Dinner on a Saturday night. My friend lives in La Jolla and suggested trying Akari since it was under newer management from previous years. Everything was great - the service, decor and most importantly, the sushi. I ordered the protein roll, a Philadelphia roll and a beer. Everything tasted fresh and given that we're a beach city, I liked how the protein roll came on a dish in the shape of a shell (see photo). I was happy that they had my Ichiban beer, as not all places serve it, but they only have it the large size and normally I order the regular size. They had comfy booths to sit in and a beautiful mural on the wall, which added to the ambiance. I felt like the restaurant was clean - a very important factor when eating raw fish! I don't get to downtown La Jolla very often, but I will definitely go back here again when in the area. Parking can be a little bit tricky, but we came in the early evening to avoid the later dinner weekend crowd. So we drove around for a bit and finally found a spot. The restaurant is definitely worth the effort! read more

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GOOD SUSHI IN LA JOLLA (4.3 stars) - FOOD: pretty good; very fresh fish - PRICE: fair - SERVICE: excellent - AMBIANCE: quaint sushi restaurant (which I like; nice and quiet and chill) I knew something about the execution was familiar. I didn't know it until after eating there and reading a review that this is the sister location of So Cal Sushi (in Normal Heights) and after comparing the menus it made sense! What stood out to me when I knew nothing about this restaurant was that spicy tuna is in majority of their speciality rolls and after tasting it I had thought 'this seems familiar' - sometimes spicy tuna (in anything) can be overdone, played out, or not really cared for. Same thought when I first ate at the sister restaurant in Normal Heights when they first opened years ago - too much of it. But overall execution of the meal was good. :: ORDER :: MISO SOUP ($3.95) - served with wakame, negi, and tofu. average/typical. KURODAI ($9.25) - they have rotation fish list and saw an offering of Kurodai and had to try it. First of all, my favorite is Nodoguro but they didn't have that and was told closest to that was Kurodai. Honestly, I thought differently - didn't really come close to Nodoguro but Kurodai is also a nice cut of fish. The texture was somewhat firm and the taste was light and clean in flavor with a little subtle ending taste of faint sweetness. The fish was extremely fresh and you can taste it immediately. HIGHLY RECOMMEND CITRUS BLISS ROLL ($21.95) - spicy tuna, krab, and cucumber. Topped with salmon, avocado, spicy mayo, crunchies, and unagi sauce. I loved how they make the rolls - not too much rice nor dense packing, very tender and soft roll, easy to consume and eat more without feeling full, and the perfect amount of cut rolls per serving. You can taste the spicy, little bit of creamy, and a good amount of citrus... and if you dunk the roll in soy sauce you get the salty. It is a good roll if you like spicy and citrus - for me I like citrus more than spicy. The roll was good I ate everything, BUT I do feel there could be some improvements. I know people love spicy but when it comes to raw fish - that needs to shine in the sushi. yes tuna is basic but overkilling the flavor to make it spicy isn't for everyone (as it's in nearly every speciality roll). I would recommend lowering the spicy in the tuna because it already has spicy mayo included + it allows the customer to control their spicy level. The sriracha takes over the taste and when eating sushi the spicy for me should come from the wasabi (not soaking good quality fish in a sriracha bath). I wish they also offered their rolls with regular tuna instead of spicy tuna. I will def be back! Overall great place. Until the next bite... read more

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Great spot! Wife and I are trying to explore La jolla more lately. Picked this spot cause she wanted sushi and what a delight! Solid service from the second we walked in. Easy seating great menu. Food was quick and had great flavors. Everything was fresh and above expectations! Will def be back! Thanks for crushing it! read more

Akari Sushi - Crunchy Citrus Socal - Sushi Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

What a steal! They have dine in specials every day! For Saturday they have a combo for $20 only, you'll get a special heartbreak roll and a can of beer of which I've ordered and a miso soup for $3.95! For just $25 plus tip you already have a delicious meal! The roll was fresh, beautiful plated, big cuts and it's so good! At first I thought, you'll get a teriyaki bowl, a can of beer and a choice of special roll all for $20 only and I was like, whoaaaaa!! That's a super steal but I misread it wrong. Haha! Each day has different dine in specials for an affordable price and it's so close to work so that makes it very convenient! Service was fast, beautiful and clean restaurant! Highly recommend! Thank you! read more

