A must visit Kaiseki. Get the full tasting and full pairing, think less, enjoy more. Chat with the friendly staff. Go solo, bring a date, bring friends. read more

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This was my first time visiting "Komatsuya" in San Diego and I was very impressed! We got to try their "Omakase". Everyone at the restaurant was very polite and attentive. Not only did all the waiters describe the ingredients very carefully but their explanation was very detailed and knowledgeable. They were very respectful and professional and I really enjoyed the tasting experience. The presentation of the food was mesmerizing and the flavors of each dish had lots of umami. My wife made reservations to this restaurant, so although this restaurant is popular, it does NOT overcrowd, which makes the experience very peaceful and we are able to enjoy the food. This really added another level of high quality ambience to the experience as we can listen to each intricate description of the dish and also view the chef constructing each dish. We had head chef Nakabayashi-san and assistant Chef Nathan-san cook & construct our dishes. Each dish was amazing and worth the experience. Our waitress Soco-san was very polite, professional, and she was very attentive, so we felt like we were really appreciated. I definitely would recommend this place and would definitely return! :) read more

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We had a wonderful experience here. One person in our group has some dietary restrictions and they accommodated her in a very special and innovative way. They didn't make hers "less", they usually gave her a whole new dish that she loved. We all did the sake pairing, which was fun and really good pours! The dishes were fun, very tasty and fresh. The decor is clean and comfortable. Nothing too fancy. The servers were great. Very attentive and gave us all the info we needed about the courses and the sake. We would definitely come back. I didn't take pics of every item, but here is the first course - regular and dietary restriction. read more

Komatsuya - dietrary restriction first course - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm very new to seafood and had the honor to try out a full course of what Komatsuya has to offer. i cant think of a single dish i tried that i didn't immediately enjoy. every new thing i tried, was phenomenal. The sushi was outstanding, especially the yellowtail. The wagyu with creamy wasabi sauce, has got to be one of the most delicious meals i've ever had. I can't believe i've been missing out on so many things. lots of first for me here. Service was top tier, everyone was extremely polite and welcoming. Being inside the restaurant makes you feel really relaxed and peaceful. Definitely a must try. read more

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A charming restaurant serving one of the most unique omakase experiences in the city. While it stays true to tradition, the young chef brings a fun, modern sensibility that keeps things exciting. The standout is the all natural and biodynamic wine and sake program--the only one of its kind in the city--with a bottle selection impressive enough to rival top wine bars. Perfect for a special occasion, but just as enjoyable for a relaxed visit thanks to the inviting space and genuinely welcoming front of the house staff lead by Hiroka and Soco read more

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We were there to celebrate daughter's birthday and had a wonderful time. Each dish was presented beautifully and delicious. Great service and friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

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I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was truly next level. Everything was excellent, and every bite was delicious. I will definitely be back to try their new dishes ‍ The service was outstanding as well. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it perfect for date nights. read more

It's my first time trying an omakase that is not entirely focused on nigiri but I enjoyed it just as much. The courses were unique with a splash of western inspo. The mackerel egg roll was yummy and it was my first time trying something like that. The nigiri and sashimis were also very delicious. Service was really friendly and the restaurant is clean with nice romantic ambiance. This place easily became one of the more memorable omakase experience I've had and would def come back again. read more

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This place is spectacular. The chef and servers were so wonderful, and the food was off the charts. Omakase was beautifully paired with wine (or sake), and affordable! Please go there. Had such an amazing night. read more

Truly, the best food I have had in San Diego. Their head chef, straight from Japan, crafts a custom omakase dinner every month. They're smaller bites are also delicious and they have excellent wine pairing options. Additionally, the omakase is exceptionally inexpensive, especially considering the quality. In addition to this, their prices are very reasonable. And the staff is very friendly. For how fancy and exquisite the food is, the staff provides a wholesome community-oriented vibe. I truly cannot reccomend this place highly enough. Please do yourself a treat and visit!! read more

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Great place with good service, attentive details, and amazing ambiance! You can really feel like you are dining at a Japanese restaurant! The wooden interior makes you feel warm and invited in! The food was good! Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to try their infamous sushi but the karage and soba noodles were great! Staff informed that sushi will be back in January so im looking forward to that! It's hard to say that the food was anything extraordinary but every dish was cooked and seasoned well! I'd love to try their other dish! Cheers to their restaurant reopening after a year! read more

