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This has to be a top 5 experiences for me! This place was fantastic on every level. Service, ambiance, quality, and creativity of the food, amazing! Great selection of Saki to pair with as well.
Really nice interior. That's why you're getting 2 star Food is average and cold, takes too long between course of the meal, lost my interest after my 3rd plate. The bibimbap is a joke, they should just say it's a poke bowl menu is a little on the cold side, wish there's something warm/hot to balance the menu. Service is below average, lady server just throw plates down without explaining about the dish. I paid, didn't finish the last course and walked out. Most people are only trying this place because the sushi place next door doesn't take walk ins.
Came here with my friend for my birthday and it was such a fun experience! We had a reservation and got seated right away upon arrival. There was a small gift (shot glass) on our seats, as the restaurant was celebrating a new menu, which was a nice touch. The menu was unique and gave you the option to pick between two dishes for the last 4/7 courses. All the dishes were good, but my favorite was the Abalone Liver Jook. It was so good, flavorful, and the portion size was more than enough. I also liked the uni + caviar rice, it was a simple dish but it was really creamy and filling. Aside from the food, the experience was also great. We sat at the bar and had a fun time interacting with the chef. They also let us try a complimentary sake shot which was nice of the staff. Overall, I had a great experience here and would definitely recommend to others/come again.
Everything tasted good but nothing very memorable and the price is way too high for the quantity you get. We got the scallop on 1/2 shell, shrimp and crab pan roast, miso sake Chilean sea bass, creamy lobster basil, pork belly rice bowl and the tofu somen salad with the Korean chili sauce. My favorites were the scallop and the tofu somen salad. The scallop was really fresh and all the flavors were well balanced. The tofu salad was a nice mix of textures and very flavorful. Service was friendly and everything came out well paced. This is definitely more of an upscale place but there are many other upscale places I'd recommend before this. I probably wouldn't come back.
We came here to start our wedding anniversary celebration! It was really empty when we came! Hubby got a bottle of kitaya kansansui (sake) and Kagua beer to start with. For food, we got almost everything on the menu! We ordered the amberjack & jumbo scallop and snow crab legs to start with. Both appetizers were light and cirtrusy. Our server recommended a side of soy pickles, so we got that too. We also had the shrimp and crab pan roast as well as the king crab and uni toast. I liked the flavors and textures of both! We also tried their bone marrow special, which was nice and buttery! It came with a couple slices of toast. In the hot bites section, we chose the A5 wagyu tataki and the creamy lobster basil. The wagyu melted in my mouth and had a side of garlic green beans that paired well together. The lobster basil dish was our least favorite. It was lacking in flavor. We mentioned that to the chef, so now he knows haha. The uni and caviar was brought out last and it was a great ending to our meal. Overall, the service and food was phenomenal! I would love to come back, but be forewarned that you will probably still be hungry afterwards.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY EXPERIENCE! The menu is constantly changing which is so cool. The staff is nice and friendly I loved everything single item on the menu I believe it was about $170 per person. Did have a slight allergic reaction to the blue prawn this allergy was unbeknownst to me but lucky it wasn't severe and the owner came and check on me and was even nice enough to bring tea over which helped so much. I 100% think you should make the reservation it's worth the wait and money.
One of the best in SD/convoy. Chef John owns both hidden fish omakase and this elevated Japanese izakaya and it hits the spot. You can order a la carte here and also get alcohol. They have everything seafood from scallops to pork belly rice bowl!!! The atmosphere is super calming and professional. The servers were very attentive and seemed like they knew what I needed at all times. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants a fancy date night or with friends who want an ELEVATED IZAKAYA experience and for those who have good taste. 10/10 would come back again, & I heard they have a chef's course menu coming up so keep your eyes peeled!
This wasn't going to eat at a restaurant it was transportation to Japan. Not that I've been, but it's what I imagine. There were only a few tables and the service was meticulous! The place was very private it felt. It was a chef's menu and 3 of the 7 courses were brought to you. 4/7 course you chose between 2 options. Fish is flown from Japan. Few wine choices, but the choices were excellent. The dishes looked like art work and tried things I've never had before and were great. We met the chef and that was very cool! You have to go at least once in your life. It's that excellent and can't say enough of my time there. Thank you chef!
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this establishment. Yes, the food is pricey and the portions are a tad on the smaller side, but it is a drinks and tapas place. As long as you don't come on a fully empty stomach, this place is great for small quality bites. The atmosphere and interior vibe is very chic and great for a girls night or for a nice date. Our server was attentive and told us that their menu changes every 2-3 months so we are excited to come back again to see what's new.
