The chefs sashimi special and oysters were extraordinary. Lane and Diego created beautiful plates, exciting flavors and used very fresh fish, Leslie served all our plates in a timely order, with helpful suggestions and smiles, Enjoyed the old style bamboo decor and turtle pond, the rock and roll music were nice old tunes but incongruous with the zen ambiance along with the television.....food still excelled for our 5 stars, the food was art for the eyes and mouth. Enjoy!
(5)
Minnow N.
This is my favorite "nozomi" in san diego county. I think i've been to three other nozomis and although this one is out of the way (really far north) it is delicious and the quality is noticeably better than the other Nozomis. The fish is fresh and seasonal. The atmosphere is cute and welcoming. They even have a TV for my boyfriend to stare at while I eat. The food is delicious... the rolls are different than the other nozomis and, i think, more creative. The prices are different as well... by different, i mean more expensive (than other nozomis). Although it is more expensive, I am willing to pay the extra cash for better quality fish and food. Not only that, they have a good selection of hot teas. The tempura ice cream (deep fried vanilla ice cream) was yummmm!!!!! I highly recommend this place for when youre in the Carlsbad area. Delicious and fresh!
(4)
Tobin L.
I was skeptical since the kitschy setting, which reminds me of 1980s Benihana in NY, makes this place feel a little like a nippon college beer hall. You know, the one where you were coerced into discovering sake bombs and to this day aren't really sure what the food tasted like. In contrast, the sushi at Nozomi was good to VERY good. Salmon was like butter; albacore was good despite the absence of Ponzu; and the rolls were tasty-- we really liked the super creative Twister roll. Ironically, the only disappointment was the Ponzu. All I could taste was... was that soy sauce? Service was friendly, just not remotely Japanese (which typically adds to the dining experience) and a little slow. Been back a few times now. It won't knock your socks off, but Nozomi is consistent enough to score 4.
(4)
Cass L.
The food is expensive but I loved their sushi. I will definitely be back. I'll probably try to make it for happy hour next time.
(5)
Jess B.
Had a very enjoyable experience at Nozomi! We ordered the shashimi sampler and the hula roll, both tasted fresh and would definitely order them again! The layout of the restaurant was super cool...u can find a fun spot at the bar or find a more quiet spot for a nice dinner. AND they have a turtle pond!! :) So I'd say this place was a pleasant surprise and I'll be recommending it to my friends!
(5)
Crystal R.
The ambiance is nice. Felt the food was pretty pricey however it's in Carlsbad. Sushi was ok but nothing memorable. Not objective about not trying them out again, yet neither excited if someone suggested to eat there for dinner again.
(3)
DJ M.
I, I'm sure like some, am all too quick to post a bad review faster than a good one. Admittedly, this review is well past due. Went to Nozomi for my third time tonight, and like the previous visits, I was very pleased with the food. Their Groupon deal is what got me in there the first time and has kept me coming back for more. Hands down one of my favorite sushi places in not only the Carlsbad area, but also San Diego and Oceanside. The food on every visit has always been five stars, and I make it a point to order something different every time to taste all there is to offer. The service has been varied from quickly served with attentiveness, to waiting for quite some time - comparing similar dinner crowds. Nozomi has a nice ambiance, but can get loud with multiple conversations as the place starts to fill up. The menu may seem a little on the pricey side for some, but I think it is justified by the quality and creativity of the food and menu. I can't wait to have family and friends visit so I can treat them to Nozomi.
(4)
T2 D.
We went here for our 10 year anniversary and what a treat! Great service, amazing sushi. We had about 6 dishes...wow, I was very full and it was just a memorable experience.
(5)
denni d.
Ate at Nozomi last night and was VERY disappointed! The sushi was absolutely tasteless, the ramen was also not very flavorful but the sushi - both the specialty roll and spicy tuna roll - were bland and unsatisfying. I can't say the fish wasn't fresh because it wasn't fishy, but rather the ingredients in total lacked flavor. I've frequented Nozomi a few times but will not return.
Delicious sushi and great service! Our chef was a really cool guy who told us about the home made spice company he was starting and even let us try a little, which was incredible. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Kelly H.
Dirty kitchen, noisy environment, bad service. One server provide service for over 10 tables. Besides, food taste not fresh, especially salmon roe. Went to toilet several times after ate. :( bad!
(1)
Richard C.
