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    Brisa Restaurant & Bar

    4.4 (380 reviews)
    Updated 2 months ago

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    BRISA RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Casual
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    Intimate

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    Smoked Pork Chuleta 9/10!
    Frankie M.

    This is where Latin American flavors meet Asian Fusion cuisine! Brisa is a vibrant restaurant in the heart of Little Italy that serves up some of the best Latin-Japanese fusion flavors in town! My wife has been longing to dine here for months! So, we finally set up a double date night to embrace the uniqueness of this tropical, coastal and stylish restaurant. For starters, we ordered the passion fruit ceviche 8/10. It was fresh and tangy with a hint of spiciness! Very tasteful! For our main entrees we ordered the smoked pork chuleta, the chop was tender and juicy with tons of flavor 9/10. And my wife ordered the cheese empanadas, each bite had a satisfying crunch with piping hot melted cheese inside 9/10. Our friends ordered the tequila salmon and the house special which consisted of ribeye steak bites, shrimp, and (1) cheese empanada. As for cocktails, highly recommend the guava lava-jalapeño infused tequila, guava purée, triple sec, and lime 10/10. And also the forbidden fruit martini- rum, lychee liqueur, rose water, and lemon 10/10. Overall, the food was exquisite! Service was definitely on point! From start to finish we were greeted with smiles and hospitality- it definitely shows when people are passionate about providing top-notch service! We will definitely be back soon!

    Saleen M.

    I was super excited to check out this restaurant when I found out they had a speakeasy! Brisa is Latin & Japanese inspired cuisine. The sushi was expensive & basic. Unfortunately, the speakeasy is just a separate room (looks like it is a converted patio). They had quite a few tables in such a small space so it was tight. Service was extremely slow & it seemed like they just took whoever they could get from Brisa to come by to take orders. They had a few exclusive cocktails, with the rest from Brisa.

    Zuli M.

    Good trendy spot. Nice GNO or date night option. Not somewhere you go to be it's world class cuisine lol The menu is a nice fusion so something for everyone. I knocked a star bc it's a bit cramped in there... they really squeeze people in there.

    erica b.

    The Galentines day brunch was Awesome! This restaurant is so pretty. It was decorated with roses coming out of the ceiling and flower backdrop at the bar. Just Beautiful! Our server Lorenzo was the best! The food was really good as well. I really liked the cheese empanadas. The whole atmosphere was just great. I will definitely be putting this on my list of places to go for brunch.

    Isaiah A.

    Came here for a date night and were offered both the regular menu and a Restaurant Week menu. After looking over both, the Restaurant Week option caught our attention. The ambiance was nice, dimly lit with a candle at the table, which made it feel intimate. One small detail I really liked was the unique water glasses they served us. For our first course, we ordered the ceviche and empanadas from the Restaurant Week menu, and also added the Brisa oysters from the regular menu. The empanadas were easily the standout of the three appetizers. The ceviche was solid, though I've had better, and the oysters were fine but nothing memorable. For our entrees, we went with the steak and lobster and the Cajun salmon. The steak had a strong lemon flavor but was overall good, and the lobster was cooked very well. My partner enjoyed the salmon as well. To finish, we got a tres leches cake, which was very good and a sweet way to end the meal. I'm not completely sold on Brisa just yet, but it might be worth giving another try in the future.

    Lobster and NY Strip Steak - restaurant week
    Kate F.

    This restaurant is so cute inside with flowers hanging from the ceiling. Very Instagram worthy We went for restaurant week and the ceviche was delicious and a large portion. I got the lobster and NY Strip steak. The mashed potatoes and lobster were delicious. The steak was just okay The tres leches cake was really good as well It was an incredible deal for $45

    Shaeli Z.