Right off the bat, ambiance was off with loud music... and heavy electronic dance music, at that. If I wanted to listen to EDM, I would go to a rave, not a more high-end restaurant that we booked to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We are chronic music festival goers, so it's not that we hate the music. There is a time and place -- this is not it. We felt the food had so much potential, but was a missed opportunity. We ordered the following: - Scallops on the 1/2 shell. The only dish we enjoyed all night. Impressed by the wasabi crème fraiche and ponzu pearls. Cute presentation. - King crab & uni toast. Overall unimpressed. The uni flavor does not come through. Felt like an expensive piece of toast that was lackluster in flavor. But again, artful presentation. - Creamy lobster basil. Also lacked in flavor. Sauce tasted as if watered down or something. It could have been creamier (or more buttery) to elevate the lobster. My husband said it could have been saltier? Whatever it was, it tasted plain. Missed opportunity. We were most disappointed by this dish. - Uni & caviar. This is supposed to be the signature dish, and yet again, we were unimpressed. We've had amazing uni/caviar rice dishes before, so our expectations were let down. Not sure if it was the batch of uni, but uni flavor felt subdued. And the rice is cold! We were thrown off by that too. And personally felt that warm rice would've elevated the comfort food aspect of this dish. Disappointment. Overall, we thought the dishes were alright... but we don't pay $30+ per tiny dish for just alright. I will give it to Hitokuchi -- their presentation is on-point: A+. Their food looks great! But for overall taste of the food: C+. Overall vibes of the place: C+. We would not come back again.
Love Chef Hong's concept and creativity! I've been here a few times and each time is a little different based on the season and fresh local ingredients. I almost didn't come here the first time because of the one star reviews of cheap customers complaining about price and portions... this restaurant is about quality over quantity. Each time we're greeted at the door, immediately the server got us our drinks, and the menu is straightforward. I am still dreaming of that uni rice with roe! Oh so gooood! Halfway through the tasting, chef comes to the table, thanks us for dining, chitchats a little, and generously offers some of his own stash of sake to us. What restaurant does that?! I feel like I'm at his home! From start to finish I'm ear to ear smiling with mmm's and ah at the deliciousness. Can't wait to come back!
What I ordered | King Crab + Uni Toast ($45) | Amberjack ($30) | Soy-Sichuan Pork Belly Rice Bowl ($36) | Creamy Lobster Basil ($42) | Tofu Somen Salad ($23) | Sake - Kinpou Odayaka | Sake - Kitaya Arabashiri Taste | my favorites were the king crab + uni toast and the amberjack sashimi. I like how they use milk bread for the toast. the tofu somen was light. the creamy lobster was good, I think I was more sauce since it said creamy lobster. the pork belly rice bowl was good. tasted how you expect a pork belly rice bowl. The sake were good! they tasted very similar. they were sweet and dry. Service | server was nice. she helped explain the sake menu. Parking | small lot Notes | next to Hidden Fish. This is a sake tapas lounge. they do note that these are small dishes. the menu is small and some of the dishes are on the pricier side. We made a reservation online!
Hitokuchi was supposed to launch a few years ago, but the pandemic put the debut on hold until recently, much to the relief of Chef/Owner John Hong. This dark, stylish sake lounge is affiliated with the adjacent parent restaurant, Hidden Fish. Together with a next door boba tea shop and a standalone Mexican restaurant out front, the four businesses share about fifteen parking spaces on the Convoy St property. There has been little advertising done for Hitokuchi partly because of the uncertainty around the opening date. It was also an intentional strategy to create a sense of exclusivity, for better or worse. You can try to book a time slot using Resy for the limited seating capacity of roughly two dozen customers. The interior was split into bar seating on the left and four small tables to the right. The soft opening menu consisted of five raw bites and five hot bites. Beware that you will be paying premium prices for "shareable, amuse-bouche-sized dishes" as described by one local preview article. The least expensive item was a Tofu Somen Salad ($23). The choices will periodically change as some ingredients enter their prime harvest season during the year. I selected the AmberJack from the first category. Seven slices of yellowtail sashimi were soaked in yuzu ponzu with serrano, a blend of extra virgin olive oil, red radish, and micro cilantro as toppings. The amount of ponzu was perfect to provide a tart, tangy sharpness to balance the mild, sweet flavor of the raw fish. I then picked the Soy-Sichuan Pork Belly Rice Bowl from the second category. Pieces of pork belly were braised in a soy-based Sichuan pepper broth. Fried jasmine rice was the base with pickled ginger, scallions, and mala sauce as garnishments to the meat. While the serving size of the bowl was small for $36, the ratio of meat to rice was spot on. Something about the braise made the pork flavorful, yet it wasn't too spicy or salty. Chef Hong was making the rounds to each party during my visit. He stopped by my table as I was finishing the rice bowl. We started chatting about my past experience at Hidden Fish. He insisted that I try one of the two toasts as a complimentary offering from the house. Moments later, a serving of the Bluefin Tuna Poke Toast was brought out. Four small pieces of Hokkaido milk bread were each topped with a mix of lean red tuna meat (akami), garlic-ginger ponzu, guacamole creme fraiche, pickled red onions, and micro cilantro. The balance of the ingredients with citrus, cream, and acid all played nicely with the tuna. What scared me from initially ordering this was the price tag for fancified toast that was plated beautifully. It's hard to not at least acknowledge the cost concerns as detailed in the low-rated review posted by one Yelper. Valid points were raised about the amount of food relative to the price and/or quality. For example, back to the poke toast... I expected a premium cut (i.e. otoro) of bluefin tuna for a tapas that would have cost nearly $50. The head waitress (Jenny) was very professional and knowledgeable about the whole operation. Her service and the generosity of the owner also factored into my composite four star rating.
