17 Best Sushi Restaurants In San Diego – (Updated) 2024
San Diego is a gorgeous location to come for vacations, as the beautiful Pacific Beaches accentuate the value of the place.
It’s a beautiful place that has become a top tourist destination for families to enjoy and newlyweds people to celebrate the best honeymoon.
The vast beaches here, along with spellbinding sunset views, make one enjoy their summers with other beautiful landmarks like the famous San Diego zoo and Balboa Park.
It’s a stunning coastal location that also has a gorgeous food scene all over California through the many fantastic places to eat, serving the best avocados, vegetables, and fruits.
It imports several authentic ingredients from various regional areas like Japan and other exotic sources to deliver people the highest quality of food.
That’s why the seafood and sushi scene here is prevalent all across the US serving people diverse selections of fantastic sushi bars, fusion restaurants, drinks, and Omakase dining establishments.
Because of all this, we created this list of the best sushi restaurants in San Diego to help you get the most fabulous sushi dining experience with the taste of authentic Japanese spices.
Let’s take a look at them.
The Best Sushi Restaurants in San Diego This Year
1. Nobu San Diego
Why it’s a must visit?
The Nobu San Diego restaurant it’s one of the top-rated sushi restaurants not only in the US but all over the world for its exquisite delicacies.
The restaurant has branches globally, like in Australia, the Middle East, the US, Europe, Pacific Asia, and Africa.
The restaurant has not only several dining establishments internationally but also various resorts, which is why it’s so popular and fancy.
Also, it has several locations over the water with stunning views of San Diego, giving people the most breathtaking west coast sunset.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant serves people various authentic Japanese delicacies like tuna and red snapper sashimi that are loved by the local people here.
Its yellow tail, jalapeño, and spicy scallop sushi are also spectacular options to go for.
In the vegetarian section, one can also go for alternatives like vegetable rolls with sesame miso dip and their light and delightful crispy vegetable tempura.
Location and Contact
- 207 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
- Phone:- +1 619-814-4124
- Email:- sandiego@nobuestaurants.com
2. Sushi Ota
Why it’s a must visit?
The Sushi Ota restaurant is run by the Japanese chef Kumamoto Kyushu who experienced love at first sight with San Diego’s sea Urchin area and therefore start started this dining establishment providing people with authentic Japanese cuisine.
The restaurant has been serving high-end sushi since the year of 1990 and, since then, has become one of the top-rated sushi restaurants in San Diego.
At this place, one gets to experience a world-class sushi dining adventure that introduces people to the flavors of Osaka and Kobe.
The techniques that are used to create the multiple varieties of sushi and sashimi here is the reason why this restaurant near me is so popular across the entire state.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant has a vast menu with hot plate options along with complete entrée packages, which are perfect if one wants to experiment with multiple dishes.
Its small plates of sushi and sashimi dishes are created with authentic masterful Japanese techniques and therefore come in such distinct flavors.
One can try their sushi bowl, which contains large amounts of sushi rice covered with lots of delicacies like surf clam, white meat fish, toro, salmon, yellowtail, octopus, shrimp, and yummy eel.
Location and Contact
- 4529 Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109-4920
- Phone:- +1 858-880-8778
3. Kokoro Restaurant
Why it’s a must visit?
The Kokoro restaurant is a modest and casual diner serving people cheap sushi options both for lunch and dinner.
It has an unpretentious atmosphere, which is perfect for those who want to experience essential dining with delectable food near me options, which are also available for delivery.
Therefore, if you are wondering where to eat at some cool place and indulge in tasty sushi at affordable rates, then this place can be the best option for you.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant serves people the most rejuvenating cocktails that you can ever have in San Diego, with delicacies like shochu and sake that are perfect sampling options for your meals.
We also highly recommend that you try their bento boxes which are perfect as dinner delivery options and come in a beautiful presentation.
Another raved dish here is their Philadelphia and California rolls that come with cream cheese and salmon and are both delightful and light on the taste buds.
Location and Contact
- 3298 Greyling Dr Suite B, San Diego, CA 92123-3074
- Phone:- +1 858-565-4113
- Email:- toiawase@kokoro-restaurant.net
4. Sushi Tadokoro
Why it’s a must visit?
The Sushi Tadokoro restaurant is situated across the freeway from Columbia College San Diego, which is why it’s frequented by students a lot who love trying its sushi delicacies.
It is nestled away in an intimate neighborhood with an unpretentious atmosphere and is a hidden gem serving people gracious sushi and sashimi dishes.
It follows its goal of providing people with the most authentic sushi bar-inspired cuisine with a creative menu.
Chef’s Choice
One of our most significant pieces of advice here would probably be that you try their Omakase dining section, as the chef himself curated the menu and showcased his personal favorite dishes.