They have really great sushi here..been a long term client. I ordered a dish tonight that was the worst dish I have had in a very very long time. Never order the sukiyaki !! Stick with sushi. The sukiyaki beef ..which is the signature ingredient.. was done completely wrong. They served it in large very tough beef cubes... Instead of the regular way using paper thin large strips.. that makes the texture. ..Very tender. When I got the bill... I paid $20 for this crap....even though I normally get sukiyaki for only $10 at Ichiro on Convoy st. Or $15 for 10 times the beef that came with it here. The portion was also about half the size..so I feel really disappointed at one my favorite sushi places. Stick to sushi. .fellas. take the sukiyaki off the menu...or fix it...is my suggestion.
(2)
Kara D.
Probably some of the best sushi I have had in San Diego. It's definitely expensive, but after eating it, you won't mind the cost.
(5)
Andrew J.
sushi was alright, could of been better. the ambiance wasnt that good, the music made me feel like i was in a club.
(3)
Denise C.
Walk in, empty, follow the signs to be seated. California rolls didn't taste fresh as their rice is dry and blah. The dessert was even worse. My friend had the big eye tuna he said it was fresh. Overall, I don't recommend this place. Terrible service.
(2)
Scott M.
Incredible dinner at the hands of our master sushi chef Diego, the most Japanese Brazilian dude I've ever met...before getting to the food, the atmosphere and attitudes totally lend to an awesome, fun evening. The place wasn't packed but was probably 75% filled with people almost as incredible as we are, so it's a great mix. The food was delicious. The fish was fresh and you could taste and feel the subtle differences between different types in the Protein roll, though they all went together perfectly. Loved the Taste of Nozomi, which had a sample of so many different stomach treats, my tongue was overwhelmed with awesomeness....the Nozomi sashimi salad was amazing too...I doubt anything wouldn't be incredible here.... This is our new favorite sushi place in town...yum factor five.
(5)
Tram P.
Excellent, great quality and fresh traditional sushi! No fluff here! Very straightforward rolls. Delicious! Came here for my birthday with a group of 22. We had our own room and overall good experience. I would just knock one star only due to slow service. Our server seemed really flustered and had a hard time splitting our checks. The owner did come by to say Hi. Cool guy! Awesome food Art!
(4)
Wesley C.
This place was great! Easy access right off the Frwy, plenty of parking they have their own parking lot. They have an indoor turtle pond which was very tranquil. Most important of all the food was tasty, waitress was very attentive. My family and friend had a great time. This place is a must visit.
(5)
Roger L.
The service was slow. Our martinis took 15 minutes to make. I guess the bartender must have been MIA because we watched our server painfully measure out the "supposed ingredients". They tasted like crap so we didn't finish them. The miso soup was super salty. The sushi rolls were pretty good, but overpriced.
(3)
Kyle K.
This place is great! Good food and service. I will be back here a lot. Sushi was the best I've had anywhere in the area.
(5)
Michelle P.
Decent sushi, but definitely overpriced for what you get. Rolls on average seem to be around 17$ and they all seem to be deep fried, or doused with spicy mayo or swimming in those crunch things . The 2 stars are for the nozomi sashimi salad, which is probably the only reason i go there. Its a good amount of fish, which all the times ive ordered it had been pretty fresh. The sushi chefs are always friendly when you sit at the sushi bar. The rest of the staff on the other hand is hit or miss. There is an older woman ( i forgot her name) and she is the sweetest and most helpful worker there. However, when i went there today it was just sort of a clusterfuck. Our rolls came out before our edamame and as we were finishing up the calamari finally came. (Really weird order of food) (By the way, the calamari is NOT GOOD.. pretty much fried batter in the shape of onion rings) Our waitress never came to our table again, we were forced to ask the passing hostess for our bill. Finally after we pay for our bill, the waitress comes back and informs us that they under charged us for a beer. So she went ahead and charged us for it... which is totally fine, except she charged us incorrectly and actually charged us more than a beer. Lol, but we were so over waiting we just paid for the overcharge. In summation Pro: Nozomi sashimi salad One nice waitress (i really wish i rememebered her name so i can give her the credit thats due) Friendly sushi chefs Big space Cons: Overpriced Really slow service (and i mean reallllllly slow) Lackluster food
(2)
Cheng T.
I have always thought San Diego area have good Japanese food but this one is obviously not one of them. Over priced and under quality. Fourteen dollar for a bowl of bland taste ramen and it only have few strings of noodle. We ordered a tuna salad and it came at the end of the meal! We will never return.
