Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bistro Kaz

    4.3 (411 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Japanese
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Bistro Kaz Takeout or Delivery

    Bistro Kaz Photos

    Business Info

    BISTRO KAZ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Intimate
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Bistro Kaz

    Recommended Reviews - Bistro Kaz

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    50321787. Cold Cod Roe and Squid Pasta Lunch Combo
    Richard H.

    Located on convoy street, along with a lot of great Asian restaurants. This is an amazing Japanese fusion restaurant, featuring some of the best dishes. Their Cold Cod Roe and Squid Pasta Lunch Combo is the best that I have ever had! Pasta dish(of your choice), soup, salad and drink for $26!

    Creamy 50321791. Salmon Cream with Salmon Roe
    Deborah L.

    Bistro Kaz is truly a hidden gem in the San Diego area. I visit at least two times (at the minimum!) whenever I'm in town. This unique Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant consistently impresses with its fresh, high-quality ingredients. My must-order dishes are the cold cod and salmon roe pasta and the unagi pizza. If you're a fan of squid sashimi, then the pasta is an absolute must-try! I don't think I've had anything like it before. They also offer a lunch special on weekdays that includes your choice of entrée, salad, soup, and a drink for a reasonable price.

    Diana C.

    A quiet little spot with orders made to order. It's a nice date night spot. The dishes fuse Japanese and Italian flavors. The guys really enjoyed the curry dishes. My pasta was good - but I was expecting bigger pieces of seafood.

    50324002. Cod Roe, Salmon Roe Butter Soy Sauce Flavor Pasta
    Sherilyn K.

    We first visited and ordered the hamburger steak with demi-glace sauce and the Seafood Doria, and we were immediately impressed. Every part of the experience--from the food and service to the cozy atmosphere--was exceptional. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we came back just a week later for dinner to try the cream crab croquettes, unagi pizza, okonomiyaki, and cod roe soy butter pasta. The unagi pizza and Seafood Doria were definite favorites, and I can't wait to come back and try even more of the menu!

    Salad of the day
    Fiona N.

    We passed today and decided to ditch the dim sum place next door for this restaurant! It was the best decision!!! We had Japanese style Italian food in Japan before and loved it and gave this place a shot. Man, they didn't disappoint. We ordered the lunch special which came with a salad, soup, and choose and entree and drink. You can upgrade your salad, soup and drinks for few bucks extra. Everything was yummy! But if u want more meat, do not order their pasta, they are mostly of veggies. My salmon pasta had a good amount of fish. But they do have other Japanese dishes. My son had the Japanese meat loaf. The size was small for a teenager so he left still hungry. For me, the pasta was too much for me. The lunch combo was $24 and I paid an extra dollar for hot green tea. IMO, not too bad these days. This will definitely be my go to place for lunch! The server was very patient and efficient. The place was clean and cozy.

    Savannah F.

    Kind of like a hole in the wall. Been here for many years and I hope they continue to stay. The store front is quite small and easy to miss compared to the neighboring stores. Inside is also quaint. I really like the atmosphere and vibe of this place. Rarely do I like fusion, but this place does it well. Italian and Japanese. It's not commonly seen here and I'm glad they have good portion sizes still after so many years Food is consistent. Service is the same as it has been. We usually see the same lady. Food is also delicious

    Curry
    Cindy N.

    This restaurant is small and quaint. There was only one other customer while we were there, so we were seated immediately. I came with two friends. I ordered the corn soup and the creamy uni pasta. I enjoyed what I ordered. My friends ordered a curry & rice dish and the squid ink pasta. I enjoyed the curry, but there's definitely better Japanese curry out there. The squid ink pasta was SO terrible. I don't understand how that's the most popular dish here. It was extremely plain, flavorless, and stains your mouth. My friends asked for Parmesan cheese to add to the squid ink pasta to improve the taste. I've never had squid ink pasta so maybe that's how it's supposed to taste? Oh well!

    390490. Squid Ink
    Malia P.

    Get their pizza, seafood doria, ceviche and croquette. Avoid chicken liver pate, we love chicken liver but I spat this one out. The squid ink pasta is good, but if you work at a hair salon or know what vivid hair dye smells like avoid this too.

    Crab creamy tomato sauce pasta
    Carolyn W.

