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    Sushi Tadokoro

    4.5 (991 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Sushi Tadokoro Photos

    Business Info

    SUSHI TADOKORO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Tadokoro

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    Reviews With Photos

    Adolphus D.

    Such a great dinner. Went to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday she loved all the different sushi she had, garlic edamame was Devine. Staff was super friendly even surprised us with a birthday cake and ice cream

    Alyssa N.

    The best omakase experience I've ever had!!! My boyfriend was nice enough to take me here to celebrate. He got a 5pm reservation on a Saturday. Parking is tough since it's a small plaza but plenty of street parking. They have a sign saying it's reservation only, but some people were able to be seated since some people were no shows. We were seated at the bar. Very clean shop, great service (very attentive and kept refilling our drinks). We had the omakase experience and the owner was our chef. He was so lovely! Great description of each dish and comparisons. I can't even name all the fish we tried, it was all so good. I really liked the miso cod, sashimi platter, and halibut bites. The dessert was a coffee pudding that was sooo yummy. I got a plum wine and really loved it. It is a pricey meal, but if you're looking to splurge this is the spot to go!

    Tiara S.

    This restaurant deserves 5 star for their hospitality, flavor, and ambiance. When you step in the restaurant, you immediately feel calm and zen. My partner and I chose the Omakase course and we were lucky enough to get Chef Tadokoro (owner). He was very kind, knowledgeable, and friendly. We enjoyed all the courses and we even got an extra desert since it was our anniversary. I enjoy the staff's strong attention to detail from their service to the food.

    Elodie T.

    I have been to a couple of omakases before and Sushi Tadokoro did not disappoint! We sat at the bar where we could watch the preparations of the chefs and had a wonderful experience. The omakase experience was $165 in August 2025 and we were served: Appetizer: the appetizer plate consisted of a fresh oyster with ponzu sauce, a few tempura-fried peppers and a freshly made tofu block - I can't remember exactly what the chef had said about the tofu, but it was delicious and had more body and soybean taste than your regular grocery tofu. Fresh Sashimi: Delicious - I don't typically like shrimp but that preparation is my favorite that I've ever had. Please note though - the shrimp was so fresh that the head was, uh, still moving. Mine was moving just a little, but there was someone down the bar that had a really, uh, feisty one. You can request that they remove the shrimp head from the presentation. You're not eating the head, because they will fry it for you later (it was crunchy! Like a soft-shelled crab). Grilled Chillean Sea Bass: perfectly cooked, and paired with a pickled ginger. Nigiri Sushi: I could not describe how good each piece was - and I'm sure this changes day-to-day. At the end of the nigiri sushi round, we were asked if we wanted to re-order any of them again and we asked for unagi (not part of the menu, but we had seen them prepare them and they were delicious) and "the one with the white kelp on top". That one tasted so unique and so good. Words fail me! Clear Soup - after so much sushi and food, this soup was hot and felt so soothing getting into my stomach! It looks like only a little bit of soup in the bowl but was more than enough to satisfy. Dessert - their featured dessert was a coffee panna cotta, which neither of us felt like. We were also given the choice of alternative sorbets, and we chose the lychee sorbet. Delicious and light, and perfect to finish off the meal! My only disappointment is that there was no sake flight pairing, which I think would've have enhanced the experience. I asked for their recommendations and chose a carafe (and the carafe has a separate compartment for ice so that the sake doesn't get diluted). I did get to choose my own sake cup. :) My BIL got a lemon sour and enjoyed it. Overall, fantastic experience and would definitely recommend!

    Omakase course 1
    Neth D.

    Been to many sushi restaurants but first time trying omakase. Given that Sushi tadokoro is the OG San Diego Michelin star omakase restaurant it was the obvious choice. Few key details that might be a deal breaker for some if you're doing this for the "experience" and/or going on that special date. 1. Not all seating is at the bar. There's only about 10 seats at the bar where you see the chefs making the courses and get served by them as well. The rest of the seating are regular tables serviced by a server. 2. No interaction. If you sit at the bar the chefs will interact with you. They'll tell you fun facts, show you their daily catch, ask you questions. So if you sit at the table you'll miss that. If that's something you care about. The hokkaido uni is the best I've had. Creamy and delicious. I have had better tuna and toro but it was still solid. The price was $165 before tax and tip (08/2025). They are very busy and only had 2 servers so the wait between food was a little longer than we liked. Overall it was a great experience and the food was delicious but we were still hungry after haha

    Selcen Y.

