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    Sushi Gaga

    4.6 (45 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    July 2024
    Vivian T.

    Sushi Gaga is a speakeasy style omakase which I found to be such a fun and unique experience. It is creatively hidden in Asa Bakery. They only take a handful of guests each night which made the dining experience very intimate. I lost count on all the courses they served - not only was it A LOT of food but each item was delicious and of high quality. The service was amazing and the chefs were so fun to chat with and incredibly knowledgeable. The presentation of each dish also enhanced the dining experience. Highly recommend for a fun and delicious experience!

    Jenny Z.

    A beautiful restaurant hidden inside ASA bakery and our favorite cocktail bar, Bar Kamon, Sushi Gaga is definitely a glamorous experience for a special night out. Everything about the experience is aesthetically pleasing, and we overall had a great time there! Just a few things detracted from our experience - one, we found a piece of hair in one of our dishes, and two, several of the bites didn't feel well balanced in their ratio of seasoning, rice, and fish. We had also hoped for a more informative sake pairing experience to learn more about each sake. At its higher price point, we expected more. However, the menu is quite extensive with a few unique pieces (I was extremely full by the end), chefs were very friendly, cocktails amazing, and the ramen broth was very flavorful and well done. The pastry to take home was also a nice touch. We'd consider returning to try another menu in the future.

    random hair, or thread maybe?
    Cuong T.

    Truth be told I was expecting a bit more perfection given the cost, but it was overall a good experience and I'd still evaluate it as deserving to be somewhere within the 200-225 range. Highlights: -The Zensai assortment was quite good - particularly the sashimi and octopus with dashi jelly. -Bisque was incredibly delicious. Ankimo was an excellent addition and the bread was phenomenally delicious - I'd buy dozens of these if I could. -The cured botanebi was quite delicious as well -Servers were very attentive with filling water and tea. -While I have those criticisms below, our chef had good energy and was enthusiastic -Montblanc was hefty and delicious as well. Criticisms: -There was a 2-3 cm piece of shell on the tail left on my tiger shrimp nigiri. I eat the nigiri flipped upside down so there was a sharp pain in the roof of my mouth as I was biting down. Picture of the shell below. My wife had a little shell too but much smaller in size. -Ginger was left unfilled for about 30-45 minutes maybe 60% of the way through nigiri phase. The dish of nigiri was left on the counter too so there's no excuse for it to have not been seen. I knew this was supposed to be refilled too because towards the end of the dinner, Chef Shinnosuke filled it up instead. -Hair/thread left on my wife's plate. - Would've liked the rice portions for nigiri to be about 30-40% bigger to help balance out the flavors of some of the stronger fish. -Wasabi was excessive for the first 3 nigiri pieces. -Mackerel roll was extremely fishy. Unpleasantly so. -Ginkgo nut in the chawanmushi was really bitter Some of these things are whatever if I were in a sub $50/pp sushi establishment but this is 5 times the cost of that. 5/10, would most likely never come again and wouldn't recommend to friends.

    Chef
    Annie C.

    Definitely a splurge but the quality is worth it! Came to celebrate husband's birthday and another time for our pre-wedding family dinner. The chef and servers were wonderful! Perfect for celebrations and special occasions. Loved the traditional/authentic but modern intimate sushi bar setting. Nigiri was perfect (obviously!) but I absolutely loved appetizer and the soup/bread! They also have great seasonal fish and a lot of fish I don't usually see in the US. They have a very good sake selection as well. I recommend for a fancy dinner option!

    Freshly grated wasabi and shoyu
    Ryan M.

