50 Best Sushi Bars in San Diego

“Amazing omakase, friendly and knowledgeable staff“

“Fantastic fresh food; great sushi bar. Wonderful service from Kaz. I highly recommend..best sushi and sashimi around!“

“Ichifuji Sushi was a major highlight of our family trip to San Diego. The atmosphere is very friendly and the shop itself has a great feel to it.
The chef was exceptional—not only was he incredibly kind, but he was also extremely good at explaining the details of every dish. One technical detail I really appreciated was his use of a 30-day fermented ponzu sauce. It effectively balanced the richness of the fish and acted as a perfect palate cleanser between courses.
The food was unforgettable, specifically:
• Lobster Sashimi: This was unbelievable and easily the best thing I had. I never realized lobster could be so naturally sweet.
• Sea Urchin: The uni was my second favorite—superb quality and very fresh.
I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for top-tier sushi and a warm, personal atmosphere!“

“Wonderful ambiance and even our great VP of the US came to eat there. Compliments 👏 🙌 Sashimi and homemade ice cream 😊“

“The shrimp head moving scared the crap out of me but everything was delicious and awesome“

“This was the BEST sushi we have ever had. The entire experience was so wonderful. We left feeling relaxed and happy. Highly recommend this place and the staff were all fantastic and very attentive.“

“Salmon Kama was perfectly grilled. Really fatty and delicious. This place is underrated. Prices are great. Ingredients are super fresh. We also had the lemon glow and spicy tuna rolls and both were amazing. There was great service and good vibes all around. There was easy reggae playing and everyone was chatting and having a good afternoon! I know this restaurant is new, but I hope it becomes a mainstay in Hillcrest- it’s super good! If you don’t drink like us, you can have a multiple course meal for $30 per person 🤙“

“Fabulous sushi. I’ve been looking for a spot near me to ages and finally found one. Gets busy in the evenings but they were turning tables over and getting to us quickly so no big deal to wait. Ordering for takeout on their website is quick and easy too. Highly recommend!“

“The food is SO good. The chef was super friendly and nice. We can’t wait to go back. 😄“

“The sushi is amazing...baked salmon roll and Philly rolls are my go to!“

“This was the best sushi I have ever had.
The san diego roll and Tuna special( forgot name) was good. Yellowtail was extremely fresh. Had gyoza and calamari which was also delicious. Service was amazing. I wish I lived in SD, I would be coming here often.“

“My husband and I were able to get a fast reservation with the Quick Omakase Experience. The experience was ~ 1 hour.

This was our second visit (first one was the full omakase, several years ago).

Majority of the group was already seated for a full Omakase experience. Chef TJ served us at a great pace even though we had a slightly different menu than the rest.

Fish was fresh and there was an option to add on more nigiri at the end.

Chef TJ and staff were kind and refilled my tea throughout the night.“

“Small, loud but a nice place for sushi and sashimi. Sashimis are fresh and delicious. Chef Kun set and Bay Ho Rolls are really delicious. Also our waiter Aeden, who is super nice, recommended Fire Fire Roll and it was also beyond expectation.“

“Amazing vegan sushi !! Definitely coming back!“

“This is a solid option if you’re craving sushi at a local spot 🍣✨ Overall, the experience was really good. The fish tasted fresh, the rolls were flavorful, and everything felt nicely prepared. You can tell they focus on quality ingredients, which always makes a big difference.
The only small downside was that they were a little stingy with the wasabi and ginger — I personally prefer having a bit more on the side. 😅 Still, that’s an easy fix and didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the meal.
We chose to sit outside, and the setup definitely gave off those early Covid social-distancing patio vibes. It works, but it could probably use a refresh to make it feel more modern and inviting. 🪑🌿 The good news is we arrived around 6:30 pm on a Saturday and didn’t have to wait at all, which was a pleasant surprise! 🙌
All in all, it’s a dependable, tasty sushi spot that I’d happily return to when I’m in the mood for something fresh and satisfying. 😊“

“I haven’t come here in over a year, but I think it’s time to address my issues. Back then I used to think it was decent, definitely not the most authentic sushi, but it was still pretty good. I still think it’s okay, but I feel like the quality and portions of food are inconsistent, some days it tastes good and some days it tastes like 💩. The drinks are good and overall I think this place is okay but just fix the portions and quality. 👍“

