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    CinKuni

    4.3 (376 reviews)
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    CINKUNI ATMOSPHERE

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    Venus G.

    This place is really just a waste of what could be a great place. Location is good, large space, decent decor, upbeat environment. We had a kid serving us and he was great, very accommodating. Food was super trash here. Tasteless, unappetizing.

    Naomi Osaka Roll
    vincent j.

    This place was really nice. Love the low lit atmosptand all the pokemon stuff on the walls. The server was extremely kind and just the right amount of attentiveness. I had a few different dishes. Look at photos. Parm edamame was a great and welcome spin on the basics. I think the only that fell short was the flat bread, but if that was a low then it was quite high.

    California Roll
    Ryan B.

    Definitely loved everything we tried here! Staff was amazing and the happy hour deals were excellent. The decor was super cool and I love that everything was anime themed. Somehow Japanese-Italian totally works! Get the flatbreads, gnocchi, and sushi for sure!

    Jane L.

    I've heard lots of mixed opinions on this place so thought it was finally time to see for myself. It's conveniently located walking distance from home. I honestly couldn't see how Japanese + Italian fusion could work. The vibe was great upon entering on a Friday for dinner. Our server Archer was new and so sweet and friendly. We opted for Burrata Allegra, Vegan Crunchy and Vegan San Diego with no Sriracha and sweet sauce on the side . My friend got the Tokyo Mule cocktail. Our Burrata dish came out without the fig jam, which was an easy fix, Archer grabbed us a small scoop. Our sushi rolls followed shortly behind. I found them very creatively tasty for being vegan. Since it was my birthday, I got a small slice of Tiramisu which was definitely homemade. It was served with strawberries, unsweet unnecessary garnish. As we were finishing up dinner, they were setting up for Karaoke Night. We which decide to partake in. Great crowd with a few talented singers. They have some kind of entertainment almost every night, be sure to check out their events. The serve was attentive and the vibes were good, so I'll be back to check out more events.

    Rigatone Salsiccia
    Hannah B.

    I have to say we were skeptical when we saw Japanese and Italian food in one spot. It was super yummy. We got a ton of food and just ate family style, which seems to be the way to go. The San Diego roll and master roshi roll are yum. My pasta was great, big chunks of Italian sausage. What was underwhelming was the goku roll, it was good at first and then had a weird aftertaste. My friend also ordered the ebirah ramen and it was SO fishy. Like fish is to be expected as it had scallops and shrimp in it, but it smelled so fishy and had an interesting aftertaste. Tho it was loaded with shrimp and scallops which was nice, but the scallops were were a turn off as they had a bad fish smell. Very hard to move past. Everything else was great and would eat again. The issue we had with the place was we got there at 7:30 and needed a minute to decide what to order, it was like every 3 minutes the waiter was asking us if we were ready, so we ordered drinks and appetizers. Then immediately he came back and asked if we were ready for food. We ended up ordering rather rushed. As we are eating he kept asking if we wanted the check or if we were done. There were other tables and they weren't closing at this time, so what is the rush. Just a little bit of a turn off to be so rushed through a meal with friends. Overall the food was good, service was attentive and the vibe in there is so fun. Gonna go back and check out their night market!

    Getting ahold of someone for a reservation is beyond ridiculous
    KaiXi Z.

    I'm not convinced this restaurant is even open or what the deal is. They don't respond to Yelp messages in a timely manner and they don't answer their phone. I've been trying to call through to make a reservation for at least 17 minutes at this point. Can't speak to their food nor the vibes of the place. However, if that changes and I can get through to make a reservation and have a chance to surprise a friend for his birthday, I'll update my review.

    Savena S.

    We stumbled on this place while we were driving and decided to give it a try. It's Japanese and Italian fusion so we decided to get a flatbread for their happy hour and sushi for our entree and it was pretty good. The dough from the pizza was crunchy and soft and the sushi was fresh and good. I really enjoyed their San Diego roll due to the fact they had cream cheese in it.

    December events posted near the restrooms
    VICTORIA C.

    Service and staff are great & kind. Tonight was karaoke night the have once a month so far. Very nice intimate or average loud music & people singing & having a good time. It was like a house party They seve food Ramen dishes, pizza, pasta, appetizers, burrata and salads, entrees & sushi. My daughter had the Ghidorah Ramen which she ate up so fast & recommends 10/10, I ordered Yakitori to go, which was sautéed chicken breast glazed in spicy honey garlic sauce with sesame seeds served with stir fry vegetables & steamed rice $24. Nice place to come for happy hour or a meal & drinks. Family oriented & great place for date night as well. Food was great & just the right heat on the spicy without overtaking the flavor of the meal. Definitely recommend as a nice spot to check out after work when you don't feel like cooking.

