Last seat in the house and completely worth it I almost didn't get in, which usually tells you everything you need to know. Taiyo was packed, and I ended up with the last seat in the house. Small, modern, and exactly my kind of vibe. Intimate without feeling cramped, but definitely lively. Service was excellent. I had a few different people taking care of me throughout the night and everyone was attentive, kind, and on it. Easy five stars on service. I started with the sunomono salad. I'm picky about cucumber salads, and this one delivered. The cucumbers were sliced incredibly thin, with a bright citrus dressing that felt really fresh. The toasted sesame seeds added just the right texture and depth, and the little pops of tomato balanced everything out. Next up, the hitokuchi wagyu tacos. The presentation alone was beautiful, almost too pretty to eat. But once you do, it's one of those bites you don't forget. Rich, balanced, and easily one of my favorite things I ordered. The Hot Temptation roll lived up to the recommendation. Bold, flavorful, and clearly a fan favorite for a reason. I kept it simple with nigiri, toro, salmon, and albacore. Clean, fresh, and exactly what you want. No extras needed when the fish is this good. For sake, I went with the Cowboy Yamahai. Smooth, clean, and really refreshing. I'd absolutely order it again. I also ordered hot chamomile tea. Small note, I personally love when tea comes in a little kettle at Japanese spots and that wasn't the case here. Not a big deal, just something I notice. I ended with the miso crème brûlée, and this alone is worth coming back for. I love crème brûlée, and this was easily one of the best I've had. Perfect texture, not overly sweet, and that subtle miso adds just enough depth to make it stand out without trying too hard. Overall, between the food, service, and atmosphere, this place is packed for a reason. I'll definitely be back! read more

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First time here. There's that Modern feel ambiance to it. Minimalist style, only few tables in one room. It did get full. And they do not take reservations. They are only open for dinner ( at this time) . Sara our server checked up on us quite few times making sure everything was good. Although I was not offered hot water, to refill my green tea. Table wasn't that big either, and empty plates were left on the table for longer than it should be ( i think) . We ordered food to share. Chilean bass was very flavorful, although I must say, that's the smallest Chilean bass I've seen served by far. And it was served on its own, mostly what it came with on the plate were just for presentation purposes. There's no bathroom inside the restaurant. You will have to go out, to get to the bathroom, although, it is close . I also find the room to be "very noisy " it just echos in there. The ceiling being high. I had a hard time hearing my friends sitting across me. Dessert time: ordered the miso crème brûlée, it is diff. A little salty for me but understandably because of the miso. Place is clean. parking along the street or parking structure, they do validate. read more

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Excellent food every single time I got in. The wait time varied from 10 to 30 minutes. Staff was consistently on point. Loved the various rolls & hand rolls. My favorite was the special one night of surf & turf; shrimp tempura, blue crab, avocado, cucumber roll topped with thinly sliced wagyu beef - oh my goodness can you say yummilish, SO GOOD! Their house mojito hit all the right notes. When I return, this will be my go to. This is a small restaurant in a large resort. Very quaint, excellent staff all around. When it got crazy busy, everyone chipped in. So nice to see a team that can actually work together, exceptional. Great job! read more

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Good meal like Kabuiki! Great environment but doesn't take reservations even though we stayed at the hotel. read more

Taiyo - Lion role and hot roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Small portions for the price but they were good and fresh. We had a very nice waiter and she made this restaurant earn a star. But this restaurant is really for couples, not for big families like mine for the price and for the shareable items or like for a big family the place is very tiny inside too so not that much of a big family friendly. But the inside was nice and modern. read more

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Very small sushi restaurant which makes it more intimate. The sushi was amazing, fresh well prepared and high quality. The resort is card only no cash just to be prepared. It is a tad pricey but the quality is there. read more

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The food was very fresh and well made. Sitting at the bar and watching the chefs cook was so much fun! The two ladies taking care of everyone in the restaurant were very friendly and attentive! I had a great time here and the food was delicious. read more

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Ordered takeout from Taiyo recently, the restaurant and hotel ware extremely busy but they were quick with my order. Even had a little to-go stand so you could fill out what you wanted ahead of time. The sushi was delicious and very fresh. I got the jalapeño hamachi and some salmon nigiri, basic but very yummy. Price was right on point, surprising considering the resort it's located inside. read more