Komatsuya - Soba Noodle - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Excellent traditional omakase. Chef and server were exceptional. We celebrated our marriage anniversary on a Monday night and had an intimate meal enhanced by the great food and friendly service. Highly recommend. read more

Well where to begin.... This place has great potential, a great location, a friendly attentive staff, talented young chefs but with all that said, refinement and better execution is needed. They are really trying so please don't turn them down for which could be just a off night. How was it off? If you're charging 150 PP for omakase then you need to have it dialed in, they don't. Several of the courses seemed to be broken in ways that reflect inexperienced chefs. For example, wagyu meat being cut thick , breaded, and not cooked at the proper temp with proper ratios of meat/fat can cause the fry to come out really greasy and rubbery. I get the idea of a katsu cutlet but if you are going there you better get it there 100% of the time because if not its uneatable. There were some good dishes too but it was overwelmealed by the misses in a major way. Good luck Komatsuya hopefully this is constructive and can help you along your journey. Honorable Mention - the sake collection is top notch and one the best I've experienced. read more

Had dinner here one evening after being famished and tried to book a reservation on Tock but found they were fully booked. Thought I would take a chance and show up and sit at the bar. To my surprise there was only a single table there and the restaurant was empty. It was late though 8pm at night so maybe it was busy earlier. I was greeted with a police smile and soft voice by the host Soco. (I think was her name) The restaurant is spacious, clean, and has beautiful decor and natural wood on the walls and ceilings. The server did an excellent job with her recommendations and I ordered everything she suggested. The service from our first interaction with the hostess throughout our meal there was attentive, warm and friendly. The Zensai special was my favorite part of the meal, not only was it beautifully prepared, it tasted delectable. The quality of the seafood and veggies were so fresh. The sushi chef had a big smile ear to ear and could tell he enjoyed his job and making the customers happy. For sure will be back but next time with a large group as there are so many items I want to try. A happy camper! read more

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Amazing. This is the best sushi, we have ever had. This was an incredible experience and the service was exceptional. The restaurant is spotlessly clean and the atmosphere and ambiance is first class. We would definitely return to dine here again. read more

This was my first omakase experience and it was amazing! The courses were fantastic, my compliments to the chef. Along with the knowledgeable and helpful servers, it made for a memorable experience. I cannot wait to visit again! read more

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This sushi bar left a very mixed impression. On the one hand, the very idea of vegan omakase is interesting, and on the other, the institution has several significant drawbacks. We tried both ordinary and vegan omakase. Although the dishes were not bad, they are clearly inferior to other places in the region. I was particularly impressed by the inflexibility regarding substitutions in the menu - when, due to the limitations of the day, instead of wagyu, they offered the usual vegetable tempura without adjusting the price. The reservation system is outdated - you can order a table only by phone during working hours, which in the 21st century looks strange. The interior is simple, without the special atmosphere that usually accompanies omakase. read more

Incredible experience!! The wait staff was incredible. This was an authentic omakase meal in a very intimate setting. The price is $150 per person. And I believe the drink pairing was $90. I thought long and hard about this review as I have waited to go to this restaurant for a while now. (Full disclosure - I am not a die hard sushi or seafood fan, so many of you will have a different view) There were ~ 8 courses and come the end of the meal I was perfectly full. (See pictures!) The reason for my three stars: - the drink pairing was 90 dollars and mostly paired each dish with wine. There was only 1 sake pairing which was very disappointing for me. - while some of the dishes were phenomenal, some I felt lacked flavor and didn't have me falling in love with every bite. And at this price point this is what I'd expect. Overall, I would suggest you try this spot, as it was an incredible experience, but just be aware of what you are going to experience and the price associated with it. Enjoy Eaters!!! read more

