Tropical roll and zama-tini was good! Enjoyed the live performances, great vibes, and nice decor! Good spot for GNO or date night!

Amazing meal and Giuseppe was amazing! Food was so fresh! Loved the carpaccio and branzino! Will not disappoint read more

Fantastic experience! David was the best server! Food is excellent! Will be back again!

Had a really good experience at Zama! The atmosphere and decor are definitely one of the highlights. We can here to celebrate a birhtday and the space has such a fun, unique vibe and feels perfect for a night out in the Gaslamp. The food and drinks were both really good, and the service was friendly and helpful throughout our visit. Between the ambiance, food, and overall experience, we really enjoyed ourselves and would definitely come back! read more

We visited Zama on a Saturday evening before a concert at Petco. We arrived shortly after the 5pm opening for a 5:15 reservation, and were one of the first parties seated indoors after getting through a short queue. The hostess seemed to be working quickly , and I saw some confusion arise as she directed people to a table without actually being walked over. Our waitress Solange was wonderful, and she greeted us soon after sitting. We got our first round of drinks and appetizer quickly, and we put in our entrees early as well. We opted for sushi but decided not to over-order for the possibility of dessert. By about 5:45; we decided to order a second round of drinks and sashimi instead of dessert. It was at this time, everything started to fall apart. We suddenly noticed that every table in the restaurant was full, and it got loud. Bussers and waiters were rushing out of the kitchen, plates were being brought to the wrong tables. Two tables over, one half of a couple didn't get her entree at all. After 15 min, we had gotten our drinks but no sashimi. Our waitress noticed our issue (and the adjacent one) and went to look into it. More plates came rushing out of the kitchen, everyone seemed very stressed. Another 20 min passed, no sashimi. Finally Solange offered to cancel if we didn't want to wait any further, and we did. We paid and left by 6:20pm. During the time we waited, we noticed that the first two tables that had been sat had finished, and their plates bussed. The manager came out of the kitchen and seemed annoyed that these two tables hadn't been re-sat, and he gestured to the hostess to seat more people. This is clearly a managerial issue, not a staff issue. The kitchen and bar were completely backed up in less than an hour from opening because too many reservations had been filled in that first seating. Staff seemed overwhelmed. It's a shame - everything tasted great, but we left very disappointed that things fell apart on the latter half of the meal. read more

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The interior is definitely the highlight of this place -- beautiful, stylish, and very unique. The presentation of the dishes was also impressive. Unfortunately, the food itself was disappointing. We tried several different dishes, and almost everything was surprisingly bland and lacked flavor. Everything looked much better than it tasted. It's a nice place visually and definitely has an atmosphere, but food is still the most important part of a restaurant experience for me. Based on the food alone, I don't think I would come back. read more

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Decor wise, this place is a straight up vibe. Food wise, it's kind of limited and just okay. The food was okay, but it's expensive and the portions are small. The service was super mid. They brought out everyone's food out at a different time which is crazy because the restaurant was empty. Two of our party ordered sushi rolls and one came out immediately and the other was last. Pretty much everyone was done by the time it came. I ordered the cauliflower which was really good, but $36 for a head of cauliflower is insane. It's was a good experience but I would not go back. Too expensive, small portions, and mediocre service. read more

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This restaurant was such a fun Tulum vibe. You definitely want to dress up and look hot. The service is good. The food was fantastic. It's a Japanese/mexican fusion. We can't wait to go back and try more items on the menu. read more

Zama is a fun vibe! The restaurant is decorated nicely and is a great place for celebrating. The food was okay, but they went above and beyond to make our bachelorette dinner special. The personalized menus & sparklers were so fun! read more

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I would've loved to give this place a 5 but I'm giving it a 4 based on personal preference to be fair. The ambiance is really dope. It feels like you walked right into a jungle with tables and a bar. lol. 10/10 for decor and atmosphere. The customer service is really good too. Drinks were okay. Nothing to brag about. However, the lamb chops I had were fire. The branzino was also good but they had some ube flavored purè on the side that seemed as tho it should not have been there. The braised short ribs were also really good. Now here's where the 4-star rating comes from. It is extremely loud. At least for the night we went. They was a man walking around playing a tumbadora (Congo drum) and the music got really loud which made it hard to talk to one another. We were not fans, because at that point it felt more like a club than a restaurant. However, if that is your thing, this is a 5-star experience for sure. read more

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We celebrated a birthday dinner here, and a great time. One of the few restaurants that stay open later. The food was impressive. Every single sushi roll was delicious, as well as the lamb chops. The bar had every cocktail possible. Service was alright, but they were busy so understandable. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a nice dinner out in SD. read more