    Can I just say.... It was not what was expected. They had a pop up, but I guess it's one and the same place. I definitely missed the jungle pop ip speakeasy they were advertising. This place is built like a concrete holding cell with some flower thrown in. The menu is confused and the food was mediocre at best. The vibe was dim and dreary, tables squished together with no space to walk between. The whole building also smelled weird, there was a pungent odor coming from either the pipes of sewerage. I lost my appetite. From the time I called to let them know I was going to be a couple mins late they just said "ok" and didn't ask for a name or time of my res. Maybe they're not concerned with people showing up. Our server was great though it looked like he was struggling to walk between the tables. The lobby wasn't bad when you first walk in.... Becomes quite grim immediately past that lobby area. They look like they half-a it, like running out of budget. The ambience was colorless, distasteful and humdrum. It was cold and quite unequivocally uncomfortable. I have never had experienced this in my life. Moving on to food: menu is a number give away of what to expect.... I supposed you expect they don't know what you are as a brand. It's a mess. They couldn't dabble in a cuisine so they didn't choose one but all. I was immediately walking to walk out when we got our food. 1: nothing on the menu was appetizing so we ordered a salad. There was something wrong with the dressing. 2: we got the garlic rice, it was a plate of oil/melted butter. I have yet to go to a restaurant and ask for them to remake the food but with less butter, but this should've been the time. To end: I will not be returning, for any of you coming here, book a table in the lobby. It saves you from the smell and unimpressive ambience. For those of you reading this review, people say to order the sushi. I should've listened, even then, $30 for a roll is insane. It also did not smell fresh in the restaurant so you could very well be sick.

    Filet Potstickers
    Carlos S.

    Brisa delivered a fun night for our birthday celebration, with a few misses. We came as a party of 8 and the vibe was festive right away. The space was decorated with a Valentine's Day feel, with flowers everywhere, which made the whole dinner feel extra special. Service started off a bit slow, but Jenny completely turned the experience around. She surprised our birthday boy with champagne and a free dessert, and that thoughtful gesture made the night. Food was mixed. The appetizers were the clear highlight and the reason I would return. Across the table, the winners were the steak skewers, the empanadas, and the key lime pie. Those were the standouts. The main courses were less consistent and did not match how strong the starters were. One more note. Brisa has a speakeasy bar connected, which sounded fun, but it was rented out the night we visited so we did not get to check it out. If you go, focus on appetizers and drinks, and ask about the speakeasy if you want the full experience.

    Brisa Roll
    Jonathan Z.

    Cute cocktails, great mid week deals for Mexican food, but wouldn't come back for the sushi rolls. Got the Brisa Roll and the Surf & Turf Roll. Not a fan of the lobster and steak with the cream cheese. Crispy fried onions were good, though. The Brisa Roll wasn't much to write about either. California roll style and both took quite a bit to come out. I did love their Flower Pot cocktail served in a mini flower pot. A boozy Oreo espresso martini with whipped cream. The bf's cocktail wasn't bad either. Service was friendly but may have to try their non-sushi options when we come back.

    Signage. Ig@mel_foodie_ventures
    Melanie P.

    And I'm back for the Christmas experience that I saw on IG. I loved the Christmas decor right as you enter, which allows you to take some cute photos while you wait for your table. It's definitely a win if you come during this happy hour so that you can take advantage of that and also taste their holiday drinks! The flying reindeer was super cute with the balloon reindeer attached to your drink! I also liked the Santa's Nightcap with the eggnog and the gingerbread man garnish on top. Sushi was good and I enjoyed the Tizon Roll, which was torched at tableside. The place was kinda loud though, so it was hard to talk above all the chatter. Customer service on point as usual and I would definitely return to try more of their holiday drinks.

    Brandon M.

    Bomb steak skewers The sushi rolls were also good. Service was exceptional. Decore was string lights & vibey. Downside is kinda pricey. Even apps are $20 or more.

    bar area
    Roxanne H.