What a fabulous time!!! The ambience is clean and modern. Chef Jon and his team were fabulous. He also owns Hidden Fish next door and we will be trying that next. He is a very generous and his food was amazing! I have never had a Korean omakase and wow! It was amazing. The flavors and recited. Holy cow. When you look at the menu you can see certain items are. Biden for you but there are a few where you have two choices which is fun. My husband got the items in the left and I got the items in the right so we got to try everything. There are pictures of most of the dishes but I did forget a few b/c I was just too excited to eat it. Just know every single bite was balanced and flavorful. read more
2 years ago
So happy I got to try this place. I did not know the menu is set courses when you get there.. never the less, the menu was still impressive. Made the reservation a month early and we walked in and we were seated quickly. The restaurant had a light yet dark ambiance that was cozy and inviting. Our menu consisted of, Oysters on the Half Shelf, Blue Prawn and sea urchin, Fish of the day (2x3 Sashimi), Steak Tartar Toast, A-5 Waygu, Bibimbap and Snow Crab Cold Somen. The Oyster was so fresh and well seasoned with subtle hints of dashing stock and cucumbers to complement and bring out the freshness. It was served with cold Korean noodles that made the whole course comes together in a welcoming way. The Blue Prawn was delicate, cut up in pieces that were bite size but it was still played out in the bowl in its original shape of a prawn. The sea urchin have a buttery taste with the soy-matinated Salmon Roe that provided balance to the entire dish. The fish of the day was Tuna, scallops and I don't remember the third one but they were all very delicious with a side of soy sauce and wasabi. The A-5 Waygu was cut into three small slices, cooked medium and laid over a bed of potato purée with asparagus and Gabli sauce. The steak was cooked perfectly and the flavors were wonderful. You could tell it was waygu as soon as you took a bit! Which I noticed right away, most restaurants will make you question if the meat is Waygu or not but here, I was certain! So good! The Bibimbap was a bowl of well cooked rice with sashimi on top. Tuna, Salmon and Yellowtail were served with a spicy Korean chili sauce that the server told us to mix it completely and them enjoy, but man I wish I didn't listen to her.. it was so spicy! I mean made my ears steam from the inside! I ate around the Korean chili sauce and ate the rice and sushi and but it had cood flavor before i mixed in the chili.. but it was definitely the largest course the had ans i didn't finish it since I was already getting full my this point. I hate to waste food stuff this price point but this dish a little too spicy, big, and underwhelming :/ Snow Crab Cold Somen has about three piece of perfectly cooked crab in it. It was nice and subtle but by this time I think i was getting full so I ate the crab and didn't finish the dish. Over all a great restaurant with amazing flavors and the chef is truly inspired and it shows in his work! read more
I'd give this a 3.5 stars! I'm glad I gave this spot a try but I don't think if I'd come back. The ambiance is nice and the servers are so kind. The menu is straight forward and perfect for 2 so you can try out each dish. Everything tasted good, but the service was a bit slow. Maybe because there was no one waiting so there was no rush to get us to leave, but the whole course took a little over 2 hours. I thought it would be around 90 mins (which I think is average) so we ended up missing the movie we planned to watch after dinner. Chef John was so kind and each dish was well made! My favorite was definitely the Toro Toast. I could probably have 10 of those. The only other thing I'd critique is the Bibimbap spicy sauce was too overpowering and took away from the other parts of the dish. read more
2 years ago
Really nice interior. That's why you're getting 2 star Food is average and cold, takes too long between course of the meal, lost my interest after my 3rd plate. The bibimbap is a joke, they should just say it's a poke bowl menu is a little on the cold side, wish there's something warm/hot to balance the menu. Service is below average, lady server just throw plates down without explaining about the dish. I paid, didn't finish the last course and walked out. Most people are only trying this place because the sushi place next door doesn't take walk ins. read more
Came here with my friend for my birthday and it was such a fun experience! We had a reservation and got seated right away upon arrival. There was a small gift (shot glass) on our seats, as the restaurant was celebrating a new menu, which was a nice touch. The menu was unique and gave you the option to pick between two dishes for the last 4/7 courses. All the dishes were good, but my favorite was the Abalone Liver Jook. It was so good, flavorful, and the portion size was more than enough. I also liked the uni + caviar rice, it was a simple dish but it was really creamy and filling. Aside from the food, the experience was also great. We sat at the bar and had a fun time interacting with the chef. They also let us try a complimentary sake shot which was nice of the staff. Overall, I had a great experience here and would definitely recommend to others/come again. read more
3 years ago
Everything tasted good but nothing very memorable and the price is way too high for the quantity you get. We got the scallop on 1/2 shell, shrimp and crab pan roast, miso sake Chilean sea bass, creamy lobster basil, pork belly rice bowl and the tofu somen salad with the Korean chili sauce. My favorites were the scallop and the tofu somen salad. The scallop was really fresh and all the flavors were well balanced. The tofu salad was a nice mix of textures and very flavorful. Service was friendly and everything came out well paced. This is definitely more of an upscale place but there are many other upscale places I'd recommend before this. I probably wouldn't come back. read more
