My daughter and I came here for dinner on the eve of Mother's Day and were very impressed with the quality of the sushi here. See, this is one reason why I like to explore new restaurants all the time. Had we not ventured out to new sushi restaurants, we would've never come across this one, and that would've been a real shame. For our visit, we ordered the following: - Hamachi/Salmon Jalapeno Plate - Salmon Belly Sashimi x2 - Hot Kiss Roll - Lemon Roll We absolutely loved everything, but what really stood out were the thick cuts of salmon belly sashimi. This alone was enough to make this our new go-to sushi spot! Service was nice and quick, ambiance was inviting. Great parking. Amazing sushi! We'll be back soon!! read more

See all

Ambiance..cute place Service..good..friendly Food..amazing I had the chicken bento box with tempura..rice..so fresh ans good flavour..comes with miso soup. read more

Sushi Gato - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We have been coming to Sushi Gato since they opened and have referred many family and friends here. Regrettably the past few visits have been very disappointing, not because of the food but more so from a service standpoint. We often visit with a bunch of toddler aged kids and unfortunately one or two don't eat sushi. So for them we may pick up some Chick-fil-A or McDonald's so the rest of us could enjoy some sushi in peace. Recently, we were kindly told that outside food was not allowed inside the restaurant, which I understand. On that occasion I simply sat outside on the waiting bench until my son finished his food before we went back in. We returned again just yesterday, and being aware of this policy I made sure the kids sat outside and finished their outside food before coming inside. We were told by the same lady again that this is not allowed, given the outside space is part of their restaurant, and that this would be the last time they would accommodate. Mind you there was not a single other person sitting outside the whole time we were there. We respect their policies and do not wish to infringe upon them. As a result this may just prevent us for dining here with the family in the future. Our tab yesterday was $284 with 18% gratuity automatically included. We spend on average $200-$300 per visit, sometimes more. As a business decision, if you wish to lose this recurring contribution to your restaurant because of a lack of flexibility then I don't deem it a smart choice on your part. Ironically, what initially made us visit Gato Sushi was faltering service at Boto Sushi nearby, which is where we would previously eat at and never returned to. Recently, we tried a new sushi spot called Hakumaru in 4S Ranch which has been excellent in quality and service. It might be time to move Sushi Gato down on our preferred list. read more

See all

Nice and beautiful Japanese restaurant. It has a sushi bar and a large dinning area. We came on a Saturday for lunch, but they don't have lunch menu. We ordered two of their bento boxes. They are okay. I was hoping for some California rolls in the bento, but they have the entree, salad, and some tempura. It's overall okay for the price. The miso black cod was quite salty and hard to taste the miso flavor. The pork cutlet was very dry. Tempura was good, but nothing too special. For the bento boxes, we think it's 3 star. They may have good sushi rolls, but we didn't order it. If we come back, I would recommend sushi and not their bento box. read more

See all

Came here on a Friday night. They served us completely raw chicken and did not offer any compensation. read more

Sushi Gato - Chicken Karaage - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Although there is very stiff competition in the county, Sushi Gato is my favorite Sushi location in the area. The dishes are always delicious with fresh ingredients and beautiful presentation. The prices are reasonable and the service is first class. Today we had a light lunch with Seaweed Salad, Chicken Karaage, Salmon Roll, and Garlic Albacore roll!! Wow!!! Perfect! read more

Sushi Gato - Garlic Albacore roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Sushi Gato is one of many sushi spots in the area, glad we chose this spot. We started with the mixed tempura, which was light and crispy; perfect for sharing since the portion isn't as large as at other locations. For sushi rolls, the Lemon Roll with extra lemon on the side was very fresh. The citrus really elevated the fish and gave it a clean, refreshing flavor. The Philadelphia Roll was classic with high quality cream cheese (you can tell the difference) and well balanced, and the Crazy Dragon Roll was fresh and crunchy with cucumber. Service was friendly and consistent, the food came out quickly, and everything tasted fresh and well prepared. Definitely a sushi spot we'll come back to when craving quality sushi. Highly recommend! read more

Sushi Gato - Mixed Tempura (Shrimp & Vegetables) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Good sushi. Fresh. The cucumber salad isn't really a salad. It looks more like a caterpillar. Our order took longer than expected and they gave us free Edamame. I had the lemon roll. The green tea cheesecake is still on the menu but they don't have it anymore. I was seated by a double door that two people passed thru while I was dining....was disruptive. We had several servers which was confusing. Will go back simply because the food was good. read more

