Pros: The staff is all very friendly The environment is beautiful The sushi was good Cons: The music was so loud I couldn't even talk to the person sitting right next to me The sound system was not mixed properly so the loud music was grating at certain parts The chairs by the window where we were seated are so uncomfortable to sit on because they are rounded that I kept feeling like I was going to slide off. I am short also, and with no good foot rest that lined up for me. It was incredibly difficult to stay in my seat It's pretty expensive for what you get This place is getting two stars from me because I really have no interest in going back ever. I would give it one star except for the staff was really great and attentive. read more

great service. nice atmosphere. not busy at all, Monday evening, memorial day. miso black cod flat steak variety of appetizers, noodles, tempura for girl's 18th bday and 12 friends. read more

Came to Aka in Gaslamp for a friend's birthday and had an awesome experience. We had a group of 9 and sat at the bar, and the staff handled it really well. Everyone was attentive, friendly, and quick without making us feel rushed. Shout out to Kelsey and Giacomo! The drinks were great, the vibe was perfect for a birthday night out, and the food was honestly better than expected. Everything came out fresh and tasted amazing. Overall, great service, great atmosphere, and a perfect spot for a group. Definitely coming back. read more

My husband and I had such a great experience at AKA. The food was amazing! we ordered the filet mignon potstickers, the toro truffle roll, and the bluefin roll (highly recommend, especially since it was suggested to us). I also had the dirty chai martini, which was such a great surprise. It was smooth, unique, and honestly one of those drinks you remember after the night is over. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and really well done. But what truly made our night was Serena, the host. She went above and beyond for my husband and I in a way that didn't go unnoticed. She was incredibly attentive, kind, and made us feel genuinely taken care of the entire time. It's rare to come across someone who puts that much care into the guest experience. Her level of service and attention is exactly what you'd hope for when dining out. I wished she was serving our table! Our visit to AKA was truly memorable. Between the food, the atmosphere, and the exceptional service, we'll definitely be coming back the next time we're in town. read more

I've seen instagram posts of this restaurant and was excited to visit and take photos of the decor, specifically of the shrine (pillars) from Kyoto. We arrived at 6pm on an early Friday evening, and there were only 2 tables aside from ours. As the night progressed, the restaurant was starting to get somewhat busy. We ordered a bunch of items to share. Ming Sling drink (3/5): tasted alright, but my drink had soo much ice and wasn't filled all the way (see photo, as I hadn't even taken a sip). Yellowtail scallion (3.5/5): good and fresh, but overly priced. Rock Shrimp COCO MAYO (3/5): not bad, but the shrimp were small and also quite pricey. Chicken Kara-Age (3/5): alright. Australian Wagyu drunken noodle (1/5): beautiful presentation, but super bland and flavorless. The meat didn't taste like Wagyu... Would NOT recommend. Dry dan dan Noodle (2/5): better than the Wagyu drunken noodles, but still bland. Kung pao SSC Roll (1/5): so dry. It tasted like store bought sushi. Also would NOT recommend. Fatty tuna (Sashimi) (2.5/5): mushy; didn't taste fresh. The following are some of the better items compared to what's been mentioned. Black Cod (4/5): super tender, per usual. I love black cod for its rich and buttery taste. This dish was sweet and flavorful. Lamb Chops (3.75/5): pretty good. I also enjoyed the green curry it came with. However, one of the chops I had was very tough and inedible. Filet Mignon (3.75/5): pretty good. Quite tender. 20% gratuity was automatically applied to our party of 8. They also added a 3.95% service surcharge. I made a reservation online 6 weeks in advance, and they emailed me asking to select a pre fixe menu and to provide my credit card information to secure our res. I replied to their email 5 TIMES (not exaggerating) and didn't receive a single response! TERRIBLE COMMUNICATION. I was worried we wouldn't have a secured dinner reservation due to their lack of communication... hope they get it together. Anyways, nice atmosphere and decor, but substandard food. Pricing is what you'd expect for downtown. Our server, Mando (?) I believe was his name, was awesome. read more

