Fast and friendly service from host to bar. Been coming here for about 20 years when in town. I order the miso soup and Flaming Lips roll. I drive out of my way just for this roll. The restaurant is a comfortable dim atmosphere with good music from all genres. I recommend to sit outside of the weather permits. read more

This has been my go to sushi spot for takeout for a long time, but this weekend was actually my first time dining in, and it definitely lived up to expectations. There were three of us, and we sat outside on the patio. We went on a Saturday around 5 PM and were seated right away. It wasn't overly crowded, which made for a really relaxed experience. The patio had a great ambiance and vibe, and it was the perfect setting to enjoy dinner and drinks. Our server was also amazing, attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. One thing I've always loved about this place is how fresh everything tastes, and that was no different dining in. We started with the spicy habanero garlic edamame. The edamame itself was cooked perfectly, but I wasn't crazy about the sauce. The flavor just wasn't my favorite, although I've had some of their other edamame flavors before and enjoyed those much more. The highlight of the night was definitely the lychee martini. It was my first time trying it, and it was incredible. If you're a lychee lover like me, I highly recommend ordering one. It was refreshing, perfectly balanced, and honestly one of my favorite cocktails I've had in a while. For sushi, I ordered the spicy yellowtail cut roll along with the Umami nigiri and the Rollz Royce nigiri. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and was beautifully prepared. The Umami nigiri was especially memorable with its rich, savory flavors, and the Rolls Royce nigiri was equally delicious. Every bite reminded me why this has remained one of my favorite sushi spots. Overall, the food was fresh, the service was excellent, the atmosphere was great, and the entire experience exceeded my expectations. I've always loved ordering takeout from here, but after finally dining in, I'll definitely be back to enjoy the full experience again. This place is definitely a hidden gem. read more

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Small and intimate sushi spot in the heart of old town, San Diego. One of my favorite places to grab some sushi that has quality, great Staff, and great vibes. In a place with an abundance of Mexican food, the spot offers a different vibe in Tourist town. Definitely worth checking out. read more

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My boyfriend and I were looking for sushi and saw this restaurant nearby, which accepted Synergy World gift cards (before they went bankrupt). We decided to give it a try for takeout date night. It's located across a paid parking lot in the building on the intersections of Harney St and Congress St in Old Town. There are free street parking around the area but could be difficult to find during dinner and on weekends. We ordered their Toro Nigiri, Tuna Nigiri, Yellowtail Nigiri, Spicy Tuna Roll, Hamachi Roll, Lightning Roll, and Rainbow Roll. The portions and cuts were quite small for expensive price tag which was a huge disappointment. Nonetheless, we were still excited for the sushi! Especially for the amount we ordered. Once we started, I started to realize that the fishes weren't quite fresh as other sushi places. They weren't as tender. I used a lot of unagi sauce to cover up the fish's lack of freshness. We were really looking forward to the Toro Nigiri, as it's one of the best cuts of tuna. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations as the fish didn't melt in our mouths as it should have, which was a bit disappointing. Everything was just alright and didn't wow us in any way. Overall, I would give this restaurant a 2.5 star review but for the expensive price tag for very mediocre quality sushi rounded it down. Hopefully the quality has improved since the last time we came. read more

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Great fresh sushi! Really good deals and fast service. Highly recommend getting here early!