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I was here for an early dinner, mainly due to the social media aesthetics of the place. As we were here early, the place was pretty empty. We chose to sit outside, which was a great choice because there was a very strong toilet/funky smell inside. Taking off one star for the off putting smell. The service was nice, the menu had lots of fusion options. We got a little bit a lot of appetizers and split a main. Everything tasted great, it also looked great. The drinks were also delicious. I'd come here back for happy hour for a few drinks. read more

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The ambiance is very cool, jungle vibes and great music in there. We went on a Thursday when the Padres are in town, so parking was challenging but we found parking a few blocks away. Just be aware of the streets being closed for events before booking! My mistake. The food was overall delicious, but the timing of service was weirdly paced. Drinks didn't get refilled for a long time, they tried to take our menus away when we hadn't ordered mains yet, etc. The best thing was the Latin Chicken for sure. They ran out of desserts and it wasn't a super busy night. read more

Zama San Diego - Crispy Roll was tasty! - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Looking for dinner. Host said no wait and seated is immediately. Place was lively. Loud music and people out to have a good time. Meme looked decent and would have liked to have tried the food - but my friend and I ended up getting up and walking out. The host was friendly and nice. Beyond that the rest of the front of house sucked and should be trained in at the least being friendly and acknowledging guests. But they didn't. One even greeted and served water to a table next to us who was seated after us. Server made eye contact but didn't even greet us nor say one word. So we said the hell with this place, walked out and left. This place made my list of never going to try because when the FOH staff doesn't know the basics of providing service - won't be enjoying the food when that's on the back of my mind. Ended up elsewhere where the staff was friendly, and even took the time to tell us he'd be right with us as they were busy. read more

Hmmm this place you come to basically just for IG posts and hype. The food is mid. I asked for a new york steak medium rare and it came out medium. (I knew this would happen based on the vibe of the place, and I wanted medium not medium well, so this was a good move lmao). The service is good. The vibe is very loud and clubby. Like every hour a dude with a drum comes around and drums lol. Food is nothing special. Steak didn't have much flavor. It needed like a sauce or something. Or just a better seasoning. I also ordered the street corn/mushrooms. These were tasty up until I found a black hair in my food. Definitely wasn't mine because I'm blonde. Grossed me out a bit but I was on a table with 10 other people and didn't want to make it a big deal. I would not come here again. It's a one and done for me. read more

Zama San Diego - New york steak - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

David is the best waiter ever!!! We had a great time celebrating my friend's bachelorette

Style over substance. Food was just OK and service was decent, on a packed Saturday night. You're paying for the ambiance and proximity to a SD night life. If I were ever to return, I'll consider the non-sushi options next time around. read more

I came here to try out the Happy Hour, since it has a pretty impressive HH lineup. I started the meal with a Zama Sangria, which I loved! We also ordered - Spicy Tuna Roll - This was good Calamari - Squid was tender and crisp Bison Burger - I was hesitant at first since I've never had bison, but this was surprisingly juicy and delicious! Truffle Fries - Not a lot of truffle flavoring on the fries as I hoped. I didn't know that the burger also had fries, so in hindsight, I should've ordered just the burger. I didn't order the Nigiri or Sashimi as it looked pricey to me for happy hour. Staff were friendly and helpful with explaining the menu. The decor is fun, with the tropical, dark, moody ambiance. I've been here for restaurant week and for dinner but I forgot to drop a review when I went! I definitely would come back again to try other HH items. read more

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Such a VIBE and so fun! Perfect spot for my gf's birthday for a party of 10! The rolls and drinks were all delish. I got the hot pink roll which wasn't as cute and photogenic as everyone else's roll but I think it was the best tasting one. The place is picture perfect for IG and the service was great. Would definitely come back, especially since I felt like I was in Vegas because at one point they gave everyone in the restaurant a sparkler and turned down the lights...what an awesome experience! read more

Zama San Diego - Beef empanadas - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Perfect for a girls' night out! The ambiance is beautiful--stylish, lively, and the perfect mix of upscale and fun. It's a great place to relax, catch up, and enjoy the evening without feeling rushed. The atmosphere alone is worth the visit, ideal for cocktails, dinner, and photos. Friendly, welcoming staff made it even better. Perfect for birthdays, girls' nights, or just unwinding--I'll definitely be back! read more

David is the best he is so good you'll have a good time best believe get the shrimp!!!

