This is one of the OG sushi spots in San Diego, and I've been coming here on and off for decades…read more It had been quite a few years since my last visit, though. With so many new sushi restaurants opening around town, it's a little out of the way for us, and honestly, I had almost forgotten about it. I'm so glad we decided to come back because it's every bit as good as I remembered. I made a reservation for the sushi bar, which is always my favorite place to sit at a traditional sushi restaurant. Instead of ordering my usual rolls, I decided to splurge on the Chef's Choice nigiri. I also asked the chef to serve each piece one at a time rather than bringing everything out at once. I love taking my time, enjoying each bite, and watching the chefs work, which is another reason I prefer sitting at the counter. The Chef's Choice was absolutely worth it. Every piece was incredibly fresh and beautifully prepared. My favorite was the aged toro, which had been aged for three months. It had such a rich, buttery flavor and completely melted in my mouth. My husband ordered a few specialty rolls, and he was very happy with both the quality and the generous portions. I also upgraded my regular miso soup to the clam miso soup, and I'm so glad I did. The broth was delicate and flavorful without being overly salty, and the clams added a wonderful sweetness. Even though I was already pretty full, I couldn't resist ordering three pieces of tempura after seeing them come out for another customer. I rarely order tempura in the U.S. because it's often heavily battered, when authentic Japanese tempura should be light, crisp, and delicate. If you've ever been to a dedicated tempura restaurant in Japan, you know exactly what I mean. This tempura was surprisingly close to what you'd find in Japan--light, airy, and perfectly crispy without feeling greasy. For dessert, we shared the green tea Basque cheesecake. It leaned a little on the dry side, but I still really enjoyed it because the matcha flavor was rich, bold, and not overly sweet. We also had a chance to chat with Akira-san behind the sushi bar, which made the evening even more enjoyable. The hospitality and attention to detail really reminded me why I've always loved this place. With so many trendy and expensive sushi restaurants in San Diego these days, this restaurant continues to stand the test of time. The quality of the fish is outstanding, the atmosphere is authentic, and I honestly think the prices are very reasonable for what you get. It's a classic for a reason, and I'll definitely be making the drive back more often.

When: Weekday early dinner What: Ota B, Shrimp Tempura, O…read moreToro and Yellowtail Belly Experience: The food was simply delicious! Definitely a restaurant I would return for some good Japanese food. O Toro and Yellowtail Belly sushi were simply mouth watering. The way both fish just melts in your mouth and the proportion of rice to fish being just right makes a difference so that it gives you the perfect sushi experience. Shrimp Tempura was tasty. Not overly oily and a nice layer of tempura that wasn't thick. But the best is the shrimp! Definitely didn't taste like those frozen ones and the quality of the shrimp (size, texture, and tasty) was delicious. My son ate 2 out of 3 on his own - and he's very picky with shrimp tempura. Ota B was yummy! It was such a balanced meal of flavor, texture and variety. Even the rice itself was good, I kid you not! Definitely a good value to have if you're there. Our kids didn't want anything else but ended up eating two bowls of just udon. All because it was good udon. What can improve (hence the -1 star) is the service. The server wasn't friendly to begin with, probably because we have two young kids in a nice Japanese restaurant, and perhaps because we didn't order too much since we had a delayed lunch but had this place reserved for dinner already.

Amazing service by Ariel! She made our experience so enjoyable, we never had to flag someone down…read morefor anything. My wife and I both ordered the ayce sashimi upgrade and without fail Ariel was on it putting in another order every time we needed it without us having to ask! We absolutely love the selection of nigiri, hand rolls, sashimi, soups, fried appetizers etc. Please even if you are a little weary about trying the chef special try it anyway I have not been disappointed yet and I've came to this location over 10 times in the past few years. I also feel it's important to add that they recently did some upgrades to the ambience and it is lovely! Thank you Ariel for everything girl!

Fire!! Such a cool restaurant! There were 5 birthdays in the two hours I was there! The food comes…read morefast and tastes amazing!

My bestie searched up this spot and we were excited to try it out. Parking was a little tight but…read moreluckily I found a spot right away. She made a reso so that was helpful since it did seem to get quite busy. The HH was bomb we both had the Iced Green Tea which tasted a little like matcha! The roll were very unique and fresh!

