Azuki Sushi Lounge

Azuki sushi serves creative rolls with a great selection of rolls in the midst of Bankers Hill. They have an extensive list of whiskey, but I ultimately chose the green tea that they sourced from Paru.

We started off with one of the best salt and pepper karaage I’ve ever had. It had the perfect amount of crispiness and the chicken is so tender and perfectly juicy. Out of all the specialty rolls we got, my personal highlight is the bluefin toro-taku roll.

Visited 5 months ago

Azuki Sushi is an elevated sushi restaurant located in Banker’s Hill by Balboa park.
I visited this restaurant twice within a month and I had a great experience each time. We had an indoor reservation the first time and for the second, we only were able to snag a patio table. Try to get your reservations early so you can get a table inside because it was super cold outside (thankfully they had heaters). Also try to come earlier than your reservation time because parking can be a nightmare in that area depending on when you go.

Ambiance/Service:
The inside looks elevated with modern decorations and lower light. There are two levels inside. The outdoor patio gave the same vibe but it was just so cold and the tables are on a slanted hill. Service both times were great. Our servers were attentive and made sure to check up on us periodically. Food and drinks came out quickly.

Food:
-Crispy Rice and Spicy Tuna ($18): 4 pieces; perfect appetizer, I’d get this one again.
-Karaage ($15): our waiter recommended us a different kind of karaage other than the Salt and Pepper listed on the menu. I forgot how he described it but it was delicious! He mentioned that it’s a little spicy but I didn’t notice the spice that much. Chicken was crispy.
-Classic Sashimi ($38): came with 12 pieces and each piece was a good size but honestly, I wouldn’t order again.
-Kobe Roll ($28): the seared A5 wagyu on top really gave it a nice flavor and texture. This is my favorite roll
-r u kidding me? Roll ($28): served much differently than other rolls— in a bowl and topped with a biiggg heap of flash fried leeks. The leeks were delicious but once we got to the roll itself, it was kind of meh in my opinion.
-Sunshine Roll ($22): salmon roll with avocado and salmon on top. It tasted pretty good but I didn’t like that some pieces had mostly avocado on top and others had mostly salmon. I would have appreciated that it was more even on all pieces.
-Scorpion Roll ($21): loved the crispiness of tempura soft-shell crab on top. Comes with 6 large pieces. This is my 2nd favorite after Kobe.
-Uni Toast ($25): only 2 pieces; uni with chopped toro, prosciutto, truffle aioli. There was so much toro on the toast that it overpowered the uni. I’d skip this one next time, as I don’t believe it was worth the price.

Overall:
After my two great experiences, I know that I’ll continue to come back to Azuki Sushi!

Visited 6 months ago

This is a gem of a place! The atmosphere is welcoming and cozy, and everything came out fresh and flavorful.
The chef’s selection feels crafted with care.
From the unique roll combinations to the classic nigiri, everything was delicious- but the main star is the one and only “R U kidding me”.

Highly recommend for sushi lovers!”

Visited 7 months ago

Everything they say about this place is true! The food is amazing and well worth the prices!!! Made a reservation so when we got there we were seated right away! The server was very tentative and always on top of it when it came to refilling my water. The inside was very cozy and had a dim relaxing lighting. The only thing I didn’t like was the placement of the restaurant.. waiting for the one bathroom that had, I found myself staring in front of the kitchen door and I really felt in the way as people passed by to go upstairs.

So I came here twice in once week! We ordered the Spicy Edamame, the Shigoku Oysters, the Are You Kidding Me Roll, the Kobe Roll, the Sunshine Roll, the Kurobuta Pork and Chive Dumplings, the bluefin Omakase, Grilled Beef Short Ribs and Unagi. The spicy edamame was so delicious! It was a well balanced spicy flavor. The Oysters were so fresh and delicious as well. The are you kidding me roll was amazing! So fresh and the thin fried onions on top really brought it all together. The Kobe Roll was totally worth the price! It was amazing and the Kobe was torched perfectly on top! The sunshine roll was amazing, it had fresh salmon on top and literally melted in my mouth. The Kurobuta pork and chive dumplings were good, well flavored. The blue fin omakase was so elevated and every bite was something more and more flavorful and I could taste all the quality in every bite! I’m so impressed! The grilled beef short ribs were amazing! So impressive, wow! We didn’t expect the cooked food to be just as good! And the Unagi was torched perfectly with a slight crispy around it! Very delicious!

Over all this place blew my mind over and over again!

Visited 6 months ago

We had an awesome night at Azuki Sushi Lounge! We at the sushi bar and ordered a few apps from the kitchen, a sushi roll, the chef’s daily choice sashimi and the trout sashimi. The trout sashimi was a standout – I hadn’t had it before, but will definitely be coming back for it! They were out of the wagyu beef sashimi so plan to try that and the salmon skin salad when we come back. The cocktails were on point – really creative and delicious. Super friendly and fast service, despite how busy it was, but definitely recommend making a reservation because this place fills up fast! Will be back for sure.

Visited 6 months ago

Tonight was our first time at Azuki. We made reservations for outdoor seating. Aside from tonight being the perfect temperature to eat outside, they also have heaters that you can adjust the temperature on. The ambiance was quiet and romantic. Perfect for a relaxing date.

We ate their steamed pork dumplings, shiitake miso soup, salmon four ways nigiri, by the boarder and kobe rolls. My favorite was the kobe roll. The touch of truffle aioli was very tasty. I definitely recommend this roll. We also had the hot sake and a Sapporo, which never disappoint.

Visited 6 months ago

Came here to celebrate a friends birthday and it was just the best. We sat at the sushi bar, our chef was super nice and recommend amazing things (see photos). 10/10 can’t wait to be back to try more things.

