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    Hatsuzakura

    4.4 (579 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    Hatsuzakura Photos

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    HATSUZAKURA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Hatsuzakura

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    Drink menu
    Tram B.

    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

    Ichigo daifuku (mochi)
    Nicole R.

    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.

    Omurice
    Stephanie D.

    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.

    Hot hatsu curry udon
    Wai F.

    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).

    Yakisoba $18.50
    Clara C.

    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.

    tuna mayo onigiri
    Katie L.

    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!

    Hojicha latte
    Kim P.

    Gave this another try and really enjoyed it. This time I tried the hojicha latte and the hayashi omurice and both were delicious.

    Parfait and Kakugori
    Dorian C.

    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.

    Hannle P.

    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.

    Mei T.

    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!

    Mai K.

    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.

    Terry C.

    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.

    Nice table setting
    Alan L.

    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.

    Omurice

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    Hatsuzakura Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hatsuzakura

    Does Hatsuzakura accept reservation?

    Yes they do take reservations

    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.

    Is there a parking lot or is this street parking?

    Street parking.

    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. :)

    Do they do to-go?

    We just started incorporating to-go orders. :)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Hatsuzakura - japanese - Updated June 2026

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