We came here for my husband's birthday and I can't say enough great things. This location in old town San Diego is so quaint and cool. It's small on the inside but intimate and perfect for a fun date night. I love the fish tank inside and the cool dark vibe with the big poster (we definitely got a picture of us with it to remember our night by hehehe) We also loved walking around Old Town afterward and there are a ton of cute shops and themed old timey fun things to do here. There's also a big lot across the street if you can't find street parking, which was nice because we were in a bit of a hurry to arrive. You have to pay to park there, but to us it was worth it. I loved that Harney Sushi took reservations so I could make sure to have a place to go to for hubby's birthday. Very happy. I feel like I picked the perfect place for a nice dinner, especially a birthday. The little dessert brought out to celebrate was so good! It had tempura strawberries and vanilla ice cream and I devoured it! Special shout out to our waiter Manny who was fantastic and totally made this birthday feel so special! He also constantly checked on us to make sure we were doing well. And his recommendations were stellar. Also, this was just genuinely some of the best sushi I've had. Normally I have a strong preference for which roll I like more when I order multiple but I can honestly say both the salmon avocado and the spicy tuna were equally delicious. Both were fresh and had good flavors. I loved the kick on the spicy tuna and thought every bite was just what my pallet wanted. The all 4 edamame was such a fun menu item too! I loved trying the four different styles and thought the spicy one was the best, with the others close behind too. I love fun menus that have traditional options but aren't afraid to change it up in fun signature ways. Overall I loved every minute of my experience here, from the food to the cool ambiance to the amazing water Manny we had, I was a very happy customer. Will definitely come back here if I'm in the area or try the Harney's out in Poway! I am super picky when it comes to sushi but I can say I was extremely satisfied with everything here! read more

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Came a few months ago with my husband for dinner and had a great time as always. We were super lucky there wasn't really a wait. I definitely recommend trying to make a reservation if possible. The sushi is good here and reasonably priced. Our server was very nice and attentive. There is a very large fish tank in the middle of the restaurant which is fun to look at. Sometimes parking can be limited so give yourself time before your reservation! read more

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Came here by accident since the sushi place we wanted to go to was closed. We were sat in the back and the server didn't come to check on us very often so we felt forgotten about. There were chips in the plates. We started with some Strawberry Hibiscus Infused Cold Sake. It was nice, but I wouldn't get it again (especially for $16). We weren't wow'd by their specialty rolls. While the names were super fun, most of the rolls were similar to one another and contained cream cheese and/or krab. Not the type of ingredients you want when the rolls are minimum $23. We ended up going with the Culichi Wa Roll (no mango salsa) and the Cucumber Protein Roll (no mango salsa, add spicy ponzu). The culichi wa roll was okay. Looked very nice, but really wasn't anything special. I like the cucumber protein roll a lot, but there was almost no cucumber! How can you have a cucumber roll with barely any cucumber?! Overpriced average-tasting sushi with below average service. Won't be coming back here. 2.5 stars round down to 2. read more

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Great happy hour! The menu is varied! They have the mini art walk every weekend right outside. Really enjoyed their patio with our dog. Service was good as well. Great cocktails! read more

Harney Sushi - Mussels on happy hour are good and spicy - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Always love their food. Went again for dinner the other night. Deviated from my usual order and got something new. Tried the protein roll and the seared ahi. Both were amazing and id definitely get again! My friend got the fried rice and also loved it. I never get tired of coming here or ordering in! read more

Harney Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Dinner was amazing! Service was great! Manny and staff were attentive and helpful. Food came out fast, and everything we had was delicious! You have to stop by! read more

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We got caught in traffic and ended up arriving very late in the evening, but they happily set us and got us drinks and some food. We shared the truffle edamame, which was very interesting. I had the small portion of sashimi and a delicious roll. Our server was very engaging and friendly. We sat near the bar. The restaurant is very nice and inviting. The restrooms are outside, but are well cared for. I will definitely be back on my next visit. read more

Harney Sushi - Bruce Lee - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Found a sushi spot in old town and so glad decided to give them a try!! We were able to squeeze in about 30 min before they close and I'm so glad that we had Maria, the waitress who was so nice! We had the sashimi ( my mouth waters just thinking of that deliciousness). As well as a few rolls. This is definitely a must next time I'm in town. read more

