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I've been here twice, and unfortunately, the first visit wasn't a great experience. We came in planning to dine in, but weren't acknowledged for about five minutes. One of the employees was sitting at a table near the restrooms, and instead of coming over, they shouted to us from across the restaurant. Having our entire interaction take place across the dining room in front of other guests felt uncomfortable and wasn't the most welcoming first impression. We decided to give them another chance on our second visit. Thankfully, we were seated before the dinner rush. It took about 10 minutes for our waters to arrive, but our server was friendly and courteous throughout the meal. The sushi rolls had very generous portions, though I personally would have preferred the pieces to be cut a bit smaller. We also ordered the spicy edamame and garlic green beans, but both sauces were noticeably salty. Overall, the food was decent. The fish tasted fresh, but nothing particularly stood out. The crunchy topping on the rolls also seemed a bit stale. While the meal was okay, I think the service and overall hospitality have room for improvement to create a more welcoming experience. 3.5 star rating.
Came in on a Friday for lunch and there was no wait. We got the mixed nigiri and a lunch special. Both were delicious and the fish was good quality. Restaurant is very well themed with music in the background but you can still easily have a conversation. Theres a reason we keep coming back!
Service was good enough. I ordered a spicy tuna roll and a Philly roll (this is my test when I come to a new place - if they mess up the basics, it's a no) with no avocado because I'm allergic. When I got my rolls, it was exactly as I had ordered (which in theory is nice) but other places normally substitute cucumber for the missing avocado. My spicy tuna roll was boring and the Philly roll was missing texture; both were missing freshness. My friends liked their rolls though... They charged me $.95 for a tiny bowl of spicy mayo. I won't be back...there are many sushi places available.
My boyfriend and I ordered 3 specialty rolls and 1 order fried oysters. The rolls were good and prices are reasonable! Our favorite roll was the Smile Jamaica. The torched salmon really makes the roll! We also got the reggae on the river and California dachshund (not shown). The CA dachshund was our 2nd favorite! The decor is nice with the Jawaiian theme and it was clean as well! Service was good and we will be coming back!
Yummy sushi. Great spicy garlic green beans they will even adjust the spice level for you if you like.. Mixed tempura has a tasty selection of vegetables, including green beans, yams, Kabocha squash, sweet potato, shrimp, calamari. extensive selection of rolls. I love the 4 x 4 Love combo such a nice variety of sushi( California roll, Smoky Jamaican And two more rolls that I can't recall the names of look it up on the menu). The caterpillar roll was really good too. Their spam masubi is tasty. Other aloha role so nice with the lemon. Service is good, for Friday can have Long Waits either get there earlier or later... Ambience is a cute Hawaiian/ Marley vibe....
I am confused about the name since the sign outside reads "Sushi Diner". I scored a 3 due to the quality of the cuts, fish to rice ratio per roll, customer service and cleanliness. Nothing was horrible, however, nothing about it gave me a reason to want to go back either. We waited a few minutes at the front door since the sign asks that you wait to be seated. I called out "hello" and someone popped up to greet us (zero customers inside). Once we had a server she was friendly, average service - no order mistakes, always love that. She did not come by to check on the table, we needed to get her attention when we needed things. Sushi - average for quality, flavor and fish to rice ratio per roll, each cut was very thin. I noticed while reading other reviews this is consistent regardless of the roll (see pics). They do offer a creat your own roll menu option, I thought that was a fun idea. Parking- large free lot, good size parking spaces. Bathroom- (see pics) there were handrails for ADA. Bathroom could have been cleaned better, visible dirt/smudges on the door and door way, floor did not look to have been mopped recently. Atmosphere- Good size/space, cute decorations fits the Bob Markey theme. Offers booths, 4 tops, 2 tops and sushi bar seating.
Tappi Diner is so fun and perfect for a quick bite. Their decor is Bob Marley themed, which makes the vibe even better. They have happy hour Monday through Friday, along with lunch and dinner specials. Every time I eat here, the service is amazing. They are always on top of it and even ask if I want extra sides of sriracha and spicy mayo when I order, so I do not have to wait later. I love the chicken katsu dinner special. It comes with a refreshing potato salad that has just the right amount of veggies. Their fries are crispy and pair perfectly with their ketchup. The chicken katsu is mostly white meat and not dry at all. Definitely give this place a try if you are in the area. Support local!
