This was the perfect choice for a warm, hearty meal paired with an adorable ambiance. My friends…read moreand I came on a Wednesday evening and we were sat outside due to the inside being packed full. The staff were super friendly and accommodating, offering to move us as soon as something inside opened up, but the night was beautiful and we loved the outside vibes anyways. Throughout the meal, the service was also top quality. We were checked on consistently and everyone was very kind. For drinks, we tried the strawberry soda, matcha latte with whole milk, and the iced earl grey lavender milk tea. The matcha had a satisfying earthy flavor to it, but my favorite had to be the milk tea. Those earl grey and lavender flavors were vibrantly present with each sip, complementing each other deliciously. After serious debating, we ending up with four food options: The hayashi omurice, chicken karaage, tuna mayo bakudan onigiri, and the hatsuzakara curry. The omurice was definitely my favorite of the night, followed closely by the karaage! The only thing I wasn't satisfied with was the onigiri which just fell on the bland side in comparison with all the other amazing food. Still, the filling was tasty once I broke through the mountain of rice! Overall, this was a great experience for my friends and I, and we would definitely recommend others to try it out!! It was the perfect place to be for some warm comfort food.

Was planning on coming in for a good tea drink and ended up eating a early dinner and not getting…read moresushi. Great find and I'm a very cozy space. Order a very tasty and tea forward Yozakura Milk Tea, Hayashi Omurice, Bakudan Onigiri with pickled plum, Coffee Jelly, and the Mushi Pudding. Favorite was probably the milk tea and desserts with the omurice coming in right behind. Service was great as well. Amazing staff!

This place is where you want to go to experience authentic Japanese food…read more We have been going here for years. The staff is very nice and efficient. I usually order the grilled mackerel. It is perfectly cooked. A little crispy on the outside and moist on the inside..

Was so excited to try this place because I saw so many good reviews, but honestly ended up kinda…read moredisappointed Food was just okay, nothing really wow. The assorted fish bowl didn't taste fresh enough, and the uni pasta was honestly not good at all so sad lol. The other dishes were okay, but the raw octopus was kinda salty for me. It's also kinda pricey, and honestly I don't think it was worth the price. The service was nice tho! And the place is small and cute, with that kinda old-school vibe.

I have heard amazing things about Azuki. So was super excited to final it try it! We had…read morereservations at 6pm. We showed up on time but still had to wait 20 mins to get out table, which wasnt really ideal. But they did offer us free nigiri to make up for it was a nice touch. We sat at the sushi bar which was cool to see the chefs in action. They also had seating outside and a second floor as well. I got the strawberry matcha cocktail. This had to one my favorite cocktails in SD! The strawberry flavor was so fresh. And the fact that there wasn't an ounce of green but the matcha flavor still comes through was amazing! For sushi, I got the bluefin four ways. If your a fan if tuna I would highly recommend, it was delicious and a nice way to try the different cuts of tuna. We also got 2 nigiris, sake toro and scallops. Both also amazing. The rolls we got were the Rainbow Roll and the Super Dragon. Both delicious. One thing I do appreciate is that they use real blue crab instead of imitation crab. Will definitely come back! And highly recommend anyone to try it out!

Came for our anniversary dinner. Food was great! There were some hiccups in service but they did a…read morenice job trying to make up for it. We made a reservation at the sushi bar so we could see them making all the rolls which was fun. We ordered the bluefin four ways, rainbow roll, super dragon and the sake toro and scallop nigiri. We got two of their cocktails as well. My favorites were the rolls and the sake toro. I usually prefer salmon so I didn't try the bluefin but my partner enjoyed it. The rolls were a good size and all the flavors were well balanced and tasted fresh.

Excellent food , great service . Sushi Ota has been a…read moreclassic Japanese restaurant in Mission Bay of San Diego . Reservation is a must even if you dine in a weekday . We ordered the OTO B set , one order of the Tokusen nigiri, 3 pc shrimp tempura and Matcha ice cream . To be continued...

Very good sushi in an unsuspecting spot near a 7-11 off the freeway. Service was solid and food…read morecame out very quickly. The o toro sashimi melts in your mouth. Worth every penny. Overall, this place is pricey like most sushi spots in San Diego. Ambiance is nice, it looks nothing like you'd expect from the outside.

