Best sushi we've ever had! Everything we ordered was incredibly fresh and delicious, and we'll definitely be thinking about this meal for a long time. James provided excellent service throughout the evening and really made us feel welcome. As first-time visitors to San Diego, we especially appreciated his recommendations for places to grab drinks and experience the nightlife after dinner. Those local tips made our night even better. We can't wait to come back the next time we're in town! Thanks, James, for an unforgettable dinner! read more

Incredible venue, food was amazing, drinks were sensational and our waiter Marco gave us the best experience you could ask for on date night. Highly recommend, and if possible have Marco wait your table to get the full experience. read more

A surprising gem! The inside is so gorgeous and wasn't sure about the food but I'm glad we decided to eat here. Ordered the FILET MIGNON POTSTICKERS which were incredibly juicy. Then the FLAT IRON STEAK which was cooked perfect. Our friends got the FILET MIGNON & CURRY CHICKEN & they both said it was fabulous. Deeeeelicious! read more

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Went to AKA to celebrate a few birthdays and had a blast. We had a table of 8 and the staff was very accommodating. We were seated towards the back area but were able to still able to enjoy the views of the whole restaurant. We ordered shareable items off the menu. Food was delicious and cocktails were flowin. It was nice that the restaurant pretty much turns into a lounge/clubby vibe after. We stayed a little longer after dinner to grab a few more cocktails and dance a little. Place is great for celebrations. Drinks were a little on the pricier side but enjoyed them nonetheless. read more

We stopped in for lunch. The restaurant was 1/8 full but we did not get any service, not even water, for about 15 minutes. The food looked beautiful but had very little to no flavor. The Sashimi was served warmer than it should have been. Very disappointing after reading good reviews on Open Table. So many excellent restaurants in Gas Lamp this one is very pricey and below average. read more

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I came in and sat at the bar nearby another man who had a menu and seemed to be waiting on a possible friend. He asked me if I needed the seat next to me, I told him no. After sitting down at the bar, I waited for about 5 mins, no acknowledgement, no menu. Then the man next to me left, so I snatched his menu and now I'm convinced this would be the only way I would get a menu anyway. After a few minutes, I knew what I wanted, but no one came around to even ask if I wanted a glass of water. A couple came and sat next to me, they got menus immediately. I tried to get the attention of two servers, one of which looked me DEAD in the eye and walked RIGHT past me not once but TWICE. A woman in a black dress. Ok, fine, I WAS the only "weirdo" there in cosplay but it was also comiccon so... While they were busy, the bar wasn't full and for a busy weekend like this I'd think they'd have more people on staff especially given their proximity to the convention center. Anyway I guess I should thank them for helping to save money. read more

Such a fun spot to dine in and vibe to great music! Love the intimate atmosphere AKA offers and our Waiter, Cru was amazing. Loved the cocktail menu options and of course approved of their espresso martini. The potstickers were one of the best I've ever had- literally melt in your mouth! I also enjoyed my sushi roll as well. The dessert was so delicious we ordered creme brûlée and ended up with a free dessert/celebration which was so fun, as we were celebrating my friend's b-day! Would definitely recommend a visit! read more

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The environment is beautiful, I love it, I am Japanese :). I wish I took more pictures. TBH I hope I got back the music was key, and the service was outstanding. I almost gave it 5 stars, but the Ka ra ge Chicken was missing that crunch and spicy of life LOL. Geisharita was super yup * Mango roll. I didn't ask if they had fresh wasabi but that would make it 100000 percent better. read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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AKA had phenomenal food and service! The music in here and overall ambiance was great.

The experience was okay. The restaurant is gorgeous. Beautifully decorated. I was seated immediately but despite telling the hostess I was there for happy hour I did not receive the menu. I had to wait almost 10 minutes before a server brought it. I ordered the rock shrimp which was amazing and the waygu grilled wontons, which were a massive disappointment. The rock shrimp happy hour item came with over 10 very tasty rock shrimp. The wontons came with a whoppping 3. They were overcooked and fell apart, despite this they had ZERO crunch. Almost no flavor at all. I would come back for the shrimp but not the service or the wontons. read more

AKA - Rock shrimp. Very good. - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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We had a nice experience at AKA. The food was great. We started out with the Grilled Lollipop Lamb Chops which were phenomenal. The Singapore Tempura Rock Shrimp were to die for. They were crispy and saucy and pretty addictive. They were a pretty hefty portion too actually. My husband opted for the Furikake crusted Salmon that was perfectly cooked. He loved the shiitake mushrooms on the side. I got the Cod. It was delicious and the Miso sauce had a slight sweet flavor to it that went very nicely with the fish. The only thing I can be critical of is the noise level. The music was loud and so were some of the young patrons. It's a boisterous atmosphere and maybe not the best for a quiet meal. Our server though was super attentive, courteous, and quick. We had a great time enjoying the food. read more

