Somisomi

44

141

605

6 months ago

Walking through UTC after dinner my family saw a line outside Somisomi and decided to peek in. Not sure what we were in for we decided to be adventurous. We were pleasantly surprised. This was our first time having Takiyaki. The Oreo one reminded us of a fried Oreo from the fair. The Nutella one was a chocolate lovers dream. For the soft serve we ordered two upside down ahboong. Both filled with custard. One was cookies and cream with a macaroon (we were asked if we wanted that or a strawberry). The other one was Matcha & Chocolate swirled also with a macaroon on top. There were additional free topping. I didn't hear the selection but my son selected crumbled Oreos. It was a lot of food, but it definitely satisfied our sweet tooth. We will be back! read more

Somisomi - Menu - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Making the fish shaped "cones" - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Cookies & Cream Upside Down Ahboong - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Matcha & Chocolate Swirl Upside down Ahboong with Oreo crumbles - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Staff hard at work - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Sign on the wall - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Takiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cheryl G.

540

501

952

3 months ago

I love Somi Somi, I've officially now been to all of their locations in San Diego. We were excited when we walked in, and there was nobody in line, that never happens at Somi Somi! I always get their upside down soft serve with the fish waffle with the custard inside, that is my jam. I love the Ube soft serve and usually get it as a swirl, but I absolutely hate Matcha and that's the only option they had to blend it with this time. It was still super tasty, and I had it sprinkled with Biscoff and Oreos, Yum! Since it wasn't busy, our fish waffles did not come out warm like they usually do it the other locations. But I get it! read more

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Danny W.

63

282

969

2 months ago

Somisomi is a perfect place for a sweet treat if you're at UTC mall. I order the Sakura Berry because I'm obsessed with anything Sakura and it did not disappoint. I added matcha and coconut flakes which made this a delicious combo. The Sakura had that strawberry flavor with some floral hints. We were lucky that there was no line to order because this place can get busy. There was no seating inside, but they did have tables outside. The staff were very friendly and polite. 5 stars! read more

Somisomi - Sakura Berry - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Sakura Berry with Matcha and Coconut flakes - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Erica C.

178

169

262

6 months ago

Delicious taiyaki! They got their batter recipe basically perfect and it is the perfect texture. For the filling, I like their custard the most. Matcha custard was fine but not much matcha flavor. Nutella is reliable. I usually only get their taiyaki because I personally don't enjoy their soft serve all that much. It is smooth and creamy but lacking in flavor. Most flavors just taste like sweet cream to me. read more

Somisomi - taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Arnel D.

5000

4120

17008

7 months ago

Was in and out in a flash. Parked in a 15 minute spot and made the dash for some some serve with two toddlers in tow. Nobody was in line! The place was clean and cold. Perfect because it was a warm one. The soft serve was perfect with just enough Oreo toppings for my kids to enjoy. Thanks Somi Somi. Be back again soon. read more

Somisomi - Kids enjoying Somi Somi - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Daniella S.

74

381

464

3 months ago

I love somi somi ! So was really excited to find out about this location the day I had a family outing. We all got different things. I got the fish with black sesame and it was so good. I also got cocoa pebbles for a toppings. The workers were very nice despite it being a long line. Lots of places to sit outside. The best dessert at this mall in my opinion! read more

Somisomi - Somi somi - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Yajuan T.

0

1

2

9 days ago

The ube ice cream was really good, but I'd especially recommend the taiyaki -- the Dubai chocolate flavor and red bean flavor were definitely the best. Soft, chewy, sweet, and super satisfying with a great texture read more

Somisomi - ube ice cream - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Michelle A.

1

36

59

5 months ago

Somisomi is such a staple night excursion place for my friends and I. This location had the banana pudding soft serve which was everything you wanted a banana pudding soft serve to be: taste of real banana, not too sweet, hint of whipped cream. Also I added biscoff crumbs on top to get the full banana pudding experience. The service was kind and quick as usual and there were standing tables outside of the store. read more

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Rose E.

