Are you a fan of Japanese food and living in San Diego? If you are, you simply must check out the top six Japanese restaurants in San Diego. Learn about each restaurant and its menu, locale convenience, prices, atmosphere, service and, most importantly, the quality of the food.
Benihana at 477 Camino Del Rio South, (619) 298-4666
No review of Japanese restaurants in San Diego could begin without paying homage to the quintessential Japanese eatery that has begun a still continuing trend in 1964. Serving lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM (brunch is served Saturday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM) and dinner Monday through Sunday beginning at 5:00 PM (4:30 PM on Sundays) and lasting until 10:00 PM (an hour later on Friday and Saturday, but a half hour earlier on Sunday), the most sought after dining experience is sushi. Of course being a steakhouse, they do serve teppanyaki meat dishes that are prepared with flair by knife wielding chefs not afraid to show off in front of an awed audience. Expect to spend about $20 for lunch and twice as much for dinner. Dinner reservations are encouraged.
Tomiko at 87 Encinitas Boulevard
Throwing open the doors daily at 5:00 PM, San Diego residents flock to this local hot sport for Sake City where big screen TVs make this one of the Japanese restaurants in San Diego where Raiders fans can watch the game and bemoan the good old days. Show up for happy hour Sunday through Thursday at 5:00 PM on the dot, and until 6:30 PM you will enjoy $3 hot sakes and half off sushi rolls. Sure, they have beautiful tables for romantic dinners, but by and large this is the local spot for sushi at a lounge.
Todai at 2828 Camino Del Rio South, (619) 299-8996
If you are serious about sushi, then this is one of the Japanese restaurants in San Diego you simply cannot afford to miss. Granted, it is billed as a Japanese seafood buffet (all you can eat!) but with more than 50 kind of sushi, the stuffed crab shell or baked salmon does take a backseat to the experience. Nor surprisingly, the restaurant has won the San Diego Union Tribune readers’ poll! Combining modern chrome and glass elements with traditional Japanese motives of sloping lines and earth tone colors, the ambiance is stunning and you will not be disappointed by the experience. Lunch is priced at $17.95 on weekend days but only runs $15.95 during the week. Dinner costs $26.95 over the weekend but is a dollar cheaper on weekdays. Seniors 65 and over will enjoy 20% off their dinners! Served from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (3:00 PM on Sundays) lunch is then replaced with the dinner dishes which are served from 5:30 PM (5:00 PM on Saturdays) until 9:00 PM.
O-Nami at 1640 Camino Del Rio North, (619) 295-9774
The two dueling Japanese restaurants in San Diego that rely solely on the seafood buffet lure are Todai and O-Nami. Sushi variations are not as plentiful (40 kinds of sushi) but the availability of Gunkan Maki-Sushi more than makes up for the “lack” of quantity. Their real claim to fame is the Dynamite (baked scallops and shrimp with a special sauce). Take out and catering is available, but you will be wise to plan on coming in and eating there. Lunch costs $14.95 ($2 more on weekends and holidays) and dinner runs $23.95 during the week and a dollar more on the weekend. Less upscale than its main competitor, it is a great spot for taking the kids or for teens to gather. Students love this place for its hip décor and also the reasonable pricing of the food.
Sushi Itto at 441 Washington Street, (619) 291 6060
With so many Japanese restaurants in San Diego serving sushi, it is not surprising that this one is no exception; consumers however do not flock here for the sushi but instead for the skewers that are to die for! The Kushiage is a favorite for kids and priced at $1.25 to $1.45 a cheap way to keep the little ones happy. Tempuras and combination dishes are also available, and this restaurant has the look and feel of a fast food Japanese restaurant. Open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM and an hour later on Fridays and Saturdays, this is a great place to feed the entire family for cheap. If you feel daring, try the Mexican inspired Cuauhtemitto Roll with Serrano peppers.
Nobu at 207 Fifth Avenue, (619) 814-4124
A Hard Rock Hotel offering, when it comes to Japanese restaurants in San Diego that are celebrity magnets, Nobu takes the cake. Partially owned by Hollywood actor Robert DeNiro, reservations are an absolute must and you want to get on the ball early on, because this restaurant books a month ahead! Dinner is served from 5:30 PM until 10:30 PM Mondays through Thursdays, an hour later on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 10:00 PM on Sundays. Happy hour runs from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. This is an upscale dining experience and appropriate dress and enough room on your credit card is highly recommended. High end dishes, such as lobster ceviche, are served along a plethora of other offerings that will have your taste buds sing. Finish it with a dessert wine, such as a 1976 Madeira, and you know you had a good meal.