We came here to start our wedding anniversary celebration! It was really empty when we came! Hubby got a bottle of kitaya kansansui (sake) and Kagua beer to start with. For food, we got almost everything on the menu! We ordered the amberjack & jumbo scallop and snow crab legs to start with. Both appetizers were light and cirtrusy. Our server recommended a side of soy pickles, so we got that too. We also had the shrimp and crab pan roast as well as the king crab and uni toast. I liked the flavors and textures of both! We also tried their bone marrow special, which was nice and buttery! It came with a couple slices of toast. In the hot bites section, we chose the A5 wagyu tataki and the creamy lobster basil. The wagyu melted in my mouth and had a side of garlic green beans that paired well together. The lobster basil dish was our least favorite. It was lacking in flavor. We mentioned that to the chef, so now he knows haha. The uni and caviar was brought out last and it was a great ending to our meal. Overall, the service and food was phenomenal! I would love to come back, but be forewarned that you will probably still be hungry afterwards. read more
2 years ago
ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY EXPERIENCE! The menu is constantly changing which is so cool. The staff is nice and friendly I loved everything single item on the menu I believe it was about $170 per person. Did have a slight allergic reaction to the blue prawn this allergy was unbeknownst to me but lucky it wasn't severe and the owner came and check on me and was even nice enough to bring tea over which helped so much. I 100% think you should make the reservation it's worth the wait and money. read more
One of the best in SD/convoy. Chef John owns both hidden fish omakase and this elevated Japanese izakaya and it hits the spot. You can order a la carte here and also get alcohol. They have everything seafood from scallops to pork belly rice bowl!!! The atmosphere is super calming and professional. The servers were very attentive and seemed like they knew what I needed at all times. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants a fancy date night or with friends who want an ELEVATED IZAKAYA experience and for those who have good taste. 10/10 would come back again, & I heard they have a chef's course menu coming up so keep your eyes peeled! read more
2 years ago
This wasn't going to eat at a restaurant it was transportation to Japan. Not that I've been, but it's what I imagine. There were only a few tables and the service was meticulous! The place was very private it felt. It was a chef's menu and 3 of the 7 courses were brought to you. 4/7 course you chose between 2 options. Fish is flown from Japan. Few wine choices, but the choices were excellent. The dishes looked like art work and tried things I've never had before and were great. We met the chef and that was very cool! You have to go at least once in your life. It's that excellent and can't say enough of my time there. Thank you chef! read more
3 years ago
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this establishment. Yes, the food is pricey and the portions are a tad on the smaller side, but it is a drinks and tapas place. As long as you don't come on a fully empty stomach, this place is great for small quality bites. The atmosphere and interior vibe is very chic and great for a girls night or for a nice date. Our server was attentive and told us that their menu changes every 2-3 months so we are excited to come back again to see what's new. read more
Right off the bat, ambiance was off with loud music... and heavy electronic dance music, at that. If I wanted to listen to EDM, I would go to a rave, not a more high-end restaurant that we booked to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We are chronic music festival goers, so it's not that we hate the music. There is a time and place -- this is not it. We felt the food had so much potential, but was a missed opportunity. We ordered the following: - Scallops on the 1/2 shell. The only dish we enjoyed all night. Impressed by the wasabi crème fraiche and ponzu pearls. Cute presentation. - King crab & uni toast. Overall unimpressed. The uni flavor does not come through. Felt like an expensive piece of toast that was lackluster in flavor. But again, artful presentation. - Creamy lobster basil. Also lacked in flavor. Sauce tasted as if watered down or something. It could have been creamier (or more buttery) to elevate the lobster. My husband said it could have been saltier? Whatever it was, it tasted plain. Missed opportunity. We were most disappointed by this dish. - Uni & caviar. This is supposed to be the signature dish, and yet again, we were unimpressed. We've had amazing uni/caviar rice dishes before, so our expectations were let down. Not sure if it was the batch of uni, but uni flavor felt subdued. And the rice is cold! We were thrown off by that too. And personally felt that warm rice would've elevated the comfort food aspect of this dish. Disappointment. Overall, we thought the dishes were alright... but we don't pay $30+ per tiny dish for just alright. I will give it to Hitokuchi -- their presentation is on-point: A+. Their food looks great! But for overall taste of the food: C+. Overall vibes of the place: C+. We would not come back again. read more
1 year ago
