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    Shogun

    3.4 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Shogun Takeout or Delivery

    Shogun Japanese Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    SHOGUN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Shogun

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    Reviews With Photos

    Bar area and food.
    Mr. 2D's D.

    I used to really enjoy coming here, but after this experience, I won't be back. My party of 7 went out to Shogun's for a birthday. The food is okay, but when you go to a Teppanyaki-style restaurant, it's supposed to be about the full interactive experience--not just average food. Unfortunately, the service completely ruined the night. When it comes to restaurants, I normally only write a review when they're either really good or really bad. In this case, this was really bad. I'd rather go somewhere with great service and mediocre food than the other way around, and this place proved exactly why. The biggest issue: we were overcharged by $139. It honestly felt like they assumed that because we were a larger group, no one would carefully check the bill. They added two full meals that were never ordered, included a Crunchy Roll that wasn't even brought out until we complained, and threw in other questionable charges. That's not a small mistake--that's a serious problem. As for service, our main server (AJ or DJ) was rude and unprofessional. When we asked about missing items, he snapped back with a comment about "only having two hands," which was completely unnecessary. Then, after we pointed out nearly $140 in errors and had the bill corrected, there wasn't even a simple apology. Nothing. That's unacceptable. This review is a warning for anyone planning to come here, especially in a large group: check your bill carefully. It really felt like because we were drinking and ordering a lot, they thought they could slip things past us. Whether it was intentional or just careless, a mistake that large is ridiculous. There are too many other places out there to deal with service like this!

    Stephanie S.

    Everytime we have reservations, we still have to wait a while to be seated which is why I took a star off. Parking is limited which is terrible during peak times, so I took another star off. We come here mainly to celebrate birthday dinners. The food here is better than Beni in my opinion, but can still be a hit or miss.

    The far end tables did not have a vent and see the very tight aisles
    Randall B.

    Wow. And not in a good way. We arrived at 2 minutes after six (6pm was the reservation) and we had received a text from our host asking where we were as the restaurant was rushing them. We got in the lobby and there were the seven of us and two other people and the host literally yells our name even though we were right there. It was not pleasant. We were told we were being seated at the new tables and after a short walk we were seated in what looked like a construction zone. Paper and tape everywhere and two of the hot tables didn't even have vents so steam and cooking smells were everywhere. In fact we all a smelled of food when we left. Not great. The place was also very tight. People had to constantly move not to be hit by severs going by or other guests moving about.. the room is too small for the over 50 guests they had. There was only one small wall mounted ac unit so it was also hot. The servers seemed overwhelmed and this addition or remodel or whatever stil had them confused as to how to best operate. They tried but service was uneven at best. Some people got cloth namkis some got paper. Food was literslly dropped in front of us with no care at all. It was rushed and uncomfortable. The chef came out and he was wearing a mask. Basicslly no one could hear anything he said and we all wondered if he was sick. The show was very good and the food was also very good. It did not, however, make up for the bad service or, the heat, the smell, the unfinished room and the over all feeling of being very cramped. It would be hard to reccomend going here until this whole situation is figured out.

    onion volcano
    Christina T.

    Came back here for a birthday and was impressed enough to write another review. Our chef this time was so much more friendly and charismatic, and they've added noodles (although it's just linguine) and more vegetables (broccoli, yellow bell peppers, and potatoes) to the entree so that you have better variety. My fried rice this time was not completely soaking in oil, and my medium rare filet mignon was so tender and buttery. Definitely recommend getting. The miso soup appetizer is fine but the mushrooms are just a step from raw, so much so that they taste dry in your mouth despite being in soup. Service was great this time, overall much improved experience. And the floor was not sticky this time.

    Cooking in action. Finished my salad (I requested dressing on the side).
    Jasmine P.

    The staff works really hard here. We visited on a very busy Saturday night. Every staff member from hostess to bus to wait staff, chefs, and managers moved very quickly to meet every customer's needs. They seemed to all help each other out as well if someone forgot something. We ordered the New York Strip and Shrimp combination. We haven't visited in a while and the menu had changed a bit. They added noodles and broccoli and potatoes in addition to their soup, salad, and steamed rice. Fried rice costs extra. We also enjoyed the Red Dragon roll as an appetizer along with some hot green tea. All was very delicious! Our chef was very friendly and entertaining too! We left very full and enjoyed our experience.

    Rainbow roll
    Allison L.

