At the heart of San Diego's culinary scene lies Zama, a convergence of ancient Amazonian traditions and modern Californian sensibilities. Our chef's journey through both worlds, weaving together ingredients and techniques to present a menu that's as playful as it is profound.
I recently dined at Zama in San Diego, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance was vibrant and welcoming, with modern decor that sets the perfect mood for a night out. The service was top-notch—attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu.
The highlight, of course, was the food. Every dish we tried was beautifully presented and packed with flavor. The sushi was incredibly fresh, with a creative twist on traditional flavors, while the cocktails were expertly crafted and complemented the meal perfectly. I especially loved the unique fusion of Japanese and Latin influences—it made for an exciting and memorable dining experience.
Zama is a gem in San Diego, and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking for a special night out with exceptional food, drinks, and atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back!
Visited 4 months ago
The ambience is really good.
Upscale place.
Service plates are small , that's ok. But felt like melamine plates...not that upscale feeling.
The veg rolls were very good.
The spicy salmon inside leyenda rolls were not at all spicy
The cauliflower was pretty bland.
Lamb chops were very good and came with really good Brussels sprouts.
Cons:
So the veg folks with us ordered a side order of veg Brussels sprouts, but they were not good at all, not fully roasted and when we sent it back, they said since each of us (5) had taken a piece and 4 was left, they couldn't give us a complimentary replacement. We didn't feel like paying for one more. But we lost those 4-5 pieces that she took away from the table as well. What a bummer of a service.!
Visited 2 months ago
Okay 5 star review and I will break it up as food, service, atmosphere:
Service: amazing, attentive but not over crowding. Whenever you go to a restaurant and they over crowd you or check on you too many times, I feel as if it annoying since I have to stop my conversation every time and then it feels like I’m hosting them.
So all in all, they are the perfect amount of attentive. I see them going back and forth without feeling the need to talk to you every single time.
Atmosphere:
Awesome as well. Music is loud enough to drown out conversations from other tables but not too loud where you can’t hear each other. So sorry to all my fellow Filipinos….. you can’t eavesdrop lol
Again, it is laid back but upscale with a fun and inviting vibration
Food:
We got some sushi rolls, bison burger, lobster mashed potatoes, 1 cocktail, and wine.
Everything was amazing. I ordered my burger medium rare but I think they thought I said medium well, and it was still splendid. I didnt mind since when I bit into the burger, all the flavors mixed well together.
Sushi was top tier and perfectly presented
Only issue I had was the mash potatoes. Not really an issue but I wish they actually incorporated the lobster better and maybe a side of garlic and herb butter to pour overtop to allow more of a velvety flavor. The mash potatoes were a tad bit on the course/ruff side.
But I have them five stars because everything was pretty much a hit!
Visited 2 months ago
I proposed to my girlfriend at ZAMA on Friday night. The staff, especially Nicolas the manager were amazing! They really made our moment special by allowing us to playing a special song and the whole staff came over with sparklers after she said ‘yes!’ I am really appreciative of all the other diners there who made us feel special during that moment. Thank you so much ZAMA!!
Visited 2 months ago
Be careful, they charged us $8.50 for water. It is the first time in the USA that I pay for water. This could be easily avoided if they ask if we want “premium” water or “regular” water. I felt scammed. The food was good, the cocktails also good. I don’t recommend the desserts.
Visited 2 months ago
This place is a super Cool spot to eat at. Enjoyed every minute. Must see experience to believe.
Visited a month ago
A small restaurant with great music, awesome service and delicious food. A nice fusion between Japanese with Latin flavors like pomegranate and passion fruit mix.
I recommend the tuna tartare (one of the best ones I've tried)
The ambience is cool, great place to spend your birthday
Visited a month ago
Davide provided top-notch service. Food was so tasty. Highly recommend!
Visited a month ago
Came for happy hour & had the calamari with the roll of the day which was spicy tuna topped with ahi tuna and crispy jalapeños. All of the food was amazing and the server Alex was just as amazing. Had a great experience and will definitely be back.
Visited a month ago
Great happy hour! We stopped by this San Diego shop before a night out and it was a lot of fun. The lamb chips were tasty and the sushi is presented nicely. Drinks were served up fast and at a great price. It gets a little busy during happy hour so try to show up early for sure. We sat right by the front door. Neat space inside friendly staff.
Visited a month ago
Davide did an amazing job!!
Visited a month ago
Davide
Visited a month ago
Food was mediocre, got a 20% gratuity fee for only a group of 5, server couldnt split the bill between 3 payments, we were brought the bill and had to calculate it ourselves. Maybe need to learn math.. the space was very nice though
Visited a month ago
Sara was great
Visited a month ago
Sara was an awesome Server! The lamb chopsticks were phenomenal :)
Visited a month ago
Great food. Great experience.
Visited a month ago
Visited a month ago
The doorman told us that he’s glad LA is burning down on Friday night 1/10. When I was going to join a friend who had a table - he was giving us such a hard time saying we needed to wait in line. I mentioned to him that I work in the hospitality industry in LA to which he said he’s happy and glad LA is burning down. Excuse me? My friends & I went and waited in line still. Once we got to the front, he refused service to us saying that we weren’t needed there and claiming my girlfriend touched/ punched him. No one laid a finger on this man. I asked to speak to a manager and he said I couldn’t. I’m so beyond hurt and offended about my experience here. I’d appreciate it if management reached out to me to resolve this. Train your door staff better. It ruined my night. What an insensitive thing to say.
Visited a month ago
Our Service with Sara was incredible she was so sweet the food was really good we really enjoyed our visit
Visited a month ago
Sara was amazing and everything else too 👍
Visited a month ago
Sara was amazing! I came here for my bachelorette and she was very accommodating 😊
Visited a month ago
Great service! Sara was amazing!
