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Soichi Sushi

4.8 (545 reviews)
Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese, Seafood
Closed Closed

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SOICHI SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

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Casual
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Classy

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Amber jack roll
Alex A.

Sushi is my love language, and Soichi knows exactly how to speak to my heart every single time. We love it so much that after eloping, this is where we came for our celebration dinner -- just us two, some sake, and Soichi doing what he does best behind the counter. We've been here a handful of times, and it's perfect every time. If you're lucky, you'll catch Soichi serenading guests with a song on his guitar. If you're even luckier, you might find him there on his day off, sitting next to you, enjoying the fruits of his own labor and having the best time. The space is small and intimate, which I love, but it does mean reservations can be tricky. I recommend booking weeks in advance -- or, if you're like me and go with the flow, keep an eye on the reservation list and snag a cancellation. That's how I've gotten in every time. I love that they offer three sizes of omakase, but they also have an à la carte menu if you prefer to choose your own adventure. The quality of the fish is unreal. The staff does a beautiful job explaining each dish, and the plating is always stunning. The attention to detail is unmatched. My favorite thing to order is the golden eye -- it has become my favorite nigiri ever. This is the perfect spot for any special occasion, or honestly, anytime you want to treat yourself to something extraordinary.

Julia H.

This a review from last year. Came here on a Saturday night. Place was busy. Most of the dishes were good. Servers were overall great. Main issue is that food comes out a bit slowly if you're in the patio. Diners inside who sat down after us, finished before us. Took 2.5 hours for the Soichi omakase. There was a heater on the patio if needed which was nice. Overall 3.75.

Darren A.

Man. Where do I begin? My girlfriend's birthday was coming up so I thought I'd take her out for a nice sushi date, and better yet, a restaurant with a Michelin Star. Got my reservation in September 1st for a date in October. If you're looking to get reservations, have your computer ready on their reservation site on the 1st of every month for access to the following month, and they go quick! We arrived and were welcomed by a lovely host who wished my girlfriend a happy birthday. We were seated immediately as we were early and one of the earlier chef's bar reservations. The restaurant is quite small, but due to its reservation style seating that isn't an issue. There are plenty traditional Japanese decorations accompanying the Omakase bar. We opted for the best advertised experience. The full Omakase. We have had Omakase before and we're ready to be blown away. Our host explained their alcohol selection to us and allowed us to sample multiple Sake before making our final selection. This sampling is included with your experience. The appetizer came out and man, I need to emphasize that the quality of care that the chef's cater to these dishes is top notch. The precision and care to the seafood presented reflects on how delicious the appetizer and sashimi portions of the experience were. The grilled fish was also quite delicious. The nigiri course began and of course every piece presented exceeded our expectations. Our chef was able to customize my girlfriend's nigiri slightly, as she is not a fan of wasabi. The quality of each nigiri from the fish, to the fresh wasabi, down to the rice was phenomenal. It was so good I began to forget to snap a picture before devouring a few pieces. The nigiri was so delicious we proceeded to order additional pieces à la carte. Our chef delightfully explained where each fish is from. We finished the nigiri portion and were presented with a delicious fish broth. On to the dessert round where you choose from a selection of house made ice cream. It was my girlfriend's birthday so the owner pulled his guitar out and sang to her and the restaurant. Our night was amazing thanks to Soichi's attentive staff and amazing attention to detail to their craft. We will be back for more!

Danny D.

Everything from here was exceptionally amazing. The only catch is you have to reserve a spot 1 month in advance to secure seats. The food was of the highest quality and if you sit inside you can watch them prepare it all. The workers all speak Japanese and English and are the most inviting and attentive servers. We got soichi's full omakase, which was a 2 hour long experience. I sometimes think about how not full I am after an experience like this, but that was mot the case. Of course, parking's a bit difficult in this area but I found street parking easily in the late afternoon.

Menu
Ryan M.

