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    Ken Sushi Workshop

    4.5 (1.1k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Specialty Food, Sushi Bars
    Closed • Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Ken Sushi Workshop Photos

    Business Info

    KEN SUSHI WORKSHOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Sea urchin ice cream
    Vanessa H.

    This is one of the best sushi places in SD! It's definitely a best kept secret. The food and service is on point! It's in a business office complex. The crispy tuna was ridiculously gold! The rice is crispy, the tuna and avocado is so delicious. Has the perfect rice and tuna ratio. This is a must get. All the sushi here is buttery and just melts in your mouth. I loved the salmon belly, toro, and tuna cheek. You can taste the quality and freshness of the fish. The A5 wagyu is insanely good! It's smokey, buttery soft, and rich. This was our favorite dish of the night. The bring the tuna cheek in this cool smokey container. I used my chopsticks to split it in half and it's so soft it just cuts through so easily. For rolls, I really liked the workplace roll. It had a little hint of coconut, crispy, and creamy texture. The ice cream was interesting! I'm not an uni person, but the uni ice cream was creamy and really good! The black truffle is pieces of black truffle with vanilla ice cream. It has a strong truffle flavor, but somehow works lol The matcha creme brûlée has a strong matcha flavor. I thought it could've had a more balanced, creamy flavor.

    Beautifully fragrant flowers in the ladies room!!
    Elisa G.

    I have been fantasizing about this sushi bar since I came here in 2021 and it's not nearly as good as I imagined it to be! Good sushi and I love Ken. He's so adorable and brought us some side treats! The fish is extremely fresh and very high quality BUT the prices are ridiculous for the location and lack of ambience. I've spent decades eating sushi and this was lacking in so many ways so I just want to be transparent here. I love Ken and think he's a SHOWSTOPPER however he should dim the lights and put on some Japanese music and make it reasonably priced not exorbitantly expensive for a neighborhood sushi place. It has a 19th hole vibe like lots of golfers partying which is fun but not at the crazy price point here

    Ken's entrance and photo-op
    Sarah S.

    Ken's Sushi is our go-to spot and always exceeds our expectations. We recently had a surprise birthday dinner there with a party of 10 on a Tuesday, and Ken made the whole night feel extra special. We ordered a mix of nigiri, rolls, and a few people did "Ken's Way," where you just tell him when to stop bringing sushi (omakase style). Everything was so fresh and delicious. Ken even gifted us a bottle of sake and came out to sing Happy Birthday. We've been coming here for years and it's one of those places that never disappoints. Good music, good vibes, happy staff, and amazing sushi. If you're planning a visit, I'd recommend trying to get a reservation during the week since weekends can get pretty busy. I also recommend eating outside in your own individual bubble.

    Crispy Rice
    Abi A.

    Ken sushi is amazing. We went for my husbands birthday on Saturday. They were great for 8 people. We sat outside and it was lovely. We got 3 orders of the tuna crispy rice. I'm obsessed with them. recommendations: Crispy tuna rice - order multiple Workshop roll- Everytime we get this roll it's a knockout Hula- very yummy Mango- a go go Chocolate cake for dessert. The service is so lovely and the front of house staff are always so friendly.

    Twister roll
    Michael R.

    Ken Sushi Workshop is one of my favorite places in San Diego to get sushi! Amazingly fresh fish and fun creative rolls are the highlight. The twister roll, salmon belly nigiri, and wagyu are always must gets. Ken the owner and chef is also super charming and funny, and always generous with his pours! Great service, great food, it's a great spot to go just minutes drive from Torrey Pines beach!

    Seared
    Leang E.

    I lucked out in knowing a friend who knows Ken and was able to secure reservations for me four days prior to the date, which was a Friday night at 7:30 PM. I have been meaning to go for ages as my friend has been telling me about it and considers himself a bit of a sushi connoisseur. Finally, I took the opportunity to go to celebrate my sister's birthday. It only took a few minutes for them to get the table ready, but it was in a great location for us to see Ken and for him to know that we we're a guest of my friend. We decided against the Omakase experience just because I think I was turned off on the thought of maybe just having the traditional soup and salad items that I took to mean as filler foods. I wanted to have the opportunity to choose the items that I was most interested in. Everything was spectacular. We probably had a total of about 10 items shared amongst three people. The tuna tartare and caviar over the eggplant tempura was in incredible. Omg the Chilean Seabass was phenomenal. It tasted almost like sweet king crab. The sauces and the flavor had perfect depth, nothing felt heavy. The workshop maki was spicy, and it all paired so well with a sake. Ken came to surprise us and toast us with his special sushi water, which was incredibly smooth like water and dangerous. We finished the meal with some incredible ice cream a truffle one which I've never had before and the green tea crème brûlée that I can't stop thinking about it. It was a very memorable dinner and I cannot wait to go back again. It all would've been perfect had it ended there, but the hostess had made a comment asking about all of us in attendance and said something to the extent that she thought I was a young grandma, which is insulting in anyway that you look at it. No one wants to be called that but that's all I was remembering when I left. Come here for Ken though he is an extremely gracious host and a master chef.