What a fun club!! You can hear the music from the street, which instantly pulled us in. It was even more surprising when we found out there was no cover charge, say what?! Once inside, the place was impressive. The vibe is super Instagram-worthy, and the atmosphere was all about having a great time. The music was poppin' all night. I would definitely come back! From what I've read in other reviews, it looks like they also offer dinner here, which makes me even more curious to return. Drinks are reasonable so over all great first time here! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

We were staying in the gaslamp area were looking for a fun spot to eat. I'm glad I chose this spot for a Friday night. It was so lively, beautifully and aesthetically decorated, and fun! It definitely was a place to go for celebrations because there were a few tables that got attention with lights and drinks which was pretty fun to watch. They have music going on in the background which adds to the vibe. The lighting is great. As soon as you walk in you see a lit up statue. Every so often a drummer comes out and drums to the beat of the music, which is pretty fun to be a part of. Our server was great and attentive. She was very helpful with answering any questions we had. We ordered the salmon skin salad, which was a unique flavorful taste. The saltiness from the salmon complemented the salad. Order two sushi rolls, which I can't remember what they were But they were both really good. I also ordered PadThai... It was definitely plenty for two people. So we ended up taking left over Pad Thai, which we normally don't. I will say it was amazing the next day too! We ordered two Sopporos and 2 sake to make sake bombs. I'd recommend doing 1 sake, and two Sopporos next time. Overall, we had a great experience, great service, great food, and great nights. I will definitely go again. read more

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Food: 4 Service: 5 Ambiance: 5 We happened to stumble upon AKA Restaurant in on a fairly quiet weeknight. We didn't have reservations but were seated promptly, which was a great start to the evening. What first caught our eye was the super creative décor. There's a large statue in the middle of the room that really makes a statement, and inside the red, dark lighting gives the space a really cool, moody vibe. It feels a little sultry and dramatic, but still lively and fun at the same time. We were seated quickly and helped quickly. We ordered several items to share: the lamb chops, mango yellowtail sushi, salmon skin salad, and the lobster garlic noodles. For drinks, we tried an ube cocktail (forgot the name) and the lychee martini. The cocktails came out aesthetically beautiful and were also delicious and refreshing. We really enjoyed them. The food arrived pretty fast and not only looked gorgeous, but tasted just as good. I especially loved the lobster garlic noodles and the lamb chops. Both were super flavorful and satisfying. The mango yellowtail sushi was good, but not my favorite of the night. The true star of the show was the salmon skin salad. The salmon skin was fried perfectly, light, crispy, and absolutely delicious. It was honestly the best salmon skin salad I've ever had. Overall, the ambiance is really neat. It's dark and moody, but still has an energetic vibe. I highly recommend this spot for a date night, a girls' night out, or just a fun evening downtown. The service was excellent, the food was delicious, and the ambiance was on point. I'd love to come back later in the evening when it transitions more into a club/lounge vibe. It looks like it would be such a good time. Highly recommend for good food, good vibes, good service, and an overall great night out. read more

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Alyssa was a fantastic service and made our group of 7 feel very welcome! Thank you for having us!

The side walk seating was nice, the servers were excellent. The food was just okay, but at $80 an entree each (including tip & tax - no drinks), i expect a lot more. read more

Food was pretty good. Service is very nice and attentive. Good dinner vibes inside. The sushi rolls are pretty good. The tom kha soup was not too bad! read more

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My wife and I arrived ahead of time about 5 minutes, the hostesses were nice enough to let us sit at the bar while our table was being prepared 10-15 minutes after our appointed reservation time we had to remind them we were still waiting at which point they sat us at our table. The scene was loud and didn't make for good place to have a one on one conversation but very nice for big parties and celebrations for sure. Our service was slow and altogether lacking attention, we weren't offered water even. Our waiter didn't check in on us even after our food arrived only finally seeing us when I waived him down for the check, they were too busy entertaining other guests and making prolonged conversation to see about us. The food was good and made up for the slow inattentive service, but we will not be returning. It was interesting to check out. read more