Sushi Gato - Lemon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Purrfect night at @sushigato.sd Nigiri Paradise--toro, tuna, yellowtail, salmon, kanpachi, scallop, albacore, shrimp, white fish, and madai--plus tempura, karaage, lemon roll, yuzu cucumbers, and green tea ice cream. I'm soy obsessed. read more

See all

We ordered the agedashi tofu, tuna handtoll, truffle yellowtail handroll, miso black cod bento, and tempura udon. Overall everything was presented beautifully and restaurant is a solid option for lunch. Tuna handroll- thick slice of fresh fish, warm sushi rice. Tempura udon- a reliable dish taken up a notch. There are small bits of japanese vegetables such as chrysanthemum greens and mushroom, which I appreciate. Battered shrimp and vegetables are good, though personally, I prefer an even lighter batter. Miso black cod bento- this was a unique option that I haven't seen in many other japanese restaurants Agedashi tofu- somehow arrived at the table last? They did separate the ponzu from the tofu to keep it nice a crispy for those who like it that way. For me, I prefer bigger tofu pieces and allowing the ponzu to soak and soften it. Truffle yellowtail roll- truffle was not too overpowering. One thing that was unexpected is that the yellowtail is chopped up and not in slices. As a texture eater, I would have enjoyed it more if the fish was in slices. Service- wait staff was very nice and attentive Atmosphere- spacious and modern. Love the cat decor. Quiet atmosphere. The other table ordered some intriguing rice-less sushi rolls. Looks pretty, will definitely come back to try different things. read more

See all

We make sure to visit every time in San Diego. The nigiri is incredibly fresh and delicious, and the reasonable prices always leave me satisfied. They even have a kids' menu, which is great. I've recommended this place to several friends, and everyone loved it! All staffs are friendly and polite. And The place is always busy and has a great energy. read more

See all

My friends and I tried this restaurant before we went to the movies! There is plenty of free parking in the lot. We were seated right away. The food was pretty decent, but very expensive for the quality. Service was great though! Likely wouldn't come back as there is better quality sushi for a better price. House salad: (1/5) The dressing was horrible. We couldn't even take more than one bite. French fries: (5/5) Surprisingly these were delicious! They gave complimentary fries on New Year's Day! It was very generous. Garlic edamame: (5/5) Delicious! They were cooked perfectly and the sauce was yummy. Salmon belly sashimi: (4/5) Pretty good, tasted fresh and you get good sized piece. Salmon hand roll: (4/5) Simple, but good. Again, good amount of salmon in the roll. Chopped toro? (2/5) I don't remember the name, but the consistency threw me off. I wouldn't order that again. Marinated blue fin nigiri: (4/5) This was tasty, but pricey for one piece. Pink roll: (3/5) It has salmon and tuna which we all love, but the sauce on the roll really ruined the flavor. Wouldn't order again. Philadelphia roll: (3/5) Again, the sauce on top ruins the flavor of what should be a simple roll. read more

See all

I've came here a couple of times. Really fresh fish however I think their menu is a bit overpriced. The seating is great and they have outdoor seating as well. I believe it is pet friendly in the patio. It's not my favorite sushi restaurant in the area due to the price but it's a nice cute space for a date night. read more

What can I say? After living in Japan over 5 years Sushi Gato comes extremely close to authentic Japanese food. Everything we had was delicious. The only problem would be parking in that mall. It's not the restaurants fault and it was crazy two days before Thanksgiving. I have detailed Everything in my pictures, but I will talk about the highlights. The truffle and garlic edamame was unique and a different take on the way other restaurants serve it. We ate that appetizer in record time! I loved the uni and wished there were two pieces as it was just amazing. They had a wild aji which I tried and it was the best I have ever eaten. I had watched a woman have the whole aji fish as sushi and then they fry the bones. I wanted to try that, but the waitress misunderstood what we wanted. I have eaten aji this way in Japan years ago and love it this way. Next time. It was very expensive, but the quality was worth the price. I can see us going back on special occasions. I would suggest calling ahead and reserving a table. read more

See all

Food is fresh and full of flavors. Their miso black cod was flaky and tastes so good, it's my absolute favorite. Service was amazing and wait time is less. Ambience is also vibrant. I would highly recommend trying out food here. read more

See all

Close your eyes and let your taste buds transport you to Japan! Hidden in a very unassuming strip mall, is this amazing sushi spot! Ordered a mix of sushi and nigiri. I highly recommend the nigiri! Although, the sushi roll was also absolutely fantastic! All recommendations of my server on what was fresh and tasty based on my preferences: Madi (sea bream) - probably one of the best pieces of nigri I have ever eaten Kinme dai (golden eye snapper) - just wow Zuke (marinated bluefin tuna) - so smooth and a smooth flavor Sushi rolls: Gato special - shrimp tempura, spicy tuna topped with perfectly seared wagu steak. A little bit American for my taste, but it was absolutely delicious! I prefer a more traditional roll. Highly recommend a stop! Great service, cute inside decor, very clean. You will definitely not be disappointed. read more