    I have not been to Shogun in a long time but decided this would be a fun place for a family celebration lunch. The place was full of holiday parties and a 1 + hour wait for lunch so we decided to sit in the dining room. Big mistake! Our food took over an hour to get, items were cold, lukewarm , or completely forgotten. Chicken was forgotten and then when it came it was dry and over seasoned. The yakisoba came with the combo meals, so one child not only didn't get his mean until 30 + minutes after the rest of us he could have had noodles with a combo plate. Same flavor - only his came out hot and very late. The tables sounded like they were having fun but we were miserable in the dining room. Miso soup was lukewarm along with our combination plates. My filet was cooked perfectly it was just lukewarm as well. If the prices are the same for the tables and the experience make the food just as good. The Teppan tables the food is served right away and hot. So we had mediocre food without the show. The staff apologized it it ruined the celebration.

    What we're here for
    Gavin C.

    I think it's well fairly known that "Teppanyaki" is a French word that means "someone you love asked to go there for dinner because it's their birthday and you have to pick between Shogun and Benihana because you live in San Diego." Shōgun it is, friends. I appreciate that when I arrive at Shōgun, I'm not treated like I have personally offended the host just by existing (a staple of the Benihana experience). Quite the opposite. Great experience and prompt seating. As for the dining experience. Look, we all know you're here for the show (or because someone you love just got older by a year). The show is good. The chef is funny. The food is good. The server is attentive. Attentive ... this brings me to my point. In our case, mom wanted a jar of the salad dressing. Our server made that happen. Sure, it was for a reasonable charge. But I loved how it was prepared and presented like contraband. Just a random jar of dressing, moonshine style. No label. I'm not kidding by the way. I'm here for it. When mom makes a random request like that on her birthday and they deliver? Sign me up. They even gave her a paper hat. This is all to say this style of dining is about more than food. It's about making people feel special. This is the second time I've brought my mom here for that purpose and they have succeeded twice. Shōgun every time!

    Savannah B.

    I am only giving this place 2 stars for 2 reasons: 1. the hibachi chef who was at our table was amazing 2. the food was pretty good Besides that, the service sucked. hostesses were rude and not very helpful. It took us 45 minutes AFTER we sat to get waters...and I had to get up and the hostesses for them was told "they're fulfilling your order right now" as if they were making cocktails for us, and they were given in plastic cups. I know it was the holiday season when we went and they were definitely busy but to not even be given water for 45 minutes is ridiculous. Our server came and then took our dr ink orders and forgot one of our drinks and didn't bring it for another 10+ minutes. Now we are at 1 hr 10 min and we haven't even eaten anything yet. 10 minutes later the chef comes and from the start he is goofy, silly and so fun. He was what we needed to brighten up the hungry, awkwardness of waiting SO long for food. He was talented and gave us a show for sure. Took about another 50 minutes to get all of the food cooked and done. We spent over 2 hours at this restaurant and at the end of it I walked away thinking it was pretty good but nothing to wait that long for and I will probably never go back.

    Tofu Delight
    Janet G.

    We always really love our visits to shogun. As a family with young kids you just can't beat the entertainment. It's hard not to compare it to Benihana since the concept is similar, but honestly, we enjoyed this just as much and maybe more--for different reasons. Parking was super easy and the place wasn't crowded, which made the whole experience more relaxed and kid-friendly. Waiting at Benihana Mission Valley even with a reservation is a lot. The staff was very accommodating to my vegan requests, and the food was delicious. The flavors were a bit different than Benihana but great in their own way. It's so nice to have a spot where we can enjoy a teppanyaki experience without feeling like we're in a rush or packed in with crowds. We'll definitely be back!

    New York Steak
    Jaime G.

    Excellent food. Great service. Filet Mignon was delicious. We went late (8:30 pm). Place was not packed, the ambiance was easy and chill

    Cooking
    Lisa O.

    We come every year for my husband's birthday. This year we decided to try lunch as the menu has gotten more expensive. Overall, the meal was serviceable but uninspired. While it wasn't unpleasant, it also didn't leave much of an impression, positive or negative.

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    26 days ago

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    9 months ago

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    11 hours ago

    Love everything at this place. Gavin and Darrell are the best. Tonight was fun with Izzy and Darryle as our servers.

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    4 months ago

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    21 days ago

    The food was good !! Great cook but the service was not... I had reservations at 1130 they didn't take my order till 1215...

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    3 months ago

    Excellent Christmas dinner. Our chef was awesome! Food was delicious! Fun time had by all.

