Wonderful food, service and ambience! The host/server was kind and efficient. The food is great and the restaurant was very clean. What a gem. Definitely will return! read more

This gem is tucked in the corner of a busy strip mall. I almost don't want to write a review so that I can have it all to myself but it's a wonderful place to share with others. The food is fresh and delicious, and the portions are very good. I love their lunch specials. If you want variety, the Bento box is an easy go-to. There is limited staff but they are very friendly! If you are in a rush, I don't recommend sitting inside, esp. if it's a busy day, but perhaps order to go if in a hurry. I've only come for lunch so I can't speak to the dinner ambiance but I think taking a date or friends you wish to have nice conversation with here is a great idea. read more

Kotobuki - Sashimi lunch special. Includes rice, and miso soup. Added: hot tea Beautiful presentation! - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here for date night and ordered: Sashimi combo (tuna, yellowtail and salmon) Fatty tuna sushi Scallop sushi Salmon avocado roll Green tea The menu is simple and you don't have to navigate through hundreds of selections. Don't expect to find all the modern rolls that have been invented in the past 10 years. Despite this, what we ate for dinner was some of the most delicious food I've had in my life. The sashimi was served first and the yellowtail, salmon and tuna were rich, Buttery and tender individually. The next round I ate I lightly dipped in soy sauce and that enhanced what I enjoyed about the first round if sashimi that I ate. I ate the shiso and radish together after the Sashimi, and that was the first time I had ever truly tastes the flavor of shiso and that was a treat. The salmon avocado roll was a fatty and buttery delight. The fatty tuna sushi tasted the way I was imagining. Each time I chewed the sushi, the piece fish filled my mouth with my ideal of fatty tuna flavor, the rice would following and give a pleasant high five. The real highlight was the scallop sushi. It was soft. Creamy, rich and I would get the freshest hint of the sea. The scallop sushi was delicious. I was hoping to order uni but it wasn't on their menu. The scallop was so delicious, that my disappointment in the absence of uni on the menu disappeared. It was as close to fresh Santa Barbara uni as you can get without being uni. The sign says parties of 6 are the largest they can accommodate since they don't have a big staff. So you can really celebrate with a lot of people here. But you can come here and celebrate big with your main squeeze. The server and hostess was very polite and attended to us as best as she could but it takes a while to have everything prepared. Next time, I would order 50%-100% more than what I ordered for dinner, since I eat a lot. But I left happy and satisfied. I'm used to leaving restaurants stuffed to the brim. But that was a good change for once. Despite not having a wide variety of menu items beyond what's been typically offered at Japanese restaurants since the 90s, what they offer is the best example of those menu items I'm sure you can have. I'm adding Kotobuki to my list of go-to sushi restaurants. read more

I would give this place a 3.9. I think the sushi is fresh, the sashimi is good. The inside is clean. The restaurant has a pleasant ambiance. Parking is easy, there's a big lot right out front. The service was pretty good. The only reason I'm putting it on a lower ish scale is because I believe there are a lot of solid Japanese restaurants in the area. However, if you would like a quick lunch that's healthy and delicious this is the place to go. The plating was very nice. read more

Kotobuki - chicken terriyaki - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Love this place. Fresh seafood, miss traditional Japanese, I think japanese owned. Delicious

It's about time I write reviews again. Kotobuki is a family owned Japanese restaurant located in Kearny Mesa area of San Diego. The menu has a variety (Appetizers, Salad, Combo Bowls, Rolls, Sashimi, Beer, Sake, Wine, Dessert). I'm a big fan of their Sashimi Bowl, Hamachi Kama, and Arnold Palmer. Simple, non-pretentious, & delicious food. ENJOY! read more

See all

Clean restaurant, large free parking lot. Fresh ingredients, nothing fancy to the rolls - not too much sauce. Authentic simple menu. Friendly service. Some outdoor seating available. I didn't try one of the bowls, seemed like a good deal, I will try next visit. read more

See all

Clean, quiet, and quality food. I love the udon - chewy noodles and generous portion for the size. Their nigiri is yum with a spicy wasabi kick. Glad I discovered this local spot and will definitely be frequenting more often. Wait times are variable due to one server, but well worth the wait read more

Kotobuki - Nigiri - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The caterpillar roll is great! The roll was moist, the avocado was velvety and the unagi was tasty. The dragon roll was a little dry. The salmon sushi was delicious! The wasabi was so fresh- the freshest I've ever had. The place is sparkling clean! They have the CLEANEST BATHROOM ever! I have been to the The Marine Room and Roy's bathrooms- but not even close to Kotobuki's bathroom! read more