See all

Not your typical "suburb" sushi! Even though Sushi Gato had only opened its door a bit over a year, the chef & team here had operated Japanese/Sushi restaurant for more than 25 years. I came here for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by Chef Kenny's omakase. Its not cheap here, but good fish/seafood, directly flown in from Japan, arent cheap neither. I was served Akimo (Monkfish liver), Uni, Hotate (Scallops), Shikoku Oyster, Aji, Shima Aji, Nodoguro (Sea Perch), Chu-Toro and other specials that were mostly from Japan; in Nigiri form that is crafted and seasoned(sauced) to perfection by Chef Kenny. They do have rolls and other items if you werent going to reach for the top or you are just bringing sushi newbies or kids for a causal meal. read more

See all

We had a big group for Happy Hour and service was great. We had two waiters taking care of our group of 12. Food was pretty good too. The sushi was fresh and the presentations were very pretty. We took advantage of their happy hour to try the seaweed salad, social tuna roll, katsu roll, takoyaki, shrimp tempura rolls, and vegetable yakisoba too (large portion). read more

See all

ARI.GATO (3.8 stars) - FOOD: good - PRICE: fair - SERVICE: too attentive but appreciated - AMBIANCE: cute Sometimes one just wants a simple meal like a Bento Box that gives you a little bit of everything. Easy parking, it's in a plaza. No wait, people come and go and there's ample seating. Lots on the menu but I was looking forward to a bento box. :: FOOD :: CHICKEN TERIYAKI BENTO BOX ($16.95) - rice, chicken, salad with Asian dressing, two California rolls, tempura vegetables, and a miso soup. A little bit of everything and all was average but delicious. I liked the teriyaki here, simple but satisfying. About average but executed well. Chicken not too chewy, not too saucy, not too little nor not too much. HIGHLY RECOMMEND SAKE NIGII ($4) - can't go wrong with sake! It was good and creamy But not the freshest I've ever had. Nicely pressed and didn't taste any rice wine vinegar in the sushi rice, nor was the rice gritty - perfect texture, nor did I have a spike of wasabi taste in the middle of my nigiri (I hate when it's strong). Still good. HIGHKY RECOMMEND HAMACHI NIGIRI ($4) - went for the basic and the basic did its job! Not the freshest I've had but fresh enough. RECOMMEND :: SERVICE :: It was good service and very attentive. Okay, maybe a little too attentive. The young man bowed his head towards me upon arrival and I respect that. I'm not Japanese but I'm accepting of the gesture. But I felt any little movement I was in the corner of his eyes eager to ask if I need anything. If I looked up after a few bites or moved my napkin or put my drink down - it's a matter of time before he rushes by to ask me how's everything. I do appreciate the service but chill - if the table needs anything a gesture will be thrown. Will be back to try more times off their menu. Until next review.... read more

See all

Came here on a Friday afternoon for their happy hour around 4:30 PM. We were seated right away, and staff were friendly. On the happy hour menu, we ordered three cut rolls (spicy salmon, spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail). They were roughly 8 dollars per roll (8 pieces each). And also ordered a draft Sapporo beer. On their standard menu, we ordered four types of Nigiri - hotate (scallop), salmon belly, yellowtail belly and halibut. As an appetizer, we had shisito peppers. The cut rolls came out quickly, but unfortunately, they were underwhelming. Immediately you can taste and see that the fish wasn't fresh - it had a fishy taste to it, and it was discolored. There was also no structure to the rolls and they fell apart as soon as we picked it up. The Nigiri was better but the scallop lacked natural, sweetness, and the salmon belly wasn't very buttery in flavor. Unfortunately, the rice was also not flavored (no vinegar). I will say the nigiri fish pieces were generous in size. The best thing we had were the Shishito peppers - big pieces, perfectly blistered and came with a salt seasoning. While staff were plenty, it was hard to flag down a server to get our check and no one came to fill our waters during our meal. Overall, I'm happy we tried this place, but the price vs quality wasn't worth it and I won't be coming back. read more

