Hatsuzakura
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Such a cute little pink decor Japanese based restaurant, really reminded me of Japan not just for the food but the overall vibe. Even the bathroom had a heated toilet lol that's very Japan like. The food was pretty good. We got the omurice which my husband ate so fast, it's on the sweeter side, the egg could've been a little more runny but it was still good overall. We got the karage chicken, it was very flavorful and the breading was light which I liked and it didn't taste too oily. The curry was super good, the meat was tender and the curry sauce itself had a little spicy kick in it but still super flavorful. Also we got that huge tuna mayo onigiri which was like super sized but it was $8 so yea. It had a lot of tuna and it was packed really well. I was so full but the dessert looked amazing. We tried the matcha latte it was good but tasted just like sugar and milk lol There is no parking, u have to find street parking and there's no cross walk so u basically gotta jay walk if u park on the other side. Also the place isn't that big so it's not great for big parties, maybe for a family of 6 is the most you can accommodate. There is bar seating and limited outdoor seating. The service was great tho, and it's such a cute spot.
This Japanese restaurant is SOO cute and worth the wait!!! The wait can be VERY long though. We came on a Tuesday at 720pm and got seated around 810pm (one table ahead of us) and got our food by 8:40pm - we had a party of 3 and there's just a few tables that seat over 2. There's indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. The service here was excellent. Everyone was super friendly and checked in on us and apologized for the wait. Interior of the restaurant is very cute - it's small and gives off a modern/charming Japanese cafe vibe with wooden accents. The food was AMAZINGGGG - my favorite was the Napolita pasta - I love the flavor of the tomato sauce they use for this pasta and the ham was amazing. I also highly enjoyed the omurice, which was the best I've had - it was so flavorful and egg was soft and creamy. The chicken karaage was very fresh and crispy on the outside. The mango shaved snow was also phenomenal - I love the mango puree they used on the shaved snow and the mangos were super sweet!! There's some street parking nearby right in front of restauraunt and within nearby neighborhoods. Highly recommend!!
I've been wanting to try this place for a while and I finally was able to when a friend came to visit. Per the waitress recommendation I got the Hatsuzakura Curry topped with mozzarella cheese. Nice comfy curry with tender brisket, I wasn't sure how the cheese would be but it paired well. My friend got the Hayashi Udon. Refreshing noodles with sweetly flavored sliced beef. The karaage was okay, tender but could've been crisper with more seasoning. We ended our meal with Ichigo Daifuku. Nice mochi with fresh strawberry.
I came here after spending a day in SD and was pleasantly surprised by how cute and pretty the interior is. The staff is very kind and efficient. I got the guratan and the Hatsu curry. Both dishes were not bad but honestly nothing special. The guratan didn't have much chicken and just tasted like pasta I could get anywhere or make at home. The Hatsu curry had good flavor, but there was way too much rice and barely any curry or meat in the dish. Overall, it wasn't bad but nothing special. There are definitely better spots to grab dinner when you're in SD!
This restaurant is super relaxing and has a calm environment, so a friendly meal here is great. Do keep in mind there's only street parking, so you may have to walk a bit. Everything on their menu sounded so good, but our tummies were limited so unfortunately we could only order a few dishes. Earl Gray Lavender Milk Tea - This came in a cute little mason jar and even had a few sprinkles of the lavender on top. The milk was light and not too creamy while the lavender gave a soft aroma just right. This drink is very easy to drink Chef Soichi's Karaage - It's like your typical karaage, although the sauce that comes with it was divine Guratan - We couldn't help it, the macaroni was loaded. The chicken was very tender and each spoon gave you a nice cheese pull Hayashi Omurice - The star of our meal. It had a strong umami flavor and the rice was very well seasoned to match the sauce. I ended up cleaning the plate
If you come here, you MUST try the omurice! I came before one other time, but decided to try some items on the menu that were new to me. Each thing we ordered were worth coming back for Hands down, my favorites were the ichigo daifuku (mochi with strawberry) and hayashi omurice. I can't stop thinking about the mochi (I will come back just for that!) and the omurice was perfectly seasoned. I really enjoyed the taste of the demi glace sauce on the omurice. We also ordered the salmon onigiri and it was huge, so definitely ideal for sharing with someone. Those three dishes were the perfect amount for my girlfriend and I. It's small inside so keep that in mind if you're in a group of 4+. Very cute atmosphere though.
