Soichi Sushi

“The best Japanese meal ever! We travel to Japan every year, but Soichi in San Diego is just out of this world! Omakase (multi-course dinner) is highly recommended. You won’t regret it. We can’t wait to go back.”

“Very high standard sushi. Some extraordinary (the Hokkaido scallops and 72 hour marinated fish). Almost all imported from Japan, so original tastes. Kotatsu under table heater in the patio is nice. You are a bit isolated out there. Soichi's personal greeting is a great touch. Very good service. You won't be disappointed.”

“Sushi is my love language, and Soichi knows exactly how to speak to my heart every single time. We love it so much that after eloping, this is where we came for our celebration dinner — just us two, some sake, and Soichi doing what he does best behind the counter. We’ve been here a handful of times, and it’s perfect every time. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch Soichi serenading guests with a song on his guitar. If you’re even luckier, you might find him there on his day off, sitting next to you, enjoying the fruits of his own labor and having the best time. The space is small and intimate, which I love, but it does mean reservations can be tricky. I recommend booking weeks in advance — or, if you’re like me and go with the flow, keep an eye on the reservation list and snag a cancellation. That’s how I’ve gotten in every time. I love that they offer three sizes of omakase, but they also have an à la carte menu if you prefer to choose your own adventure. The quality of the fish is unreal. The staff does a beautiful job explaining each dish, and the plating is always stunning. The attention to detail is unmatched. My favorite thing to order is the golden eye — it has become my favorite nigiri ever. This is the perfect spot for any special occasion, or honestly, anytime you want to treat yourself to something extraordinary.”

“Food: in our group, we got the full omakase and nigiri omakase. the food was good but nothing really stood out to us. I usually love monkfish pate, but the taste of this one was my least favorite. I think all the food was done well but we've had better at other omakases (and for cheaper too). For example, their negi toro was chewy. Reservations sell out quickly once they're released. Went at 6PM on a Friday. It's a pretty small dining area (seats maybe up to 20-30 people?). There were a couple birthdays, so the chef grabs his guitar and the staff sings Happy Birthday. Giving this a 3 stars because while the staff was attentive while you eat (making sure to clean your plates when you're done, bringing new utensils, folding your napkin when you walk away). I used the restroom and, let's just say, it was not up to par due to a previous patron. I discretely told the staff about this and they told me they would take care of it. My partner went to use the bathroom later and it still wasn't cleaned up and had to get someone else's attention to handle it. Definitely not something I'd expect at a Michelin establishment. Also, rated this place lower because there are equally good omakases in San Diego that's better than for your buck since we didn't feel full after our full meal and ended up ordering a la carte items.”

“Unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience overall. My husband and I had been looking forward to visiting this place and made our reservation a month in advance. Upon arrival, we were surprised to be seated at a table. In our experience with omakase, we have always been seated at the bar, but since it was our first time here, we decided to trust the process. However, being at a table felt like being sidelined. The service was not timely, and I noticed our food sitting at the bar for quite a while before it was finally served to us. Furthermore, when we asked about the difference between the nigiri sushi set and the full omakase, the server's explanation was insufficient. What felt most unusual was the progression of the meal. Typically, omakase follows a sequence based on flavor intensity and fat content starting light and building up to richer flavors. While I understand this can vary based on daily ingredients, the order of our sushi was completely different from the table next to us, which was confusing. While I might return for a few a la carte pieces, I wouldn't recommend the omakase menu. Unfortunately, the experience was not worth the $189 per person price.”