My new go-to spot for takeout sushi! The discovery of Tappi Diner was the happiest accident. It was lunchtime, I ran to Yelp, and, just like always, my fellow Yelpers never fail me! Bonus points for this gem being located so close to home. I didn't have enough time to order ahead, so I placed my takeout order there. It took no more than ~10 minutes. Super easy and seamless! I got the The Bob Marley the Cool Runnings specialty rolls. These were LOADED. Cool Runnings features- in: spicy tuna, spicy crab, cilantro, and jalapeno, out: yellowtail sashimi, wasabi, and green onion. The Bob Marley features- in: spicy crab, avocado, cucumber, out: tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and green onion. They really don't skimp out on ingredients. Fish was of decent quality. I really enjoyed the variety!
TAPPI DINER @ FRIARS RD Parking is available out front and is free in a plaza. This spot is a 9 minute drive from SDSU, pretty quick and nearby. Walking in, it was pretty packed on a Sunday evening, the spot is fairly small, holding maybe up to 20 people or so with a couple booths and tables. My friend and I got to sit anywhere we wanted and servers passed by around us back and forth, not a single one acknowledge or cared. I finally got one of notice us, and she was nice. We ordered the salted edamame and I got a rainbow roll with just salmon, and miso soup. The food came out within minutes. Miso soup was delicious, but mot much tofu or seaweed. The edamame was cold, overly salted, and didn't look at all pleasant to eat. For it being $5.50, I'd had better hopes it was better cooked, tasted microwave. Our sushi rolls came out, I chose the salmon rainbow roll that had avocado and crab meat in it. It was not fresh, salmon was slimy, and the filling was 99% crab meat and maybe the SMALLEST piece of avocado. I really wished I liked this spot but it was overall lack of quality of items and the service could've been much improved.
I've been a Sushi Diner fan ever since the days of only location next to Mesa college. Then Sushi Diner 1 closed and only Sushi Diner 2 remained. Then Sushi Diner 2 owner retired and it has been sold to Tappi Sushi. I was worried the menu has changed or quality has gone down from the limited new reviews, but was happy to find out that it's still the same old Sushi Diner menu with a few new additions. I love the daily lunch special meal set which is a great deal. The Kalbi bbq ribs was actually BETTER than previously. Previously they were also really small pieces and burnt black, but under new management were cooked perfectly. The endless summer roll was also better than before. Service on Saturday was quick and courteous. Bob Marley decor is still up with Bob Marley music playing.
Tappi Diner is one of those sushi spots that has something for everyone. I have 4 kids and they all have different palates. Tappi Diner has a huge menu and all my kids found something they enjoyed. Here's what we ordered. Tuna Poppers-crunchy, a little spicy and delicious Fried Zucchini-crispy, solid version of fried zucchini Garlic Edemame-simply delicious Spam Musubi-awesome, you can't mess up this classic Aloha, Trench Town and Kamekameha rolls-All of them were scrumptious. Nice rice ratio and presentation was beautiful. Short Ribs- very flavorful and cooked perfectly. Our server was friendly and very patient as we looked thru their large menu. They have like 3 pages of sushi rolls alone. Atmosphere is "Jawaiian". A mix between Jamaican and Hawaiian. Pretty fun decor. Overall, a great dining experience. My kids loved all their food selections and are looking forward to coming back.
Walked in and was seated right away. Got the diner plate, teriyaki chicken plate, katsu plate, and spam musubi. All were delicious, portions were good, and price was good as well. All for around $55 with good service. Always our go to sushi spot.