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Came in for dinner and it was mid. Miso soup - Too salty. Eel roll - We were hoping that the eel would be on top but they were stuff in the rolls. Hardly can taste it and the rolls were very small. Should've gotten a speciality roll. Garlic butter edamame - The presentation wasn't the best. It tasted like a butter paste. Tried our best to finish it but couldn't. Yakisoba - It was good but slightly on the sweeter side. Our server was very sweet and attentive. I wish the tables at the corners were so close together. It was hard to have a conversation as it felt like we were having dinner with the other table. read more

Harney Sushi - Garlic butter edamame - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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We happened upon this place randomly and I am so glad we did! The back patio area has a great ambiance. The food was delicious. Vegan and vegetarians you will be pleasantly surprised with the veggie sushi roll menu. I had the one with tofu and mushroom and it was delicious. read more

Harney Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

The food is good, but the dessert that we ordered was a disappointment, the "Perfect Strawberries" comes with 4 strawberries halfs, 3 icecream scoops, and that's it. read more

I have a go-to sushi spot with great specialty rolls at cheap prices, but we wanted something a bit more elevated for our Valentine's Day dinner. We came here during happy hour, which was a huge plus. The drinks were great, and the fried rice from the HH menu came in a surprisingly generous portion. We ordered 5 specialty rolls, and EVERY SINGLE ONE WAS AMAZING! Our waiter was super attentive and really accommodating with our preferences (like putting lemon slices on the side for me since my husband isn't a fan). We had such a great time and really enjoyed ourselves. We will be back and we definitely recommend! read more

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Stopped by this sushi spot and had a great experience from start to finish. The fish was incredibly fresh and you could really taste the quality in every bite. We started with the calamari, and it was excellent. You could tell right away it was real calamari -- tender, perfectly cooked, and not rubbery like you sometimes get at other places. Definitely a great appetizer to kick things off. The sushi rolls were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully put together. Everything tasted high quality and well prepared. Our waitress was also fantastic. She was very attentive throughout the meal and gave great recommendations when we asked about the menu, which made the experience even better. Overall, great food and great service. I would definitely recommend this place and will absolutely be coming back. read more

With over 3,000 reviews, I came in expecting to be wowed. As someone who truly loves authentic sushi, I was left a bit disappointed. I tried the Flaming Lips roll, but it didn't taste as fresh as I had hoped. The gyoza was also just okay and overpriced for the portion. When I checked yelp to see real photos from customers of other sushi I wanted to try, I was turned off by the pale-looking tuna. My friend ordered another sushi roll (can't recall which) and she felt the same way. She also had asked for her sushi to have something removed and when they served it, it was still in the sushi and she had to manually remove it from each roll. The server saw her do it and said, "oh that's right, you didn't want that included, I'm pretty sure I told them in the back", but then didn't offer to have it remade or even apologize. Smh. We go to Nobu often and wanted to branch out and try something different, but sadly this visit didn't meet our expectations. The service was about average (2.5/5). Our server took our order and checked on us once after we got our food, but our drinks were never refilled, no second round of cocktails was offered, and the overall interaction felt a bit flat. It wasn't busy when we went, so the lack of attentiveness stood out more. Another odd detail: we weren't given individual ramekins of ginger and wasabi with our sushi, and when we asked, they brought out one ramekin stacked for both of us to share. We noticed other tables had their own individual sets, so that was confusing. We even had to ask for soy sauce. In a sushi place. When it should have been at every table already. We had to just take it ourselves from another table nearby. As former servers ourselves, we're always kind and understanding and we tip generously because we know the work it takes. But overall, the experience left us wishing we had stuck with what we know and love. Personally, I've found that when a place leans into "Asian fusion," it often doesn't understand the assignment on authentic flavor -- and unfortunately, that was my takeaway here too. read more