252

972

6598

1 year ago

We stopped in here to try their cute Taiyaki desserts...and things didn't really go down so smoothly. First of all, it took a good 10 minutes or more for them to make the 2 Taiyaki that I ordered (Black Sesame, Matcha). After waiting so long, I expected at least 2 decent Taiyakis...but nope, they basically botched the Matcha one. The fillings bursted out, making a huge mess...which made it hard to eat as well. Black Sesame didn't burst thru, but looked like it could. Just very poorly made. Luckily, they tasted pretty good...but again, the Matcha one was basically botched. It'd be great if the staff was well trained to properly make these Taiyakis. Since at least they tasted good, I'm not giving up on Somisomi...but I may resort to one of their other locations, where hopefully, the staff members are better trained. read more

Somisomi - 2 Taiyakis...Black Sesame and Matcha (fillings burst thru...botched!) - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Taiyaki (Black Sesame) - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cristina S.

Elite 24

545

264

1014

8 months ago

My child and I are obsessed with what we call the "Nutella-filled fishies" at SomiSomi! Every time we're in the area--especially after a good meal at Shabu Shabu--this is our go-to dessert stop. The taiyaki is perfectly soft and warm, and the Nutella filling is rich and satisfying without being too much. It's such a fun and cute treat, and watching my little one light up when they see the fish-shaped cones is the best part. The shop is clean, the service is always fast and friendly, and there's just something so special about ending your meal with one of their adorable desserts. Highly recommend for families, date nights, or just because! read more

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Tito R.

6

326

256

9 months ago

Wow! For the first time in years there was no line. This ice cream is amazing! Nice shop at UTC . I love somisomi read more

Somisomi - Matcha and chocolate - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Mia A.

0

13

20

3 months ago

One of the best ice creams places I've ever had! It's light and flavorful! The service is always quick even with heavy crowds! Good topping choices and a cute bright area! Would recommend to everyone! read more

Somisomi - Matcha, Cookies N Cream - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Audrey W.

19

64

538

1 year ago

I absolutely love Somisomi. They have the popular taiyaki and soft serve. I got the upside down ah boong, and it was delicious. The soft serve is on the creamier side though, sometimes it leaves a weird texture in my mouth but it's still good. The service is quick. It really depends what time you go but overall the workers work fast. Night time is when they are the busiest in my opinion. This is because they are opened past the malls close time. So if you want a quicker line come during the day. There was not much decoration going on in the inside, as well as no place to sit. If you want to sit while you eat, you'll have to find a bench or chairs elsewhere. Overall, I really love this place. Super aesthetic dessert all while tasting good. I recommend you give it a try! read more

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Sadie L.

0

18

16

4 months ago

Amazing customer service as well as the taste of their ice cream. Super soft texture, will continue to keep coming here. :) read more

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Liza L.

10

79

728

1 year ago

Tried this place out for the first time with a few friends. I liked how the menu is simple, so I don't have to take too much time to figure out what I want to try...lol. I got two flavors: ube and vanilla. Tasted exactly how I wanted to taste, creamy and cold. They serve a pretty hefty portion. Love how the store smelled of fresh waffles once you walk in. We came here during the evening, there was quite a line but they took orders swiftly. The front lobby could have used a little cleaning. The floor was sticky with napkins scattered in the countertops. The music was loud. They do have a front open standing/sitting area so you can enjoy your fro yo with friends. This store is inside of the Westfield UTC mall so you can make a stop mid-shopping of after a meal. Thank you SOMISOMI! read more

Somisomi - Cookies n Cream with Ube - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Emerson L.

0

13

20

2 months ago

this is a chain so the food here is still great, but not amazing. I would say you would come here for photos rather than just for food. they did mix up our order but it was still fine. overall a solid ice cream place read more

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marko j.

1

61

31

2 months ago

Amazing ube ice cream. I got the milk and ube swirl. It was so good. Decent prices. Would come back

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Ricardo M.

3

38

62

1 year ago

Delicious! The matcha ice cream was the perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess. The taiyaki was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and not too sweet. The service was also really fast even if it was really busy at the time. Will definitely return! read more

Somisomi - Upside down ahboong matcha ice cream with nutella filling - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Anna M.

2

95

156

1 year ago

I LOVE SOMI SOMI IT IS SO GOOD! I usually don't get the Taiyaki but I did this time with the sesame paste and it was such a great decision !! Would recommend the ube and green tea ice cream :) read more

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Arwen L.