Soichi is the quintessential traditional Japanese sushi restaurant The service is incredible and attentive Ambiance is cozy and comfortable The sushi is incredible -- as a sushi lover I was truly blown away A true culinary delight and the omakase experience is a must do The price to quality ratio is unbeatable Must try: Speciality Handroll with toro, salmon roe, and uni

serina c.

20/10!!!! This place was amazing! There wasn't one thing that the chef made that night that wasn't delicious. He was so welcoming and so was the rest of the staff. Price point for me was inexpensive for what I received. I can't wait to go back.

Egg custard
Austin N.

Came into soichi for a solo experience. It was nothing short of amazing. Got to try things I've never imagined trying before. I was sat at an inside table; next time I'd try to sit at the sushi bar just to enhance the experience and be able to watch them work behind the sushi bar. I'm not a sake drinker by any means but my waitress was able to send over a couple glasses of sake that were delicious with the meal. I wouldn't say I'm the most adventurous eater but everything that was served was tasty in its own way. The full omakase was not cheap especially with having it paired with sake and some Sapporo but if you would like to treat yourself to an amazing dinner experience, this is the place. I wasn't able to take many picture as I was too busy eating.

Kevin T.

TL;DR: Make a reservation for the bar. Show up on time. Enjoy a well-curated omakase. Go home super satisfied :) One of the best omakase experiences we've had in San Diego! Came to celebrate an special occasion and loved the entire experience Ordered the Soichi's Full Omakase ($169pp) Favorites: - Chawan Mushi (sneaky MVP): wow I was not expecting this to be so good. Silky smooth with so many hidden goodies inside! - Ootoro: pretty cliche pick but man is it good! - Uni: so fresh, so clean, so briny Will definitely be back to celebrate another special occasion Cheers, Soichi Sushi!

Omakase
Sarah A.

Had the most incredible dining experience here, we will never forget it! Omakase is the way to go! Unmatched Japanese dining in San Diego, no where else even comes close. Service was fantastic and the outdoor table we were sat at was comfortable and private. We will be back without a doubt

Sarah D.

My husband and I came in to dine last night and had an amazing experience! Food and service were top notch. We sat at the sushi bar which I highly recommend; the chefs seriously put in so much work into their craft and it was a pleasure to watch them work. The chefs were also very interactive with people sitting at the bar and were happy to answer any questions we had about the food. I love how intimate and casual it felt. I think a lot of restaurants in San Diego lack a personal, genuine interaction with their guest and the Soichi staff did an amazing job of bringing that sincerity into their service. We will definitely be back. Thank you for an amazing experience!

First page of the menu.
Daniela A.