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TL;DR - Komatsuya stands out as a non-sushi omakase experience that leaves you satisfied in its complexity, ambiance, and execution. It is a must-go for special occasions and return visits. Oddly enough we discovered this place while aimlessly wandering, waiting for our table at another nearby restaurant. Curious about a slightly different omakase experience (but still with a healthy skepticism due to Matsu), we decided to be a tad more spontaneous on Valentine's and booked a night with no expectations. Somewhat immediately we started getting Matsu-PTSD; a modern, simplified setting, a friendly wait staff potentially itching to overanalyze the mechanics of water service, etc. But almost just as instantly those fears were settled. Komatsuya offers a more intimate dining experience, similar to its sushi-based omakase cousins. The staff were certainly friendly and helpful but thankfully lacked the overeager and needing to please attitude that Matsu has. We were the first people in the restaurant but a couple more pairs joined us shortly after. After a brief overview of the menu, process, and drinks, as if to be a gentle reassuring hand on our shoulders (as Matsu struck fear into us), our first course was brought out. I'll note here I won't comment on our specific dishes, as they change often, but each dish was brought out in a timely manner and flowed into one another beautifully. Each course complemented the ones before and after, yet stood on its own in some unique way (wagyu karaage caught us off guard by its text description vs actual dish, and we loved it). The overall flow of the entire meal has that story-like flow of introduction, rising action, tension, then falling action, into resolution, aka dessert. The flavor balance was rarely, if ever, off on any of the courses. A top tier, must return on our SD food list. read more

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Komatsuya Omakase was such an exceptional experience! I've tried other Omakase restaurants in SD but so far Komatsuya's will be my first choice as they are delicious, authentic and very reasonably priced compared to others. Service was also very good! I will definitely be recommending this place to my friends, absolute hidden gem! Will be back 100% read more

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This review is regarding our experience when Komatsuya first opened a while back - unfortunately we haven't had a chance to return but hope to return soon! We overall had a wonderful Kaiseki experience that was comparably well priced. We did find that the nigiri/fish itself was a bit lower quality compared to other omakase spots in the area but not sure if that is still the case. Service was exemplary as was the ambiance. read more

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I had an exquisite Kaiseki experience..a memorable event that would definitely bring me back a second time. It was my husband's birthday so I included a little note during reservation that we were celebrating it, and during the course of the dinner, they brought out a plate of baumkuchen with a candle surprising him during our dessert course! That was a very sweet gesture and he didn't expect it. The service was impeccable, the experience was described in detail before serving it to us, and each course was savory and never overpowering one another. A list of things that I recalled enjoying the most: -The somen with broth, and the ginger-infused shiitake mushrooms..So refreshing. I could have this daily! -Corn tempura: it was so good, I tried recreating it at home and was unsuccessful lol -The wagyu tempura--preferably my favorite, although it didn't appeal to my husband because he thought it ruined wagyu for him The courses were paced right, and we thoroughly enjoyed them before heading onto the next meal. The ambiance was alright, it was for the most part quiet other than the music. We heard other guests stifling their laughs, so it somewhat appeared to feel like fine dining. Would definitely commend Komatsuya for the great birthday dinner. read more

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The chef's set menu is divided into a regular set and a vegetarian set, each with eight categories. The following dishes were tasted: Sakizuke - Burrata cheese with sea urchin Zensai - Mung bean sprouts and pea trio, lightly sauteed oysters in soy sauce, mushrooms and crab Sashimi: Pan-seared amberjack, sea bass, soy-marinated bluefin tuna Fish: Steamed grouper with vegetables Beef - A5 Japanese Wagyu Shabu Shabu served with vegetables Nigiri - Various platters including halibut, bluefin tuna, salmon roe Owan - Akada miso soup with shimeji mushrooms Dessert - White peach cobbler with Valencia orange and jelly sauce Each dish was carefully prepared and beautifully plated. The sauces used (e.g. fish stock, vinegar jelly, plum soy sauce) complemented the seafood. The best part was the beef as it was tender, marbled Wagyu beef. My previous omakase experiences have been seafood-based, so having the meat as one of the dishes was a nice change of pace. The quality of the food and service was top notch . read more

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We were excited to try this place because it was recommended on instagram. Honestly it was subpar for omakase. Pretty amateur. Have had much better tasting omakase at many other places in San Diego. Wagyu was not great either. The sushi wasn't terrible by any means but not worth the $500 for two that we spent (we added the sake pairing which was good). Will not go back. read more