Such a cute casual Japanese spot in north park. The food is so simple, but perfect tasting. The drinks have the perfect balance of sweetness. I love the quaint jazz ambience making such a great lunch or casual dinner spot. Please note there is a waitlist and you have to come in person to put your name down.
Parking 3/5 -There is only street parking available. Service 5/5 -Staff was friendly and service was prompt. Food 5/5 -Hayashi Omurice $20, wow it's no wonder why almost everybody that comes orders this dish. The flavor is so rich but not overwhelming, every ingredient tasted so seasoned, soft and compliments each other perfectly. It really tasted so authentic like I was in a cafe in Japan. -Hot hatsu curry udon $22, the curry broth was a soft slurry that coated every strand of al dente udon. The green onions made it so refreshing, beef was tender but the ultimate stars were surprisingly the super soft carrots and potatoes that have absorbed all of the curry's essence. I enjoyed every bite out of this bowl. Ambiance 5/5 -The space is pretty small and intimate but very comfortable, pink floral theme throughout and with one of the cleanest bathrooms I have seen in a restaurant(warm bidet seat included).
Honestly this place is so good. The atmosphere genuinely feels like you walked into a cafe in Japan it's cozy, cute, and nothing like your typical San Diego restaurant. It's based on the kissaten café style from Japan and you can really feel that when you're sitting there. Servers were friendly and attentive as well The omurice was amazing. fluffy egg over brisket fried rice with a house-made demi-glace that all just works together really well. Got the earl grey lavender tea to go with it and that combo alone is worth the trip. Already planning to come back and try more of the menu.
Super cute restaurant with lots of pink decor ! The staff were super friendly and there is a decent amount of seating. We came right at opening bc we heard it gets super busy. There was a physical paper waitlist for people who came later. I got the omurice and it was pretty good. I didn't expect the rice to be tomatoey tho lol it was my 1st time getting it. My bf got the karaage bowl and a tuna onigiri and he thought they were standard
This Japanese restaurant is so cute and pretty!! The servers also add to the Japanese vibe~ The menu is pretty easy to navigate. I feel like everything looked really good, so it was hard to decide what to order. The dishes have small portion size despite the price. I think this kinda helps in that you have room to eat dessert! The brown sugar Okinawa tea was good but the after taste of the sugar was not good. They kept the tea pot warm, and they served oat milk on the side. Karaage had too much chicken skin for my preference. Guratan was penne pasta and not macaroni as specified in the menu. Yakisoba could have used more chicken. Omurice had the more flavor and the egg was really good. I want to try naporitan next time because of the tomato based sauce. Of the desserts I tried, the parfait was most enjoyable because of the fruit with ice cream. The mushi pudding was good; it was the thick and "hard" type of flan. I want to try kakigori next time because I saw their shaved ice machine was legit. Parking - free street parking only. Be prepared to walk up/downhill. Credit card/apple pay accepted Bathroom is only one room in the back. THE SEAT IS WARM. This was a nice gem to find in this part of town.
I finally was able to check this place out!! I been seeing the hype on tik tok and wanted to try this place. My boyfriend and I got there around 12 and we got seated right away. We already knew what we wanted which was the Karaage and the Curry. For the curry, i personally thought it was very delicious. I subbed it for the chicken as I can't eat beef, and it still tastes very delicious to me! I can definitely say that it gave me comfort vibes. The Karaage was also super good! It had a nice crunch and paired well with the sauce. For our dessert, we tried the fruit sando. It was super delicious but I do not think it was worth the price. It felt like something I should have made at home instead. Nonetheless, the service was so nice! Everyone was very attentive and making sure we were doing okay. I think I could see myself coming back there. I definitely do recommend to try this place out!
Hatsuzakura's vibe overall was incredibly homey and pink! Went for brunch with a friend to try their curry plate & omurice which both had nice portions. Our server was friendly and recommended me the curry with cheese which I enjoyed. The restaurant is very small with some outdoor seating, so it's great for small parties of 2-4. I also took a matcha latte w/oatmilk to go & it was definitely more vanilla forward with a light matcha taste than I'm used to, but I prefer my matcha's with a bit more depth to it. Would definitely come back!