Taiyo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Taiyo is an absolute gem! I stopped in on a recommendation and was blown away by how good everything was, from the food to the service to the overall vibe. The menu has tons of great options, and everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The sushi rolls were the highlight: super clean flavors, generous portions, and great balance. You can tell they take pride in their ingredients. The ramen was also amazing, rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and toppings that actually taste thoughtful rather than thrown on last-minute. Service was warm, quick, and attentive without hovering. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and genuinely welcoming. The space itself is cozy, clean, and modern, making it perfect for a casual dinner, date night, or catching up with friends. read more

Taiyo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Sushi was surprisingly delicious. The hotel has some hit or miss spots but Taiyo was definitely a great experience. Very fresh and tasty sushi. read more

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Taiyo is the in-house sushi restaurant at the newly opened Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in Chula Vista. The business was located in the middle of a series of eateries near the main lobby on Level 2 of the property. The suite featured a sushi bar in the back with several tables scattered around the room for seating. I had expected a larger capacity as maybe 50 diners could be seated. When I entered the suite, there was more than one table that was not cleaned off yet despite the diners being finished with their meal. Perhaps they were short staffed that evening, and the workers were focused on delivering food to the seated parties instead of bussing dirty tables. I eventually sat down at a two-top and received a one-page food menu. The sheet listed appetizers, classic rolls, signature rolls, nigiri/sashimi, handrolls, plates, and desserts as the categories. My impression was that many of the items were inflated in price for being at a resort hotel. For example, an eight-piece California Roll cost $17 whereas you can find it for 1/3 less at most local sushi joints. I ordered an Ahi Tuna Handroll and a Taiyo Roll for my meal. The latter was made up of yellowtail, tuna, salmon, white fish, red crab meat, masago, avocado, and cucumber inside a sliced daikon wrap. It was a Signature Roll, and all seven of the varieties on the menu stated there would be nine pieces. When the plate was brought to my table, only six pieces were served. I asked the waitress why there was a discrepancy. She asked the chef who claimed it was a mistake because this roll had thicker slices, and the menu should have described it as six pieces. To their credit, a second dish with six more pieces were given to me as an apology. However, if the price of a Taiyo Roll is $24 for six pieces, then the value was subpar. The quality of the fishes in both rolls was good, but I don't think they were worth the premium pricing. When I asked a worker what time the place closed, she responded with 10 pm. The closing time listed on the resort's website and Yelp was 9 pm. This was indicative of another area in which the business has to get through some growing pains before it can optimally function. I read that some parties have waited over an hour for seating which I couldn't imagine doing the same. My dining experience at Taiyo was at a three star level with plenty of areas for improvement. read more

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My wife, the kids and I came around 5:30 pm on a Friday and a line was formed outside as there are very limited tables inside. I would say it was about a 5-10 minute wait. First, we ordered drinks and they came out quickly. We ordered the Pacific Roll and Lemon Roll and my wife and I thought they were bland and just ok. The star of the show was the Bluefin Toro Nigiri which was just amazing! Weird part about our experience here was that there was a waitress that walked around with three separate plates at different times and walked around asking us and everyone else sitting if it was theirs. Not sure what was going on here as they should know which table the food belongs to. The food and service here was ok - it's good for the convenience factor of not having to go out of the hotel if staying here. read more

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My boyfriend and I, along with his best friend, had our first dining experience at Taiyo yesterday, May 17th. As we walked into Taiyo, the sushi chefs gave us a warm welcome! The restaurant had a refreshing, cool, and inviting aesthetic. Overall, it gave off "coastal vibes." Our server, Sara, was such a sweet and patient waitress for the three of us. For dinner, I ordered the Taiyo Roll, which consists of a sliced Daikon wrap, yellowtail, tuna, salmon, white fish, red crab meat, masago, avocado, and cucumber. The roll was quite refreshing overall, but I disliked the Daikon wrap. I was so glad there were three types of fish in my roll--salmon, yellowtail, and tuna. Usually, when it comes to ordering sushi rolls, I tend to see only two types of fish included. Fun fact: I had a chance to talk to the main sushi chef, Chef Aaron. He was formerly a chef at Nobu in Downtown San Diego. read more