Love Chef Hong's concept and creativity! I've been here a few times and each time is a little different based on the season and fresh local ingredients. I almost didn't come here the first time because of the one star reviews of cheap customers complaining about price and portions... this restaurant is about quality over quantity. Each time we're greeted at the door, immediately the server got us our drinks, and the menu is straightforward. I am still dreaming of that uni rice with roe! Oh so gooood! Halfway through the tasting, chef comes to the table, thanks us for dining, chitchats a little, and generously offers some of his own stash of sake to us. What restaurant does that?! I feel like I'm at his home! From start to finish I'm ear to ear smiling with mmm's and ah at the deliciousness. Can't wait to come back! read more
4 years ago
What I ordered | King Crab + Uni Toast ($45) | Amberjack ($30) | Soy-Sichuan Pork Belly Rice Bowl ($36) | Creamy Lobster Basil ($42) | Tofu Somen Salad ($23) | Sake - Kinpou Odayaka | Sake - Kitaya Arabashiri Taste | my favorites were the king crab + uni toast and the amberjack sashimi. I like how they use milk bread for the toast. the tofu somen was light. the creamy lobster was good, I think I was more sauce since it said creamy lobster. the pork belly rice bowl was good. tasted how you expect a pork belly rice bowl. The sake were good! they tasted very similar. they were sweet and dry. Service | server was nice. she helped explain the sake menu. Parking | small lot Notes | next to Hidden Fish. This is a sake tapas lounge. they do note that these are small dishes. the menu is small and some of the dishes are on the pricier side. We made a reservation online! read more
Hitokuchi was supposed to launch a few years ago, but the pandemic put the debut on hold until recently, much to the relief of Chef/Owner John Hong. This dark, stylish sake lounge is affiliated with the adjacent parent restaurant, Hidden Fish. Together with a next door boba tea shop and a standalone Mexican restaurant out front, the four businesses share about fifteen parking spaces on the Convoy St property. There has been little advertising done for Hitokuchi partly because of the uncertainty around the opening date. It was also an intentional strategy to create a sense of exclusivity, for better or worse. You can try to book a time slot using Resy for the limited seating capacity of roughly two dozen customers. The interior was split into bar seating on the left and four small tables to the right. The soft opening menu consisted of five raw bites and five hot bites. Beware that you will be paying premium prices for "shareable, amuse-bouche-sized dishes" as described by one local preview article. The least expensive item was a Tofu Somen Salad ($23). The choices will periodically change as some ingredients enter their prime harvest season during the year. I selected the AmberJack from the first category. Seven slices of yellowtail sashimi were soaked in yuzu ponzu with serrano, a blend of extra virgin olive oil, red radish, and micro cilantro as toppings. The amount of ponzu was perfect to provide a tart, tangy sharpness to balance the mild, sweet flavor of the raw fish. I then picked the Soy-Sichuan Pork Belly Rice Bowl from the second category. Pieces of pork belly were braised in a soy-based Sichuan pepper broth. Fried jasmine rice was the base with pickled ginger, scallions, and mala sauce as garnishments to the meat. While the serving size of the bowl was small for $36, the ratio of meat to rice was spot on. Something about the braise made the pork flavorful, yet it wasn't too spicy or salty. Chef Hong was making the rounds to each party during my visit. He stopped by my table as I was finishing the rice bowl. We started chatting about my past experience at Hidden Fish. He insisted that I try one of the two toasts as a complimentary offering from the house. Moments later, a serving of the Bluefin Tuna Poke Toast was brought out. Four small pieces of Hokkaido milk bread were each topped with a mix of lean red tuna meat (akami), garlic-ginger ponzu, guacamole creme fraiche, pickled red onions, and micro cilantro. The balance of the ingredients with citrus, cream, and acid all played nicely with the tuna. What scared me from initially ordering this was the price tag for fancified toast that was plated beautifully. It's hard to not at least acknowledge the cost concerns as detailed in the low-rated review posted by one Yelper. Valid points were raised about the amount of food relative to the price and/or quality. For example, back to the poke toast... I expected a premium cut (i.e. otoro) of bluefin tuna for a tapas that would have cost nearly $50. The head waitress (Jenny) was very professional and knowledgeable about the whole operation. Her service and the generosity of the owner also factored into my composite four star rating. read more
If you're looking for a great sake and DELICIOUS food, Hitokuchi is the perfect spot. Located right next door to their sister restaurnt, Hidden Fish, it offers a cozy and intimate atmosphere that's perfect for a night out with friends or date night The service at Hitokuchi is outstanding, with attentive and knowledgeable chef/staff who are always happy to offer recommendations. The dishes are made with fresh and high-quality ingredients, ensuring a delightful culinary experience. Some of my favorite dishes at Hitokuchi include the uni and caviar, which I could NOT get enough of. I just kept digging for more in my bowl. The blue fin tuna toast was another standout dish, with freshhhhh BlueFin. I only tried the cold dishes this time, but I"ll be back for the hot dishes! (It was friday and I could only have fish that day IYKYK lol) read more