6

49

131

1 year ago

SO GOOD!! I love Somisomi!! The service was pretty good fast as well, the workers were very nice. I got the Matcha Taiyaki and the Nutella Taiyaki, both fulfilled my sweet tooth craving. The ambience is nice, there's always a lot of people talking near the seating area outside. Great place to have a fundraiser or hangout. read more

Somisomi - Matcha Taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Matcha Custard Taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Nutella Taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Paulette D.

14

310

470

2 years ago

I've had SomiSomi at various locations in Los Angeles and was excited to see one at the location I was at and was kind of let down. I got the black sesame and taro ice cream with red bean filling. The taro was not strong and I couldn't really taste it. I thought the ahboong would be warmer but it was not even room temp so it was odd eating cold on cold. The red bean filling was also not enough in terms of quantity. I ended up not even eating half of it because it wasn't what I wanted at the end of the day...the service was fast at least read more

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Eleana S.

74

300

1732

1 year ago

First time trying Somi Somi at UTC, and it's been so long! My friend invited me because she loves it. I got the cup with graham cracker crumbs, taiyaki (fish), and red bean plus with strawberry, so delicious! I could kiss it, it was totally worth it. They have outdoor tables and chairs, nothing for indoor seating. Plus, UTC is huge, so there's plenty of space to roam around with your dessert. read more

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Marcel T.

245

185

608

9 months ago

Ube ice cream was really good. Wasn't crowded with long lines. Appreciate the very fast service. read more

Somisomi - Ube ice cream and redbean cake - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Linh Y.

225

2252

73654

2 years ago

The first time Somisomi and I crossed path, it was in Las Vegas, NV, and I fell in love with their taiyakis and ice cream. When I found out that Somisomi was here at Westfield University Town Center (UTC), I had to pay them a visit. With so much excitement, I had to order everyone at least one taiyaki. My brother + his family, my daughters, and I chose 1 nutella, 2 taro, 3 custard, 1 oreo. We also got 1 ube ice cream in a cup for everyone to try. I ate the taro taiyaki... it was filled with lots of taro, however, it tasty a little pasty IMHO... it would have been nice if they used real taro. Ube ice cream was amazingly delicious! It was indeed a winner! WOW... a simple concept results in a BANG! Good job Somisomi! Staff was super sweet and nice. The wait time was a bit long. They were really busy at the time. There aren't any seating inside, but they do have bar-like table stands inside along the wall and outside in front of the shop. I'll be back for sure the next time I'm in the Westfield UTC neighborhood. In the meatime, I'll be looking for them closer to home... you know I will LOL. read more

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Allyson D.

247

484

1381

2 years ago

It was hard to choose which flavors to get! Matcha, Uber, black sesame, banana milk.. the swirls sounded great too - cookies n cream swirled with matcha. Alas, I chose banana milk because it's not a frequent flavor. Topped with Graham cracker and 1/2 a strawberry. Careful when ordering and pay attention to the menu! Obviously, You have to try the fish cone. It is called ahboong. I started ordering a cup and even mentioned the red bean filling, but the cashier didn't correct me or ask for clarification. It was my sister listening to my order who caught that i was not ordering the fish cone which is what i wanted. I recommend adding a filling; choose your favorite like Nutella, but I love the red bean! There is plenty of seating near the location to enjoy your somisomi. read more

Somisomi - Banana milk with fish cone (ahboong) - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Zaide P.

Elite 25

0

15

45

1 year ago

Fish is always warm and crunchy and so good. The ice cream is always so creamy too. I always get Nutella inside my fish. I come here anytime I need an easy dessert read more

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Kimora P.

1

20

28

10 months ago

Taiyaki was so yummy! We had the ube soft serve & the ube cookies and cream. Portion was good size! Line moved pretty fast. Would go back they have a couple locations in the area read more

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Eva G.

214

1233

12107

2 years ago

Yum yum yum!!! Dropped by after lunch with my best friend to pick up some dessert! Everything is delicious here! Need I say more??!!! read more

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Aseel K.

75

181

551

2 years ago

Love coming here and getting their matcha soft serve! Unfortunately they stopped offering samples or atleast the utc location doesn't offer that. But the Taiyaki (waffle fish cones) is so fresh and delicious everytime!!! I would get a strawberry instead of a macaron and avoid the sprinkles they're really hard to eat. The soft serve flavors are so good and creamy. It's not too sweet but just sweet enough! read more

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John S.