Visited a month ago
I recently celebrated my 34th birthday at Zama, and I can’t say enough about how amazing the experience was! From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcomed and special. The ambiance was warm, elegant, and perfect for a celebration.
The food was absolutely incredible every dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. You can tell the chefs take pride in their work. Our server Sara was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for our celebration.
They even surprised me with a birthday dessert and my Louie Vuitton purse which was such a thoughtful touch and made the night even more memorable. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion or just enjoy an amazing meal, Zama Zama is the place to go. I can’t wait to come back!
Visited a month ago
Davide is as an amazing server!
Visited a month ago
Okay 5 star review and I will break it up as food, service, atmosphere:
Service: amazing, attentive but not over crowding. Whenever you go to a restaurant and they over crowd you or check on you too many times, I feel as if it annoying since I have to stop my conversation every time and then it feels like I’m hosting them.
So all in all, they are the perfect amount of attentive. I see them going back and forth without feeling the need to talk to you every single time.
Atmosphere:
Awesome as well. Music is loud enough to drown out conversations from other tables but not too loud where you can’t hear each other. So sorry to all my fellow Filipinos….. you can’t eavesdrop lol
Again, it is laid back but upscale with a fun and inviting vibration
Food:
We got some sushi rolls, bison burger, lobster mashed potatoes, 1 cocktail, and wine.
Everything was amazing. I ordered my burger medium rare but I think they thought I said medium well, and it was still splendid. I didnt mind since when I bit into the burger, all the flavors mixed well together.
Sushi was top tier and perfectly presented
Only issue I had was the mash potatoes. Not really an issue but I wish they actually incorporated the lobster better and maybe a side of garlic and herb butter to pour overtop to allow more of a velvety flavor. The mash potatoes were a tad bit on the course/ruff side.
But I have them five stars because everything was pretty much a hit!
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
From appetizers to our main courses, the food was the worst I’ve ever had for the price point.
For entrees, I ordered the scallops and my partner order the filet mignon. The scallops were tiny and tasted freezer burned. Menu says they are topped with caviar, but they’re actually topped with cheap tobiko. The coconut risotto had good flavor but it was extremely mushy like frozen microwave rice.
The filet mignon was chewy and resembled chuck roast even though we requested medium rare. Menu states it comes with broccolini, but it actually came with asparagus that was raw and inedible.
We dine out frequently from casual to high-end restaurants and this place was worse than a local Applebee’s. If you know anything about quality food, please spare yourself and avoid dining here.
The service was also strange. Our server would space out and become unresponsive. He often paused and stared blankly at the ordering device… We honestly questioned if he was sober.
Giving two stars only because it’s a nice atmosphere. Maybe would be better as a nightclub/bar.
Visited 2 months ago
Good was really good, but the atmosphere and service stole the show
Visited 2 months ago
Davide was an amazing person
Visited 2 months ago
Davide
Visited 2 months ago
Be careful, they charged us $8.50 for water. It is the first time in the USA that I pay for water. This could be easily avoided if they ask if we want “premium” water or “regular” water. I felt scammed. The food was good, the cocktails also good. I don’t recommend the desserts.
Visited 2 months ago
The ambience is really good.
Upscale place.
Service plates are small , that's ok. But felt like melamine plates...not that upscale feeling.
The veg rolls were very good.
The spicy salmon inside leyenda rolls were not at all spicy
The cauliflower was pretty bland.
Lamb chops were very good and came with really good Brussels sprouts.
Cons:
So the veg folks with us ordered a side order of veg Brussels sprouts, but they were not good at all, not fully roasted and when we sent it back, they said since each of us (5) had taken a piece and 4 was left, they couldn't give us a complimentary replacement. We didn't feel like paying for one more. But we lost those 4-5 pieces that she took away from the table as well. What a bummer of a service.!
Visited 2 months ago
Antonella did an amazing job and took care of our large party amazingly. She was super nice and sweet and the food was delicious.
Visited 2 months ago
Really enjoyed our waiter David from Italy . The food was good and service was great
Visited 2 months ago
The food was delicious, the atmosphere is very fun and lively. I enjoyed my dinner here very much and Davide was great! My favorite dish was the toro tuna tartare. It was delicious
Visited 2 months ago
Great establishment, great music and mood, great food and drinks
Visited 2 months ago
They had super fun holiday cocktails and the food was great. We were able to sit on the heated patio with our dog for dinner.
Visited 2 months ago
Food was amazing! Great service and the atmosphere was really cool, good vibes 👏❤️👍
Visited 2 months ago
This was our first visit, and we chose this spot because of its charming appearance. Unfortunately, the experience fell short. We ordered a medium-rare steak, but it arrived raw. The portion had an odd smell and was difficult to eat, which was disappointing. For the price we paid, it didn’t feel worth it.
Visited 2 months ago
The service was very bad and the waiter got angry because I didn’t give him a tip which is optional for me as a customer, also the waiter changed his way and acted differently when he asked I’m from where (country), and this’s for me was very weird.
The food is normal there’s nothing special. It was a bad experience for me and I won't recommend it to anyone.
Visited 2 months ago
The food is good but super overpriced. The atmosphere is nice, very instagramable. They have crowded tables though so if it’s a busy night, your conversations won’t be private.
Visited 2 months ago
Nicholas was the best! Food was delicious and reasonably priced!
Visited 2 months ago
This was our first time at Zama and Sara was an amazing bartender for us! Very kind & made the best drinks!
Visited 2 months ago
My friends and I came in for a fun bar experience. Sara was a great host to us! Definitely recommend.
Visited 2 months ago
I proposed to my girlfriend at ZAMA on Friday night. The staff, especially Nicolas the manager were amazing! They really made our moment special by allowing us to playing a special song and the whole staff came over with sparklers after she said ‘yes!’ I am really appreciative of all the other diners there who made us feel special during that moment. Thank you so much ZAMA!!