    Waygu
    michelle y.

    I've reviewed before. No update and no change. Still amazingly fresh and delicious. The pickled wasabi is unreal. I need to bottle that condiment.

    Unagi roll, nigiri combination
    Cassie K.

    If I could, I'd fly to San Diego every weekend just to come here lol Visited from the Bay Area and we were recommended Ken's by a friend of ours who frequents here. Sat in an outside tent which was so nice to keep wind and bugs away, service was great, and food was to die for. We got the nigiri combination, unagi roll, and creamy soda. Everything tasted so fresh and perfect, we wanted to order more if we could have eaten more. 10/10 recommend! Great experience and some of the best sushi I've had.

    Lunch Combo Special $28
    Everett D.

    Ken's is the kind of place that you can come to almost every day and never get bored of it. It has so much character with all the legendary golf memorabilia. Chef Ken is a true master of his craft, and having a great personality is the added bonus. All the staff is great. You must try it.

    Omakase nigiri sushi
    Susie K.

    One of the best sushi experiences. Would definitely go back. Got to meet Ken and he definitely knows how to welcome guests and feel at home. Everything was fresh and delicious. The omakase nigiri sushi was amazing and a good portion!

    Smoked Toro

    Oh. My. God!! Not only was the food amazing, but our service was 20/10! The ambiance was wonderful and Ken was a joy as always. Our server Izzy was genuinely such a great server and gave us amazing recommendations. I recommend the smoked toro.

    Paul J.

    A+ atmosphere, Ken is amazing, staff is great, incredible plating, bold flavor profiles with an interactive omakase experience. Fresh fish, beautiful plating and serving plates, very complex takes on omakase. Ken is super welcoming and attentive - pouring shots on the house. Their omakase starts simple, then ramps up in complexity. Their bone marrow uni dish is legendary and a fun experience. Definitely give this place a try!

    Udon with tempura
    Shiwen T.

    A very nice sushi spot! Don't mistake its no-frills approachability for a lack of craftsmanship. Everything here is run tightly, from the quality of the fish to the pacing of the meal. The seafood was sweet and fresh, the service was speedy, and Chef Ken greeted every table, giving the place a family-like atmosphere. I also appreciated that our nigiri was coursed by flavor progression - they took our dining experience seriously.

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    29 days ago

    Delicious and fresh - will be back again soon! Felt like eating at a golf club house though

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    10/10 sushi spot! Only drawback is the ambiance, but don't let the location fool you!

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    Ken Sushi Workshop Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ken Sushi Workshop

    Where can I make a reservation? I don't see on website and you guys are not part of Opentable

    Did you try calling? I called.

    Is there private dining room for small group of 4?

    Yes but make a reservation

    How many pieces is the $150 omakase?

    My omikase has always been well over $150, and well worth it!

    How much is the cheapest omakase?

    I believe it is $130. We had the $180 and thought it was well worth it.

    Is this an AYCE Sushi bar?

    no it is not but its so good youll order everything and it might as well be,

    View All 8 Questions

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    Mizukiyama Sushi

    4.4(716 reviews)
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    The food is decent , fish fresh. I think the house roll has the works , yellow tail roll is great…read more Not a ton of fish, but it's ok. As I am not one for minced "spicy" tuna or yellow tail. Service is not as attentive today because they were packed. Because of this there was a stagger between our table's orders . 2 rolls came out, then another 10 min later another 2 , then another 2 , 10 min later , even though we ordered at the same time. I think they everyone got wind of the happy hour, and they are more stringent rules in regards to ordering food to take home. Luckily we ate most of our food and had to take leftovers home . The head lady in charge started questioning me when I wanted to order more , if i plan on eating in or taking it to go. I wanted to take my husband 4 pcs of nigiri , since we live 30 min away. What's $10? Since we were a party of 4 already eating in? and we ordered a lot of food already.. ( 5 rolls, 2 hand rolls, tempura, and 6 pcs of nigiri) This made me feel uncomfortable. So I ate 1 of pieces, and took the rest home, with our other left overs. The head waitress was like " oh so you are taking it home?" I Responded that next time, (if there is ) , I will order everything at once, and hopefully go on a better time, when it's not so crowded.

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    Katana Sushi - Red Eye Roll with Kikuisui Sake

    Katana Sushi

    4.0(745 reviews)
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    This has become my favorite sushi restaurant in San Diego and my family has fallen in love with the…read morefood and the staff. We have been to Katana Sushi many, many times over the years and I must apologize for not writing a rock star review much sooner. The sushi is fresh and the food is served very fast after ordering/ and I can say I love not having to wait very long for the delicious sushi after ordering. We have brought lots of friends and family to this restaurant over the years and we have never had a bad meal or experience at Katana !!!