0

6

0

3 months ago

Very tasty! But very filling, lots of ice cream... oh, and upside down waffle is much better.

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Chimi M.

2

55

124

11 months ago

I really enjoy their matcha soft serve here it is a bit on the lighter side so if you enjoy more of a bitter strong matcha taste maybe you might not enjoy it but nevertheless it is worth the try, their cookies n cream is good as well it has a slight bit more of a toasty chocolate taste than your usual cookies n cream. The peach is ok instead of it tasting like a peach it tastes almost like those peach ring candy's and can be a bit sweet at times. The one in the phone is their new limited flavor dalgona and matcha I was quite disappointed in this one it had a very faint taste of dalgona to the point of it tasting almost like nothing just plain milk n vanilla ice cream. The reason I give it a three though I do enjoy SomiSomi I believe they are known for the texture rather than the flavors and I personally prefer more pronounced flavors rather than faint ones. read more

Somisomi - Matcha and dalgona - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Paula H.

41

154

586

2 years ago

We were at the mall and wanted a little snack before lunch. Dessert then meal, anyone?! We got the 2 taiyaki combo with flavors red bean and hotteok. I've never tried the hotteok flavor before but it was very good! It's a combo of brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon. It fit my holiday mood! The red bean is just a great classic! Service was good and they were very fast. It was so beautifully decorated inside as well! The Christmas tree has awesome branded ornaments that were so cute. There is seating outside if people want to sit and eat. read more

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Catherine G.

5

81

214

2 years ago

I come to Somi Somi every once in a while to try the different flavors and honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the soft serve flavors here. This time I got the upside down ah boong with ube & matcha swirl and custard filling, topped with graham cracker crumbs and a macaron. Great as always! read more

Somisomi - Ube/Matcha upside down Ah Boong - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Michelle O.

33

241

2180

2 years ago

My family and I really enjoyed this place. The banana milk ice cream was so good and we loved the Nutella taiyaki. We will definitely be back! read more

Somisomi - 3 Nutella and 3 Oreo cookie Taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Banana milk ice cream with a Nutella taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sean H.

38

214

891

3 years ago

The ice cream is so smooth and thick, I love the consistency. Must get the Ube (purple one) - it's nutty without being too sweet. I prefer just the ice cream but getting the fish waffle with a filling is a big enough treat for two! You get a topping - got toasted coconut - which added a nice crunch. The store had no seating inside but there's a big patio and standing area on that side of UTC. Service was super friendly and quick on a Sunday night! read more

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Ryan S.

86

345

1050

2 years ago

Yum. One of our favorite snack places at UTC Got their Matcha/Red Bean swirl upside down with taiyaki. It's really good. You get to choose toppings when you receive it. We got the biscoff. Service is very friend and fast. If you have any questions, they are happy to answer. Order at register then go to the right and wait for your name to be called. There are seats and tables near the ramen place or you can stand at the rail tables in front of store. read more

Somisomi - Inside Christmas decorations - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Matcha/Red bean swirl upside down Taiyaki - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Imee C.

80

359

2624

2 years ago

This was next to Menya Ultra. We stopped by here after ramen. I ordered the banana milk soft serve and my mom the guava flavored one. Banana milk was very good. Not too sweet and perfect on a hot day. My mom's guava did not have much guava taste. The red bean and the custard fish waffles were served piping hot and very good. Service was pretty fast. read more

Somisomi - Banana flavored - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Red bean and custard - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Guava - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Joshua A.

19

157

361

3 years ago

I passed by it and I had to try it. There's so many ways to customize it. I got the taiyaki upside down with Nutella, milk and ube, Oreo crumbs, and a strawberry. Knowing what I know now I would've got more taiyaki just cause I wasn't craving the ice cream. The taiyaki is basically a waffle mold. You are going to enjoy the crunch when you bit into it. There was a line when ordering but these guys were extremely quick, I saw a couple customers being walked through the process because there is so much customization. The employees were very attentive and courteous. You can't really stay inside to eat because there are no seats. Vibe inside was pretty chill though. read more

Somisomi - Milk and Ube, Oreo Crumbs, Strawberry - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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J T.