(1)
Coulter T.
Best sushi in town. Love to come hear and relax with a hot sake and beer. Oh yea and the sushi is crazy! So delicious!!! The Kai roll is my favorite and the twister is a close second. You have to try the hamachi Kama! All rolls are delicious and Antonio and Diego are amazing chefs!
(5)
Samantha R.
This place is growing on me. I believe there are new owners. The sushi is delish. Fresh and innovative. We enjoy upstairs sushi bar atmosphere. Could be contender for best sushi in cbad?!
(4)
Jordan D.
One of my favorite sushi spots in Cali. My favorite rolls are the pancho and the afterburner rolls. Pretty legit sushi bar. You can sit at the sushi bar or they have regular tables. Relaxed environment. Nothing fancy just good sushi.
(4)
Sum Dum Gai S.
Cool little place a bit outside the village. The interior upstairs is nice and the services was attentive and polite. The food was decent. There's a little pond downstairs (indoors) with many small turtles which distracted/entertained the kids. A but pricier than the typically Japanese establishment.
(4)
Marie H.
Sushi was ok, service was friendly but very absent-minded. Unless you have a 90 minute+ lunch hour, I wouldn't bother with this place because your meal will take that long even if you are one of the only people in there.
(2)
Angie L.
The food here has always been great but the service has gone to shit. Our server forgot over half of our food that was written on our paper ticket and when we addressed her about it she insincerely said "oh I'm sorry did you want me to take that off of your order?" Um.. No.. We came to eat...? We watched her stand around chatting and have a drink with the chefs for awhile. It's a party of 3 and there's 2 other tables of finished people not being served next to us. On a Tuesday. It also took her over 30 minutes to check on us after bringing just the two rolls. Get your servers up to the level of your food, Nozomi.
(3)
Ron G.
The place has an appealing appearance but overall the experience was "meh". The service was the worst part. Our waitress seemed to be completely inexperienced, failing that she was incompetent. Any question we had she had to ask another waitress and she tended to get lost (disappear for long periods of time). The other waitress spent virtually the entire time talking to two guys at another table. So I doubt the other diners were having a better experience. Of course bad services does not help the food taste better. We had sushi and sashimi - overall the quality was above average but not by much. Nowhere near the quality we get at our own spots at home. And unfortunately there was a smell of a sewer downstairs. We would not visit again. Searching for something positive, toward the end of our meal a sushi chef delivered some of our items (remember what I said about the waitress disappearing?). The chef seemed more friendly and competent.
(3)
Krystal B.
Went for a friend's birthday. I don't eat sushi, but the steak teriyaki and miso soup were delicious. Great ambiance, very quaint, and the staff is extremely friendly. The turtle pond is awesome!! I had a great time and will definitely be back when I'm in the area.
(5)
Jana N.
Everything we had was delicious! You MUST ask for the ceviche roll. It's not on the menu, but the chef will make it for you. We also had the Hula Roll; it just bursts with flavor. If you are going to get edamame, you need to get it with the garlic sauce. Their edamame has moved to #1 on my list. If I had any complaint, I would say the rolls are TOO big. I would prefer to be able to get a few rolls when we go out, but we couldn't even finish the two. But that's better than saying there wasn't enough! Only wish I lived closer...
(5)
Kelsi I.
Great sushi! And they have pretty awesome happy hour deals. I love their pancho roll and it's half off during happy hour! The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because I wish the miso soup was complimentary. Overall great restaurant with nice decor and atmosphere. Definitely recommend for sushi in North County!
(4)
D G.
Good decorations. Decent ambiance. Good variety. Decent vegetarian options. Friendly staff.
(4)
Tracy p.