Harney Sushi - See how they stacked all the wasabi and ginger on to one duo-ramekin saucer? Not cool. - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I went to Harney Sushi in Old Town expecting solid rolls, but the prices are way out of line for what you get. The sushi and appetizers feel overpriced for being only decent, not exceptional. I ordered the Chuck Norris Roll ($23) - it wasn't terrible, just a bit too sweet for my taste, and nothing about it felt worth that price tag. The Spicy Tuna Hand Roll ($10.50) was good but man almost $11 bucks for just a hand roll ouch . Then the Bomb James Bomb ($23) - the spicy mayo was overwhelmingly mayo-heavy with barely any Sriracha kick, which made it taste unbalanced. The tempura-fried rice was dry and overly sticky; every bite stuck to my teeth, which was unpleasant. Overall, the flavors were so strong and off that it ended up upsetting my stomach afterward - not a great sign. For nearly $60+ (before tip) on a couple of rolls and a hand roll, I expected fresher, more balanced, or creative sushi that justifies the markup. It's in a popular spot, but the value just isn't there compared to other places in San Diego. read more

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Very solid sushi place!! Went on a Monday night and it was pretty quiet, and service was very good and fast! Definitely a no frills sushi spot but the fish was fresh and tasty! I loved the Andy 2 Roll and spicy yellowtail. I'd say this is a solid choice for a regular sushi spot, nothing overly special or fancy but would probably go again. read more

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Don't. Do. It. Harney USED to be the spot for sushi. It WAS super popular... and I can see why it's not anymore. The husband and I had a free date night thanks to the grandparents, so we decided --hey, let's go out to dinner --Harneys. He's never been, I had been but it was years for me since I stepped in. Cute spot in Old Town + we love the vibes, why fucking not. Parking in Old Town was not difficult. There was no wait as we walked in. We sat at the bar--we normally like seeing the busyness of a sushi bar. Well this bar wasn't busy at all * insert eyeballs*. Immediately, I thought it was weird that it was not packed but I figured people were Christmas shopping. I ordered a Paloma kind of drink-it was bad!! I left more than half my drink-- at that point I should've drank the fishes' aquarium water. We went to Japan recently (what a sushi snob haha), and I've become a fan of sushimi and nigiri so we ordered Torro (belly of the tuna) as an appetizer. As soon as the plate was put in front of us my husband commented, "I can smell it". And if you're a true fan of fish, you know that stinky tuna equates to it being old. The taste was also off and the chef did a horrible job of cutting the tuna belly/presentation (See picture). We had also ordered the edamame with garlic and something else, it had no flavor. It tasted like the Costco edamame that you heat up in the microwave. Pretty bland + this should've been our absolute sign to leave the establishment. But we stuck it out for our sushi rolls which were also not remarkable. Look, don't take your date (girlfriend, wife, sancha, side piece) here for sushi. It's disgusting. Save yourself your hard earned money + yelp a little longer. Best of luck my fellow sushi lovers! read more

Harney Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I have not been in a long time. The quality of the food is still perfection! Had my favorite roll Flaming lips, gyoza, and habinero garlic edamame. They never fail on presentation and drinks as well. Great service still as well! Ambiance is just as chill as it used to be. Still and always one of my favorites! read more

This place has been around for years and I used to really enjoy it, but coming back after a long time, it was just okay. A lot of the dishes leaned overly sweet, including the yakisoba and Mongolian beef. The yakisoba was heavy on veggies and light on protein and noodles, and while the food came out quickly, it wasn't piping hot. The décor feels largely unchanged from over a decade ago. It seems to aim for a lounge-y, intimate vibe, but the Old Town location makes that tricky--especially when you're seated near families and kids while club-style music is playing. If you're looking for a more adult, intimate spot in Old Town, I'd suggest Tako. read more

Came here for late lunch and it was just okay. Restaurant is quite small but accommodating. Service is friendly and fast. The sushi quality is just okay, definitely not premium, but does offer a large selection of rolls and standard American Japanese restaurant items. read more