Visited 10 months ago

Having eaten sushi all over the US and Japan, I have to say Azuki is really legit. Totally impressed, glad I stopped in here while I was in San Diego.

Great fish list for nigiri, and really nicely put together. If you order a handful of things at once, I like that it comes out one small plate at a time - it's all best when you eat it right after it's been made. Don't miss out on some great, harder-to-find things like barracuda!

For atmosphere, it's a good little spot; alive and energetic but not overbearing. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar and having the interactive conversation, recommendations, etc. with the chefs.

I'll have to come back next time I'm in town.

ごちそうさまでした！

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

You can never go wrong with Azuki. The food is just spectacular. It's guaranteed amazing food whether dining in or taking out. There's no other sushi place I'd rather go....except Kinme.

Visited 4 months ago

Great restaurant, excellent service , great food best sushi place in downtown.

Visited 4 months ago

Awesome food. Awesome service. We sat outside which was good with heaters but we wish we sat inside. Def going back

Visited 4 months ago

Celebrated our anniversary with take-out from Azuki... couldn't be more pleased. The order was ready exactly when requested, the food was delicious, and the options were exactly what we wanted! Would recommend for close friends and family.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

During the evening hours of New Year’s Day, I had the tremendous pleasure of dining at Azuki Sushi. My culinary experience at Azuki Sushi both surprised and delighted me. I was seated at the end of the sushi bar, where each occupant was essentially assigned a different chef situated opposite of the customer. My chef was Abraham, who was very charming and engaging. He allowed me to feel welcomed and embraced. The service staff were also very polite, kind, and professional. The meal I had came in four parts: Uni Toast, Nigiri Blue Finn (served four-ways), Nigiri Sushi (Chef selection of six unique pieces), and a Salmon and Avacado roll. The flavors I experienced were seductive, making me stop eating, and replaced the feeling of hunger and the need to eat with a feeling of longing. Each bite carried me away on a journey. The textures, the flavors, and the preparation were all outstanding to say the least. Definitely worthwhile for any culinary enthusiast. A big thank you to Chef Abraham and Azuki Sushi for a memorable experience!

Visited 5 months ago

Azuki sushi serves creative rolls with a great selection of rolls in the midst of Bankers Hill. They have an extensive list of whiskey, but I ultimately chose the green tea that they sourced from Paru.

We started off with one of the best salt and pepper karaage I’ve ever had. It had the perfect amount of crispiness and the chicken is so tender and perfectly juicy. Out of all the specialty rolls we got, my personal highlight is the bluefin toro-taku roll.

Visited 5 months ago

冲着评分来的，结果不是很满意，食材都很新鲜，但是味道普遍偏咸，吃起来不是很正宗的日料，店里装修还可以，适合小酌

Visited 5 months ago

We really loved our experience at Azuki Sushi Lounge. We sat at the sushi bar so we had the pleasure of speaking with the chef and watching them prepare our sushi. Highlights included the oysters, chef's choice sushi and the wagu nigiri was melt in your mouth delicious! Everything was beautifully plated and the energy in the restaurant was just right.

Visited 5 months ago

This place is my favorite sushi places in San Diego. I love how they don’t use imitation crab for the rolls. Their oysters, so flavorful with the Yuzu. Definitely recommend getting reservations!

Visited 5 months ago

Nice atmosphere, good service, delicious food. I will be back!

Visited 5 months ago

Excellent food within very laid-back settings. A great place to unwind and give a real pleasure to your taste buds. Uni Toast is something I still think about!

Visited 5 months ago

I am literally addicted to their bonsai and sunshine sushi rolls. Very nice, clean place. Love sitting at the cocktail bar upstairs. Highly recommend, one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego.

Visited 5 months ago

I looked at the low reviews for this place before writing this and it must have been when we they first started business because this place was OUTSTANDING. Service was impeccable and the fish was so fresh and just frickin delicious. I for real had a dream about it that night it was so good. The Kobe speciality role with wagyu was amazing, sashimi was amazing, and nigiri. Literally everything was delicious and I'm so glad I got to celebrate my birthday here. Our servers name was Russ I'm pretty sure and he was so friendly and attentive. They even brought out a little birthday treat for me and the red bean and black sesame ice cream was so good. 🤤 Thank you!! Will definitely be coming back. We went all out since it was bday but you could definitely get by with 50-100 per person.

Visited 5 months ago

Just tried this place for the first time and will definitely be returning! The service was great. We got a reservation for at the bar. The waiter took our hot food orders and the chef took our sushi orders. The space is small but really well done.

Definitely look at reservations. Not sure if walk-ins are a thing.

Visited 5 months ago

Ordered take out and it was ready within 15 minutes which was incredible considering how busy they were. Everything packed separately and meticulously.

I’ve dined in several times and the ambiance at the bar and upstairs is quite nice and comfortable.

I’d add pictures except we were starving and crushed our dinner.

We’ll be back!

Visited 5 months ago

Extremely rude host, rude when we arrived and then put us at a corner bar seat and when we asked if we could be moved to a different seat he claimed he told us over the phone the reservation was for the upstairs bar which he did not and when we said he didn’t say that he continued to claim that he did lying to our faces, there were multiple other tables open so he could have easily sat us down.

Visited 5 months ago

This place was hands down was my favorite restaurant in San Diego. The chef’s selection nigiris were amazing for the price. The quality and presentation were top tier.

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

This restaurant has a great environment and the fish was fresh and delicious. I will definitely go back when I head to San Diego the next time.