4 days ago
Kawaii, oiishii! Cute (place), delicious! And super friendly service. Love it! We'll be back for more. read more
Just came back from Japan recently and this place is as close as it gets. One of the more authentic Japanese places and it made me feel like I was back in Japan finally! The cold udon is so refreshing on a hot day! It's not a common concept but it really hits the spot when you need to cook down. I missed daifukos so much and their strawberries here are sooooo delicious! So sweet!!! I need to come back and get their desserts and egg Sando! read more
18 days ago
Omg this place was so cute!! I loved the Japanese kisaten energy. This is a small location, with some seating inside and outside. When I arrived, they had a long waitlist for inside seating but we got lucky because there was a table available outside. I didn't see any heaters outside but it also wasn't cold when I went. I will say up front, that it was a bit on the pricey side. One onigiri was $8, but it was a huge onigiri. We also got the Neapolitan noodles, and wow, it was so delicious! This thing that impressed me the most was their gluten free noodle options! It did not taste or feel gluten free, I had to double check with the waiter. Plus they didn't not charge extra to substitute to the gluten free noodles and I am grateful for that. Lastly we got the hot tea pot to share and it was so much tea! It was delicious. They served it with a tea candle so the tea stayed warm the whole meal. I really enjoyed this place, definitely check them out. read more
27 days ago
Such a cute little pink decor Japanese based restaurant, really reminded me of Japan not just for the food but the overall vibe. Even the bathroom had a heated toilet lol that's very Japan like. The food was pretty good. We got the omurice which my husband ate so fast, it's on the sweeter side, the egg could've been a little more runny but it was still good overall. We got the karage chicken, it was very flavorful and the breading was light which I liked and it didn't taste too oily. The curry was super good, the meat was tender and the curry sauce itself had a little spicy kick in it but still super flavorful. Also we got that huge tuna mayo onigiri which was like super sized but it was $8 so yea. It had a lot of tuna and it was packed really well. I was so full but the dessert looked amazing. We tried the matcha latte it was good but tasted just like sugar and milk lol There is no parking, u have to find street parking and there's no cross walk so u basically gotta jay walk if u park on the other side. Also the place isn't that big so it's not great for big parties, maybe for a family of 6 is the most you can accommodate. There is bar seating and limited outdoor seating. The service was great tho, and it's such a cute spot. read more
1 month ago
This Japanese restaurant is SOO cute and worth the wait!!! The wait can be VERY long though. We came on a Tuesday at 720pm and got seated around 810pm (one table ahead of us) and got our food by 8:40pm - we had a party of 3 and there's just a few tables that seat over 2. There's indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. The service here was excellent. Everyone was super friendly and checked in on us and apologized for the wait. Interior of the restaurant is very cute - it's small and gives off a modern/charming Japanese cafe vibe with wooden accents. The food was AMAZINGGGG - my favorite was the Napolita pasta - I love the flavor of the tomato sauce they use for this pasta and the ham was amazing. I also highly enjoyed the omurice, which was the best I've had - it was so flavorful and egg was soft and creamy. The chicken karaage was very fresh and crispy on the outside. The mango shaved snow was also phenomenal - I love the mango puree they used on the shaved snow and the mangos were super sweet!! There's some street parking nearby right in front of restauraunt and within nearby neighborhoods. Highly recommend!! read more
1 month ago
I've been wanting to try this place for a while and I finally was able to when a friend came to visit. Per the waitress recommendation I got the Hatsuzakura Curry topped with mozzarella cheese. Nice comfy curry with tender brisket, I wasn't sure how the cheese would be but it paired well. My friend got the Hayashi Udon. Refreshing noodles with sweetly flavored sliced beef. The karaage was okay, tender but could've been crisper with more seasoning. We ended our meal with Ichigo Daifuku. Nice mochi with fresh strawberry. read more
I came here after spending a day in SD and was pleasantly surprised by how cute and pretty the interior is. The staff is very kind and efficient. I got the guratan and the Hatsu curry. Both dishes were not bad but honestly nothing special. The guratan didn't have much chicken and just tasted like pasta I could get anywhere or make at home. The Hatsu curry had good flavor, but there was way too much rice and barely any curry or meat in the dish. Overall, it wasn't bad but nothing special. There are definitely better spots to grab dinner when you're in SD! read more