See all

The original sushi spot we were trying to go to was closed so we decided to come here since it is next to Angelika Theater. Service was super friendly & dishes came out quick. They gave us complimentary fries which was definitely new for us at a sushi restaurant, but we were here for it. The rolls are very expensive & unfortunately not good. The server asked us if we wanted a to go box since we had several pieces of several rolls leftover but we just could not. The fish did not taste fresh! My girlfriend got their Ginger Salad & it had a funky, sour taste. I will say that the Spicy Garlic Edamame was to die for & that sauce was so tasty! read more

Sushi Gato is just holy flippin' amaaaazing. Like you wouldn't have thought it would blow your mind amazing. Just noticed the brand new addition to the neighborhood and thought I'd try the hot new sushi place. Best decision ever. Got a nigiri 10 pc platter and everything was sooo fresh. Melted in my mouth and I quite literally savored every bite. The free miso soup that came with was also good too. It's strange because normally free miso soups are sub-par at most, but a miso soup that was actually good? Dang. Also got the chicken karaage and it was super juicy. The interior was super cute and they had a cute cat theme it seems like. Owners and the service were really lovely. If you're looking to be surprised and for a good meal, come here for sure! read more

See all

Sushi Gato was pretty good overall. There weren't a lot of sushi roll options, and they don't allow substitutions, which was a little disappointing. I ended up ordering a spicy tuna hand roll and took it apart to add to the shrimp tempura crunch roll to make the combo I actually wanted. That said, I really enjoyed the atmosphere--loved all the cat pictures and paintings! The service was also pretty good. Not a bad spot if you're flexible with the menu. read more

Sushi Gato - Crunch roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Excellent sushi restaurant, the food tasted great and fresh. It is also conveniently located right off the freeway. The service was above and beyond. The inside is nice and very clean. This is definitely a go to if you are from the area and worth even making the trip to here. We will be returning to this very good restaurant! read more

See all

They have a nice menu...I went with my son and his wife...when we were seated, several people that work there, came over to great us....and welcome us back, since we haven't been there in a while. We ordered several items from the menu, that we have liked in the past...and enjoyed everything we ordered...they even gave my son and his wife aa ice-cream treat for their anniversary... read more

We had an amazing dinner here. I had the chicken yakisoba which was delicious. My kids had the chicken teriyaki meal and loved it. The staff were amazing. The place was filled with amazing decorations. We definitely recommend coming here! read more

Sushi Gato - Wall decoration - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This was one of those "oh look, have not tried this place, let's stop in" sort of things that has quickly turned into my favorite sushi place! There is a bit of a crowd at dinner time, but we have not had to wait an exceptionally long time as of yet. The owner and the rest of the staff here are highly friendly, quick with suggestions and always seem happy to see you. The restaurant is very clean with both indoor (Tables + Sushi Bar) and outdoor seating. The fish is amazingly fresh, and each piece is crafted with care to perfection. The Hamachi Kama is delicious, I also highly recommend the Soft Shell Crab appetizer as well as the Crispy Yellowtail Ceviche. (I will also have to toss in a mention that the Sesame Chicken is fantastic, I never would have tried chicken at a sushi restaurant, but my wife ordered it, and I tasted a bite and 100% would order again). I highly recommend Sushi Gato! read more

Sushi Gato - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Let me start out by saying the food was amazing. We enjoyed spicy edamame then 3 rolls the lemon, spicy tuna and hot kiss rolls. It's been awhile since we've been here but there was a reason and now we remember why. My husband ordered a Japanese draft beer for $11.95 that was supposed to be 12oz. At best with all the foam it was 9oz. When we questioned it we were told that's how that beer needs to be served. He then got an IPA and although less foam it wasn't a fill pour. Also something must've happened to our order bc our 3 rolls came out very late and after the 2 tables food that were seated and ordered next to us. Yes we did get an appetizer to compensate but we felt they could've done better. I will say this place was way busier than when we dined a year ago. I hope they can stay on top of the orders and customer service read more

Found a new restaurant offering a great Happy Hour. We came here a couple of days ago and ordered a couple of rolls as well as a couple of appetizers. Started off with the chicken karaage, which tasted good. They were more like chicken "nuggets", not strips or tenders like most places have. We liked them and would order them again. The two rolls we ordered were the Shrimp Tempura Roll and the Spicy Tuna Roll. Both were good, but we enjoyed the Spicy Tuna Roll a little more. The last item we ordered was Tempura Whitefish. We did not enjoy this one as much and probably wouldn't order again. It came in a sweet and sour type of sauce, which added some flavor. Highlight of the visit was as the service. Everyone was really nice and provided great and attentive customer service. We will return. read more