Visited 5 months ago

We had an awesome night at Azuki Sushi Lounge! We at the sushi bar and ordered a few apps from the kitchen, a sushi roll, the chef’s daily choice sashimi and the trout sashimi. The trout sashimi was a standout – I hadn’t had it before, but will definitely be coming back for it! They were out of the wagyu beef sashimi so plan to try that and the salmon skin salad when we come back. The cocktails were on point – really creative and delicious. Super friendly and fast service, despite how busy it was, but definitely recommend making a reservation because this place fills up fast! Will be back for sure.

Visited 6 months ago

I love Azuki. It is on my must do list every time im in San Diego. Great food and amazing staff.

Visited 6 months ago

Tonight was our first time at Azuki. We made reservations for outdoor seating. Aside from tonight being the perfect temperature to eat outside, they also have heaters that you can adjust the temperature on. The ambiance was quiet and romantic. Perfect for a relaxing date.

We ate their steamed pork dumplings, shiitake miso soup, salmon four ways nigiri, by the boarder and kobe rolls. My favorite was the kobe roll. The touch of truffle aioli was very tasty. I definitely recommend this roll. We also had the hot sake and a Sapporo, which never disappoint.

Visited 6 months ago

The best sushi in San Diego In terms of selection quality cost and convenience there is no competition. Azuki is the best

Visited 6 months ago

We came here for dinner without a reservation and were lucky to get a table in about 20 minutes. The sushi was delicious!!! It actually started to rain as we were seated outside and the hostess came over and helped us bring our food inside and found a new spot for us. The staff here are all very nice and we will definitely be back!

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Good service very professional

Visited 6 months ago

Everything they say about this place is true! The food is amazing and well worth the prices!!! Made a reservation so when we got there we were seated right away! The server was very tentative and always on top of it when it came to refilling my water. The inside was very cozy and had a dim relaxing lighting. The only thing I didn’t like was the placement of the restaurant.. waiting for the one bathroom that had, I found myself staring in front of the kitchen door and I really felt in the way as people passed by to go upstairs.

So I came here twice in once week! We ordered the Spicy Edamame, the Shigoku Oysters, the Are You Kidding Me Roll, the Kobe Roll, the Sunshine Roll, the Kurobuta Pork and Chive Dumplings, the bluefin Omakase, Grilled Beef Short Ribs and Unagi. The spicy edamame was so delicious! It was a well balanced spicy flavor. The Oysters were so fresh and delicious as well. The are you kidding me roll was amazing! So fresh and the thin fried onions on top really brought it all together. The Kobe Roll was totally worth the price! It was amazing and the Kobe was torched perfectly on top! The sunshine roll was amazing, it had fresh salmon on top and literally melted in my mouth. The Kurobuta pork and chive dumplings were good, well flavored. The blue fin omakase was so elevated and every bite was something more and more flavorful and I could taste all the quality in every bite! I’m so impressed! The grilled beef short ribs were amazing! So impressive, wow! We didn’t expect the cooked food to be just as good! And the Unagi was torched perfectly with a slight crispy around it! Very delicious!

Over all this place blew my mind over and over again!

Visited 6 months ago

Azuki Sushi is an elevated sushi restaurant located in Banker’s Hill by Balboa park.
I visited this restaurant twice within a month and I had a great experience each time. We had an indoor reservation the first time and for the second, we only were able to snag a patio table. Try to get your reservations early so you can get a table inside because it was super cold outside (thankfully they had heaters). Also try to come earlier than your reservation time because parking can be a nightmare in that area depending on when you go.

Ambiance/Service:
The inside looks elevated with modern decorations and lower light. There are two levels inside. The outdoor patio gave the same vibe but it was just so cold and the tables are on a slanted hill. Service both times were great. Our servers were attentive and made sure to check up on us periodically. Food and drinks came out quickly.

Food:
-Crispy Rice and Spicy Tuna ($18): 4 pieces; perfect appetizer, I’d get this one again.
-Karaage ($15): our waiter recommended us a different kind of karaage other than the Salt and Pepper listed on the menu. I forgot how he described it but it was delicious! He mentioned that it’s a little spicy but I didn’t notice the spice that much. Chicken was crispy.
-Classic Sashimi ($38): came with 12 pieces and each piece was a good size but honestly, I wouldn’t order again.
-Kobe Roll ($28): the seared A5 wagyu on top really gave it a nice flavor and texture. This is my favorite roll
-r u kidding me? Roll ($28): served much differently than other rolls— in a bowl and topped with a biiggg heap of flash fried leeks. The leeks were delicious but once we got to the roll itself, it was kind of meh in my opinion.
-Sunshine Roll ($22): salmon roll with avocado and salmon on top. It tasted pretty good but I didn’t like that some pieces had mostly avocado on top and others had mostly salmon. I would have appreciated that it was more even on all pieces.
-Scorpion Roll ($21): loved the crispiness of tempura soft-shell crab on top. Comes with 6 large pieces. This is my 2nd favorite after Kobe.
-Uni Toast ($25): only 2 pieces; uni with chopped toro, prosciutto, truffle aioli. There was so much toro on the toast that it overpowered the uni. I’d skip this one next time, as I don’t believe it was worth the price.

Overall:
After my two great experiences, I know that I’ll continue to come back to Azuki Sushi!

Visited 6 months ago

Wonderful extraordinary experience ✨️
You have any celebration, occasion, come at this place. You would never regret.

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi was overly fussy with conflicting flavors. Fish was a little funky and didn't taste 100 percent fresh

Visited 6 months ago

The chirashi set and the chef choice set were great.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Sushi was top tier! I would recommend trying the bluefin three way and anything with blue crab. In addition, Desiree was an amazing server. She was super welcoming, attentive, and charming.

Visited 6 months ago

Some of the most amazing sushi you'll ever have, and the service is fantastic.