    Godzilla Ramen
    Justine H.

    The fusion of Japanese and Italian is one I never see. The sushi was good and the ramen tasted like Italian soup. My friend loved it and that you could really taste the Italian sausage. The service was nice and checked in regularly. It wasn't very busy when we came in on a weekend at dinner but a great local spot to hang out.

    Yellowfin carpaccio
    Craig R.

    CinKuni is a total vibe! The fusion of Italian and Japanese flavors is executed flawlessly. The yellowfin carpaccio was a standout--it literally melted on my tongue. A huge shout out to the sushi chef for the incredible precision, and kudos to John (aka Juan) for providing such attentive and excellent service. On the kitchen side, the salmon miso plate was on another level, and the sausage pizza tasted like it was handmade by ama herself in Sicily. Highly recommend!

    Wendy R.

    Food was delicious. I got the San Diego roll and the poke tacos. So good. The sushi roll i felt was so filling! Definitely would order it again. Overall everything i ate i would order. The place was clean and neat. My food was ready when i was told as well. No complaints.

    Master Roshi sushi roll and Sanji sushi roll
    Nicole R.

    This place has a lot of potential. I like the amount of space this restaurant provides. We came in on a Thursday evening which was cool because they hosted a free comedy show that night inside which we were able to check out. Food-wise, we only had sushi rolls here, but they were both good. Our server was really nice too. I liked that they have a calendar of events because some events actually seemed fun to check out, but I don't know if I'd come back just for the food.

    Gnocchi Urbino and Yakitori
    Jocelyn V.

    Came here for dinner last night, the ambience was great. They had trivia at 7pm which is always fun. I've never been to an Italian/Japanese fusion restaurant before, I'm so glad we gave it a shot. I had the gnocchi that was served in a bread bowl, it was incredible. My friend had the Yakitori, which she also loved. We both agreed we'll absolutely come back. Service was great. We met the owner and her son, she was incredibly sweet. Her love and passion absolutely translated into the food.

    Hello kitty sparkling soda (strawberry flavored)

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    CinKuni Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - CinKuni

    Do they have high chairs or booster seats?

    Yes! We have high chairs and booster seats.

    When is bingo and what time?

    Bingo is usually every other Thursday! Upcoming bingo is 12/15!

    Hows parking? Was it hard to find a parking spot? Or is there a designated parking spot?

    Yes, hard to find parking. Best bet is one block back of restaurant. The parking in back is only for businesses next door.

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    Azuki Sushi

    Azuki Sushi

    4.4(3.6k reviews)
    2.5 mi•Banker's Hill
    •$$$
    Takes reservations
    Vegan friendly

    Finally got a reservation at Azuki and it did not disappoint…read more Dining atmosphere: We were seated outside and it felt pretty intimate. There were a decent amount of tables outside, while inside seemed to be a bit louder. Service quality: Our server was amazing! I didn't catch her name but she recommended several dishes to us that absolutely blew us away. Must-try dishes: My personal favorites were the tuna three ways, kobe roll, and nigiris. Quite possibly some of my favorite scallop & unagi nigiris I've had in SD. Cost-effectiveness: I will say that dinner came with a larger price tag, so it may not be somewhere to go for a casual dinner but it's definitely worth it for a girl dinner, date night, or a treat to yourself. Seriously, SO worth it.

    We ordered the largest plate of SHASHIMI to share, along with some other rools and appetizers, for…read more3 people. A note: Previously, this restaurant had been my favorite in San Diego and one of my favorite sushi restaurants overall. I made reservations a month out and was looking forward to this meal, bringing my daughter for her first time. We ordered and it seemed to take forever, and three other groups who arrived after us got their meals. Ok. We are patient. Then our meal came. For $130, we were supposed to get a certain number of pieces of fish. The first thing we notices is the deep fried small barramundi fish in the center, which I guess was supposed to be 8 pieces of fish since it was cut in 8 tiny pieces. We had ordered this piece as an appetizer in the past. It is ok, but it is not shashimi! Other pieces were cut small so it brought up the count I guess. We don't normally complain, as we generally never return is such a thing happens, but my mellow wife complained and we got two additional orders of yellowtail, slices very thin so you could almost wee thru them. The kind you get at all you can eat buffets. This is all the chef's fault, thinking we were schmucks perhaps or maybe he ran out of fish. To the Maitre D's and the waitresses benefit, they tried with the extra fish and a free dessert, and we tipped well, as we always do, but we will never return and we will let the many people who we referred over the years know. If you want sushi the quality of a buffet, go to Aduki.