    Sushi Gaga has 1 seating at 6:00 limited to 10 seats. It's sort of a speakeasy since its located inside ASA bakery. The entrance is hidden but if you look closely you'll see a sign that's in an area that you wouldn't normally look. First course, appetizers; Hokkaido tako (octopus), blue fin maguro, saba (mackerel) sashimi, and roasted duck with fig and honey tofu. The tako I think was raw or just flash boiled, still very chewy but also soft and tasty. The blue fin tuna was also very tender and soft. The mackerel was charred on one side and came with a tiny fried river crab which you can eat whole. The roasted duck, fig and honey tofu was my favorite of the appetizers, as the fig was perfectly ripe and very soft and sweet and the honey tofu was very silky, if you didn't tell me it was tofu, I'd probably say it was mascarpone cheese. The sakura smoked shima aji (striped jack) came marinated in a roasted sesame shoyu. It came presented with the smoke contained within a wine glass. This was my favorite item of the evening. The roasted sesame added a nutty flavor and also a slight oiliness which balanced out the shoyu. I think they should put this sauce on the Wagyu sushi. Next was a lobster with a oyster confit. Id best describe this as a upscale seafood chowder. It came with a piece of bread from the made in house ASA bakery, it was so good and perfect to soak up all the soup and eat as a soaked crouton. Nigiri was served in 3 separate courses. The first round was my favorite. Nodoguro (black throat sea perch) was served in hand with nori, I had not been served nodoguro this way before. Hokkaido hotatte (scallop) was konbu marinated and was very tender. The Kanpachi (amber jack) with foie gras was also very tender and the foie gras added a very light texture and flavor. I think I'd prefer just the foie gras alone as sushi as I think the kanpachi distracted from it. The braised abalone was very good, I think braised in butter because it was tender and had a good flavor. Usually when I get abalone its tough maybe also because its raw. It still had some bite to it like a good al dente pasta, so it wasn't totally soft, but as far as abalone, it was tender still kept its texture. It came topped with a sauce made from foiegras, abalone innards and egg yolk which gave it a nice taste and smooth texture! The second round of nigiri; Shima aji (striped jack), Kinmedai (golden eye snapper), Mirugai (geoduck clam). Shima aji came topped with shoyu, the kinmedai skin was torched as usual. I had not been served mirugai this way before, normally its sliced thin horizontally. This was cut vertically with vertical score marks, this gave it more crunch, it was still sweet, soft and tender but had more meatier texture and flavor. The Chawanmushi was topped with uni ankake there was a clam and maybe abalone inside which was nice. The egg custard was very light and jiggly. Third round of sushi; Konbu cured red snapper topped with sturgeon caviar, torched A5 wagyu with black truffle and lava salt. The wagyu was very tender and soft and the lava salt added a much needed yet subtle salt component to it. The gaga roll was tuna and green onions rolled inside, sliced and ikura and uni placed on top. Very decadent and more of the new school type of sushi. They asked if anyone wanted to order any more sushi ala cart, they could choose from any thing they were served to anago (sea eel) which was roasted on site. Then a small bowl of ramen was served made with seafood broth yuzu and green onions with a roasted piece of tai (sea bream) The noodles were thin but perfectly al dente and the broth flavorful and you could taste the yuzu which gave it the perfect amount of brightness and cut thru the fat. For dessert, the made in house Hokkaido milk soft serve. It was DELICIOUS! im gonna have to come back to ASA bakery to get more! it came with a thin cracker embossed with the name sushi gaga on it. The last course was green tea, it was the perfect end to the meal, it was very smooth and not bitter. Service was spot on from start to finish, all the food was fresh and delicious. When we left, there were gift bags with our names on it, which had a melon pan from ASA bakery. It was a bit pricy but you do get a bunch of high end items, abalone, lobster, nodoguro, kinmedai, wagyu and has some of the new school sushi items like foie gras, caviar and truffle. Notes: Reservations can be made on Tock, $100 per person to reserve a spot. This is deducted from your bill when you dine there, but be sure to tip on the entire amount. Sushi gaga is located inside ASA bakery and only holds 10 people per night, everyone is served the same omakase menu. You may order more ala cart if you wish before dessert. Sushi Gaga has their own bathroom inside, it has a sophisticated toto toilet with a bidet and heated seat. I took a pic and added instructions.

    Egg custard
    Cat Zaimi, M A.

    Phenomenal 18 course omakase secretly located behind an amazing Japanese bakery. Our chef Shin was the absolute best! So friendly & nice to talk to, and most importantly sushi master. I loved all the sashimi, sushi, gluten free ramen, & dessert It was very nice that they had gluten free soy sauce & ramen. The set up is straight out of Japan! So clean & simple. Don't miss out on the craft cocktails & wines either. Must must must try in San Diego!

    Kuruma Ebi - Spring seasonal Japanese Tiger Prawn
    Wing L.