We were lucky to snag a coveted reservation during Hitokuchi's soft opening. The space has maybe about a dozen seats at the counter and then 4 tables seating parties between 2-4 people. It's described as a sake lounge, so clubby music was blasting and that vibe matched the sleek black booth seating and black tables. It was easy to get checked in and seated. Service was fantastic since it was soft opening and everyone wanted to make sure we were taken care of. We tried two raw bites and two hot bites. I thoroughly enjoyed both the raw bites. The king crab & uni toast was my favorite, it came with four pieces. I also liked the amberjack and it was perfectly dressed. For hot bites we had the sea bass and the pork belly rice. Overall they were tasty but I thought the sea bass could use a bit more char for texture and flavor and the pork belly was strong in five spice flavor. Chef John and the head server Jenny were super nice, they came by to check in on us and offer some off the menu sake. A very solid experience for the second night of soft opening. As we are already fans of Hidden Fish, Hitokuchi did not disappoint. read more
Chef john hong did not disappoint. The chilean seabass knocked it out of the park. Soft opening went super well! Service was amazing...cozy intimate...with a little bit of club hip vibe... The restaurant is located off the main convoy road... Right next to hidden fish.... Parking is a little limited..Street parking is best. The restaurant has nice modern slick ambiance. Really enjoyed the experience and looking forward to coming back in the near future!! read more
2 years ago
Like B R U H. This 7 course meal was G A S. B U S S I N. D E L I C I O U S. SAY LESS. Honestly this is my second time coming back and was really excited that it has an omakase menu. When I first time i came it was an A la carte tapas and you got to choose small shareable dishes with a partner or small group. I definitely wanted to comeback especially got the uni cavier don so I was so happy when I came back it was on the omakase menu hehehe My favorites from the course were the sea bass, blue prawn & uni and TOP FAVORITE WAS THAT SNOW CRAB SOBA. Honestly any the dishes I had with broths I SLURPED IT ALL UP. MY GOD IT WAS SO GOOD. I wanted more of it. I was extremely happy to end the course with the soba because I am a huge soba fan and there are no good spots in San Diego for it. It really hit the spot for me. I really like how all the favorites for each dish blends together and compliments and adds more depth. It is really cool to see how much this restaurant has grown within the past 2 years. My boyfriend and I like to have bi annual dates at their here or their sushi omakase location next door, Hidden Fish. Their flavor profile and quality has been very stable and consistent compared to other restaurants/omakases I've been too. Something I think is really big for me is the staff and atmosphere of the place. It has very good chill vibes. Good music, and you can tell the staff take good care of each other and their customers. I've had Jenny around at each of my visits and she's been such an adorable and kind soul. She remembered my boyfriend and I since our first visit and always taken good care of us. It was nice this visit since we got to meet Chef John and he's honestly such a really cool and super nice dude to talk to. Getting to see Hitokuchi be his playground to cook up amazing dishes was a delight to see. It makes me happy and want to support both restaurant. I most definitely want to come back and bring some friends to try out his food! See you soon my dudes. read more
The service was great and the seafood was fresh. Menu was short so we definitely know what we are getting will be fresh. I got the local spiny lobster and it was so fresh and had a nice crunch to it. It's topped with an uni and salmon roe so this dish had a few different texture to it, and the pop of the roe flavored the lobster. I also got the uni and caviar, this dish was pricey. It had a little more rice than anticipated and not only had the uni on top but also 1 uni hidden inside the rice, which was a nice surprise but wish there was more, for the amount of rice we got with it. The salmon roe pops and flavors the rice also. I liked my fish but wish there were more uni in the uni and caviar dish, only because I love food. But other than that there really wasn't any other flavors that stood out. My friend got the Chilean Seabass and I tried it but it wasn't as flaky I'd like and also I don't remember if there were much flavor or not. read more
Made a reservation for 5 pm on a sat. We were the only ppl there for much of our meal! The staff is quite attentive (maybe just because we were the only ones lol) The way they market this place on insta, is one bite, one sip (of sake) so it made me think it was a sake pairing omakase type thing.... however it wasnt and I was kinda disappointed to be honest. Since hitokuchi is owned by one in the same as hidden fish, I also assumed hitokuchi was going to be sushi, but it wasn't. For 2 people they recommend 2-3 cold and 2-3 hot dishes. We got 2 of each and the souden Yamahai sake. The amberjack and miso-sake Chilean sea bass were my favorite. The sake was good too. The sake numbers that they have on their sake menu is + = dryness and - = sweetness. Like many others have said, they were still hungry after their meals and same for us as well unfortunately especially for the price we paid. Good experience to try out but I'm not sure if I'll be back. Also the table we were seated at was right under the speaker and it made it very difficult to have a conversation. read more
3 years ago
Another restaurant to check off on my list of San Diego restaurants. Everything from the minimal Japanese decor, limited seating, low-key ambience, with the nicest staff and most importantly the amazing food, was exactly the vibe I was going for for my birthday dinner. Everything we ordered was chef's kiss and melted in our mouths. The owner, Chef John Hong , was so welcoming and so dope to chat with. Thanks for thinking I was 26 and for the bottles of sake. I won't refuse next time, I swear. Can't wait to try the omakase menu in April. read more