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New ownership took over the operation of this Japanese restaurant on Girard Ave in the village of La Jolla. It was renamed to Akari Sushi and debuted earlier this spring. When I visited recently during the soft opening, not everything was up to full speed yet. For example, the previous business name was still listed on the menu that was posted on a front window near the entrance. The interior walls were not fully decorated yet either. Nonetheless, I stopped in for dinner and was the only customer at the time. Several other parties did arrive shortly after me. There was a central sushi bar that could seat nine customers. The rest of the dining area could hold about two dozen diners. The food menu spanned three pages and had the fairly standard categories of appetizers, starter plates (e.g. salads), hot plates, regular maki rolls, and specialty rolls. A board next to the sushi bar listed some nigiri specials. My server brought the list of those to me in the form of a receipt slip. From there, I decided to select the Seabass, King Salmon, Kurodai, Madai, and Hokkaido Scallop for my meal. Each fish came as a two-piece serving. The quality was very good, and my favorite of the group was the Madai that was torched on the side to give the skin a smoky flavor. The prices for the nigiri were on par with what I have tried elsewhere in town. I think after Akari Sushi gets through its growing pains, then it will become a solid sushi option in this area of La Jolla. read more

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I went there three times during the two weeks I was there. Ambience is amazing, service is great and best sushi. You need a reservation cause it's always booked. So delicious. read more

Came here from Valencia and was truly amazed by the food and the service. Helene was awesome! We had omakase, butterfish, sea trout, Kurosawa, hamachi belly, fried oysters, ikageso, and more stuff. Sooooo worth the drive here. We'll definitely be back!!! Thank you, Helene! read more

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Akari Sushi is an absolute gem tucked away in a quiet pocket of La Jolla. As longtime fans of SoCal sushi (we've spent years eating our way through the Normal Heights menu ), we don't say this lightly: this place hits. The fish is incredibly fresh, high quality, and thoughtfully prepared -- and Chef Goody's menu absolutely slaps. I'd love to give specific recommendations, but truly we've been blown away by everything on the menu. You can't go wrong. Definitely peep at their daily specials list, too. Service is fantastic and friendly. The chefs are happy to chat, and always make excellent recommendations if you're unsure what to order. It feels welcoming without losing that elevated, special-occasion energy. Perfect for a date night, but also surprisingly accommodating for kids, which makes it an easy go-to whether you're celebrating or just craving really good sushi. It's one of those spots you almost don't want to tell people about... but you also don't want anyone to miss out. If you want top-tier sushi in La Jolla, this is it. read more

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Tried Akari for the first time. They had a few daily specials on sushi, beers and sake. The ambiance is nice, service was good and fish was fresh. It felt like they are still working on getting there systems and timing together. I fully suspect they will be humming along in the next few months as the get through their first busy summer. CONCLUSION: Good service, fresh fish and fair prices. Give them a try! read more

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It was an amazing dinner. I had the chicken entree and my dad and I shared a tasty desert sushi plate along with edamame with garlic. The service was swift and the food came out very quick. Our server was amazing because she told us everything on the menu was delicious and she wasn't wrong. The overall feeling of the restaurant was amazing with a traditional Japanese feel to it. Highly recommend for those in La Jolla in search of delicious sushi. read more

Horrible food and services. First, we ordered two garage and two beer in the beginning . They served only one karake and one beer. When I pointed out the issue, the waitress did not acknowledge her mistake and she said that we are ordering additional beer and karake. I also ordered a nine pieces of sushi but she served nine pieces of sashimi. We were party of five and everyone ordered two or three dishes on the menu so we thought that someone else ordered the sashimi. Actually no one ordered the sashimi and she forgot to bring sushi that I ordered. There were no apologies for the horrible services rather blaming us. For the food, it was edible but the quality was not good. Salmon belly sushi was not from belly. It had no fats. Baja roll had way too much lemon so I couldn't taste salmon or tuna. Chicken katsu sauce was way too salty. read more