Visited 2 months ago
Updated 12/13/24: Changing my review from 2 stars to 1 star. After the owner commented on my original post, I followed the instructions to reach out to the GM. He responded with an email that clearly seemed like a template, with the wrong restaurant listed, and a generic message asking me to contact him directly, but without providing any instructions on how to do so. I replied asking for someone to call me, but it’s been three days with no response.
This lack of follow-through is consistent with the poor customer service I’ve experienced. The staff seems to give lip service and false promises in an attempt to de-escalate situations without actually addressing the issue. Clearly, this behavior is being modeled from the top down.
TL;DR:
Long wait for a table (50 minutes despite a reservation). Service was rushed and unorganized—our waitress implied she was the only one cleaning (but never actually did), and we had to prompt staff multiple times for things like ginger and a spoon. Food took an hour to arrive, and when it did, only half of it came out initially. The dishes were mediocre at best, with some mistakes on the drink order and a $30 charge for a shot of alcohol added without asking making the original mocktail $40. The experience was frustrating and overpriced, not worth the wait.
Poor Experience – Not Worth the Wait
We made reservations for a party of seven at 7:15 PM, but were not seated until 8:05 PM after waiting 50 minutes. The hostess misled us several times, telling us our table would be ready in "5 more minutes" while we watched other groups being seated before us. When we inquired, the hostess claimed our table was being cleaned, but we never saw her clean it—only the busboys were doing all the work. She even implied she was the only one cleaning the table, as though there were no busboys, but I never saw her lift a finger. It felt like our table was simply given away. She also mislead us to believe that because of our party size there's limited seating. We sat at a regular table that they had many of.
Service Issues
Once seated, the rushed service continued. The staff pressured us to order drinks quickly, only giving us two menus for our entire group. We probably were approached 5 times within 10 minutes. We shared an alcohol bowl, but after asking for a spoon, we were left waiting and never received it. My friend also requested ginger to accompany her food, but it was completely ignored. She had to prompt the staff, who lied and said someone else was bringing it out right now. However, it was the waitress herself who eventually brought it. It took an entire hour for us to receive our food, and when it finally arrived, only half of our order came out initially. The rest of our food came 15-20 minutes later.
Food and Drink Disappointment
The food was lackluster. I ordered the salmon with sweet corn, but the glaze was off and the dish was forgettable. The lollipop lamb chops were seared well but overcooked, possibly left under a heat lamp too long. The fries, however, were the best part of the meal.
When ordering a mule, my friend didn't realize it was a mocktail. The waitress said they could add alcohol and any type she liked. My friend picked tequila but no option of type was given to her. The waitress definitely upcharged because she added a shot of Don Julio 70 without asking for her preferences, charging us $30 for a single shot plus another $10 for the mocktail. Totally 1 drink to $40 which we could have just bought a whole bottle of Don Julio 70 at this point.
Rushed and Overcharged
The staff rushed us to pay before we were done, and I had to explicitly tell the waitress that we weren’t finished multiple times when you can see us still finishing out drinks. Especially if one is $40. When the bill arrived, I found an added surcharge and gratuity—despite the mediocre service and food quality.
Overall, the food and service were disappointing, and after waiting nearly an hour for a table, the experience was not worth it. The only saving grace was spending time with friends.
Visited 2 months ago
Nicolas was an amazing server! We came for happy hour and he had so much information about the menu and did a great job ordering!
Visited 2 months ago
I recently dined here with some girlfriends. The entire staff was very professional and were happy to accommodate us, the hostess sat us down quickly and the waiter took down our orders as soon as we were ready. The decor of the restaurant is superb and the food is delicious. The only downside is that it is across the street from a cigar lounge so the smell of cigar is coming inside from the windows. It’s annoying but not the restaurant’s fault.
Visited 2 months ago
Pues es primera vez.que estuvimos ahi
Estuvo vien.lo que no me gustó que el mesero que nostoco Güero alto de melena,platillo que pedíamos. Siempre decía no este platillo va a tardar tiempo en cocinarse. OK pues tráigame en salada no que este platillo es para entrada.pues fueron cinco platillos. I así paso. eso no me agrado.i ala hora de pagar. Pago mi nieta. I.le pregunto que si necesitas la feria que eran.$30 dollars. El pago de la cuenta fue de$170.00 Gracias.
Visited 2 months ago
Anto gave really good customer service and food was delicious, also really pretty.
Visited 2 months ago
Amazing service and ambiance. Recommend for great music and birthday occasions
Visited 2 months ago
Really great place and anto
Visited 2 months ago
Came here for the first time for my girlfriend’s birthday we celebrated the service was absolutely amazing. The vibe was everything and the service was so attentive and aware. Our server and Auto did a beautiful job. Looking forward to coming back here. Love the club vibe made me feel like I was in Tulum Mexico. -keegan
Visited 3 months ago
Overpriced, slow service, extremely loud
Visited 3 months ago
👌 the Verdezado drink Sara is awesome
Visited 3 months ago
Small dishes with pretty high prices all around for what you get, drinks were not great and overpriced as well. $20 for a glass of house cab. Decent Tulum style music and vibes although they went cheap on the decor and greenery. Otoro was the best thing we ate.
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
It was an amazing experience, the food was so good also, I recommend the stake ufff and don’t forget the sushi and dont forget to order Zamatini on a side!!!!
Visited 3 months ago
A wonderful evening! Great food, atmosphere and excellent service. Nicholas and his colleagues made our night🤗
Visited 3 months ago
Beautiful restaurant! Great espresso martini! I will definitely be back to try more items on the menu.
Visited 3 months ago
Okay first of all, if you’re hungry don’t come here.
The plates are incredibly small- it’s a joke! And overpriced. Their “salads” are literally the size of a small salad plate and not even covering the whole size of THAT plate- come on! It’s a salad with no protein on there! Very disappointed. Their calamari is literally like 10 small pieces of calamari.