The quality of sushi bars-styled cuisine one gets here is unmatchable to any other restaurant providing people with an Omakase dining adventure.
Some of our personal recommendations here would go for their California sea urchin and sushi Tadokoro which comes with yummy Ikura eggs, or grilled Hokkaido scallops as an alternative to that.
Location and Contact
- 2244 San Diego Ave Suite C, San Diego, CA 92110-2978
- Phone:- +1 619-297-0298
5. Hane Sushi
Why it’s a must visit?
The Hang Sushi restaurant is situated right along the lines of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park, which also shares its vicinity with San Diego zoo and therefore is one of the most famous restaurants in the city.
The place is run by the chef and the owner named, Roger Nakamura, who has professional experience in an authentic Japanese establishment called Sushi Ota’s.
The owner makes sure that he carries the tradition of creating Japanese cuisine with authentic techniques by infusing contemporary flavors to it along with classics.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant is majorly popular because of its exquisite plating details that are aesthetic but simple and present people with the most exotic Japanese cuisine options.
By infusing contemporary flavors into Japanese spices and creating them along the lines of authentic Japanese techniques, one experiences an entirely different delicacy.
Among its savory dishes are its egg custard which is famously known as Chawan Mushi, and Futomaki roll, which contains shitake mushrooms, eggs, smelt roe, gourd, crap, pickled radish, and gobo.
Location and Contact
- 2760 5th Ave Ste 105, San Diego, CA 92103-6325
- Phone:- +1 619-260-1411
- Email:- hanesushisd@seenprinc.com
6. Azuki Sushi
Why it’s a must visit?
The Azuki Sushi restaurant is situated in the heart of downtown San Diego at 5th Ave., Street, and is a gorgeously designed restaurant with sleek details.
It has modern plus comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, which is perfect for enjoying good weather and unwinding.
Also, the menu here is seasonal and incorporates the freshest items available through the farmers so that the dishes carry with them the most refreshing flavors.
Chef’s Choice
The delicacies here are excellent and feature traditional sushi and sashimi dishes that are made with contemporary spices and buy techniques that are more than 30 years old.
The chef here is a veteran head with 30 years of professional experience in creating Japanese delicacies in the most mouthwatering way.
Ranging from there a spicy albacore tuna to raw bar snacks to their other high-quality fish delicacies one is bound to have a pleasant time dining here.
If you are looking for something fun and experimental, then you can try their ‘are you kidding me’ sushi roll, which is as unique as its name and contains several tasty items.
The dish contains various delightful items like tempura asparagus, Snow crabs, and diverse scallops that come wrapped in soy paper with the seasoning of white truffle oil, fried leeks, garlic ponzu, mixed veggies, and seared tuna.
Location and Contact
- 2321 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-1610
- Phone:- +1 619-238-4760
- Email:- info@azukisushi.com
7. The Joint
Why it’s a must visit?
The Joint restaurant follows an innovative and creative approach towards happy dining through its several-hour events and well-crafted brewery and sushi bar.
The restaurant introduces people to tasty tapas and Spanish food varieties infused with Japanese flavors, which is why it has such a unique taste of them.
It’s one of the 5-star restaurants in San Diego that has successfully managed to become one of the nicest sushi restaurants in the city.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant introduces people to Spanish tapas, and Japanese sushi bar-styled dishes with various small paper plate collections, along with drinks like beers, wines, and mixed cocktails.
It has one of the most extensive menus in all over the city, with numerous sashimi, rolls, and Nigiri delicacies in the form of small plate bites.
The one thing that you should definitely try here is their Hamachi Carpaccio which contains thinly sliced yellowtail sashimi along with jalapeños and spicy ponzu that comes bursting with flavors.
In the vegetarian section, one can experiment with their creative veggie roll menu that offers people various specialty rolls that are no different in taste from the non-veg ones.
Location and Contact
- 4902 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107-3113
- Phone:- +1 619-222-8272
- Email:- info@thejointob.com
8. Hidden Fish
Why it’s a must visit?
The Hidden Fish restaurant is an exclusive Omakase sushi dining establishment that offers people a high-end Japanese dining experience.
The chefs here are chosen with utmost consideration by experts with a professional experience over the years.
The entire restaurant has a gorgeous ambiance with private dining rooms that can accommodate only up to 12 people.
Also, reservation here is highly recommended so that one can have the finest dining experience here for straight 2 to 3 hours.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant shows its famous dishes with drinks like hot or hot sake or their exquisite and imported Sapporo beer.
The caviar and fish selections here are incredible and only offer people the freshest choices with the finest quality of essential Japanese items.