I don't know where to begin to share how bad the food is here. If you've truly eaten good sushi before you would know that the sushi here is far from good. Let's start first with the basic California Roll. The first thing that came to mind was that it tasted like the California Rolls from Costco. The rolls were unevenly cut, and the rice and crab mixture was soggy. We also ordered the beef Ramen soup. Boy, this set the record for the worst Ramen I've ever tried. Their version of beef ramen is to throw in two very thick and very fatty "steaks" of beef. It was so hard to eat beef that thick using chopsticks. I actually just took two bites then spit it out because the beef had so much fat and grizzle. I ended up just fishing out the noodles and egg, then threw away the rest. Stay clear from the Ceviche roll. It seemed like they just chopped up a variety of leftover pieces of fish, squeezed in some lime and called it ceviche. The fish here tasted fishy and did not seem fresh. Also, if you have any type of food sensitivity (e.g. Gluten allergy) and you want to make a request for gluten free rolls then be ready to pay $4 extra per order. It doesn't really take much to replace regular soy sauce with gluten free soy as the seasoning. Talk about poor customer service!! Every restaurant that I have ever eaten at have been more than happy to accommodate their customers free of charge because they want repeat business, however, not here! We paid $25 for the Ceviche roll, only ate one piece and left the remainder behind. The nice waiter asked if we wanted to box it up but we knew we would just throw it out so we said NO. Our only conclusion is that the bar for sushi must be VERY low in the Carlsbad area, and that's why Nozomi's Yelp rating is high. Unfortunately, we only came to this conclusion $120 later when it was too late. Better luck next time!!!
(1)
Anh ..
Ownership changed. Average at best now. Sad face.
(3)
Dana H.
Came in for an impromptu date night and we'll definitely be back. Decor, service and sushi were all equally impressive. We ordered the jalapeño poppers for a starter. Presentation and taste were spot on. For rolls we opted for the Twister, a Lemon Cilantro and a Pancho. They were all fresh and full of vibrant flavors. Service was excellent; friendly and fast.
(5)
Alex P.
First time here. The food was pretty good, not the best sushi I've ever had but still great. Server was very accommodating. The house hot sake was good and cheap. Had the rainbow roll, fish was good and buttery. Had a few pieces of some others rolls and were also good. The place is big, clean and looks nice. The lower lights are a nice touch. Would go again. (Also Thai place attached to the same building is quit good)
(4)
Patrick D.
Over priced, bad service, noisy environment, you name it. We'll never come again. We had some nigiris and rolls and the total was around $35 per person. I don't know why this is a 4 star restaurant. There are plenty of good sushi restaurants around here.
(1)
Chrissie O.
My last dinner in San Diego with my cousins. I miss San Diego. I moved last Sunday to SF and I miss home. Anyways, we decided to meet in Carlsbad because one of my cousins was coming from orange county. Sushi is always a good choice for us cousins! We love it! At first I thought the restaurant was closed. I was so confused! The bottom half was completely empty. We found the door and it said to go up so we did and there were people up there!! I was happy we found the restaurant!! Everything on the menu sounded delicious. There is a lot to choose from. Only one cousin came on time so we decided to have tapas first. They have seperate sections for different types of tapas. Tapas from the land, sea, and speciality tapas. My favorite was creamy shrimp and lobster. It's a good starter especially when you are waiting. We ordered the jalapeno poppers as well and those were very spicy. It has a good kick! The sushi we ordered was da bomb dynamite, and hula roll. I got to try the protein roll as well when another cousin came. All were amazing. I was surprised how good the protein roll was. Rice-less roll sounds interesting and not my first choice but it was definitely a favorite of the ones I tried. Da bomb roll is good for people who don't really like raw. Hula was a good sweet roll. Definitely a great spot in Carlsbad for sushi. By the way they have a pond on the bottom floor and don't pick up the turtles. There is a really tiny sign which my cousin didn't read! whoops!
(4)
Leslie A.
Ok people....seriously the BEST sushi I have ever had! And I LOVE sushi....so I know..lol We will be back...my boys tried sushi for the first time & they even loved it. Boys loved the Dream Roll, the noodles & the creamy shrimp & lobster appetizer the best. We had one of everything, pretty much:-)) Love it here!! Great kid restaurant too.
(5)
Izzy B.
My son insisted on eating sushi for his birthday. Our first choice location said it will be an hr and a half to two hr wait so we ended up here. The hostess seated our party of 6 promptly upon arrival. Miso soup doesn't come standard with your meal which was surprising when we were asked if we'd like apps & miso soup??? Our table ordered udon, ramen, various rolls, chicken & steak teriyaki. My daughter really enjoyed their udon. The base was flavorful. There teri sauce was a little too thick but the flavor was still good. The Hawaiian roll was ok however I couldn't really taste the macadamia nuts. My favorite was the Kai roll...a variety of fish wrapped in cucumber without any rice. It was so refreshing. All in all it was good. My son was very happy with his sushi & they surprised us with fried banana & ice cream enough for the whole table...yum!
(3)
Denise G.