This restaurant is super relaxing and has a calm environment, so a friendly meal here is great. Do keep in mind there's only street parking, so you may have to walk a bit. Everything on their menu sounded so good, but our tummies were limited so unfortunately we could only order a few dishes. Earl Gray Lavender Milk Tea - This came in a cute little mason jar and even had a few sprinkles of the lavender on top. The milk was light and not too creamy while the lavender gave a soft aroma just right. This drink is very easy to drink Chef Soichi's Karaage - It's like your typical karaage, although the sauce that comes with it was divine Guratan - We couldn't help it, the macaroni was loaded. The chicken was very tender and each spoon gave you a nice cheese pull Hayashi Omurice - The star of our meal. It had a strong umami flavor and the rice was very well seasoned to match the sauce. I ended up cleaning the plate read more
If you come here, you MUST try the omurice! I came before one other time, but decided to try some items on the menu that were new to me. Each thing we ordered were worth coming back for Hands down, my favorites were the ichigo daifuku (mochi with strawberry) and hayashi omurice. I can't stop thinking about the mochi (I will come back just for that!) and the omurice was perfectly seasoned. I really enjoyed the taste of the demi glace sauce on the omurice. We also ordered the salmon onigiri and it was huge, so definitely ideal for sharing with someone. Those three dishes were the perfect amount for my girlfriend and I. It's small inside so keep that in mind if you're in a group of 4+. Very cute atmosphere though. read more
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Reymond P.
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3 months ago
Such a cute casual Japanese spot in north park. The food is so simple, but perfect tasting. The drinks have the perfect balance of sweetness. I love the quaint jazz ambience making such a great lunch or casual dinner spot. Please note there is a waitlist and you have to come in person to put your name down. read more
Parking 3/5 -There is only street parking available. Service 5/5 -Staff was friendly and service was prompt. Food 5/5 -Hayashi Omurice $20, wow it's no wonder why almost everybody that comes orders this dish. The flavor is so rich but not overwhelming, every ingredient tasted so seasoned, soft and compliments each other perfectly. It really tasted so authentic like I was in a cafe in Japan. -Hot hatsu curry udon $22, the curry broth was a soft slurry that coated every strand of al dente udon. The green onions made it so refreshing, beef was tender but the ultimate stars were surprisingly the super soft carrots and potatoes that have absorbed all of the curry's essence. I enjoyed every bite out of this bowl. Ambiance 5/5 -The space is pretty small and intimate but very comfortable, pink floral theme throughout and with one of the cleanest bathrooms I have seen in a restaurant(warm bidet seat included). read more
Honestly this place is so good. The atmosphere genuinely feels like you walked into a cafe in Japan it's cozy, cute, and nothing like your typical San Diego restaurant. It's based on the kissaten café style from Japan and you can really feel that when you're sitting there. Servers were friendly and attentive as well The omurice was amazing. fluffy egg over brisket fried rice with a house-made demi-glace that all just works together really well. Got the earl grey lavender tea to go with it and that combo alone is worth the trip. Already planning to come back and try more of the menu. read more
28 days ago
Super cute restaurant with lots of pink decor ! The staff were super friendly and there is a decent amount of seating. We came right at opening bc we heard it gets super busy. There was a physical paper waitlist for people who came later. I got the omurice and it was pretty good. I didn't expect the rice to be tomatoey tho lol it was my 1st time getting it. My bf got the karaage bowl and a tuna onigiri and he thought they were standard read more
