Japanese-Tomiko

Name: Tomiko Restaurant and Bar

Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi

Opinion: Good

Area: Encinitas

About: A very romantic setting with a great view of Encinitas. The bar area offers a very good happy hour, with different menu items costing only $4,$5, or $6.

What to order: Las Vegas Roll

More info: This Japanese fusion restaurant is definitely on the higher end, I have only tried their happy hour menu which was alright. The happy hour menu was slightly limited not offering any sashimi, mostly rolls and appetizers. There are plenty of other sushi restaurants I would try in Encinitas, but I think their specialty is non-sushi items. The service was great and the atmosphere was worth it.

Website/Menu: http://tomiko.com/

Address: 87 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, Ca 92024

Phone: 760-633-3587

California Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll

Japanese, Korean- Oshi's

Name: Oshi's Kitchen

Cuisine: Japanese, Korean

Opinion: Great

Area: San Diego State University, College Area

About: A hole in the wall restaurant in walking distance of San Diego State.

What to order: Chicken Katsu, Teriyaki Chicken plate, California roll, Rainbow Roll

More info: Very reasonably priced with great portions, this is one of the better Japanese places in the San Diego State area. This places seems like it is family run and has a good atmosphere. Most of the workers are Korean and some of the menu options are Korean too, but their emphasis is in Japanese food. If you are not in walking distance, try calling it in, because the parking lot is very small.

Address: 5838 Montezuma Rd
San Diego, CA 92115

Phone: 619-582-5391

Japanese- Shabu Shabu House

Name: Shabu Shabu House

Cuisine: Japanese

Opinion: AMAZING

Area: Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa

About: Shabu Shabu is the Japanese form of fondu. Basically, infront of you is a pot of very hot water, raw meet, a few sauces, a bowl of white rice, and a bunch of raw vegetables. You put the raw food in the hot water and and a few seconds later pull it out and dip it in the sauce. Make sure you save a few vegetables and noodles for the end, and ask for a bowl, because then you pour the hot water in the bowl with some oils and the noodles and vegetables you saved, and now you have a nice bowl of soup!

What to order: Lunch special if you can.

More info: I have had the shrimp, chicken and beef, they're all good. If you go with a friend, see if you can order different things and share them. The lunch special is a very good deal, and even their dinner is a great deal. (I've spent almost double in Hawaii.)

Address: 4646 Convoy Street, San Diego, CA 92111


Fun Fact: Shabu Shabu means swish-swish in Japanese.

Vegetables and Noodles

The sauce

Shrimp

The left over water turned into soup

Sushi-Tokyo Sushi

Name: Tokyo Sushi

Cuisine: Sushi, Japanese

Opinion: Great

Area: El Cajon, College Area

About: Loud music at night and great sushi!

What to order: Chirashi Donburi (various raw fish over rice scattered with seaweed)

More info: It's hard for me to really recommend stuff from here because the menu is pretty large and has a lot of classic items and new rolls you probably have never heard of. Not very authentic but still delicious. At night time, techno music is blasted and it's hard to talk, not too big of a fan on that note, but I'll sit through it just because the food is so good. The chefs do take a lot of care when preparing your food and each plate in itself is an art piece. If you go to A-Plus review and need a pick me up, it's in the same building!

Address: 6784 El Cajon Blvd # D, San Diego, CA 92115

Japanese-Taijima

Name: Taijima

Cuisine: Japanese

Opinion: Great

Area: Clairemont Mesa

About: Taijima is a little more modern and hip looking then chopstix, but don't be fooled by their look, the food still stays true to it's Japanese roots.

What to order: Make your own ramen, Chicken Katsu, Onigiri (Rice Ball), Okonomiyaki (if you're feeling adventurous, also this takes longer to make then most meals)

More info: There are two locations, and I believe each one has a different menu. The menu is very extensive and gives you lots of options.

Website/Menu: http://tajimasandiego.com/

Address: 4411 Mercury St., San Diego, CA 92111 and:
                    4681 Convoy St., #1, San Diego, CA 92111

Japanese Food-Chopstix Sushi & Noodle Cafe

Name: Chopstix

Cuisine: Japanese

Opinion: AMAZING

Area: Kearny Mesa, Clairemont Mesa

About: This is one of my family's favorite restaurants. It is definitely a hole in the wall sort of place, but it is one of my favorite Japanese places in San Diego! Also it is VERY CHEAP!

What to order: Chicken Katsudon (fried chicken pieces over egg and rice), Chicken Katsu (fried chicken with a salad, bowl of rice, and bowl of miso ramen) , Wonton Chasyu Men (a giant bowl of ramen), Yaki Soba (Noodles and vegetables) , Unagi Don (eel), Chicken Katsu Curry (fried chicken in a curry mix) , Oyakodon (chicken over egg and rice)

More info: The waitress's are very nice, and make sure before your meal you say itadakimasu, and after you say gochisosamadeshita! (That is how you show grace for your meal in Japanese, and the waitresses will be very impressed.) Parking is horrible during peak times, but if you're lucky you will get a spot in the front if not try the back even though it is a tight squeeze. Try a Calpico soda or if you can a large beer with your meal! Even though they do serve sushi, there are plenty of other places in San Diego with amazing sushi, so if you are craving it, have a california or crunchy roll for an appetizer, but definitely try the ramen or meals over rice, which are hard to find at other places. They do have soba and udon, which I am not a big fan of so try them for yourselves and comment on this on how they are. There is a second chopstix's location (Chopstix Too), I went there when the original was closed and wasn't as enthusiastic about it, but again try it out for yourself and comment below.

Website/Menu: http://chopstix.menutoeat.com/index.cfm

Address: 4633 Convoy St. , San Diego, CA 92111


Fun Fact: Oyako-don is chicken over cooked egg and rice. The reason it has the name oyako-don is because don 丼 means bowl, oya 親 means parent, while ko 子 means child, so the parent represents the chicken and the child represents the egg in the bowl!