If you want a taste of Japan, come here!!! The ambiance, the service, and especially the food was top tier. I have been looking for a spot like this in San Diego and finally found it! 10/10 I will be coming back! read more

Lovely kaiseki restaurant in San Diego, a little gem tucked away. Chef's Omakase Course : $125 per person Duration of meal : 7:30pm-9:00pm. Didn't feel like I waited too long between dishes which was nice. Everything arrived at the optimal temperature. Sakizuke - cured sea bream, one of my favorite fish, caviar was delish and loved the Yuzu sauce Zensai - Three items 1) Romanesco with Ikura and a house sesame sauce 2) Salt boiled oysters with a tosazu gelee 3) Braised octopus with taro, the octopus was so tender Otsukuri - Three items served with lemon, finger lime and sea salt. It was fun to play with the different combinations in order to achieve different flavors. Squeeze the lime on the sea salt and add a little wasabi to each bite. 1) Giant Clam with finger lime and sea salt 2) Bluefin Tuna with wasabi and soy sauce 3) Smoked Yellowtail with lemon, sea salt and wasabi, bomb Onmono : warm dish - like a little lotus root dumpling, with different textures and a hint of wasabi that added a perfect little kick. Loved the shiitake broth it was served with. Niku Can never go wrong with wagyu. Loved dipping the A5 Miyazaki beef into the perfectly orange soft boiled egg yolk - served sukiyaki style with burdock and crown daisy, perfectly complemented the rich and fatty beef Nigiri The rice I thought was okay, didn't have a lot of sauce which I usually prefer over soy sauce, loved the fish though - Sweet shrimp - Baracuda - Scallop - Golden Eye Snapper, the salt was perfect on this fish - Hokkaido Uni, my personal favorite - Toro Owan Akadashi miso soup, perfect to warm the belly after the nigiri Dessert Today's dessert was strawberry ice cream with mint, blueberries and strawberries Overall, very authentic. Server was super friendly and attentive and I loved her kimono. Alcohol selection could be better, there wasn't any junmai daiginjo sake though but I liked the server's recommendation. read more

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I finally got to dine here a month ago because my hubby was off when they were open and they weren't fully booked either. There were actually only two other parties dining while we were there. The Chef's Omakase Course was the only option available, but we were also able to order extra nigiris at the end. We started off with a bottle of sake to share with the chefs and staff. The first course was the Sakizuke, which came with spiny lobster, asparagus, radish, caviar, and gelee. The presentation was really nice and the lobster tasted great! The Zensai was simmered Romanesco, sesame, salmon roe, braised scallop, pickled turnip, yuzu pepper, seared barracuda sushi, and fried lotus root. The plating was gorgeous! The Otsukuri was next, which came with uni, squid, lemon, salt, sesame, seared scabbard fish, ponzu radish, seared zuke, bluefin tuna, and green onion. Each course kept getting better and better! The Onmono was yellowtail, turnip, carrot, and green onion. This came with some broth and was very flavorful. Next, was the Niku, which came with A5 Miyazaki wagyu beef jibuni, mashed potato, spinach, heavy cream, and parsley. I liked this dish a lot! The pieces of nigiri selected by the chef was wonderful. We ordered a few more pieces of our favorites. I do wish they had more fish options though. The Owan was miso akadashi miso soup, with the fish of the day. We were given something special the chef made, which was tasty and was loaded with fish! I'm not sure what it was called, but it was wrapped in seaweed. The last course, was the dessert. It was very light and refreshing and reminded me of panna cotta with a raspberry on top. I love that you don't have to worry about ordering, since the chefs prepare everything for you and course out your meal. This place has very fancy plating and has fresh and unique courses, with plush chairs for seating! Service was so friendly too! The chefs and server even walked us to the door on our way out. I wonder how often their menu changes- would love to try some different items next time! read more

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Komatsuya, the restaurant we would go for Kaiseki dinner in San Diego. Food was prepared to the highest standard, with the freshest ingredients possible. Wine list is ample with a selection of sake, white and red wine. Ambient is nice and quite, a Japanese restaurant where you could relax and quietly enjoy the dinner. Service is five stars. What more could we ask for? Street parking is readily available on the streets of Mission Hills. Reservation is a must. read more

