My kids took me to Takaramono Sushi for Father's Day, and I can honestly say this was one of the best sushi experiences I've had in San Diego. This is not your typical sushi restaurant with the same rolls you see everywhere. Every dish was beautifully presented, incredibly fresh, and full of unique flavors. From the premium nigiri and sashimi to the creative specialty rolls, every plate felt like something special. The quality of the fish was outstanding, and you can tell the chefs truly care about every detail. Some of the highlights were the toro, salmon dishes, scallops, ikura, and several chef creations that were unlike anything I've tried before. Even the desserts were excellent and made a perfect ending to the meal. What impressed me most was that there wasn't a single dish I didn't enjoy. That's extremely rare. The food, presentation, atmosphere, and attention to detail were all exceptional. A huge thank you to my kids for bringing me here. Takaramono Sushi turned Father's Day into a memorable experience, and I can't wait to come back. read more

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Had a great dinner here earlier this evening. Everything tasted fresh and the quality of the fish was noticeable from the first bite. Some highlights: * The A5 Wagyu Tataki was delicious and one of my favorite dishes of the night. * The Uni Pasta was good, honestly some of the best uni pasta I've ever had. Rich and flavorful, but not heavy. * The Bluefin Tuna Belly, Hamachi, Hamachi Belly, Unigyu, Salmon, and Salmon Belly sushi were all fresh. * The Hon-Maguro Toro Tataki literally melted in my mouth. The toro itself was delicious, although I thought the ponzu sauce was a bit overpowering and would have preferred less of it so the fish could shine. The only item that didn't quite work for me was the Sweet Shrimp Sushi. The shrimp itself was good, but the lemon/cream topping overpowered the natural sweetness and felt unnecessary. I also wish the sushi pieces were a little bigger for the price haha. Parking can be a bit challenging since the lot is small and the spaces are tight, but there is street parking nearby. I'd come back and would recommend it to anyone looking for sushi in La Jolla. Yum! read more

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Came here with a party of 4 and a reservation so getting seated was quick. The parking lot is a bit small and compact so it might be a struggle getting in and out of parking spaces. So about the food... I think I've found my new favorite sushi spot in San Diego. We ordered a bunch of dishes and there were no misses at all. - the miso soup was very flavorful with chunks of salmon - all the sushi we got tasted fresh! - they had real wasabi available This place seems a little more upscale than the average sushi spot but the price point is not much different for how good the fish was. Our waiter was also very friendly and helpful. He was able to answer our questions and make some recommendations. Bonus: they had little bins to store purses! read more

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I came here with a fellow Yelp Elite for a late dinner on a Saturday night. We made a reservation while on route and snagged the last available table. We were the last table seated and the last to close out the restaurant. We ordered the following: - 2 hot green tea - tako wasa (raw octopus) - seaweed salad - nigiri set - sashimi set - hamachi special - ahi fiesta roll We were very satisfied with the freshness of the fish. What really stood out from the sashimi and nigiri sets were the extra sweet scallops. I could eat a whole plate of it, and that alone is worth a repeat visit! I'm normally not a huge hamachi fan, but the light and citrusy sauce that came with the hamachi special was indeed special. Likewise, the ahi fiesta roll was quite amazing. I try to avoid rolls because of the rice, but have to admit this was worth the extra carb calories. The one thing I did not care for was the tako wasa. I did not realize this was diced raw octopus, otherwise I would not have ordered it. I had this once before a few years back and can say adamantly that I do not like raw and slimy octopus. The marinade was flavorful, but this just wasn't for me. The restaurant was a bit small and was tastefully decorated. I liked that they had a basket for my purse so I didn't have to fuss with it. Our server was very friendly and as attentive as he could be. He was the only server and did his best to make sure our tea cups were refilled with hot water. The restaurant was rather busy when we arrived, and we acknowledged that he did his best. There was some wait time, but we didn't mind because we really enjoyed our experience here. This restaurant is flagged for a repeat visit, for sure! read more