    Great interior and atmosphere. It's a small dining area and small bar but ambiance is 5 stars!! One waitress is juggling it all plus the bar so dont expect super fast service but still good. Food portions were big and the pasta is light which makes sense for Japanese-Italian fusion. Friendly and classy comfy place and couple regulars frequent the spot. We tried: Unagi pizza - great for sharing or as an entree Crab with tomato creamy sauce pasta - great pasta and flavor Meat bologonese - lighter taste than normal bolognese but still good.

    50324006. Crab and Scallop Pepperoncino Pasta
    Yuhan K.

    I love the Japanese Italian fusion pastas that they serve here. I think it is such a great blend of Italian and Japanese flavors that complement each other. I have always went with their seafood varieties so I cannot speak on their other menu items but the cold cod roe pasta and the crab meat and scallop pepperoncino pasta are very good and they do not skimp on the ingredients. The server has always been friendly every time I have been there and I love the small space and interior of the restaurant. It has a certain charm to it that feels very cozy. If possible I would highly recommend going for their lunch menu as they include a house salad, a soup, and cold roasted barley tea or orange juice. It is such a great value that does not compromise on the quality of the food.

    Truffle pizza
    Ashley C.

    I stumbled upon this restaurant while doing some research on beli for Japanese-Italian fusion spots, and I instantly knew that it would be right up my alley. I loveeee Japanese-Italian fusion food. To start, the restaurant was so cute. Although it had limited seating, it was extremely cozy and mellow. After some heavy contemplation, we decided on the truffle pizza and creamy sea urchin pasta. The truffle pizza came out first and it was SO good to say the least. It tasted very creamy and buttery, but it was definitely on the heavier side. I wish they added corn to it--I feel like that could be a nice addition. Shortly after, we were then served with the pasta. First, it looked soooo appetizing. The plating was phenomenal! The pasta itself was very creamy but not greasy at all. It also did not taste overlyyy fishy. Instead, the seaweed paired very well with the urchin & roe. Overall, I had a great experience at Bistro Kaz! The service was also lovely. The only downfall is that it is on the pricier side, so I definitely recommend to bring friends to share & split!

    Eggplant curry
    Curt T.

    The Japanese curry was simply delicious and flavorful. Loved it. The egg plant was cooked perfectly as well. The meatloaf sandwich was also very flavorful and tasty. Breaded and then fried??? Hell yeah. Sign me up!! The cucumber, fresh mozzarella just really added to it. Complimented everything perfectly. The fries it was served with was crispy and delicious.

    Katarina G.

    I really enjoyed Bistro Kaz :) the food was very delicious and the drinks were great. My boyfriend loves squid ink pasta and their did not disappoint :) the service was okay, I feel like they didn't check up on us a whole lot, but the were nice. The restaurant is also small, so on a busy night you could experience a wait. Overall a good spot for date night :)

    Meatloaf sandwich

    See all

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    30 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Curt T.
    132
    1045
    3802

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jocelyn C.
    208
    25
    39

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marc P.
    156
    48
    90

    2 months ago

    Great food. No so great service. The waiter needs an attitude adjustment. Pork Belly was good.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jocy C.
    1639
    1752
    8503

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lam B.
    368
    786
    3978

    2 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 5
    Love this 10
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 11

    Bistro Kaz Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bistro Kaz

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Italian 73,656 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Ristorante Illando

    Ristorante Illando

    4.4
    (3.5k reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Private events

    SO GOOD. Yet another reason I wish I lived in San Diego. Amazing authentic Italian. I highly…read morerecommend their pesto -- it tastes like the pesto in Genoa Italy. The bolognese was amazing as well!

    We stopped by Illando's after a great day on the USS Midway while on vacation from the SF Bay Area…read more Luckily we were able to snag a reservation for a family of 4 right before the dinner rush. We were dressed casually but were treated by Luca and his team as if we were dressed to the nines. I want to state this- the place was packed on a Sunday evening and although it appeared Luca was the only waiter, he had a great team helping bring bread, water, dishes, etc. This team works great together! And the way that Luca interacted with all of his customers- amazing! Our family felt as though we knew him forever. The appetizer and salad were very good. And our main dishes of carbonara, bolognese and red sauce rigatoni were delicious. I really didn't think any of us would finish them but we couldn't put our forks down. It's a lovely place above a pizzeria - we literally passed by once and missed the entrance. Once you get up stairs, the seating area is well designed so that everyone had room enough to not feel cramped as in other restaurants. Great place for family or romantic dinner! Thank you, Luca and team for giving us such a great experience while on vacation in San Diego!

