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    Uncle Tetsu

    4.5 (309 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    UNCLE TETSU ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Uncle Tetsu

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    Ube Cheesecake
    Diana L.

    Small but clean. I've only gotten desserts to take home. They have always been fresh and moist. The ube is yum! Fast service, cute custom bags.

    bag
    Anthony D.

    Stopped by Uncle Tetsu to pick up a box of Original fluffy Cheese Cake. This tiny bakery serves airy, soufflé-like Japanese cheesecakes in flavors like pandan coconut, burnt Basque, and black sesame, plus treats like ube cookies and cheese tarts. Their desserts are soft, lightly sweet, and delicious. The shop is small and mostly grab-and-go, but the quick service and standout flavors make it worth stopping by.

    black sesame cheesecake, Burnt Basque Cheesecake
    Sharon H.

    The black sesame cheesecake had an odd taste. Good black sesame flavor and fluffy texture but somehow the mixture between cheese and black sesame made it taste strange. The basque cheesecake was on the sweeter end but still really good. Everyone preferred the basque cheesecake over the black sesame cheesecake.

    Outside the store with my cheesecake purchase.
    Vince B.

    This is a review for my visit back in March of this year. I was coming out of the Vinh Hoa Hong after buying some winter herbal essentials when I chanced upon this small shop with a big red sign and a cute Japanese drawing of a bespectacled balding man. A "Now Open" banner invitingly waves at me together with the aroma of freshly baked cheesecake. How could I resist? I allowed my desires take over and ordered a Burnt Basque, took it back to my car and ate a small slice. Beneath that gorgeous burnt exterior lies a creamy, custard-like interior that's almost impossibly rich and decadent. This indulgent dessert will pair perfectly with whatever I'm having for dinner" I thought. If you love cheesecake, you gotta try how the Japanese make theirs, it will make a fan out of you!

    Cookies
    David Z.

    Came here to get a cheesecake and a cookie. The inside is very small and has no seating. You order at the counter and get your food immediately. Love their airy cheesecakes. Always a treat.

    Very affordable
    Susie T.

    This place is very small inside and had no chairs. Quick service and simple. I wanted to try the pandan coconut and im glad I got it! The fluffiest and softest cake ever! Its like a souffle not a cheesecake. For me, I much prefer an American original cheesecake made with Philadelphia cream cheese. This pandan coconut cake was one of the best cakes I've had! Its semi sweet leaning towards bland side but with the shaved coconut, it added the sweetness it needed! A marvelous cake!!! Also for a slice its only 11-16g of carbs. Worth 14$. I also got the ube cookies. This was a bit too sweet for me. I only took a bite of that. I can never have too much of sweets. My sugar will spike so high. Since I don't take insulin or medications for my diabetes bc I've kept it under control through water fasting/exercise/0 carb life style, this cake is of the lesser evil and I appreciate it! I could have eaten the entire cake! But self control! Hehe Will be coming again next month. I can only cheat once every two weeks and next week im at my third home and love, vegas! so I have to save my cheat days for that! Lol! I'll be back to uncle tetsu for sure!

    Tim T.

    Awesome San Diego got an Uncle Tetsu - they have amazing fluffy Japanese cheesecakes in a variety of flavors like pandan-coconut, ube, strawberry, chocolate, coffee, cookies and cream, and more, and special burnt basque cheesecakes (in normal and cookies and cream flavors) that have caramelized tops and custard centers flavored like vanilla or lemon. Moreover, they sell smaller Hokkaido specialty cheese tarts - double-baked crusts with cheese mousse inside - in original, chocolate, matcha and ube flavors as well as cookies in matcha, ube and ube crumble flavors. Prompt and attentive service, especially if you order ahead on the site or app, and cozy interior where you can purchase a variety of beverages (designed for just pick up, and there is a convenient parking spot out front where you can park to pick up the goods). Most highly recommended!

    Three G.

    My partner and I have been on a pandan hunt for MONTHS. When we saw there was a bakery nearby where we were staying in SD, we had to stop by! We got the pandan cheesecake for $14. It didn't taste like cheesecake to me, it was more spongy like a flour cake. It was also topped with coconut flakes, which aren't my favorite but this place still hit the spot.

    Rohith V.