“They were very busy when we got there and there was a bit of a wait for a party of 4 but once we were inside they were very friendly and quick to take our order and quick to serve our food. The rolls were really yummy. Everything tasted fresh and the veggie tempura roll was very big. We were very full by the end of the meal and took home leftovers.“

“Such a nice place to eat Japanese Food, just the right amount of tables, the service is excellente and the Food...no words can describe it, you have to come and eat it, so delicious, I think it's a must when you come to San Diego, you have to make a reservation, I truly reommend it... 💯“

“Great food...would definitely recommend this restaurant 😍“

“WOW ! One of the best experience I have dining out! We were there for my daughter's birthday but think I enjoyed it more than she did. We went through a wonderful 20 course meal ... each one elevating in taste and texture. Chef Maru was very fun, engaging and of all things a VERY fine host and chef. If you are not shy, kanpay with him and your guests and keep it going, he has one of the best sake pairings that I have had. Also his staff were wonderful and was on top of their game. Definitely one for the books!“

“Fantastic food quality. Purist food.“

“I always have fantastic service and wonderfully tasty food every time I come here. This visit was no exception.“

“Best sushi ever, very friendly“

“This place is wonderful....Good Japanese Traditional Sushi and Modern American Rolls for the Non Japanese. good service and quality is good.“

“Amazing place, beautiful experience with magnificent food.
People who work there are really knowledgeable and kind.

The food is DELICIOUS and affordable!!!
Delicate food with sake pairing makes the experience unique. A must try. I don't usually drink but the glass of sake served with the meal made the difference.

100% recommend.“

“This is honestly my absolute favorite pho place in San Diego. My favorite thing to get here is the pho tai and it hits everytime. I have tried other things here as well and everything else I tried was also delicious but I am a SUCKER for their pho broth. Not only is their food amazing the staff is incredibly friendly and I get excellent service every single time. If you haven’t been here already.. you really should !!“

“all is good!“

“One word: Bitersweet
I was on my birthday trip when i went to moment sushi, im from Virginia so im SO SAD im so far but SO GLAD i went! It's been a month and i still dream about these Handrolls. From the food, to the ambience, to the staffs knowledge and from how they treat you when you first come in til when you leave? AMAZING.
The appetizers were my favorite, I'm a tuna gal so ofcourse we got the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice & the Bluefin Tuna Ponzu Wasabi (don't skip this one trust me - especially if you love tuna).

This is what I ordered for hand rolls:
Pictured Bottom Hand rolls (left to right): Albacore with mango ceviche, Hamachi with jalapeño, Panko shrimp tempura w tartar sauce, Tuna poke with crispy rice, Unagi with Avocado
Our server was so nice and advised me to eat the Unagi first since it came out hot (I agree should be eaten first BUT It's SOO GOOD i wish i would have ordered 2 one to start and one to finish) everything else was good - id probably skip the shrimp with tartar sauce.

We were lucky (we didn't have a reservation) but managed to snag a table outside in one of their heated bubbles. (They were so kind to offer a blanket as well)

Please know if I'm EVER in San Diego this is my first Dinner Stop.“

“Our first time after trying places when Akai Hana and we loved it. it's clean, inviting, friendly and the food/sushi is quality! We will be back.“

“We love Kappa! Good food Good service Good vibe“

“Very good food(and affordable), clean service, not outstanding, but was good overall. The atmosphere was calm and easy to talk in, a great experience. I loved the tvs streaming movies/the world cup. Would recommend if you are yearning Japanese food!“

“It’s a large store that has a bit of everything—from Japanese snacks to cosmetics and quirky items. The place is clean, and the service is friendly and attentive; I’d definitely recommend a visit—it’s worth it, because once you step inside, you’re sure to end up buying at least one thing.“

“Great service! Jas and Deanna were so nice and friendly. Gotta try the Brussel sprouts.“

“Eaten here numerous times. Excellent quality food, and service. Equivalent to San Francisco Bay Area Japanese restaurants..which are outstanding.“

“Inspiring, creative menu that rivals the best menus in the world. Surprising affordable and unforgettably crafted cocktails. Entire staff is friendly, approachable and highly knowledgeable.“