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    Azuki Sushi
    Azuki Sushi
    Azuki Sushi

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    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Baked Scallop Roll - @rayz

    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi

    4.3(2.8k reviews)
    11.1 mi•Mira Mesa
    •$$$

    I never get tired of going to this restaurant, I'm a sushi fan and as a former sushiman I'm…read moreextremely picky about eating sushi, especially temakis. Rice, the main ingredient of cooking is always on point but today it overcame, probably because it is very hot, the contrast of today's air conditioning was excellent, anyway. The best temaki in San Diego because it still arrives at your table crispy. A restaurant that surprises me every day that passes because it is a restaurant with the age group of younger waiters in SD but with better service than many restaurants in La Jolla. For those who really understand modern (non-traditional) Japanese cuisine, without a doubt the best. By the way, today the yellow tail was melting in the mouth. Anyway,,, thank you Little Sakana Crew,,, you are to be congratulated.

    My go-to casual date night spot! I love Little Sakana's fish quality, and often opt for their…read moreall-you-can-eat option over à la carte. If you want to add sashimi to your all-you-can-eat experience, there is an extra charge. My favorite rolls are the lemon roll and the UFC roll. Ask about their secret menu! They often have things like salmon belly nigiri and yellowtail belly nigiri. For a two-person AYCE experience, with tax and tip, it's around $90-95. The wait is pretty long on weekends, and you can join their waitlist from a QR code at the host stand while you walk around other businesses in the plaza! Heads up, the restaurant is pretty loud, as they often blast their "Happy Birthday" audio over speakers multiple times. Recently, I've ordered catering for their large platter (base $150). Super great deal considering the amount of rolls they give you and the freshness. Pretty simple to order catering off their website as well!

    Photos
    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi
    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Yellowtail, Salmon, Ikura

    Yellowtail, Salmon, Ikura

    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Get on the waitlist using the QR code

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    Get on the waitlist using the QR code

    Sushi MARU - Iwashi

    Sushi MARU

    4.8(89 reviews)
    3.1 mi•Downtown, Core

    Adequate street parking in front and a huge ACE parking lot right in front if you're down to pay a…read morelittle extra. Easy to miss the door but theres a small wooden plaque by the front. Super small and intimate service, never felt rushed and very attentive staff. Extensive sake list and more than the usual options for beer. Chef Maru recommended to take photos upside down to get a better angle and he's so right lol The nigiri was great and I loved how the menu switched from fresh snappy bites to buttery melt in your mouth pieces, never felt like the last piece was competing with the next. I loved that crab was used in multiple dishes, like the warm dish and soup. I wish the nigiri was bigger in general, on the smaller side compared to other spots. Tuna lovers will appreciate how many dishes had tuna. The warm dish (seabass w hairy crab sauce) was one of my favorites, the hairy crab sauce consistency reminded me of banh canh cua. Tuna is from Mexico, most veggies and fruits were from Chino farms.

    I was really looking forward to Sushi Maru omakase. I made reservations for the late seating at…read more8pm. Once arrived we were seated about 5 minutes later. They were still setting up. My first impression of the restaurant was, it was beautiful restaurant with a counter that seats 14. First off, Chef Maru and his entire staff was absolutely fantastic and professional. They were all attentive on refilling water and tea. Chef Maru himself was absolutely awesome, he explained each course that was served. Which was the right way to do it. Omakase: Omakase 20 pieces at $180. It's a great price, but in my head there had to be a catch to it. The starter and appetizer started out strong. Everything (fish) were all fresh, so when the nigiri course started that's when everything went south. The nigiri that chef served was really small and it's not your standard size nigiri .There's barley any shari ( sushi rice) and fish. If felt like I was sampling each nigiri. You can't really enjoy it when it's that small.The only highlight was the Uni from San Diego. That felt like a month full, other than that everything just felt like a tease. Don't let my photos fool you, it was all zoomed in. My wife and I had many omakase before and lelf happy and satisfied. This was the first time that we ever left after an omakase meal and was still hungry and a little disappointed. I would love to give Sushi Maru more stars but I just can't after this vist.

    Photos
    Sushi MARU - San Diego Uni!! So sweet!

    San Diego Uni!! So sweet!