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Upon arrival we were told it was a 2 hour wait for a table when clearly there were only two other parties inside. I said it was fine and proceeded to add my name to the 2 hour list. After 20 minutes of waiting, I received a call that our table was ready. Great! Let's go! We were sat at the sushi bar and weren't given any menus. After 10 minutes of trying to flag someone, we were finally handed a menu. My first observation; no miso soup or salad options!! What?!? I get it but what?? We proceeded to get two rolls to share and sashimi. The fish was really fresh and the quality was excellent. Definitely overpriced but delicious. Overall, the restaurant it probably the smallest out of all the restaurants in the resort (even smaller than the bars or coffee shops). The servers here seemed more overwhelmed than any other staff member in the resort but the food was delicious. Overall this is one of our favorite restaurants in the resort. Five stars overall for quality of food. Four stars for service. read more

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I went here with my girlfriend and friend to check out the new Gaylord Resort and try out one of the restaurants. This one had no wait time so we tried it out. I had the Hot Temptation Roll. This was probably the best sushi roll I've had. The fish was super fresh tasting and the flavor was perfect. The menu was pretty limited and the restaurant didn't have many tables. They did say it was on purpose while they are new but will grow in the future. The dining room is intimate and fairly small. The staff was attentive. My only critique is that they served my girlfriend's sushi roll and my friend's on the same plate. The should have been separate or hers with mine. Overall, this new business shows promise with some great tasting sushi and good service. read more

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Our family of three had dinner at Taiyo, and it quickly became one of our favorite meals in Chula Vista. The restaurant has a calm, modern atmosphere. While the décor could use a bit more color, the sushi more than made up for it. Every dish was bright, vibrant, and full of fresh flavor. We ordered the Pacific Roll, Sunset Roll, Dragon Roll, and Hot Temptation Roll, and they did not disappoint. The Pacific Roll stood out with spicy tuna, avocado, shiso leaves, ahi tuna, heirloom tomato, and a touch of masago for color and texture. The Sunset Roll featured shrimp tempura, avocado, and albacore with a light citrus soy finish. The Dragon Roll offered rich eel over shrimp tempura, while the Hot Temptation Roll added a satisfying hint of spice. We also had the pleasure of meeting Chef Aaron, who prepared a special dish that was both artistic and delicious. Our experience at Taiyo was exceptional, the service friendly, and the sushi quality above and beyond. read more

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Outstanding food and solid service from a very attentive team. Will make a return visit soon read more

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Excellent sushi. Service was ok. Small restaurant with less than 10 tables, and a sushi bar. The fish was fresh. Pleasantly surprised.

I had an absolutely amazing experience at this sushi restaurant from start to finish. The food was nothing short of exceptional- every roll was beautifully presented, incredibly fresh, and packed with flavor. The fish practically melted in my mouth, and you could truly taste the quality and care in every bite. The specialty rolls were creative without being overwhelming and the balance of flavors was spot on. Chef Aaron deserves special recognition for his incredible skill and attention to detail. Its clear he takes great pride in his craft. Watching him work was like watching an artist-precise, focused, and passionate. Each dish that came out felt thoughtfully prepared and perfectly executed. The service was just as impressive. Cassandra was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. She made sure our drinks we always full, offered excellent recommendations, and checked in at just the right moments without ever feeling intrusive. Her friendly energy made the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. Between the outstanding food and the exceptional service, this was easily one of the best sushi experiences I've had. I can't wait to come back! read more

Absolutely loved the food and service here at Taiyo. The fresh wasabi and fish melted in my mouth. Kudos to Chef Aaron! Thank you for amazing experience. read more

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Food and service by Chef Aaron were phenomenal! My brother took us to Taiyo to celebrate my man's birthday, and they truly exceeded our expectations. From the menu to the complimentary dishes, everything was absolutely delicious. We ordered the Blue Moon, Red Dragon, Hot Temptation, and finished with a Pistachio Crème Brûlée for dessert. Chef Aaron also surprised us with an off-menu dish that was pure fireworks in our mouths. Every single dish had its own unique flavor that made us fall in love at the first bite and we all had the same amazed reaction every time. Hands down, the best sushi experience I've ever had. I don't think we can go back to our old go-to sushi spot after this! read more