“Best sushi in San Diego at reasonable prices! Delicioso!!!“

“Decent experience. The gentleman at the register was nice enough, though the other 2 guys looked a bit tired and frustrated, but then again…the group of kids in front of me seemed a bit demanding, so there’s that. It was a little bit of a wait, but the sushi was definitely made fresh and it tasted good.“

“Sai Japanese Bistro is one of those places we always come back to. The fish is consistently fresh, everything is amazing and really well done, and the service just feels genuinely welcoming. It’s an easy go-to when we want something comforting but still a little special.“

“Good experience! Friendly atmosphere“

“I have been going here for 25 years. The best Sushi in San Diego hands down.“

“very good food and service“

““Japanese restaurant with amazing quality of fish”

ㅇ (Taste) Both sashimi and sushi are aged amazingly. The taste of fish at a high-quality Japanese restaurant.
- Truffle-topped sushi may be a bit complicated, but the taste of fish is the best.
- If you order the $34 chef's set, you get 6 pieces of rolls, 4 pieces of sashimi, and 6 pieces of sushi. Good value for money
ㅇ (Service) Friendliness. The server continuously checks the meal status. And the food came out super fast.
ㅇ (Atmosphere) Cleanliness inside and outside the store. The spacing is wide so you can relax. There are lots of seats, but it's not noisy at all.“

“Great place to grab some sushi and ramen for the kids! They have the Japanese soda's the kids loved as a "special" drink. This is a must try secret sushi spot! You gotta have the amazing fried rice. Cheers.“

“What's not to love? Went for omakase with a friend and throughly enjoyed every morsel. Fresh and tasty across the board. Inventive bites and flavour combinations, great pairings of seafood with local ingredients, impeccable service and atmosphere, really top notch across every metric. Would highly recommend for a special occasion.“

“Great service Great food Delicious 😊😊“

“Getting a 5 star overall for the food, since that’s the point of coming to sushiman! My first time coming here ever and the atmosphere was nice, quiet but with some nice music in the back, nice decorations and just a cute environment without doing the most, just cozy and chill type off vibes. The food was great, tasted amazing, zero complaints about it. Ordering food wasn’t an issue at all, I didn’t feel rushed by the cashier (that’s always a thing for me) but she was patient. My only complaint will be is, they should bring out the plates for customers who are dining in, I don’t know I just think it’s a nice gesture, and if a place like Carl’s Jr can do it, then they could as well for the price we are paying. Kinda of a hurry up and eat type of thing:P“

“My wife and I decided to hit this fun restaurant up for the last night of our honeymoon here in San Diego. It was busy and the hardest part of our experience was just the parking. We eventually found a spot and got it. We decided to sit at the bar instead of waiting for a table for two which was not a bad idea. The bar tender was super friendly and helpful. While we don’t drink alcohol or anything it was a nice place to sit for our dinner. We decided to order the Halibut fish and chips and the Pescado rolled tacos. They were great! The sauces for both the rolled tacos and the fish and chips were the bomb. Idk what the red sauce was for my rolled tacos but it was amazing. Over all we lover the place and would visit again if we come back to town. The only negative about the place is the fish smell but it’s worth it as A you get great fresh fish (seafood) and B you can’t smell it after 5 minutes of being in the restaurant anyways. Over all 5/5 for us!“

“When we lived in San Diego we were up the street from Obi's and we went at least twice a week. I still talk about it years later. If you are in the area definitely stop in its definitely worth the trip.“

“Loved the smooth flavors, quality ingredients, so attentive and kind staff, and comfortable and inviting atmosphere! The miso soup and sushi rolls have an excellent balance of texture, temperature, and flavor. We loved how each piece of sushi held together in a single, mouth-filling bite. Chef also provided us with a generous serving of edemame and ginger. Their hot green tea was brewed just right, and we could taste a pleasant sweetness with every sip. And their affogato carajillo was just the perfect balance of robust espresso, vanilla ice cream, and liicor, creating a rich, velvety aromatic drink. Thank you to all the Taka team!“

“it looks delicious never tried it I live in Puerto Rico USA used to live in California and ate sushi twice a week so I know west coast sushi, sashimi, miso etc. are the best your pics sure make me hungry thanks for sharing I would eat the entire tray 🍣🍤🍣🍤🍣🍤🍣“