    Sushi MARU - Appetizer - Hairy Crab and Ika

    Appetizer - Hairy Crab and Ika

    Sushi MARU - Seasons Simmered Dish

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    Seasons Simmered Dish

    Soichi Sushi - Nigiri

    Soichi Sushi

    4.8(555 reviews)
    0.9 mi•University Heights
    •$$$$

    The first time experiencing Soichi, we just lucked in to it. We were in the area, popped in and…read morethey happened to have a table for 2, the reason I say lucked in is we tried to get a reservation the next time and they book out months at a time. It is not surprising as this Michelin 1 star since 2021 is quite the tiny, yet comfortable setting that continues to get high praise. Unlike several of the other Michelin guide or Michelin Star sushi establishments, they offer more than just Omakase. While the do offer Full Omakase for $189, Nigiri Omakase for $140, and Petite Omakase for $65, they also allow you to order nigiri, sashimi along with multiple other specials and cut rolls. On our first walk in experience, we ordered the Petite Omakase which included 4 seasonal dishes, 6 pieces of sushi, a light fish broth, and a small dessert, we also ordered some add-on sushi. On our first reservation here, we opted for the Full Omakase, which was absolutely amazing. It is hard to find any fault in the experience here as everything is done with such meticulous care, and exceptional service, making you feel welcome. I cannot recommend Soichi enough!

    Came back for my 3rd visit here since they've opened and am thrilled that the business is doing…read morewell and has continued to hold it's Michellin star. I've ordered the Omakase each time and while I still love the atmosphere and the energy from Chef Soichi and the staff, I do have to say that this last go round was not quite as good as the last two. This is meant to be opinionated criticism to help improve but I think the dishes could use more diversity and depth. Having done a fair share of omakase from places like Kinme and Matoi, I feel like this isn't that much more memorable or special and I'd hate for it to follow the same path Tadokoro did where they were absolutely my #1 choice and fell after they got their star (which they later lost). Still love that Chef Soichi continues his tradition of birthday serenades with his guitar and the place still has that mom and pop charm so I hope they continue to thrive!

    Photos
    Soichi Sushi - Beautiful flowers for Valentines!!

    Beautiful flowers for Valentines!!

    Soichi Sushi - Fried shrimp head. Whole thing is edible!

    Fried shrimp head. Whole thing is edible!

    Soichi Sushi - Appetizer

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    Appetizer

    Ichifuji

    Ichifuji

    4.9(210 reviews)
    3.6 mi•Clairemont
    •$$$$

    If you're looking for a unique, intimate omakase experience and love trying unexpected flavors,…read morethis is absolutely worth it. We initially couldn't get a reservation, so we joined the waitlist and were thrilled to get a Friday afternoon call offering us an 8 PM opening. The sushi bar has only about 10 seats, making the entire experience feel incredibly personal. The fish is flown in daily from Japan, the menu changes every three months, and you get to interact with the chef as each course is prepared. There are two omakase options: $145 or $165 with additional nigiri. If you're worried about leaving a tasting menu hungry, get the nigiri. I lost count of the courses and was completely stuffed by the end! The highlight was getting to try fish I'd never even heard of and some genuinely creative flavor combinations. You do need to be an adventurous eater--think oysters and fried shrimp heads--so it may not be ideal for someone hesitant about seafood. But if you're willing to trust the chef, that's part of what makes it so fun. The entire experience lasted about 2 1/2 hours, and because the setting is so intimate, we even ended up chatting with the diners next to us. And the sweet potato ice cream at the end was absolutely divine. We left full, happy, and feeling like we'd been briefly transported back to our travels in Japan. Such a special experience. We will absolutely be back!

    The omakase started off alright with complex appetizers that I didn't love, but fit Crystal's…read morepalate better. However, when the sushi started coming out the omakase got better and better and the fish selections included both classics as well as some unique options that we had never had before.the flavor combinations were also quite strong. Additionally, the price point was very affordable at around $160 per person.