Taiyo - Off the menu special! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Everything that was serve to us tasted so fresh. The quality of the food was top notch and the attention to service was phenomenal. Taiyo does an excellent job at what they do. Highly recommend coming here for everyone to try. read more

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Exceeded our expectations. We were celebrating my son's 16th birthday party at the resort and decided to try this sushi restaurant based on being conveniently located. They were able to accommodate our party of 8 and accept our birthday cake to store and serve after dinner. The waiter made some recommendations for the specials and some soki which were excellent. We had a sesame seed allergy so they were able to modify the rolls. The crispy rice appetizers and baked salmon rolls as well as the special Lion King roll were table favorite. Would highly recommend and visit again read more

I visited Taiyo with my mom last evening. The staff were very welcoming and friendly, coupled with the classy, yet warm atmosphere of the restaurant. I ordered the spicy tuna roll, which justifies its $16 price tag with the excellent quality of fish. It was definitely one of, if not the best spicy tuna roll I've had, and I love spicy tuna rolls. read more

Not good and expensive for the place . Looks cheese design, hard to find. Not good, they don't have sushi of the pictures they have. read more

We had a girls night and wanted to check out the newly open Gaylord Resort in San Diego. We stopped by Taiyo sushi restaurant just to look at the menu but was warmly greeted by Johnathan so we decided to give it a try since they say the chef would customize order per our request. My daughter loves spicy tuna, avocado and tempura shrimp. Chef Aaron's special creation perfectly delivered what she asked for: spicy tuna inside wrapped in avocado and topped with tempura shrimp. I also asked for baked salmon roll which was also not on the menu. Salmon was perfectly baked, tender and moist! The restaurant is rather small, accommodating probably 50 people at my guess. The inside was cozy and intimate, however. Katy was super friendly and attentive. Our experience was awesomely beyond expected. It was the best sushi we've had by far. Con: menu is limited and they don't take reservations. If you come in a big group, not sure how they will do to accommodate. We will definitely come back to try other dish on the menu read more

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My wife and I ate at Taiyo during Memorial weekend. Our server Sara recommended a sake and several rolls. I've eaten at many sushi restaurants over the years and this was by far the best sushi I've ever had. I highly recommend both the restaurant and our server Sara. She was warm and friendly and more importantly very knowledgeable about the difference sake options and the food menu. read more

Our service was great, the sushi was terrible. I was up all night throwing up. It was a terrible meal to taste twice.

I tried out Taiyo while staying at the resort. The full moon roll was one of the best sushi rolls I've ever had and the dining experience was welcoming and accommodating. Would definitely come in again. read more

The full moon is out of this world! The head chef and his team are amazing and their attention to detail is impeccable! The ambiance is perfect for a relaxing day after the pool. I would highly recommend! read more

Located in the newly opened, Summer 2025, Gaylord Pacific Hotel, you must note some of the following: 1. $45 Self Park $65 Valet 2. The restaurant is very intimate. 3. Chef Aaron came from Nobu and the menu has very fresh fish and carefully curated rolls. It was a bit off putting to hear another person sitting at the sushi bar yell out some mid rolls to Chef Aaron as if we are at Sushi Deli. The dinnerware and plating are beautiful and artistic. Service is excellent, so expect a wait if you are just trying to walk in. It was opening week, but we still felt the service was top notch. In addition, if you sit at the sushi bar, you can watch a few rolls being made and order according to your preferred fish. They have fish flown in from Spain and Mexico. We tried the yellowtail jalepeno, Taiyo Roll, Lemon roll, Hot Temptation, and the Full Moon. All were EXCELLENT ! The matcha dessert was like art and was a very thick custard texture with the sweet earthiness from the matcha. read more

Absolutely loved Taiyo! The food was fresh and delicious, the service was friendly, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Can't wait to come back! Highly recommended read more

I cane here with my friends for a nice dinner and it was incredible! Katey was our server and she was so sweet and had the best energy! food and atmosphere was 10/10! will definitely be coming back! read more