Recently came here for my boyfriend's birthday dinner celebration. It is a small restaurant with…read morelimited seating - so it's recommended to make reservations early. I made a reservation for 5 people, just a few days earlier before going. When you get there, they give you a menu and you can write down how many orders of each you would like. We did order quite a few. I wish I had taken more pictures. Our favorites : the karaage chicken, edamame beans, kimchi (SO good), pork belly, beef skewers, chicken meatball We did order some steamed oysters - it was more like an oyster soup with 3 whole oysters in it. We were not a fan of the broth. Also ordered some chicken thigh skewers, quail eggs, bacon wrapped asparagus, and a few other items that I wish I can remember haha! Overall it was a great time and the staff were really friendly. They made it a great birthday experience for my boyfriend and even brought him out an ice cream with a candle for his birthday! I'm glad we got to try a wide variety of items on their menu, and would go back just for their kimchi, chicken meatball, and pork belly skewers! We live walking distance here, and it would be nice to walk over for a Sapporo and some skewers for a date night!

This place is sooo close to our apartment. Surprised it took us this long to visit this spot. Super…read moresmall restaurant, but the vibe is good. Make a rez if you get a chance or just go right when they open at 5 to snag a bar seat. Warning- you may be asked to be finished before a certain, which wasn't a problem for us at all and we didn't feel rushed which is a plus. Love that you get to see the chefs cook (grill) in front you at the bar. Their menu is simple which I say is always a good thing. Unfortunately there were a couple of skewers I wasn't fond of- like the beef tongue. Listen, I've had beef tongue prepared in a variety of ways including yakitori style, but this one just wasn't up to par... The tongue still tasted like tongue. I know that sounds weird, but it's like they didn't clean it very well- which in turn made it taste & smell like part of the cow still and I am not down with that. Also, the chicken thigh wasn't as cooked as I thought it would be... Maybe it's suppose to be prepared that way? IDK. That was also a no for me. The highlights were everything else! It's cute that they keep the bone in when you order the chicken wing. It's butterflied on the skewer, different. Loved all the pork items we got as well as the beef skewers. Their takoyaki [$7.50] was super good too! Skewers range from $3.75 to $7.00 each with 3-4 pcs a skewer. Everyone that helped us was friendly! Big parking lot and the restaurant was nicely kept. The ice cream dessert topped us off in such a good way. We'll be back to try more skewers and more of their menu.

my partner and I came for the first time and we had a great experience. it's a small place so we…read morewere put on a 45 min waitlist, it was worth the wait. the service was so quick and attentive, you can tell the staff cares. the food was great! the panko crust was crispy and delicious, simple yet flavorful. the coleslaw salad on the side balances the pork katsu perfectly. i loved the interior, it felt very intimate. overall great place, great experience, we will be coming again.

Overall: 4.5 -Came here for lunch so that might have…read moreimpacted our experience and also note it's a limited menu of just the main Katsu dishes without any of the main tapas. Food: 4.5/5 We orderd the Deluxe Katsu and the Katsu Curry Deluxe Katsu w/ Pork Loin (4.5/5) -The Pork Katsu was lightly breaded which was nice, but still was a bit soggy despite the silver grate they served it on. The light breading was a nice touch so it wasn't overly oily. The katsu sauce was a nice compliment. The shrimp and the scallops were the standouts though. The Shrimp was nicely fried and the cream sauce was delicous. And the best was the scallops, nicely cooked and the ponzu sauce was delicious. However, as odd as it'll sound, the tastiest part of the dish was the cabbage salady, it comes with some nicely thinned sliced onions and dressing but the cabbage was so lightly and fluffy. I almost wanted to eat the pork, just so i could pair it with the light/crispy cabbage. Katsu Curry (3.5/5) -The pork loin slices are a bit thinner, so it's not as much meat as the standalone Pork Katsu Loin, but it's nice to come with the curry. Note the curry is a more savory/meat curry, It doesn't come with any vegetables like carrots/potatoes (don't know if that's sacrilegious to say), but it left a bit to be desired from a flavor profile. I would order the Pork Loin Katsu by itself next time. Service: 4/5 The service was fine. They were attentive amidst a busy Saturday. But, it wasn't top of the mark. Granted their price point, isn't going to be giving super attentive service, but they were polite and provided a spoon for my miso soup. They didn't check in after food was served if we needed anything until after majority of food was eaten.

Such a cute hole‑in‑the‑wall spot on the tail end of Kensington! I had no idea this place existed…read morefor 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.

I came here a couple weeks ago for the first time to celebrate a birthday, and it was a good…read moreexperience. It definitely helped to make a reservation as there's very limited seating, but even though it is a small space inside, I did not feel cramped. There's also outdoor seating available, but I'd much prefer to sit indoor for the atmosphere. The food for the most part was very good and enjoyable. Although there are a couple items that I would never order again, such as the seared wagyu tapa--it is a very cheap cut and the easily the most disappointing item I had on the menu. Overall, I enjoyed my dining experience and my server was very nice and attentive. I would come dine here again, especially for the chicken katsu.