Came here with two friends for a late birthday dinner celebration. I made a reservation for six,…read morebut we ended up needing to push it to 6:30, which wasn't an issue at all. Booking was easy through their website. When we arrived around 6:30, and there were still a handful of open tables so reservations may not always be necessary, but it's probably still a good idea. Our server was phenomenal and really elevated the experience. She gave great recommendations and even let us sample both the Cabernet and Merlot when we couldn't decide on a bottle of wine. We ordered a variety of dishes: * Spicy Edamame: very flavorful, but definitely on the spicy side so be warned if you're sensitive to heat. * Fire Fire Roll: light and fresh fish, but the seared salmon flavor didn't really stand out. * Orange Roll: also light and fresh, but I didn't really pick up the citrus/lemon zest element. A bit underwhelming compared to expectations. * Salmon Belly Nigiri: very fresh and a favorite at the table. * Crab Roll Special: generous portion of fresh crab. * Yuzu Cheesecake: served with three spoons to share. It tasted like a classic cheesecake, pleasant, but I didn't really get a distinct yuzu flavor. The space is cute and conveniently located in a shopping center with plenty of parking. Overall, the atmosphere is laid-back and comfortable. While the rolls themselves are fairly simple and not especially standout, everything tasted fresh and the service was excellent, which made the experience enjoyable.

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.

The food is absolutely of the best quality! Their method and process for preparing and cooking is…read moreunparalleled from most anywhere I have seen in the world let alone San Diego. Truly world class! The service was amazing- I am a messy eater and dropped my napkin several times, each time they handed me a new clean napkin. The ambiance is incredible- so intimate. This is an experience!

The first time experiencing Soichi, we just lucked in to it. We were in the area, popped in and…read morethey happened to have a table for 2, the reason I say lucked in is we tried to get a reservation the next time and they book out months at a time. It is not surprising as this Michelin 1 star since 2021 is quite the tiny, yet comfortable setting that continues to get high praise. Unlike several of the other Michelin guide or Michelin Star sushi establishments, they offer more than just Omakase. While the do offer Full Omakase for $189, Nigiri Omakase for $140, and Petite Omakase for $65, they also allow you to order nigiri, sashimi along with multiple other specials and cut rolls. On our first walk in experience, we ordered the Petite Omakase which included 4 seasonal dishes, 6 pieces of sushi, a light fish broth, and a small dessert, we also ordered some add-on sushi. On our first reservation here, we opted for the Full Omakase, which was absolutely amazing. It is hard to find any fault in the experience here as everything is done with such meticulous care, and exceptional service, making you feel welcome. I cannot recommend Soichi enough!

Came back for my 3rd visit here since they've opened and am thrilled that the business is doing…read morewell and has continued to hold it's Michellin star. I've ordered the Omakase each time and while I still love the atmosphere and the energy from Chef Soichi and the staff, I do have to say that this last go round was not quite as good as the last two. This is meant to be opinionated criticism to help improve but I think the dishes could use more diversity and depth. Having done a fair share of omakase from places like Kinme and Matoi, I feel like this isn't that much more memorable or special and I'd hate for it to follow the same path Tadokoro did where they were absolutely my #1 choice and fell after they got their star (which they later lost). Still love that Chef Soichi continues his tradition of birthday serenades with his guitar and the place still has that mom and pop charm so I hope they continue to thrive!

**5:30pm Omakase seating with Nigiri**…read more My dear friend and I came here for dinner on Monday night to enjoy Ichifuji's summer menu. Everything was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. All of the fish is high-quality, and most of it is imported from Japan. They do also source fantastic shrimp and uni from San Diego at times. Both sushi chefs are super personable, very skilled, and they have rad knife skills! Service from the waitstaff was attentive yet unobtrusive. The restaurant is diminutive and consists primarily of the sushi bar with 10 seats and an attached patio dining area. They do have a small parking lot which is appreciated! The pacing was just right, and each course was presented simply yet beautifully. I truly enjoyed this experience and give it my highest possible accolades! I loved that we were able to taste test three different sakes before choosing, and the carafe of sake was perfect for two of us to enjoy with our meal. It was also fun to choose our own special sake cup/glass from Ichifuji's eclectic collection for the evening I truly enjoyed all of the 19!! courses but the chilled chawanmushi, king salmon & all the nigiri were my favorites. When you come to Ichifuji, know that you are getting a very authentic Japanese dining experience. This is the real deal! Another fun thing that Ichifuji does is they give you a punchcard, and once you've tried all four seasonal menus, you will receive a special gift from Japan. Arigato gozaimasu!