Also very slow service- literally only two servers for a Saturday night to cover the whole restaurant? Crazy.
The only good thing was that their cocktails were not too bad and the ambiance is top notch.
Visited 3 months ago
Accoglienza e servizio eccellente!
Piatti Buonissimi e non solo… belli anche da vedere!
Consiglio vivamente a chiunque passi da lì!
Uno dei migliori ristoranti di San Diego!
Visited 3 months ago
I loved the place and Sara was very attentive to us 👏🏼
Visited 3 months ago
Everything delicious! Sara is a very attencious server!
Visited 3 months ago
Amazing staff, management, hospitality. Nicolas was an amazing guy. I hardly recommend this restaurant.
Visited 3 months ago
We ordered the most expensive beef, it came cold, the sidders were also cold. We had to put ourself Water and wine into glasses. When you pay a lot of money, you have some expectations but here me and my friends were really disspointed.
Visited 3 months ago
Delicious, Service qualität outstanding.,
We higly recommend to dine at this reatautant/bar. We love to come back.
Visited 3 months ago
Service is terrible. Staff is grumpy and disorganized. We had several servers throughout the experience, none were personable. The food took awhile and they didn’t do anything for our large birthday party. I think they only hire good looking people who don’t know how to do customer service?
Visited 3 months ago
We came for a birthday celebration, and Sara really made it special. The jungle-themed cocktails were absolutely delicious - my Old Cenote was served in a treasure chest filled with smoke!
Visited 4 months ago
Great place to hanging out
Food was amazing
Visited 4 months ago
I recently dined at Zama in San Diego, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I walked in, the ambiance was vibrant and welcoming, with modern decor that sets the perfect mood for a night out. The service was top-notch—attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu.
The highlight, of course, was the food. Every dish we tried was beautifully presented and packed with flavor. The sushi was incredibly fresh, with a creative twist on traditional flavors, while the cocktails were expertly crafted and complemented the meal perfectly. I especially loved the unique fusion of Japanese and Latin influences—it made for an exciting and memorable dining experience.
Zama is a gem in San Diego, and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking for a special night out with exceptional food, drinks, and atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back!
Visited 4 months ago
Great service from Sara! Beautiful atmosphere
Visited 4 months ago
Fresh af, rolls with individual personalities, each one tells a different story! Sara was an attentive and gracious server 🥹
Visited 4 months ago
Staff was attentive. A beautiful atmosphere with Latin and Japenese influence. The food was brought out on time. I would go here again.
Visited 4 months ago
Visited 4 months ago
Loud music, hard to have conversations
Visited 4 months ago
The food was a strong 8/10, great service, and great atmosphere. As a former chef, I'm a little pretentious about the food, but it was a good experience nonetheless.
The wine suggestion was on point. We had the calamari as a starter. It was a little chewy, and the breading was a bit bland. The sauces were good. I had the filet mignon, and she had the pork porterhouse. Both were very good with good sides and sauces.
Visited 4 months ago
Decided to try out this place for a special occasion. The food was excellent and the staff was very delightful. The presentation of the ceviche was a little underwhelming, but I would highly recommend the tomahawk! Makes great steak and eggs the next morning.
Visited 4 months ago
The waitress acknowledged my wife’s order and failed to put it through. We were at the table with our drinks and one burger for 30m waiting like fools and she never once bothered to check in with us. We had to pin down another waiter to confirm my wife’s order was never put in and to request our check to leave in time for a show. The waitress was young with a lot of makeup and very short hair- I do not remember her name.
The food was ok at best. The service was horrible. The atmosphere was nice. The drinks were great.
Visited 4 months ago
Visited 4 months ago
Crazy crowded busy place good food lots of alcohol consumed by folks there
Visited 4 months ago
Lady host in the front was racist , giving my Hispanic boyfriend a weird stare, not acknowledging him when we told her we had a party waiting for us. the waiter handed him the drinks instead of putting them on the table.
Visited 4 months ago
A 3.5 % pre tip fee will be added. A 20% tip will be added automatically. Servers do not tell you, no signs that we saw say this, payment system gets brought over scan ready. So ask to see charges before paying. Excellent food. Fun atmosphere. Server changed mid meal. Service went down hill. Wrong drinks and desserts. Chef makes fantastic everything.
Visited 4 months ago
Can’t beat Happy hour here! First time San Diego visitors, absolutely would recommend to those looking for something new!
Visited 4 months ago
Sara was our waitress and is amazing! The aesthetic is wonderful for a date night as first time visitors!!
Visited 4 months ago
Visited 4 months ago
Amazing place must go! The server Nicolas was great he attended us and took care of us the whole night. If you go ask for him he will take care of you and the food was amazing!!!
Visited 5 months ago
We have been in San Diego for almost 2years now and didn't recognize the hidden gem right under our nose. We walk the Gaslamp District every day and finally decided to try our Zamas, as we had a taste for some sushi. Sara greeted us at the entry and sat us in no time, letting us choose our seats. The ambience and decor is chic with a laid back casual vibe. We inquired on the sweetest cocktail and the Zamatini definitely delivered andddd was on the happy hour menu!! At Sara's suggestion we ordered four different rolls and all of them were hits!! We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and experience and will definitely be regulars!!
Visited 5 months ago
Ercole was amazing, his service was the best, he gave us the best recommendations, I will certainly be coming back thanks to him and bringing more people!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Visited 5 months ago
My friends and I came down from LA for the weekend and needed a place for dinner. I wish we would have looked at the other reviews first. The food did not taste fresh (none of it was great but we actually sent a few things back) and the service was awful. The blonde waitress we started with gave attitude and was seen socializing with other customers when she should have been serving. Then she left and we got another waitress who was equally as negligent. Cute place inside but could not recommend
Visited 5 months ago
Music so loud. We are yelling at each other. Come on turn it down. But food is so good
Visited 5 months ago
Didn’t give part of meal was still charged. They didn’t give me the option to not tip took 10 of my dollars without asking. Food was great tho!