    I've been hearing about a secret sushi omakase place hidden behind a Japanese bakery in Easy Village for quite some time, and finally, I got a chance to visit for the first time for a friend's birthday dinner. I was a little bit skeptical at first since it was on the pricier side compared to other San Diego omakase spots, but I was absolutely blown away by the whole experience, from the impeccable décor, attentive services, to the exquisite menu offering. Sushi Gaga is definitely worth a visit for any special occasion. I think Sushi Gaga really stands out on: 1. The fish selection follows closely to the seasonality of Japan. I was indulging in a spring omakase menu in Japan in April, and less than a one month later, I have the same high-quality seasonal sushi like Japanese Tiger Prawn, Bigfin Reef Squid, Halfbeak Sayori and Young Sea Bream right here in San Diego. These items may not be hard to find in high-end sushi restaurants in bigger cities, but they are definitely rare find in San Diego. 2. The Sake pairing is truly exceptional. Even in Michelin-starred sushi restaurants in Japan and in the U.S., you would be lucky if they could explain their sake menu in a few sentences. The sommeliers at Sushi Gaga are incredibly knowledgeable. Instead of recommending common brands sake among omakase restaurants in California, the sake pairing guides you through different regions of Japan and showcases their distinctive style throughout the courses. They also carry some incredibly rare luxury sake brands that I only hope that I can afford for a taste one day. 3. One seating per night, so the dinner is LONG! But you do get to fully relax with your group in this intimate space and even make new friends at the sushi counter. Come hungry and come with a rideshare! It is an 18-course dinner with good portions. The same goes for the sake pour, and you will have 7 glasses to drink. After almost 3 hours of incredible feast, I finished my meal with a Hibiki Old Fashioned and creamy Hokkaido Soft Serve. What a great way to end the night!

    Shirley O.

    It's still solid. They significantly expanded their drink menu and it's impressive. The sake pairing was popular, but I opted for a beer and The Stache from Bar Kamon. They are now open six days a week and seem to be doing well. It was a full house this evening. The warm toilet seat in the bathroom was an added bonus.

    Thank you Chef
    Royce T.

    San Diego has a lot of work to do to catch up with the world's food scene. Sushi Gaga puts San Diego on that roadmap. The restaurant's decor is set in a classical Japanese setting, but from the speakeasy like entrance to the beautiful display of rocks behind the sushi bar, the restaurant passes the eye test from the interior. The vibe is intimate, yet relaxed. The drinks and conversations will flow with the rest of the crowd, for those who desire. The chefs, mainly concentrating on the food seeking perfection, are true professionals at their craft. The course menu at GAGA delivered big time. From the start to the finish, the items hit home visually and the palettes fulfilled. The daring combinations of classical dishes and untraditional add ons. Risks taken, textures and flavors fully delivered. Thank you team Gaga, will be back very soon.

    Johnny N.

    My second visit to Sushi Gaga and the winter menu and experience beat out the first time which was amazing to begin with. Loved the snow crab, abalone and Uni! The Uni bisque was mouth watering and they should seriously consider making that a mainstay signature dish to be experienced and admired by all who dine at this fine establishment! Service was great and the intimate bar experience was wonderful!

    Jon M.

    Secretly Tucked away inside the ASA Bakery, SUSHI GAGA quietly awaits ten patrons per night. Clean and chic interior, accompanied with traditional decor. Very intimate yet inviting. Service. Phenomenal. Very hands on. The sushi chefs extremely professional and authentic. Food. Impeccable. One of the best omakase dinners I've ever experienced. 18 courses. Each well thought out and well executed. Absolutely amazing. Would definitely return to this gem speakeasy omakase. Sushi connoisseurs need to run here. Thank me later.

    Sign outside the entrance
    Emmett T.