2 years ago
Nice place, very modern and simple but the $140 price tag is no where near worth it. Cold soup, bland dishes... good food, but not particularly amazing. the best thing was the uni rice and the toro toast was very good. The sashimi quality was great, but the hidden fish is better for just sushi. I would not go again here, I might go to their sister restaurant hidden fish. read more
2 years ago
Well curated and beautifully plated 7 course meal. Atypical omakase, but brings out the essence of what omakase is all about without being pretentious. Chef Hong clearly put a lot of thought into each course and how to pair each ingredient to create a unique and pleasing food journey during your time at the restaurant. I appreciate being able to choose what I want after the third course, which makes one want to go back again to try out the other options. Service and ambiance was friendly and not overwhelming. Parking is limited and always a challenge on Convoy, but doable if you give yourself time to find parking. I would absolutely recommend you to check out! read more
Are here tonight. Absolutely incredible. Possibly even better than Hidden Fish next door. I was looking for a place to impress my father in this place not only blew him away but me as well. I absolutely recommend coming here if you are looking for a very special experience. Do not come here if you are looking for an inexpensive meal. There are plenty of places to go for that on Convoy. Very excited to return. Their chef is gifted. read more
We came in on a Friday evening and were greeted with the fun and intimate ambiance of Hitokuchi, we were able to request a "chef's tasting menu" when we found out that they don't have an omakase tasting just yet (it's coming in April, so we'll be back). We had several courses with a sake pairing and it was the best meal I've had in San Diego, highly deserving of its accolades in Esquire. Each dish was cooked with a lot of talent and precision. Starting from cold dishes to hot dishes, we really got to taste incredible Japanese food with hints of Chef John's background from Korea/France sprinkled throughout the dishes. My favorites were the scallops, which literally melted in my mouth, and the sea bass, which I am still wondering how Chef John prepared it because it was the most moist and juicy fish I've ever had! We ended the night with their version of dessert, uni and rice, and it was the perfect way to wrap up the meal. Special thanks to Jenny for being so kind and warm, and sharing her immense knowledge with us about each dish. We will definitely be back. read more
HITOKUCHI is different from the Omakase restaurants in town. They have less courses but bigger portion. I like that they have some Korean dish. For the last four courses, they offer two options for each course. My husband and I ordered one of each for all the last four courses. So we got to try everything on the menu. It was fun! Toro Tartare Toast (Added Sturgeon Caviar) and Steak Tartare Toast + Bone Marrow are both so good. I can't pick one over another. Glad we ordered both. Toast itself is buttery and tasty. Uni + Caviar Rice was one of my favorite. Uni was mixed with rice to make rice sticky and flavorful. I can have a big bowl of it. Bibimbap was surprisingly delicious. I normally am not crazy about the red spicy chili sauce. But I like theirs. A hint of spice is satisfying. All other dish were delicious. Highly recommend their sake. We had four kinds. They were so different and tasty in its own way. It could be better if there's dessert at the ens of the meal. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
If you been to hidden fish then you should absolutely try this small bite and sake bar next door. The place is owned by the same people and bring that super high quality of Japanese food. The parking lot is small and a lot of the spaces are dedicated to the Mexican shop in the plaza so come early to make sure you have parking. This is a great spot for a date night or a friends night out. It's definitely on the more dressier end although there was some people dressed casual. The place is also really small and intimate so I'd make sure to have a reservation. Our favorite dishes of the night were the uni and crab toast and the tuna poke toast. Everything on their menu was really good but those two dishes stood out the most. It comes with 4 pieces each dish so if you have more than 4 people I'd make a double order. The milk bread they use is super buttery and light and the toppings on top were light and cut through the rich buttery taste of the toast. They also had a good array of sakes. We got two different sweet ones and loved both of them. They both paired really well with all the dishes we had. This place is pricey but that was expected. I absolutely think the price is worth the quality of the dishes. read more
4 years ago
Let me start off by saying this place is a hidden gem in San Diego. If you are looking for something refreshing and delicious, then you need to seriously consider coming here to dine in. We ordered four dishes off the menu. "Amberjack" - Yuzu Ponzu / Serrano / EV Olive Oil Blend / Red Radish / Micro Cilantro "Soy-Sichuan Pork Belly Rice Bowl" - PB braised in a Soy Based Sichuan Pepper Broth / Pickled Ginger / Micro Chives / Fried Jasmine Rice / Mala Sauce "Miso-Sake Chilean Sea Bass" - Butter-Dash Spinach / Pickled Tomatoes / Garlic / Shallots / Cilantro / Mint in Soy Fish Sauce "Uni + Caviar" - Sea Urchin / Salmon Roe / Flying Fish Roe / Pickled Radish / Micro Shiso / Sturgeon Caviar/ Sushi Rice Each Dish was presented with elegance and with the hot/ cold dishes being the proper temperature. I came here with a friend which I recommend. We were quite full after eating just 4 dishes however If I was drinking I would probably order one more. My favorite dish was definitely the Miso-Sake Chilean Sea Bass because it was paired and complimented by ingredients that just make a lot of sense. I am looking forward to coming back here to try other dishes. Definitely make a reservation before this place starts to blow up! read more