    AVOID!!!! I live in this neighborhood and I have been to…read morethis restaurant many times over the years. There has been a lot of new housing development and the neighborhood is now very crowded. The food has declined in quality, but that is not the primary problem. The main issue is that they are absolutely understaffed. I am currently sitting at this restaurant and have been at the sushi bar for one hour and have yet to receive a single piece of sushi, despite having ordered the moment that I walked in. Additionally, they used to have a special where you would buy two beers and receive a free small socket. The prices have increased and they have an eliminated all of the specials (i.e. no free sake). I can't comment on the food as nothing has come out yet. There are only three sushi chefs. It's not that the restaurant is even so crowded. It's that they are filling a majority of online food delivery orders. Sad

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    Ayu Sushi & Noodles - Omakase Roll

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    4.4(195 reviews)
    3.7 mi
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    Happy hour specials
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    I came in just before 5 and it was relatively slow but music was fun, service quick and my server…read morewas kind and helpful with the menu. I came in because I didn't feel like cooking or driving so I walked over to grab a bite. (Before going any further, I wanted to mention that this place does NOT have rooftop seating as I accidentally clicked when I checked in.. oops!) it's a chill single story place with beautiful outdoor seating. Akaramu, crunchy roll and Lollipop rolls are what I chose. I knew I wanted leftovers to either share or as a midnight munchie. Rolls: Lollipop is a no rice roll and is very refreshing. Akaramu was so good. It had a little heat, umami flavor, and masago for the little pop. Crunchy roll was nice with tasty tempura and simple flavor. Restroom was clean as was the whole restaurant.

    Veggie Ramen: Well, this bowl certainly came prepared to feed me- and it succeeded. I was…read morepleasantly surprised by just how filling it was. The broth had that lovely savory, umami-rich quality, and there was a generous little garden of vegetables swimming around in there. Hearty, flavorful, and thoroughly satisfying. My server was very nice, though I could tell he was swimming upstream against the sheer volume of guests. He wasn't table to check on me again until the very end, but honestly, the place was bustling, so I can't hold it against him. It was still a perfectly pleasant experience. The tempura was also a delightful sidekick to the ramen- crispy, tasty, and very welcome at the table. But the real surprise for me was the presentation. Everything, from the dinnerware to the dishes themselves, had such a refined and intentional feel. There was an almost ceremonial elegance to it all. Dare I say.. exquisite? You know when a restaurant somehow makes you feel like even the bowl has better manners than you do? That was happening here. There's clearly a thoughtful touch behind every piece of the meal, and that attention to detail gives the experience a graceful little elevation. Nothing felt careless or thrown together. Even the humble vegetables seemed to have received an invitation to the gala. A satisfying bowl, a lovely presentation, and enough elegance to make my ramen feel like it somewhere important to be.

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    Glass Box San Diego - Nigiri

    Glass Box San Diego

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    Located at the sky deck in Del Mar, I enjoyed restaurant week at the glass box on Sunday night for…read morethe five course for $55. I believe the restaurant week menu that they have posted is incorrect because it wasn't the one that I was handed in the restaurant. I started with the Kumamoto oysters. I then enjoyed the Yuzu harvest salad and the hand roll trio. For my entrée, I had the 12 hour braised short rib with roasted carrots and potato puree. My dessert was the sesame Panna cotta. I couldn't resist trying one of the Matchatini, this was the only thing I didn't enjoy. It was much too sour. They either went a little bit heavy on lemon or whatever sweet was in there. My service was great, I wish I had kept my receipt so I can remember the server's name. I arrived around 6:30 PM and there was only a couple tables by the time I was done eating the restaurant was completely seated, so I recommend enjoying earlier. They have a huge selection of sushi and dinner plates. I would recommend this place to anyone.

    This place is inside SkyDeck, which is an indoor elevated restaurant collective that has several…read morerestaurants in an open concept space. We were seated at UnderStory, a bar that's in the middle of it all and you're able to order from the surrounding restaurants. It's an interesting concept because you can order from your phone and the server from under story will serve it to you. We had four different types of sushi rolls, which were all tasty.

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    4.4(2.8k reviews)
    5.3 mi•Mira Mesa
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    Went here after the Miramar air show. We arrived around 6pm so we knew there was going to be quite…read morea wait. We had a group of 8 but we were seated in 30 minutes. The vibes, food, and service were amazing! Ariel took great care of us and she checked on us frequently. Food came out quickly and everything tasted fresh. Shoutout to Kulani at the chef station for being so nice to the kids and taking the time to interact with them while working. The kids had lots of fun! Really impressed with customer service even during busy dinner time! Overall a great experience and highly recommend!

    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.

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    Ken Sushi Workshop - japanese - Updated October 2026

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