Visited 5 months ago
Our experience here at Zumba was amazing. Our waitress was Davide . Would say he is the best waitress in San Diego
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Davide was great server. Serves us well and and our drinks too!
Visited 6 months ago
Davide was a great server, 10/10 will recommend to come back
Visited 6 months ago
Davide was a great waiter, very attentive.
Visited 6 months ago
Davide is the best waiter in San Diego. He is really nice, competent and talkative.
Visited 6 months ago
First-time experience. We went on a Monday, it was 8:30. There was no one in the restaurant, understandable for a Monday. I first thought it was good, and we can get recommendations on what to order. I've been formilior with restaurants who will offer you a chef special, something off the menu when it's slow. When asked, they did not. The waitress said, "it's slow. We want to go home." jokingly. I thought to myself that their business hours are posted 5pm-12am.
We ordered a Zama-tini, the germain foam made it taste wintery. Yellowtail crudo, which was good. Spare ribs that were tender but dry, and in my opinion, the mushroom gravy was too thick. Way too much starch. As well as the Tomahawk, cooked to perfection 👌, again, the au jus it came with was way too thick. I doubt it was from scratch,It was like beef gravy for mash patatoes or something. Honestly, it's the wrong sause to put on the plate. and the vegetables were overcooked.
The ambiance was cute, warm, kinda tacky but in a trendy way. There's a swing in the corner that reminded me of tulum. And the bathroom hall is lined in rose's.
Overall, it was a good experience. The food could use some working on, but it's on the right track.
Visited 6 months ago
Amazing place, so fun and the food was great
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Great service, the place so cured, amazing food i totally reccomand it
Visited 6 months ago
Great sushi
Visited 6 months ago
Place looks really nice, but the service was horrible and the food was not good. Wife ordered the crab fried rice and had almost no crab at all. I had pork porterhouse and it was dry annd bland. Waitress was nice, but never showed up and the restaurant was dead. Not what you'd expect for $100 with no alcohol.
Visited 6 months ago
This place is a VIBE!!!
Visited 6 months ago
Zama is a must-visit! The food is amazing, the drinks are top-notch, and the staff is incredibly welcoming. The fun, lively ambience makes you want to dance, and the entertainment is always spot-on. The owners are hands-on and extremely hospitable, ensuring every guest feels like family. Highly recommend!
Visited 6 months ago
Zama is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by the warmest, most welcoming staff who go above and beyond to ensure you have an incredible experience. The food is nothing short of amazing—each dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The drinks are equally impressive, crafted with care and creativity.
The ambience at Zama is so fun and lively that it makes you want to get up and dance! The entertainment is top-notch, adding to the vibrant atmosphere that keeps you coming back for more. The owners are always hands-on, making sure every guest feels like family. Their hospitality truly sets Zama apart as a must-visit destination.
Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great night out with fantastic food, drinks, and an unbeatable vibe
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Great food and atmosphere. Nicolas was a great host
Visited 6 months ago
Location meravigliosa dallo stile europeo.
Personale attento e gentile.
Cibo internazionale per tutti i gusti.
Ottimo locale anche per il dopocena con ottimi drink, forse i migliori mai bevuti!
Visited 6 months ago
This place was actually really great for celebrating birthdays! The food was way better than I expected from the reviews/photos. And the DJ & fire dancer were a nice touch!
Visited 6 months ago
This place is so cool inside and the food & the service from Nicolas were both amazing! He suggested such great food items as this was our first time here.
Yeah, your registration meaning that I have to pay for your registration We will definitely be back!!
Visited 6 months ago
Not worth the price for mediocre food. Sushi roll was ok but you can can better sushi at that price at a Japanese restaurant for way less $. Ordered the ribeye med rare and first time it came out well done…said something to the server once, waited 20 mins…nothing. It took us saying something to 3 different employees for them to fix it. Second ribeye came out raw. For $70 a steak, I would expect that the restaurant serving it knows how to cook it. Very disappointed. Saving grace was good drinks and nice staff.
Visited 6 months ago
Omg I highly recommend this place. Not only is the food presented beautifully it's also delicious. You know how some places are aesthetically pleasing but the food isn't great? Well, Zama isn't that it has both the aesthetic and amazing food. I love everything about this place it might become my go to restaurant in downtown 😋🤤
And check out their happy hour M-F 5pm - 7pm 👌🏾😋
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Sushi rolls were beyond our expectations. Nice location with a great outdoor patio! Sara was so friendly and helpful. Would love to come back!
Visited 6 months ago
I won’t be retuning to this place ever again!!! The service was horrible. I sat outside and waited forever to even have anyone noticed that was actually sitting at a table. Then one of the food runner guy came and asked if I wanted sparking water or regular water? He brought a bottle of sparking water then he disappeared.
There was a waiter helping other people but didn’t once asked if I was help. Then finally one of the person that had the hand held device to close out your bill and take your order finally came over and asked if I’ve been help. I told her I wanted the poke salad. Then after waiting an eternity my poke salad came. The portion was a bit ridiculous as though you were about to feed a parrot. After I waited again and she was helping people inside of the restaurant and I thought we had eye contact in the hope of her coming out to see if I needed anything else that was actually wishful thinking.
She finally came outside and brought a drink
for another table then waved for some assistance. I asked for a side order of rice. Waited and waited again and again and I finally got my rice. At this point, I just wanted to get my check and leave this poor customer service restaurant. Waited and waited gain to closed out my tab. My bill came close to $30 for the poke salad, side of rice and sparkling bottle of water. Usually I’m a generous tipper but I tip like $1 and some
change. Maybe the customer service would be better if I sat inside of the restaurant rather sitting outside. I guess I’ll never find out because there is no way I am ever going back to this restaurant ever again in my life!!!
