Such a cute hole‑in‑the‑wall spot on the tail end of Kensington! I had no idea this place existed for years, but I'm so glad I finally found it. Located in a small shopping center with a few parking spaces, Tanuki is a great tapas and standard sushi spot. It leans more toward Asian‑fusion tapas with some sushi rolls and a limited selection of nigiri and sashimi. If you're looking for specialty fish, a huge roll list, or omakase, this isn't that kind of sushi place. But if you want a wide selection of sake, fun fusion tapas, and some classic sushi options, this is your spot. I love that they have a small bar and that cozy, true hole‑in‑the‑wall feel. The staff is friendly, the vibe is relaxed, and it's the perfect place to come alone, with a friend, or for a casual date night. The quality is solid, and the service is fast and welcoming. They also have some great sake and green‑tea‑based drinks. I love it here -- definitely a go‑to spot for us. read more

They only offer low sodium soy sauce, which makes no sense at all. I asked if they had regular soy sauce and they said no. Weird. Our chicken katsu looked like it was breaded in corn flakes and had no flavor. My shrimp tempura roll must have been fried with fish, because it was extremely fishy. Im not sure where all of these good reviews are coming from, but this place was awful. read more

Updated: It's been about 2-3 years since my last visit, although we used to come here quite often when the restaurant first opened. Unfortunately, our last couple of visits over the past few years have been disappointing. I'm not sure if the ownership has changed, but the restaurant feels very different from what I remember. They used to have an excellent selection of homemade desserts, more authentic Japanese small plates on the tapas menu, and sushi chefs preparing sushi behind the bar. It had a much more authentic feel back then. It was getting late on a Friday night, and we were looking for a nearby place to grab sushi or poke. Since they had a table available and it's close to where we live, we decided to give it another try. We ordered the Rainbow Roll, Eel Roll, and Crunchy Soft Shell Crab Roll. The Rainbow Roll was the biggest disappointment. Several pieces were missing the fish topping altogether, and the slices of fish that were there were incredibly thin--honestly, there was barely any fish on the roll. The Eel Roll was also quite small and had very little eel. The only decadent roll was the Crunchy Soft Shell Crab Roll, which had good texture and flavor. Overall, we left disappointed by both the quality and the portion of the sushi, especially compared to what this restaurant used to offer. It's always disappointing to revisit a place you once loved and find that it no longer lives up to those memories. I hope they can bring back some of the quality and authenticity that made this place so special in its early days. read more

Tanuki - Updated review: Rainbow roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Cute sushi restaurant in Kensington! They have their own parking lot which is nice since it is on the busy road. My friend & I came for early dinner & the inside was already reserved so we got a table outside. Make sure to make a resy, even on weeknights. Friendly service. They serve Karaage, nigiris, sashimi, rolls & more. read more

Tanuki - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here with a group of friends in town for the weekend and we had a pretty bad experience. We ordered miso soups, edamame and a ton of rolls. I am a vegetarian so I usually opt for the avo / cucumber rolls. First thing that came out was the edamame. The edamame tasted old and the beans were soft, definitely did not taste fresh at all. We left most of it on the table. My avocado rolls then came out with black/brown spots on the avocado which looked rancid. I asked for a replacement, which was then sent to me with salmon eggs on the avocado. I am a vegetarian so I could not eat this, but at this point, I did not want to be fussy again. My friend's rolls came out with fish that looked pretty grey and unappetizing. She did not really eat this either and got a pretty bad stomach ache afterward. At this point, our miso soup had to be the hero, but we were told the soups were accidentally given to another table. We didn't want to wait around for the soup, so we paid and left. All of us were hungry after. I definitely would not return to this spot. 2 stars for the servers that were trying their best. read more

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Arrived around 6:30pm and were seated at an outside table. Table for 4 and we ordered quite a few dishes to share. Based on reviews, the Sake Wasa appeared to be popular so we gave it a try. I'm not a big fan of wasabi but this one was good. The crispy rice, salmon carpaccio, roasted striped bass, spicy scallop roll, spider roll . . . All good. The fish was fresh and they were all light. Also ordered a panna cotta and matcha cheesecake - both were good as well and nice way to finish our meal. At no time did we feel rushed. Service was friendly and they checked on us often. read more