Just like everyone else, I wanted to try this place ever since I saw it got a Michelin Star. I brought my wife here for our 4 year anniversary and I was so excited! I never ate at a restaurant with one Michelin Staf before. Made the reservation 5 weeks in advance and paid $25 per person to hold the reservation. I used to live in Japan and am always looking for those flavors in the states! My wife and I picked the Soichi''s Full Omakase option on the menu. $169 per person. Sounds reasonable gor omakase.. but it really wasn't.. First we tried some sake while we waited and the waiter gave us three he recommended after my wife told him what she likes.. we ended up going with the Hoyo Kura No Hana Daiginjo. It was one of the best sakes I've had thus far. The a let us pick out sake shot glasses and brought it out to is in a gorgeous small glass pitcher. The first course comes out with was the Seasonal Tasting dish on Soichi's Full Omakase. It started so good with the oysters that were so flavorful with flavors that took me back to when I used to live in Japan. Next was a fried and soaked type of fish.. I really don't remember.. and I don't remember the way the other dish was but they were just okay. The last one was their tofu and that was the most velvety tofu I ever had with great flavors again! The next course was the Chef's choice of Seasonal sashimi. While all the first was fresh, three brought us out soy sauce for dip because they didn't dress them with any marinate. This was okay but I felt underwhelmed by this course.. The next course was the Jidiri steamed egg custard. Present so cut on a small place. When we opened it so good! There was a piece of shrimp and a scallop in there with some mushrooms. It was pretty good but some how I got tired of eating it after a few bites.. The next course was Chef's choice of marinated grilled fish, with a sweet potato chip, a pickled leak and a shishito pepper. While the fish was very well seasoned, the pickled leak was the star of the show.. and the sweet potato.. everything else was underwhelming.. Next was the 12 pieces of sushi from the Soichi's Full Omakase option. The first plate came with 4 sushi and a fried sardine and it got us excited all over again after being a bit underwhelmed. The fried sardine was perfect and was a nice pair with the sake. The four nigiri pieces we were give were again fresh and with nice subtle flavor but they didn't blow us away.. honestly some of the pieces tasted... and I hate to say it.. like metal.. The next three nigiri were again, pretty fresh and had good flavor but not great flavors and it wasn't glowing us away.. The next two sushi were gunkan of roe and uni. There had well balanced flavor and were both of great quality. The last three nigiri was marinated tuna, tuna toro and the tamago. The marinated tuns again had that metal taste.. the toro was definitely star of the show and the tamago was also very well made. The next course was the light fish broth, it was nice and hot but beyond the temperature.. it was underwhelming.. The hand made ice cream was also very good and nicely plated with another sweet potato chip. I do wish we had more sweet potato chips because they were pretty good. Over all the food was good with some bites that were impressive and others that left us looking for more.. we paid $425.60 not including tip.. and outrageous amount for what we received and I am so sad.. I feel so fooled by this place.. I have had much better sushi at Azuki for a quarter of the price. I'm sad to say it don't recommend this place..

Mika S.

The best in SD. I've tried full omakase twice and they are the best. Very traditional and delicate flavors. You get to eat uncommon fish nigiri where you can't find in other restaurants in SD. If you could get a reservation for counter, you are lucky. The price is cheaper than other similar places for what you get. Soichi is always very nice and very humble person. The only con is it is really hard to make a reservation. Put yourself on the waitlist. I can't wait to go back!

Jonathan G.

Soichi was a special restaurant. I came for the full omakase, my first ever, and it exceeded my expectations. The restaurant itself is small and unassuming, but sitting at the counter gives you an intimate view of Chef Soichi, Chef Daniel, and the rest of the team at work. Watching them prepare each course with their delicate precision and care was mesmerizing. The service was warm and attentive, and the whole place has a homey feel. You can tell there's a real sense of community and I got to see Chef Soichi bring out his guitar multiple times to sing happy birthday with the guests. The omakase itself was excellent and lasted over three hours. Highlights included the oyster and ankimo as appetizers... the contrast of acidity and creaminess was perfect... as well as the chawanmushi with crab and mushroom, the buttery miso cod, and several standout nigiri like the triggerfish and golden eye snapper. Every piece was delicate and flavorful. The lobster miso soup was also a nice touch. The only noticeably weak point was dessert. The ice cream had a icy texture, and while the hojicha flavor was good, the strawberry didn't come through. Overall, Soichi offers incredible food and a sense of warmth and connection that makes you want to come back.

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Absolutely incredible, period. We were lucky to have Taisho Soichi preparing our experience. Simply blown away.

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Soichi Sushi Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Soichi Sushi

Are u guys kid friendly? I have a 2.5 years old with us

Yes, we love children and welcome them! Though we don’t have any special kids menu, the chefs are happy to make something special for kids as long as they enjoy fish or are willing to try. If not, you are welcome to bring a special meal for your… Read more

Do you only have omakase?

We also offer an à la carte menu. You can see our menu options at soichisushi.com/menu.

I see you have patio seating, can we bring our pet?

Yes, you can bring your pet, however we only have one table in the patio where a pet might be comfortable so be sure to call and ask about your table after you make your reservation.

