I've been dining at Taka for 15 years or more. Always excellent sushi, great selection, creative chefs

This is one for the books... a day later and my husband and I are still in disbelief by the peculiar experience we had last night. I will say the food was good/fine. Though the portion sizes versus the price wasn't great. Sushi rolls being on the smaller side, sure. Though when you pay over $20 for chicken fried rice and get maybe 5 teeny pieces of chicken and the whole "entree" is the size of a side portion you feel ripped off. I mean, rice is cheap, bump up the portion size. Now to where things get weird... - two songs played when we were there on a loop. ONLY TWO, the ENTIRE time. One was like an anime type song (very upbeat), the other was what I would imagine the intro to a Japanese soap opera would be. They just played over and over again, loudly. We were losing our minds. - they have one beer on draft. $7, seems like the standard price for a basic beer... they brought our beers to the table and we could not believe their size, maybe a 10oz pour? Served in tiny fluted glasses. We could've ordered a large bottled Sapporo for $10! Now I know going forward to ask how many ounces a draft beer is before ordering. Though this has never been a problem for me anywhere else. In the end our bill was expensive, we were still hungry, and felt totally ripped off as far as beer was concerned. I will say the hostess and our server were kind and attentive. The negative experience we had was purely due to ownership decisions. read more

We had both ordered the Omakase and it was absolutely fabulous experience. The presentations were as beautiful as they were delicious. It made for a fabulous dinner to celebrate my 50th birthday. Thank you all for wonderful experiences! read more

Taka - One of many fabulous plates of sushi we were served. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food was good, but just ok given the price. Recommend the beef teriyaki to share plus individual rolls. Pass on the miso soup.

I've never done the Omakase at a sushi spot and this was the perfect first time. I got exactly what I wanted, some old favorites and some new exciting and unexpected delicious selections. The appetizer was fantastic, oyster and uni with marinated salmon roe, monk fish liver, jellyfish (1st time), and octopus and squid. The main dish pictured had halibut, Spanish mackerel, red snapper, amber jack, ahi, toro, clam, giant clam, scallops, and for a tasty treat the deep fried the Spanish mackerel bones! So good! Highly recommend. We shared 1 Omakase and also got some edamame and miso soup. And if you're a saki fan or not, definitely try the nigori unfiltered saki. It's so good and refreshing! 10/10. Really glad I walked into this place. Reservations are recommended since it's not very large, but there's plenty of bar space so if it's just 1 or 2 you shouldn't have a problem read more

Taka - Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Jasmine, our server, was the best. Friendly, attentive, and fun. My business dinner at Taka was fantastic! Everyone loved the food and the vibe. I would highly recommend it the next time you're in the mood for sushi. read more

Taka - Nice garnish - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

OMG, one word... AMAZING! For point of reference, I have been to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, and am nothing short of a snobby sushi, sashimi, fresh seafood aficionado! Stefan (sp?) was my sushi chef and he did a phenomenal job. I ordered Omakase sashimi and then wanted to try some other items so I got oysters on a half shell, and various nigiri pieces. The service was excellent and the fish and seafood were as fresh as can be. If I closed my eyes I'm back at Tsukiji market. Everything was incredible. The Yamazaki 12 and the Asahi Black were both welcome additions to the meal. Definitely coming back to this place. Not cheap but worth every penny! read more

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The food and ambiance was excellent Great service was The food and ambiance was excellent Ambiance was . Great service was great read more

Taka - Yellow Fin and Fatty Tuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a fantastic sushi bar. The fish is fresh and the service is excellent. The chef at the sushi bar was very friendly and helped us with our order. read more

Excellent neighborhood sushi in the gaslamp district. Not to be confused with top tier priced, omakase restaurants, but they offer very solid pieces with some less common choices at a reasonable price point. Super glad to see engawa on the menu. Food looked less appetizing than it actually tasted. Excellent anago preparation and amaebi presentation was visually striking. First time getting one with roe so that was a new experience. Service was efficient. Solid 4 stars and a recommendation to return if I were in the area looking for sushi with easy to snag reservations. At this price point, I would prefer dinking at Azuki (sister restaurant and predecessor to the Kinme omakase next door to it) but even with a large convention in town getting reservations was not overly difficult. read more

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Go with friends and sit at the bar! Be ready to pay a bit but the food is amazing and worth it! We didn't really order for the menu cause I never know what to order in sushi restaurants and I like trying new things. So we asked for recommendations and went for that, best decision ever! Food feels authentic and the place is pretty ok too. read more

Randomly found this place when at a conference. Sat at the counter and ate whatever Taka recommended. Everything was incredibly delicious and fresh with the best texture and temperature. A real gem. read more