4 years ago
I had an amazing time eating at Hitokuchi; the ambiance, the service and not to mention the food was stellar. Walked in, was greeted by Jenny; she is an absolute gem btw and got seated for our dinner. My friends and I tried everything on the menu and shared each dish. Let me tell you.. all the ingredients are fresh, blend really well with each other and you can tell all the food is made out of love. Highly recommend this place! A+ Staff, Chefs, Service and Food! read more
4 years ago
Service was swift and pleasant 5 out of 5, but food missed the mark for me here. Presentation was 4/5 Food 3/5 was disappointed because I was hopeful it would be memorable. I would love to try the sister sushi spot Hidden Fish next door for another time! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I'm a big fan of Hidden Fish (their Omakase restaurant next door) so naturally we were very excited about the opening of Hitokuchi. We stopped by for the soft opening and were very impressed! It's a beautifully designed little restaurant with good music and even better food/drinks. The taste, freshness of everything and attention to detail is on par with Hidden Fish. The bluefin poke toast and uni/king crab toast were very fresh and the perfect light appetizers. The pork belly bowl was very tender and had the perfect amount of spice Sichuan peppercorn. We can't wait to come back to try other the other dishes! The head chef and front of house staff were all very friendly and personable as well as proactive on everything we needed. Hitokuchi is the perfect place for a first date or just a nice night out and we will definitely be back! read more
4 years ago
Hitokuchi sits inside a relatively unassuming plaza, but if you are familiar with Hidden Fish, then you'll be happy to know you have one more amazing place to go to right next door! Chef John is meticulous when it comes to his food. He only uses the best ingredients to ensure that his dishes are elegant and elevated. King crab and uni crostinis? So many rich flavors in a colorful bite. Miso-sake chilean sea bass? Cooked perfectly... Flaky yet firm, light yet savory. A5 wagyu? You already know it's going to be good (I mean c'mon, it's A5 wagyu), but that galbi sauce adds even more. Creamy lobster basil? You had me at lobster and basil. I tried literally everything on the menu, and each dish had its unique, delicious character... and I just wanted more. The cost is on the higher side, but it is to be expected for the quality. Definitely a nice place to bring a date to if you want to impress ;) read more
I was so excited to try Hitokuchi after the long awaited opening. After learning about it a year or two back from Chef John at Hidden Fish, I loved the concept and couldn't wait to try it. The interior is super modern and sleek. I love how their bowls and other dishes match the aesthetics. The food was delicious, as could be expected. We tried the crab & Uni toast, amberjack, pork belly bowl and somen salad. My favorite dish was definitely the amberjack. The sake selection was also great. We tried a couple types--their seasonal as well as another regular one on the menu. Both were delicious and unique sakes we hadn't tried before. The service was amazing. They were very attentive and friendly. Overall, I would say the food is a little expensive but the experience and quality are definitely top notch. read more
2 years ago
A thoughtful culinary blend of carefully selected ingredients. Seafood is flown in from Japan daily. read more
All the other reviews are pretty accurate about Hitokuchi - pricy and small portions, but I think this place is worth trying at least once if it's not within your budget! the quality of the food, the presentation, and the umami flavors all made my visit worth I visited Hitokuchi on a Thursday evening and we were lucky we didn't have to wait and got seated right away. Surprisingly, we had the whole place to ourselves, which was cool because we had a chance to speak with the chefs/servers and give them feedback on each of the dishes. Hitokuchi is also linked to Hidden Fish, right next door The menu was just right, not too big or too small. The portions are definitely a bit small and cost a bit more, but the umami taste + plating was totally worth it We tried: - the scallops: as someone who is still easing into raw seafood, this was so yummy!! quality is incredibly fresh - shrimp and crab pan toast: full of flavors and literally melted into my mouth! toast was still a bit crunchy despite the crab paste - pork belly rice bowl: again super tasty! we decided to order this after reading some yelp reviews and I'm so glad we did! rice was cooked to perfection (not too hard nor soft) and the dish reminded me of Vietnamese thit kho - which i typically don't really like but the pork here was amazing. only thing about this is that it was plated in a small ish bowl so all the oil accumulated to the bottom, making the last couple bites very oily creamy basil lobster: we got this on the house (thank you!!!) and it was good, but the lobster flavor definitely overpowered all the other flavors. i think this would go really well with some pasta! Overall, it was a great experience! Definitely going back again to try their other dishes + sake collection. read more
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More info about HITOKUCHI
4764 Convoy St
Ste B
San Diego, CA 92111
Kearny Mesa
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(858) 371-9584
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