0

26

18

1 year ago

Fresh taiyaki is the yummiest. Custard is a favorite. I don't recommend the black sesame unless you like a salty filling (I couldn't taste the sesame anymore). Oreo didn't taste like Oreo. Mint Oreo got a head nod from the little one. read more

Somisomi - Menu 3/2025 - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Somisomi - Taiyaki, fresh off the plates - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Julia G.

0

29

82

7 months ago

Nice sweet treat after having lunch or dinner at UTC mall. Great ice cream flavors and awesome filling. There are table near by if you want to sit down, get some sun (or stay in the shade) and enjoy fish-shape desserts. Chill and relaxing. read more

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More info about Somisomi

4577 La Jolla Village Dr
San Diego, CA 92122
University City
Directions
(858) 352-6424
Call Now
Visit Website
https://somisomi.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Somisomi open?

Somisomi opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Somisomi close?

Somisomi closes at 10:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.Somisomi closes at 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday.

Mon-Thu, Sun 11:00 AM - 10:00 PMFri-Sat 11:00 AM - 10:30 PM

Food & Alcohol

Does Somisomi serve alcohol?

Yes, Somisomi serves alcohol.

Indoor Amenities

Does Somisomi allow dogs?

Yes, Somisomi allows dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Somisomi have parking?

Yes, Somisomi has parking options. Garage Parking, Validated Parking

Other Amenities

Does Somisomi have free WiFi?

No, Somisomi does not have free WiFi.

More Info

Health Score

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Friend's House

Jomaru Korean Hot Pot

4.4(405 reviews)

4.5 mi•Kearny Mesa

I've been to Jomaru three times in the last month and honestly it's been my go-to lately. It's…read morepretty much the only place I've been recommending or choosing when I go out. The bossam is sooo good, super tender and flavorful. The cabbage wrap isn't as pickled and is a little on the harder side, but it didn't bother me too much. The banchan are amazing, so fresh, super flavorful, and they keep the refills coming. I could literally be happy just eating those. We tried the gamjatang too and it's good, but definitely come with a group because it's a lot, like at least four people kind of portion and still some leftovers. The seollongtang is also really solid, but my current favorite is the spicy buckwheat noodles. So good. Service has been great every time, everyone is really friendly and attentive. The place is clean, but the only downside is sometimes there's a strong cleaner smell that kind of overpowers the food. And parking in that plaza is so rough but even with that, I still keep coming back.

One of my favorite korean spots! Food and service are consistently good…read more Bossam definitely could be better tho.

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Gam-Ja-Tang

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Gam-Ja-Tang

Choi's

Came here with their revamped fine dining Korean Asian Fusion menu during Happy Hour and this place…read morewas absolutely amazing!!!!! First off, there is free parking available, just circle around the building until you see a garage entrance for retail parking. Two hours for free! Let me first explain the aesthetics of this place. Clean and modern with mid century feel accented with greenery throughout. Please note that they won't seat you until most of your party is present. We came here for Happy Hour which was from 4-6pm from Tuesday to Sunday! This is fantastic that HH includes the weekend!!!! To start, got a wellness shot which had a meld of juices and ginger. A great drink to ready your palate. For cocktails, I tried the Suika Spritz, which was refreshing! The Absolutely Pho-nomenal definitely tasted like cold Pho broth but spiked. It wasn't my favorite drink, but glad I tried it nonetheless. Of course we ordered the $1 oysters, and ordered all three - Baja, Pacific Northwest, & East Coast. It came with some Asian fusion sauces to dress our oysters. My fave was the Baja as these were the freshest! All three were smooth and non briny. On the HH menu we also tried - Bulgogi Birria Vampiro - Tender meat with bulgogi seasoned beef on top of a tostada. Really liked the meld of the two cultures in this dish. Duck Liver Mousse - Comes with rustic bread & crème fraiche. Very duck forward. I liked this because it was rich with flavor. Stone Crab Taco - Loved the nod to Loganisa in this taco! This was by far, my favorite protein dish on the HH menu!!!! Regular Menu - Mango Nasturium Kimchi Salad - I absolutely loved this vibrant and fresh dish!!!! I had to go back for second and thirds! Shishito Peppers with Bonito Flakes - This was definitely a fun and flavorful dish with lots of umami. Dessert - Hotteok and Vanilla Ice Cream - this was my favorite dessert! The pancakes were flaky and delicious!! Bonbunja Tiramisu - Beware! This has a strong coffee taste. It reminded of the strength and flavor profile of a Vietnamese coffee. I can't believe it's not cheesecake - Definitely a mix of a brûlée but with a cheesecake flavor. Confusing but works lol. We met the executive chef, Kyler, who explained and served some of dishes we ordered. The entire staff was so accommodating and even reminded us if we needed our parking validated! Our water never ran empty and our dishes were promptly taken away as we finished. Definitely a place to visit during HH since they offer amazing food and cocktail choices.