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Nice medium scale homey feel. Cozy for small groups inside and out. Bar looks like it has some interesting drinks I'd like to try. I had the Teriyaki Salmon Bowl. Descent size. Filled me up. The salmon was plump and flaky and the skin was crispy crunchy the way I like it. The string beans were flash blanched and crunchy and sat amidst some carrots and takuwan (pickled daikon or turnip). Large scoop of rice. Loved the teriyaki sauce was good but I didn't like the bottom third of my rice drowning in it. Perhaps they could separate the rice by letting it sit in a plastic cup or something? Just a suggestion. Service was okay. Parking can be a bear as there are only about five spaces in front. Metered parking in Adams Avenue. Side street parking is used by residents in the area. Do not park in the back as it is for the other tenants in the building and you will be towed. read more

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my favorite japanese restaurant in san diego. good vibes, good food. the place is on the smaller side, same with their parking lot. so i recommend getting there early so you can get seated and find parking! read more

A nice, no frail Japanese restaurant. Always like to get their corn appetizer. Cucumber was light and refreshing and the perfect portion. The fish was uni was decent but the cuts were a little inconsistent but still good. Good friendly service. read more

Tanuki - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place has been consistently good. The quality of the food, the service and the ambiance is outstanding for such a small restaurant runs by very few people. I've been there many times. They never fail. read more

This is definitely a hole in the wall place and love coming here. The staff is always friendly and tries to make room if they can for your party. They definitely are a sake restaurant and have so many to choose from. They always have a sample sake flight or you can choose from an array of different ones on their drink menu. They also will give you recommendations. Bonus: you also get to pick your own sake cup from a tray they bring out. The toro wasa is my favorite it which is a fatty tuna with a wasabi relish. I could truly drink the sauce too. The salmon collar was also very meaty and simple with the rice and was good. Definitely will be back. read more

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I stumbled upon this place a few years ago and fell in love! For a while I was going every week to sit at the bar and enjoy some sushi and wine after a long shift. I was going so much to the point the owner recognized me and knew my order lol. The owner is the absolute sweetest, the staff is very welcoming and sweet, and the food is amazing and fresh. I rave about this place to everyone I know. The restaurant itself is pretty small with a couple tables and bar seating. There is additional seating outside that's covered. Parking available in the residential area and about 5 spots in the lot directly in-front of the restaurant. Definitely recommend this place if you're in the area. Food review: Karaage: (5/5) The chicken has amazing texture, it's juicy, and flavorful. The spicy mayo and squeeze of lemon are a bomb dipping combo. I get this every time I come. Spicy tuna roll: (5/5) Great size roll, fish tastes fresh, not too spicy, and overall each bite is well balanced. Simple roll, but absolutely delicious. Definitely a staple for me. Salmon nigiri: (5/5) The salmon melts in your mouth, it was so damn good. Little rice heavy, but I enjoyed every bite! Sake wasa: (5/5) OMG. This is ridiculously delicious!!!! I could eat this all damn day. The fresh wasabi is everything Sake: They have an extensive menu of sake and the staff is well/versed in describing and recommending the best based on your palette. It's worth a try if you like sake! Desserts: I didn't get it today because I was very full...but they have eclairs (that are sold Fridays and Saturdays? If I'm not mistaken) and they also have crème brûlée and matcha cheesecake! yummy! read more

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Craving satisfied. It was a great experience. The restaurant has a darker and intimate atmosphere with light music playing in the background. Definitely recommend for small party and date night. The food was exceptional. The rolls were fresh and the flavor complimented each other really well. The appetizer has a savory but not overwhelming taste. The staff were very friendly. Parking is limited to small parking lot in front of the restaurant. read more