I'm from the bay area and came on vacation to legoland. I yelped sushi restaurants and decided to check this one out. It was 9:30 and we were the last ones there on a Sunday. Jennifer the waiter was one of the sweetest waiters I've ever had ! Also the manager was very friendly and accommodating! They were patient and let us take our time and did not rush us even though it was after closing and made conversation. Definitely recommend it! The hula roll was really good as well. Absolutely coming back!
(5)
Northofthirty D.
came here after finding Nozomi on yelp and we LOVED it! we had the sunset sushi combo, a rainbow roll, the baked mussels, and some kalbi short ribs. Everything was delicious! the fish was fresh. the baked mussels were deliciously decadent. and the ribs were yummy! would definitely come back.
(5)
Lily H.
There wasn't no one here other than our table during lunch time. That kind of tells you how good their business is. The waitress was very nice. My husband ordered their special menu Toro hand roll but the chef came out with different fish hand roll because they run out toro. We got hula roll, chicken bento, california hand roll and Unagi hand roll, all the food were okay but a little pricy for okay food.
(3)
Bernadette B.
Exceptional menu and terrific staff. Spicy Tuna on crispy rice is to die for. Just celebrated my parents 50th anniversary and they could not have been more professional or accommodating.
(5)
Erica L.
is okay, may be the best sushi within 15 miles
(3)
Kevin J.
They're back on top in my book! There was a rough time a few months ago and I stopped coming. But they're back and amazing again. I'm so happy to have my favorite sushi plAce back! Than you, Nozomi!
(5)
Melissa C.
Very fresh and delicious sushi. Their sashimi is excellent. I love their octopus salad. The rolls are very filling. My colleague usually order the chirashi which looks pretty good. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Lissa K.
We've had mostly good luck here. The service wasn't great the first time, but very good the second time. The sushi and food are really good. Menu has lots of variety, even for non sushi eaters. Fun atmosphere. It's not the cheapest place in town, but they offer groupons quite often and if you can catch a deal, it's worth it.
(4)
Alan C.
Used to come here often; then again last night for first time in several years. Sad to see that other reviews are correct: since it was sold the food quality, vibe and service are not the same. Used to love food here but probably won't be back.
(2)
William E.
We've eaten here 3 times now. Always good service and food, albeit a bit pricey all things considered. We dine mid day on week days so no crowds, perhaps the quality goes down when they are busy as I am confused by the other poor ratings. I suggest you give them a try, we like it there.
(4)
Mike S.
This place is incredible! The best sushi I've had in North County!!
(5)
Alan C.
New ownership, new chefs, new Yelp rating. 2 Stars now. The quality has gone down, but the prices have stayed the same which was already fairly high. The fish is a lower grade than before- not the melt in your mouth type anymore. Chef Ken will be sorely missed here.
(2)
Teresa M.
Best sushi I have ever had! So fresh. Had salmon and halibut sushi. Also had dream, hula, and volcano rolls. We went on wine Wednesday and loves the 1/2 off sake.so wish I didn't live in Houston, I would be a regular here. Great service too... Waitress recommended some good choices and although the restaurant was pretty full, service was prompt.
(5)
Melina S.
Myself, my boyfriend and a mutual friend of ours had gone out to shop for clothes and we were hungry. So I yelped sushi and this place came up and thought to try it out. It was one of the best places I have gone to in a long time! I ended up spending about 60$ for my boyfriend and I, but it was well worth it! Sushi was extremely fresh and the waitresses were respectful and nice. They evern had on Kimonos! It was pretty authentic. Down stairs, they have a comfortable set up with a man-made pond with awesome lights and turtles! I'll be back when I have some extra money to spend.
(5)
Dr. T.
We were headed home from the Del Mar fair and were craving something light and clean after eating fair food. Very nice vibe, awesome music and they had the NBA finals on. All my senses were satisfied. The food was tasty. Ramen and the spicy salad. Delicious. We will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Stephen J.
New ownership. Same building but nothing the same as far as the food service and hospitality goes. Been twice in the past two months and was not impressed
(2)
Rafael I.
Super friendly staff and huge portions. I would go back there again. I ordered a few dishes that they were out and they give me 20% off and didn't charges me fir few other plates. I love this service. Can't find that in Los Angeles.
What an amazing restaurant in a great location! The food is outstanding and the menu is always changing as the sushi chefs are coming uo with new outstanding creations. I even met one of the owners there one day his name is Devin. What a great down to earth guy. You can see why it is so well run and the staff is so happy and courteous. If I could give this 6 stars I would, can't wait for my next visit!!