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    Page 1 of 36

    Shogun Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shogun

    Is there a birthday reward program like Benihana?

    Nope, they don't have any rewards programs. Just a free dessert if it's your birthday and you tell the waiter.

    Do they offer lunch menu on Sat and Sun?

    Do they automatically add a gratuity for a party of 6?

    Gray

    Yum yum sauce?

    Yes they do. Very good with the vegetables and seafood :)

    Can they accommodate a gluten free allergy?

    I don't think so, everything is being cooked on one griddle. Unless they cook everything and then clean it and cook you a separate meal.

    What time does lunch end on a weekday? Do they close in the middle of the day (i.e. 3-5pm)?

    Lunch ends at 3. They do not close in the middle of the day.

    Does the lunch menu apply on the weekend?

    As i know yes

    How many seats does a table hold?

    Twelve of us including four teenagers and an elementary school child were accommodated relatively comfortably at a large teppanyaki table although couldn't really imagine more - three each at the ends, and six lengthwise.

    View All 12 Questions

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    4.3(1.5k reviews)
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    Robataya Oton

    Robataya Oton

    4.1(465 reviews)
    0.0 miKearny Mesa
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    The food was all very delicious. Ordered the soft shell crab (2), 9 piece sashimi, 6 piece sushi,…read morean extra 3 pieces of Alfonsino sashimi (was our favorite - it was seared on the edge), the special in season which was a starter of little tiny squid, Unagi don, and ended with a matcha tiramisu (menu says cheesecake, so the tiramisu was a surprise). All of the food was delicious. We do not regret ordering a single thing. And we had a cold sake and a hot brown rice green tea. I loved the tea alot; it was very warm and cozy. It is expensive, but the prices are very clear on the menu, so I think it's fair. You know what you are going into as you order each thing. The staff we interacted with (a man and a woman) were also very nice. They move us over a table to have us some space from a party coming in, which was good thinking. And the space is very comforting, like you are in Japan. We would come back for a special occasion, for sure. (Booked a reservation from the request form on their website, and got the confirmation the next day.)

    Visited Robataya Oton for the first time and absolutely loved it. We sat in one of the private…read morebooths, which made the experience feel intimate and special. The ambiance and music immediately stood out. It felt like being transported back to Kyoto, with a traditional atmosphere that really sets the tone. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared. Highlights included the shrimp tempura, karaage, grilled kama, sushi mix, unagi don, and the uni noodles. Great sake selection as well, plus beer on draft. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to.

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    Robataya Oton - Grilled Kama

    Grilled Kama

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    Kumi Sushi Grill - Plenty of seating

    Plenty of seating

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    Ju-ichi - Yellowtail Crudo

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    4.6(290 reviews)
    1.0 miKearny Mesa

    Talk about a strong-bodied miso soup; yum! The miso soup at Ju-Ichi is only bested by Takaramono…read moreSushi. Also amazing is the uni, toro, and ikura (known to me as the holy trinity of sushi, a.k.a. U.T.I.). They must marinate the ikura with some kind of soy-based sauce because it tastes quite different from--and much better than--the ikura from other restaurants. I also appreciate that you can order just one piece of nigiri, an offering typical of sushi restaurants that focus on quality over quantity, which furthermore incentivizes chefs to make each bite count. The sushi chefs get a sense of pride from their creative and productive work while the customer gets more gastronomical bang for the buck; this is a beautiful win-win relationship, and while this win-win relationship exists in all trading relationship, it's especially pronounced and palpable between sushi chef and the customer. So you've had the most satisfying miso soup and incredible nigiri. While you're at it, also order yourself the pot du creme; the candied bacon is to die for! My only gripe with Ju-Ichi is their disappointing mixed tempura: The batter on the shrimp is more akin to panko and the snap peas did not complement the batter. Nonetheless, I've eaten at many sushi restaurants in San Diego and I hereby crown Ju-Ichi the best sushi restaurant in town! You get Michelin-quality sushi (if you do stray from sushi, avoid the mixed tempura) with casual, but typically Japanese reverent, service.

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    Ju-ichi
    Ju-ichi - Gohan (mini rice bowls) with Snow Crab Legs

    Gohan (mini rice bowls) with Snow Crab Legs

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    Nigiri: Golden Eye Snapper, Blue Fin Tuna, Scallop (left to right)

    Yakitori Taisho - Pork belly

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    4.4(555 reviews)
    2.4 miClairemont
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