Man, these guys are consistently producing high quality dishes in a modern, chic ambiance with…read morefriendly service. We were lucky to snag a table on Thursday night for two without any resy's. We were offered a two person table upstairs, which I prefer. Started with the Azuki salad that's perfect for sharing. The dressing is light and lots on the plate including avocado, taro chips, cucumber, and apples. Textures and flavors go so well together. I also got a spicy tuna hand roll, the Kobe Roll, and a few nigiri's including Hamachi, Chutoro, and Salmon belly. All were delicious but the Chutoro was the fave. Finished dinner with a burnt butter mochi cake complete with ice cream and some strawberry sauce. Def glad we stopped in and will def be back for more.

Food: Overall the food isn't bad but I didn't find anything…read moremind blowing or special as it was made out to be because I know how popular this spot is. Although, it was still enjoyable! Crispy Rice & Spicy Tuna (9/10) - loved the crisp and the flavor. it wasn't too spicy and the spice was more for a little kick of flavor Stardust (7/10) - wasn't as citrusy as i thought with the lemon but tasted fine. it was basic in flavor but still good Spicy Salmon Hand Roll (8/10) - it was made well and it was good but nothing too special either Super Dragon (9/10) - the sweet potato was such an interesting and nice touch. really good flavor combination Service: Service is a bit slow since the beginning even to seat you even with a reservation but they remained very kind throughout the experience. Ambiance: It's a bit small but we were sat upstairs in another room with seating and since it's small, when it's packed it can get really loud with everyone talking. The vibes of the place is dimlit and not too upscale but also not too casual. It's just a very nice restaurant vibes

Finally got to try this cute Japanese cafe we saw on TikTok, and it did not disappoint!…read more Service: [5/5] The two girls who helped us were so sweet and made the whole experience. We were seated at the bar, which ended up being such a vibe--we got to chat with the girl behind the bar and watch her make lattes and desserts right in front of us. That kind of interaction really sets this place apart. Price: [4.5/5] It's on the pricier side, but honestly it feels fair given the quality of food you're getting. You can taste where your money is going. Food/Drinks: [5/5] Matcha Latte -- We shared one, extra sweet at my request, and it was perfect. Exactly what I was hoping for. Chef Soichi's Karaage -- We had this as an appetizer and my boyfriend made a point to say this is the closest he's had to traditional Japanese karaage. High praise from someone who's passionate about his Japanese culture. Hayashi Omurice -- This is their most popular dish and it's easy to see why. The demi-glaze has a really unique flavor that ties the whole dish together beautifully. This was my pick and I'd order it again without hesitation. Guratan -- My boyfriend's order, and it was incredibly creamy and delicious. We were both too stuffed for dessert by the end, which says a lot about the portion sizes. Ambience: [5/5] The restaurant is small, but honestly that's part of what makes it so charming. Pink everywhere with wooden accents and cherry blossoms throughout (very fitting)--it's cozy, homey, and just really well put together. The intimate size adds to the appeal rather than taking away from it. Overall Experience: [5/5] Hatsuzakara was such a wonderful first experience. Yes, we waited about 30 minutes to be seated arriving at 7:30 on a Friday night but for a waitlist-only spot this small, that's actually a pretty reasonable wait by San Diego standards. The food, the atmosphere, and the staff more than made up for it. Already looking forward to coming back to try the curry and work through their dessert menu.

This Japanese restaurant is so cute and pretty!! The servers also add to the Japanese vibe~…read more The menu is pretty easy to navigate. I feel like everything looked really good, so it was hard to decide what to order. The dishes have small portion size despite the price. I think this kinda helps in that you have room to eat dessert! The brown sugar Okinawa tea was good but the after taste of the sugar was not good. They kept the tea pot warm, and they served oat milk on the side. Karaage had too much chicken skin for my preference. Guratan was penne pasta and not macaroni as specified in the menu. Yakisoba could have used more chicken. Omurice had the more flavor and the egg was really good. I want to try naporitan next time because of the tomato based sauce. Of the desserts I tried, the parfait was most enjoyable because of the fruit with ice cream. The mushi pudding was good; it was the thick and "hard" type of flan. I want to try kakigori next time because I saw their shaved ice machine was legit. Parking - free street parking only. Be prepared to walk up/downhill. Credit card/apple pay accepted Bathroom is only one room in the back. THE SEAT IS WARM. This was a nice gem to find in this part of town.

We got the agedashi tofu and the deep fried baby octopus to share. Love both of these sides, the…read moretofu was extremely soft and flavorful and the octopus was crunchy, chewy, and just so flavorful. I got the Nabeyaki Udon, it was delicious, hearty, and filling. It really hit the spot on a cold cloudy day. The broth was light and clear and the udon was bouncy and chewy. I also loved all the ingredients, the chicken was tender and the shrimp tempera were light and crunchy.