So we were visiting San Diego for Halloween weekend, and for our last night, we decided to go to the Gaslamp and grab a bite to eat. I chose AKA because it was open late. Honestly, this restaurant, which transforms into a nice lounge later on in the night, exceeded my expectations. We were seated immediately in this nice booth-type chair, which was very comfortable. The ambiance was really nice, and we were near the bar, where we could watch the World Series. Gaslamp was busy that night; honestly, I didn't realize it was still the day after Halloween. Anyways, we were seated right away and were given the menu immediately. These were the items we ordered: Lychee Drink (5/5): Not the actual name, but the drink was extremely well-made. A-5 Pandan (5/5): Another amazing whiskey drink. Appetizer: Singapore Tempura Rock Shrimp (5/5): By far the best rock shrimp appetizer I have ever had. It had some sweetness, but not overpowering. Seared Wagyu (5/5): Another amazing wagyu appetizer. Made really well, with a perfect texture. The sauce that came with it was very tasty as well. Main Entree: Both of these sushi rolls were amazing and were well-made. Is it pricey, yes, but I think the quality of their food was really good. Tempura Roll Mango Yellowtail After we finished our meal, we were waiting for our server to come back, but since it took him too long, we asked one of the ladies who worked there if we could order a drink, which she took. Unfortunately, the drink was forgotten, and we had to flag down our actual server to check on it, and we even had to explain to him that we ordered it from the female floor manager, I'm assuming. I decided to go down a star because of our server. After all our food was served, he didn't really check up on us anymore until I flagged him down to check for another drink and get our bill so we could pay for it. I understand they were transitioning to their night/club atmosphere, but you need to be able to balance that. You can't ignore your current guest due to a transition. Unfortunately, we decided not to stay longer since people started coming in to dance, but then there were females who were drunk dancing on top of a table. They eventually kicked them out, but when people get sloppy like that, it's usually my cue to leave the place. Overall, the food and drinks here are really good, and yes, it can be pricey, but I do think it was well worth it. The restaurant has an amazing ambiance and cool decor. read more

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San Diego's coastline sparkles with culinary gems for daytime dining, but when it comes to nightlife, Gaslamp Quarter seizes the spotlight. You won't need window seating either because the interior is the vibe. AKA San Diego sits prominently on the corner of Fifth Ave and Market St where an Italian restaurant used to be. Through glass panes, passersby can glimpse at the prismatic lighting and vivid decor. With same day reservations, we were seated by the tall Buddha statue, curiously situated behind a DJ setup, peaceful but ready to party. We'd find out later that the beat's turned up for birthdays which numbered 2 that night. DJ and waitstaff made each celebration lively and fun. As impressive as the backdrop is, the focus remains the menu, an array of Asian fusion dishes that blend flavors with remarkable success. The succulent Yakiniku Filet Beef Satays, the creative Grilled Baja Jumbo Prawns with risotto cake, and the mouthwatering Bluefin Tuna Wasabi are just a few highlights. Many visitors flock to SD for surf and sun, but the city doesn't go dark when nighttime comes. Contrarily, this is when downtown hits the on switch, and AKA is one of the many glowing lights you can follow to find phenomenal dining with unrivaled ambiance. read more

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The crab fried rice was amazing. Martin was great, very friendly and had wonderful insights about the menu. best vibe!! read more

Went here with a group of friends to celebrate my friend's birthday, and unfortunately, we had a really frustrating experience. The food was not good, and when we asked to split the checks, our server told us that wasn't possible and that he could only charge different amounts to each card. When we finally received the check, there were several drinks and food items on it that we never ordered. It took about an hour just to get everything corrected and close out our checks, which was especially frustrating because the restaurant was not busy at all. Overall, the experience was extremely disappointing. Between the food, incorrect charges, and how long it took to get everything sorted out, I definitely would not recommend this place. read more

Very disappointing experience, especially for the price. I came here with my family of four, including two minors, and unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had in San Diego. We ordered two sake bombs, four sushi rolls, orange chicken, and steamed rice. The food was just blah, and the prices felt extremely high for what we received. The sake bombs were particularly disappointing. I've never been to a restaurant that served less than half a glass of beer for a sake bomb, yet they charged $18 each. Then the orange chicken arrived cold, so we sent it back to be reheated. A server later brought out what we assumed was the orange chicken; it was warm, but it wasn't what we ordered. About 20 minutes later, another server finally brought out the actual orange chicken. By that point, we were already eating the other chicken, so they took the orange chicken back. We ordered a lava cake for dessert, which took another 15 minutes to arrive. By then, we were pretty frustrated with the long waits, inconsistent service, and the high prices for nearly everything. To top it all off, there was also a service charge added to the bill. Overall, the experience simply wasn't worth the money. Unfortunately, I can say with confidence that I won't be coming back. read more