OK, let's talk a little TAKA. Best part of the menu is they eliminated 100% of the foo foo fancy hipster rolls. This is all classic so you don't really need a menu to order - no surprise they don't even offer a sushi menu, sans pencil. Order directly from the chef. The Spicy Tuna Roll was done to perfection, had a hint of sesame oil. I finished with Saba, Hamachi, and Maguro sushi. Service excellent. I understand this place has been here 30 years and I'd never heard of it so glad I stumbled in. The only thing I didn't care for was the house hot Saki, it was a bit sweet (but they have plenty to choose from). I tried an unfiltered cold bottle after and it was much better. Definitely will be returning next time I'm in San Diego! read more

Taka - Men at work... - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best chicken teriyaki I've had! Great service, and authentic Japanese atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Was in town for business and this spot was convenient walking distance from my hotel since it's in the gaslamp. Food - we sat at bar and started with salmon belly, sweet shrimp, bluefin tuna, followed by ankimo, kanpachi, red snapper. All was fresh and delicious. Service - sushi chef was amazing, waiters could be more attentive in refill of drinks. Ambiance - small, quaint and clean. If you're staying near gaslamp, super convenient location. read more

What a great experience! We ended up sitting at the bar. I made a bad joke to our chef about his name being the same as the restaurant, he politely said it wasn't him I didn't think anything else of it. I was having trouble deciding what to get so I asked the chef to just make what he likes best. He said, so we could do sashimi style and I said sure let's do it. I saw there was abalone in the cooler and I used to dive for it so I got excited and asked him to add that as well. I was talking to the chef about eating and being in Japan when I was there for work, and was probably pretty annoying about it. Anyways, he worked on the plate and when it was done he went through everything that was on it. The toro was amazing, I've had it before it wasn't like this. The fat basically makes the fish melt in your mouth. We had a great time, went to a concert after, it was a great night. It wasn't till the morning after I started putting two and two together about chef and his name was Taka. I went on the website and saw it was his restaurant. To me it just made it more special. The way he treated us was amazing. Such a nice humble person. To have an experience like that where you're not aware that you are being served by the owner and how we were treated was special. I'd recommend this place to anyone. read more

Taka - Sashimi plate - tunas, yellowtail, abalone, snapper, mackerel, sea urchin - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It's the best traditional sushi spot in downtown hands down. Service is top notch, specially from Mario, everybody is very friendly and all the sushi chefs are masters in their craft. Get there around 7-8 PM for the best vibe. read more

Taka - Jellyfish - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I entrusted my Valentine's Day dinner here and want to thank you guys for the incredible white glove service and delicious meal I came in early in the week with a heart shaped plate, dropped it off with the manager/chef and reserved a specific table. Day of... everything went PERFECTLY without me having to remind and of the staff when I came in. The head/main chef gave me a nod and remembered me Ate $300 worth of fresh sashimi and it was the perfect choice. Thanks again read more

My fiancé and I made a pact to never go to any of our old sushi restaurants after our Taka date on Friday. This was the 2nd time this place completely wowed us! The fish here is the most incredibly butterly fresh fish you will ever taste. You seriously wont be disappointed with the salmon belly, rainbow roll, battera roll or the scallop special "might have been the scallop dynamite". We had a hard time leaving the place because we just wanted more. Mind you, I never eat Sashimi but this place changed that. I don't even know how to express how impressed I was with the service. Every person was exceptional! Even with covid, downtown, on a Friday night, we were sat down immediately, orders taken and food came within minutes. Taka, see you soon! read more

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Great sushi. I will say that the spicy tuna was the spiciest I've ever had so if that's your thing, try it lol read more

Taka - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for a quick bite to eat before hitting some bars downtown. First time I have been able to sit at a sushi bar and it was so much fun. I had the shrimp tempura roll and it was one of the best I've had. We also tried the cucumber martini with our rolls, very strong but good! The staff here is amazing and so charismatic. We were able to chat with some of the waiters and chefs throughout the night. Made the experience very memorable. read more

Taka - Cucumber martini - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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We had a great time at Taka. We sat at the bar and had a good conversation with the chefs. The servers are helpful and attentive. The food was timely and delicious. We had the tuna tataki, various rolls and several sashimi pieces. Everything was tasty and fresh. So nice to have a good, no-fuss Japanese spot in the Gaslamp. Highly recommend. read more

We had the Omakase. Interesting choices and very fresh fish. There was more than enough to eat! Great service and friendly staff.