Visited 7 months ago
Visited 7 months ago
Vibes ✅
Food ✅ the shrimp fuego was BOMB
Good service ✅(shoutout to Sara)
Visited 7 months ago
What can I say? The food was outstanding (we had sushi rolls). The service was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was fun, even on a Tuesday night. The indoor trees were awesome!
Visited 7 months ago
This is such a cool place! The vibe is awesome, the decor, music, drinks and also the food! Highly recommend stopping by for happy hour. The aguaquiles, truffle fries, shrimp were excellent
Visited 7 months ago
Let me just say we sent $400+ on this dinner and it was worth about $250 . We arrived for a reservation on time and we ordered drinks and appetizers. Appetizers came in about 10 minutes but over 30 minutes to bring us drinks and multiple attempts to get the waiters attention. there were only two other couples in the restaurant at 5:30 pm so BUSY is not an excuse. The food was OK, but it definitely wasn’t worth the price. My fish was tough. Both of my friends said their steaks were chewy and cold.. You could have a much better meal at Mr. A., Morton or Ruth Chris.
Visited 7 months ago
I ragazzi di Zama sono fantastici, il cibo ed il servizio sono eccellenti. L'atmosfera è sensazionale, ritornerò sicuramente se passo da San Diego.
Visited 7 months ago
Esperienza incredibile...locale di un certo livello..vibes incredibile...consiglio veramente di condividere un'esperienza lì...
Visited 7 months ago
Zama excels with Gerry's expertly crafted cocktails. His recommendations were perfect, tailored to our tastes with precision. Gerry's knowledge and engaging personality made the experience exceptional. His custom creation based on my preferences was a standout moment, highlighting Zama's commitment to excellence. For a top-notch cocktail experience, Gerry at Zama is unmatched.
Visited 8 months ago
Visited 8 months ago
Best restaurant in San Diego
Visited 8 months ago
Sara was amazing and the atmosphere was great!
Visited 8 months ago
We stumbled on this gem walking the streets of downtown San Diego. Just a simply beautiful atmosphere and amazing cuisine!! The crab cakes were fresh and flavorful! The crab fried rice was so so good!! And the lamb chops melted in our mouths! I can’t wait to go back!!
Visited 8 months ago
Gerry, Patris, and Liz were AMAZING! Awesome cocktails. Fun spot, delicious cocktails. Will eat next time.
Visited 8 months ago
Great happy hour specials, friendly staff. Wines starting at $6 a glass, sushi $7+ for nigiri 🍣
Visited 8 months ago
first time trying and absolutely loved this place! food is so fresh and good! our waitress sara was so amazing
Visited 8 months ago
Our server Sara was so amazing, beautiful and so kind! Highly recommend
Visited 8 months ago
Absolutely gorgeous space and delicious bespoke cocktails and dishes! Expansive menu for all sushi/sashimi lovers! Excellent recommmendations, info, and service from Sara as an out of towner! Such a kind and personable waitress! The hostess was also Valeria was so charming and sweet!! The food was SO GOOD, fresh fish and super tasty, balanced flavors.
Visited 8 months ago
The service and atmosphere were great. The bartender and hostess deserve a raise. The quantity of food needs improvement. I paid about $127 for steak, which I thought would be a big portion but turned out to be small. I was still hungry after I left.😩
Visited 8 months ago
여권가방 놓고왔는데 담날 챙겨주셨어요!!! 맛도좋고 서비스도 좋은데 분실물 처리도 잘해 주셔서 너무 고마웠어요
Visited 8 months ago
I had such an amazing experience for my bday here! Sara was our server and she was so amazing! She provided me with a bday shot when I arrived and was so attentive to our needs. She was so great at taking our orders and making sure we were so well taken care of. The food was so delicious as well! I had the poke salad with some white rice and it was to die for! 10/10 recommend. also, the drink I had--the Endless Nights was sooo good!! Thanks for an amazing experience!
Visited 8 months ago
Sara’s help with deciding the amazing menu was game changing!! The Porterhouse was the best in San Diego!! The sashimi was top notch and the Lamb Lollipop's were delicious!!!
Visited 8 months ago
Zama is so pretentious it’s almost funny. My husband and I were just in San Diego for the weekend and Zama was a 10 min walk from our hotel so that’s how we ended up there. The vibe and decor is pretty much the only redeeming quality and you can tell they really try it sell you on that part of it so that you don’t notice the food and service is totally below average. We had the lamb pork chops to start, which were cooked well but really nothing special. After, we had the tuna and salmon sashimi which was fresh but it’s pretty hard to mess that up considering San Diego is off the coast and all they had to do was cut and plate the fish. For my entree I had the bison burger which tasted like a burger I made in 5 min in my air fryer. The patty was dry and unflavored, there were a few bell peppers scattered on it and the “Zama” logo stamped on the bun, and that’s what I paid $25 for. I took a couple bites and called it a day, was not worth it. To top it all off, everyone who works there gives off the vibe that they think too highly of themselves. Our waitress did not care about us at all and pretty much only checked on us twice. At the end of the meal she stood over my husband and waited for her 20% tip on the card reader. Needless to say, if you want a good, hearty meal for a reasonable price- this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a place to spend $200 on average food but an “upscale” ambiance, Zama is perfect.
Visited 8 months ago
Visited 8 months ago
After sitting down, it took 20 minutes for the guy server with long hair to even greet us to take our order even though we were the only ones in the restaurant at the time.
The server was like a human embodiment of a grumpy cat. He trudged over to our table, plopped down the menus, and grunted a few monosyllabic words before disappearing for what felt like an eternity. When he finally returned to take our order, he did so with a scowl on his face, as if he was being forced to do us a favor. I asked the server to specify what was in an entree, and he wasn't knowledgeable enough about the menu to answer or even bother to ask the back of the house to check.