How long does the Omakase meal take?

The Omakase takes 2 hours.

Would it be possible to accommodate a party of 8 people?

You would have to call them directly. There are 10 seats at the chef table.

Are you still accepting take out orders?

Thank you for your question. As of Feb 2022, yes, we are. However, we only take a few orders a day and they have to get approval by the chef 24 hours in advance. Please email us your order at Omakase@Soichisushi.com at least 24 hours in advance and… Read more

If we need to cancel a reservation well in advance, is the deposit refunded?

Yes, as long as you cancel 24 hours before your seating time. We also refund the full deposit once you arrive for your reservation.

Do you have to make a reservation or are walk ins allowed?

We recommend reservations. We are an intimate dining spot with very few seats. We offer 2 seatings per night and each seating is 2 hours. You might want to plan for a couple weeks in advance when making your reservation.… Read more

D0 they have unseared albacore?

I believe so

Does the entire party need to order Omakase if one person wants it, or can one person order a la carte?

One person can do the omakase and share it if they want, that's what i did and hands down the best omakase ive ever had

Is your salmon roe from wild caught salmon or farmed salmon?

It’s from wild caught Salmon.

My girlfriend has a shellfish allergy. Can the chef accommodate to this? Scallops is not part of her shellfish allergy as it's a different family of shellfish.…

The chef seeks to be able to accommodate anything and specifically asks. Not sure about the crab in the hand rolls. Everything is spectacular.

Does this establishment allow Corkage? Cost?

Yes, the corkage fee is $25/bottle

Are there any cooked items available?

They have grilled fish, but you can get that anywhere. Come here for the sashimi and nigiri!

Does this place accept American Express?

Yes. We accept all cards including American Express.

Are the reservations through yelp for the sushi counter or do I need to call in to make a reservation for that?

Hi! The reservations through Yelp are for the counter seats, but please notate in your reservation you prefer the bar. There may be times we need to fill the communal table for larger parties. If you are reserving for more than 4 guests, please call… Read more

What are the two time slots for the Omakase seating each day?

We seat between 5:00 and 6:00 for the first seating and after 7:15 until 9:00 for the second seating

Is this place kid friendly?

It is a high-end sushi bar with no other family seating. It is not for children under the age of thirteen.

Is this an AYCE sushi place?

No. This is an omakase place. You pay per item but mostly chef's choice.

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Azuki Sushi

4.4(3.6k reviews)
2.5 miBanker's Hill
$$$
Takes reservations
Vegan friendly

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

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Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi

4.3(2.6k reviews)
10.5 miMira Mesa
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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!

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Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Get on the waitlist using the QR code

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Chef JUN - Bay Ho

Chef JUN - Bay Ho

4.6(683 reviews)
5.6 miClairemont
$$

I am so thankful we stumbled upon this establishment!…read more On a Tuesday morning, we initially tried to go to another sushi restaurant about ten minutes away, but unfortunately we didn't have a reservation and they wouldn't have had another table available for another two hours. Called Chef Jun to confirm if we needed a reservation here, but they said they had tables available since we were planning on being there in 10-15 minutes. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the girls up front and sat at a nice table outside on the back patio. We ordered the chef's choice sashimi, poke, beer, and green grape soju. I ended up asking for lemonade too to mix with my soju since I rarely drink and do not like the taste of alcohol lol. The food was absolutely delicious, I wouldn't have changed anything about our meal! We left satisfied and were so impressed with the sashimi variety we were served. I had no idea amberjack existed, but it's definitely up there with my usual salmon sashimi favorite! We definitely got our money's worth. Service was incredible, our server Marylyn D (that was on our receipt) was sooo sweet and we really enjoyed her energy. (We love your pikachu tattoo btw!) She made sure to check on us and give us updates on when our food was coming, which we really appreciated. Overall 10/10. Next time we visit from the Bay Area we will definitely be coming back here and recommending to our friends :)

Came in on a Tuesday night and saw that it was quite lively which is a good sign. Gary took care of…read moreus just like we were family! He recommended us the sushi set and it had everything we were looking for. My personal favorite from the set was the salmon oshi. The fish quality was top tier all around. Especially for a place tucked away. Also got the spicy garlic edamame and I would come back for literally just this item. I don't know what they put in the sauce but I dream about to this day. 10/10 Would definitely come back again!!!!!

