The WORST service I have ever received in ANY restaurant! We were seated in a timely manner, the sushi was good, not amazing, but over priced. After we paid our bill our party of four was finishing up, and the owner asked us to leave! She said she needed the table! How rude!
I will not go back!!
Food was really, really good and sushi was fresh. Since I was there alone, I sat at the bar to watch the chefs prepare food and talk to them. Since I really like the place, I went again the next day they even recognized me and were really welcoming. I'll definitely be back when I'm San Diego again. Tip: try the Spicy Tuna Tartar!
Great authentic Japanese food. I always get the omakaze.
This was incredible. Traveling from a landlocked state I always try to find good sushi near the ocean. This surpassed my expectations; a great spot for fresh nigiri/sashimi. Uni was local and delicious! I will definitely be back. Chef Stefan was knowledgeable and engaging. Thanks Taka!
Service was great! Every one was very friendly and responsive! Five star!
Rolls -shrimp tempura( which wasn t really tempra but breaded deep fry shrimp- easier to cook but still it was yummy), spicy tuna (very well!), Philadelphia (alright) and California roll (so-so, too skinny)
Sashimi - umm . ordered Tuna, octopus, salmon
Freshness- not quite enjoyable if you know what s fresh seafood like.
Nigiri- Ikura wasn t fresh enough and very tiny potion...
Can t say this place is the best place for sushi and sashimi..
We went in 5pm as they open on Tuesday evening and wasn t busy or too late night, so I thought I could expect more from Chefs!
Average sushi. Not worth the price. Waitress did an outstanding job.
Great sushi, great service. This place is really a fine establishment. I went with some friends and we all couldn't get over how cute our waitress was, she was a real firecracker but that's neither here nor there. If you are looking for a fun time on a cool California evening then this is your place!
Hands down the best sushi I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and sit at the bar, let the sushi chefs serve you and don't forget to order the Special Baterra. The chefs are incredibly friendly and sociable but you have to engage them and they will be more than happy to reciprocate.
Sushi was delicious. Tried quail egg for the first time and ended up ordering 3 more! I had the tuna, salmon, and eel since I like the classics and everything was 100%. Maru, our sushi chef, was friendly and made the meal even better. Can't wait to come back.
Fast attention. Great service. The waitresses who waited on us extremely attentive and friendly I asked for a salad but it didn't seem so fresh. The same good soup. The sashimi and sushi are nothing special. Clean toilets. Well located. In the heart of San Diego Down Town. Preferably a reservation should be made.
Live lobster was served in the restaurant. It was crying as it was eaten that was heard throughout the restaurant with children present. A sad and shameful experience.
Always fresh and consistent! Favorite in The Gaslamp.
Pretty good sushi restaurant. If you don't mind throwing down you can eat extremely well here.
Absolutely delicious nigiri and rolls! Friendly chefs, great service.
Authentic Japanese sushi made by Japanese sushi chefs at a very reasonable price
Everything is really fresh, I did omakase and it was delicious. They've got decent collection of junmai too. Prices were on average with other big cities I've had omakase in..
My top place for japanese food. Service is always awesome even when they have a full house. I look forward to going back again.
To much rice.on the hand roll and little fillings.
I have the spycy tuna - they didn't remove the seed from the pepper so have it in your mouth, and I ask for a salmon avocado -thing that they don't have in the menu.
There menu is not original and overpriced.
But the service is very good
Loved the sushi. Ate outside. Watched the homeless. Gotta love California.
My fav place for tasty Japanese food. Service is always prompt even when they have a full house. The service was very sociable and kind.
Stopped in for a quick dinner at the end of my first visit ever to San Diego, what a treat! Friendly & chatty sushi chefs plus delightful bites of sushi! The perfect topper for my first day trip to San Diego, I look forward to coming back again some day!
My Japanesse friend, who lives in Tokyo, swears this is the best sushi he's ever had. High praise, and while I don't live in Tokyo, I agree that the sushi here is fantastic. Go!
Delicious & high quality fresh fish. Had the spicy tuna roll, but the star of the show was the sashimi. The toro/tuna belly sashimi and salmon belly was scrumptious. Come and try various fresh sashimi!
Fresh and delicious sushi, and original seaweed salad. The menu was too limited for my liking.
Amazing food.