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Going to and calling around - I have to say the people in San Diego love their Sushi/Sashimi. We drove to one and made several calls to a handful of others - to find that it's best to make reservations. Fortunately and to our good luck, Takaramono had a table available so we hauled on over to La Jolla. There's a small private lot. And when I say small, I'll just say that I managed to park but really had to pay attention and use the camera system. Even then, getting out of the car was a fun challenge. Anyway, if it's packed, there's always street parking. I didn't see nor was I looked for any public lots or garages. Walked in, seated immediately. Place was packed. Only one table (ours) was available. Small place though. In addition to the tables, there's bar seating. I really recommend reservations unless you like being denied and rejected. Service was ok. Place was small like I mentioned and for the most part, friendly. It would be nice for a little more attentiveness but I'm not going to harp on that when it's close to closing and all that was needed was to ask. But sometimes just being checked in on and being offered is nice. As for the food - I enjoyed it all. The appetizers were as expected - but it was the other dishes that made my evening. The Hamachi Special and the Ahi Fiesta Roll started it off and the Nigiri Set (mine) brought it home. From being buttery, delicate to tender and melt in your mouth - experienced it all down the line. Definitely on my "I'll be back" list. read more

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My folks and I had a nice early dinner here. The food is tasty, light & aesthetically pleasing. This location does not have a full kitchen so there are not many hot entrees. The menu consists mostly of nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, and other seafood based items. It's like a Japanese tapas spot. The restaurant was not busy when we came in, and we received attentive and helpful service. Takaramono is an intimate and it is suitable for any sort of small gathering. You can sit at the sushi bar or at one of the handful of tables. It is in the village and has high prices commensurate with the upscale location and quality of the seafood and ingredients. Miso soup - fine, small portion - didn't need the salmon Hamachi crude - fresh & tasty Aburi hotate - delicious! - scallops were perfectly done - my favorite dish Salmon oshi - looked like a salmon and rice layer cake, kind of odd, the top seared salmon was yummy Pearl roll- tasty, the scallop on the top of the roll was excellent Kani bite - tasty, ponzu jelly is certainly interesting Yuzu cheesecake - tasty but $8 seems a bit steep for seriously the tiniest dessert I have ever seen! They have a small parking lot and there's also plenty of street parking on LJ Blvd. Peace. read more

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Takaramono isn't your standard sushi restaurant. While you can certainly get traditional nigiri and rolls, the real stars of the show are the starters, literally all of them. The fish here is incredibly delicious, exceptionally and high quality, and treated like a work of art; it's so fresh that and extra sauces aren't even necessary. Although i do dabble in ponzu haha. To perfectly end the night, I always look forward to their ice cream topped with matcha. It is the ultimate finale. The service is unmatched. My partner and I have gotten to know the owner, who is kind and absolutely full of passion. That energy translates to the entire staff, the waiters are always professional and attentive, and the sushi chefs are truly top-of-the-line. The entire team works together to make magic happen. With its intimate, cozy layout and relaxed volume, it is the perfect spot for a date night. Because it's a boutique space, I would definitely recommend making a reservation. We absolutely love this place! Also perfect for takeout. Kinda obsessed. read more

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This is more of an upscale sushi spot with quality sashimi and service to match the higher price point. I loved their cucumber salad and enjoyed the salmon oshi more than the pearl roll -- the flavors in the pearl roll just didn't pair as well for me personally. The 5-piece wagyu was just okay to me, although my friend really liked it. The uni was decent -- not amazing, but not bad either. Their matcha ice cream was tasty and a nice way to end the meal. Overall, it's a solid experience if you're looking for higher-end spot, but between the pricing, awkward parking, and lack of much of a view or ambiance, I don't find myself rushing back. Really want to give it a 3.5 but that's not an option ! read more

Really great sushi! Everything was fresh, unique, delicious! Great quality too. Sat at the sushi counter which was a vibe! Service felt like they were upselling alot but we went with our gut and still really enjoyed the time there! read more

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Service was 10/10 Food was 10/10 Some of the most delicious buttery soft sushi I've had in San Diego! Definitely recommend and will be returning. read more

