Hands down the FRESHEST sashimi spot has to be
SUSHI OTA
4529 Mission Bay Drive San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 270-5047
Words don't even describe the quality of the food here. It's truly AUTHENTIC and FRESH Japanese sushi without stepping foot into Japan. Your bill might run 100+ for 2 people but it's worth the money. While other places may focus more on creative and innovative sushi rolls; Sushi Ota is the prime place to be for sashimi. I love the uni (sea urchin), Otoro (you have to try it), yellowtail belly, salmon belly, hotate (scallop), and their golden eye. Everything just melts in your mouth. You just can't get enough of this place if you're a sushi lover like I am. It was like music in my ears when my brother said to me we were going to Sushi Ota and it was his treat; we definitely didn't hold back that night. But I strongly suggest you call ahead for reservations because they get book up fast.
I <3 This Place!
Tokyo Sushi Loha, San Diego CA (located on El Cajon Blvd)
6784 El Cajon Blvd # D, San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 644-8600
One of my FAVORITE sushi restaurants in San Diego. I started going here when I was in college because it was relatively close to the campus. I've taken all my friends and family here and have had no complaints yet. I love their creative presentations; everything is work of art. Their fish is fresh and proportions are generous. This place is always packed. The sushi chefs at the bar are fun to interact with especially the owner Kenny (guy in the picture below). Let's not forget the music that they play; you'll feel as though you're in a club. They mix some of the most up to date songs that makes you want to dance in your seat. This is definitely not a quiet restaurant ;p Just recently, we celebrated my friend's birthday and we had a wonderful time. They brought her out a plate of green tea ice cream served with cream, gave us flashlight rings, and balloons. My favorite would have to be their sweet plum ice cream <3 Go to Tokyo for sushi ;p
I get FRESH SUSHI here every week!
Sushi Yaro, San Diego CA
7905 Engineer Rd, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 560-1782
This place has made me come back every week since I first tried it (which is only month ago). That alone should tell you how good this place is. I first heard about it from my brother and he had offered to take me here and try the sushi (that hardly ever comes out of his mouth). But I went here with my friend on my first time and we've gone back once every week LITERALLY. This place impressed us on our first time and hasn't stopped since. Chef Sam (who is in the picture) serves up quite a menu. His fish selection is the FRESHEST! My favorites have to be the red snapper, yellowtail, salmon, monkfish liver (and the pickled garlic that comes with it), and toro (when he has it). His sushi roll ingredients are perfectly balanced. Take his 'OH MY GOD' roll for instance, it's probably one of his popular rolls that has spicy tuna conbined with habanaro chile that makes you wanting more even though you get a spicy kick in every bite. He claims he can make it as spicy as you want and I believe him. Then there's the 'One Night Stand' roll which is his on the spot creation; you'll never get it the same way twice. He offers $3 lunch specials and $5 spicy ramen specials. The big bowl of noodles below was the size of a mixing bowl and it was only $5. The pork ribs in my noodles were tender and were marinated well enough that I tasted the marinade from beginning to the end; it tasted like it was in a soysauce or teriyaki marinade. Chef Sam is very generous and EVERYTIME I've come here, there's been rounds of sake bombs on the house. This place is also a hidden place; it sits on one of the inside streets off the main street of Convoy. I've taken several of my friends here and I've had no complaints yet; I even introduced red snapper to one of my friends and she loved it. Chef Sam originally owned this place under the name Convoy Sushi, he then sold it and did a year of travel, and then bought it back and now operates under the name Sushi Yaro. And did I mention I <3 the waitresses that work there; they're awesome. I don't think I can ever get enough of this place so join me this week ;p
Love <3 Boat Sushi
11611 Rancho Bernardo Road, San Diego, CA 92127-1412
(858) 451-7799 loveboatsushi.com
I definitely had love for the sushi at the Love Boat restaurant. This place was recommended to me by a co-worker and I'm glad I finally tried it. The venue was pretty big. The food was top notch and you can tell they serve high quality fish here. Our toro sashimi was excellent. If you're familiar with toro, you should know that it ranges from $10-$15 for 2 pieces but our plate was only $28. It was so worth it!!! My order of live scallop was beautifully plated (kind of romantic with the lit candle and sake bottle) and tasted beautifully fresh; it was live afterall ;p Presentation was an A+ throughout the night thanks to our sushi chef John (whom studied culinary arts back in Korea). The staff was very attentive towards us even when we sat at the bar ;) They really get into the birthday celebrations here; they turn off the lights and starts to sing and dance for the birthday guests ;p This place has now become one of my top choices for sushi and John (my very cute and happily married sushi chef) never fails to impress me ;p Fresh food...friendly staff...what else can I ask for...how about more sushi???
It's true what they say...money does buy happiness at...