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Komatsuya made a quiet debut over the summer in the Mission Hills neighborhood. After taking July off, business resumed at this all-omakase restaurant. They rotate items within the menu categories of the omakase about once every two weeks. It's prudent to make a reservation as seating is limited between the sushi bar and the small dining area. My visit occurred towards the end of last month. The Chef's Course is offered as regular or vegan, and each has eight categories. I chose the regular and was served the following over a 90-minute sitting: * Sakizuke - Burrata cheese with sea urchin * Zensai - Trio of brussel sprouts and snap garden peas, lightly fried soy oyster, mushroom and crab * Sashimi - Seared yellowtail, seabass, soy marinated bluefin tuna * Fish - Steamed grouper with veggies * Beef - A5 Japanese Wagyu shabu-shabu with veggies * Nigiri - Assorted pieces including halibut, bluefin tuna, salmon roe * Owan - Akadashi miso soup with shimeji mushroom * Dessert - White peach compote with valencia orange and jelly sauce Each course was meticulously prepared to give a beautiful presentation. The sauces that were used (e.g. dashi, vinegar jelly, plum soy) complemented the seafood so well. The best was the beef because of the tender, marbled wagyu. My past omakase experiences have been all seafood items so to have meat as one of the courses was a nice change-up. The quality of the food and service were top notch, therefore the price for this dinner was one of my splurge meals for the year. read more

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Food: The menu is pretty straightforward with only one choice, i.e. the chef's omakase course. Nothing really impressed me. The deep-fried oyster is probably the best if I have to pick one. Service: Nothing impressive but was okay. Ambiance: Very quiet. The chefs didn't really talk when they are preparing the dishes. If you want to have chill conversations when you are eating, this is probably not the place you are looking for. read more

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What a great recommendation from my wife's hairdresser. Definitely make reservations in advanced since they currently have a staff of 3 and can only accommodate a limited capacity of customers as they try to build a solid foundation before hiring more staff. Menu is Chef's Omakase only for now and definitely reminds me of Kaiseki style. The ingredients and seafood were fresh, presentation was great and most importantly, everything tasted delicious! Loved how friendly the staff was. They asked our opinion on the food and what they could do better and let us know they plan on revamping their omakase menu monthly. The wines they serve in the restaurant are all natural and biodynamic. Definitely can't wait to come back and try something new! read more

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Classic straightforward sushi and nigiri. Chicken karaage is also excellent. A nice crispy light batter and juicy. They had a seared amberjack special that was my favorite. I'm happy to find something close by whenever I'm craving sushi. read more

The restaurant is quaint and very intimate. Limited table seating with sushi bar. The food is excellent but pricey.It cost us over $400 for six people. A good experience. read more

One of my go to spots. I'm a picky eater but I've never had anything I didn't like at this restaurant. They always accomodate my dietary restrictions and service is excellent. Wait staff and chefs are very friendly. Sake selection is great also. Parking is not too difficult if you go there for early dinner. read more

Wanted to try this place but they don't make it easy. If you want a reservation call when they are open (Wednesday-Sunday) since you can't leave a message and can't do anything online. We ordered both the regular Omakase and the all Vegan Omakase. It was great to try both. I would however say that the Wrench and Rodent do this better. Food was good but I would rather drive to Oceanside to W&R. I can't say anything negative about the place as I would like to see them succeed, but I think they need to amp it up if they want to be successful. read more

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Hubby and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary here last night. He made the reservation and didn't tell me the restaurant until we arrived at the restaurant. A few of our friends have recommended this place to us in the past. I had a feeling it would be this spot, I've mentioned that I would like to try their Omakase here. First of, the location, it is in Mission Hills area and there's not a ton of parking spaces. So, instead of circling around trying to find a space, there's an underground parking garage that charges hourly for a fair price. When we walked inside the restaurant we were immediately greeted by one of the servers. Menus were on the table, loved how simple and inviting the place is, and they have these adorable emerald cushiony chairs (so comfy). Music was on point, so relaxing and soothing - jazz. Our food came out accordingly and in perfect timing. Tbh, I didn't have much high expectations from this place due to some mixed reviews but every single bite was phenomenal. Each dish were well thought out and the combination of flavors were perfect. Like, corn tempura? What??? So simple, but was so delicious. Or the burrata cheese and uni with starchy sauce, perfection. Can't even choose which dish I like the most. I really enjoyed everything we had. Omakase is $150 per person, kind of steep. But definitely worth it. It's not one of those Omakase places where you paid so much money but still feel hungry after. Hubby and I were full and very satisfied. Also, service wasn't over the top but it was perfect. Definitely another memorable meals we've had together and I would personally recommend this place if you're celebrating a special occasion or just want to have a self-care moment. This is an excellent option for you. read more