    Came here for the christmas drink menu and had such a great experience. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Drinks were tasty as well, not super strong for mine, but it was a sweeter drink. I tried my friends martini though and dare I say best martini i've had ever? Perfect amount of olive juice!! Our drinks came out fast, and the ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and charming. Would definitely come back and would love to try the food next time!

    Menu
    Daniela A.

    Came in and because we heard there was a holiday theme and I'm so glad we did! We made a reservation and the hostess seated us right away. The inside was so cute as well as the outside and made for a very inviting time. We ordered the Calamari and truffle fries as well as the Frostys Hot Mess. The Calamari was cooked perfectly ans so nice with the lime. The avocado cilantro aoli it came with was such a nice pairing. The truffle fries were also delicious, well done ans not to much truffle but a generous amount ot Parmesan. The Frostys Hot Mess was really cute, I enjoyed the marshmallow on top and it was a well balanced drink. Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant and I cant wait to come back!

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    Brisa Restaurant & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Brisa Restaurant & Bar

    What kind of sushi rolls that are 50% off on Tue? What time? Can I order togo?

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    Azuki Sushi

    Azuki Sushi

    4.4(3.6k reviews)
    0.6 miBanker's Hill
    $$$
    Takes reservations
    Vegan friendly

    My husband brought me here as a surprise bday dinner. We had our 5 year old in tow who ended up…read moreknocking out right after we ordered. We ordered a bunch (see photos). Cant remember what they're all called but they were all good and would 20/10 order them again. Ambiance was also wonderful! But what made this place even better was the staff. We were promptly sat down upon arriving. Servers frequently checked on us and were all so nice. But what really stood out was their empathy. Like i said, my son knocked out. He's 5. He woke up as we were leaving. by the time we figured out what was really upsetting him (he wanted to stay there and eat and wanted the table we were on), we have gotten out of our table and obviously the table was then cleaned for the next guests. So basically my lil one cried, took him to the bathroom bec unfortunately we dont get everything we want just bec we cry. So we went into the bathroom for him to cry his feelings out and be ready to get out. Was he loud? Absolutely. Was i embarrassed? Yes. But it was a lesson he needed to learn and i didnt want my discomfort to hinder that. (Mind you the bathroom was in the middle of the stairs lol midway the lower and the upper floor). So was i ashamed to get out? Yes. But the staff, so empathetic. So nice about it. Told me i didnt need to apologize and that they get it. And that made me feel better as a mama who walked out of there carrying a 5 year old out their door. No judgy stares. Just smiles and understanding eyes. So july 18 2026, 4-5pm staff, you are all so amazing and we truly appreciate it. We hope to be back again when in the area.

    What a lovely place. Every bite of sushi was melt in your mouth, heaven. I loved the crispy tuna…read morerice - perfect fish to rice ratio in my opinion and the spicy tuna was seasoned well. I got an assortment of nigiris (sorry I forgot which ones I ordered) and the Azuki chirashi bowl which included an assortment of fishes. I do wish the nigiris were dressed as I like different flavors paired with my fish but soy sauce and wasabi worked perfectly fine. The chirashi bowl was a great dish to share as it was quite filling and was a generous portion. Overall ambiance was super cozy and felt intimate enough for a date night.

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    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Baked Scallop Roll - @rayz

    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi

    4.3(2.8k reviews)
    13.1 miMira Mesa
    $$$

    I never get tired of going to this restaurant, I'm a sushi fan and as a former sushiman I'm…read moreextremely picky about eating sushi, especially temakis. Rice, the main ingredient of cooking is always on point but today it overcame, probably because it is very hot, the contrast of today's air conditioning was excellent, anyway. The best temaki in San Diego because it still arrives at your table crispy. A restaurant that surprises me every day that passes because it is a restaurant with the age group of younger waiters in SD but with better service than many restaurants in La Jolla. For those who really understand modern (non-traditional) Japanese cuisine, without a doubt the best. By the way, today the yellow tail was melting in the mouth. Anyway,,, thank you Little Sakana Crew,,, you are to be congratulated.