    I promised to return for a meal at Sushi Gaga located in a private room behind the new ASA Bakery in the East Village section of downtown. The business debuted on the 15th of this month and will conclude its soft opening by the 30th. The full grand opening will commence on the first of October which will include an increase in the dinner menu price. Reservations can be made on Tock, but openings may be difficult to find. Unlike other omakase-only eateries, Sushi Gaga has just one seating per night at the bar which holds ten diners. The owners of the three-in-one food and drink concept (bakery, speakeasy, sushi bar) were from nearby BeShock Ramen which is located one block west on Market St. The inspiration behind naming Sushi Gaga was two-fold. Not only was there a devotion to Lady Gaga, the American singer/actress, but the Japanese character for Gaga bears a resemblance to the name of one of the co-owners. Before we entered, a staff member approached us outside the entrance, marked off our reservation, and then provided a complimentary flute of fresh orange juice. The two chefs for the evening greeted all the customers upon entry and then we were instructed to sit at assigned seats around the bar. Individual menu cards with the party name listed at the top were provided at each setting. I appreciated the personal touch along with the description of the courses because it allowed me to ask more informed questions to the chef during the meal. The Kappo-style menu featured an 18-course progression that lasted about two-and-a-half hours. Each course was paired with a recommended alcoholic beverage. Of note, one of the co-owners is a sake sommelier which is rare in the States. Here was the sequence... * Sakizuke - Pacific Octopus, Bluefin Tuna, Japanese Mackerel (Saba) sashimi, Roasted Duck with fig honey tofu * Sashimi - Cherry blossom (Sakura) smoked Trevally Jack (Shima Aji) with roasted sesame shoyu * Oyster & Lobster Confit - Pacific Oyster, Maine Lobster, dashi broth, daikon radish, oyster leaf, kinome leaves, chives, and a piece of bread from the bakery * Nigiri (part one) - Black Throat Perch (Nodoguro), Hokkaido Scallop (Hotate), Bluefin Tuna Zuke, Amberjack (Kanpachi) Foie Gras (Duck Liver) Yuzukosho * Braised Abalone - Abalone from Chile, liver pate, kinome leaf * Nigiri (part two) - Trevally Jack (Shima Aji), Golden Eye Snapper (Kinmedai), Geoduck (Mirugai) * Chawanmushi - Seasonal savory egg custard with ankake (savory dashi sauce) * Nigiri (part three) - Konbu cured Red Snapper (Madai) with caviar, A5 Wagyu with black truffle shavings, Gaga Roll [chopped Bluefin Tuna Belly with green onions topped with Salmon Roe (Ikura) and Hokkaido Sea Urchin (Uni)] * Gyokai Ramen - Thin noodles in a fish broth, grilled Sea Bream (Tai) chashu, and yuzu * Dessert - Hokkaido milk soft serve topped with gold leaves and served with a Sushi Gaga embossed rice cracker split into two halves * Green Tea - Whole tea leaves (Sencha) processed in hot water These were some highlights from the ten pieces of nigiri and eight courses... - The fig honey tofu was a cream that didn't look like traditional tofu. It could have passed for a silky sweet cheese. - My favorite was the Oyster & Lobster Confit. This was an elevated chowder with one large oyster and two pieces of lobster. The bread functioned as a sponge to sop up the remaining liquid in the bowl. - I had never tried duck liver on sushi before. The same liver was used with the abalone which I thought was a better pairing than the amberjack. - The piece of wagyu topped with shaved black truffle must have accounted for at least 20% of the cost of the entire meal. It was next level decadent. - The ramen broth was light while the chashu preparation of the fish was a new experience. - The ice cream was rich and very smooth. You can purchase it a la carte from the bakery which was worth returning for. If time allows, the chefs will ask if anyone would like to order a la carte sushi. The offering on that particular night was Saltwater Eel (Anago). More than half of the room elected to try the roasted eel, but we passed. As we left the room, there was a surprise waiting for everyone on a countertop at the bakery. A gift bag addressed to each diner contained a complimentary piece of Japanese Melon Pan. It's a sweet bread shaped like a melon, hence the name. Hokkaido flour was used to create a soft interior with a crunchy sweet crust. This place will likely inherit the crown of the most expensive omakase in San Diego. The cost was justified because of the contemporary high-end ingredients used in multiple courses. Between the abalone, black truffle, caviar, foie gras, lobster, uni, and wagyu, these were top quality items that redefine an upscale sushi experience. If you enjoy sake, then it's another layer of extravagance that can be added to a five-star dinner at Sushi Gaga.

    Omakase course - uni, fish roe and tuna
    Dinh L.

    Everything is absolute perfection here! It is so worth the experience and the quality of all the ingredients and dishes The ambiance was just lovely and the service was amazing! They were so attentive and considerate! The chefs were super friendly and did a great job of preparing each dish in front of us.

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    Omakase is great but the waitress left her number in our to go bag for my date. That much money and unprofessional service :(

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Sushi Gaga

    Is this omakase adults only? Can I bring a year old child? Thanks

    This is a tiny, intimate restaurant with only 10 seats inside. The omakase experience is prepaid and pre-set. The space is intended for thoughtful and quiet dining, out of respect for the other patrons please do not bring your child to this… Read more

    How much is it per person?

    May 2025. $250 per person with $150 due during reservation time which is credited towards the meal. 20% service fee is automatically applied

    With this many courses how long should we expect the experience to be (we kinda tap out after 2 hours)?

    Our omakase dining experience typically spans between 2.5 to 3 hours.

    Do you simply walk through asa bakery when it comes to the reservation time?

    Our host will welcome you and assist with check-in upon your arrival at Asa Bakery at the reserved time.

    What is the parking situation like? Is there a close by lot or is it only street parking?

    Hi! We took a rideshare but when we got there it looked like it was only street parking.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Baked Scallop Roll - @rayz

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    4.3(2.6k reviews)
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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!