My wife and I went here for dinner expecting to eat great food based on all the high reviews and…read morethe upscale price, but we were instead left with disappointment and a big fat check with an unexpected automatic 20% gratuity fee for 2 people. Food: We got several appetizers and 3 entrees. We had the Mango Kimchi Salad, Bulgogi Birria Vampiro, Silkworm Pupa Tacos, Doenjang Risotto, Miso Lingcod, and Braised Short Rib. We got plenty of dishes to try, but unfortunately they were either simply mediocre or had an issue. The Kimchi Salad was too strong in spice and the mangos were unripe and hard. The Birria Vampiro was simply mediocre and sort of bland. Silkworm Pupa Tacos were again sort of bland. The Risotto was undercooked and crunchy instead of 'al dente'. Miso Lingcod had a very fishy taste and not much else. And the Braised Short Rib was too salty. Drinks: I got the Choi's cocktail and my wife got the Gangnam Style espresso martini. Both drinks were very well made and tasted great! Service: Unlike the food, the service was great! From the person who confirmed our reservation, to the staff at the front of the door, and to our server, they were all extremely friendly. We were celebrating an occasion, which we made known when booking and upon sitting down we got a handwritten card with a congratulations note. That was very unexpected and awesome! We also got a couple of complimentary cocktail shots from the bartender while we were there. Overall, I would say the staff and service was extremely good. Parking: The area of San Diego that Choi's is located is unfortunately very bad. Overfilled with homeless, drug addicts, and just plain shady looking people who roam the streets. I was overjoyed when I found out that they give you two hours of complimentary parking in a safe place! So to summarize: The staff that provide great service, the bartender with awesome drinks, and the free parking in a safe place simply do not make up for the main reason we were there: the food. The only reason I gave this place 2 stars instead of 1 was because of all these other factors besides the food. Before paying the bill and leaving, we did let the server know about the issues we found with the food in a very friendly and constructive way. She was thankful for the honesty and the feedback.

Charred Gochujang Octopus

Saewoojang Crudo

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Local Caught Yellowtail Crudo

Dalbam Moon Night

4.6(142 reviews)

4.7 mi•Kearny Mesa

I just keep coming back here and it is so consistent every time. Not just the food, but the…read moreservice. Our server, Honoka, is genuinely one of the sweetest servers I have ever had and she is extremely attentive as well. The vibes are cute with soju caps on the wall and kpop on the speakers. Samgyupsal 4.5/5 Seafood Pajeon 4/5 Corn cheese 5/5 Chadol Yukdaejang 4.5/5

It was ok. Average. Not as many options as other Korean places. We got three sides vs more options…read moreat other places. I got the pork belly and cheese and it was good. Had a lot of cheese. Pork belly was flavorful. It started out crispy but with the sauce and all the cheese didn't stay crispy but like I said the flavor was good. The pork dumplings were ok. Fried and not overly greasy. The other options people liked them but there wasn't much of soondubo options etc etc. Service was good, fast and friendly. Small nice little place.

Inside | tiktok & insta: @trinhiesworld

CHICKEN BULGOGI

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Seafood pancake

SongHak Korean BBQ - San Diego

Locally owned & operated

Amazing flavors!…read more With KBBQ, sometimes you just expect it all to taste the same. At this spot, everything has that authentic, home-cooked flavor. The KBBQ here is a-la-carte. The best deals are when you order the combos. The combos also come with corn cheese, steamed egg, and kimchi stew. (As well as bonchon) Their kimchi is really good. You can tell it's house-made. Had a good spice to it. I highly recommend the japchae dish. It comes out in a *huge* bowl. The noodles are nice and soft, with a good sesame oil flavor. The workers are so kind. They offer to cook the meat for you and they always come back to check on you (but not too much, so you can enjoy your food). 10/10!