Takaramono Sushi - La Jolla & Ahi Fiesta Rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Edited to add media files. Everything was delicious. We ordered tako wasa, hon-maguro tadaki, uni pasta, ahi fiesta and four nigiris (salmon belly, sweet shrimp, hamachi belly, and kinmedai). My favorite was the uni pasta as an uni and mentaiko lover. The udon was chewy and cooked perfectly. The sweet shrimp is a must try since it comes with yuzu jelly on the top to add a unique texture and additional flavor to the shrimp. There are several parking spots in front of the restaurant, but it is shared with another business so it can be difficult to find parking during busy hours. The restaurant was well lit with a nice ambience for meeting up with friends. The server was attentive and refilled our waters. read more

Takaramono Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I felt the good review on yelp and google are fake. $28 for a roll which is full of imitation crab while there are plenty all you can eat sushi places below 40 in SD. NIigiri price is comparable with Soichi. The so called fresh wasabi was also fake. I have to say the fish quality is OK and the service is good. But it definitely not worth the price. read more

Takaramono Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely the best sushi and service I've ever had!! Came here on a Saturday with a 7 pm reservation, and the interior was definitely one of the fancier restaurants I've ever been to. We were seated at the counter and opted for the nigiri set, which consists of the chef's choice of fish. On the recommendation of the server, we also got the hamachi special and the Hon maguro prime taco. If you come, you MUST get the hamachi special, as it was so incredibly good. The fish tasted so fresh and, paired with the sauce, was so diabolically good that we were practically downing it even after we finished the yellowtail. I don't know what they put in there that made the sauce so good, but we asked to keep the plate so we could continue using it as a sauce. After we finished that, our nigiri set came, and I don't exactly remember what each cut was, but they were all incredibly good. While we were enjoying each nigiri piece, the chef making the food in front of us told us about what we were eating and was really proud of his work. We had a lot of fun conversing with him in between bites and talking about how good the food was. Personally, my favorite was the scallop because it was perfectly charred and creamy. My bf notably loved the ponzu jelly that was placed on top of one of the fish, which also tasted unreal. The taco came while we were in the middle of eating the nigiri set, and it was also pretty good. The seaweed "taco shell" was unexpectedly soft and melted in your mouth. After we finished, we opted to also get the sweet shrimp, which came with the aforementioned ponzu jelly, and it was also incredible. It was unlike any other shrimp I've had before. After we paid the bill, they unexpectedly gave us the bluefin tuna (?), and it was the perfect finisher to our meal and whole experience there. We are so grateful that they were so kind, and we had such a good experience overall. The staff are so attentive, and the food is excellent. We will definitely be coming back when we get the chance!!! read more

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Had a meeting tonight in La Jolla and was in the mood to try something new. After a few Yelp searches this restaurant appeared out of no where with excellent reviews. They had plenty of parking spaces right out front, I knew that was a good sign. :-) Was warmly greeted upon entering and they gave me a choice between a table or at the bar. I opted for the bar so I could watch them prepare the foods. The menu was curated in a way to showcase a rich tapestry of seafood prepared so many different ways. The presentation was so nice and flavor was delectable. My 2 favorites were the Takaramono cevice & the Hamachi special. No complaints on any items, I am still thinking about how amazingly fresh & delicious all items were. To end a near perfect meal I wanted something sweet and the Yuzu cheesecake sounded excellent. Service was excellent, the staff seem to love their jobs and to sum this all up it was a gustatory pleasure for my palate! For sure will be back. read more

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Oh my gosh I would absolutely try this place again for sure. The food was something out of this world and exquisite is the only word that really fits. Portions are on the smaller side but for an end of the night last minute reservation it was just right. I spent about 113 for two people and while we didn't leave full we also weren't planning on spending too much because it is overpriced. Still, for that taste I would say it is worth going at least once. It gives you that New York vibe at night where everyone is in their own zone having conversations and you are close enough to other tables that you could easily overhear or join in if you wanted to. The only thing that threw me off was the start of the night. We walked in right on time for our reservation and then stood there for about five minutes just waiting to be greeted. It felt awkward because everyone could see we were there but no one came over, probably because they were so busy or maybe understaffed. It looked like one person was greeting, seating, and serving while the chefs were right there behind the counter. That moment had me thinking I might give four stars, but once the food came out it erased everything. Every bite was so good I forgot about the wait and just enjoyed it. This is the kind of place where the food makes you forgive any small slip in service because once it hits the table you are completely focused on how amazing it tastes. read more