Small place, only for small groups
This is the BEST sushi bar that I have found in San Diego. It leans towards traditional Japanese sushi rather than crazy Americanized rolls. The price is reasonable for the quality, and the friendly service is outstanding. Most of the chefs have worked here for 10 and 20 years, which creates a very cozy atmosphere. I can't wait to go back!
Fantastic quality, great presentation and delicious recipes - but you will pay a "downtown premium".... The food was amazing, but too expensive for what you get.
Freshest sushi in town. Sometimes slow service because it is always busy.
Amazing find in DTSD!! Went 2X in the week we were staying there, and will be back next time in the area
Not cheap (but would you want cheap sushi?) They brew their own soy sauce which was different and very good. Fresh was very fresh and the service was on point. I make a point to go here at least twice every time I am in the area.
Delicious, fresh sushi, with a wide range of fish of traditional and modern kinds. The tempura was perfectly crisp and light, and the nigiri was delicate and balanced.
Good drink options, both Shochu choices were good and paired well with our dinner. Tamago and unagi nigiri were excellent, as was the box pressed roll. Service was great and the prices are very reasonable, we'll definitely be back.
What a delightful sushi place. Great energy and best of all the sushi is the top 3 freshest I've had in San Diego. The hamachi (yellowtail) actually tastes like hamachi (not a generic white fish). It has the sweetness and they always have seasonal specials. I also recommend getting the spanish mackerel sashimi. They fry up the fish bones after and serve that as a second part of the dish. The chefs and staff are super friendly. You definitely get what you pay for. So be prepared to spend more than your average poki or known inexpensive sushi places. But if you're a moderate sushi snob, chances are this place will rate for you.
My friends and my ordered way too much sushi and yet everything was so delicious that we demolished every single platter. I didn t even get a chance to photograph how nicely plated each round of rolls was because we couldn t stop popping them in our mouths. Prices are definitely fair for the quality of food that you get and the service was outstanding. The wait was a little long, but completely forgivable given the fact that their space is so limited. However, even though the dining area is modest it is definitely not cramped, nor is it noisy. You and your company will feel comfortable here and dine well without breaking your budget.
Had the tamago sushi and salmon teriyaki. Lots of egg and less rice on the tamago and the size of the salmon steak was perfect. Great, friendly service.
Super fresh sushi. If that's your thing this place us for you. Know what you want to order though. Very authentic with the menus.
The sushi is fresh, tasty and the price is just right. The place is very loud, hence gave it four stars.
Simply the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to. It's bloody good!
Decent sushi, nothing fancy but good. Parking, but limited space in the lot during the day.
I don't know why I keep going there, maybe because im super hungry and it's so close to me? ya that's why, how ever I will keep you posted on a better sushi places around here. thank you
Excellent place for Sushi! We had the spicy tuna roll and Philadelphia roll hit the spot! Sake was the drink for this place.
Michi our waitress did awesome.
Great sushi and service. Smaller menu than I'm used to seeing at sushi places.
Got omakase, and it was good. However, service was very slow, and waiter added a table to our table before we were even done.
Food was expensive for what you get, and only okay.
This place was so great. The fish is amazingly fresh. I had some king salmon flown in from new zeland that was my favorite. The sushi chefs are authentic and fun. The price is a little high but I think it's one of those you get what you pay for kind of situations. I highly recommend getting your sushi fix here. From the very friendly lady on the front desk, who squeezed us in despite being busy, to the waiting staff, the service was excellent. We were sat at the counter and it was a joy to watch the team of sushi chefs skillfully prepare the food fresh to order. Reasonably priced and good food too.
So damn freshhhhh. Would recommend the sashimi bc the melt in your mouth buttery fresh fish is heavenly. It needs no decoration.
We had an amazing experience here while on our honeymoon. The staff was courteous and knowledgeable, the seafood is second to none and the sucky was smooth and nice cold. We will definitely be back.
I am not sure that i have ever really eaten sushi before i ate it here. Fantastic.
Lovely food. Great service. Tuna sashimi was incredible
Try the Sushi but don't go if you're hungry the wait is long without reservations and pray that they get the order right the first three times you ask them for the missing items. The food will not come out all together and they will forget items which will be included on your bill. The Manager is nice and the staff are doing their best. Unfortunately, there just isn't any structure.