TAKA SUSHI
555 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101-6913
(619) 338-0555 www.takasushi.com
Taka sushi is really FRESH OUT OF THE WATER SUSHI but it's advised you go in expecting to pay a little bit more for it. Taka is located in Downtown of San Diego and because of the general location, the menu is a little more pricey than a normal sushi restaurant found elsewhere. My co-worker and I went here afterwork one day and just between the two of us and double the order of the pictures above, our bill came out to be around $140 (so $70 each). We had toro which is generally pricey tuna belly (so I wasn't too surprised at the price of it) and it melted in my mouth. I had ordered the hotate (scallop nigiri) and I loved it; they prepared it just the way I like it...whole pieces of scallop lay flat on a bed of rice...not like some places that chop up some small scallops and put it on there. The sake (salmon) was nicely thick and fresh. The squid on shiso was crunchy and tasty. My friend says their live shrimp was really good; I'm sure it was fresh because it was live and the tentacles on the heads were still moving. They offered to either tempura fry or throw the heads into miso soup for us and we chose the miso soup which came out pretty good. And we loved their uni (sea urchin)...we couldn't get enough of it. You can tell from the pores (that looks like a tongue) it was very fresh and creamy. I think the only factor that is a setback into dining here is the price, but I wouldn't mind coming here from time to time because the food is really fresh.
You might catch a fish or something better at
BlueFin Sushi
4305 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 677-0558 http://bluefinfusion.com/
Tried this place with friend as a way to escape the traffic on the freeway during rush hour. Boy was I glad I did. After a dance class, I was hungry for good sushi. I ordered the king scallop with uni as appetizer because I like the 2 components by themselves so I was excited to see how they would be combined. Best combination ever! It is a mouth watering sensation ;p I love the texture of the soft and fresh scallop with the uni melting in your mouth each bite. We then had the crispy rice with spicy tuna sushi. It wasn't quite a roll so I'm not calling it a roll; I would consider it to be a snack plate. It was clusters of fried rice topped with fresh and spicy tuna and jalepeno peppers. It was interesting combination of the spice from the tuna and pepper with the crispiness of the rice. And our main roll was the 'Crazy roll'. This was the sushi roll that had everything in it: spicy albacore and shrimp tempura inside; avocado, crab, and popcorn shrimp on the outside. So many different textures but it was crazy good ;p Of course we can't end a meal without dessert so we got the fancy one of all. We got the 'Raspberry mascarpone Adelia'. First off, you wouldn't want to break it because it looks beautiful. And I don't know whether they make at the restaurant or it's brought in because it's so decadent ;) It was the fab of desserts <3 So yes I will be dining here again especially since they're open late too ;p
Yummy Sushi can be found at
Yummy Sushi, San Diego CA
11835 Carmel Mountain Rd., Ste 1305, San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 673-2279 www.yummysushisd.com
With a name like yummy sushi, wouldn't you want to try it out and see how yummy is it ;p I can't remember how long ago I've started to come here for sushi. Obviously it was yummy for me the first time for me to continue coming back. Their sushi is a little on the pricey side due to it's location. If you don't mind paying a little bit more for good food then do come here. I enjoy their rolls and I enjoy their sashimi salad. Their service can be a little slow but take this time and work up a good conversation with either your friends or the sushi chefs ;p And just a plus, I always find myself in amazement when it comes to their fish tank; it's like a Finding Nemo tank ;p
Good is in it's name and food
Goody's Sushi & Grill
340 West 26th St # East, National City, CA 91950
(619) 477-4845 goodys.webege.com
My friends and I went here to have out secret santa dinner before Xmas. Despite the rainy weather we had that evening, it turned out to be the perfect spot for us. It opened not too long ago and it's located between office buildings in National City. It's a little secluded and not many people were in there. That's nothing for us to complain about since we were able to hold conversations with one another (unlike dining at busy places). The food was good and it had a cozy feel inside. Our chef created rolls that were customized to our taste buds. Our secret santa roll had yellowtail and red snapper incorporated in it and it was quite yummy. Our red velvet and trinity rolls shown on the bottom left were also delicious. The charger roll and ninja roll (shown as the second plate at the bottom) had no raw fish in them and my non-raw fish friends were able to enjoy their sushi that night. Our appetizers included chicken wings and seaweed salad; those were good too. They said they are known for their bluefin toro but they were sold out of it that night. I ordered red snapper and salmon nigiri instead and they were really good and fresh. Although it's a little further down south from where I'm at, I'll definitely come back here if I'm in the area. The food is good, price is affordable, and my friends and I enjoy the fact that it's just a casual restaurant without the fancy complications.