Takaramono Sushi - Wagyu and then I honestly don't know the names but they're so delicious - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really fresh sushi! Both servers were very knowledgeable about GF options. They have GF soy sauce. We had the edamame with sea salt (instead of how it's made on the menu w crispy onion topping), the Aburi Hotate scallop appetizer (its sauce is housemade GF), and my husband had the La Jolla Roll which is already GF. I had the Salmon Oshi roll, which was not GF. Definitely want to go back for lunch and have the rainbow chirashi! read more

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Disclaimer: this was a review written without considering price value I went to Japan recently and was really nervous to try sushi back in the states bc I was scared I'd be disappointed BUT NOT TAKARAMONOOOOOOO MY GIRL TAKARAMONO HELD IT DOWNNNNNN!!!! A very hidden unassuming high end sushi spot awaits you on the corner of La Jolla blvd. This is no ordinary sushi spot- this is the most unique menu I've seen. I highly recommend everything I ordered: nigiri set, wagyu tadaki, hon-maguro tadaki, La Jolla roll, salmon ushi, and the yuzu cheesecake. But my FAVS were: salmon ushi and the tadakis. The salmon ushi had ponzu jelly on top and it just caught me by surprise and was so unique and yummyyyyy!!! I've never quite seen a roll like this even in Japan, so this was super fun for me to try. I wish they had more photos of the interior bc I didn't know it was going to be this vibe AT ALLLL from the pics I saw online. It has that dim lighting and modern chic interior- def up scale vibes (esp if ur looking at the menu prices). Parking: there is a tiny parking lot in front of the restaurant but it's kind of hard to get out if it's full. There street parking around as well if you're not as confident in ur parking skills (aka me). Also idk if it was bc it was gloomy outside when I went so everything was like blending in together or what, but I could not find this place bc it's in such a random spot LOL. It's right before a right turn onto another street and if I hadn't looked up to look at their sign (which is on the second floor of their building), I probably would've missed it. So def take a good look at the map before hand so you know where you're going lol. I arrived at around 6pm on a weekday and there weren't many people but it filled up quite quickly as it's a very small spot. I would recommend getting a reservation just in case!! Note: this meal was not on my card so if you're looking at prices u might have a dif review lol but as someone who was getting treated this was a great 5/5 experience :) read more

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Better than your average everyday sushi spot, but not great. The salad, roll, and uni pasta weren't worth getting either. I don't think they will last that long. read more

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Takaramono Sushi may have the best miso soup by a long shot, and the miso soup has got the most delicious salmon. The sushi is also amazing and I love that nigiri comes with one piece instead of two pieces: You can try different fish without committing to two pieces, and you also end up paying less for one piece. As a consequence of being served just one piece, the chefs make sure that each piece matters, and you can taste and observe the extra TLC: Each beautiful piece is a gastronomic indulgence! As expected, the service is great. The restaurant is small but each time I've been here, it was never packed. This is one of San Diego's best kept secrets and I hope Takaramono Sushi is here to stay! read more

We had higher expectations. Despite having a reservation we waited 20 minutes after being seated for our waitress to come by and take our appetizer order (which she apologized for). For appetizers we got the cucumber salad, gravlox salmon, and Hiram's special. The cucumber salad and gravlax salmon were amazing! Afterwards we ordered all the following: assorted nigiri, salmon oshi roll, cherry blossom roll, and ~17 pieces of assorted nigiri and sashimi. The food came out quickly but in random order. For example they brought two pieces of salmon nigiri then after a few min, the rest of the salmon nigiri. The rolls came out last. The salmon oshi roll was just okay. I liked the gravlox salmon roll more, though neither blew me away. The nigiri sushi all had very small/thin cuts of fish; certainly the smallest pieces we've ever had at a sushi joint with premium pricing. It's a small place - there were only two waitresses working and two chefs, and they seemed understaffed given the demand. The chefs interacted minimally with the guests at the bar (we were at the bar) compared to other sushi bars I've sat at. The fish was high quality but I'm not sure the whole experience was worth the $$$ tab. I've had far better sushi for significantly less. read more