Had a wonderful dinner!!! First time there, Girard location & it was delicious! Helen was our awesome server. She recommended several rolls & we were happy we took her recommendations as they were all VERY good * Heartbreak Roll *Citrus Bliss Roll *Crispy Ahi Rice Roll *Cherry Blossom Roll *Haru Roll *Green Tea Ice Cream *Tempura PB&J We found our new sushi spot! read more

I absolutely love this place and now I know why! It's the sister sushi shop to So Cal Sushi in Normal Heights, San Diego, and it lives up to the name. Everything I tried was amazing...I honestly can't pick a favorite because it was all that good. Highly recommend if you're craving top quality sushi! read more

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The food was excellent! we had a reservation but it wasn't too busy so they sat us quickly. We love their salmon Kama and their rolls. We also loved that they have fresh wasabi. Will be back! We live in university heights and have a favorite over there but loved trying this new spot. We can't wait to come back again! read more

Akari Sushi - Salmon Kama - Sushi Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

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If you're looking for quality sushi, cold beers, great service, & good vibes. Akari Sushi is the place for your sushi cravings. Friendly & knowledgable staff. Lot's of space for bigger parties & a good selection of sakes. Fish is always fresh & a great variety if you're looking for something other than tuna or salmon. If you like PB&J...don't skip on the PB&J Tempura for dessert. Don't forget to buy the staff a round of drinks if you're having a great time there. They have a sister location in Normal Heights (SoCal Sushi) that offer a similar menu, way smaller but same vibes. read more

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First and foremost there's plenty of parking! I love a spot that doesn't get in the way of my hunger. Lol The moment you walk in you're greeted right away. Yasss! Loving the customer service and the attentiveness off each staff. We ordered a few sashimi and several rolls. Each dish was fresh and delicious. I love that they carry a few dishes that were cooked for those that don't like it raw lol . Please o not leave without having the deep fried PB&Jelly sandwich, it's served with a generous amount of ice cream. You heard that right! Get it buddy! It was delicious! read more

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Fantastic restaurant and amazing service! The Mango Tango sushi was phenomenal! The peach tea was also randomly the best I have ever had. We also got the Tempura PB&J for dessert and it was incredible. Helen, our server, was so sweet and attentive. Truly a great experience, and we can't wait to return! read more

Old school sushi house feel with delicious and fresh sushi. We loved the cherry blossom and citrus bliss rolls. All of the tuna sushi and salmon belly was also very fresh, high quality and delicious. Very kind and helpful staff. read more

Best possible birthday and sushi dinner ever. Every roll was amazing, the service was amazing, and the overall vibe of the place was perfect. Best sushi place around! read more

Akari Sushi is a standout among La Jolla's sushi options if you want freshness, great service, and creative rolls without breaking the bank. I'd happily return to try more items and recommend it to anyone who enjoys sushi. They are also kid-friendly. I come all the way from PINE VALLEY! And I will be back. Thank you Akari! read more

Check out this latest spot when you're in La Jolla! I highly recommend coming here for delicious food, excellent service, and awesome vibes. Start off with spicy garlic edamame (if you can handle a little heat) and Miso soup to warm you up, just to name a couple of my go-to appetizers. Order a beer and/or sake from their well rounded drink menu. You can always ask for a recommendation, if you're not sure or want to try something new. Don't miss to check out their daily specials. You can't go wrong with any of their rolls. But you can always ask the chef to make a special roll, just to your liking. You will taste the high quality of the fish, as well as the love and care the chefs took to prepare your dishes. Check out the gorgeous hand painted mural on one of the walls, rounding out an aestically pleasing dining experience. My favorite spot in the area! read more

MUST TRY!! We frequent SoCal Sushi and when we found out they opened another location near Mitch's Surfshop in La Jolla, we had to go! The location is perfect and has the La Jolla vibes. What can I say about the food??.. top notch! The fish is so fresh and they have unique seasonal fish that I haven't had at other places. The staff and service is amazing as make you feel like family. We love SoCal Sushi and now Akari will definitely be our favorite La Jolla spot! read more

Akari Sushi - Nagiri sushi, Ahi Tataki, jalapeno poppers - Sushi Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

Amazing experience at this family friendly restaurant. Butterfish nigiri was excellent. We will be back.