This is a low-key long-standing local spot with mostly regulars. Tucked right next to Nijiya…read moreMarket, it never relies on marketing--only authentic home-style flavors and consistent quality keep customers coming back. It's a cozy Japanese izakaya with warm yellow lighting, just like a traditional neighborhood pub in Tokyo. Perfect for casual drinks and enjoying a genuine laid-back vibe. I ordered the eel kamameshi, which took about 20 minutes to serve. Their house-marinated eel is incredibly fragrant. The Creamy Mentai Udon is a must-try: rich creamy flavor, savory pollock roe with no fishy taste, and perfectly chewy noodles that are absolutely addictive. Their grilled beef tongue is cooked to perfection--tender, juicy, and well-balanced in salt and sweetness. The teppanyaki is also very flavorful. Price range is mid to high, around $40+ per person. The staff gives off classic old-restaurant regular vibes: efficient and no overly formal small talk. It feels like a neighborhood comfort spot--warm and relaxed without forced hospitality.

A great little yakitori spot in an unsuspecting strip mall. Weirdly tucked in the back beside the…read moreSmart & Final, this little shop has an authentic and extensive menu. Love the wings, garlic, edamame, chicken heart, and quail eggs! It gets busy so try to call ahead an hour or two for a reservation. Definitely worth hitting up! Update: Came back tonight with my mom after a two year absence because my mom was craving beef tongue. Everything was even better than I remember. The wait staff was super friendly and accommodating. I loved the quail eggs, chicken wings, beef tongue with wasabi, and brussel sprouts. This is by far one of the best yakitori spots in San Diego. Highly recommend! Remember to call and make a reservation the day before! Update 2: Still insanely good. Call before for a reservation. Top items: Brussel sprouts, beef tongue, fried garlic, smashed fresh wasabi. This place is the gift that keeps on giving!

Wow! This place is equal or better than the yakitori I've had in Japan. They grill the yakitori…read moreperfectly with the aroma of charcoal. Literally everything was good including the braised wasabi beef that was so tender and flavorful. We had everything on the yakitori menu except the vein and again nothing disappointed. The beef skewers were good but the chicken skewers were the stars. Although the bacon wrapped pork belly was exceptional and my wife's favorite. The customer service was fantastic. They would come by to drop off or take our order. Make sure you make reservations because this place is very busy.

Sushi Ota is easily one of my favorite sushi spots, it doesn't look like much from the outside but…read moreonce you step inside it is so cozy and welcoming. We tried the Crunchy Salmon Roll, Volcano Roll, and Diego Roll, and all were excellent. Super fresh fish, beautifully presented, and really well balanced rice/fish ratio. The atmosphere is refined and intimate, which makes the whole experience feel a bit more special. Service is always friendly, attentive, and professional without being over the top. They're usually busy (for good reason), so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation. Even if there's a wait, it's worth it. Hands down, some of the most meticulously crafted sushi I've had in the U.S.

So far, Sushi Ota is my favorite sushi spot in SD. They…read moreserve high quality sushi at a price that is reasonable for what you're getting. I came here with my parents who also loved it. It's authentic and does not overprice based on hype or pomp. I got the Chef's Choice Nigiri, and every piece was delicious. I'll definitely be coming back!

We had a great dinner here. I highly recommend making a reservation, they were able to squeeze us…read morein between reservations but I think we got lucky. Plenty of parking out front The katsu curry was delicious. It was very filling. I really liked how the curry was flavored and the katsu itself was light and crispy. It's a little more on the pricer side but the ingredients seemed to be great quality.

Place is on the smaller side but it's very nice. Had the beef tongue, it was alright but I wouldn't…read moreget again. It was tougher than others that I've had and was oversalted, also expensive for the small amount it was (~19$). The deluxe katsu was very yummy. The meat was tender and the scallops were incredible. Only complaint is that the breading sometimes slipped off a bit and that the deluxe set doesn't come with rice. Servers were always super fast. Solid 3.5 or 8/10

Food: Super fresh, delicious flavors. Fried items didn't seem too greasy and the oil didn't taste…read moreold. Good variety of items to choose from for the buffet option. Included to choose from: specialty and basic rolls, hand rolls, basic udon, miso soup, calamari, etc. Best if with a group to share so nothing goes to waste if you don't like something. Our group of four left satisfied. Value: Four adults without drinks came to about $180 before tip. It's pricey but considering it's fresh sushi made to order and not generic rolls left on a counter like other buffets I think it warrants the higher price. Be advised adding sashimi is an additional ~$13. Service: Very quick to take orders, bring out food (fried/baked will take longer), fill waters and give the bill when ready. Excellent. Interior: Very clean, modern, and my guest was able to watch the padres game while we ate. Overall: If you're willing to spend over $40 on quality sushi, you'll love it here. If you only want appetizer items you may get bored of all the fried items, seaweed salad, and soups. And if going that option it wouldn't be worth the $40+.