    Photos
    Ichifuji
    Ichifuji - Toro handroll

    Toro handroll

    Ichifuji - Chawanmushi

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    Chawanmushi

    Shino Sushi

    Shino Sushi

    4.4(685 reviews)
    3.4 mi•Little Italy
    •$$$

    What a delicious hidden gem! Fun to sit at the sushi bar and watch them make the rolls. Great…read moreselection and everything is very fresh

    An extra star for the thoughtful and child-friendly service…read more I brought my 6 year old here for sushi after trying to get into Sugarfish and then Azuki. There was no wait here but parking was a nightmare and there is almost no street parking right around the restaurant which is near the trolley tracks. I recalled coming here for a light dinner with my husband many years ago and thinking it was good, but expensive. I asked if they had Japanese soda for my daughter because it was not on the menu, and they said no, but after we came back from the bathroom the host had found one for us. They gave us chopstick helpers and were very nice. We ordered braised pork belly as an app and wagyu nigiri, albacore, hamachi, salmon belly, 2 salmons, and unagi. I think that was all. They nicely split the order so half had no wasabi for the kid. They were very considerate and I appreciated it. The food however took a while to come out. The braised pork belly was ok, but the fat had not rendered as well as at some other places so we ate around it. The flavor was good though. The hamachi was probably the best item-tender and tasty. The albacore was standard and a generous piece, but the salmon was a bit tough and my kid who usually inhales salmon tasted and then left the salmon. The wagyu had good flavor but was surprisingly chewy. For $26 I would expect it to melt in your mouth but it was not easy to bite through. The eel was very tender but had a weird taste, and was disappointing. I found myself chewing on a scale from maybe the salmon and was overall underwhelmed by the food. The bill for a soda and the sushi came to almost $150 after tax and tip for me and a 6-year old. Usually my husband and I and my kid go to places with better quality and pay the same price for the three of us. Will not be back.

    Photos
    Shino Sushi - Sushi bar

    Sushi bar

    Shino Sushi - Tofu

    Tofu

    Shino Sushi - Toro Toro Roll

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    Toro Toro Roll

    Lumi - Charred Yellowtail yellowtail, charred green onion, masago, avocado, cucumber, yuzu kosho aioli, garlic ponzu

    Lumi

    4.2(1.1k reviews)
    3.6 mi•Gaslamp

    My husband and I came here for dinner and really enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. The…read morerestaurant has a modern rooftop vibe in the heart of Downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, making it a great spot for date night. We ordered the miso soup, spicy edamame, Den Miso pork belly skewers, tamarindo tuna ceviche, seabass serrano, crispy karikari tuna, and mochi ice cream for dessert. To drink, we had the Taiyo Margarita and the Clouds of Matcha cocktail. The spicy edamame was probably the only dish that fell a little short for us. It wasn't bad by any means, but we were hoping for more flavor. The absolute standout was the Den Miso pork belly skewers. My husband and I both took our first bite at the same time, looked at each other, and immediately said, "Oh!" We were genuinely surprised by how juicy, tender, and flavorful they were. There were only two skewers, but they packed so much flavor that we instantly wanted to order another plate. The tamarindo tuna ceviche was fresh, light, and refreshing. The taro chips added a nice crunch without overpowering the dish. The seabass serrano was enjoyable, though it wasn't a stand out for us. The crispy karikari tuna (spicy tuna over crispy rice) is one of my go-to orders whenever I visit a sushi restaurant, and this version was up to par. The only component I wasn't crazy about was the long, thin slice of avocado on top--I personally could have done without it, though my husband actually liked it, so that's just a matter of preference. We finished the meal with mochi ice cream, which was the perfect sweet ending. Overall, we had a great dining experience. Between the rooftop ambiance, attentive service, and several delicious dishes - especially those unforgettable pork belly skewers - we'd definitely come back and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a great dinner spot in the Gaslamp.

    This is a hipster restaurant for after-work drinks and sushi, where the crowd is relatively young…read more The rooftop bar and open air is great for a breezy summer evening. The music is a bit on the loud side, but you can still have a chat with a group. I ordered the Akira Back Pizza, Mango Bongo Roll, and Super Spider Roll. Akira Back Pizza was my favorite, as the crunchy chip base and truffle drizzle made it extremely craveable. The rolls were pretty good too, and they use real crab! By the way, Lumi's AI answering service says they do not do take-out, but they do. Their receptionist is difficult to reach to confirm, but I have ordered take-out from their bar without any issues. It's just that they may not be able to allow call-ins for to-go orders.

    Photos
    Lumi - Inside the upstairs.

    Inside the upstairs.

    Lumi - Namaiki "Sassy" made with producer espadin, herradura blanco tequila, aji amarillo, pink guava, lime

    Namaiki "Sassy" made with producer espadin, herradura blanco tequila, aji amarillo, pink guava, lime

    Lumi - Uchuu "Universe" made with bombay dry gin, alma tepec chili liqueur, passionfruit, lemon, effervescence, coconut cream

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    Uchuu "Universe" made with bombay dry gin, alma tepec chili liqueur, passionfruit, lemon, effervescence, coconut cream

    CinKuni - italian - Updated September 2026

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