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Great food and great services. They can customize the food. Very traditional Japanese vibe. read more

I absolutely loved this place. It's very true and authentic. The service was great. The ambiance is super chill and low key. It's definitely Michelin portions but completely worth it. I will be definitely coming back when the chefs come back from Japan for the omakase preselected chef menu read more

Komatsuya - Potato Salad - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Was duped by the few positive reviews and pictures of pretty plates & interior, but after dining I would absolutely not recommend. To summarize: the menu has absolutely no focus and was honestly extremely unappetizing. Service was also terrible. No exaggeration, we waited 50 minutes between course 3 & 4 because the servers forgot about us. How we knew? They came over after almost an hour and asked us which course we were supposed to get. Tried to be nice & patient, thought it might just be long prep time but ended up not being the case. First red flags were: we reserved seats at the "sushi bar" but surprise, it's just a tacky wall of empty wine bottles completely blockading you from the chef. And speaking of, check out the drink menu, it's a bizarre list of predominantly wines (only by the glass) with very few sake options. The food: - Our first course was an enormous slice of burrata swimming in a slimy goopy sauce topped with uni & salmon roe. That's right, cheese with seafood. It was awful. - Second course, one of the trio of apps was drowned in an extremely vinegary mustard sauce, so you taste no subtlety of the squid or tofu that's under it. - Third course, poor otoro that again is drowned in a heavy egg yolk soy sauce, this place has no concept of restraint or subtlety that Japanese cuisine is regarded for. - Fourth course, karaage A5 wagyu (what a waste to deep fry) again came with essentially barbecue sauce that just killed the palate for the entire plate. - Fifth course, hard overcooked seabass swimming in a goopy broth. - The sashimi that we waited so patiently for was so disappointing, not to mention poor execution on the seared snapper with a very strong taste of butane. - Dessert: more cheese lol straight up frozen ricotta as "ice cream", texture was crumbly and terrible. Whoever called this a kaiseki obviously has no idea what that means or the progression/courses involved. I almost never do 1 star reviews, but I super regret trying this place, waste of 3 hours with the bad service and ridiculously overpriced for what they're abysmally offering. read more

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I really hate to give this such a low review as the food was good. However, on a slow Wednesday night where the restaurant was less than half full, our dinner for four turned into a near 4 hour ordeal. Somehow there were tables that came in after us and left before us. I am not sure how this could have happened? My friends and I have been visiting various omakase sushi places in San Diego, and while the food here was good - fresh ingredients, fun flavor/texture combinations, the sushi was just meh. It does seem difficult to visit a place that has both amazing food and sushi. If the entire meal was cheaper or we just had the sushi or just the food, my review would be different. I took a photo of each dish as it came out, so below are timestamps of our courses: Course 1 (burrata cheese and uni): 7:10PM Course 2 (zensai): 7:20PM Course 3 (otsukuri): 8:00PM Course 4 (onmono): 8:20PM Course 5 (niku): 8:35PM Course 6 (6 pieces of nigiri sushi): 9:45PM!!!!!!! Course 7 (owan): 10:00PM Course 8 (ice cream): 10:15PM Check: 10:30PM The waitstaff and the sushi chef came out to apologize for the long wait between course 5 and 6. We weren't comped for any part of the food. The sushi that we waited so long for was small, unimaginative, not exciting. Some parts of my fish were falling apart because they were cut so thin. For ~$160 per person with NO alcohol, I am really disappointed to say I didn't enjoy my experience. I personally enjoyed the burrata/uni and the zensai the most. Onmono was a bougie tempura dish and owan surprisingly had very little flavor for it being akadashi miso. read more

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