    Best sushi I've ever had (including Japan). Chef Tadokoro who owns the restaurant personally prepared all of our omakase courses and every dish was mind blowing. He explained everything in depth and showed us photos of all the fish. I'm usually not full after tasting menus, and we were so full at the end of this one. The coffee panna cotta dessert was amazing. Well deserving of their Michelin star and more!

    Kampachi, Toro, Tuna, and Negitoro gunkan  Yummmmmmmm
    Andre S.

    Drove down from OC today for an adventure and this place was highly recommended.... And boy it did not disappoint. The food was fresh! The service was impeccable. The ambiance was lovely and cozy. Everything was delicious

    Jessica D.

    I made omakase reservations for my fiancé's birthday and we both had an amazing time! I made reservations at the bar with Take Tadokoro. We enjoyed talking to him and he was so knowledgeable about every dish. Every dish is curated beautifully and tastes as delicious as it looks! All the nigiris were so good that it's hard to choose a favorite. All the staff were so friendly and attentive to us. We didn't know what kind of sake to order so they let us try out some samples. They even gave my fiance a complimentary dessert with a candle which was so thoughtful. Thank you Take and everyone for an amazing first time!

    Monica N.

    Went to Sushi Tadokoro for my birthday omakase and it was amazing. The restaurant is small and cozy, and the service was excellent. Jessie, our sushi chef, was incredibly knowledgeable and prepared everything beautifully. Each course was fresh, balanced, and so delicious. Perfect spot for a special occasion!

    Appetizer
    Kim M.

    An amazing omakase experience with my husband for our anniversary. Chef Takeaki prepared a delicious and elegant meal for us. He was very kind and a pleasure to watch and listen to, explaining where ingredients came from and how various items were prepared. His staff also took great care of us. The interior is simple and fresh and does not distract the diner from their delicious food journey. I look forward to returning!

    Christine T.

    This Sushi Tadokoro review is long overdue! Tadokoro was our very first omakase experience (2022) and it was amazing, even when we weren't able to sit at the bar during our first visit. We were able to get bar seats the following year and I highly recommend - because you get to see the masters at work, especially Chef Tadokoro. Sushi Tadokoro is located in an unassuming little strip mall in Old Town San Diego - and totally looks/feels like a hole in the wall place. But once you step inside, you're teleported out of Old Town into cozy sushi-ya in Japan! The omakase experience was $160 (2022) / $165 (2023) per person, and is such a culinary experience! You are given hand selected, curated pieces by Chef Tadokoro. If you are at the sushi bar, Chef Tadokoro will personally educate you on each dish, while having conversation in between. If not at the sushi bar, the capable waitresses will be the ones to relay Chef's descriptions and messages. The whole omakase experience is about 2.5hours, depending on how quickly you eat. Chef will obviously try to pace the experience to match how the table is doing, but bear in mind that while it seems like there's not a lot of food... the pieces of nigiri and other omakase items will quickly add up and expand in your stomach. So, take your time, enjoy, and savor the experience!! At the end of the savory courses will be a dessert course, sometimes made by Chef Tadokoro's wife. I will, however, note that the omakase menu from the fall of 2022 and fall of 2023 were the same (dessert was different, I think) which was a smidge disappointing, but this could be due to what was in season and us going around the same time. Regardless, if you have not had an omakase experience before, I highly recommend trying Sushi Tadokoro at least once and make sure to book early so you can sit at the sushi bar. Chef Takeaki Tadokoro is humorous, hospitable, and amazing at what he does. You will be in good hands and in for a treat!

    Omakase 3/14/25
    John C.

    Second time visiting and also second time getting the same table omakase. 4/5. To my understanding they lost their star in 2023 - hence maybe the easy reservation this time vice the nearly impossible one in 2022. I prefer the omakase at the table - you're not missing much. I'll get to the point on this one. Every course was nice, but not mind-blowing. It feels "less" than my previous experience when it comes to the quantity/quality you get. Sushi: Tasted and looked average. You get about 10 pieces and it's pretty standard. Hot courses: standard flavors compared to local sushi restaurants. Atmosphere: Restaurant is tiny, so it's nice and cozy. You get great service! Also, the staff wears masks..so that's a plus especially when they explain your courses to you in front of your food. We ordered 2 bottles of sake, beers, and 4 omakase courses and total came out to ~$1100. At this quality/value I compare it to Nobu SD, where I found their quality top-tier. Again, it's good, but not star good. 4/5 stars based on quality and value.