    My go-to casual date night spot! I love Little Sakana's fish quality, and often opt for their…read moreall-you-can-eat option over à la carte. If you want to add sashimi to your all-you-can-eat experience, there is an extra charge. My favorite rolls are the lemon roll and the UFC roll. Ask about their secret menu! They often have things like salmon belly nigiri and yellowtail belly nigiri. For a two-person AYCE experience, with tax and tip, it's around $90-95. The wait is pretty long on weekends, and you can join their waitlist from a QR code at the host stand while you walk around other businesses in the plaza! Heads up, the restaurant is pretty loud, as they often blast their "Happy Birthday" audio over speakers multiple times. Recently, I've ordered catering for their large platter (base $150). Super great deal considering the amount of rolls they give you and the freshness. Pretty simple to order catering off their website as well!

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    Little Sakana All You Can Eat Sushi - Yellowtail, Salmon, Ikura

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    Sushi MARU - Iwashi

    Sushi MARU

    4.8(89 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown

    Adequate street parking in front and a huge ACE parking lot right in front if you're down to pay a…read morelittle extra. Easy to miss the door but theres a small wooden plaque by the front. Super small and intimate service, never felt rushed and very attentive staff. Extensive sake list and more than the usual options for beer. Chef Maru recommended to take photos upside down to get a better angle and he's so right lol The nigiri was great and I loved how the menu switched from fresh snappy bites to buttery melt in your mouth pieces, never felt like the last piece was competing with the next. I loved that crab was used in multiple dishes, like the warm dish and soup. I wish the nigiri was bigger in general, on the smaller side compared to other spots. Tuna lovers will appreciate how many dishes had tuna. The warm dish (seabass w hairy crab sauce) was one of my favorites, the hairy crab sauce consistency reminded me of banh canh cua. Tuna is from Mexico, most veggies and fruits were from Chino farms.

    I was really looking forward to Sushi Maru omakase. I made reservations for the late seating at…read more8pm. Once arrived we were seated about 5 minutes later. They were still setting up. My first impression of the restaurant was, it was beautiful restaurant with a counter that seats 14. First off, Chef Maru and his entire staff was absolutely fantastic and professional. They were all attentive on refilling water and tea. Chef Maru himself was absolutely awesome, he explained each course that was served. Which was the right way to do it. Omakase: Omakase 20 pieces at $180. It's a great price, but in my head there had to be a catch to it. The starter and appetizer started out strong. Everything (fish) were all fresh, so when the nigiri course started that's when everything went south. The nigiri that chef served was really small and it's not your standard size nigiri .There's barley any shari ( sushi rice) and fish. If felt like I was sampling each nigiri. You can't really enjoy it when it's that small.The only highlight was the Uni from San Diego. That felt like a month full, other than that everything just felt like a tease. Don't let my photos fool you, it was all zoomed in. My wife and I had many omakase before and lelf happy and satisfied. This was the first time that we ever left after an omakase meal and was still hungry and a little disappointed. I would love to give Sushi Maru more stars but I just can't after this vist.

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    Soichi Sushi - Nigiri

    Soichi Sushi

    4.8(554 reviews)
    3.0 miUniversity Heights
    $$$$

    The first time experiencing Soichi, we just lucked in to it. We were in the area, popped in and…read morethey happened to have a table for 2, the reason I say lucked in is we tried to get a reservation the next time and they book out months at a time. It is not surprising as this Michelin 1 star since 2021 is quite the tiny, yet comfortable setting that continues to get high praise. Unlike several of the other Michelin guide or Michelin Star sushi establishments, they offer more than just Omakase. While the do offer Full Omakase for $189, Nigiri Omakase for $140, and Petite Omakase for $65, they also allow you to order nigiri, sashimi along with multiple other specials and cut rolls. On our first walk in experience, we ordered the Petite Omakase which included 4 seasonal dishes, 6 pieces of sushi, a light fish broth, and a small dessert, we also ordered some add-on sushi. On our first reservation here, we opted for the Full Omakase, which was absolutely amazing. It is hard to find any fault in the experience here as everything is done with such meticulous care, and exceptional service, making you feel welcome. I cannot recommend Soichi enough!