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I've been to Harney a few times now while in San Diego for work, and it never disappoints. The freshness of the product is honestly 100/10. Prices might be a bit above average, but the quality more than justifies it. It does get super busy, so I highly recommend making a reservation--especially if you're going with a group. That said, they also have bar seating, which, if you've read my reviews before, you know is my go-to. The assorted sashimi is hands-down my favorite. Their rolls, appetizers, and noodles are also excellent. I haven't had the chance to catch happy hour yet, but I've heard great things. Can't wait to go back the next time I'm in San Diego! read more

Harney Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I ordered two sushi sets. If you don't have a reservation, you'll need to sit in the backyard. The backyard is heated, so it's not cold, and the atmosphere is quite nice. However, there's a slope in the backyard--I almost slipped twice. The server seemed rushed. We hadn't even finished the fruit on top of our dessert, but she was already trying to take it away. My child felt embarrassed and just said, "You can take it." We had just finished eating and were still drinking water when they brought us the check right away--it really felt like they were rushing us to leave. The sushi wasn't very fresh, and the soy sauce was extremely salty. I'd say the quality was average. That said, the environment is quite nice for chatting with friends. The prices are on the expensive side. Street parking is difficult, and you have to pay to park. read more

Harney Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Great sushi every single time, even with To-Go orders. The specialty rolls are definitely my favorite. The chefs put so much creativity into each one that every roll feels unique and thoughtfully prepared. You never get bored, even when you order one of their larger signature rolls, because the flavors and textures are always balanced and interesting. The restaurant itself is a bit tight on space and tends to get very busy on Friday and Saturday nights, but the service consistently remains attentive and friendly. Despite the crowds, they manage to keep things running smoothly and the quality of the food never wavers. It's a reliable spot for fresh, delicious sushi whether you're dining in or taking it home. read more

Had a train delay and tried out this delicious spot. Nice decor, friendly staff and ambiance make it an enjoyable experience. The happy hour was ok. Their chicken teriyaki bowl was fire. The restrooms were spotless and its walking distance to many cool shops and transit options. I would return. read more

Harney Sushi - Half and half roll from happy hour special - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Not bad sushi. Sushi was over sauce. Mediocre service.. not bad, not great. Shrimp tempura was over, battered as well read more

Miso soup had too much onion taste Speciality Roll were good but very expensive Service was fine Might not visit again read more

Harney Sushi - Mellow Yellow Roll and Pirate Roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Worst service I have ever experienced ordered online and it was suppose to be ready by 7:40 I arrived 5 minutes late and the food wasn't ready until 55 minutes later and the staff were rude and ignored I was there read more

After returning a couple times I've concluded this is a solid favorite on my list of delicious rice, drinks, and sushi. Service is sweet and attentive. read more

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On 13JAN25 @ 1600(4:00PM), my girlfriend, her mother, and I came here for an early dinner. We showed up early and had stood outside for a few minutes before they opened. However, they had a menu posted outside which was very helpful! Kudos to Danny(our server) for the excellent service and roll recommendation! The FOOD. The appetizers, the main course, the rolls, all of it was second to none! This place was beyond delicious! We were excited and happy with each and every bite we took! It's a bit on the pricey side but definitely worth it! The SERVICE. When they opened, we walked in and the lady escorted us to our table right away. We had our drinks shortly after being seated and we had tried a recommended roll from the servers who did not disappoint! The servers we had were friendly, professional, and efficient. The AMBIANCE. The ambiance was on the darker side. Dim lighting, blackened walls and decor left a very suttle and comforting vibe while we ate. There is outdoor seating as well, but we ate inside directly in front of the bar. With it being in the midst of Old Town, I'm never a fan of having to pay for parking. However, I did find parking on the street. I will definitely be coming back. But I say the overall cleanliness of the establishment was very clean. Overall rating: 8.5 of 10. read more

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Great variety of rolls and flavors were nice! The ingredients were fresh and service was attentive. Though, it was a bit on the pricier side but I did enjoy the ambiance. I'll come back, but maybe on a special occasion. read more