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Went here for Friday night dinner with my girlfriend and we were very excited because we haven't been here before. Just a heads up, if you're planning on coming for a visit (especially on a weekend) you should definitely call and reserve ahead of time. It's not necessarily busy but it is a pretty small restaurant. Fortunately, we got lucky and they had a table for two that was ready in about 10 minutes. We started off with the miso cream cheese and wonton chips and they were salty, sweet, and creamy - also had some ipa's to wash it down. For the entree we had the baked salmon roll and the maguro jalapeno roll. The baked salmon had a shiso leaf rolled inside for a nice herbal flavor along with the salmon. I personally preferred the maguro jalapeno roll. I'm not exactly sure what they do to the tuna to make it melt it your mouth but it was delicious. My guess is that they marinate it in soy sauce or some special marinade beforehand. Service was pretty decent especially for how busy they were. Didn't have to wait long and the servers were very nice. This place is perfect for your next date night or a nice dinner with a few friends. read more

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We have driven by but since it's in a low-key residential area, I kinda forgot about it. But one night, we decided to go in. Not a particularly welcoming vibe, since we didn't have a reservation, but she put us at the bar. Thank goodness the really friendly girl served us. We liked that there were local beers available. We sampled as much as we liked to get an idea of the quality. The chicken katsu was definitely the best we've had in San Diego. I liked my spicy tuna roll, and the karaage was good too. Our server forgot to order my eel roll, but it was good. Overall, a nice place to come to. The dining room is small. The bar is nice. There's even a small patio outside that dog friendly. I would definitely consider coming back, but first impressions when you walk in matter. read more

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Tiny little place in a nice location. Easy parking and charming ambiance. The service was friendly and quick. They don't have any beers on tap, so I got a Sapporo in a can...but was it super cold and amazing served in their steel beer stein! The sunomono and two rolls were good, but the Tanuki roll was maybe the best roll I've ever had! Highly recommended! read more

Solid sushi place. Ordered the HAMACHI JALAPEÑO, MAGURO JALAPEÑO and RAINBOW rolls. All fresh & simple. The maguro jalapeño was easily the best one. Chicken katsu was also good, but doesn't come with rice unfortunately, you have to order separately. read more

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30 minute wait at dinner time on a Saturday night. We were seated at the bar and ordered 2 sake flights, 1 app, and 5 rolls. Sake flight: $15 for 3 sakes, yummy selection! Karaage: Came out super fresh and the chicken was juicy and piping hot! Tanuki roll: We got two orders of this roll and it was very yummy, but I think my one qualm about this roll and all the rolls is that they are small and not rolled very tightly. The toppings on the roll are great and very fresh, but again my issue with the base roll makes it hard to justify price and I dislike how it falls apart when you try to eat it. Rainbow roll: Simple, nothing to say Eel and avocado roll: Again, small and not rolled tightly Maguro jalapeño roll: Alright, wish it came with some sauce to tie it all together. Overall, not bad but can't say it was one of my favorites. 4 stars for karaage and tanuki roll, can't give 5 because of the issue with rolling and the rolls being pretty plain besides tanuki read more

Tanuki - Tanuki Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We had such a great experience at Tanuki. The space is cozy and welcoming, and the food was honestly amazing. Everything we ordered was full of flavor and felt really well thought out, and the sake pairings made it even better. The staff was super friendly and made the night feel relaxed and fun. It's the kind of place you leave already planning your next visit. Definitely a new favorite for us. read more

My husband took me here for my birthday and I loved this restaurant so much. We've been to Japan and this felt very much like being in a Japanese restaurant. We ordered the tanuki roll, spicy scallop roll and rainbow roll. The spicy scallop roll was so delicious and melted in my mouth. They gave me a cute dessert with a candle. read more

I want you all to know that I really appreciate this place. We came here on a Saturday at 5pm with no reservation. Lucky for us, the waitress was kind enough to accommodate us because my 6 year old was HANGRY. We sat on the corner by the entrance and I got to watch how busy this place could get. Our food came quickly and by stage. I want to say the #18 from our sake flight was the best one. The Tanuki Roll is an eye rolling roll(; (u see what I did there, lol). It feels like the every time I dip my sushi in the soy sauce, it just keeps getting better at every bite. I love the atmosphere at the place, the servers were very attentive and gave me a nice compliment about my dress so they definitely got a nice tip lol. I definitely recommend this place and will try something different plus the tanuki roll(: read more