See all

AKA just opened in November and finally had a chance to stop in. I got a seat at the bar at the tail end of happy hour, and ordered the, garlic edamame with butter soy ($5) - it was very flavorful and generous portion. Then salmon and avocado roll ($11) - did not love this - was a bit slimy and too fishy. I initially ordered the Geisha Rita, but it was just too acidic for me today, so my friendly bartender let me switch it out for the dirty chai martini, which was very tasty. Liked the kind of funky but still comfortable ambience. Wish the sushi had been better. read more

See all

Arrived early on a Wednesday an hour after opening. Was seated immediately, place was basically empty. Service from Martin was great, he was attentive and friendly. Overall experience was just meh. The Albacore Delight roll smelled fishy, and the Toro Truffle for $36 was a disappointment. Overpriced. The Veggie Dumplings were delicious, highly recommend those. The Miso Soup was good, but it was brought out with a huge spoon! Strange. Also got the Garlic Edamame, really good, highly recommend. Cocktails and sake were good. Bathroom soap dispenser was empty, unacceptable for only being open for an hour. Go for some drinks and an app, but I don't recommend full dinner service. read more

Connected with friend while she was in town for a conference. This was minutes from her Airbnb. The service was good and they had a good selection of asian dishes. The speciality cocktails were nice and but the best part of the meal was the server. He was attentive and offered up great suggestions for dinner. read more

we went here for the first time for my birthday weekend and everything was fabulous. The ambience was great very upbeat and vibrant energy. The service was excellent. The food was excellent and everything was good. We'll definitely be back next time we come to San Diego. Roberto was an extremely good waiter very attentive, great personality very friendly. We loved him. He made our experience extra special. We will definitely be back. read more

See all

We finally came last Friday. Since we were going all over Gaslamp we just. Same for drinks and an appetizer. We've been coming to this location for many years. Since it was Searsucker and Lavo. They have an outstanding location and bar. We get there close to 5:30 and sit at the bar. We ordered a Azaela mocktail and Geisha-Rita. The mocktail had an apple sort of taste to it. My wife liked it. The Geisha-Rita tasted just like a jalapeño Rita that Searsucker used to serve. It was very delicious and had a good amount of heat to it. We ordered the Filet Mingon Potsticker's. I am used to Boston/NY style which have a thicker dough. These are thin dough but are very good. The filling reminded me of exactly on how a potsticker filling should be. Couldn't taste the Filet Mingon however it was delicious. The bartenders were great and very informative. Pablo took care of us and was very nice and quick to serve. We were there for about an hour and it was still kinda dead. They told me it picks up later in the night. That makes sense since it's nightclub oriented. The place is very well designed. It will remind of you of Tao in Vegas. It is very instagramic lol. The bathroom was beautiful as well. Almost didn't want to leave. The damage for a couple drinks and Potstickers was close to $60. We will be back for sure. read more

See all

Came on a week night and got the Karaage, Dan Dan noodles, Braised short ribs and miso black cod. The karaage was very crispy and juicy, the ponzu aioli was a tasty dip. The Dry Dan Dan noodles were my favorite item of the evening. The noodles were very chewy (in a good way) which I've found only in a handful of restaurants. it came topped with a flavorful ground pork, the noodles were coated lightly with a cream (maybe mayo) based sauce. The cucumbers added a nice freshness and crunch which was a nice contrast to the chewy noodles. The short ribs were very tender and delicious, and the mashed potatoes were creamy, but I didn't really feel it had much of an asian influence despite the black bean curry sauce. Short ribs are usually my go to dish, I'd still recommend them if you're craving short ribs but they don't have a strong asian influence. Maybe if it came on some sort of rice like asian influenced risotto or something. The miso black cod was also good, very tender and moist. Pretty standard at any high end asian place these days. AKA did a good job of it. The place is modern and new, AKA means red in Japanese and the place has a red backlit shelf which reminds me of TAO in Las Vegas. The hallway to the restrooms look like the gates of the iconic Fukushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto. Its a definite photo op that's IG or FB worthy. Service was friendly and attentive, the place is new and modern. Being downtown parking can be tough and the prices a little higher than normal but not unexpected in the Gaslamp. read more