    Photos
    Nice quiet spot with AMAZING food. Clean, great service and very reasonably priced.
    Nice quiet spot with AMAZING food. Clean, great service and very reasonably priced.
    Papardelle Bolognese
    Papardelle Bolognese
    Torre di Antipasti

    See all

    Torre di Antipasti
    Bencotto Italian Kitchen

    Bencotto Italian Kitchen

    4.2
    (3.6k reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    Bencotto definitely lived up to the hype! Everything we ordered was delicious. I had the cheese…read morewheel pasta special with mushrooms and added sausage--I'm so glad I did because the sausage was perfectly crisp and absolutely scrumptious. My oldest ordered the salmon salad, and the creamy dressing was light, fresh, and full of flavor. The salmon portion was on the smaller side but cooked perfectly. My youngest got a "small" order of spaghetti Bolognese (there's no kids' menu), and she cleaned her plate. We also ordered the house bread, which our server explained is baked fresh to order, so it took a little extra time--but it was worth the wait. The seasoned olive oil dip was incredible, and the butter was rich and creamy. The only thing I personally missed was a side of balsamic vinegar. The drinks were just as impressive: a refreshing lavender mocktail for my oldest, a beautifully presented strawberry lemonade for my youngest, and their take on an Aperol Spritz for me. All three were refreshing and a perfect complement to the meal. Great food, wonderful service, and a spot we'll happily return to!

    Came here on a weekend and we were seated outside due to no reservation. Our table was filled with…read moreleaves that had dropped, including on our dishware. We got mozzarella sticks, tagliatelle nere, cheese wheel pasta, and tagliatelle lamb. To our surprise, the mozzarella sticks only come with three small sticks, but the cheese pull on them were really nice. The cheese wheel pasta was not tossed in the cheese wheel table side because we were seated outside, which I wish they would've explained when we were ordering. We substituted the tagliatelle ragu with pappardelle pasta since we already had fettuccine and I liked that a lot. When the pasta came out, our server asked if we wanted cheese on the pasta to which we said yes, and then he forgot to bring us cheese so we had to ask the hostess standing outside. Overall the food was good and the pasta portion was filling. I wouldn't recommend sitting outside because service was not the best. Not sure if it was because we were quite literally the only table outside.

    Photos
    View from window seating inward
    View from window seating inward
    Calamari Fritti...
    Calamari Fritti...
    Manhattan

    See all

    Manhattan
    Rusticucina

    Rusticucina

    4.6
    (1.7k reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$$
    Happy hour specials
    Locally owned & operated

    They know what they're doing and their client service was perfection. My older friend had a…read moresignificant birthday this year with the passing of her husband nearly a year ago exactly, It was a special birthday considering her failing health and I gave the restaurant a heads up we would be celebrating. Nathan, Sabrina and Johan were a primo team and outstanding on all counts. They made extra sure my guest was comfortable and most importantly, appreciated. The fried burrata was a star as was their caprese salad. Their spinach ravioli was delicious and despite how full we were, it was gobbled up. Their pizza was great as well as their arancini. The New Zealand Sauvignon blanc was delicious with a spicy finish. We ordered two bottles. The vibe is very communal and it got lively around 7pm on a Saturday. It was quiet and intimate when we arrived around 4:45pm so come a little earlier if you typically would like a quieter meal with fabulous food. Again, can't thank Nathan. Sabrina and Johan enough. The entire team was fabulous and humored us with our questions in regard to Sicily. I will be back and will bring others: thanks again!