    Photos
    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Inside

    Inside

    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Yellowtail, Salmon, Ikura

    Yellowtail, Salmon, Ikura

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

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    Get on the waitlist using the QR code

    Chef JUN - Bay Ho

    Chef JUN - Bay Ho

    4.6(683 reviews)
    8.0 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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    Chef JUN - Bay Ho
    Chef JUN - Bay Ho - Spicy tuna

    Spicy tuna

    Chef JUN - Bay Ho - Spicy tuna

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    Spicy tuna

    Sushi MARU - Iwashi

    Sushi MARU

    4.9(79 reviews)
    0.7 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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    Sushi MARU - San Diego Uni!! So sweet!

    San Diego Uni!! So sweet!

    Sushi MARU - Kobujime Tai

    Kobujime Tai

    Sushi MARU - Kasugo-dai

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    Kasugo-dai

    Soichi Sushi - Nigiri

    Soichi Sushi

    4.8(545 reviews)
    3.5 miUniversity Heights
    $$$$

    Finally was able to secure a reservation here. I've tried many omakases, and Soichi was always…read morementioned. Made the reservatiin online at the beginning of March for an omakase seating in April to celebrate husband's bday. They had a 5:15pm seating on a weekday at the sushi counter. Other options are the table and outside patio, however, for omakase, I always prefer the counter/bar. Unlike other omakase restaurants, Soichi offers their full vs petite vs nigiri only omakases at variable times (not limited to 2 seating times like others). You can also enjoy any of these omakases or order a la carte or both at the tables and outside patio also. The ambiance is bright and full of energy. Can get a bit loud with people talking, but didn't bother me. Parking is street parking. No designated lot. We found one a little down the street and walked over, which worked out. There is a park down the street and street parking around it. I recommend arriving earlier to find parking though, just in case. Restaurant is small inside, but clean and cozy. We arrived 15min early, and they seated us. The staff were all friendly. They all spoke Japanese to each other, which also felt more authentic. Our omakase chef was Daniel today. He was very nice, friendly, professional, and skilled. When we had questions, he answered them promptly and kindly. He also checked in with us to ensure the ratio of rice and sashimi was OK for us (of course it was). They served on unique plates too. Everything tasted so fresh and smooth. Some items were also unique compared to other omakase restaurants. The chawanmushj was also piping hot when served, so it also tasted fresh. They have barley tea here too and not just green tea. They offer a la carte at the end of the omakase course if we like, but I was too full. My husband ordered a tuna maki roll, which he thought tasted great. The dessert was also yum! Hojicha ice cream was very tasty! I recommend! They sang the happy bday song for the bday folks, where the senior chef (perhaps the owner?) played the ukelele/guitar and sang happy bday with the rest of us guests. Thought that was really neat. I recommend Soichi! Shout out to Chef Daniel!

    Definitely 5 stars if compared to all restaurants, but 4 stars if compared to other omakase…read more Came at one of the first seating (4:30pm) on a Saturday for the full omakase. The service and partnership between the sushi chef and the wait staff was fantastic and every interaction was well thought out. The appetizer wasn't my cup of tea, but the sashimi, nigiri, grilled fish, chawanmushi were really good. The assortment of fish (at least for this season) wasn't my favorite (featuring sardines, mackerel, etc.) when I would have loved some yellowtail and salmon belly. We ordered a negitoro cut roll a la carte because we were still a little hungry - this was super tasty as the quality of the tuna/toro is top notch. For dessert, they had 4 flavors of homemade ice cream to pick from. The sesame was incredible and the roasted green tea really good too. I feel like most of the omakase I've been to have 2-3 seating for dinner, so all the customers for that time arrive at the same time and everyone is at the same point of the omakase. At Soichi, it seems like each party has their reservation at a different time (4:30, 4:45, 5:00, etc.) so each group is at a different part of their meal, not to mention some parties that ordered a la carte or a different omakase menu (sushi only option, etc.) As a result, the chef is bouncing around working on a bunch of different items, and we had to wait quite a bit for each of our nigiri courses. The whole meal took 2.5 hours. We also felt less of that group vibe with other parties that is common in other omakases. Overall, we still had a really lovely time and glad we got to try it!,

    Photos
    Soichi Sushi - Beautiful flowers for Valentines!!

    Beautiful flowers for Valentines!!

    Soichi Sushi - Fried shrimp head. Whole thing is edible!

    Fried shrimp head. Whole thing is edible!

    Soichi Sushi - Appetizer

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    Appetizer

    Ichifuji

    Ichifuji

    4.9(202 reviews)
    6.2 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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    Ichifuji
    Ichifuji - Toro handroll

    Toro handroll

    Ichifuji - Chawanmushi

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    Chawanmushi

    Hakumaru - Halibut Carpaccio

    Hakumaru

    4.6(270 reviews)
    21.1 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)
    0.5 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.

    Photos
    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

    Sushi Gaga - japanese - Updated May 2026

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