Food: Bluefin Tuna Wasabi Roll - spicy kick from wasabi but not overpowering. really tasty and flavorful! fav roll! Pork Belly Bao Buns - soft, cutely displayed, fluffy bun, kind of dry pork belly but overall flavorful, and has pickled veggies Mango Yellowtail Roll - saucy, citrusy, peppery but well combined flavors Service: Very kind service and everything went smoothly! We made a reservation day of and had no problems. Ambiance: Dim lit and very decorated restaurant with nice restaurant vibes. There's also a little bar seating area. Lots of tables and seats. read more

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I came here with a group of girls to celebrate a birthday. We had reservations & were seated about 2 minutes upon arrival. The server told us it was a busy night & drink orders may be a bit backed up. I appreciate it when servers give us a heads up so we're not left wondering why the drinks are taking so long. Crab Fried Rice: I normally avoid fried rice dishes because they're usually so basic, but I think this was actually everyone's favorite dish. I was surprised by how flavorful it was. I would definitely order this again! Lobster Garlic Noodles: This was actually not as flavorful as I had hoped, but it wasn't terrible. The lobster was delicious & I loved how they cut it up in small pieces for you. The noodles were what lacked that garlic & butter flavor, but nothing an extra pinch of salt can't fix. Bluefin Tuna Poke Bites: This was a great little bite. However, for the price we all wished there was a bit more poke on the cracker. Hokkaido Scallop Sashimi: This was really good, another great small bite. It tasted fresh & had a little citrus tang to it. Grilled Lollipop Lamb Chops: The lamb was very tender & easy to bite off the bone. Packed with flavor & cooked to perfection. I would order this dish again. Surf n Turf Roll: The surf n turf was amazing. Get your phone out & be ready to record because it's fun to watch them torch the bone marrow as they drizzle the butter on the rolls. A real crowd pleaser for sure. Another dish I would love to order again! Our whole experience was fabulous. The server was attentive & made sure we had everything we needed. He was quick to clear off any finished plates & brought our birthday girl her dessert. They have the coolest entrance to the restroom that is very IG worthy. The bathroom was gorgeous inside & well kept. Thank you for an amazing experience, I can't wait to return! read more

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Ordered amazing lavish food. Toro truffle, mango yellow tail roll. They both are amazing. Dumplings are delicious too. Must try . I tried cream cheese and veggie ones. Pad Thai, egg fried rice and orange chicken have really good flavours, quite different. Everything was unique and scrumptious. read more

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We went with a large group for a business dinner slash belated bday bash. Food and vibes were Tao adjacent. They brought out champagne and had the DJ go crazy for my bday. Boys weren't super impressed with the steak but all of the appetizers and sushi were great. We had a lovely time. Restaurant is really large inside and great for a group. read more

AKA - Appetizers - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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I came here during restaurant week, and sadly was disappointed. The portion sizes on some of their items drastically varied. The food was just ok, nothing to really rave about in my opinion. The staff were decent, but our waiter was a bit forgetful, and we did feel rushed a bit too. The decor though was beautiful, and I liked that they offer a lounge like setting later on. I'd probably comeback to check out the lounge and maybe get a drink, but that's about it. read more

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James was an excellent server . The food was just as good. Looking forward to coming back.

Service was fantastic and Ercole was amazing, so I highly recommend asking for him if you're dining there. The ambiance is super unique and I heard it turns into a club on weekends, which is really cool. As for the food, it was pretty mid especially for the price point. Also, for a place advertised as Asian cuisine, it was surprising that most of the main entrées were steak-focused. I personally wouldn't go back for the food, but the experience and atmosphere were definitely memorable. read more

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We hosted a work happy hour at AKA. I initially made a reservation for 14 people, but we ended up having 2 more people show up. Our server quickly helped us with accommodating the other 2 guests. Our reservation was at 5pm on a Wednesday. We were one of the first parties to arrive, and the place did fill up in the next hour. The restaurant felt upscale, and the decor was Asian-inspired. The large buddha centerpiece had a DJ set, so I imagine that the restaurant flipped into a club during the weekends. Drinks were great. I had the Thai Me Up and Lychee Martini. I enjoyed both but the Thai Me Up was particularly outstanding especially if you like Thai Tea. I jokingly told my coworker that all it needed was boba. I didn't get a chance to try much of the food, but I picked at a couple of dishes. I tried a piece of the toro truffle roll, a piece of shrimp tempura roll, a couple of bluefin tuna poke bites, and some Pad Thai. The sushi was fine. None of the rolls stood out to me. I wasn't a fan of the their Pad Thai. I felt like they were trying to be cute with making the Pad Thai look and taste completely different. I thought the flavor was unrecognizable, and then using a flat noodle that is typically made for Pad See Ew threw me off. The noodles were cooked perfectly al dente though, so I'll give them that. But give us the comfort of Pad Thai that we know and love. Lastly, kitchen service was very slow. They couldn't crank out our drinks or food fast enough. I also felt like they were making a lot of assumptions without asking. For example, it happened twice where one person ordered 2 rolls for himself but the server would place one order at one side of the table and then the 2nd order at the other side. read more