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One of the best sushi spots I have been to! The food is exceptional -- fresh, creative, and beautifully presented. In particular, the Ahi Fiesta and Salmon Oshi are unreal. Everyone working there is very attentive, and the ambiance is intimate and sophisticated without feeling stuffy. They even have a parking lot! Every part of the experience was outstanding and I left genuinely impressed (and have already returned multiple times). Highly recommend!! read more

Nice little modern Japanese restaurant with high quality food, great service, and reasonable prices! I eat a lot of sushi so I can be pretty picky about fish quality and flavor but this place left me with nothing to complain about. Every dish was well executed with amazing flavors that were enjoyable but not overwhelming. The price is also extremely reasonable for the quality that you get! I liked everything we ordered and would want to come back to try other items on their menu. I definitely recommend this place as a nice spot to eat without costing a fortune. The only thing to note is that parking is quite limited so I would carpool if possible. read more

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My favorite sushi place so far! It's hard not to fall in love with this place! The chef and food here is amazing! The staff, the one server we've had each time, Eugene has been great! He's so friendly and sweet! I love that he let us know which dishes did not need any extra shoyu. I'm glad he did because it would've ruined any flavor profile the chef had set for the dish. We love coming here on a Sunday afternoon right when they open, at noon. It's a small parking lot, but at that time there is plenty of parking. You can easily book a reservation on Open Table, but I've never had an issue getting a table at that time. It's actually nice and quiet and we beat any lunchtime rush. On our first visit we tried the following items... - Hon-Maguro Tadaki - This bluefin dish was among my favs cause of ponzu topped with crispy onion. No shoyu needed. - Hamachi special - Hubs loves yellowtail, this is his favorite. It's so fresh and clean tasting. Again, no shoyu needed. - A5 Wagyu Tadaki - So flavorful and tender, we loved this so much, we got seconds! Again, no shoyu needed. - Ahi fiesta roll - Bluefin tuna with onion crisps. We really wanted to order and try the Shoyu Butabara but it's no longer offered on the menu. I'd hope they would take it off the menu or cross it off cause I get excited each time I see it. We absolutely loved the Hon-Maguro Tadaki and Hamachi special and got those again on our second visit along with the A5 Wagyu Tadaki, and yes of course we got seconds of the Wagyu again! This time we decided to try the Salmon Baguette cause I wanted some carbs and this was amazing and so flavorful!!! I love it as much as I love the Wagyu! The hubs wants to come here every Sunday! I wouldn't necessarily mind, but we're not always in the area and we don't live super close. The portions are small and delicate, but very satisfying. A bit on the expensive side, but absolutely worth it! We will definitely visit if we're in the area. Everything is so yummy here you can't go wrong! Wanted to give them a special shoutout for my first review of the year! Give them try and enjoy! 2025: 1 read more

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10/10 would recommend! A hidden sushi spot right in the heart of La Jolla. I liked that they added their own sprinkle to classic rolls. I ordered: HAMACHI SPECIAL - This is one of their specials, the sauce was super flavorful, not too salty, not too sweet. Great to share. SALMON OSHI - Love me a torched roll. A bit on the heavier and saucy side which isn't my typical go-to but still really good. AHI FIESTA - The star of the show, very flavorful & fresh ingredients Overall, the service and quality were amazing! Would definitely come back. read more

Takaramono Sushi - Ahi Fiesta & Salmon Oshi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place is absolutely dynamite! From the warm, attentive service to the exquisitely fresh fish, every visit feels like a treat. The sushi is seriously to die for, beautifully prepared, incredibly fresh, and packed with flavor in every bite. We also love their fantastic sake selection, which perfectly complements the meal and adds to the whole experience. A huge part of why we keep coming back is our favorite sushi chef, Berto, who always makes the experience extra special. His skill, creativity, and friendly personality shine through in every dish he prepares. You can truly taste the quality and care that goes into everything they serve. If you love amazing sushi, great energy, and top-notch hospitality, this spot is a must-visit. We're so grateful to have found our favorite sushi place in the Village of La Jolla! read more