This place was awesome! The service here blew me away. Probably the best service I've experienced. There were super attentive and accommodating. The sushi and the chicken wings were both really good. Would definitely come back read more

Stopped by for dinner. The rolls were delicious and cut into smaller piece enough pieces to actually eat. The service was great & staff was really nice. I recommend trying the specials. read more

We were happy to see this restaurant open in our neighborhood. the service is excellent with the owner very attentive and nice quick service. We had the jalapeño poppers which were delicious. The citrus jalapeño hamachi sashimi and four rolls all of which were very good. Mochi balls for dessert. Everything was great and very welcoming environment. Highly recommend. read more

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We stopped by Akari during lunchtime to give it a try and they did not let us down! The sashimi was high quality and very fresh. Their service was also great, shoutout to Carlos and Abel for creating such an inviting environment. Our experience here was amazing and we will definitely be back! read more

Akari Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

Took my wife and we had the best time to celebrate her birthday. Cici was the best host and the food was amazing! We are def coming back. TY for a great night :) read more

It's a good sushi place and has good variety of sushi's I would recommend it and they have good customer service

My table was a 3-top and everyone's meals were excellent. Very high-quality fish. The rolls were interesting in a good way. The service was top notch. I would definitely go again. read more

New favorite sushi spot in La Jolla! High quality fish with a causal family vibe. Best staff of all time. The citrus bliss roll and the seat trout nigiri are a must, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We will be coming here often! read more

Akari Sushi - Nigiri - sea trout, butter fish, hamachi, bluefin, and scallop - Sushi Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

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great fish! excellent service! really good ginger. had the crispy tuna, rainbow, mango tango, and the toro sashimi. everything was top tier and we couldn't have been happier. will go again! read more

So fresh! The nigiri, hand rolls, etc. everything is good. Must try the citrus roll! *chefs kiss* read more

Akari Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Really, really good! Staff is helpful and friendly. Highly recommend! Highs: Fresh sushi Friendly staff I didn't need to order and chef made excellent choices for us. read more

Amari Sushi is my local sushi spot that truly hits everytime. Their spicy garlic edamame is soo delicious and they have amazing quality fish. I have never had a bad bite here!!! Plus, if you're lucky then the next door neighbor may pay you a visit outside. ‍ read more

The freshest fish, most savory flavors, dish presentations like works of art, it's almost a shame to eat....Almost. High quality ingredients and attentiveness to guests and their appetites. What's not to like? Friendly staff, clean and simple decor, Akari has an openness to it and beautiful wall art, one could stare at all meal long. Smack dab in the middle of a bustling LA Jolla, but here everything seems to be Zen. Family friendly for those with kiddos (nice size booths) and intimate enough at the sushi bar for a classic date night. Don't take my word for it though, try it for yourself. Then you can tell me how right I am ;) read more

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Awesome spot. Everyone working was very friendly. The sushi was amazing and they have some good drink specials! Will definitely be returning soon!! Our favorite rolls were the Mt Fuji and the Citrus Bliss. read more

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Great food, fast and great service. Don't miss the mango tango and the Jalapeño poppers!! A must in La Jolla read more

Great sushi, service and vibes. I highly recommend this spot. They always have unique specials and good deals going on. Try the citrus hamachi, it's my favorite. read more

Amazing food! The owners were very friendly and the sushi was very fresh. The vibes very vibing. Head chef John, Carlos, and Jonah were fantastic!!! read more

Akari Sushi - Salmon Avocado roll, toro, and cucumber roll! - Sushi Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California