Harney Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

WOW WOW WOW this place is amazing!! we were recommended it by some local friends, and it's safe to say that we were not disappointed. we made a reservation, got there a little early, and were seated right away. we were sat outside, and it was very nice. no one else was out there, the weather was great, and our rolls came fast! we didn't get any entrees, just sushi! we started with the gyoza (YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!!) and the roll sampler. it gives you a good idea of what you are getting yourself into. after that, we ordered the spicy california roll, regular california roll, crunchy roll, soft shell crab roll, and, last but not least, the ROLLZ ROYCE ROLL! i know i sound like a broken record if you read the other reviews, but if you go here, you are cheating yourself if you don't try it! i've never eaten a roll with tuna on it, but with this one, i ate like half of it!! I would recommend this sushi place to anyone coming to or just through San Diego because this place is special! it's worth the stop in Old Town! also: we had a person in our group with a nut allergy, and our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable about what they use oil wise and nut wise in house. they are nut free, so if you have a nut allergy, you are safe here!! we don't live in San Diego, but next time we come here, we will definitely be back! definitely worth it! read more

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We went as a big group and the service was OK. The sushi rolls are good, but the prices are through the roof... it was $60 total after tip for the two of us and all we got were 2 rolls. No appetizers and we just had water to drink. read more

Harney Sushi - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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When it comes to seafood and location, Harney Sushi is a San Diego staple! Harney Sushi has lots of qualities that quickly settle visitors into San Diego's dining scene of premier sushi, creative Asian flavors, and trendy neo-modern dining atmospheres. This is all while being within quick walking distance from the drop-off point for the San Diego Flyer for anyone arriving from the SAN airport. If you're also keen on edamame as an appetizer, the "Best of all Worlds" edamame is a must for your table. At any other restaurant, I'd already upgrade from plain salted edamame to the house's garlic edamame; here, I'm amazed by the tasting journey through Harney Sushi's edamame varieties! If I had to choose one, my favorite of their options is the Spicy Garlic Habanero, which offers just the right amount of sharp heat. Their nigiri is incredibly fresh and decadent! Moreover, if you like Hass avocados, this is a lovely place to try SoCal's signature crop. The Nicole Nigiri is a rich combination of fresh salmon and buttery avocado. Otherwise, my favorite specialty roll is the "Miso Harney," a tempura-fried treat that combines eel and cream cheese with regional avocado. What a savory and tender roll! I usually focus on nigiri/sashimi when I visit other sushi restaurants, but this roll in particular at Harney Sushi is so lovingly balanced between richness and crispness, and all while maintaining the unagi as its star protein of the dish. Harney Sushi is right across the street from a large Old Town parking lot, so potentially lots of parking if you visit at the right time of day. Otherwise, the restaurant is less than a 0.5mi walk from the Old Town transit center, so very easy to visit for tourists w/o a rental car and MTS/trolley frequenters alike. Since Harney Sushi can get super busy during tourist season, I always highly recommend reservations for dine-in. Once you are seated, I have noticed the service as more efficient during peak hours; late-night dinners can be subject to a slow recovery pace after the dinner rush. If you enjoy Japanese food and fresh seafood, then I absolutely recommend that you check out Harney Sushi for your next sushi fix! read more

Harney Sushi - "Miso Harney" roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Harney Sushi is always a solid choice. The lobster roll is my favorite with rich flavor and perfect texture. I highly recommend it if they have it. The Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris rolls are also packed with bold flavor and great balance. The pork pot stickers are another go to with a crispy edge and savory filling that never disappoints. The fish is consistently fresh the presentation is clean and everything is prepared with care. Service is excellent and the happy hour deals make it even better. When I want sushi this is the first place that comes to mind. read more

Harney Sushi - Chuck Norris Roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Happy hour here is pretty good. I do love the sushi. If you even don't go to happy hour the regular rolls are delicious. It's a small little spot bathroom that we are located is OK but to get the job done important part of this place is the sushi. read more

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