    Tempura
    David Z.

    Came here to celebrate my wife's birthday. Made reservations for their omakase experience. There is a small parking lot outside. Once inside, service was very warm and prompt. We were served by Tadokoro himself. We were a little worried that previous reviews mentioned that there were very few sushi courses, but I disagree. The whole meal was longer than two hours, and very well paced. I couldn't eat another bite afterwards. Highly recommend this place for your next special celebration.

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    Excellent meal from start to finish. Pricey but on par for gourmet experience. Tiny parking lot.

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    Sushi Tadokoro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi Tadokoro

    Dress code for lunch on a weekday?

    I'm pretty sure you can wear whatever. I had on jeans and a sweatshirt

    My RSVP was accepted on waitlist when I tried to book with Tadokoro-san, how can I tell if Im booked with him at the sushi bar or other side seating? Or first-come seating?

    The only way to to find out is to call a few days in advance and request a table seating. It's easier for larger parties, single will be seated at bar seating.

    Do they offer a walk-in seating arrangement ? It looks like all the reservations are full. If I get there early can I get a spot

    No, you have to make reservations. Tadokoro is is serving some of the finest Sashimi, fresh flown in from Japan Wednesday and Fridays.

    Is sushi bar open?

    Yes! But it books up quickly.

    Do they still accept take out orders?

    Unsure if they accept by phone call, but we had a reservation and was able to order a roll to go.

    Do they take walk in, if so how long is the wait usually?

    Not anymore. Ever since they got their Michelin started forgot about going there. They are booked solid. Impossible to get reservations. I use to frequent this place as a walk-in. It sad tbey don't keep some seats open for the locals.

    Reservations needed for a Sunday?

    Unfortunately Sunday is our closing day. We open Monday to Saturday. Lunch is open 11:30 am to 1:45. Except Thursday.… Read more

    Is this place AYCE?

    No, it's not.

    Is there gluten free soy sauce available for customers? Is the rice gluten free, or do they add gluten-soy-sauce to it?

    We have gluten free soy sauce. Please ask for server it. Sushi rice made with rice vinegar, sugar, salt and kelp.

    How's the lunch menu? Reservation needed (for lunch)?

    It's a great menu; the red snapper nigiri is delicious!! No reservations needed; I've always just walked in for lunch.

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    The potato croquettes had an awesome texture. I could've used some more of the bechamel(?) white…read moresauce, but still delicious. The noodles were a bit thinner than my preference, but otherwise great. I ordered extra noodle, and it was a legitimate amount of extra noodle. I got the spicy red buta ramen and enjoyed the thick pork belly on top of the ground meat. It was a full and savory umami. The broth was also a deep and satisfying flavor. I was amused by the employee saying it's either mild or medium spicy. I asked if I could go "higher" than medium, after which they offered to and brought an extra little cup of their house mix. I liked that the cup was actual chopped chili and other ingredients and not some powder. But after dumping all of it into my broth......it still wasn't spicy at all. LOL Like a Japanese 2 star spicy. Or just "mild" in Thailand. It was really good though.