This Japanese restaurant is so cute and pretty!! The servers also add to the Japanese vibe~ The menu is pretty easy to navigate. I feel like everything looked really good, so it was hard to decide what to order. The dishes have small portion size despite the price. I think this kinda helps in that you have room to eat dessert! The brown sugar Okinawa tea was good but the after taste of the sugar was not good. They kept the tea pot warm, and they served oat milk on the side. Karaage had too much chicken skin for my preference. Guratan was penne pasta and not macaroni as specified in the menu. Yakisoba could have used more chicken. Omurice had the more flavor and the egg was really good. I want to try naporitan next time because of the tomato based sauce. Of the desserts I tried, the parfait was most enjoyable because of the fruit with ice cream. The mushi pudding was good; it was the thick and "hard" type of flan. I want to try kakigori next time because I saw their shaved ice machine was legit. Parking - free street parking only. Be prepared to walk up/downhill. Credit card/apple pay accepted Bathroom is only one room in the back. THE SEAT IS WARM. This was a nice gem to find in this part of town. read more
29 days ago
I finally was able to check this place out!! I been seeing the hype on tik tok and wanted to try this place. My boyfriend and I got there around 12 and we got seated right away. We already knew what we wanted which was the Karaage and the Curry. For the curry, i personally thought it was very delicious. I subbed it for the chicken as I can't eat beef, and it still tastes very delicious to me! I can definitely say that it gave me comfort vibes. The Karaage was also super good! It had a nice crunch and paired well with the sauce. For our dessert, we tried the fruit sando. It was super delicious but I do not think it was worth the price. It felt like something I should have made at home instead. Nonetheless, the service was so nice! Everyone was very attentive and making sure we were doing okay. I think I could see myself coming back there. I definitely do recommend to try this place out! read more
Hatsuzakura's vibe overall was incredibly homey and pink! Went for brunch with a friend to try their curry plate & omurice which both had nice portions. Our server was friendly and recommended me the curry with cheese which I enjoyed. The restaurant is very small with some outdoor seating, so it's great for small parties of 2-4. I also took a matcha latte w/oatmilk to go & it was definitely more vanilla forward with a light matcha taste than I'm used to, but I prefer my matcha's with a bit more depth to it. Would definitely come back! read more
While I enjoyed the meal, I do not think I'll be coming back because it was so expensive. I'll start with the downsides first: Street parking only (and it's kind of difficult unless you're lucky) so accessibility isn't the easiest. Matcha latte was FORGETTABLE. It tasted so bland and flavorless, I was so disappointed. Additionally, everything on the menu was overpriced and the taste didn't really live up to the price. The matcha latte was $8.50. The onigiri was $8.50 (expensive since onigiri is mostly plain white rice). Service was great and the staff was really pleasant. The interior was clean and it was a cute and cozy cafe. Nothing about the meal blew my mind, except for the hojicha latte. It was so, so flavorful (especially in contrast to the matcha latte) and delicious!!! The desserts looked good and classic, and I wanted to try them, but I didn't want to pay $8 to $9 for two pieces of mochi. read more
THE OMURICE IS SO GOOD The sauce was ketchup forward and the meat was tender although not a lot of it. The sauce was soo good. Everything else was cooked perfectly. The egg was soft, creamy, and not overcooked. I WAS SO HAPPY EATING THIS Guratan was a creamy baked mac and cheese. It was good and creamy, but a little too cheesy and creamy. Tuna Mayo Onigiri WAS BUSS. HUGE. AND PACKED WITH TUNA MAYO. Solid onigiri and very filling. Matcha latte was rich in flavor but the milk was just a tad bit overpowering. The yozakura milk tea was nutty and floral, delishhh Service was so nice and attentive. There was a bit of a wait for a weekday dinner because of how small the restaurant. can't wait to go back! read more
8 days ago
I ordered the Hayashi Omurice, and it was delicious! The Ichigo Daifuku was amazing too. The tartness of the strawberry, the texture of the mochi, and the red bean all complemented each other perfectly. The space was cozy with relaxing cafe music, and the service was wonderful. The staff was super attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Definitely worth checking out! read more
This review is strictly for the desserts and drinks! Love the decor and the cute design every time we come in. We've been here quite a few times now and decided it's best to come during dessert hours. The wait can get pretty long because it's popular, but it's honestly worth it, especially for date nights. Parking is still tough to find during prime time, so be prepared for a bit of a walk and a wait. $16.50 for the parfait is still kinda shocking, but we always end up ordering it anyway lol. The kakigori is also really good, especially the seasonal blueberry flavor. You can tell it's house made with their puree. read more