The food itself was nothing special, but it's not like you're going to remember the mediocre cuisine when the service was awful.
Visited 8 months ago
Visited 8 months ago
Love the food and drinks everything was amazing! My server Sara was amazing as well ! Definitely recommend !
Visited 8 months ago
My wife and I have gone to Zama a few times now and each time they hit it out of the park with their hospitality/service and food. Will definitely continue to go there. Highly recommend everyone go check it out!
Visited 8 months ago
The atmosphere is the only thing good about this place. Our waitress took our menus away before we ordered. It took 2.5 hours to have dinner and we had to beg for our check. The service here is horrible.
Visited 9 months ago
Loved the vibe and Sara our server was great. She recommended me a drink that I loved. Will definitely be coming back
Visited 9 months ago
Sara! Sara! Sara! What can I say. She was attentive, and gave my wife great recommendations on drinks. The vibe was awesome. Great music and great service. I got everything I wanted outta this experience. With so many places to eat in SD. This is a spot you’re going to wanna take your friends. It’s a vibe.
Visited 9 months ago
Cute vibes and ambiance, the lamb lollipops were bombs!
Visited 9 months ago
Sara is amazing! Great service and super sweet. Highly recommend this place
Visited 9 months ago
Atmosphere was nice. However it took so long for the food to come as we were a party of 8 and were the only ones in the restaurant. I had the porkchop which was good but brussel sprouts were cold. The worst part was they charged us $10 per shrimp on a salad we had no idea about. We ended up paying $40 worth of shrimp for 3 salads. Beware
Visited 9 months ago
Came here to celebrate my graduation and wow I was impressed. The interior of the restaurant is beautifully decorated in a classy yet somewhat of a fun jungle theme that reminds me of Tulum. Food will bring release endorphins instantaneously because of good it is
Visited 9 months ago
Excellent food, great service. Thought the music was a bit off for dinner but would flip into a great bar
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Me and best friend came here to celebrate my birthday and we loved it!! Sophia was our server was so sweet and attentive! The decor is so beautiful and the atmosphere is so friendly and fun. So perfect for a date night or even a fun girls night! We 100% are coming back!
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
I would have given this place 5 stars but the glass my sangria came in was so dirty. I didn't even notice it until I had sipped my drink down about half way. Thankfully I had a straw but how gross! My waiter was very nice and agreed that the glass was filthy had another drink made for me but only filled my new glass half way lol. I thought that was a little petty but it didn't bother me too much. The atmosphere was nice and lively. Our food was pretty good too. We'd come back.
Visited 9 months ago
Love Zama! Sara took such great care of me and my boyfriend for our anniversary. Her reccomendations were perfect and the food was exceptional. You can’t go wrong with anything here. Thank you Sara for your fabulous service and making our evening so special! Best service I’ve had in a long time. ♥️
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
The food was ok, sorry guys didn't meet my expectations.
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
We ordered a Wagu steak and Al a cart mashed potatoes w/pork belly pieces in it. Plus a sushi roll, calamari and a drink. The place wasn’t busy on the floor uncertain about the kitchen however our server forgot to order the calamari after telling him three different times we wanted it as an appetizer. Didn’t offer to bring me another drink either. The potatoes came much after the main meal arrived and me having to ask where they were. The food runner was super attentive to clearing the dishes and making sure he didn’t take our forks. The detail he gave was way more than our actual server. The place is a nice vibe and decor is pretty. The roll was good, with the mango and I think pomegranate sauce, and I liked the creative taste. Not one piece of food in the roll over powered another, I liked that. The steak was good just not as if it melts in the mouth as what I was expecting. I had more hopes since the place wasn’t busy.
Visited 10 months ago
I walked in during happy hour by myself and sat at the bar and immediately was welcomed by the hostess who was so sweet and kind and the bartender was outgoing, easy to talk to and had many good recommendations of what to check out in San Diego as a tourist. The cocktail he made me was honestly the best tasting one i’ve had in a long time and I only had oysters and sashimi and it was great but i stayed for the great conversations from the bartender, host and waiter that was working. The ambiance is great there too. 100% would recommend for their happy hour, a gem this place is.
Visited 10 months ago
Beautiful interior decor. Def a party type place but has great food and drink options.
Visited 10 months ago
The atmosphere was amazing. The food was good. But the service was not good. We had a waitress ( blonde ) who treated us disrespectfully and it was not okay. Although I love the vibe of this place, I can never recommend it because of the terrible service!
Visited 10 months ago
The worst restaurant experience we have ever had even though our tab was ~ $400. From hostess to waiter actually 5 waiters bc they kept changing w/o our request and we even had to ask them to get better seats bc were put in the middle of the way. Food was ok but the disrespect made the whole experience the worst! Maybe bc we’re BLK
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Our waitress Sara was unbelievable. The food and drinks were great and there was no wait to be seated. We will be back!
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Amzing atmosphere!
Highly recommended
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Sara is awesome! She had great and quick service! Would definitely recommend!
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Came for a bachelorette party! Had a blast with the girlies and Sara gave us amazing service. Would recommend for a fun night out in SD!
Visited 10 months ago
We had a great time for my friend's bachelorette!
Visited 10 months ago
At this American-Asian fusion restaurant, the California roll is decent, providing a satisfactory option for those craving a bit of sushi. However, the standout dish is undoubtedly the ribs, which are tender and juicy, making each bite a delightful experience. The accompanying rice is cooked to perfection, providing a wonderful complement to the succulent ribs. Overall, while the sushi is acceptable, it's the rib dish that truly shines at this establishment, offering a memorable and delicious meal.
Visited 10 months ago
Horrible service. This establishment unfortunately doesn’t care about its guests at all. Complete mean girl/bully energy!