See all

Amazing seafood/sushi quality in North County San Diego! They serve fresh seafood and absolutely loved each item we ordered and was delicious with every bite. Michelle the owner was a gem and made sure we were taken care of as well and made us feel welcomed with open arms. As for food the Gato special roll is a must try that has wagyu on top! Also their gato nigiri sashimi was top notch and also had uni. Will be back when in the area :) read more

Sushi Gato - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Cute sushi spot across from the local movie theater. It has a nice ambiance and you're greeted by staff and sushi chefs as you enter. Their sushi menu was actually limited, with no pictures of the rolls, but they do have small descriptions of the rolls on the order menu/form. I was rather surprised at how extensive their non-sushu menu was. In any case, we ordered a few rolls: California, caterpillar, spicy tuna tempura roll and garlic albacore roll. All the rolls were underwhelming for us. The albacore garlic roll was so pasty in texture. The spicy tuna tempura ratio of crab meat vs spicy tuna wss off (2/3 of rolll was crab meat). Everything was rather bland. With that said, Staff is really friendly and courteous and parking is easy to find. read more

See all

Good but stop putting sesame seeds on EVERYTHING! Enough with sesame seeds on every roll. Cucumber roll used to be filled with lots of fish. Now it's mostly filler things That said. It's a solid spot read more

Amazing authentic sushi and very hospitable staff! Loved the ambiance of the restaurant and the food was delicious! Definitely will be going back. read more

This is by far one of the best sushi places I've been too. The sushi melts in your mouth and is so fresh. Their cut rolls are different and very tasty. Loved everything we tried. The service was great as well and I would love to go back there again. I have not had a bento box in over 20 years but I saw others having it and it looked so appetising and yummy. The ambiance is cute and mostly decorated with cat pictures and drawings since their name is Gato which means cat. read more

See all

Always see this place when in the area but never tried it until this week. We got bentos for our main course but had to get the salmon nigiri which is what we typically order to taste out a restaurant's sushi for the first time. The bento boxes came with a miso soup, small salad with a citrus ginger dressing, 2 california rolls, tempura (onion, carrot, kabocha, potato), rice, and the main course. We got the salmon teriyaki and the miso cod. The salad was not bad but the pieces of lettuce were too big - trimming these would be a better eating experience. Tempura was very tasty. Cali rolls standard. Miso soup was good. The salmon teriyaki and the miso cod were both very good. Personally, I enjoyed the miso cod more as it was quite melty. Watch out for the fish bones though. It also had a nice crust. The salmon nigiri was the best item of the day. It was so melty. It was delicious. Since it tasted so good, we wanted to try the chu-toro. However, they didn't have it and offered us blue fin. It was good but nowhere near the meltiness of the salmon. Also, I'm not entirely sure but I think they charged us for the chu-toro when maybe the blue fin should have been cheaper? Maybe. Lastly, hamachi nigiri - also delicious. Would definitely come back and try one of the sushi combo dishes which would be much more cost effective. Free refill on sodas. Easy parking. Great service. A little pricey. read more

See all

Came here to sushi gato on Monday. It was good food. Fast service and great menu selections. My mom has ordered the teriyaki bowl and it barely have enough sauce still tasty though. The sushi was good, our favorite with the fried shrimp one. Honestly my favorite thing sushi everything else was ok. read more

Sushi Gato - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Always nice to go to Sushi Gato by the theaters. I love being able to stop in for a quick bite and being able to rely on the fresh taste! Definitely one of the better sushi places in the area. Love the melt in your mouth flavors. It's got a nice but casual vibe that's perfect for several occasions. It's becoming a favorite date spot for us! read more

Sushi Gato - Spicy Tuna Roll V (8 Pieces) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Last minute bday dinner. Stopped in an hr before closing. There were still quite a few people inside. Greeted and seated quickly. Sushi quality was good. Everything we ordered was delicious. read more

See all

They have a new yellowtail truffle roll with truffle oil and pieces of truffle on top. Sooo yummy! The tuna carpaccio with a garlic ponzu sauce was on point. Love this spot! read more

Sushi Gato - Truffle yellowtail roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We came in and were seated right away even with two babies. They served us quickly. We ordered rolls and pork belly appetizer. The rainbow was delicious with a variety of fish. The lemon roll was very refreshing. I enjoyed the pink roll with the spicy tuna. I would highly recommend the crazy dragon as well. The pork belly was excellent and topped off a great meal. Service was solid and the overall vibe is warm and welcoming. If you are looking for high quality sushi in a comfortable atmosphere, I highly recommend this place. Five stars! read more

Sushi Gato - Pork belly appetizer-delicious - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California