However, the seating experience is dreadful. The chairs have zero lumbar support. I am not exaggerating when I say they are the most uncomfortable chairs I've sat in. The look great, but they hurt.

I want to return for the food, but the discomfort during the meal deters me from doing so.

Visited 6 months ago

Delicious!! The uni toast is incredible and the vibe of the place is nice.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Truly incredible Sushi in San Diego! To start, the cocktail and sake options I was recommended were excellent. The food was delicious through and through with the fish being incredibly fresh, perfectly selected, and very well presented. The service was excellent as well and ambiance gave it a sophisticated modern vibe. It was a bit more expensive than other options, but well with it. 10/10 would recommend.

Visited 7 months ago

This is a gem of a place! The atmosphere is welcoming and cozy, and everything came out fresh and flavorful.
The chef’s selection feels crafted with care.
From the unique roll combinations to the classic nigiri, everything was delicious- but the main star is the one and only “R U kidding me”.

Highly recommend for sushi lovers!”

Visited 7 months ago

The atmosphere in Azuki is great with a mix of a classic Japanese aesthetic and modern touches. The staff from hostess to waitress were friendly and attentive. Finally, the food was excellent with the umi masu being the standout of the nigiri I had. My mom isn't big on sushi and had a shrimp tempura set, which was lightly battered, which she greatly enjoyed.

Visited 7 months ago

Hands down best sushi in San Diego. Been living here 34 years and nothing compares.

Visited 7 months ago

I booked a table at Azuki thinking it was another sushi restaurant I like in the area. I was nicely surprised!

the rolls were really good and fairly priced for the quality and quantity.

I will come back the next time I'm in SD

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

BEST SUSHI IN SAN DIEGO!!! Freshest, most delicious sushi ever (ive been to many).

Visited 7 months ago

Wonderful service,
Flavors are on point.
Great Ambiance
Very friendly helpful server

Visited 7 months ago

The service and atmosphere were good. The sashimi was ok but we and my 6 year old son agreed that it was not as fresh as what we’ve eaten in places like Vancouver and Toronto. The rolls were extra salty (without soy sauce) and the vegetable roll was difficult to chew. I knew from the moment I tried the miso soup that something wasn’t quite right with all the super 5 star reviews. One highlight was the cold beer and cocktail.

Visited 7 months ago

Ordered to go curbside pick up, delicious food but rolls are on the tiny side. Photographed are the green roll $16 and stardust rolls $22. Taste is great, size is disappointing.

Only the scorpion roll is regular spider roll size

Visited 7 months ago

Consistently amazing. The kobe roll is definitely my favorite. I love that they have curbside pick up and online ordering as well, it makes dinner super convenient if you want sushi. You can tell everything is very high grade fish and well made.

Visited 7 months ago

Great stuff!

Visited 7 months ago

Best sushi in San Diego. Period.

Visited 7 months ago

Intimate venue, superb food and outstanding service. The sushi/sashimi is fresh, brilliantly prepared and delicious, our waitress equally brilliant.

Visited 8 months ago

住在附近想吃點清爽的日料，隨手查到的壽司店。
評價很高，到現場發現名副其實🌟

氣氛很棒、選擇很多、價格不貴、生魚片很新鮮（就算只是點一般的壽司捲也是非常美味），炸海老盤很大份。 很推薦大家來！

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Love Sushi.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Our go to neighborhood sushi restaurant!

Visited 8 months ago

High Quality sushi in SD.

Visited 8 months ago

Ok honestly was not expecting it to be this good. Everything was amazing and the chefs killed it.
Rainbow roll 6/5 ⭐
Bluefin roll 5/5 ⭐
Shiitake Miso 6/5 ⭐
Steam dumplings 4/5 ⭐
Ginger soda 10/5 ⭐

Visited 8 months ago

Its worth every penny!

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Best sushi in San Diego, sushi chef Brandon is the pog master!

Visited 8 months ago

Amazing rolls to try such as the bonsai!

Visited 8 months ago

Great Sushi, Great staff!

Visited 8 months ago

Fresh and delicious fish. Cocktail was fantastic. Gluten free options were rather limited - just some soups and hand rolls, but still a great meal.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

One of the best sushi that I’ve ever had.

Visited 8 months ago

The Sushi was mediocre. The "A5 Wagyu" nigiri was tough and chewy and kinda made me doubt that it was actually Wagyu at all. I'm visiting from out of town and looked up several sushi spots and unfortunately decided on this one. I spent $65 on two rolls and two pieces of nigiri with shoe leather. Save your money and find a local gas station that's serving sushi, it would be cheaper and probably of better quality. Needless to say I will not be returning.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Was amazing. Oysters were good. Roll was really good. Toro was amazing. And weirdly, the miso was the best I've ever had including Japan. Crazy. The sushi rice was Rockstar, which is usually not even notable.

Visited 9 months ago

I’ve eaten sushi all over California and living in Studio City here in Los Angeles we have over 20 sushi restaurants in our neighborhood, one is even has a Michelin star. This is best yet. The chefs are very skilled and extremely friendly as is the entire staff. We were amazed by not only the portion size but the price. Here in LA we pay more and get less, not here - the quality of their fish is excellent with an exceptional choices of fish. I had fatty salmon and fatty yellowtail both were creamy and oily the way it’s supposed to be and taste. Along with the diver scallops and golden eyed snapper both delicious. The miso cod was also a big hit. Probably the best eel I’ve ever tasted to finish off the meal. We ate big and check was less than $130.00. Next time we’re San Diego we’ll be coming back. Simply excellent!

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

My favorite place! I love eating here. The people are nice and the food is AMAZING!!! I’ve been eating here for four years and I truly love it.