I have been going here for nearly 20 years and if you like authentic sushi ( not fruit filled saucy rolls) this is the place for you. Don't let the location of being on the cheesy Gas Lamp 5th ave fool you, this place is the real deal
Master Sushi Chef Maru serves up Uber fresh sushi /sashimi and I would say Taka is easily the best in San Diego.
Fresh fish, great service, and awesome atmosphere. Sushi bar chefs are attentive and fun, and will recommend exactly what you re craving. Better than Nobu without a doubt and half the price!
Taka Permanently Closed - I just checked a note on the door
Our first visit was ten years ago. It was so impressive that when visiting San Diego again, now with kids, we tried to locate this restaurant and were surprisingly glad that it was still here. The sushi was the same quality as we remembered, and most importantly, our kids loved it, too. Taka has earned its place in our family stories.
Good food. Little expensive. Pretty fast and friendly service.
Delicious fresh sashimi and sushi! Very authentic,,, owned and operated by Japanese.
The restaurant was very nice and the service was quick and helpful. However, the sushi was definitley mediocre, as well as overpriced. To be clear, the fish was fresh. Just very simple, something you could get at a supermarket honestly. If you're looking to get your sushi fix at a decent price, you may want to look around a bit more first.
After asking what was fresh, I was served several day old Spanish mackerel. The fish head and bones were provided as decoration and the cloudiness color in its eye clearly indicated it was several days old. Disappointing.
Amazing!!! The food, location, services....EVERYTHING ITS EXCELLENT!!!
Best mackerel I've ever had. Order shrimp too, it's a real show. Excellent fish, excellent service. This place is absolutely worth the price.
Growing up on the east coast at a young age spoiled me with amazing seafood.
I knew before I walked in that seeing four busy sushi chefs and fresh looking fish lining the sushi bar that this was a great spot.
Always ask the chefs what is fresh. Ask them to make you something special from what you already like.
Great service and atmosphere. Thank you for the amazing experience to welcome me back to the West coast sushi mecca.
Awesome vibes and super attentive service. The menu was fresh and delightful. Will clearly recommend this place to my friends. Affordable prices and big portions. Great work.
Best sushi I ever had. Fresh, tasty and good looking. Sit at the bar and talk to your sushi chef, while he makes your food.
I get to eat here a lot since I work nearby. I must say their service is always excellent and they keep the spot well organized at all times. Prices are convenient and they serve large portions.
Fresh great tasting sushi at a reasonable price. The service was excellent as well.
Restaurant was clean. Staff dressed nice. My sons shrimp fried rice was good but a little pricey but that's expected due to the area. I enjoyed my crab roll. Overall it was worth it.
Delicious fresh product thoughtfully prepared and layered for flavor. The staff and chef were very skilled and efficient. I recommend this establishment for quality sushi.
japanese food, yeah, awesome. There was fast, efficient, and courteous service. The bill was reasonable. Like a restaurant in Washington I loved.
Nice quality sushi you can get here. Chicken teriyaki didnt meet our expectation though.
Great Sashimi! Didn t try the sushi but people around me said they liked what they ordered!
The best quality sushi I have ever had. I am a sushi lover and decided to try this place based on the reviews and I'm so glad I did. The place is small, simply decorated and the menu is limited. You will not find pages of fun or crazy sushi rolls. They serve the traditional rolls at a fair price. The thing is, the fish was so fresh it melted like butter in my mouth. Each bite was better than the last. Eat here, you won't regret it.
Food is really good, price is good, but the service is horrible, took them a lot of time, then they brought the beer and spill all over, never consider to clean or ask if I want a different one, incredible.
Fantastic sushi, great sake and amazing atmosphere. Didn't have a single bad thing.
Very classy place! During COVID, all the seating was set outside and it was of course still very classy. The server was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. On this visit, we enjoyed the Chef's Omakase dinner, which included a wide selection of fresh fish, crab, amaebi (sweet shrimp from San Diego) and many other Japanese delights. It was served in a a respectful and traditional manner considering the COVID circumstances. We paired it with Nigori unfiltered sake. I had the chance to speak with the sushi chef when I stepped in side to visit the restroom. I can tell the take much pride in what they do here. The place was clean and had a positive environment. I would definitely visit this place again.
Great value omakase! Some great cuts of fish and some non-standard offerings tossed in as well. Some of the courses sourced locally. A fun experience even when riding solo.
takasushi.com