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We were on the search for a Saturday evening sushi find with good reviews. Reservations were needed but they were able to fit us in. The spot is cozy and has a great ambience. You can go across the street to grab gelato or dessert at Pappalecco! read more

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Spot is cute with yummy food AND parking! They have a pretty simple menu with lotsa sake options. :) Sushi was delish and def one of my favorites in the area. read more

this is the best sushi me and my husband have ever had! genuinely such good food here. from the gyoza to the salad and miso soup, all the way to the sushi it was top tier food. will definitely be coming back here. the service was amazing and the server was very sweet. such a cute little restaurant, i would give this place a hundred stars if i could. 100% would recommend to everyone! read more

Cindy and Yuka made this whole place worth it. Excellent service, quaint atmosphere. Love the citrus flavor of the Yuzu sake, we ended up buying a bottle, $58! The sake was the best sake we've ever had. 4 out of 4 of of us thought it was the best out of all the sakes we tried. Yes - it was really THAT good and they use real crab for their sushi rolls. 10/10 Would recommend! read more

Tanuki - Sake with Yuzu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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If you're looking for a real Japanese izakaya experience, this isn't it. That being said the atmosphere is pleasant and the food can support their extensive sake bar. I would go to drink with friends but I would rather eat Japanese food with my family somewhere else. Service was good. read more

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I've actually visited Tanuki several times now, but finally remembered to do this review after last night. My girlfriend and I got to Tanuki right when they opened again for dinner at 5. The place itself is extremely tiny. I do see here a couple reviews mentioning that reservations or different accommodations weren't met and that's too bad, but the literal real estate for this place is tiny. Like the bar is only maybe 5-7 seats, and then after that, there's only 5 tables inside I think. Outside, I can't tell too much but just keep that in mind. This is a very intimate spot. It got busy and definitely filled up quick, so I would say this is definitely more of a quick grab and go type restaurant still, which was actually perfect for my friend and I. We did end up gabbing a little longer after finishing our meal but we weren't shooed out or anything and we were still offered water as well. They are excellent with making sure your water stays full! Lol, I feel like we'd take 3 sips and they would come around again already. The waitresses were all super attentive and truly very kind. We ordered the cream cheese misozuke (wonton chips with miso cream cheese), crispy rice (crispy rice cubes with tuna), a rainbow roll, and the baked salmon roll (shiso leaf roll with baked salmon and mayo on top). Everything was really tasty and a pretty good price point. Other items that are worth mentioning from different times I've been here is the corn and the cream cheese wonton sticks. I would've loved to have room for dessert or their flavored matcha or hojicha latte, but guess that means I just have to come back! This place never disappoints. read more

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So I felt like doing something different and getting out the house. I was in the mood for Sushi and Tapas and this place ticked all the right boxes. I called in a reservation for the bar. I was seated immediately and decided to start with the Sake Sampler. I'm not a connoisseur, but the sake options were smooth and slightly sweet, which is right up my alley. I started with some nigiri and they were delicious and large cuts of fish. I wasn't given wasabi, but I was fine without it. I was offered an off menu piece, which I've had become so I had to do it. The toro was so flavorful and a much needed treat. The waygu ponzu was cooked to a perfect temperature and sliced just right. Each bite was a flavorful treat that makes it such an iconic dish. The karaage was a far larger portion than I was expecting. The chicken was so crispy on the outside, but moist and juicy on the inside. The only request I would have is for the chicken to be cut into smaller pieces. I tried two sakes that capped of an amazing night. This place is amazing. Very intimate and welcoming. The only change I would make to the decor is a door to the kitchen. I could have done without the behind the scenes work in the kitchen. read more

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Prompt and friendly service. The menu isn't overwhelming and they have a good variety of choices. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Food was fine but I expected deeper flavors. read more

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Came here on a Saturday night at 8:30pm and I'm surprised it wasn't too busy. I called an hour beforehand to make sure they could seat my party of 5 and they were super accommodating. It was loud in the phone but quiet when we got in. I was able to get parking right in the front. We ordered cucumber salad, shishito peppers, karaage, uni roll, uni nigiri and salmon nigiri. Everything was amazing, especially the uni, which was worth the price. I'd come back if I were in the area. read more