The best sushi EVER!!! Hiroshi is THE Master Chef. Just trust him. The whole staff is super friendly and helpful. read more

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This is my go-to sushi spot in San Diego. I love walking around downtown and stopping by for dinner. Salmon belly, sea eel, and the otoro are my absolute fav nigiris. The servers are so friendly, quick, and personable. They have a nice sake selection and delicious apps (have to get the oysters and seaweed salad!) It's a small spot but the decor is tasteful. I love sitting at the sushi bar and being able to have convos with the experienced and passionate sushi chefs! We've also done omakase here which was a fun and also educational experience! My boyfriend and I's absolute favorite place to go for dinner! read more

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Maru is the man!!!! This place never disappoints! Always the freshest sushi I'VE EVER HAD!!! read more

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Taka was festive and friendly, a great place you would go with friends and a better place if you have deeper pockets to pay for your dinner. Must get: spanish and japanese mackerel, yellowtail, bass Meh: toro (fatty tuna), special roll, urchin/roe/quail egg shooter Missed out: main entrees, omakase Taka is one of those restaurants that is amazing if price was never an option. The fish, especially the higher end is very fresh, the presentation is par with similarly priced sushi restaurants, and the staff very friendly and attentive. As a larger group, we were pleasantly surprised by the ease in which we were accomodated via brief phone calls and verbal promises. My biggest disappointment was that the omakase was limited to sashimi only, and with a price of $84pp, we opted out with a 10+ group of hungry friends. Food: 4 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 3 stars Price: 3 stars read more

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Been coming here sporadically since 1999. Stick with the belly nigiris and get the sweet shrimp. Just wait for it ...

This place was definitely a spot to keep coming back to. The vibe, the food and the drinks was amazing. The drinks was amazing too. I literally got soooo full off of the sushi rolls and the drinks.. now favorites read more

Taka - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious food. Toro, bluefin, uni, ikura, unagi and rainbow row. All delicious. Had a quick snack here before heading back to hotel. The chef knew what he was doing and the fish was fresh. Some of the cuts were kind of small, i've had larger pieces of o-toro at other places. Roll was pretty shrinkflation but the taste and quality was all good. Uni was very skimped on and very tiny. Two small pieces per nigiri. Taste was good but not worth the price. Service was good and guests were friendly at the bar. Had chats with neighbors and overall decent vibes. If the portions were slightly bigger or prices slightly lower it would be a 5 star place but i guess that's what you get for gaslamp location. read more

Great staff, great service. We go here for all our special occasion. The Nigri and all fish is always so fresh.

Good food kind servers, but slow maybe they are understaffed. Second time here. Try to seat inside. read more

Taka - Yellowtail Hamachi Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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A little piece of heaven in crazy Gaslamp. The sushi is beautiful, delicious cuts, always fresh and full of flavor. The chefs are a delight to watch. I love how small and intimate the restaurant itself is. Service is friendly but not overbearing like other restaurants. I always eat here when having a bad day, and come out feeling happy again. 10/10. read more

Incredible food. Cuts were flavorful and melt in your mouth. Nicest staff. Walked in and sat at the sushi bar. Will be back.

My favorite sushi spot in San Diego. Great experience every time I go. Rolls are very good and tasty. Service is always on pint and friendly. if you are looking for the best in town don't pass up this one. read more

Taka - Good starter for Someone who hasn't had Saki. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We went last weekend for my son's 21st birthday and he want to get drink experience and Japanese food. It was awesome except they didn't have grilled yellow tail cheak It was my family's favorite. We had Kubota manjyu for his first sake and It was awesom and smooth and lil sweet. Foods are great. Fancy price so good for Date or anniversary. hostess and server are nice and kind. read more

Taka - Flesh oysters - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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In town for a few days and sushi was top of mind. We scoped out several sushi bars in the Gaslamp Quarter and this was a clear winner based on sight and other reviews. We were not disappointed, this is a great sushi bar. There were at least 4 sushi chefs behind the counter. Masa was our chef for the night and we were not disappointed. Great selection of nigiri and good selection of sake, too! We had hotate, hirame, kanpachi, hamachi, unagi, tai, sake, and, of course, amaebi. Everything was delicious. We will definitely be going back next time we are in the area. read more

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We sat at the bar and ordered several pieces of nigiri. Tried the salmon belly, New Zealand salmon, scallops, yellowtail, ankimo, and tamago. The quality of the fish was good, but they literally just give you fish on rice. There is nothing that makes this place a stand out, especially when compared to other sushi restaurants of this caliber. The tamago was also disappointing - just cold and mushy. Tamago should be warm, light, and fluffy. Makoto was our sushi chef, and was very friendly. Good place to try if you're a sushi purist and want a no frills experience. read more

Taka - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here for dinner, service was great. We are more of the specialty rolls people, they do not have many rolls like most places but what was available was absolutely fantastic. But worth it for sure! Sushi was slight warmer than sushi we are used to, but again it was good. read more

Taka - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sushi was fireeeeeee! All our orders tasted fresh, and the nigiri's fish:rice ratio was perfect! service was amazing, and ambiance was classy but not snobbish. read more

Taka - Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California