It has incredible Nigiri dishes along with various local Japanese items like local sea urchin, toro tartare, sturgeon caviar, and black truffle.
Location and Contact
- 4764 Convoy St Suite A, San Diego, CA 92111-1932
- Phone:- +1 858-210-5056
- Email:- paige@altstrategies.com
9. Sushi Deli 3
Why it’s a must visit?
The Sushi Deli 3 restaurant is a bright and trendy Bento restaurant and a charming cocktail bar that serves people a southern Californian vibe with incredible food.
The restaurant infuses the local flavors of California into its Japanese dishes, which is why they have such a distinct taste to them.
Also, the menu here is seasonal and changes according to seasonal demands, which is why all of its dishes have such a refreshing taste.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant features several traditional Japanese dishes containing Californian flavors.
Among those incredibly infused dishes are spicy tuna poppers containing Panko-crusted tempura-fried jalapeños that come with cream cheese and spicy tuna.
Their specialty rolls are also delightful, with options like tropic thunder containing mango, gobo carrot, jalapeño, and shrimp tempura.
Also contains fried onions topped with spicy ponzu, sesame seeds, and seaweed salad.
Location and Contact
- 7986 Armour St, San Diego, CA 92111-3718
- Phone:- +1 858-292-5515
10. Harney Sushi
Why it’s a must visit?
The Harney Sushi restaurant is situated in the old town district of San Diego and is a classic sushi diner that resides inside a Californian plus Spanish-styled building.
The restaurant has a dimly lit indoor setting with a huge sushi bar that offers people tasty small-bite options.
Also, the entire decor of the restaurant is enveloped with contemporary touches, which is why it has such a sleek design.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant offers people an innovative combination of locally sourced dishes made from raw ingredients in the form of sashimi and sushi.
Their cocktails and refreshing sake menu are also equally flavorsome with authentic Japanese spirits and house-infused soju.
Whereas for the main course, they provide the most delicious nigiri that can’t be matched anywhere else, along with their Moon dance with sea bream, pickled blackberries, chopped shiso, vanilla salt, and miso butter scotch.
Location and Contact
- 3964 Harney St, San Diego, CA 92110-2825
- Phone:- +1 619-295-3272
- Email:- hr@harneysushi.com
11. Ikiru Sushi
Why it’s a must visit?
The Ikiru Sushi restaurant is situated in the historical liberty district station and neighbors several antique buildings, and is only located some blocks away from the gorgeous liberty Station Park.
This restaurant is a fantastic place for having sushi in a casual manner with subtle details, along with trim plate options and several happy hour discounts.
It’s one of the best family sushi restaurants in San Diego, with its many shareable platters and tasty sushi options.
Chef’s Choice
One can try their baked or seared rolls, along with their seared snapper roll, which contains gobo and spicy tuna and come seasoned with cilantro, chopped ginger, and snapper, which comes seared in hot oil and shoyu.
The above dishes are the most popular menu options in the restaurant that is loved by the local people here.
They also have several unique types of deep-fried rolls as they come in a rich and decadent form.
Location and Contact
- 2850 Womble Rd, San Diego, CA 92106-6155
- Phone:- +1 619-221-1228
12. Seiko Sushi
Why it’s a must visit?
The Seiko Sushi restaurant has two separate locations in San Diego, one which is in Colorado and another which is in North Park, and both are equally great.
The restaurant is most famous for its incredible sushi bar and several hosting happy hour events that provide sake drinks at discounted prices.
The variety here is the biggest reason why this restaurant is considered to be of the many great sushi restaurants in San Diego that have managed to erect a reputed image.
Chef’s Choice
The sake collection here is the finest in all of San Diego, with elaborate descriptions of various foods, samplings, and flavors.
The menu also displays people lots of classic Japanese varieties in the form of nigiri and sushi that are made with contemporary techniques in the form of rolls and other small platters.
The menu here is filled with traditional food choices along with delicious small-plate options with unique varieties.
It’s one of the must eat sushi places in town and the best sushi options that one can try here is their Tokyo dirty rice kobachi, which contains red bell peppers, pineapple, Thai basil, shrimp, and bacon with other flavorsome items.
One can also go for other alternatives, like their char siu pork belly that comes with a steamed bun stuffed with poison and pickled cabbage.
Location and Contact
- 2884 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104, United States
- Phone:- +1 619-677-3907
- Email:- info@saikosushisd.com
13. Matoi
Why it’s a must visit?
The Matoi restaurant is a modest Omakase sushi dining establishment that offers people a personal dining experience with various educational aspects.
The restaurant offers people a lot of options to choose from, with professionals ready to help you with your pairings.