    Amazing service, but unfortunately the food didn't live up to the hype…read more Ossobuco: 5.5/10 I've had a lot of ossobuco over the years, and this was honestly my least favorite. The meat was fairly tender, but it lacked flavor almost entirely. The sauce didn't add much either, and the risotto underneath was just okay. Nothing was necessarily bad. it was just surprisingly bland. For a dish that's usually rich and comforting, this one felt forgettable. Pesto Pasta: 7/10 This was decent and definitely better than the ossobuco, but it wasn't anything I'd go out of my way to order again. The pesto was enjoyable, and I appreciated that it wasn't overly acidic. Beyond that, it didn't really stand out. The cocktails were good, the service was fantastic, and the complimentary limoncello cake was delicious. That said, when there are so many great Italian restaurants in the area, I don't see myself returning. I left feeling like the food was more hype than substance. Food: 5/10 Service: 10/10

    Photos
    Rusticucina
    Rusticucina
    Rusticucina

    See all

    Cucina Urbana

    Cucina Urbana

    4.4
    (4.9k reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$$

    Cucina Urbana's Sunday offering is great. It feels like an excellent home cooked meal without the…read morework. The meal includes *Family chopped salad - light and fresh * Focaccia + herbed butter - nice and warm bread with flavorful butter * Bucatini amatriciana - perfect seasoning; al dente * Polenta - rich and creamy * Seasonal roasted vegetables - very good side; lovely char on the veggies. * Spatchcock chicken - moist inside but crispy skin. Not a lot of flavor but if you add the pesto and the lemon & with the bed of arugula- I think it's wonderful. * Tiramisu/dessert- they have peaches and added hazelnuts on top- a good variation. We also had Lavender lemonade which was a bit sour for me but the other people at the table liked. Service and food were great. The restaurant is very clean and modern. Overall, highly recommended.

    Came here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday and was able to find street parking a few…read moreblocks away. The squash blossoms were the best thing we ordered. I'm a cheese lover, so these were right up my alley. The sauce was so good that I ended up dipping the focaccia in it. The focaccia bread itself, though, was pretty plain with just butter and not worth paying for. The food was pretty hit or miss. The Beef Brasato Pappardelle was flavorful with a good amount of meat, while the Bucatini Amatriciana was sour and not enjoyable. The Parmesan Truffle Fries were disappointing- they were hollow and airy with barely any potato or truffle flavor. The burnt Brussel sprouts were actually burnt (ha), the grilled octopus was dry with very little meat, the hamachi crudo was okay, the wagyu carpaccio was alright but didn't taste like wagyu, and the Jidori chicken fra diavolo wasn't worth the price. We also wanted the steak, but unfortunately they were out that night. Service was good. They waived the usual $3/person cake-cutting fee since we cut our own birthday cake. My biggest complaint was how hot it was inside. It took about 45 minutes to an hour before we could even feel the AC, which made dinner pretty uncomfortable on a summer night. Overall, there were a few standout dishes, but just as many misses. It wasn't a bad meal, but it wasn't a delicious one.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Grilled octopus
    Grilled octopus
    Squash blossoms with goat cheese

    See all

    Squash blossoms with goat cheese
    Parma Cucina Italiana

    Parma Cucina Italiana

    4.6
    (1.3k reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Here's a polished version you can post:…read more What a fantastic find! We stopped here after spending the day at the zoo, and it was one of the best meals my family and I have had in a long time. The service was absolutely outstanding--friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in. The food was some of the most authentic Italian cuisine we've ever had, and every dish was delicious. The desserts were just as incredible and were the perfect way to end the meal. If you're looking for amazing Italian food with exceptional service, I can't recommend this place enough. We'll definitely be back before we head home!

    I walked into this little Italian restaurant and found it completely packed. I asked the gentleman…read moreat the front how long the wait would be for a table for one. Without hesitation, he poured me a glass of Prosecco, invited me to wait outside, and assured me he'd have a seat for me in just a few minutes. Sure enough, about two minutes later, he came out and seated me. This restaurant made you feel like you were in Italy with the ambiance and vibe. I had done my research beforehand, so I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the lasagna, and it was absolutely incredible. The portion was generous, and my server let me know it would take a little extra time to prepare, which was perfectly fine. It didn't take long for me to realize that the man who seated me was also the owner. As I watched him greet guests throughout the evening, it was obvious that he genuinely loves what he does. We had a great conversation, and he was warm, welcoming, and personable. After finishing my meal, I ordered a double espresso and tiramisu for dessert. The tiramisu was easily one of the best I've ever had. Exceptional food, outstanding hospitality, and a memorable experience from start to finish. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in town.

    Photos
    Tagliatelle alla Bolognese
    Tagliatelle alla Bolognese
    Parma Cucina Italiana
    Seafood Risotto

    See all

    Seafood Risotto

    Bistro Kaz - italian - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...