See all

I like that they call themselves a boutique - gives your t-shirt that bourgeois feeling. Fantastic assortment of shirts, hoodies, patches, tumblers, doo-dads, etc. Some of the funniest North Park themed t-shirts can be found here - like the one on 'Urban Camping'. Friendly staff too - really helpful with ideas for that ultimate print job. And reasonably priced - I think most of the local businesses uses AKA - which means their rep is solid. Like the 5 star rating I'm leaving. read more

Five stars for the service! Troy was our server and he was fantastic. He made sure our food and drinks arrived quickly and checked on us just the right amount of times. Great food and even better service. read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

beautiful japanese themed bar/restaurant, reminds me of john wick 4 vibes. love the red lit bar the bathrooms are very well done, beautiful decor. very chill bar before the music turns up read more

See all

Very fun, almost club like atmosphere. Our sever provided excellent service and helped us celebrate a friend's birthday properly; complete with handheld f Fireworks (of sorts). The food was all delicious and sake was very good. read more

I went on Sunday around 7pm. The service was quick. Ambiance was beautiful. I had the Bluefin Tuna roll. It was fine. I was expecting much more flavor in the sushi rice. The fish was fresh. I'll add that i loved their Sriracha! read more

AKA - Bluefin Tuna Roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Cru was great! Thanks for the service! We enjoyed our service and our server was great. Thank you! read more

We came to AKA with a group of 11 to celebrate a bachelorette and unfortunately had a really disappointing experience. Our server told our group he was bringing out celebratory shots "on the house" for the bride. Because of that, we all participated in the moment thinking it was a kind gesture from the restaurant. However, when the bill came, we realized we had actually been charged $90 for those shots, including mocktail shots for the two pregnant members of our group. When something is clearly presented as complimentary and then appears on the bill, it feels extremely misleading. On top of that, the menu states there is an automatic 18% gratuity for large parties, yet our bill included 20% gratuity instead. We emailed and called the restaurant afterward to give them the opportunity to address the situation privately, but the manager has still not responded, which is disappointing. No one answers the phone either and no one responds to the multiple voicemails we have left. We understand mistakes can happen, but communication and accountability matter--especially when guests raise a concern after the fact. I would encourage future guests to double-check their bill carefully, particularly if anything is presented as "on the house." read more

An upscale Asian fusion restaurant has opened in the Gaslamp Quarter courtesy of the owners of Zama which is another high-end fusion spot down a block on Fifth Ave. The decor of AKA had vibes of TAO Las Vegas with a buddha statue in the middle of the dining area, a painting of a geisha girl on the wall next to the kitchen preparation area, and plenty of red to match the business name. The central bar was to the right when you walked in. We came during the soft opening period which will end later this week. The place was not very full, and all of the diners were seated at the semi-round booths in the middle near the buddha. The menu sheet was divided into appetizers, dim sum, and salad in the left column; protein entrees, noodle/rice dishes, and sides in the middle column; and nigiri/sashimi, maki rolls, and desserts in the right column. The prices were on the high side, perhaps a few dollars more than what I had expected for each item. Our meal was made up of the following that was shared... * Chicken Karaage - Japanese fried chicken served with spicy ponzu aioli * Dry Dan Dan Noodles - Thin noodles served with minced pork, spinach, cucumbers, scallions, and poached egg * Black Cod - Roasted fillet that was marinated in sweet miso with shishito peppers and roasted cipollini onions on the side * Short Ribs - Slow cooked beef seasoned in a black bean curry sauce over mashed potatoes and vegetables There were six pieces of fried chicken that had a nice crunchy batter. I didn't need to use much aioli as the meat was brined. The noodles were surprisingly good with the fine bits of pork. I wish there was more for the $24 price. The cod was plated with four blistered peppers surrounding the fillet. The black sauce for the beef was a tad salty which made it my least favorite of our courses. The service was pleasant and efficient as there weren't many occupied tables. I hope AKA can regularly fill its large dining area as the capacity was easily over 100. Our dining experience was worthy of a four star rating. read more