This place is always a great time, but it's an even greater time with a good group of friends who…read moreshare the sole purpose of getting their monies worth in sushi! They have sooooo many options it's perfect. If you like sushi then this is the place for you. Nigiri, specialty rolls, cut rolls, appetizers, it doesn't end! For an AYCE the fish is surprisingly high quality. I'm not a sushi snob, but I can't tell a drastic difference between here and super upscale sushi joints. Little Sakana employs like a thousand people which is awesome because there is always someone there to take an empty plate, drop off more food, refill your water/beer, and whatever else you need! These people are working just as hard as you're working so tip them well!

This place is one of my new favorite spots! It's pretty hidden, tucked away in an unassuming little…read moreplaza in an industrial area. I think the people there were also surprised to have us come by, because they asked how we came across the place. Apparently it's recently gotten taken over by a new owner and remodeled. The interior and exterior is super cute, with kawaii Japanese decorations all throughout. There's also a cute cat theme throughout, with a little paw print stamped into the wasabi and little ceramic cat chopstick holders. The food was reasonably priced and also delicious. My favorite was the Inari set, which were very plump and full of delicious fish and juicy tofu skin. The Ajitama eggs were also yummy, and the sauce it's marinated was good enough to drink up after. When it came to the rolls, there were so many good ones to choose from, I'll have to come back to try more of them. We went with the Sanji's roll and the Buldak roll. Both of them are really well done, but I still think the Inari set was the star of the show for this meal. I also saw they sold other rice dishes/dons, which looked good, and I'll have to try that another time. There was also a selection of sakes and beers to try. Didn't try it this time, but there was a yuzu sorbet that I would want next time. Overall, this place is a hidden gem, the staff is friendly, the interior is cozy, and the food is affordable and good quality. I almost hope this place doesn't become too popular, but I'll be happy for them if it does.

Solid sushi spot in Mira Mesa! We walked in without a resy on a weekday night and surprised the…read morerestaurant was pretty filled. There was ample of parking in the lot surrounded by breweries. We were immediately seated at one table by the speakers. The music was blaring right at us, it was a bit loud and the owner noticed and turned it down a notch. Service is an area of improvement and could use a little more support. Nonetheless I think they are family owned and really tried their best! I thought the rolls were a bit on the pricier end. This is what we ordered: - Daruma Roll (5/5): This was my favorite dish of the night! I like scallops and might be a little biased but this worked out perfectly with the ikura and yuzu aioli. - Citrus Hamachi Roll (4.5/5): This was my fiancés favorite and my runnerup. I wished it was salmon on the inside instead. - Protein Roll (4/5): Solid but nothing spectacular, it's just like any other protein roll but the price was a bit steep. - Inari Set (4/5): Flavorful, great for sharing, and perfect introduction to inari - Shrimp Tempura (3.5/5): Would pass on this next time - Annin Tofu dessert (4/5): I love almond tofu but I'm not sure about the granola and it's a little on the sweeter side. The crunch adds texture but perhaps something else besides granola might suit it better like

How have I not been here before! This not-so-hidden gem is probably one of the best sushi spots…read moreI've been to in San Diego. My friend and I met up for dinner and put our names down at 5:15pm. We were there 15 minutes before they opened. Although, we were eighth in line, we were seated first since no one else was around. Once we were seated, our server came around and took our order for drinks and appetizer. We started with seaweed salad, fried gyoza, and tuna carpaccio. The tuna carpaccio was delicious and I loved the garlic. I wanted to order everything on the menu, but was sold on the rolls. I ordered the spicy hamachi roll and the cherry blossom roll, which was recommended by the server. Both rolls were the freshest sushi I've had in a long time. The flavors were perfect and they weren't flashy rolls. They were classic rolls that showcased the fish so well. The service was incredible, everyone was so friendly and I really enjoyed the whole experience. I can't wait to come back, especially on a colder day to try their ramen!

They do have a list outside where you put your name down. We came a little early knowing there…read morewould be a line. I genuinely thought people were exaggerating how great this place was, especially when it came to authenticity. They were not. Not one item we ordered was bad and we ordered about 20 dishes. The ramen was the absolute winner. Best ramen I have had in San Diego. I was blown away by the broth and the noodles. The sushi was great, including the spicy tuna. Everything tasted fresh and fairly priced. You really can't beat these prices. The fried chicken and tuna carpaccio were standout appetizers. Honorable mention to the chicken katsu roll. It was insanely massive and so good. We will absolutely be back to try more appetizers and the ramen. We recently went to Japan and this ramen has been the closest we have had to what we experienced there. I didn't even take a picture of it before it was in my stomach!