    Came back for my 3rd visit here since they've opened and am thrilled that the business is doing…read morewell and has continued to hold it's Michellin star. I've ordered the Omakase each time and while I still love the atmosphere and the energy from Chef Soichi and the staff, I do have to say that this last go round was not quite as good as the last two. This is meant to be opinionated criticism to help improve but I think the dishes could use more diversity and depth. Having done a fair share of omakase from places like Kinme and Matoi, I feel like this isn't that much more memorable or special and I'd hate for it to follow the same path Tadokoro did where they were absolutely my #1 choice and fell after they got their star (which they later lost). Still love that Chef Soichi continues his tradition of birthday serenades with his guitar and the place still has that mom and pop charm so I hope they continue to thrive!

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    Ichifuji

    Ichifuji

    4.9(209 reviews)
    5.2 miClairemont
    $$$$

    The omakase started off alright with complex appetizers that I didn't love, but fit Crystal's…read morepalate better. However, when the sushi started coming out the omakase got better and better and the fish selections included both classics as well as some unique options that we had never had before.the flavor combinations were also quite strong. Additionally, the price point was very affordable at around $160 per person.

    **5:30pm Omakase seating with Nigiri**…read more My dear friend and I came here for dinner on Monday night to enjoy Ichifuji's summer menu. Everything was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. All of the fish is high-quality, and most of it is imported from Japan. They do also source fantastic shrimp and uni from San Diego at times. Both sushi chefs are super personable, very skilled, and they have rad knife skills! Service from the waitstaff was attentive yet unobtrusive. The restaurant is diminutive and consists primarily of the sushi bar with 10 seats and an attached patio dining area. They do have a small parking lot which is appreciated! The pacing was just right, and each course was presented simply yet beautifully. I truly enjoyed this experience and give it my highest possible accolades! I loved that we were able to taste test three different sakes before choosing, and the carafe of sake was perfect for two of us to enjoy with our meal. It was also fun to choose our own special sake cup/glass from Ichifuji's eclectic collection for the evening I truly enjoyed all of the 19!! courses but the chilled chawanmushi, king salmon & all the nigiri were my favorites. When you come to Ichifuji, know that you are getting a very authentic Japanese dining experience. This is the real deal! Another fun thing that Ichifuji does is they give you a punchcard, and once you've tried all four seasonal menus, you will receive a special gift from Japan. Arigato gozaimasu!

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    Ichifuji - Toro handroll

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    Shino Sushi

    Shino Sushi

    4.4(684 reviews)
    0.5 miLittle Italy
    $$$

    What a delicious hidden gem! Fun to sit at the sushi bar and watch them make the rolls. Great…read moreselection and everything is very fresh

    An extra star for the thoughtful and child-friendly service…read more I brought my 6 year old here for sushi after trying to get into Sugarfish and then Azuki. There was no wait here but parking was a nightmare and there is almost no street parking right around the restaurant which is near the trolley tracks. I recalled coming here for a light dinner with my husband many years ago and thinking it was good, but expensive. I asked if they had Japanese soda for my daughter because it was not on the menu, and they said no, but after we came back from the bathroom the host had found one for us. They gave us chopstick helpers and were very nice. We ordered braised pork belly as an app and wagyu nigiri, albacore, hamachi, salmon belly, 2 salmons, and unagi. I think that was all. They nicely split the order so half had no wasabi for the kid. They were very considerate and I appreciated it. The food however took a while to come out. The braised pork belly was ok, but the fat had not rendered as well as at some other places so we ate around it. The flavor was good though. The hamachi was probably the best item-tender and tasty. The albacore was standard and a generous piece, but the salmon was a bit tough and my kid who usually inhales salmon tasted and then left the salmon. The wagyu had good flavor but was surprisingly chewy. For $26 I would expect it to melt in your mouth but it was not easy to bite through. The eel was very tender but had a weird taste, and was disappointing. I found myself chewing on a scale from maybe the salmon and was overall underwhelmed by the food. The bill for a soda and the sushi came to almost $150 after tax and tip for me and a 6-year old. Usually my husband and I and my kid go to places with better quality and pay the same price for the three of us. Will not be back.