[Food] Spring Omakase $165pp - Appetizers: 4 dishes…read moreconsisting of minced tuna, squid fly, oyster, & tempura. All delicious and wish I could've gotten seconds! - Sashimi: Chef's selection of 4 different sashimi with a side of seaweed. I enjoyed them all but my favorite are the toro and amaebi. Love that they also fried the shrimp head and gave us a choice of salt & lemon or ponzu sauce to pair with it! - Yakimono: Grilled cod with asparagus, crispy fried lotus root, and goji berries. The cod was so buttery and cooked to perfection. - Nigiri: 9 piece nigiri chef's selection. All were super fresh, melts in your mouth, and of course delicious! - Uni wrap: I'm not sure if this was part of the nigiri or its own course, but chef let us try San Diego Uni & Hokkaido Uni! Both incredibly yummy. I feel like the SD Uni has a nice sweetness while the Hokkaido Uni has a slight bitterness. My group mostly liked the Hokkaido Uni. - Chawanmushi: Very flavorful and silky as I think they added dashi to enhance the egg. - Soup: Red miso clam soup (Nagoya style) was delicious. Super comforting and savory to end the course out before dessert. - Dessert: Hojicha Panna Cotta with strawberries! I usually don't like the desserts at most omakases, but I loved this! Great balance of light sweetness of the Panna Cotta with the sweet and acidity from the strawberries. [Service] - Friendly, charming, attentive, helpful - Shoutout to our Chef, Hiro-San & server Ken-San for making sure our experience was beyond amazing! Thank you! [Ambiance] - Classy, upscale, intimate - Has sushi bar & patio seating [Overall] - Made reservations for a party of 6 for my bf's bday and they definitely made it special! I love that they took pics for us with the chefs and even gave us a print out with a stand. So cute! - Would definitely come back for the food, vibes, and great service! - Each season they have a different menu, if you had all 4 on your stamp card, you'd receive a little gift! I definitely would love to try all 4 seasons but unfortunately I don't live around the area.

Neighborhood jewel where Little Italy/Columbia District/and the Harbor meet! Calming, traditional…read moreambiance, balancing small tables, the sushi bar with two or three chefs busy at their craft. Japanese beer and sake, the freshest nigiri, sashimi, large choice of rolls and other favorites arrive, beautifully arranged on elegantly dressed tableware. A great place for a private date or fun with friends! Plenty of shareable dishes! Moderately priced and worth every penny.

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.

Hakumaru Sushi in 4S Ranch is an absolute gem! Located in a fantastic, upscale area, it sets the…read moretone for a great night as soon as you walk in. Staff were exceptionally warm and friendly, making us feel like regulars. Being a nigiri guy, I'm particular about my sushi, but theirs was solid. The fish was fresh, cut to perfection, and tasted incredible. My wife ordered a few of their specialty rolls. I'm normally not a roll guy, but I ended up stealing bites because they just hit. I believe he was the head chef, but Anthony, was super cool, personable, and talented. You can tell he takes a lot of pride in his craft, and it really shows on the plate. If you are looking for a solid sushi joint, a great neighborhood vibe, and stellar hospitality, you have to check this place out!

We ordered takeout, and the food was packaged well!…read more We ordered the: -Sashimi champloo ($31.95): This had twelve pieces of prime cuts of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and chef's choice. Every piece was delicious! -Chirashi bowl ($30.95): I really enjoyed the sushi rice in this bowl since not every restaurant does quality sushi rice. The sashimi was pretty good, but quality wise the sashimi champloo was definitely superior. -Salmon mango roll ($9.50): This had spicy salmon, mango, and ume furikake. This was quite tasty, and definitely had a kick to it. -Maru Maru roll ($9.50): This had imitation crab meat, shrimp tempura, and avocado. A basic roll but still good. -Chicken katsu curry don ($16.95): This was disappointing because the portion was quite small for the price. I do like how the curry was packaged separately. All in all, Hakumaru has quality sashimi and rolls, but could work on portion size for chicken katsu curry don.