See all

I loved my time at AKA last time I went but this one employee I met Tommy (a blonde young Woman), is hands down one of the best bartenders at AKA. She's incredibly friendly, attentive, and makes sure you're comfortable from the moment you sit down. Whether it's drinks or food, she's always on top of your order and checks in to make sure everything is perfect. She handles busy rushes like a pro and still gives excellent, respectful service to everyone. If you're at AKA, you'll definitely want Tommy taking care of you, she makes the experience so much better. Ambiance is truly amazing and worth going into AKA! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

On the best corner in the Gaslamp, comes AKA. I usually avoid restaurants the first 2 weeks because I know there are kinks to work out, but I just couldn't wait to try AKA! Beautifully designed, it's your new it spot for your social media reels. I loved the Torii gate leading to the bathrooms, it makes you feel like you were just teleported to Japan. It tries to be upscale but could also be very chill, which is a San Diego thing. Service was fantastic, Kristyn has such a positive uplifting vibe. Great energy, friendly, and communicative. The food is Chinese Japanese Thai fusion. I tried some appetizers, they were okay. But I went back a second time for the sushi, now that's another story. The nigiri was fresh and amazing quality. Riley was really great and got them to make me a spicy tuna roll off menu. It was pretty solid! Easily top 3 spicy tuna rolls I've had! Give it a shot, the decor alone is enough to check it out! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We had reservations at 730pm and there was a wait when we arrived. It was about 10 minutes. You can see everything that we ordered (pictures provided). Everything tasted regular. Nothing really "wow" us here. I understand that it was the first weekend opening but they had a soft opening, friends and family, then an industry night. If that didn't prepare you for your grand opening then I don't know what will. The service was so slow and the waitresses were doing their best. When our food was coming out the waitor was delivering food from behind us! It was actually insane. We were sitting at booth and it was delivering food from behind us in between my gf and I. The restaurant is a wanna be TAO in LA if you ever been. Obviously it can't compare to what's in LA but nice try though! The ambiance is super dark and loud. If you're going into for drinks that should be fun. Just don't come for food. Ana and McKell(or Raquel) I couldn't hear her but they were the best thing to this place lol. Don't waste your time or money guys. read more

See all

Food was amazing. The ambience here is so beautiful and the service we had Kelly and she was an amazing server. I'd give her more stars, but they won't allow me more than five. read more

Kelsey was absolutely lovely, and super attentive! Was a pleasure to have for my first experience here!

Overall, not great. The place smelled like a bar (gross chemicals), the sushi rolls weren't that good, the service was pretty horrible. Definitely would not recommend. read more

Beautifully themed restaurant. Touristy. Sushi isn't great. Hate that they also try to start tipping at 20% + plus some bs service charge which makes me not want to come back. read more

One of the coolest atmospheres in the Gaslamp, but with the food and drinks that can hold their own. I wanted to take my cousin for a girl's night out for her birthday, and this was the perfect spot. They took such good care of us the moment we walked in. Roberto made all the best suggestions for an epic meal. We tried: Geisharita Ming Sling Cream Cheese Rangoons Fillet Mignon Potstickers Pork Belly Bao Lobster Noodles Cali Pac Roll Creme Brulee The drinks were nice and strong, and the food came out fresh and prompt. We were impressed by the quality of ingredients they use. They use actual big chunks of Maine Lobster, not slipper lobster or langostino, and you can really taste the lobster flavor infused into the actual garlic sauce. I'm already planning a date night here with my hubs because their menu needs more exploration ASAP read more

See all

Anniversary dinner before going out in Gaslamp. We had very tasty food from, the Spicy garlic to the pad Thai. The drinks were also very tasty. Our server Kelsey was super cool, very fun, friendly and attentive They have good music in the background keeping the vibes going all night, with a surprise on your bday! Overall great experience, highly recommend read more