Almost everything here tastes extravagant, which is perfect for those who are looking toward fancy Omakase dining.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant introduces people to a simple ten-course meal in the form of a nigiri platter, which is a form of a lavish four-course dinner.
The pricing is different for any form of Omakase platter, but our personal recommendation here would go for their Oyabun Omakase, which features almost every exquisite sushi dish.
The Oyabun Omakase platter features items like a fried dish, a grilled dish, a steamed dish, and a tasty nigiri platter, along with various forms of desserts and appetizers.
Location and Contact
- 4212 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111, United States
- Phone:- +1 858-737-4556
- Email:- matoisandiego@gmail.com
14. Himitsu
Why it’s a must visit?
The Himitsu restaurant is a luxury dining establishment that has an unpretentious atmosphere and other sleek and chic details, with a nine-seat sushi bar and lovely outdoor seating which can accommodate up to 20 people at once.
The entire restaurant is designed in a contemporary Japanese fashion with wooden furnishings and lush details through its plant decorations.
The adornment details, along with an aesthetic interior, make one dine in the most lively and beautiful manner, along with a friendly staff.
Chef’s Choice
The captivating alfresco dining experience that one gets to encounter here, with various culinary arts, gives one get the best dining pleasure that one might have ever thought of.
Its dishes are as beautiful as they are tasty because they are presented in a gorgeous fashion, which is Instagrammable in every way.
The menu highlights several decadent items, like honeymoon oysters that contain quail eggs, masago, uni, and ponzu.
Location and Contact
- 1030 Torrey Pines Rd G, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
- Phone:- +1 858-263-4463
- Email:- hello@himitsusd.com
15. Shino Sushi + Kappo
Why it’s a must visit?
The Shino Sushi plus Kappo restaurant is situated in the soul of San Diego in Little Italy and is a casual dining establishment that serves people various delivery and takeout options.
The restaurant specializes in offering people decadent California fare, which remains a significant highlight and is perfect for an epicurean adventure.
Not only that, the restaurant introduces people to exotic Japanese cuisine variety through its various sushi and sashimi dishes.
Chef’s Choice
The Californian fare makes choosing a dish easier for the people as it serves them familiar options.
They also have a separate California roll menu, which mentions favorites like shishito peppers containing Panko-crusted tempura, with scallops and snow crabs enveloped in fried shishito peppers.
It’s an excellent place to experiment with exotic dishes and diverse forms of infusions.
Location and Contact
- 838 W Ash St, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
- Phone:- +1 619-255-2527
16. Soichi
Why it’s a must visit?
The Soichi restaurant is a classical Omakase sushi diner that was named after its executive chef, who delivers people his genius culinary creations.
The restaurant makes sure the people get themselves the ideal traditional Japanese choices that come in tantalizing flavors.
The combinations here are incredible and are chosen from the favorites of the chef, which is why it’s considered to be among the top-rated sushi restaurants in San Diego.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant introduces people to a wide variety of choices like tempura, nigiri, sashimi, and sushi, along with other sampling options.
All of his seafood offerings come directly from Japan with lots of unique combinations that one might have never heard of
Some of its unheard-of dishes are its triggerfish nigiri, which comes seasoned with triggerfish liver along with spicy daikon and green onions.
Location and Contact
- 2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116-1214
- Phone:- +1 619-677-2220
- Email:- omakase@soichisushi.com
17. Yoshino’s Japanese Restaurant
Why it’s a must visit?
The Yoshino’s Japanese restaurant is a charming and unpretentious dining establishment that takes pride in its glorious offering, along with gracious accents.
The restaurant envelops a certain exoticness to it, with fragrant flavors and simplistic yet diver cuisine that features several marvelous delicacies.
The entire menu here is filled with creative options that are imaginative and delectable because of its use of Japanese plus western ingredients.
Chef’s Choice
The restaurant puts even grown men in euphoria due to its delectable options that are sourced locally and therefore have a sustainable and fresh value to them.
They provide people with a range of distinct meals that are mainly seafood and mouth-melting.
The divine menu serves people the most flavorful sushi that satiates every craving.
Location and Contact
- 1790 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103-3766
- Phone:- +1 619-295-2232
Final Thoughts
No matter what kind of a parameter you are looking for, searching for good places to eat, be it humble, casual, or a high-end restaurant, San Diego has it all.
Its outstanding deliverance of a special curated Omakase menu makes the most enthusiastic sushi eaters go crazy over its offerings.
The eclectic mix of various dining establishments serving traditional Japanese options for the innovative Japanese fusion bars and a lot more makes it an enjoyable place as an excellent food destination.
Therefore, if you are still searching for the best sushi restaurants in San Diego, then this article will have you covered by fulfilling all the parameters.
We hope that you have taken a thorough look above.