My BFF & I came here for an early dinner. For drinks, I ordered the Yozakura Milk Tea and my friend got the Earl Grey Lavender Milk Tea. We ordered the Hatsuzakura Curry and Chef Soichi's Karaage to share. These 2 dishes complemented each other well and we really enjoyed our dining experience here. It came with side salads that were fresh and had a light dressing. Loved the decor with the light pink and Cherry blossom theme. Definitely recommend this place! read more
If you're looking for a cute, small, warm, cozy date dinner spot... this is it. The place is very very cute and feels intimate without being cramped. It's perfect for a lowkey date night where you just want to sit, talk, and eat comfort food. Price wise, I wouldn't say it's cheap, but it's not crazy expensive either. It feels fair for the quality and the vibe. My favorite is their curry. It's super rich and just tastes... homey. I don't even know how to describe it other than it feels like comfort in a bowl. The flavor is deep and cozy and makes you want to keep eating even when you're already full. The milk teas were kind of ehh for me. They all tasted very milky, so I couldn't really tell much of a difference between the flavors. Not bad, just nothing too special. Their shaved ice is HUMONGOUS. Like actually huge. There's nothing too crazy about it, it's mostly fluffy ice with homemade syrup, but it's fun to share and looks cute on the table. Overall, it's definitely a must try for a cozy date night. The vibe is adorable and the service was great too. I'd come back just for the curry and the atmosphere alone. read more
Although the ambiance and service were top-tier, the food was quite mediocre for the premium price. *FOOD* Omurice - The Omurice had a pleasant earthy tomato flavor which meshed well with the rice and egg. I would say this is one of the better dishes. Karaage - The chicken karaage had a good ratio of breading to chicken and the chicken itself was juicy. However, there was not much flavor and it tasted like I was just chewing on plain chicken. I would not get this again. Yakisoba - The yakisoba had a sweet taste and was a very small portion for its price. I didn't think of anything special in the flavor that would make me want to buy this again. Daifuku - The red bean filling was a little bit too sweet for my taste. The mochi wasn't anything special. I don't see anything special that warrants its price, so I would probably not come again. read more
7 months ago
Surprisingly amazing. A small hidden gem that had a simple menu but so good. We ordered two HIYASHI UDON's but one was the hot curry that you can upgrade too. The regular is a Japanese traditional chilled and it was amazing. For dessert we got the KAKIGORI SHAVED ICE which had strawberry with matcha ice cream. So refreshing and generous portions. Everything about this place was perfection. read more
1 month ago
2 months ago
Hatsuzakura is such a cute restaurant with both cozy indoor and nice outdoor seating. The staff are absolutely lovely--so polite and constantly checking in to see if you need anything. I ordered the Hayashi Omurice, which was delicious, and the Tuna Mayo Onigiri, which is huge and filling enough to be a meal on its own! My boyfriend got the Hayashi Udon (it was decent/okay) and a Melon Soda that will definitely make Asian girls feel nostalgic and homesick. I'm definitely trying their Japanese Parfait on my next visit! read more
This restaurant was highly recommended so of course I had to try. The inside is small (very Japanese feeling) but so cute inside. Cherry Blossoms decor which is so warm & comforting. The food was amazing. I had the hatsuzakura curry, and the fruit sando. We had the Bakundan onigiri, & the yakisoba. Even the earl grey lavender tea was delicious. I loved this restaurant it reminded me of Japan. The wait staff were all so kind. I'll be back for sure. read more
Escaped a rainy Thursday evening (8:00ish) for a meal at Hatsuzakura with a couple friends. Finding neighborhood street parking was a bit difficult considering its very popular neighbor, but we got lucky a few blocks away. The cafe was at about 30% capacity with a handful of the bar seats and tables occupied and we were seated upon entry. Our hostess and server were particularly welcoming and offered some very solid recommendations and menu information. Between the japandi interior and fairylike accents, it's no wonder this cafe has been popularized among first date goers and Instagram couples. Sencha (pot): Great choice for the night! Medium bodied and satisfyingly astringent without bitterness. Fit the weather perfectly and helped palate cleanse between every dish. Karaage: Thinly sliced and lightly breaded + fried, with a nice variation of white and dark meat. Some of the pieces were on the saltier side but nothing the lemon and mayo couldn't fix. Omurice and Guratan: Both of these dishes were extremely sweet and