See all

Food was fresh! We ordered: 1) sashimi bowl 2) sashimi plate 3) fatty tuna sashimi (2 pieces) 4) soft shell crab roll The sashimi tasted fresh, rice with the seaweed mix in the bowl was nicely made. My favorite was probably the soft shell crab roll though, it was wrapped in protein paper. I'm just hoping that they can expand the menu more someday! I took my mom because she loves sashimi but there were only 3 choices of fish: salmon, tuna, yellowtail. Service was wonderful and very attentive! I think this is a family owned business, probably husband and wife handling all the operations for the restaurant. Luckily, we came on a quiet night so but I can imagine how busy and overwhelming it could get with more people between 2-3 people! Another favorite part for me was the interior design! Lots of wide open space and modern minimalistic design. read more

See all

Authentic family owned Japanese restaurant. No frills, simple menu, great service. Their sushi and green tea reminds me of the ones in Japan. Ordered the sashimi plate- the yellowtail melts in your mouth. All the seafood was super fresh. We also had shrimp tempura, seaweed salad, green salad, miso soup, spicy tuna roll, and jalapeño yellowtail roll. Would highly recommend! read more

one of our fav. Places to come for lunch!! super quiet, perfect for 1:1 lunches!! family owned, our go tos are the matcha tea, mixed tempura, and usually somekind of sashimi combo. i never seen the restaurant busy, maybe because we come during odd hours?... it is occassionally closed when thr family is out of town. Do call ahead to ensure they are open. Thank you kotobuki!!... Oh also their hamachi kama is delicious!! Must get it next time!! read more

See all

Beautiful small business with very kind staff. Very clean and well kept dining area. Quiet. Respectful. Great food. Came here while on a work trip and will definitely come back read more

My friend and I picked this place randomly since the reviews looked decent. It's a very small restaurant with limited seating. There is plenty of parking in the lot. We were there right at 5pm and seated right away. Server was sweet, but very slow. Toward the end of our meal, we waited at least 20 minutes to get her attention to give us our check. Otherwise, the food was okay, very limited menu, and nothing special about the sushi rolls. Food review: Sashimi: (4/5) Simple but tasted pretty fresh. Seaweed salad: (3/5) Very hard, not that good. We could only eat half because it didn't taste fresh. Yellowtail Jalapeno sashimi: (5/5) Very delicious, the jalapeños were very spicy but otherwise fish was very fresh and overall dish had good flavor. Salmon avocado roll: (4/5) I get these everywhere I go and this one was just ok. Idk if the avocado was off or what but wasn't my favorite. Rainbow roll: (4/5) This roll was pretty good! I appreciate it was made with crab instead of shrimp because I have an allergy. Probably my favorite thing we ordered. read more

See all

This restaurant is on the smaller side, and only has one server. She was really working really hard going from taking the orders, serving the food, and also bussing the tables. I got seated after a few minutes. The ambiance was relaxed with a good amount of people dining in, as well as carrying out. I ordered the sashimi bowl ($23) which came with tuna, yellowtail, and salmon over sushi rice. It also had a miso soup on the side. It was a bit of a wait before getting the food, which is understandable. My favorite sashimi of the bowl was actually the tuna. This is rarely the case because I actually usually prefer salmon and yellowtail. However, the tuna tasted so fresh and was a great cut. The yellowtail was delicious too, but I wish that the salmon was cut a little thicker. There was a lot of sushi rice at the bottom, so I had some leftover at the end of the meal. I also ordered a two piece fresh water eel nigiri ($6.50). This was amazing and was such a great ending to my meal. I would return to this restaurant in the future! read more

See all

Came here for Valentine's Day and it did not disappoint us. The service was great. The service was great. She was very friendly and explained everything very well. The food was incredible. My wife and I ordered the sashimi combo and we noticed the different slices of fish were melt in your mouth fresh. There was no taste of fishiness and not one of the slices of sashimi were chewy or anything. Great quality and great prices. Looking forward to our next visit read more

See all

Really good Japanese food. Their California rolls were high quality. The bowl was pretty good and I don't even like seafood that much. Their staff were very nice and the food came out pretty quickly. The inside is very nice, they even have bar seating which I like. read more

See all

Such a cute spot to meet for work lunch! The fish was very fresh and the sashimi bowl and bento box were both delicious. Also quick service! read more

Kotobuki - Sashimi Bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Great service and food. Quiet place and I loved the cold sake. Simple and flavorful sushi rolls as well as Sashimi bowl (okay). Enjoy!