A sit down ALL-U-CAN-EAT restaurant with a FULL sushi menu
RB Sushi
16405 Bernardo Center Drive San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 613-9000 www.rbsushi.com
When I first heard about this place from a friend, I thought it was one of those Japanese seafood buffets like Todai or Onami (which I'm not crazy about). This place is nothing like those buffets. This is a regular sit down restaurant with a full sushi bar serving up an INCREDIBLE sushi menu that's ALL-U-CAN-EAT. You don't have to do the all-u-can-eat menu and can just order off the regular menu... but why would you? Dinner price is only $25 but I definitely ate more than $25 worth of sushi. The menu had nigiri items, kitchen items, hand rolls, and a long list of their special rolls to choose from (click on the menu below). We started off with a roll and some nigiri and as we finished, we kept on ordering more stuff off the menu. The sushi chefs were very nice and attentive; they kept asking us if there was anything else we wanted. I had 2 orders of their FRESH UNI and their Big Eye Tuna specials. Both were very fresh and I was surprised they were part of the ALL-U-CAN-EAT deal. I also had their scallop nigiri which was prepared exactly the way I like it. Their Kimmy roll was pretty good; it has spicy tuna and popcorn lobster inside; seared albacore, garlic ponzu sauce, and jalepeno outside. I wasn't crazy about their red snapper but I was impressed with their yellowtail; that's my friend's favorite as well. Their 'Oh No' roll was my first roll there and it was pretty good; it has white tuna outside and spicy crab inside (wasn't really spicy). I find the white tuna on the roll to be good so I had ordered it as nigiri too ;p I wasn't crazy about their squid, tamago, and salmon roe ;( They were just okay. The last roll I had was quite unique and tasty; it was their UFO roll and it had eel, salmon, and albacore outside; fried tempura and avocado inside; topped with with fried onions and mustard sauce. I <3 sushi and I'm sure that I'll find my way back here to satisfy my sushi cravings...unless they tell me that's ALL-I-CAN-EAT ;P
Fresh sushi on a conveyor belt
Isobune, San Francisco CA
(located at the Japan Center Kintetsu Building Restaurant Mall)
1737 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 563-1030 www.isobunesushi.com
During my last trip to San Francisco, my friend and I went to have sushi in Japan Town. Here we found Isobune, a japanese restaurant specializing in serving fresh sushi. Funny that we walked for a long time not knowing where to eat but ended up at the place our taxi driver have recommended. And now it's time for me to recommend this place to those who are reading this blog. This is a good sushi restaurant if you want to have some FRESH FISH for a midday snack. Coming from the bay area, this was as fresh as it can get. I wouldn't recommend it if you are starving; the sushi here are served on small plates placed on boats that goes around in a circle on the conveyor belt.
Boston sushi is AWESOME!!!
FuGaKyu Japanese Cuisine, Boston MA
1280 Beacon St., Brookline, Massachusetts 02446
(617) 734-1268 www.fugakyu.net
When you think of Boston, you think of seafood. And of course being the sushi lover that I am, I had to try sushi in Boston. My friends took me to FuGaKyu andI fell in love! You get to be seated in a traditional Japanese cube and it's a really cool experience. I had ordered toro nigiri at market price and although it was probably one of the most expensive item on our tab that day, I have to say it was worth it and I would do it again ;) It just melted in your mouth like butter. I had also ordered their spicy scallop served in a martini glass and some sashimi shown below; everything was FRESH. My brother ordered one of their sashimi combos and it was beautifully presented in what appears to be an artist palette. My friends ordered soft shell crab roll and some hot udon noodle soup. None of us were disappointed in our orders. Sometimes I want to fly back to Boston just to come here ;)
Sushi in the middle of the dessert
Sapporo Sushi, Scottsdale AZ
4344 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
(480) 607-1114 www.sapporoscottsdale.com
I recently took a trip to Scottsdale with my friends and found myself at Sapporo. The restaurant is found in a very high-end area and the restaurant definitely gave out that vibe. The venue is very modern and big. I never ate a red snapper so fresh in my life til that day. I have to admit the spicy tuna that day wasn't all that great; could have just been that specific day. You can still dine at this restaurant even if you don't like eating raw fish because they have Benihana style chefs in the back that will amuse you with their cooking skills.
Is it time for sushi yet? Only if it's
930 Sushi, Newport Beach CA
930 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach CA 92663
(949) 645-6500 www.930sushi.com
Ran across this place by accident. It was next door to the Lamborghini dealership when I went car shopping ;) Hehe just kidding. I stayed up in Newport Beach for several weeks for work and stumbled upon this place. To my surprise, the sushi was very FRESH! They cracked open a live scallop shell for me; it can't get anymore fresh than that ;) It was served on the shell with lemon slices...YUM!!!! My friend had the live shrimp and he says that was good too. When I came back to work, one of my colleagues mentioned this place stating he likes their sushi. With so many people liking this place, don't you think you should give it a shot? They might even take you out to fish for the sushi ;p