    Quick service and a no-frills bakery setup. They're known for their light and airy Japanese-style cheesecakes, and they absolutely live up to the hype. Very different from your classic American cream cheese-heavy cheesecake -- these are incredibly soft, fluffy, and almost feel like you're cutting into a warm soufflé. Such an easy, delicious treat. Highly recommend this place!

    Vanessa D.

    Clean store, walk up counter to order to go. We were greeted immediately and the man helping us was extremely patient since we had no idea what we wanted. The cheesecake was not as creamy as I had expected. The plain cheesecake was very similar to a sponge or angel food cake. The 'burnt' cheesecake was a little more creamy. Both were good. The tarts were tasty and the cookies were very cake-like and did not have as much flavor as I had hoped. Still worth trying though!

    Dollyrose V.

    My cousin was in town, so of course we had to do a mini foodie tour. We passed by this place and my cousin "YELPED" in joy. According to her, it is quite tasty. The place was not busy. It is a very small storefront. What I did like is that it was very clean. I am not sure if it is because it's new but anyhow it was clean and no obnoxious odors noted. The cashier was pretty much indifferent. It was actually kind of hard to get her to smile. It's OK their products speak volumes over their customer service. We opted for one of their individual sized cheesecakes and some Ube crumble cookies. Since it's the new year, we were sharing you know for weight loss purposes (wink). Phenomenal! I would give them five out of five stars, but the pricing seemed ridiculous for the portions.

    Mango cheesecake
    Agnes P.

    The softest fluffiest cheesecakes! Tried their mango seasonal cheesecake and it didn't disappoint, perfect amount of sweetness and still airy and light. Easy parking in the lot out front. Everyone was super kind and gave good tips on how to store and reheat. Will be back!

    Panda Coconut  Strawberry  Ube
    Jocelyn P.

    Free samples Delicious products Very sweet customer service Parking was atrocious but it was worth it Try the strawberry

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    5 months ago

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    13 days ago

    Ube tart is my fave! So rich and delicious. Also ordered matcha and taro/ube cheesecake. All are good. Staff and restaurant also great

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    6 months ago

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    5 months ago

    The cakes were sooo good! Service was very quick and the servers were nice. Cute small shop

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Uncle Tetsu

    I'm allergic to peanut, tree nuts, and sesame. Do any of your items contain these ingredients?

    How long do they last? Is it smart to buy ahead two days?

    I had them the day after and they were not as fresh. The third day was meh. It’s definitely better the day off.

    Does it jiggle?!?

    Not really...I think that may be when it's fresh from the oven but these have settled.

    Can you order ahead for pick up?

    Yes !! But they do have it ready already and you can pick what you want

    Can we order large orders pre sliced?

    I dont think they preslice but i have ordered 10 cakes at 1 time no problem.

    Will this location sell cheese tarts in the future too?

    Yes! We will be bringing our other flavors and cheese tarts to this location.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Extraordinary Desserts

    Extraordinary Desserts

    4.0
    (9.2k reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $$$

    Memorial Day 2026 commenced with the most amazing dessert I'd never imagine ordering. Before the…read moredessert, the gentleman that rang me up, and the lady packing the desserts (apologies for not getting names) provided exceptional service. My name was spelled properly, a short conversation reassured my dessert choice, and as I walked up to retrieve my dessert, the lady met me halfway with a smile (thank you for wrapping so it didn't fall over). The smallest of gestures and niceties are what make leaving the house worth it. GIANDUIA. This cake is nothing you can be prepared for, yet everything you need without setting expectations. The boysenberry was the perfect separation for the waves of chocolate and the subtle crunch of the hazelnut toffee type of layer on the very top. The chocolate mousse was the exact mouth feel needed to separate the rich layers of chocolate cake. I saw, I conquered, and I was yet again impressed by what Extraordinary Desserts so purposefully and gracefully offered. Thank you for healing a bit of my soul I didn't realize was waiting to be healed.

    We sat at the bar while we waited for our orders. Served fast and it was so nice that it wasn't…read morecrowded but of course due to it being a weeknight. The parking was a bit tough, but luckily I found a spot not that far away. Overall, you get wonderful customer service here! Thank you Extraordinary Desserts for making our visit enjoyable!!