Decent local find! 4.5 stars Sees to be family run and they have decent selection of sashimi and teishoku sets. They even have this chopstick adapter for my little one to use the disposable chopsticks with! We enjoyed their scallops, yellowtail, grill salmon set Prices are reasonable and the food was fresh. Will return again read more

Kotobuki - Chopsticks adapter! - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The rolls here are pretty standard, but the quality is excellent. We had the spicy tuna, rainbow, and shrimp tempura, as well as another I can't remember. Super good all around. We also got a couple of tempura platters to share with our kids, and everything was yummy. I had planned to get boba afterward, at the place next door, but was too stuffed. Service is solid, as well. We were both seated and served promptly. And the price was quite reasonable, compared to other sushi places of similar quality. After tax and tip, we paid a little over $100. But, that's hard to avoid nowadays, with a family of five. Overall, I'd highly recommend Kotobuki! read more

I've been craving some fish and this had really hit the spot! I had gotten the sashimi bowl and it was really satisfying, the fish was cut into larger strips and it was tender and it didn't have a strong fishy smell to it. The rice underneath was quite good as well it was flavorful without being overly vinegar-y. Also if anyone was wondering what the difference was between the sashimi bowl and the sashimi set with rice (both of which are the same price), it seems like there's more rice in the sashimi bowl and there's some crushed seaweed and sesame seeds on the sashimi bowl between the rice and the fish. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, I don't think I would bring more than 2-4 people with me. read more

Kotobuki - Sashimi bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Went for my birthday. Everything was perfection. Service, aesthetic, the sashimi bowl was out of this world. I can't wait to go back.

Everything was absolutely delicious! Cold & fresh! My fav was the Hamachi Carpaccio! Presentation of our food was so nice and really felt like traditional Japanese style. Ambiance was so nice and peaceful everyone was friendly. Family friendly. read more

See all

Food was great and service was amazing. The vibe of the restaurant was great and it was such a chill place. My friends got sushi and it tasted so good and fresh. 10/10, would definitely recommend to everyone that likes sushi or salmon bowl. read more

Kotobuki - Salmon & Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here on a whim after looking into sushi places in the area. I came across Kotobuki with not many expectations. The place itself is small, but nice inside. It was pretty quiet, and food came out as it should. I think the sushi had nice quality. My only gripe is I wish they had a few more food selections, the menu is a little limited, but overall I would recommend them. read more

This restaurant is always extremely slow, and the host/server often refuses to seat us, claiming tables are "reserved" even though no one shows up. I went with two coworkers, and the server was rude and took a long time just to take our order. The experience was so poor that I decided not to return and did not leave a tip for a single sushi roll I ordered. Honestly, I wasn't even going to leave a review until I found out today that the host told my coworker a few days later that her friends were "cheap." That comment was unprofessional and uncalled for. If the service had been better, I would have gladly tipped. It's clear they only care about money, and with just one server/host and one cook, the restaurant is poorly managed. read more

Service is very slow during lunch time Only one server. It took about 30 mins to get 2 pieces of salmon sushi. The customer next to me got the foods way before me. read more

Kotobuki is an absolute top sushi spot in San Diego. The sashimi was incredible and the presentation was immaculate. The rolls are balanced with delicious fish and flavor. Def try the shrimp tempura - the light batter might be the best I've ever had! read more

See all

Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the bento box! The food was delicious and fresh, and the restaurant had a really nice ambience. Highly recommend! Will come back again soon. read more

The selfish side of me really did not want to write this review at all for the simple fact that I wanted to keep this hidden gem all to myself! This is a very small sushi restaurant that is run by a husband and wife. The husband prepares all the sushi and food in the kitchen while the wife waits on the tables. I can't remember exactly how many they can seat, but it's somewhere between 24-30 people max. Tables are along the walls and the center of the restaurant is completely empty. They do take reservations, but only for a max of 6 people. For our visit, we ordered the tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, mixed tempura, miso soup, and side salad. We also tried a bottle of the Hana Kohaku Plum Sake that was really good! We liked it so much that we bought some at a nearby Japanese market. The food here was incredibly fresh! We loved everything that we ordered! Definitely recommend this restaurant! The restaurant is located in a quiet plaza. There is a private lot with lots of free parking. Excellent food and very friendly service! read more

See all

Can't believe I didn't know about Kotobuki sooner. It's a quaint little spot with excellent ambiance and great service. Really enjoyed the fresh sashimi and refreshing green tea. The nigiri was also tasty and there's much more on the menu I want to try. Will definitely be back. read more

See all

I had lunch with my friend here. First time after Covid. The lunch menu seemed to be limited. Surprised to see no one was making sushi at the sushi bar at lunch. Both of us had Bento Box. The grilled mackerel was small but tasty. Sashimi was OK. Tempura had potato tempura which was an obvious substitute. The way tofu randomly sat on the salad was not aesthetic but tasted good with sesame dressing. Both of us noticed that the quality of the steamed rice was not great, and that affected the whole meal experience for both of us. We were wondering if they use the same rice for sushi... hopefully not... I am glad this place survived Covid. I want to stop by again when I am in the area, but... I want better rice!! read more