We sat down close to 9 PM (keep in mind they don’t close until 11 PM) & our sever was a blonde with long hair. She seemed not super into it from the start, but oh well..we let it go, we were ready to have a good experience as our group is here on a work trip and we have guests from out of the country and we were excited seeing the beautiful decor.
Everything was fine up until the end of our service. The waiter did not ask if we enjoyed our meal, how we were doing, or if we wanted dessert, she just put down the bill. Usually, servers will give you a good amount of time to rest after your meal and I’ve never been pressured to pay a bill. Or, if the restaurant is closing sometimes they’ll kindly let you know that they are closing as a heads up but no rush. After about 5 minutes, the server came up grabbed the bill and saw we didn’t have our cards in yet, she then told us “if you guys could close out your bill so I could go home that would be amazing” in a very rude tone then walked away. We were all a little confused and taken back after this interaction, we all agreed that none of us had been talked to like that at a restaurant before.
After this point, the server went and sat at a table across the restaurant and the we noticed her talking about our table to who we found out was the owner. They were laughing and staring at us. Keep in mind, we literally have done nothing to these people at this point, it’s not like we had been there for hours wasting their times, it’s not like we were rude, the only thing I can think of that pissed her off is that some of our guests had some extra questions and needed extra time with the menu because this is their first time in the states.
After this, the server came back to get the the check and we were still figuring it out on our end because the check wasn’t split and as we are here on a corporate trip, things need to be separated in a certain way. One member of our party even asked in the beginning of the check could be split and she said yes at the start. While we were continuing to figure it out, we were met by rude comments yet AGAIN of her saying “you guys can’t just Venmo each other? That would be a lot easier for me” in an extremely rude tone. I explained no, we are using corporate cards and need to pay that way. She pushed back yet again and claimed they don’t usually split checks. Okay?? Then that should have been explained in the beginning. No proper communication. We could not have been the first group of 6 to come into that restaurant. She then asked “so who wants all the waters?” At that point I offered to take them on my bill since it was such an incredible inconvenience to her.
At this point we were so shaken up and thrown off, someone from our group went to ask for the manager because this behavior is completely unacceptable. She tried to claim she never said she wanted to go home which is weird because all 6 of us heard her. At this point I asked to her face, what went wrong? I said everything had been fine up until the point of closing out and we were completely confused at what had happened. She said nothing happened and nothing was wrong, what?! She then said that we were the last ones in the restaurant and no one else was there and they were closed. I said, there’s people at the bar? The bar was almost completely full. She said well that’s the bar. Keep in mind the restaurant was NOT closed until 11PM! So she was lying. After this, someone in our group had a question about tip, she said it was NOT included. Lol..another lie, I pointed on on our receipt then why does it say 20% gratuity was already applied? She claimed she didn’t know and she didn’t add they to the check..again…ok?? Never in my life have I been treated like that at any restaurant, any establishment, or just in general in life. None of us have. We were completely shocked and appalled.if there wasn’t a character limit, I would share more. Just stay away and save your money.
Visited a year ago
Great food, ambience. Sara offered stellar service, would come back again.
Visited a year ago
the food was not great, just decent and the service and atmosphere left a lot to be desired.
Visited a year ago
gerry is the second sexiest bartender in San Diego (besides myself) you need to come try his drinks!! The music, the vibe, the ambience you can’t get it anywhere else in San Diego. nicolas was an amazing server, he made our night just more than special, for sure we gonna come back to have this experience again! thank you zama crew for this night🩷🩷🩷🩷
Visited a year ago
Great food and nice vibes. Big shout out to Davide and Fabrizio - dudes were great with service. Certainly coming back with wiffy!
Visited a year ago
I have nothing negative to say about my experience here. The service and the food were excellent. I highly recommend!!
Visited a year ago
- 14 sushi photos
- 200 sushi reviews
- 4.3 Sushi Rating
- Reservations: +1 619-915-5789
- Menu Website: http://zamasandiego.com/
- Sushi Address: 467 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
- Sushi Map: 32.7102629, -117.1598356
- Latin American restaurant
- Asian fusion restaurant
- Cocktail bar
- Fish restaurant
- Live music bar
- Lounge
- Restaurant
- Seafood restaurant
- Steak house
- Sushi restaurant
- Monday: 5–10:30 PM
- Tuesday: 5–10:30 PM
- Wednesday: 5–10:30 PM
- Thursday: 5–10:30 PM
- Friday: 5 PM–1 AM
- Saturday: 5 PM–1 AM
- Sunday: 12:30–10:30 PM
- Outdoor seating: Available
- Takeaway: Available
- Dine-in: Available
- Delivery: Available
- Fast service: Available
- Live music: Available
- Lunch: Available
- Dinner: Available
- Solo dining: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible car park: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible seating: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet: Available
- Alcohol: Available
- Beer: Available
- Cocktails: Available
- Coffee: Available
- Happy-hour drinks: Available
- Happy-hour food: Available
- Healthy options: Available
- Late-night food: Available
- Small plates: Available
- Spirits: Available
- Vegetarian options: Available
- Wine: Available
- Brunch: Available
- Lunch: Available
- Dinner: Available
- Catering: Available
- Dessert: Available
- Seating: Available
- Bar on site: Available
- Gender-neutral toilets: Available
- Toilets: Available
- Wi-Fi: Available
- Wi-Fi: Available
- Cosy: Available
- Romantic: Available
- Trendy: Available
- Upmarket: Available
- Groups: Available
- LGBTQ+ friendly: Available
- Tourists: Available
- Transgender safe space: Available
- Dinner reservations recommended: Available
- Accepts reservations: Available
- Credit cards: Available
- Debit cards: Available
- Credit cards: Available
- High chairs: Available
- Paid street parking: Available
- Parking: Available
- Dogs allowed: Available
- Dogs allowed outside: Available