***Disappointing Experience*** Great Atmosphere, !!!!Very Poor Food!!! We came here because the restaurant looked like it had a great vibe. The music, lighting, and overall atmosphere were exactly what we were looking for, so we were excited to try it. Unfortunately, the food was one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences we've had. We ordered several dishes to share between four people. The biggest issue was the filet mignon. It had a sour, putrid taste that genuinely made us question whether the meat had gone bad or wasn't fresh. None of us could eat it because the flavor was so off. The Wagyu short rib was also extremely dry and lacked the tenderness you'd expect from a premium cut of meat. The beef empanadas tasted like they had been sitting around and were simply thrown back into the fryer. They were extremely greasy, and we could only finish one of the two. The broccolini was overcooked, and the roasted corn was so burnt that all you could taste was char. We felt bad sending food back because so much had already been ordered, but after mentioning our concerns, the restaurant removed only the filet mignon and roasted corn from the bill. To make matters worse, the next morning everyone in our party of four had upset stomachs, and two of us experienced diarrhea. While we can't say with certainty what caused it, it definitely added to an already disappointing experience. Our server, Solange, was friendly and polite, and we don't blame her for the quality of the food. She seemed fairly new and didn't check on our table very often. Considering the restaurant automatically adds a 3.95% service charge, we expected a higher level of service. Overall, the atmosphere was the only highlight. The food quality did not match the prices, and based on our experience, we wouldn't return or recommend eating here. We hope this was just an off night, but it was disappointing enough that others should know what we experienced. read more

Service was pretty decent on a busy night while sitting at the bar. Steak (3.5/5) Sushi (4/5) Oysters (4/5) Cocktails while festive were a but of a let down. Good but not great for the price. Amazing vibe here though!!! read more

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My wife and I stopped in for happy hour on a Thursday night while staying at the Pendry nearby, certainly couldn't have been more convenient! The place was pretty quiet, maybe another couple or two in the whole restaurant, which made for a relaxed vibe. The food was the real standout. Everything we ordered was excellent -- easily the highlight of the visit. The happy hour menu was solid with decent options and good value. The service, though was mediocre at best. For how slow it was, I would have loved some engagement from our server. A few words about the dishes, maybe a recommendation or two. That kind of attention goes a long way when a spot isn't slammed. The unfortunate moment was watching my drink sit on the bar while the bartender scrolled his phone. Eventually I had to actually ask for it. Not a great look when the restaurant was pretty empty. Service was otherwise quick and nothing went wrong, but when you're one of only a few tables on a slow night, there's real opportunity to make guests feel taken care of. Zama has the bones for a great experience! The food and atmosphere are there but the service needs a little fine tuning. read more

My friend and I get oysters weekly. We make our way around San Diego, searching for the latest hot spots for our favorite delicacy, and we'd consider ourselves fairly well versed in the world of this particular mollusk. With that in mind, we made it a priority to take advantage of National Oyster Day. We originally went to Lionfish in the Gaslamp for their $1 Oyster Day special, but the line was longer than expected. Not wanting to wait only to find out they had run out of oysters, we walked a few doors down to Zama, which was also advertising $1 oysters. Looking back, we probably should have stayed at Lionfish. Now, the décor at Zama was stunning. Deep greens, neon lights, velvet-cushioned pillars, and a quaint sidewalk patio created a beautiful atmosphere. Unfortunately, everything else about the experience had us running for the hills. We weren't the only ones, either. At least three other parties abandoned their tables mid-service while we were there. Our server was fantastic and clearly did his best, but the service overall was incredibly slow. We were seated at 5:30 p.m. and didn't leave until 7:15 p.m. Keep in mind, we had finished our meal and asked for the check for the first time at 6:30 p.m. The calamari was good and came topped with a sweet chili sauce that we enjoyed. We ordered 30 raw oysters in total. Instead of a traditional mignonette, they were served with a thick, sweet brown sauce that was reminiscent of eel sauce. It was interesting for the first couple of oysters, but the flavor became repetitive very quickly. Once we switched to eating the oysters with only lemon, the real problem became apparent. I have never had an oyster whose primary flavor was tap water. Sometimes an oyster loses some of its liquor during handling, and you miss out on that salty brine. It happens. Even then, though, the oyster itself still has flavor. These did not. For the first time in my life, I found myself wanting to put salt on an oyster. Neither lemon nor Tapatío could rescue them. Considering their $1 oyster special runs every Wednesday, this is hardly their first time serving oysters at scale. To be clear, I don't place the blame on our server. He was friendly, hardworking, and appeared to be doing the best he could. The issue seemed to be a lack of support. Throughout the evening, an older gentleman in a suit, whom I can only assume was a manager or owner, was walking around the restaurant relaying guest requests to the server. Instead of assisting with any of the service bottlenecks, he appeared to function primarily as a messenger, informing the server which tables were waiting for menus, drinks, orders, or checks. As the restaurant became busier, it seemed there was only one server covering a growing number of tables, despite several food runners and bussers being on the floor. The result was an increasingly frustrated dining room. We watched guests repeatedly scan the restaurant looking for their server, flag down the hostess for assistance, and in some cases simply give up and leave. One table waited so long to receive their drinks and place their food order that they got up and left altogether. The server didn't realize they were gone until several minutes later when he returned carrying their cocktails. We later saw that same family with Tacos el Gordo cups and to-go plates. Normally, I don't concern myself with how long other diners spend at a restaurant, but when multiple nearby tables are visibly frustrated, it changes the atmosphere for everyone. The experience felt tense rather than enjoyable, and it became impossible not to notice the growing number of dissatisfied guests around us. By 6:30, we had already flagged down our server and asked for the check. By 6:45, we asked a busser to please let our server know we were ready to pay. At 6:56, all of our dishes had been cleared, yet we still had no bill. It wasn't until 7:15, after my friend practically had to plead to pay so we could leave, that we were finally checked out. To add insult to injury, we also realized we had been charged the full $22 for the calamari despite ordering it during happy hour when it was advertised at $11. By that point, after spending nearly 45 minutes trying to pay and leave, we simply didn't have the energy to start another conversation over the bill. It's frustrating because there is a lot of potential here. The space is beautiful, the concept is appealing, and our server was genuinely doing his best under difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, between the painfully slow service and some of the most disappointing oysters we've had in San Diego, this is not a restaurant I would return to or recommend. I hope they can address the service issues and improve the quality of their oyster program, because right now the experience simply does not live up to the setting. read more