Kotobuki - Bento Box - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Chirashi bowl I tried were decent. The raw fish tasted decent, but the taste & texture of the bed of rice didn't blend well with my chirashi. Tastes more home-made/DIY if you know what I mean. Hardly the best chirashi I've tried (and I've tried plenty), but the chirashi bowls are affordable & portioned generously. Attentive service and restaurant wasn't overpacked, so it's a nice place for a relaxing meal if you just want to be fed and not necessarily looking a place for a special occasion. read more

Met up with a friend for dinner during the week, and the place was empty. Despite this, Kotobuki surprised us with delicious sushi, sashimi, and tempura. The menu offers no-frills, good quality and reasonably priced Japanese food. Ambiance is minimal as it's a small space, but clean and welcoming. Parking is easy, which is a premium in SD! I would definitely go back to Kotobuki again. read more

i really loved it here. like so much. it's an underrated place i feel and might be overlooked but if you are debating on coming here debate no further it's worth it. the price is very reasonable especially compared to other places near by. the lady that worked there was so friendly and kind that i would go back just for her alone. the sushi was very very very good. some of the freshest yellow tail i've had and the salmon was very good too. i had the sashimi bowl which comes with miso hamachi sushi and salmon avocado along with green tea which is refillable and all of it was so fresh and well done i absolutely am coming back here. if there would be something that they could change to maybe get more people in then it would be the tables and chairs and making it more of a hipper place but to be honest it didn't bother me one bit because the music and food was so good read more

Kotobuki - hamachi sushi and salmon avocado - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

There was a time in my life that I was looking for quantity in my sushi that was decent, but wouldn't break the bank. I also had young children that loved sushi, but they ate this as a snack, so I couldn't raise the bar too much. My son was home from college and this very much hit the spot. I couldn't be happier with the quality of the fish and the eel is what we really wanted. Yes, my expensive children were with me and they are bigger and they totally understand quality. We ordered a sashimi bowl, rainbow, caterpillar and soft shell crab. All of it was good and flavorful. The rice was really good sushi rice. We also had a green salad and seaweed salad. If you're expecting 20 pages of different varieties of sushi rolls with creative names and mixtures, this is not the place for you. The service was fine. There was only one server and she also bussed the tables. She was very nice and I have no complaints. If you're in a hurry to eat and run, don't come here. We had a wonderful lunch talking and just enjoying. The place is clean and simple. It was nice read more

See all

One of my work friends suggested this place for a lunch, and since the other work friend absolutely hates parking within 5 miles of the Convoy Asian Cultural District area (seriously, we were coordinating picking her up at her house to ensure she made it to lunch with us), we decided to give it a try. I'm so glad we did! Not only was the food delicious, but parking here is so easy it's almost laughable. The shop is tucked away in the back of a shopping center that I've passed by hundreds of times, but never actually ventured into. We showed up right around lunchtime on a Friday, but there were plenty of open spaces and no real wait for a table. The girls wanted sushi, and initially I was going to join them in stuffing all the sushi in my face, but once I saw their Bento Box comes with Saba ($20) I was sold! While I went with the box, my friends ordered the Caterpillar ($14), Hamachi Jalapeno ($11), Salmon Sashimi ($15) and one other roll I can't for the life of me remember. We all agreed that everything was fresh and delicious. My bento box came with a small (sad face) serving of saba, four pieces of sashimi (salmon and tuna), rice, a green salad with the silkiest tofu ever, tempura and miso soup. It was quite filling and very enjoyable. In fact, I liked it so much I brought my husband the next time he suggested sushi for lunch. I once again got the bento (if it ain't broke...) and he got the California roll ($6) and two spicy tuna rolls ($9.50) He also rather enjoyed the meal, though did remark that the food was pricier than he's used to paying for sushi. I guess you can't win them all. Definitely recommend as a quiet, quick and tasty alternative to some of the restaurants directly in the Convoy fray. read more

See all

Kotobuki is one of those hidden gems tucked away in a quiet shopping center on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. I've had the opportunity to dine here twice - and both times have been fantastic. Recently, my friend Jenne joined me, and she spent many years living in Japan and was delighted when her Bento box arrived on the table! The food here is authentic and made with love. You can really taste the quality and the freshness of the ingredients. Each dish in the bento was perfect - my favorite piece was the small grilled mackerel. It tastes like buttery heaven! Out of this world delicious! I've also had the spicy hamachi roll and it's a wonderful appetizer. Can't wait to come back! read more

Kotobuki - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This is a lovely, peaceful restaurant with authentic & delicious Japanese food at a very reasonable price. Perfect for a little date night or a casual dinner. We came a little after they opened on a Saturday night & were seated right away. The server was sweet & attentive, refilling our water & hot tea throughout the dinner. We ordered the salmon & spicy tuna rice bowl as well as the sashimi rice bowl, & an otoro nigiri. Everything came out promptly & was presented beautifully. The dishes here are delicious & among the more affordable out of all the Japanese places we've been to. We had a lovely experience & would recommend entirely! read more

See all