sushi,and miso and it is all really good. I honestly like it better than several places on Convoy“

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

“Best fresh food in town by far! Comfortable environment with a.c, cute koi murals, but can i clean your fish tank maybe put two plecos in there to eat the algae. The sushi was very good, best I've had here in California finally found a new spot. Server was new but very nice and friendly staff. Clean restaurant, sushi boats are awesome, the shrimp with coconut is a must. The fried rice, chefs kiss i definitely recommend!“

“Delicious 😋 my preferred place“

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