Visited 9 months ago

I really wish I had nicer things to say about Azuki considering how lovely it looked and how nice most of the staff was with us. Unfortunately, the manager must have woken up and chosen chaos that day and illegally decided to not allow our service dog indoors (despite having already informed them of our group size and service animal information on the phone). The manager did not even request paperwork and then stated he was going to refuse us service for causing a scene (which we were not doing). We ended up eating at Full Moon sushi in Gaslamp and highly recommend that if you want a drama-free sushi experience. Can't comment on the food, but the place looked nice, and other than the manager, the staff seemed friendly as well.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Best sushi I’ve tried in San Diego. I’ve seen my friends convert from sushi-haters to sushi-lovers after they had sushi at Azuki. Try by the border Roll. Great food quality and artistic designs. Make sure to reserve ahead of time.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Ate at the bar last night and got amazing recs from the bartender. The tuna was great quality which was exactly what I was looking for. Such a fun vibe and amazing meal. Will definitely come back when I’m in town!

Visited 9 months ago

Having eaten sushi all over the US and Japan, I have to say Azuki is really legit. Totally impressed, glad I stopped in here while I was in San Diego.

Great fish list for nigiri, and really nicely put together. If you order a handful of things at once, I like that it comes out one small plate at a time - it's all best when you eat it right after it's been made. Don't miss out on some great, harder-to-find things like barracuda!

For atmosphere, it's a good little spot; alive and energetic but not overbearing. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar and having the interactive conversation, recommendations, etc. with the chefs.

I'll have to come back next time I'm in town.

ごちそうさまでした！

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Aki and Peter were amazing through the whole experience. We sat at the sushi bar while Aki served us and overall had a great experience. 10/10 will recommend for all the Japanese cuisine lovers! We will be back !

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Came here to celebrate a friends birthday and it was just the best. We sat at the sushi bar, our chef was super nice and recommend amazing things (see photos). 10/10 can’t wait to be back to try more things.

Visited 10 months ago

I think we were pranked. This place was hyped up for so long that we couldn't wait to finally come. We were immediately met with a dismissive and careless server named Desire D. It was all unprovoked as she just made it clear from the start that she didn't want to be there and definitely didn't want to serve us. Her passive aggressive looks and responses to us were almost comical they were so apparent.

I ordered Eel avocado roll and a spicy tuna roll that were $12 each and they were hilariously underwhelming and looked worse than gas station sushi. Look at the picture! I had to repeatedly ask for a refill for my Sprite, which I found out at the end was $7!!!! I then waited 15 minutes for a eel sauce after asking for it twice - AND THEN SHE CHARGED ME FOR IT.

I have never felt so disappointed in my life by a restaurant that is so well spoken about. Surely, this isn't typical and I would love the chance to be redeemed.

Visited 10 months ago

Had a few dinners here - great spot! Solid selection of sushi. Worth it if you're in the area - I specifically come here from Coronado 😁 😋

Visited 10 months ago

Always an amazing experience!

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

This place is great for the most part. We had quite a few items on the menu and overall we enjoyed them. The A5 wagyu was disappointing since it was swimming in sesame oil which overpowered the taste. The otoro and bluefin was excellent. The super dragon roll might be my favorite roll in SD right now. The service was just ok and the wait for a table even with a reservation was a little long. They keep their pre-plated ginger and wasabi uncovered out in the open air outside for the patio tables which is pretty gross. I noticed that while waiting for our table. It's a public sidewalk and it should be covered. I'd come back for the super dragon roll but not much else.

Edit for next visit:
Service is still pretty bad. I think I had a busser come to my table once the entire time we were there. The server came pretty sparingly also. It's pretty annoying to just have dirty plates stacked up on your table for long periods of time and then to not even have your table cleared when you order dessert.

Visited 10 months ago

Where do I start? I’ll start with our server Kevin, he was so great; very knowledgeable and gave superb recommendations! We ordered the crispy rice tuna, gold standard and halibut sashimi. Everything was amazing and definitely recommend eating here if you get a chance! Also thank you to all the staff for making my birthday dinner so much more enjoyable! I will definitely be coming back for another special occasion.

Visited 10 months ago

Food is excellent, as is the norm. Great staff makes it top notch!

Visited 10 months ago

decent sashimi
lovely miso eggplants
decent oysters
nice fried rice
decent rolls

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Food quality was OK. We ordered spicy tuna and it was too salty. We notified the waiter, and asked it to be replaced. The manager was rude and unapologetic, and too complacent. I did expect a better behavior. Very over-priced and overrated, btw.

Visited 10 months ago

We had three specialty rolls, two sashimis and one classic roll. The spicy tuna was too salty, we asked for replacement but astonishingly the manager refused to do so! They brought back half of the spicy tuna which was very abnormal! We didn’t accept it but paid in full. The manager was so rude and the service was not good at all!

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Best sushi I've had in a while

Visited 10 months ago

Exceptional sushi with incredibly fresh catch, and a great waitstaff. Sit inside or outside, or upstairs! Definitely recommend a reservation

Visited 10 months ago

Best sushi we’ve ever had! Everything was excellent…will be dreaming about the food here for a long time. Everything the sushi chefs made was incredible. Loved sitting at the sushi bar.

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Visited a year ago

Highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar to be close to the chefs. Staff was super helpful and friendly and the scallop nigiri was incredible!

Visited a year ago

Best sushi in town

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The best sushi with the friendliest staff

Visited a year ago

BEST SUSHI OF MY LIFE… in Cali
We love yellowtail so we asked IKU our sushi chef to please make anything with that specific fish, he was happy to do so and also recommended a fatty tuna called ChuToro. it was DELICIOUSLY INCREDIBLE,Melted in you mouth soooo good!. We could not stop ordering it, forever changed our lives when we go to sushi restaurants. Thank you to the staff, the service was amazing, glasses were full at all times. I can’t wait to visit SD again just to come back and hang out with our IKU.