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Would give six stars for their hospitality if I could. Called in for a reservation and there was nothing available, but they allowed us to join a waiting list and called us back when a spot opened up. Specific shoutout to our waiter JP. We sat outside with my dog and it started to rain. JP brought out a space heater and gave my dog a bowl of water and dog treats too. Throughout our evening JP gave us various sake samples and allowed us to choose our own glass. Extensive Sake menu, and the Sushi and Nigiri were delicious. Great experience will be back soon! read more

Tanuki - Dog-friendly outdoor seating. Brought my dog a water bowl and treats - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Crispy rice soggy Yellow tail fishy California roll should be a staple - didn't even finish that Really let down for being in such a great area read more

Don't let the four stars fool you, this is a fine sushi place with friendly staff and a clean environment. I have gone here several times for lunch with my team, and they really loved it. The fish is fresh, they have decent tempura, and the options are reasonably priced. So why four stars? Honestly, I really debated this because I don't want people to get the wrong impression... It is a good place! But it's just good. I'm not particularly excited by the rolls, I don't feel like the spicy tuna has that much flavor, I'm just never excited when somebody picks this place. The ambiance also which is clean and cozy isn't very exciting, nor is it relaxing in a traditional way. It's just nice. It's just good. They will give you a solid experience, and you should definitely go here. But it really has that lunch with your co-workers sushi place feeling instead of I'm going to take somebody on a date here kind of feeling. read more

Came here earlier this week for the first time and let's just say it won't be my last! We ultimately just bought a variety of tapas and sushi to share amongst the 3 of us. Such a way to go!! I really had liked the sake wasa. I got it twice!! I could easily go there and just order more of that! We had their vegetable tempura and that was crunchy and great ratio of veggie to tempura. I was really shocked that I liked the Cream Cheese Misozuke. So simple but the marinated cream cheese was perfect. Very cute spot for a date night. There is a bit of parking out front but most likely it will be street parking or walking if possible. read more

Very good place and the service was excellent. Will continue to come back. Small menu but all very good

Fresh ingredients, good service..... will come again to try other menu items. Vegetable roll great with shashimi or roll

Very cute spot. Simple menu with a few daily specials. I personally think a few more items would.serve them well. Over all the experience was good. We had miso cod, edamame, rainbow roll, tempura white fish, salmon marinated in a wasabi pickle relish, fried rice cake with spicy tuna (let down of the meal read more

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What a great find! We ordered so many items here, and found that everything is a hit! Notable: Service! Salmon Carpaccio (5/5) - perfectly fresh, thinly sliced salmon Wagyu Tataki Ponzu (4/5) Crispy rice (5/5) Cream cheese wonton stick (4/5) Maguey Jalapeño Roll (5/5) Salmon skin roll (5/5) Creme brûlée (5/5) Will be back! read more

Locality and nourishment. They are allowed to have a dog on the patio. We'll come back!

We were glad to find this place since we were craving sushi. I did feel a little underdressed since we were doing landscaping all day and stopped in to eat and you could tell that most people were on a date night and wearing something nicer. The service was really good. The inside and the ambiance is nice, like a cozy modern feel. The karaage was soooo yummy. Nicely seasoned, moist and juicy on the inside. Probably my favorite karaage in San Diego so far that I've had. Pork gyoza was good. I enjoyed the rolls and I was really excited to try the spicy scallop roll since it was listed as a popular item except when it arrived it gave off a super strong whiff of unpleasant fishiness. I picked up one piece to try it and it smelled so fishy. I decided not to eat it and asked the server if that was normal for them. They were very nice and asked if we'd rather have something else instead. My husband chose the shrimp tempura roll and there wasn't anything wrong with it as far as freshness goes but I just wasn't a fan personally and felt it was kinda bland and dry. The eel & avocado roll was good. Overall the food was good, the sushi rice was good, the place was very clean, sometimes when you go to sushi restaurants the plates/dishes aren't 100% clean but they were immaculate here and were actually warm as if they were freshly washed, the vibe was nice, the decor was nice, I liked the music, the service was very very good. We would definitely come back and recommend to others. read more

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