somewhat forgettable, and the guratan in particular was overwhelming in richness. Points for only the rice in the omurice for flavor. Daifuku: A crowd favorite - unbelievably soft and chewy and perfect with the semisweet red bean filling. In my opinion, there was little, if any, discernible difference between the matcha and strawberry flavors. Blueberry Kakigori: This was an unexpected hit, as it was icier than most shaved ice variants I've tried and much less sweet, but the blueberry syrup (maceration? Either way I suspect it was housemade) was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Enjoyable even on the rainiest of nights. In my opinion, the prices are at a bit of a premium for what you receive. We had a good time, but I probably won't return without a good reason to. read more
The place was super super amazing. Love everyone there. They were super nice and were helpful with my daughter. The ambiance was great! Love the Howl's Moving Castle background music while enjoying my meal. The matcha drink was delicious. The omurice was good, but was more on the sweet side. The curry was much better, but both was satisfying. The coffee jelly really hit the spot. My daughter also enjoyed the virgin sake (apple juice) as she got a little wild when I was enjoying the dessert in the end. In summary, awesome place to eat. Going to come again for the yakisoba and the pudding. read more
Hatszuakura was the star of my SD trip. My family ordered one appetizer, entree, drink & dessert per person and not a single order served left the table without being scraped clean. Drinks: The strawberry soda float was refreshing and not over sweetened, it was very similar to Italian soda. I can't remember the exact milk tea I got, but it was very floral, they use oat milk so there's a bit of a nutty flavor to it that works well. Entrees: I didn't try the omurice or curry but my family loved it. I can't remember the name of the Mac and cheese dish I ordered but it was absolutely delicious the only issue I had was the large chopped onions in the dish, they distracted from the sauce and cheese. Dessert: the Matcha parfait was my favorite and the light red bean complemented it perfectly. The size of the parfait is pretty big. The coffee jelly is served in a large glass mug and topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel. The bitterness of the jelly is sweetened with the tasty ice cream, if you have a large party, I recommend sharing them. Parking was a nightmare streets are jam packed but yeow is it worth the hassle. I will be back! read more
Wish i discovered this place sooner! It's such a cute restaurant and really gives off mom and pops vibes! The staff is so friendly and the food was amazing! Drinks were also so good! They use Paru loose leaf tea which I love! Street parking can be kinda tricky but if you park in residential you should be able to find something! read more
4 months ago
i wanted to like this place so bad! my friend and i saved this place when we saw it on tik tok. the ambiance was nice and i loved the pink theme. unfortunately, the pink wasn't enough to win me over because the food was mediocre at best. my friends liked their food, but my boyfriend and i didn't. i ordered the cold udon to compliment the hot weather that day. it was hitting the spot until noticed solidified fat covering my spoon and noodles. this has never been an issue for me when i ate cold noodles at other restaurants. it was pretty off putting, as i can feel the filmy texture in my mouth. the broth was so basic, it tasted like the kikkoman memmi soup base i use at home. the udon noodles were also overcooked and tasted like the ones from hmart. i had the smallest portion, considering my tables plates were huge. my bf disliked his omurice. while initially appealing, he told me it was too sweet and became hard to tolerate as he ate. my friends enjoyed their omurice and curry. i thought the curry tasted like the golden curry cubes.. either im really good at making japanese food or this place isn't. we waited 30-40 min on a saturday afternoon. the service was also .. slow. our salad and soup sides took forever. maybe 20-30 min. that didn't even include the mains either. another tik tok fail. i unfortunately won't be eating here again or recommending it. read more
2 months ago
Cute concept and cozy atmosphere, but the food didn't quite live up to the aesthetic. The salmon onigiri was a bit disappointing -- the salmon tasted dry and the rice leaned too mushy for my liking. The Hayashi omurice was comforting and enjoyable, though not especially memorable flavor-wise. The highlight for me was definitely the drinks; both milk teas were smooth, creamy, and well balanced. Overall, a cute spot to relax and grab a drink and try their other best seller. read more