    I've had this restaurant bookmarked in my list for a looong time. Some friends were visiting and…read moresuggested eating ramen for dinner, so we decided to check this place out. It's located next to Rose Donuts and MATADOR Mexican Grill in a small plaza near USD on Linda Vista Rd in Linda Vista. There is a parking lot with very narrow stalls. It could be difficult to find a stall during rush lunch and dinner hours. My friends and I ordered their Fried Calamari to share, and it really hit the spot. The way they fried the calamari came out really well. It was a nice, soft crispiness that I really like preferred to the thicker coating that some restaurants do. The mayo aioli was really good too. YUM. I ordered their Golden Curry with Mock Duck. I asked the worker what "mock" duck entailed, and she said it was soy-based meat that tasted like duck. Very intriguing! I decided to go with that rather than the chicken wing, and it was a GREAT choice. The mock duck tasted remarkably like roasted duck with just a subtle hint of soy - it was quite a delicious and surprising dish! It was very deceiving as it seemed like I was eating duck with my curry noodles! The broth was soooo good and truly hit the spot as I love coconut based curries. There was a nice kick from the chili oil and a rich umami flavor. I will definitely order this again! My boyfriend and a friend ordered their Spicy Red Buta which was packed with lot of protein including pork belly, minced pork, and half an egg. The broth had a nice creaminess and a rich umami flavor. It was a bit spicier than mine as it didn't have much creaminess as the curry. Still a delicious choice. The other friend ordered their Chicken Katsu Curry with a side of Sausage. The curry was a nice flavor without it being overly heavy and a nice smoothness to it. There was a nice crunch to the chicken without it being too hard and dry. There was a nice juiciness to it. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with this hidden gem of a restaurant. I can't believe I only recently tried it! I will definitely be back for more in the future.

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    Rakitori Japanese Pub & Grill

    Rakitori Japanese Pub & Grill

    4.3
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$
    LGBTQ friendly
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    There was 1 server at 5:20 PM on Saturday evening handling the ENTIRE restaurant. And taking care…read moreof everyone who was coming to do take out orders as well. There was another guy also helping to take care of the patrons AND the bar who was RUNNING. A/C is strong which is great for a hot day. Street parking was relatively easy for us to find. Metered at $2.50 an hour with extra $0.30 vendor fee. Food came out a little slowly, but at least it's made to order and not pictured but the spicy chicken bao bun had a kick and came out fresh. But once it did it started coming out super quickly. Keep in mind that the happy hour version of the bao is quantity of 1. Happy hour $4 Sapporo is also great. Rolls were solid. Sauce with the dumplings were good

    ***This 1 Star does not reflect the quality of the food nor the service of the individual…read moreserver.*** Food was really delicious!!! All of it! But Came in yesterday for dinner right at opening at 4pm. Was the 2nd party sat behind 2 girls at the bar. We were a party of 8. She said 4 more tables of 2. From the start I saw her hustling and doing a great job at hitting every table. I was under the assumption someone was running late and she was stuck by herself for the time being. Im in the industry it happens unfortunately. She got our apps in and took other tables orders as well. But then as time passes there is only so much 1 person can do when your playing the Bartender, Server, Host, Food Runner and Busser while also seeing Grubhub and Others come for Togo food. Help didn't arrive until 445. By this point you had a total of 5 tables get up and leave. You let $ walk out. To the owner or manager of this place. You set her up for failure. Completely unneceptable. As a Manager in this business industry I could see her keep her composure and never once bad mouth or blame anyone. She was simply trying her best and kept it together. We stayed spent over $400 bucks and 2hrs later dining experience checked out. Yako good job. Thank you for a great evening and thank you for being a professional. I hope this reaches whoever is running the place. I hope next time im in town something changed because the food is worth it.

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    Xinjiang  BBQ

    Xinjiang BBQ

    4.6
    (573 reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    Kitchen open late
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    Loved the vibe and experience at Xinjiang…read more Really nice late hours vibe with the moving screen projections on the wall. It reminds me of a chill night club. The menu is via a QR code, where you could just order from your phone. They had a late night deal off the beef skewers. The food was good. We had lamb, beef, pork belly, fried tofu, garlic cucumbers, and bbq squid. I thought the bbq squid would be mild, but came with a sweet spicy sauce. My kids thought it was too spicy for them. The cucumbers were awesome. Fresh, crunchy,.great compliment to the richness of the skewered meat. Though the skewers were covered with slice, they were not spicy at all. But absolutely delicious. I found myself topping the skewers with extra spice powders - what a great treat. It's my first time dining at a Chinese bbq like this. It is a good value and fun experience to hang with friends and have a good beer.

    Came here after a night out. They are open until 3am on the weekends, so it's literally the perfect…read morespot post clubbing. The beef skewers were my favorite followed by the enoki mushrooms wrapped with bacon. Everything was pretty salty though, so it definitely didn't taste healthy, but it does hit the spot so well after drinking. The cold noodle taste was just okay too, but it's very filling! The service is a little bit slow, but it might have seemed slower than it actually was because I was really hungry lol

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    Sushi Tadokoro - sushi - Updated July 2026

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