Absolutely terrible experience. The beef intestines were extremely bitter and literally had…read moresand/grit inside them. When we complained, the staff refused to admit there was any problem at all. The beef tongue also smelled spoiled and unsafe to eat. To make things even worse, one server sarcastically told me "you are so special," and the manager had an awful attitude and told me not to come back next time. Very unprofessional service, poor food quality, and zero accountability. I would never recommend this place to anyone.

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Large combo

SOT BBQ

Excellent service (they grill for you, expertly), tender cuts (our favorites were the outside…read moreskirt, the garlic marinated beef, and the pork jowl), and tasty banchan (replenished on the house). This meal knocked it out of the park. The cast iron cooking surface is unique; I wish more K-BBQ restaurants in the U.S. would adopt it. It's low-smoke, and the meats cook more evenly/efficiently than they do on a traditional grill. The prime sampler was more than enough meat for two people, but we were gluttons and added a couple of extra à la carte cuts. No regrets! They were all terrific in their own right.

This is better than most bbq chains we've tried. The quality of the food is great and the service…read moreis unmatched. Our server Hanjoo was very knowledgeable and was able to explain the cooking method and provided suggestions for the food. Everything was prepared to our liking. Wagyu Short Rib was amazing, we enjoyed the SOT sampler as well. Highly recommend, beef brisket was good. Nate also assisted us while we were there and he did fantastic. Plenty of banchan provided and they even cook the kimchi and bean sprouts if you prefer it that way. We came on a Friday as soon as they opened and it was clean and quiet. Even after they got busy it wasn't packed and loud which was great. We brought our baby with us and a stroller, there is ample open spots to park and the tables are not as crowded which was great. Plenty of parking available in the plaza. Highly recommend to visit if you are in the area.

Japanese 5A WAGYU

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Manna Heaven BBQ

4.3(4.8k reviews)

4.7 mi•Kearny Mesa

•$$$

For Korean BBQ, Manna BBQ really sets the standard. The bar is high, and after the remodel the…read moreentire place feels refreshed without losing what made it great in the first place. The updated decor looks clean, modern, and welcoming. What always stands out to me is the service. The staff is incredibly attentive and efficient without making it feel forced. Water gets refilled constantly, grills are swapped out before they get too burnt up, and food comes out quickly after ordering. It keeps the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. The quality of the food is also consistently solid. Everything tastes fresh, the marinades are flavorful without being overwhelming, and portions are fair. I also appreciate that they're accommodating with portion requests instead of making it complicated. Even the smaller details stand out here. Their sides are genuinely good, especially the steamed egg and rice paper. You can tell there's a difference in quality compared to a lot of other KBBQ spots. And ending the meal with the ice cream dessert option is just a nice touch that rounds everything out perfectly. Overall, it's just one of those places that consistently delivers a really good experience every time I go.

MANNA HEAVEN BBQ @ CONVOY…read more Parking is available in two different lots since this Korean BBQ spot is right on the edge of the main driving area, you'll have to choose one or the other. I'd recommend parking near Ole BBQ or closer to the UTC area because that lot is much easier to navigate. There's also free street parking, which is a plus. This place doesn't take reservations or allow you to join the waitlist over the phone, so you'll need to go in person to put your name down. They'll text you when your table is ready, so you can walk around while you wait. My party of six waited about 45 minutes, but it honestly went by faster than expected. Once seated, they have a newer system where you order your meats and sides through a tablet, which made things super convenient. The service was solid, staff were friendly, attentive, and quick to clear empty plates. The quality of the meat was really good. I highly recommend the beef belly, and the corn cheese was a standout for me--I had like three plates of it because it was that good. Our group had a great time overall. They also offer free ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, and green tea) for all guests, which was a nice touch. The restaurant itself is clean, including the bathrooms, and the ambiance is great. Just be prepared, you will smell like Korean BBQ afterward. Overall, I'd definitely recommend stopping by!