Nice place but waited 20 mins for a togo Lunch special and it was a Quarter of the breast! what a rip off for 15$ just saying And it was dry The Cali roll was good though
22 days ago
23 days ago
I LOVE this place. The sakura Roll is still on the menu and it's to die for. Thank you to our wonderful waitress Julia for making my roll extra spicy and giving me wasabi oil to dip the roll. Also I didn't catch his name but one of the gentlemen waiters thought we had ordered edamame but it wasn't us but he asked what we liked and we said SPICY of course lol. And he treated us to the best spicy edamame I've had, it was so flavorful the sauce was like a teriyaki thick spicy glaze. Swoon. Ya'll have to try the wasabi oil it's a game changer. This roll seems like it's here to stay and no longer a limited special. I hope so! Love coming here read more
I've been here twice, and unfortunately, the first visit wasn't a great experience. We came in planning to dine in, but weren't acknowledged for about five minutes. One of the employees was sitting at a table near the restrooms, and instead of coming over, they shouted to us from across the restaurant. Having our entire interaction take place across the dining room in front of other guests felt uncomfortable and wasn't the most welcoming first impression. We decided to give them another chance on our second visit. Thankfully, we were seated before the dinner rush. It took about 10 minutes for our waters to arrive, but our server was friendly and courteous throughout the meal. The sushi rolls had very generous portions, though I personally would have preferred the pieces to be cut a bit smaller. We also ordered the spicy edamame and garlic green beans, but both sauces were noticeably salty. Overall, the food was decent. The fish tasted fresh, but nothing particularly stood out. The crunchy topping on the rolls also seemed a bit stale. While the meal was okay, I think the service and overall hospitality have room for improvement to create a more welcoming experience. 3.5 star rating. read more
Came in on a Friday for lunch and there was no wait. We got the mixed nigiri and a lunch special. Both were delicious and the fish was good quality. Restaurant is very well themed with music in the background but you can still easily have a conversation. Theres a reason we keep coming back! read more
Service was good enough. I ordered a spicy tuna roll and a Philly roll (this is my test when I come to a new place - if they mess up the basics, it's a no) with no avocado because I'm allergic. When I got my rolls, it was exactly as I had ordered (which in theory is nice) but other places normally substitute cucumber for the missing avocado. My spicy tuna roll was boring and the Philly roll was missing texture; both were missing freshness. My friends liked their rolls though... They charged me $.95 for a tiny bowl of spicy mayo. I won't be back...there are many sushi places available. read more
My boyfriend and I ordered 3 specialty rolls and 1 order fried oysters. The rolls were good and prices are reasonable! Our favorite roll was the Smile Jamaica. The torched salmon really makes the roll! We also got the reggae on the river and California dachshund (not shown). The CA dachshund was our 2nd favorite! The decor is nice with the Jawaiian theme and it was clean as well! Service was good and we will be coming back! read more
Yummy sushi. Great spicy garlic green beans they will even adjust the spice level for you if you like.. Mixed tempura has a tasty selection of vegetables, including green beans, yams, Kabocha squash, sweet potato, shrimp, calamari. extensive selection of rolls. I love the 4 x 4 Love combo such a nice variety of sushi( California roll, Smoky Jamaican And two more rolls that I can't recall the names of look it up on the menu). The caterpillar roll was really good too. Their spam masubi is tasty. Other aloha role so nice with the lemon. Service is good, for Friday can have Long Waits either get there earlier or later... Ambience is a cute Hawaiian/ Marley vibe.... read more
I am confused about the name since the sign outside reads "Sushi Diner". I scored a 3 due to the quality of the cuts, fish to rice ratio per roll, customer service and cleanliness. Nothing was horrible, however, nothing about it gave me a reason to want to go back either. We waited a few minutes at the front door since the sign asks that you wait to be seated. I called out "hello" and someone popped up to greet us (zero customers inside). Once we had a server she was friendly, average service - no order mistakes, always love that. She did not come by to check on the table, we needed to get her attention when we needed things. Sushi - average for quality, flavor and fish to rice ratio per roll, each cut was very thin. I noticed while reading other reviews this is consistent regardless of the roll (see pics). They do offer a creat your own roll menu option, I thought that was a fun idea. Parking- large free lot, good size parking spaces. Bathroom- (see pics) there were handrails for ADA. Bathroom could have been cleaned better, visible dirt/smudges on the door and door way, floor did not look to have been mopped recently. Atmosphere- Good size/space, cute decorations fits the Bob Markey theme. Offers booths, 4 tops, 2 tops and sushi bar seating. read more