AKA was perfect from the moment we walked in. The food and beverages were outstanding, and our charming server, James, made the experience even better. The vibe was upbeat, stylish, and effortlessly cool. The décor struck the perfect balance between elegant and upscale while still feeling modern, fun, and inviting. We had a fantastic experience and can't wait to return! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Had this place bookmarked as a must try because I love sushi and I love elegant ambiance. Decided to check it out on a late Sunday evening and it was surprisingly empty, four or so people at the bar and one table. The hostess asked if I had a reservation but I said I don't mind sitting at the bar. There was a surprisingly strong odor of cleaning solvent or air freshener or something that was really difficult to tolerate, especially in a restaurant setting. I don't know if there was some incident that needed to be cleaned or if that's the norm, but it wasn't great. I ordered the Crispy Blossom and the Salmon Roll (can't remember the name and it's not on their online menu), both with soy paper. I also got a diet soda, which was hot (not even room temp), watered down, and flat. The rolls were well presented but they smelled and tasted a little old (not fresh). They were also quite soggy and fell apart instantly when picked up. I'm not one to leave ultra negative reviews, but it's all for the sake of supporting business improvement. Also, for $80, this was pretty disappointing. On top of all that, the music was club level loud, and then BAM! We were deafened by the sound of a gong and elevated music for a birthday at the one table. The upsides? The venue is nice and the staff is really friendly and attentive, and the wait time for the food was good. Not sure I'd return though. read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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The menu screams order everything!!!! Friendly inviting vibe of a place. Whether it's a girls night out or just need a drink out at a cool big bar. Eating outside or indoors there are tables for large or smaller groups. Even on a Sunday night it's a party. Love the music selection they play!!! We enjoyed the food but service was pretty slow. read more

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This is a nightclub disguised as a sushi restaurant. There wasn't a single thing about this place that was even decent. After getting our table I went to the restroom and it was disgusting and I knew the night was about to be horrible. I was with coworkers so I couldn't just get up and leave. The cocktails are unbalanced and mediocre at best. I got a beer and it wasn't even cold. The "pork" belly bao buns looked like mystery meat. Sushi was mediocre at best. It's a bunch of bottle service girls in skimpy outfits serving disgusting food and drinks, oh but there's a DJ! I don't need a dj when I'm trying to eat. If you love a club vibe, this is your place. If you like sushi and just dinner, literally go anywhere else. read more

AKA - "Pork belly" bao buns - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

So I have to say my friends and I stumbled into this place, stumbled as in dodging the large crowd during comic con yesterday. There were five of us and fortunately we were able to get a table immediately. All of us enjoyed our meals. I ordered the pad Thai and I expected it to be just really expensive and mediocre, but it was actually quite delicious. The vibe inside the restaurant is awesome. The music was great. There was a live DJ music and the colors were nice. Bathrooms were clean. Servers were friendly and dressed up for comic con. My friend ordered a chicken finger type of appetizer and it came with double what we thought. Like entre sized. Had we known, he would have probably shared that with one other person. read more

AKA - Noodles - pad Thai - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Made reservations here for my girlfriend's bachelorette during the July 4th weekend and it was a blast! The food was delicious and plenty for us to share. Our favorite was the scallop crudo and rock shrimp tempura. The drinks were enough to get us feeling something but still tasty! During the dinner, they had complimentary photos which was nice! They did give you a small photo and asked if you'd like to purchase the nicely framed ones so beware of that! This location gives me the vibes of TAO back in Los Angeles! Very cute and instagramable :) read more

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Showed up here for a date night at 9:40pm, restaurant closes at 11pm. We had planned our day around having dinner here and were super excited and loving the ambiance of the place. Unfortunately upon showing up, the server cleaning the tables let us know that the kitchen was already cleaning up and closing up... an hour and 20 minutes early.. extremely disappointed, will not be back. read more

The location has beautiful ambiance and is well decorated. However, the sushi was just ok at best. The fish didn't taste very fresh. Service was kind and attentive. Overall would not return. read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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My experience was not great. I'm being generous with a 3/5 stars. My party received their food on time and my soup and rice came 25 minutes later. I had to keep asking for it. No apologies, no positive customer service and no offer to take it off the bill. Not going back. read more