I came to Zama for dinner with a group of 10 girls, celebrating 2 of our birthdays, and had the BEST time! We came for the food and ambiance, but had no idea just how fun this place was! Sparklers, a drummer...there were multiple moments where they came out with entertainment, to liven the place up, and it made our experience so much more enjoyable! I also loved the service, and my beef empanadas are amazing. (I'd come back just for those alone!) I can't wait to bring other friends here in the future! :) read more

Zama San Diego - Zama Love Shot - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

I was really looking forward to celebrating my 30th birthday at Zama after seeing all of the videos and social media posts, but unfortunately the experience didn't live up to the hype. We had a reservation for a large group and signed the required contract ahead of time, which we completely understood. Unfortunately, after we submitted our final headcount, three guests became sick with the stomach bug that has been going around and were unable to attend. When we arrived, we let the staff know. At no point did anyone mention we would still be charged the full menu price for those guests. At the end of dinner, we were shocked to see we had been charged $89 per person for all three guests who never came. We politely asked if the manager could make an exception or work with us since no food or drinks had been served to them. Instead, we were met with a very dismissive response. The manager simply said no because we had signed the contract. I understand honoring a contract, and I wasn't asking to walk away from our commitment entirely. A reasonable cancellation fee or partial charge would have made sense. But charging the full $89 per person for guests who were genuinely sick and never stepped foot in the restaurant showed zero empathy or willingness to work with us. Since we paid for those meals, we asked to have all of the unused food and desserts boxed up. When we got back to our hotel, we realized they hadn't even packed everything we had paid for. The custom birthday menus were also underwhelming. Based on the way they were advertised, I expected something a little more special. Instead, they were just standard sheets of paper with a barely visible custom logo. Lastly, the atmosphere wasn't anything like what we saw on social media. The restaurant had low energy and there was very little entertainment, and the overall experience didn't match the marketing that convinced us to book in the first place. The one positive was the food--it was flavorful and enjoyable. But even that wasn't enough to justify the price or make up for the poor customer service. For what we spent, we honestly could have had a much better experience at places like Nobu or Javier's. I don't mind paying for a premium dining experience, but I do expect premium service, and unfortunately that was missing here. read more

Great experience with Danny! I really enjoyed celebrating my birthday here................................

I gave it a one because the food that actually came out of the kitchen that we ordered was good. Service was slow, the drinks were not great, especially the Zama tini. Too sweet and couldn't taste the gin at all. Most of all, my daughter did not get her sushi roll. Either the kitchen messed up or our server never put it in, even though we inquired about it a couple of times. He had no sense of urgency. We all(except my daughter) got our food at different times and I got my side as we were getting up to leave! Not a good experience at all and obviously will never go back. read more

David was our server and he was amazing. Great service amazing human being. Best server in San Diego!