Visited a year ago

We are glad we came for an early dinner. Walked in at 5pm since we are unable to get a table reservation earlier. We were told to wait 25 minutes so we took a nice walk at the Balboa park. All the items we ordered are good.

Visited a year ago

Amazing sushi and cooked options in a cozy and cool atmosphere

Visited a year ago

The best sushi place ever! Great service, cocktails, and vibe! Every part of our experience was outstanding! Delicious, fresh, and beautiful apps, sashimi, and sushi! Bluefin 3 way was mindblowing....

Visited a year ago

First time trying this place and I was left speechless, great sushi and great service I couldn’t ask for more. Definitely will be a regular here.

Visited a year ago

Awesome spot, definitely worth the money.
Get the eel.

Visited a year ago

Amazing sushi and service! They were quick as well
We loved the salmon 4way

Visited a year ago

Food was really good. Pricey but quality. Try the blue crab roll and lobster roll. We came in at 8:30, I think our waitress was maxed out and tired by then. Maybe if we came earlier, she might have been in better spirits.

Visited a year ago

My first time here and it became an immediate staple. You can taste the quality of their ingredients and they pay a whole lot of attention to presenting the sushi well. I’m mostly vegetarian but I still loved it because they had enough options to get me full such as the miso glazed eggplant and the salad and the one vegan roll! The mochi cake and ice cream were amazing! Simple but amazing!

Visited a year ago

We were surprised they served Edomae Sushi, which is rare found near our town.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Really good sushi, and great service. A little loud for me. But I will go here again.

Visited a year ago

Amazing service from our waitress, she is polite, attentive, and knowledgeable. Nigiri and appetizers were perfectly made. The atmosphere was like I was in Japan, wood, rustic, perfect for a whiskey drink.

Visited a year ago

We had the adventurous plate and everything was very good. In the end they offered to fry the Macarel bones and that was very very good

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

A+++ sushi made me feel like I was in Japan again. Excellent service and reasonably priced for the experience. Will return.

Visited a year ago

Uniquely great vibes
Excellent service
High-quality food

Visited a year ago

Hamachi here is so fresh!!
And the Spicy Tuna Crispy rice is perfection

Visited a year ago

We went here for dinner and absolutely loved it. The sushi was amazing, along with the service. I highly recommend stopping by this restaurant if you want some good sushi.

Visited a year ago

Superb sushi. Get a couple of rolls to get a really good taste and variety. Amazing cocktails, great service. It is a bit busy and on top of each other if you are seated on the entrance level as all the traffic (customers, servers, register) goes by your table.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Excellent food and service.

Visited a year ago

Great spot! The Saru Old Fashioned was amazing. Sushi was fantastic. Definitely interesting flavors but keep an open mind and you’ll have a great experience.

Visited a year ago

My friends and I walked up a few minutes before opening on a Friday and got a table and was absolutely lucky because the food was fantastic and so many people were being turned away with only 14 tables available. This place is elegant and charming and a great place for a date or simply really good food. Probably the best sushi I've had in a very long time. Don't skip out on the amazing cocktails. The kakuni -pork belly dish - was so tender and melted in my mouth, still salivating thinking of the dish. If I can visit only one place in San Diego - Azuki would be hands down my place.

Visited a year ago

Such a great little gem! Definitely a new favorite date night spot. Everyone was very friendly and the food was top notch!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

DOR:42724 WOW! This place was really good. 👌 would return back in a heartbeat! We had what felt like half the fish menu! Did not care about the bill on this one. The sashimi and nagiri were 9 outta 10 and had about 5 rolls, all 9 outta 10 quality price tho. Gotta pay to play. Please see the pixs for more info! 0 problems giving it my seal of approval #gorditoapproved #fatboyapproved

Visited a year ago

Highly recommend the Azuki salad! Unfortunately the server forgot about our sushi roll. We reserved indoor seating a week ago but they only had outdoor seating when we arrived at the time of our reservation.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Incredible sushi experience, that should only be shared with those who are worthy. Do not squander this experience with someone that you do not love as much as you love the delectable sushi that this establishment has to offer.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Loved trying a sushi roll with a5 Miyazaki wagyu. New experiences are the best and I can't wait to go back.

Visited a year ago

Make a reservation. Great sushi. Great service. Very nice aesthetic.

Visited a year ago

Azuki has the gift. The best sushi in San Diego. The love and respect for food and service is undeniable. If you eat here you will always be glad you did. If I lived local I’d set up a weekly reservation to fill my life with joy.

Visited a year ago

Food was fantastic but do not trust a response if you try waiting list. I made a res and never received a callback. I walked up and was seated immediately and noted several open spots which makes me think they don’t pay much attention to the red platform. Tuna 4 ways was incredible. Bartenders 👍👍

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Had an incredible experience last night while visiting from Massachusetts. Want to thank your staff and most importantly our Sushi Chef Brandon for taking such good care of us. World class service, atmosphere and the food was of the highest quality. Will highly recommend and we’ll be back again when visiting the area.

Visited a year ago

Super fresh and high quality fish, unique rolls, highly recommend! Amazing experience here. Ikura nigiri and super dragon roll were highlights.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I live in Japan 40 years and co invested and ran a chain of 500 sushi shops. My expectations for Azuku Sushi were low, but I was totally wrong. I was just totally surprised by the amazing quality and authenticity of the food, the friendly and professional service, and the excellent drink and sake list. The sushi neta is huge and very high quality. The Otoro is perfect. The "San Diego" local uni is a good as anything I have had in Japan. The menu had Hamachi Kama which we could not resist and it was prepared perfectly. On top of the food menu, Azuki has the best Japanese whisky list in San Diego. And served perfectly with high quality clear ice. Be careful, the top shelf is all the cheapie fake Japanese whiskies but the bottom shelf is the real thing. It doesn't get better than Azuki Sushi. It's perfect!!