I've been coming here since probably 2016-2017, and it used to be the best unknown place for…read moreauthentic Japanese food, like if you close your eyes tight and eat your food. You feel like you're in Tokyo. Alas, right before COVID social media blew it up and now there is always a line and a wait, I'm sure the business is happy but I miss my local late night after work izikaya. None the less. I still frequent as much as possible. The wait is the biggest deterrent if I'm hungry hungry. I'd suggest, especially if a party bigger than 2, showing up early to put your name on the list. The decor- classic traditional izikaya, if you've been to Japan, you know. Beer, sake, and tons of options for small plates and sushi to share, and of course some amazing ramen. Service- we've always had great service here, the staff is Japanese so for those looking for the "American" style service, may be a bit off putting. No large smiles and how is your day, it's more what would you like to eat and let me get it for you. The food, the food always brings me back. Jelly fish salad- always a must to start Negi Hama - we ordered 2 this time to share cause it was so good Hamachi Kama- because duh, it was perfectly cooked and tasted AMAZING!! Player 2 got the Hakata ramen and I got the Shoyu. I always go back and forth, honestly you can't go wrong with either. If you like the thicker more rich broth though I'd say stick with the Hakata. Eel donburi- we are big backs and like to eat, don't skip on this one. It is amazing All and all, if you enjoy authentic Japanese food, served unabashedly in a Japanese setting, this is the place for you.

Absolutely enjoyed this restaurant! It is located in a small plaza with limited parking. We came…read morearound 9 and waited about 20 mins before we were able to get a table. We ordered drinks first. Their green tea was soooo delicious! I also enjoyed their alcohol options. Each dish is sooo delicious and definitely worth the money! A must get here is definitely the tuna carpaccio!! it's soooooo good! We ended ordering it twice. There were still a good amount of people when we finished. A lot of people catching up. Vibes were great!

I haven't been to yakyudori in many years! I have been to the original location back in hillcrest…read more I do miss the zousui (chicken rice porridge), miss the chicken skin and cartilages. I am glad they are still serving cherry tomatoes, garlic skewer, and quail egg skewers. Not many places offer these items. Those are my favorite! I had chicken hearts, liver, bacon asparagus wrap, beef tongue, quail eggs, pork shiso, beef tongue etc. We ate so much! It felt warm and cozy inside. I do miss the old atmosphere feel back then when it was smaller and it was mostly Japanese people working inside at the same time I am also glad they expanded and more diverse people in. Cool they offer ramen speed challenge. If you eat under 2 minute that ramen will be on the house. Organ meats has more protein, iron, coq10, collagen to name some of health benefits. This is nutritious dinner and much healthier than going to Korean bbq. I will be back because they are still serving some of the items other competitors arent serving. Plus I was able to do walk in without making reservations. Don't forget to grab Japanese style snow cone dessert next door for dessert. It's the same owner.

It was our first visit here and on this rainy day in San Diego, we wanted something cozy. We were…read moreseated right away as a party of 4. The dining room is small to medium sized so I'm sure you'd have to call ahead for larger parties. We got the spicy tonkotsu ramen, a tuna poke bowl, miso soup and a mini chicken teriyaki. All the food flavors of what we ordered were bland except for chicken teriyaki. They got my spicy tonkotsu ramen bowl wrong- it was missing the bbq pork and I ordered the bowl regular with no modifications. Our customer service experience was also pretty lacking, we didn't have much attention or care for our experience. They looked grumpy also and when we were there weren't that many patrons. 2 things about the facility that was pretty concerning: the floors were extremely slippery; it was a rainy day but it wasn't from that. There was water on my way to finding the restroom and it was extremely slippery. The restroom was dirty and had lots of graffiti everywhere.

simply fantastic! will redefine your experience and expectations of yakitori. superior ingredients…read moreand masterful grilling

Yum! Chef Tsuta does it again! Honestly, this is literally THE BEST yakitori experience. Chef…read morehimself is fairly quiet, but the dining experience is very personalized because there's only 6-7ppl at each seating. Reservation required. The omakase is totally worth ($120). On select days, they have à la carte option available for the 2nd seating ~8:15pm. Of the add-on options (not included in the omakase), highly recommend: miso marinated cheese & the grilled riceball. Yakitori Tsuta is a San Diego solid! What a (not-so-hidden) gem!!