Exceeded my expectations! We decided to stop by on a whim on a Saturday evening, and I'm so glad we…read moredid. I've heard incredible things about Azuki Sushi and have been wanting to try it for the longest time. We arrived right at opening without a reservation and were seated almost immediately. The sushi bar is intimate and cozy, and we loved being able to order directly from the sushi chefs. We started with the toro sashimi, followed by Spanish mackerel nigiri, and finished with an incredible roll (I wish I remembered what we ordered because it was that good!). Everything was fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious. Azuki Sushi and their staff truly exceeded our expectations. If you're a sushi lover, this place is a must-try! I couldn't recommend it more and would absolutely encourage anyone who appreciates great sushi to add it to their list. We're already looking forward to our next visit!

Azuki Sushi is such a cute spot! Thankfully, we managed to snag a table without much fuss. Well,…read moretechnically, I made a reservation while we were driving around looking for parking, so we got a little lucky there. We were a small party, which probably helped. We ended up seated upstairs, and the space was adorable. I tend to gravitate toward traditional Edomae-style nigiri, where the focus is on the quality of the fish, the rice rather than a lot of bells and whistles, aka sauces. But I also appreciate a creative roll when it's done well. We enjoyed the Bonsai roll, with its crunchy taro and sweet potato. We also had the salt and pepper karaage, eggplant, otoro nigiri, hotate nigiri, and vertigo roll. The drinks were tasty, too! While I enjoyed our meal, I wasn't completely blown away. That said, I do think it's hard to judge a restaurant based on one visit because not all dishes are created equal, and maybe I just didn't order the right things. Overall, Azuki is a cute little spot in a nice area, with a variety of offerings and good drinks. A pleasant sushi outing, and I wouldn't mind coming back to try a few other things on the menu. Next time, I'll remember to take photos and I might let the sushi pros guide my ordering a little more!

Excellent food , great service . Sushi Ota has been a…read moreclassic Japanese restaurant in Mission Bay of San Diego . Reservation is a must even if you dine in a weekday . We ordered the OTO B set , one order of the Tokusen nigiri, 3 pc shrimp tempura and Matcha ice cream . To be continued...

Very good sushi in an unsuspecting spot near a 7-11 off the freeway. Service was solid and food…read morecame out very quickly. The o toro sashimi melts in your mouth. Worth every penny. Overall, this place is pricey like most sushi spots in San Diego. Ambiance is nice, it looks nothing like you'd expect from the outside.

Amazing and yum! Line and wait wasn't too bad at all for us. Service was also excellent. We will…read moredefinitely be returning for future visits.

I've been coming to Little Sakana for years and it truly never disappoints! The staff are…read morewonderful, the all-you-can-eat menu has a huge selection, and the prices are reasonable for everything you get. Everything I've tried is delicious, but special shoutouts to the sweet soy salmon nigiri, the High Roller roll, and the chef's special of the day recently, yellowtail with yuzu ponzu and pickled onions!! The nigiri tends to be smaller (which I appreciate), and they do half portions for rolls on the all-you-can-eat menu, so you can sample a bunch of options and find your favorites. Plus, if there's a birthday, they sing and bring out ice cream. Such a sweet touch! The vibe is pretty simple, but just a heads up - music and conversations can get a little loud if you're sitting inside.

This place is a little hidden gem. I wouldn't have found it, if it wasn't for yelp. The service is…read moreawesome! They were really nice, fast, and attentive. You can call ahead to book a reservation. We sat in the little patio area. I really liked the crispy tuna appetizer. That was so good! Crispy rice, tuna and avocado. I wanted two orders of that lol The Chilean sea bass was also a hit! The miso sauce went perfectly with the bass. Little sweet and umami with flakey sea bass. The chirashi bowl was a huge portion! The sushi is pretty good quality and fresh. I'll definitely be back to check out more dishes

Been wanting to come here for so long! I always drive by on the way to Costco. Feel like I…read morediscovered a hidden gem. We ordered the chicken gyoza (not pictured), Crispy roll, Avati roll, and the Hawaiian roll. The gyoza was a small portion (maybe 6 pieces). It was okay. To me the stand out was the Avati roll, with seared tuna. It had a kick but it was delicious. You could tell the roll had quality ingredients and it felt very delicate. The Hawaiian roll was also very good, with tuna and shrimp tempura inside. The green kale tempura flakes on top was a nice touch, it felt very elevated. I will be returning and hope to try their lunch menu during the week.

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

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

Finally scored reservations at Soichi with my girlfriend, who's been here multiple times and has…read morealways raved about it! Soichi is tucked away in a little neighborhood between North Park and University Heights. It's a tiny, intimate restaurant with just a few tables and seating at the sushi bar. When we arrived, the hostess greeted my friend by name and even asked about her husband. I thought that was so sweet and knew we were in for some great hospitality! We sat right in the middle of the sushi bar and ordered the omakase tasting. Our server was great and let us try three different sakes before deciding which one we wanted. Chef Soichi was so warm and friendly, and I really felt taken care of the entire time. The fish was seriously melt-in-your-mouth incredible. I loved the appetizers, and everything was seasoned perfectly. After the main course, we were still a little hungry, so we ordered an extra hand roll with uni, tuna, and salmon, and OMG it was soooo good! For dessert, our server recommended the white sesame ice cream, which I absolutely loved. Another really sweet moment was when Chef Soichi pulled out his guitar and serenaded guests who were celebrating their birthdays. How cute is that?! I also got to chat with him and found out he's from Yokosuka, Japan, where my husband is currently stationed. I'm actually visiting next month, so he gave me some fun recommendations on places to check out while I'm there. Such a nice personal touch! Honestly, this might be my number one overall foodie experience since moving to San Diego seven years ago. The food was incredible, but what really made it special was how warm and welcoming everyone was. You can tell they really care about their guests and the whole experience. So glad I finally got to try this place, and I already can't wait to come back!

We celebrated our anniversary here and had a wonderful experience! The food was beautifully…read morepresented, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared, with each piece of sushi showcasing the chef's attention to detail. The service was very warm and attentive, making the evening feel extra special. The vibe was amazing, creating an intimate and welcoming atmosphere perfect for a special occasion. One of the highlights was when the head chef played guitar for a customer celebrating a birthday and even came over to wish us a happy anniversary. Those personal touches made the experience truly memorable. We really appreciated the hospitality and would love to come back for another special occasion!

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

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

What a little gem in Little Italy! Shino Sushi was recommended to us by a friend, and since it's so…read moreclose to my brother's apartment, we decided to give it a try. Such a cute, intimate spot, and everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! What really stood out was the hospitality. The chef personally went out of his way to accommodate us, which made the experience even more special. We ordered the Wagyu sushi, which is traditionally served raw, but he kindly seared it for us so we could enjoy it the way we preferred. We had so much fun stepping outside our comfort zone and trying new things! Delicious food, thoughtful hospitality, and a wonderful overall experience. Definitely a little hidden gem we'll be coming back to!

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