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Sushi MARU - Iwashi

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4.9(79 reviews)
3.2 miDowntown

Came here to celebrate a birthday. Timing on a Saturday evening was good enough such that there was…read morea good amount of parking out front when we arrived around 5:10 for our 5:30 reservation. We were first to enter and it was clear immediately that omakase is this restaurants institution; delicate lighting that highlighted the bar that separated diner and chef, clean lines everywhere, and just overall a beautiful place. The theme of Sushi MARU is truly attention to detail, and that extends from arrival, to service, to, of course, the food. Staff were incredibly attentive and easy to talk to, including the chefs. The food, I will comment on just generally as the menu is constantly changing (as is the case with many omakase): each dish was composed of pieces that complemented each other well and created a cohesive flavor pallette. Each nigiri was artfully prepared that emphased the quality and cut of the fish, and were complemented by flavors to further highlight that. The flow of the evening was non-traditional omakase, but it felt perfect. Price ($180pp) is not for the faint of heart, but is cheaper than others I've seen. Would absolutely visit again for a special occasion!

Best omakase experience so far! This was my first private omakase sushi bar, and I really liked how…read moreintimate it felt. The food was top tier, and all the sushi tasted fresh. The staff was polite and professional. We did the sake pairing and the "Kid Muryozan" was my favorite. I want to buy a bottle! I was also able to take a lot of pictures and everything tasted as good as it looks. Can't wait to come back

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Ichifuji

4.9(202 reviews)
2.8 miClairemont
$$$$

[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.

Originally, I sought out Michelin star restaurants in the SD area but they didn't have a lot of…read moreglowing reviews. I found out about Ichifuji through some Reddit forums for omakase's. Ichifuji has routinely been one of the personal favorites of many users. I booked a reservation. It was about $160 before tax and tip. Definitely a lot cheaper than most of the Chicago ones and the quality of each course was exceptional. Our chef had a great sense of humor. Everyone was pleasant to talk to. I recommend coming here early before your reservation to secure a parking spot, at least an hour or more. The lot is shared with a Vietnamese restaurant and the parking lot is already small. We thought about parking in the bigger lot to the right but was unsure due to the towing signs. We're from out of State so we didn't want to risk it. If you have the money to spare with no kids, I recommend coming here.

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4.6(270 reviews)
17.6 mi
Locally owned & operated
Happy hour specials

My favorite sushi place for the north SD area! Their sashimi has been fresh everytime, very unique…read moredishes also available like carpaccio with monk fish liver that you can't easily find elsewhere to try. They also have a rotating specials menu so there's different seafood options to try for your sushi and also cooked options. My go to is the chirashi bowl. Good portions and delicious sashimi! Sushi is one of my favorite foods, so I don't say it lightly :). I have brought family and friends back here too My brother in law brought his kid and tried the chicken of the sea nuggets (tuna) and even I loved them! Friendly service, although sometimes food takes a while to come out. The parking is plentiful, in a plaza parking lot. Good ambiance for a bit more casual date night that's cozy!

Quick dinner out and was surprised how slow it was for a weekend evening. My husband and I were…read moreseated right away and orders taken pretty quickly. The menu is pretty extensive, but it definitely has a good quality for what we ordered. Service is quick and ordering to food coming out was pretty fast. For someone with a low tolerance of spice, you never know how spicy the spicy tuna will actually be, I gambled wrong for my tolerance. Delicious none the less but for me a little too spicy haha! The other rolls were fantastic though, and all very good. Would definitely come again if in the area!