    Photos
    Shino Sushi - Sushi bar

    Sushi bar

    Shino Sushi - Tofu

    Tofu

    Shino Sushi - Toro Toro Roll

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    Toro Toro Roll

    Lumi - Charred Yellowtail yellowtail, charred green onion, masago, avocado, cucumber, yuzu kosho aioli, garlic ponzu

    Lumi

    4.2(1.1k reviews)
    1.3 miGaslamp

    My husband and I came here for dinner and really enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. The…read morerestaurant has a modern rooftop vibe in the heart of Downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, making it a great spot for date night. We ordered the miso soup, spicy edamame, Den Miso pork belly skewers, tamarindo tuna ceviche, seabass serrano, crispy karikari tuna, and mochi ice cream for dessert. To drink, we had the Taiyo Margarita and the Clouds of Matcha cocktail. The spicy edamame was probably the only dish that fell a little short for us. It wasn't bad by any means, but we were hoping for more flavor. The absolute standout was the Den Miso pork belly skewers. My husband and I both took our first bite at the same time, looked at each other, and immediately said, "Oh!" We were genuinely surprised by how juicy, tender, and flavorful they were. There were only two skewers, but they packed so much flavor that we instantly wanted to order another plate. The tamarindo tuna ceviche was fresh, light, and refreshing. The taro chips added a nice crunch without overpowering the dish. The seabass serrano was enjoyable, though it wasn't a stand out for us. The crispy karikari tuna (spicy tuna over crispy rice) is one of my go-to orders whenever I visit a sushi restaurant, and this version was up to par. The only component I wasn't crazy about was the long, thin slice of avocado on top--I personally could have done without it, though my husband actually liked it, so that's just a matter of preference. We finished the meal with mochi ice cream, which was the perfect sweet ending. Overall, we had a great dining experience. Between the rooftop ambiance, attentive service, and several delicious dishes - especially those unforgettable pork belly skewers - we'd definitely come back and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a great dinner spot in the Gaslamp.

    This is a hipster restaurant for after-work drinks and sushi, where the crowd is relatively young…read more The rooftop bar and open air is great for a breezy summer evening. The music is a bit on the loud side, but you can still have a chat with a group. I ordered the Akira Back Pizza, Mango Bongo Roll, and Super Spider Roll. Akira Back Pizza was my favorite, as the crunchy chip base and truffle drizzle made it extremely craveable. The rolls were pretty good too, and they use real crab! By the way, Lumi's AI answering service says they do not do take-out, but they do. Their receptionist is difficult to reach to confirm, but I have ordered take-out from their bar without any issues. It's just that they may not be able to allow call-ins for to-go orders.

    Photos
    Lumi - Inside the upstairs.

    Inside the upstairs.

    Lumi - Namaiki "Sassy" made with producer espadin, herradura blanco tequila, aji amarillo, pink guava, lime

    Namaiki "Sassy" made with producer espadin, herradura blanco tequila, aji amarillo, pink guava, lime

    Lumi - Uchuu "Universe" made with bombay dry gin, alma tepec chili liqueur, passionfruit, lemon, effervescence, coconut cream

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    Uchuu "Universe" made with bombay dry gin, alma tepec chili liqueur, passionfruit, lemon, effervescence, coconut cream

    Brisa Restaurant & Bar - bars - Updated September 2026

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