We stumbled upon this place by chance after cancelling another reservation in Pacific Beach because we wanted something more low-key. I'm big on ambiance, and this place hit the spot for me. It was very authentic and very inviting with dim lights with beautiful music playing. The service was amazing--servers have a calm vibe but are still incredibly attentive. All night, they were fully booked but had walk-ins, and they kept being able to accommodate by saying, "come back at 8!" or "give us 15". Now for the good part: the food. My partner and I are picky about our sushi, and we both agreed that this place is in our top 10. Everything we ordered was so incredibly tender, flavorful, and very fresh. The chefs put so much care into every dish, and everything paired really nicely together. We ordered the chef's selection of nigiri, the pearl roll, and a bowl of ikura (salmon roe) on rice. We weren't that hungry to begin with, but everything was so delicious that we ended up getting an extra order of scallop nigiri and bluefin tuna belly nigiri. Highly, highly recommend this place for a date night, business dinner, or a night out with the girls. We are so pleased with our choice and will absolutely be back in the future. read more

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Stopped by Takaramono on a friends suggestion and was completely blown away. The restaurant is in a nondescript building by itself with a parking lot that can probably fit eight cars. I got there a bit late, about 40 mins before they closed and there was only one other person eating in there. Got a table and my friend and I placed an order from their cucumber salad, Hamachi special, and an assortment of sushi. The cucumber salad was out of this world good! Great crunch and mixed in a garlicky sauce with salt and pepper. I could just eat it all day long. The hamachi special was five pieces of yellowtail in a yuzu and ponzu dressing that was also really good. The fish was fresh, as was the case with all the sushi as well, and the yuzu and ponzu were light and not overpowering, nicely complementing the fish itself. The sushi pieces we ordered including salmon belly, kinmedai, wagyu and otoro were outstanding as well. The fish was perfect temperature and fresh, not thawed from frozen pieces. The waiter said most of them had been flown in from Japan. The Wagyu just melted in our mouth, so delicious. Even the rice they used was perfectly cooked and best of all warm! Not cold as in some sushi restaurants, I shall definitely be coming back here for more! read more

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Such a beautiful restaurant. The quality of the food is extraordinary. The customer service is above and beyond. The atmosphere is so beautiful and it smells so good. All of the food is quality and has so many different textures and taste. I will definitely be coming back as this is my new favorite sushi restaurant in San Diego. The plates are absolutely stunning and the customer service is incredible. read more

Pretty good and intimate sushi spot. Although it looked enticing, I was disappointed with the A5 Wagyu dish. read more

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Really enjoyed our Sunday night visit here. There's a private lot directly in front which had plenty of spaces at 8:30. It wasn't crowded, but OpenTable made it look like reservations were going fast. Clean, airy, open, well-staffed, and friendly. Ice cold Sapporo for $7, deal. The garlic edamame ($9) was topped with fried onion and seasoned nicely. The Sushi Set ($48/8pc) was top-shelf cuts, artfully prepared, each uniquely topped with some fresh colorful flavor. Really enjoyed it. Salmon Oshi roll was fresh and satisfying, while the La Jolla roll came with a small ume/seaweed crisp salad that brightened the whole thing up. Delicious crab center. Matcha Affogato (ice cream and strong frothed matcha) was freshly made and poured right there, just $9, really nice dessert. Overall, a nice find and welcome addition to La Jolla.. I'd go back~ The rolls are a little hard to imagine from just the brief description (no pictures), so read other reviews to see what's up. read more

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I came here with my friend on a Sunday evening. We made reservations last minute, but they were still very accommodating. The restaurant was very cozy, with dim lighting and felt very intimate. We got seated by the bar counter and immediately got attended to with water and the menus. I ordered the uni pasta and the yellowtail belly. The uni pasta was delicious, it was so good and creamy and the flavors just all blended well together. The portion was adequately sized too. 10/10, I would get this again. The yellowtail belly was good, but it wasn't the best I've had. Nothing special, but it was still a good supplement to my meal. They provided ginger and fresh wasabi to eat with our sushi. My friend and I shared the yuzu cheesecake. The size was smaller than I expected but the flavor was good. It was citrusy, and the strawberry glaze added a nice touch to the flavor. The owner was so nice. He gave us a piece of complimentary toast to eat with our uni pasta, which tasted really well with the sauce from the pasta. He also let us try a sushi that they were experimenting with which wasn't currently on the menu and that sushi tasted amazing! I hope it makes it on the menu for next time when I visit again. I had an amazing experience here, the food was great, and the staff were all so friendly! Can't wait to come again. read more