    Photos
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    Chocolate lemon bon bon

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    Chocolate lemon bon bon
    Pappalecco

    Pappalecco

    4.3
    (3.1k reviews)
    7.1 mi
    $

    A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and…read morepaninis. My friends and I were just looking to get a coffee in Little Italy, but when we walked in and saw all the delicious treats we had to try something else as well. I ordered a latte and neglected to tell them it was for here so I was given a paper cup, but they give real cups if you ask. The latte was good, and my friend bought a kitchen sink type cookie with chocolate, coconut, and macadamia nuts. It was warm and gooey good! Another friend tried the gelato and said it was very good. There are a few tables inside and tables out in front outside. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather. The decor and tables definitely gives you an old school Italian neighborhood vibe with Italian markets right next door. If I am in the neighborhood again, I would definitely come back here to try the gelato and/or a piece of an excellent looking lemon pie bar I spotted.

    If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it…read more They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Soup Tomato.
    Soup Tomato.
    A pathetic attempt at a $10 cannoli

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    A pathetic attempt at a $10 cannoli
    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$

    Went on Memorial weekend and was surprised how quickly we got seated. Waitress was nice and warned…read moreus the kitchen was backed up but honestly we didn't wait long. We ordered a calamari (10/10), lasagna (10/10), Penne Quattro Formaggi (7/10) and Fusilli Genovese (11/10). The Formaggi was a little too rich for me... but my son loved it. We will definitely be back!!

    Came here for lunch on a Saturday mainly because my husband just really wanted some gelato…read moreafterwards Lunch-- 3 stars Gelato - 0 stars Service - 3 stars Price - 4 stars my husband got some sort of fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, I got a Italian sandwich, and my best friend got a woodfired margarita pizza. Pizza was good, but soggy in the middle. The pasta was good, no complaints there. The sandwich was very lacking in the meat department... It was basically a bread and arugula sandwich. Had very low expectations for the gelato to begin with seeing as the colors were extremely unnatural and the way it was heaped was a clear indication to me that it is not legitimate gelato and unfortunately, I was proven very right. I got the strawberry so that my toddler could have a few few bites and it was so unnatural and weird tasting that she didn't even want any... And if that doesn't say something! My husband got the coffee flavor and he literally took three bites and threw it away as well. I will say, though, on the food front, the prices are reasonable here all things considered, but maybe stick with pasta... based on everything As a whole though, you can likely get a much more legitimate Italian meal somewhere else in the area, but it will probably cost you more.

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    Cute restaurant in little Italy
    Cute restaurant in little Italy
    Fusilli Genovese
    Fusilli Genovese
    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

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    Nibble Chocolate

    Nibble Chocolate

    4.6
    (74 reviews)
    7.1 mi
    $

    Stumbled upon Nibble Chocolate and I'm so glad I did. Ambience is sweet and cozy. It's a cute…read morelittle shop that feels like a hidden gem, especially if you're someone who appreciates good quality chocolate. They have a great variety to choose from, whether you're into milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even non dairy options. I also love that they offer chocolate drinks and coffee, so it's easy to turn a quick stop into a little treat moment. I tried the peanut butter dates and they were so good. Smooth, rich, and just the right size when you want something sweet without going overboard. I also had a dark chocolate truffle and that one was just as good. You can really taste the quality. Customer service was a highlight. The guy helping me was super personable, gave great suggestions for drinks, and was genuinely kind, which always makes the experience better. Honestly, I'm just happy I found a chocolate spot within walking distance. Definitely worth stopping by if you're craving something sweet but still want it to feel a little elevated.

    I don't usually seek out vegan products, but Nibble chocolate is a Bean to bar chocolate shop in…read morelittle Italy in San Diego with single origin chocolates. I sampled chocolate from Peru, Madagascar, and Kenya, and they all had unique fruity characteristics. Because they're vegan, so they use oat milk for their chocolate instead of dairy. My wife and I also wanted some drinks while we were here. I had a hot chocolate. My wife had hers with espresso shots. Good espresso in pure chocolate will never not be good. They are family owned and they only add chocolate, sugar, and oat milk to make their bars. Overall, this was a fun place to check out at Little Italy, and they also had a stall at the Farmer's Market.

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    Nibble Chocolate
    Nibble Chocolate
    Nibble Chocolate

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    Uncle Tetsu - bakeries - Updated June 2026

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