Came here for the famous happy hour (Sunday to Thursday 5-7pm). The HH menu was selected dishes from the main menu but nearly half off, from cocktail, beer, wine, starters, sushi rolls, nigiri and sashimi. The sushi rolls were definitely the highlight of the meal. Do expect some time to go through the menu and/or ask for recommendations (Alex was super helpful walking us through the sushi rolls but also for his personal recommendations! A very friendly gentleman that made sure we were taken care of from the very first second.) Everything was wonderful. Definitely coming back soon and often :) read more

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David was the best server! Oyster shot was amazing! I will be back again . The music and staff were the best !

Booked a reservation for 7:30 checked in and didn't get seated until closer to 8:00. While our group of 8 girls waited, we decided to take advantage of that time to take some group pictures. When I turned around, the host looked at me.. didn't bother to say a word then lead us to our table. Not sure who hired the host but they should definitely reconsider her position. So unfriendly and not welcoming at all. Our server came to check on us shortly after we got seated but we weren't exactly ready to order so she said she would give us a min. Well 1 min turned into another 30 mins or more even after us flagging someone down to get our server. Took forever for us to get our bill as well. Let's just say the overall customer service was terrible. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a jungle like theme. The live music and entertainment was a plus. It's very lively and loud. On the way to the restroom, there's a cute little swing and a flower wall/mirror that you can take pictures at. As a matter of fact, while I was taking a photo the host rudely walked into frame checked herself out in the mirror and walked away without an excuse me or I'm sorry. Rude AF! We ordered quite a few items to share. Food was a disappointment. Worst oyster shooters I have ever had. I mean what oyster?! There was barely even half of one inside the shot glass. Beef tartare tasted like canned tuna with lemon and mayo. Yuck! The steak, the lamb lollipops and the Rolls Royce Roll was the only thing that was decent. The cocktails were good. Not too strong or overly sweet. read more

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I was looking for a cute spot for a fun and yummy dinner. Once I found this place online I didn't have to look any further. Even when you walk up to the restaurant you know you're in for a treat. This place checked all the boxes for me! I loved the vibes and menu and I was just so excited to try this place out. And let me tell you-- it did not disappoint. The entire staff was super friendly, the vibes were immaculate, and the food was delicious. Onto the food! I ordered the Zama Ceviche and Shrimp Al Fuegas to start. OMG talk about bursting with flavor! These apps were delicious, seafood fresh, and I kept going back for more. Then I got the Sexy Pink Roll for my entree. I thought the beets were interesting touch but they were phenomenal on the roll. It's something I thought I never needed but now I cannot live without. The roll was super delicious. The shrimp was fried to perfect and the salmon was like buttery and so soft. I also got the mushrooms on the side and oh my gosh they were scrumptious. Definitely if you're picking a side get them. They were super pepper forward but in a good way, like fresh peppercorn was used on them. Also they were a great texture and super flavorful. I want to give a special shoutout to Anto because she was super attentive and kind. I felt like everytime I needed someone to place an order or just anything she was there and ready to help. The other staff was also super kind and they also gave us all sparklers to kick off a fun night. I also really loved seating setup and it was in such a way that any staff couldn't pass you by without asking if you needed anything. If you're in the area I definitely think you need to check this restaurant out. read more

Zama San Diego - Shrimp Al Fuegas - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

David was a great guy, food was amazing, the vibes are there. He took care of our large party, highly recommend Zama. Ask for David!

Love the tropical house vibes, definitely brought me back to Miami. There's a dj set up where they have night events. I love the decor and color scheme. Definitely can be a fun dress up date night with the girls. Service was good. We had 5 people in our group, and we ended up sharing about 6 dishes which was nice the rolls came out beautifully but it wasn't super filling. Surprisingly the wagyu roll was my favorite. Price point is on the higher side but still can be a fun time. read more

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The food was amazing, vibes were immaculate, and our server Solange was amazing and so attentive!! read more

Zama San Diego - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely terrible. Management is stingy. Tried charging us for soda water off the gun and refused to take it off. After a big scene it was taken off. read more

Russo, was an excellent server! It is a beautiful restaurant, and the food was fantastic! We really loved the lamb and the calamari.

Love this sushi place in Downtown San Diego. Shoutout to Russo as our waiter for the great customer service. The ambiance was very chill and high end even after a padres baseball game! Amazing drinks!! read more

Zama San Diego - Latin American Near Me - San Diego, California