I've been seeing this place all over my socials so I knew I had to try it! We ordered the Chef Soichi's Karaage, Hayashi Omurice, and Matcha latte. The food was all really good but I think I liked the karaage the best. I don't think it's mentioned in the menu, but the matcha latte is made with oat milk. I didn't realize when I ordered and was a bit surprised and I later overheard a different server telling other tables that the milk teas and lattes were made with oat milk so I think they may have just forgotten for our table. Other than that, everything was really good. Service was pretty quick and the store itself is well decorated and very cute. The food itself is a bit on the pricier end though. read more
8 months ago
This was a cute hidden place! It is small with limited seating, but I loved the simple well thought out ambience that they created. The service was great and the dessert was great too! I want to come back to try out the food. You can also come in and order matcha and other drinks to go! read more
9 months ago
Cute restaurant that reminds me of the cafes in Japan. Menu offers Japanese comfort food. The Matcha Latte was delicious and we started with Chef Soichi's Karaage which had a tasty light batter and tender chicken. The Hayashi Omurice was nostalgic traditional comfort food. Creamy pasta Guratan rounded out our meal I will be back to try more menu items. Service was friendly, prompt and very attentive. Space was clean and loved the lowkey vibe for a Friday lunch, Street parking was plentiful. Definitely adding to my rotation. read more
10 months ago
Hatsuzakura (初楼 /first cherry blossoms) is a Japanese style cafe serving a modern-classic Kissaten experience with teas, sweets, and comfort dishes with alcoholic pairings. AMBIANCE Entrance/Waitlist: write your name on paper Exterior: enclosed patio dining and seated waiting area Interior: cozy & modern with three 2-person tables, two 4-person tables, and a 7-person hightop bar Restroom: clean, bright, textured walls, toilet seat warms up SERVICE Attentive and friendly with orders. There didn't seem to be a feedback loop in terms of staff asking how the food was. FOOD Meal set 4/5 Salad: a smoky asian dressing over spring mix and sliced cherry tomato 4/5 Chicken soup: clear broth with bits of carrot 4/5 Hayashi Omurice Thin Japanese-style egg omelet wrapping around a wet fried rice (with brisket, onions, pepper) , finished with a sweet house-made demi-glace sauce. 3/5 Chef Soichi's Karaage (w kewpie & lemon wedge) Served lukewarm for me making me think this was not freshly made or it was sitting for a long while. I took most of this home and refried this to a crisp, and enjoyed this better at a hotter temperature. DESSERT 5/5 Ichigo Daifuku（1 piece w full set entree) (V) Silky; tender mochi encasing sweet and dense red bean paste and a fresh strawberry - an exquisite balance of sweetness and texture 4/5 Japanese Parfait Matcha ice cream and matcha pocky topped off layers of whipped cream, crispy corn flakes, a sweet and dense red bean paste, cut strawberries, and a liquid matcha corn flake mix. 和風-Wafu （Japanese traditional style） +0.50 RETURN For the desserts and drinks. read more
10 months ago
An unexpected find on Adams Ave Antique Row. I had fun catching up with my girlfriend here. Street parking wasn't too hard to find on a weekday afternoon. We were greeted promptly, and chose to sit at one of two tables on the small patio. The place is simplistically but tastefully decorated. I went with all of the dishes my friend recommended. I was not disappointed! The salad was fresh and the sesame dressing light. I thought, how strange to have mac and cheese at a Japanese restaurant, but my goodness, it was rich and flavorful! I loved the mushroom and onion additions. The brown sugar Milk Tea was just right, not overly sugary, and very refreshing. I chose the Ichigo Daifuku dessert to end the meal on a sweet note. They were so nice and accommodating to us even though we spent hours here. I would happily come back! read more
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More info about Hatsuzakura
2123 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
University Heights
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(619) 810-9541
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https://www.hatsuzakurasd.com
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Ask the Community - Hatsuzakura
Is this a good spot for a student to come get coffee/tea/food and study?
In my opinion, I don't think it's a spot to study. It's more of an enjoy -- eat -- go place.
Are dogs allowed?
Unfortunately, our establishment only allows service dogs, but when we incorporate outdoor dining, they're more than welcome to dine with us, too. :)
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Hatsuzakura - japanese - Updated August 2026
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