Visited a year ago

The service was fast and amazing. This was hands down the best sushi I've ever had

Visited a year ago

When it's called " you gotta be kidding" roll you know you in the right place. Excellent all around

Visited a year ago

Great food, amazing ambience, good service.

Visited a year ago

It’s pretty good! I would recommend the Kobe and R U Kidding me sushi rolls!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The Kobe roll is a #1 favorite! This is the first time I've had seared wagyu beef on sushi - and I was pleasantly satisfying

I dined in and had to go. To-go sushi is always a hit or miss, but I'm saying the sushi traveled well; quality did not suffer! When I dined in, we sat outside, I actually prefer the outdoor setting since you're right off a main street in downtown. Although, inside is available!

This is a pretty classy sushi restaurant. Be ready to pay $20 for any special roll. But your taste buds will be pleased by the quality

Vibe is nice-scale (not up scale) for a dinner date, although this could also be a casual place to go with friends.

Parking could become a challenge depending on what time or day you go. I've been lucky to sang a spot a few times

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Overwhelmingly Mediocre.
Enjoyed: Nigiri, SOS Appy, Miso soup
Did not Enjoy: Pork Gyozas, Beef yaki soba.

Does get bonus points for fortune cookies with the bill.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Overrated. We were excited to try Azuki Sushi and were sorely disappointed.

We showed up and the hostess (outside) was on the phone - after 5+ minutes of waiting she still didn’t look up from her iPad to address us, so we walked in. The staff was confused and didn’t seat us until after our reservation time.

They sat us right by the door - every time it opened it was freezing cold. We asked them to move us and they said they’d look into it, but never did.

The service was awful. Our server never checked in to refill our water, clear plates, nothing. We had to flag them over each time.

The food was good, but most of the dishes weren’t memorable. I sent them an email after and let them know that the service didn’t meet our expectations - no response.

Our dinner felt like a waste of a night and money we could have spent elsewhere, which is surprising considering that this restaurant comes recommended.

Visited a year ago

Я случайно зашел в это место. Можно сказать ошибся. Я искал Поке бол.
Здесь я заказал спайси тунец на брусочках из жаренного риса с кунжутом. И главное блюдо был ролл с очень свежим и вкусным угрем, назывался роллы Дракон ролл, не помню. Скажу что еда которую принесли мне, восхитила меня и я влюбился. А коктейли от бородатого бармена были как в лучших японских барах. Я пил олдфешн. Спасибо за прекрасный ужин.

Visited a year ago

My partner and I walked in and stood around waiting for one of their three staff in front to acknowledge our presence for a solid two or three minutes which is crazy considering there isn't a waiting area. So we were just standing their awkwardly while they were just side-eyeing us.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Food was fantastic. All was very fresh and well prepared.

Visited a year ago

Delicious sushi and food all around! Great atmosphere and service! Will be back!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

餐點很好吃耶～Omakase Chirashi丼飯當然必吃、Hamachi Kama魚下巴肥美、尤推Kobe”和牛蟹絨”壽司真鮮喲～😋

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

food was excellent, beautiful. Chef was amazing. drinks were delicious. waiter had good whiskey recommendations.

despite requirement to make reservations, seating is not wheelchair accessible for any party less than 4. was forced to sit at the bar right next to the door*, which was cold.

whiskey neat, gin cocktail, nigori sake, salmon sashimi 4 ways, Azuki salad, Starshine roll, oysters, 12pc sashimi sampler, brown butter mochi+ice cream

Visited a year ago

Wasn’t very impressed by the sushi. Cocktails were great though.

Visited a year ago

The atmosphere was amazing, it really made you feel welcomed. The service was great. I sat at the sushi bar and out waitress and chef was amazing they both made the experience wonderful. And the food is indescribable. It was amazing and well made/prepared. I normally don’t like eel but they cooked it in a way that tasted awesome. I would 100% recommend this place.

Visited a year ago

100/10!! I went for my birthday & it was such a great night!! First off, the atmosphere is amazing. Sometimes you see other restaurants who care more about how the place looks with bad food but not here. This place was so amazing. Ruly was our server and she was so sweet!! On top of a beautiful place & service, the food & drinks were delicious. You have to order the Uni Toast. It was such a delicious bite & a great intro to your main course. We ordered the Over the Border roll, Stardust roll, 1 spicy tuna hand roll, & 2 spicy scallop handrolls. Everything was so fricken good!! 100/10 definitely coming back.

Visited a year ago

The food and service were absolutely incredible at Azuki. I ordered the shiitake miso soup, azuki salad, kobe roll and scorpion roll. The flavours were very well balanced and seasoned perfectly. My favourite was definitely the kobe roll.

The atmosphere was great, very cozy and inviting. Shout out to Jack & Oliver, they were the most incredible bartenders/waiters. I had a blast chatting with them while enjoying my dinner.

Visited a year ago

Excellent night out in San Diego - service was efficient, food was quality and the ambience was light

Visited a year ago

Even though I made a reservation in advance and told them that we had a baby with us, it is not nice to make us with the baby sit at the table in front of the door.
I definitely do not recommend this restaurant to families with babies.