Tappi Diner is so fun and perfect for a quick bite. Their decor is Bob Marley themed, which makes the vibe even better. They have happy hour Monday through Friday, along with lunch and dinner specials. Every time I eat here, the service is amazing. They are always on top of it and even ask if I want extra sides of sriracha and spicy mayo when I order, so I do not have to wait later. I love the chicken katsu dinner special. It comes with a refreshing potato salad that has just the right amount of veggies. Their fries are crispy and pair perfectly with their ketchup. The chicken katsu is mostly white meat and not dry at all. Definitely give this place a try if you are in the area. Support local! read more
11 months ago
My new go-to spot for takeout sushi! The discovery of Tappi Diner was the happiest accident. It was lunchtime, I ran to Yelp, and, just like always, my fellow Yelpers never fail me! Bonus points for this gem being located so close to home. I didn't have enough time to order ahead, so I placed my takeout order there. It took no more than ~10 minutes. Super easy and seamless! I got the The Bob Marley the Cool Runnings specialty rolls. These were LOADED. Cool Runnings features- in: spicy tuna, spicy crab, cilantro, and jalapeno, out: yellowtail sashimi, wasabi, and green onion. The Bob Marley features- in: spicy crab, avocado, cucumber, out: tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and green onion. They really don't skimp out on ingredients. Fish was of decent quality. I really enjoyed the variety! read more
TAPPI DINER @ FRIARS RD Parking is available out front and is free in a plaza. This spot is a 9 minute drive from SDSU, pretty quick and nearby. Walking in, it was pretty packed on a Sunday evening, the spot is fairly small, holding maybe up to 20 people or so with a couple booths and tables. My friend and I got to sit anywhere we wanted and servers passed by around us back and forth, not a single one acknowledge or cared. I finally got one of notice us, and she was nice. We ordered the salted edamame and I got a rainbow roll with just salmon, and miso soup. The food came out within minutes. Miso soup was delicious, but mot much tofu or seaweed. The edamame was cold, overly salted, and didn't look at all pleasant to eat. For it being $5.50, I'd had better hopes it was better cooked, tasted microwave. Our sushi rolls came out, I chose the salmon rainbow roll that had avocado and crab meat in it. It was not fresh, salmon was slimy, and the filling was 99% crab meat and maybe the SMALLEST piece of avocado. I really wished I liked this spot but it was overall lack of quality of items and the service could've been much improved. read more
I've been a Sushi Diner fan ever since the days of only location next to Mesa college. Then Sushi Diner 1 closed and only Sushi Diner 2 remained. Then Sushi Diner 2 owner retired and it has been sold to Tappi Sushi. I was worried the menu has changed or quality has gone down from the limited new reviews, but was happy to find out that it's still the same old Sushi Diner menu with a few new additions. I love the daily lunch special meal set which is a great deal. The Kalbi bbq ribs was actually BETTER than previously. Previously they were also really small pieces and burnt black, but under new management were cooked perfectly. The endless summer roll was also better than before. Service on Saturday was quick and courteous. Bob Marley decor is still up with Bob Marley music playing. read more
Tappi Diner is one of those sushi spots that has something for everyone. I have 4 kids and they all have different palates. Tappi Diner has a huge menu and all my kids found something they enjoyed. Here's what we ordered. Tuna Poppers-crunchy, a little spicy and delicious Fried Zucchini-crispy, solid version of fried zucchini Garlic Edemame-simply delicious Spam Musubi-awesome, you can't mess up this classic Aloha, Trench Town and Kamekameha rolls-All of them were scrumptious. Nice rice ratio and presentation was beautiful. Short Ribs- very flavorful and cooked perfectly. Our server was friendly and very patient as we looked thru their large menu. They have like 3 pages of sushi rolls alone. Atmosphere is "Jawaiian". A mix between Jamaican and Hawaiian. Pretty fun decor. Overall, a great dining experience. My kids loved all their food selections and are looking forward to coming back. read more
8 months ago
Walked in and was seated right away. Got the diner plate, teriyaki chicken plate, katsu plate, and spam musubi. All were delicious, portions were good, and price was good as well. All for around $55 with good service. Always our go to sushi spot. read more
5 months ago
Nice place but waited 20 mins for a togo Lunch special and it was a Quarter of the breast! what a rip off for 15$ just saying And it was dry The Cali roll was good though read more
Not sure if this place changed names, but it use to be Sushi Diner 2. As you walk up you will see the old Sushi Diner 2 sign. This place is one of our favorites. The dishes are always delicious and look amazing! The service here is superb and the staff is amazing and friendly. read more
6 months ago
Tappi Diner Sushi is quickly becoming one of my go-to spots! Their happy hour is honestly one of the best deals around -- every day of the week, if you buy a large alcoholic drink, you can get food items for just $1.99. I'm talking chicken karaage, fried gyoza, edamame, and more solid options that actually hit the spot. On top of that, their sushi combos are a great value. You can get a nice variety with 4 different 4-piece options for under $25, and the portions are legit. Perfect if you want to try a little bit of everything without breaking the bank. The vibe inside is super fun too -- tiki/Hawaiian with a reggae feel, which makes it a chill place to hang out. Service has always been great when I've gone. Definitely coming back to try more from the menu. Solid spot with good food, good prices, and good energy. read more
I mean.. you guys don't miss! I use any excuse to drive to San Diego just to dine here. Been a true fan for about 8 years now, and I will never stop raving about it. 10/10 service, 10/10 food and prices! Please open a location in LA!!! I love how small and intimate it is. Always clean and ready to serve their loyal customers. Can't wait to return! read more
Tappi Diner has recently taken over the operation of Sushi Diner; hence, the name change and recent upgrades to the menu. Tappi Diner is keeping community beloved items on the menu and at the same time, adding some new items as well. For example, I had the traditional mixed sashimi B with 10 peaces including blue fin tuna, albacore, salmon, yellow tail, and my choice of octopus, and the fried calamari strips. I also ordered two new items: The Sakura roll, a rice-less roll with blue fin tuna on the outside and shrimp tempura and spicy krab on the inside, and the Hang Loose roll with bacon tempura on the inside and tuna and jalapeno on the outside. The Sashimi plate was excellent, and the Sakura roll was not only delicious but spicy given it came with thinly slice habanero on top of the blue fin tuna. The roll is delicious. The Hang Loose roll will satisfy bacon lover's cravings for bacon. The put one long strip of thick tempura fried bacon right down the middle and its flavor and texture is unmistakable. Its a great idea and a terrific roll. The fried calamari strips were good, but could of been a little more tender. They came with a good breading and a nice aioli sauce. The service was very friendly. The sushi chefs make the rolls and sashimi rather quickly, too. They get very busy, for good reason, on Fridays and Saturday evenings, so keep that in mind. It's very cool that they are keeping the Bob Marley theme going. read more
Sushi Diner was one of my favorites back when I lived in SD in 2013. My friends who've moved more recently have enjoyed it since they changed to Tappi and retained staff and menu. The ambiance is fun - they describe as "Jawaiian" (Jamaican-Hawaiian). Only note is that we had to kill a few gnats at our table - I think they come in through the gates. Kind of unavoidable though in SD this time of year. For 3, we split the karaage chicken and edamame appetizer (happy hour portions), Dolphin Cove, Hang Loose, Dragon Bay and Rude Boy special rolls. We got cold sake and Asahi beers for happy hour. On a Thursday evening at 6:30, we had no problem getting a table, and there was plenty of parking in the plaza. Service was super attentive and fast - our waitress was so fun and sweet. We probably could have taken leftovers but we ate everything - it was so good. Also love that the mochi ice cream comes with caramel sauce. So glad sushi diner is still just as good as I remember it. read more
2 months ago
When you love the reggae music food tastes better. Been on a tappi diner binge lately due to realizing that if you order one of their pre fixe sushi combos you get to try at least 4 different rolls for one set price without going broke. Gotta have that spam fried rice too. read more
Tappi Diner has a large selection of sushi for a very reasonable price. A lot of their rolls offer you to choose the type of fish you want and they even have a create your own roll that I want to try next time I come! They have happy hour Monday to Saturday from 5-7 pm where if you buy a large beer you get a small appetizer for $1.99 which is fun as well. It wasn't super busy when I went around 6 pm on a Tuesday so I had no trouble finding a table. The Bob Marley theme adds a fun atmosphere and I look forward to coming back! read more
3 months ago
11 months ago
A Surprise Treat with Tropical Vibes! My son took me here for lunch, and it was such a delightful surprise and a total treat! I had never been before, but the moment you step inside, you're transported. The atmosphere is fantastic--think Bob Marley reggae meets Hawaiian islands, with a great tiki feel and surfboards hanging from the ceiling. The food was absolutely delicious. The highlights for us were the appetizers and the roll. The softshell crab was delicious, and the calamari was fresh and cooked to perfection. I also tried the Big Wednesday roll and it was excellent. This is a great little find for either lunch or dinner. Highly recommend it if you're looking for fantastic sushi in a unique, fun environment! read more
2.5/5 This was my first time trying the new Tappi Diner. I love that they kept the Sushi Diner and Bob Marley theme the same, but I wasn't overall impressed with my experience. My favorite thing about this place is the variety of unique sushi menu items they offer. We got seated right away on a Wednesday evening, but the service was slow as we waited about 20 minutes for the waiter to take our order. There were also a lot of gnats around, so I was swatting away bugs to protect myself and my food. The sushi came in very large portions for the price but lacked quality. The sushis consisted of filler items like imitation crab and rice with only small pieces of fish. This kinda makes sense given the cheaper prices. Overall, I wish I could have enjoyed my food more without the bugs around, especially for an indoor restaurant. read more
5 months ago
Such amazing sushi and the service was amazing!!! Jaleena was so sweet! I'm not sure if I spelled her name right but she was such a sweet person!! Such wonderful service and she was so kind to our little daughter! This was an old date spot for my husband and I and now we brought our little girl. So many great memories with the original Sushi Diner, but now Tappi Diner is continuing the tradition for us!! Highly recommend!! read more
8 months ago
I ordered a Sashimi combo & a Peace sushi combo plate. It was extremely fresh and delicious. They provided plenty of wasabi, soy sauce, and chopsticks. This meal really made my day off great!! I will be back soon! read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
11 months ago
I recently dined here & apparently its now under new management. Unfortunately the experience was disappointing. I ordered a Udon soup that was bland, had tough chicken, and an undercooked egg. In addition, the vegetables were not properly peeled and were quite hard. When I asked the waiter to please replace the soup, my request was denied. I also requested a refund, but that too was refused. The manager never came out to address the issue and remained unapproachable. When i asked to speak to him he asked the waiter to relay his message, that his decision was final. I tried It's clear that the quality and customer service have declined. Don't support this business. read more
2 years ago
Not impressed by this place and will not be returning. The menu was overwhelming with too many options! It was so difficult to find anything that was on the classic side and closer to traditional sushi, everything had a random ingredient that didn't make sense. Additionally, my friend pointed out a baby silverfish crawling on our table to the end of our meal, which basically stopped our party from finishing our food. That alone gave me enough reason never to return! I can get better quality sushi elsewhere without having to worry about bugs on me or potentially in my food. It's safe to say that neither me nor my party will ever return here again. read more
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More info about Tappi Diner
10330 Friars Rd
Ste 114
San Diego, CA 92120
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(619) 281-6448
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https://www.tappidiner.com
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Ask the Community - Tappi Diner
Description mentions vegan options but I did not see any veggie rolls on the menu... am I missing something?
They have 5 vege rolls in their menu: Avocado Cucumber Avocado Tempura…
Are they open for dine-in again for lunch & dinner?
Yes they are. First come first serve
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