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Hakumaru - Wagyu Nigiri

Wagyu Nigiri

Hakumaru - Luna Lemon

Luna Lemon

Hakumaru - Haku's Alasakan

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Haku's Alasakan

Lumi - Charred Yellowtail yellowtail, charred green onion, masago, avocado, cucumber, yuzu kosho aioli, garlic ponzu

Lumi

4.2(1.1k reviews)
3.8 miGaslamp

Visited San Diego for a college graduation and we had dinner at Lumi for the post-graduation…read morecelebration! Best decision we could've made! We knew it was popular and it was recommended to make reservations well in advance which we did. When you get to the hostess stand on ground level, she greeted us warmly and directed us to the elevator that would take us to Lumi. Once at the top, you're greeted by the Lumi staff to check you in. As you get to view the roof top, there are lots of tables, a strategically placed bar, some fireplace tables, comfortable seating, a live DJ, and beautifully done murals and deco. Very tasteful! The food was amazing and so fresh! If you don't like sushi, Lumi has a lot of dishes that would also accommodate your palette. Appetizers, sushi, and drinks were all great. Prices is a little high but keep in mind that you're also paying for the experience! The staff were all friendly and our host Becky was so sweet and attentive! She checked in on us regularly and gave us great recs! Highly recommend!

Came here for San Diego Restaurant week in January 2026. Three course for $65…read more We ordered: 1st -Chicken karaage - hard crunch just straight up fried chicken skin and chicken jerky due to the dryness. No flavor unless you dip. It was like eating chicharron. -Egg plant skewers - Couldn't tell it wasn't meat, it had the firm and tender texture with Unami flavors. 2nd -Rock shrimp tempura - this would taste better with rice. Almost like honey walnut shrimp. Ate like 3 and got full. Too much batter. -Big eye tuna tataki - nothing stood out 3rd -Surf and turf roll - by the time we got this dish, we were already disappointed not satisfied. -Kim chi chaufa - basic fired rice with the crispy burnt rice at the bottom. For a place this upscale, I wasn't impressed with the restaurant week menu. The food was under whelming. Sad to say that our favorite dish out of all were the egg plant skewers. I would rate 2 for the food but increase due to the view and ambiance. We looked around and saw every table with the pretty sushi box. I expected the menu not to offer all cooked dishes. This would go down as one of our least favorite restaurant week dining experience. No parking in this area so we took an uber. I can't believe we spent over $100 each and left disappointed and hungry.

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Lumi - Inside the upstairs.

Inside the upstairs.

Lumi - Namaiki "Sassy" made with producer espadin, herradura blanco tequila, aji amarillo, pink guava, lime

Namaiki "Sassy" made with producer espadin, herradura blanco tequila, aji amarillo, pink guava, lime

Lumi - Uchuu "Universe" made with bombay dry gin, alma tepec chili liqueur, passionfruit, lemon, effervescence, coconut cream

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Uchuu "Universe" made with bombay dry gin, alma tepec chili liqueur, passionfruit, lemon, effervescence, coconut cream

Ju-ichi - Yellowtail Crudo

Ju-ichi

4.6(291 reviews)
4.4 miKearny Mesa

Located somewhat off the beaten path of the Convoy district tucked in between a couple other Asian…read morerestaurants. The space is decent size with plenty of tables with service available at the sushi bar as well. The staff were friendly and attentive. We came in for lunch and ordered the chicken katsu curry rice. The chicken was fried perfectly, golden and crispy on the outside with juicy meat inside, sliced and laid right over the curry. The sauce itself had great depth, not too thick, not too sweet. The miso soup that came with it was really good as well. A light broth with mushrooms and green onion. Nothing heavy, just a perfect complement to the richness of the curry. The menu has other intriguing options, so I'll definitely be back to try the sushi and other dishes.

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

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

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

Soichi Sushi - sushi - Updated May 2026

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