See all

came to celebrate a college grad and the food was fireeeee!!! the drinks were good but could pour me a little more for my liking, but i just want to be lit so thats just me. ambiance was great with the lighting and music. the area by the bathroom is great for pics. service was great as well! always attentive and there for your needs. read more

Food and service were incredible. Our server Marco was very attentive and kind. The vibe is very lively and fun. read more

AKA - Mango yellowtail - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

We came in very late to AKA and were a little worried about being a bother, but Roberto made us feel completely comfortable right away. He welcomed us with such kindness and charm that we instantly felt at ease. Even though it was late, the service never felt rushed--he treated us with the same warmth and attention as if it were the beginning of the night. We ordered sushi, including the bluefin, and everything was amazing. Roberto's genuine hospitality really made the whole experience stand out. He's the kind of person who makes you want to come back--not just for the great food, but for the way he makes you feel as a guest. Thank you, Roberto, for making our night so memorable! read more

See all

Came here for my birthday and ordered the filet mignon medium rare. Unfortunately, it was cooked medium instead. For a cut like filet, that difference matters -- medium rare should be tender and juicy. This was noticeably overcooked and much drier than expected. I was really disappointed, especially for a special occasion. At this price point, attention to temperature is basic execution. Hoping they tighten this up, because it took away from what should have been a great night. read more

We came to this club because it seemed like a great way to start the night. The decor was nice, and both the bouncers and bartenders were friendly, which we appreciated. However, our experience was completely ruined by one of the bottle service girls. There was a blonde staff member who pushed my friend while walking by with a bottle. My friend didn't say anything at first, assuming she was just trying to do her job. But then it happened again this time she wasn't even carrying anything and still pushed past her for no reason. At that point, my friend calmly told her she could simply say "excuse me" instead of pushing people. Instead of handling it professionally, the staff member escalated the situation and told security to kick us out. That kind of behavior is unacceptable. No employee should be putting their hands on guests, especially when it's completely unnecessary. Management seriously needs to address this and remind their staff to treat customers with basic respect. Honestly, now it makes sense why there wasn't a line to get in. With service like that, it's not a place worth spending your time or money. read more

Decor was fabulous... Definitely a fusion vibe with a restaurant that seems to be quiet until it mysteriously turns into a club type scene with DJ ( outstanding) & two stunning dancers backing him up while I eat my sushi. Bathrooms were clean. Music gets loud. This is a photo shoot atmosphere with bottle service and intimate celebrations all around. Servers were kind until they ask ( at the end of the dinner if I was happy with the tip & bill amount. I thought that was interesting. $400 plus for 4 adults & a 13 year old. Sushi was delicious and done well. Popcorn tempura shrimp was great Mary's farm chicken was in a curry sauce ( very good) . Miso soup fabulous Best fish we've tasted in a while. Salmon was good. Main lobster garlic noodles were perfect. Beef tartar was ridiculously fabulous. Grilled prawns were done nicely Presentation was on the money! Very nice bar scene! read more

See all

Came here for our friends birthday! We didn't come with any reservation but the staff was extremely accommodating on a Saturday night for our group of ten. We do recommend to get something on the books in advance. A special shoutout to the hostesses Kelsey, Noelle and the bartenders (Rae, Jacomo). Really awesome vibes! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

The drinks were good, food was not worth it. Small portions, overpriced food. $39 for a curry should be illegal. Our waiter Marco provided great service. Loud, club like atmosphere with a good DJ. Don't eat dinner here. read more

Fun vibe upon entering. The restaurant is dim with lively music playing. Comfortable booths to sit in while watching the open kitchen. We started with the rangoons, they were tasty! Then shared the small sushi sampler. It came with 3 rolls and 6 pieces of nigiri. Would definitely go back when visiting the area again! read more

See all

Such a great experience!!! had the yummiest food and the nicest staff. highly recommend! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Sushi was good and portion was good! Service was good shout to James! They also take photo and placed it in picture frame for $20.00 it was good. read more

Food is good, service is good, ambiance is good too. We will definitely come back if we are here in the area.