Visited a year ago

My partner and I were pleasantly surprised that the price and classiness of the place matched the quality of the food. We were particularly impressed with the taste and freshness of the salmon sashimi, and how tender and boneless the eel was. Generally most eel we get contains the small edible bones which there was none of here, making the eel & Avocado roll even better. The tempura batter is very thin and delicate without being soaked in grease like some I've had in the past. The cocktails were tasty and creative.

We were also seated at the bar even though there were no reservations available online and there are many staff working to keep it flowing smoothly. Thanks again to our attentive server and sushi bar chef, it certainly was a warm welcome to the neighborhood.

It's pricey but for good reason.

Visited a year ago

Went there twice during my 3 month stay in SD. Food was amazing and staff was pretty attentive too. Vibe upstairs is really cool, never been downstairs though.

Visited a year ago

We went there for our anniversary and it was out of this world fantastic. definitely recommend if you’re visiting or live in the area

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

My friend heard this restaurant was good & we decided to visit. It’s a small cozy place with limited inside seating and outside seating. We had reservations at the sushi bar. We ordered the Crispy Rice + Spicy Tuna as an appetizer and it was delicious! The tuna was so fresh and complicated the crispy rice. But the star of the night was the grilled beef short ribs. OH MY GOODNESS! I’m not exaggerating when I say these were some of the tastiest ribs I’ve had, ever. The meat was tender and so flavorful. They were cooked to perfection and the sauces that came with the ribs were tasty. The sushi was really good too, though the one we ordered tasted fishy because it had blue crab in it, which was not on the restaurant, but my preference. I definitely look forward to visiting this restaurant again! Our waitress and sushi chef were both very friendly as well.

Visited a year ago

We found a new sushi spot for sure. We loved our whole experience. We sat at the sushi bar because we didn’t make a reservation- probably a good idea to do so on a busy Saturday. We got the dumplings 10/10, salmon 4 ways 10/10, some of the best salmon I’ve ever had! “R u kidding me” was so delish 10/10 and of course everything was fresh. Next time I want to try the uni toast but I’m pregnant and avoiding Tuna but chef recommend that for sure. The ONLY thing I would rate 8/10 was the shrimp fried rice. My boyfriend munched it up and thought it was very generous with shrimp. I guess I would have liked to see more to the dish like some scallions or one other thing than just shrimp & rice. Overall we are excited to go back & highly recommend.

Visited a year ago

The service was outstanding and the ingredients used were top quality. I have to say, the food was absolutely delicious. Fantastic dining experience.

Visited a year ago

⚠️ Most overrated sushi in San Diego. Spent $150 (plus tip) for two people. We had 4 separate dishes and 1 sushi roll. Their uni servings are pathetically small, infact made us uncomfortable. So many good sushi places in SD where uni serving are palatable.

Don’t waste your time. Their popularity is dropping quick as they ride the coattails of their popularity from years ago and it appears they’re cutting quality. Alot of open seating available when we went. ⚠️

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

まあ美味しい事は美味しい。Food qualityは確かです。　ただ… お高い！　握り8貫で40$はサンディエゴとは言え、割高だと思いますよー。　今回は自腹だったしな。
味は間違いないです。

Visited a year ago

Crowded even on a Wednesday night, rolls and nigiri were top notch. Had an issue getting miso soup and we had to ask multiple times when it was coming.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Pretentious af and discriminatory toward single diners. Don’t get me wrong, the food is fantastic and the service from the sushi chef was on point, but the HOST left a bad enough impression to never want to come back. I went by myself on a Wednesday around 5:30, hoping to get a spot at the sushi bar. The host was very reluctant to seat me, and said I was lucky to have been seated that night. I was told a single diner could never get a reservation (has to be 2+), and that it would make an odd number of seats at the sushi bar (as would a party of 3, or 5…right?), so they would normally turn me away.. I guess since they had 8 open spots at the bar, they made an exception that night. I despise that kind of elitist attitude and make sure to tell everyone I know to never go to this place.

Visited a year ago

Wow! Sushi slaaaappppssssss. The freshness of the ingredients and the flavor profiles you experience is just unbelievable. When you sit at the sushi bar, you get to literally watch them make it right in front of you while talking to the chefs.

Drink was also good. Really really enjoyed this place. Glad I made it here before I left SD.

Visited a year ago

Azuki Sushi is my go to for fresh and flavorful sushi.
Highly recommend

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Really great food, service, and atmosphere. Our waiter made great recommendations, too.

Visited a year ago

I love raw sushi. However, I judge sushi restaurants based on their unagi nigiri. It came with no eel sauce. I paid 61 dollars for dry eel sushi.

The assorted tempura had poor quality ingredients. The shrimp were super small.

I had made a phone order, and they told me to come in 20 minutes. The host gave me a weird look when I arrived like I was interrupting him. I arrived on time and was told that I had to wait another 10 minutes. They have no waiting area.

Visited a year ago

Great experience. Sushi taste great. Uni or sea urchin taste like butter. Not bitter or fishy. Friendly environment.

Visited a year ago

Decadent ambience and experience. My boyfriend and I luckily got the last seats by the sushi bar at 7:00 before it became reservation only and an hour standby wait. The setting was intimate and cozy. Our sushi chef had wonderful recommendations. He recommended chu-toro (medium fatty tuna) and the blue fin toro roll. We ordered the chef's special and he gave us 5 different styles of fish with thick cuts (12 pieces) for $38. Such a great deal with AMAZING melt in your mouth quality. We tried the Black Sea bream, smoked albacore, salmon, medium fatty tuna, and yellowtail. I've never had a better yellowtail in my life. The chef said he sliced right from the fish's belly. So impressed & happy with our experience.

The bluefin roll had three different types of tuna, pickles, and was really yummy. Would definitely recommend this roll and this place for an unforgettable date night.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago