Top Best Japanese Restaurants in San Diego

"$20 got me hot sake, a saiko miso (with coconut milk and lemongrass) and a bento box with mixed tempura, Cali..."

"Though from the outside this Pacific Beach sushi restaurant looks like just another strip mall restaurant, it is almost undisputedly recognized as San Diego’s best sushi place. This sushi combination is just the beginning — if you’re adventurous you can try local live uni, beef sashimi and more. If you can, try and sit at the sushi bar to meet Chef Ota himself and so you can watch the masters at work and learn what’s fresh."

"Located next to a 7/11, it’s easy to be scared off thinking this is going to be like every other average sushi joint in a strip mall. But Sushi Ota continues to be a local favorite, a chef driven restaurant with ultra fresh seafood. Inside is also not fancy, but the quality of the sushi and the sushi chefs is all that matters."

"Helmed by a venerable sushi master, this restaurant is unassuming, low-key, and unquestionably authentic. Under the eye of owner Yukito Ota, who has trained many of the city’s top sushi chefs, its omakase experience is one of the best in town."

"We all have dreams and while some aren’t attainable - we’re looking at you actual hoverboard - others are, like eating high-quality sushi on a plant-lined patio. For those with more realistic dreams, head to Himitsu in La Jolla. This sushi place routinely flies in ingredients like sea urchin from Hokkaido and king salmon from New Zealand, along with serving less traditional dishes like Baja-style tostadas."

"This might be breaking tradition, but this Japanese restaurant has definitely made it onto the list of the best restaurants in Little Italy. This has got a lot to do with the incredible décor – it’s designed like an abandoned Tokyo subway and there’s a giant cherry blossom tree – but its popularity is down to the imaginative food. Based on the concept of an izakaya (a Japanese pub), Cloak and Petal serves small, sharing plates of sushi and sashimi, Jidori chicken wings and Wagyu steaks."

"206 Main Street, Vista 92084 Founded and opened in 2008 by three passionate home brewers based in a humble garage, Mother Earth Brew Co. had one goal: to create distinguished, hand-crafted beers that stimulate sensory conversation and a desire for the next sip. Today, they brew in a 2000 plus sq. foot facility with two available tasting rooms in Vista."

"Yummy Sushi is your source for incredible sushi rolls and authentic Japanese cuisine in beautiful Coronado, CA. We have a fantastic menu filled with both classic and unique dishes, all created with a variety of high quality fish and seafood."

"We’re not afraid to say it: Zen 5 is our favorite sushi place in town. An icon in the San Diego community, Zen 5 offers only the freshest fish and delicious Japanese style cuisine. Standout Quality: With nearly 40 different combinations, Zen 5 offers the greatest variety of sushi rolls in San Diego."

"A traditional Japanese Robataya complete with tatami seating (a lowered table where you sit on the ground), Oton serves Robata (skewers) sushi, small plates and special hot pots, like the udon and pork belly hot pot, which is cooked at your table. The environment and the food are like a taste of Japan without the 12-hour flight."

"Ramen is the latest food trend that has taken San Diego by storm!. While authentic asian cuisine has always had a home on Convoy St, delicious ramen shops have been popping up all over San Diego. With two locations in the Little Italy and North Park neighborhoods, Underbelly is one of the highest rated ramen restaurants on Yelp and for good reason: it’s simply delicious!"

"Topping the list is North Park's Underbelly, situated at 3000 Upas St., Suite 104 (between 30th and Ray streets). With four stars out of 1,357 reviews on Yelp, the restaurant, which offers ramen and more, has proven to be a local favorite."

"San Diego has an increasing appetite for authentic cuisine of all cultures and backgrounds. Tajima stands as a pillar, a cherry blossom of Japanese cuisine, serving many different styles of flavorful ramen—a staple in Japanese culture—and feeding locals exactly what they crave. It’s fair to assume their success is an extension of their food, as they are opening up branches across the city of San Diego and even venturing a little bit north into Long Beach and a little bit south into Tijuana."

"Climb the stairs above a university meeting hall, and you’ll be on the deck of Caroline’s Seaside Cafe. The ocean and pier will be at your feet as you enjoy breakfast or lunch at this informal outdoor cafe. Sandwiches such as the Caprese, Avocado, and Curried Chicken Salad are favorites."

"You’ll find this casual cafe tucked inside the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m., the spot serves familiar cafe classics with plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the water."

"In 2011, Joshua Pavlick decided to turn a part of his home into an art exhibition space. And while that sounds like a wild idea, it’s paid off big time for Pavlick, local artists, and the community as a whole. Helmuth Projects was designed with the idea of helping lesser-known artists display their work to the masses."