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Although pretty pricey, this place is absolutely delicious! Their quality taste exactly like the quality I got when I went to Japan this past year. I went on valentine day so I really like how they changed the menus to accommodate the special occasion. The only thing I'm sad about is the portions being sooo small just because the food is so good. Watch out for the parking though, those were some of the tightest spots I've ever seen but I'm still very glad they had their own lot! read more

Takaramono Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place was a real disappointment. While I can see the effort they put in, it feels overworked to the point that the simplicity and elegance of sushi are completely lost. The service was ok- The quality of the fish and other ingredients is overshadowed by fusion gimmicks that just don't work. Miso Soup was probably THE WORST I've had yet. Unfortunately, this is far from a traditional sushi experience. Nigiri set was a disappointment as well, they simply don't know how to make a good sushi rice. Uni Pasta or Udon I should say lacked flavor. The only redeeming factor was the location. If you're looking for authentic, high-quality sushi to impress a date, I strongly recommend Ichifuji, hidden fish, Kinme Omakase or Sushi Ota instead. read more

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Takaramono Sushi opened at the end of May in a suite on the corner of La Jolla Blvd and Pearl St. The space had previously housed a couple of ventures from the owners of Ambrogio15. It now has a sushi bar that can seat eight people, and several tables that can hold another about 20 diners. A few on-site parking spaces were available out front, otherwise look for curbside spots on La Jolla Blvd. I took a seat at the bar where a two-page food menu was handed to me. Appetizers, salads, one entree, and specialty items were on the left. Pasta, sushi/sashimi, rolls, and dessert were on the right. I started with an order of the Tako Wasa. This was octopus marinated with kizami wasabi. What I didn't realize from the description was that the octopus was going to be raw. Flavor was provided from the wasabi that was chopped and marinated in soy sauce. I prefer cooked tentacles versus a sashimi preparation. From the Specialty choices, I picked the Shoyu Butabara and Aburi Hotate. The first dish was nine pieces of sous vide pork belly with a spicy chive salad. The pork was topped with a savory sauce that enhanced the fatty meat. The second dish was six slices of seared jumbo scallop topped with caviar and a truffle sauce in the middle of the plate. The delicate flesh of the scallop was enjoyable and didn't really need the sauce. I finished my meal with nigiri servings of bluefin tuna, salmon belly, and fresh water eel. The quality of the seafood was very good. The service from the chef at the bar was pleasant as he checked up on me frequently. Overall, my dining experience at Takaramono Sushi was worthy of a four star rating. read more

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what a hidden gem. presentation was beautiful and the restaurant itself was modern. the cuts of nigiri tasted fresh and were the perfect size. I got the teoori which was basically like a build your own hand rolls. similar to ume in nyc. the garnishes with the sashimi were wonderful. I also recommend the prime taco and aburi hotate! I love that they give fresh wasabi too, that's when you know they care about their sushi lol. what was a miss for us was the La Jolla roll. cuts were too large, nothing special. I think the highlight of the meal was the service! everyone was sooo sweet. I left my belongings at the restaurant and I didn't even notice... typical me. we were already at the stop light but I see the waiter standing next to my passenger door! he was in the middle of the street trying to get my attention to roll down the window lol oh my goodness silly me. I hope good karma comes your way. thank you so much!! this will be a new go to spot for sure. read more

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Tucked back off Pearl street, we passed it the first time despite their clear, well-lit sign. Our fault. Small tight parking lot but having any parking is way more than most places in LJ so that's a big plus. The interior feels a bit sterile and there is a strange little dark room on the right with some tables. We declined seating there, since it was pretty dreary looking to sit in with basically no view of any of the restaurant or pretty much anything. Would be great for keeping large groups in check though. The dinnerware and sake glasses feel elegant and beautiful. Love that Japanese aesthetic. We need more of that. And you get real chopsticks. Not the cheap ones you see in take out that even more pricey restaurants may use. Cute sake glasses. Service was excellent! Prompt and with enthusiastic descriptions. Our waiter was great. Water always full and we were always asked if we needed anything. Loved that! It's pretty rare in SD to get great service, so kudos to the wait staff. Nice sake and shochu selections on the menu. Didn't really look at beer. Menu looked really interesting. Sushi and sashimi with twists. The appetizers were great. Loved the snow crab protein app with yuzu jelly. Delectable! Seared bluefin and yellowtail were also delicious but I found myself even more intrigued by the delectable accompanying sauces. Good selection of fish with the chef sushi and sashimi plates. But the sashimi chef plate served several that were bits of a full piece of fish, like they were using ends and not slicing off one whole fresh piece. Fish quality was very good but not truly over the top. The specialty apps, rolls, etc sounded innovative but there seemed to be a common theme of truffle or crispy alliums or yuzu koshu in many so it felt repetitious after awhile. (I am going to admit ..I am a sushi purist and I do not like truffle or fried garlic or onion on my raw fish. If you like it, you will love what they do here.) The rolls were very good. I did like how you had both the usual wasabi and a special wasabi as well. All of the appetizers were perfectly seasoned with no need for soy sauce. I did add wasabi here and there though. I found the specialty dishes were sauce heavy and crunchy bjt heavy. The sauces were delicious but they are distracting from the fish. The crunchy alliums are always distracting from fish quality. This is the sushi purist in me speaking here but is why I was lukewarm. Would love to have tried dessert but my other diner friends were ready to leave. A yuzu cheesecake and matcha affogato do sound like something I would have definitely loved. Prices are as you'd expect for LJ sushi restaurant. One more thing, small but important, the seats are really uncomfortable. After 30 min I was fidgeting because I couldn't get comfortable. Really nice night out but nothing memorable. I just didn't get that warm and fuzzy experience or that omg fabulous sushi experience. But they are brand new and they have a ton of potential and I am hoping they thrive. All in all, a nice night out with very good food and great service. I hope it does well because LJ needs more good sushi bars. read more

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Super impressed with this new sushi spot in La Jolla. Being from Seattle we get GREAT sushi so I wasn't so sure what to expect when we pulled up to this spot in a mini strip mall. It surpassed all my expectations and could easily rival some great sushi spots in Seattle. I am so glad we decided to come here. The service was excellent and we even got a few bonus pieces on the house! We look forward to coming back again soon! read more

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

Tried a lot of things from the menu here. Enjoyed most of them. Biggest pros: Most of the specialties on the menu are really good. The yellow tail in shiro-ponzu is 10/10. The toro and uni tacos (pic included) taste amazing. I enjoyed the salmon baguette. Their yuzu cheesecake is insanely good. Constructive feedback: The nigiri is good and the fish is fresh but overall doesn't hit as hard as some of the high end competitors. Some of the toppings on the nigiri are overpowering, like on the sweet shrimp. Some slight differences in prep could bring it up to par. Also I would have preferred the salmon baguette to be toasted on both sides. read more

Takaramono Sushi - Taco - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I wanted to treat myself for finishing another week at work. This place wasn't busy but I heard it gets very busy on weekend nights. I met a foodie couple who was so pleasant to chat with. Id come here again for ambiance, food and service. I really like the uni pasta, it was delectable and then I gitt their sushi which was like a really fancy version of a rainbow roll. They used real crab. Mmm. LA JOLLA In: Snowcrab, Avo / Top: Bluefin Belly, Salmon Belly, Yellowtail Belly, Jumbo Scallop, Jumbo Shrimp, Avo $28 Open air. Decent parking. read more

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My husband and I had the best lunch at Takaramono Sushi. The service was impeccable -- prompt, friendly, and attentive. We started with the edamame and enjoyed the spicy seasoning and crunch onions on top. We both had the chef's choice nigiri and loved each of the eight pieces. Flavorful, fresh, and delicious! We finished with the yuzu cheesecake (topped with housemade strawberry sauce) and it was so tasty. We will definitely be back! read more

Takaramono Sushi - Yuzu cheesecake - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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