(5)
Jason S.
AMAZING!!! Kevin Saito is the new head chef and part owner. He was previously the head chef at Station Sushi, Birdrock where I was a regular. I've been in Encinitas for a year and was excited to have our fav sushi chef back and close by. Kevin brings the same high quality sushi and fun atmosphere to Nozomi. Make sure to sit at the bar and have him, or any of the chefs, serve you up the daily specials. The rolls and cuts are huge so come hungry! 2 biters for most. We ordered the Toro nigiri and the Lemon Cilantro Roll. Kevin took care of the rest. Toro was buttery heaven. The Lemon Cilantro Roll was refreshing. Ahi nigiri was seared perfectly. Hula Roll, their most popular, was crunchy and delicious. The waitress was attentive. She came by three times to check up on us. Restaurant has an interesting layout. Make sure to check out the turtle pond on the bottom floor. Main sushi bar is upstairs. Will be going back ASAP.
(5)
Chili B.
Average Japanese. The miso soup was among the worst I've had. First of all it come lukewarm - steaming hot like it should. And it has gritty chunks in it. Like it wasn't stirred or prepared properly. Not good. The salad was nice and fresh - nothing special. Though I wish it was more traditional with a miso type dressing, The bento box was pretty good. I got salmon terriyaki. The salmon was great - cooked perfectly and with a nice sweet terriyaki sauce. The tempura wasn't so good. The batter wasn't crunchy and the tempura sauce tasted like water...YUCK!! so bland and disappointing, The service was very slow. And the bathrooms were pretty nasty and rundown.
(3)
E. M.
Worth a try! Sushi is good despite servings are small. Last minute reservations worked well, even with the 3 kids!
(4)
Ashley E.
I love sushi and I love tapas and man oh man does this place meet my love! The presentation of the food is impeccable. First started with the house salad which was a very large portion and then went to the Dream roll. It is exactly its name - a dream. In addition to top notch quality food, the chefs are wonderful. I've been impressed both times by Poncho and Diego. I'd recommend sitting at the sushi bar as these guys are attentive and funny. Can't wait for many meals at Nozomi as the menu has so much to offer.
(5)
Fatimah E.
Nothing short of amazing. The food is really REALLY delicious. I have been here many times and have had most of the menu. The only problem is that once you eat here you won't want sushi from anywhere else... Which I suppose really isn't a problem; it's a solution.. Because you will stop wasting money on garbage. Eat here. It will make you happy. My favorite roll is the hula. If you are having a fat night eat the twister, it's yummy too.
(5)
Josh P.
Amazing sushi great atmosphere lunch hrs 8.5 quiet and very enjoyable. will definitely come back an bring friends
(5)
Scott T.
WYATT (my four-year old) and i stopped in for a boy's lunch (MICHAEL canceled at the last minute -- okay about forty-five minutes past the last minute, KEEGAN was in school and CALEB was just AWOL) ... anyway, the food was exceptional. WYATT had beef teriyaki with steamed rice and a bowl of miso with extra tofu. dad had the YELLOWTAIL JALAPENO (from the TAPAS section of the menu) -- a crudo with thinly sliced peppers and a soy-yuzu dressing really amazing. that was followed by one of the lunch specials -- the BLUE FIN sampler, basically a horizontal tasting of toro, chu-toro and o-toro -- deliciously decadent. we finished with the KUMAMOTO OYSTERS (also a lunch special). they arrived (five to the plate) on the half-shell with the same tart soy-yuzo dressing. WYATT had one, made a face, said it tasted funny and then asked for another. we were very happy boys.
(4)
Jackie V.
The food is amazing! We met the head chef and he is super nice and talented!! We highly recommend this place.
(5)
Steven W.
Sushi is prevalent in North Park and Hillcrest areas and the quality has always been, in my humble American opinion, rather good. I don't often get the chance to make it so far up north to dine for sushi, but I did so recently for a dinner date with friends. As far as sushi goes this place was quite good and comparable to anything I would typically have further down south. The ambiance and staff both made this restaurant warm and inviting. There are a few tastefully displayed televisions which don't distract from the restaurant, but would probably allow you to keep up on sporting events without being in a place that looks like a sports bar. The overall building is very large for a sushi restaurant which would likely make finding extra seating for a large group relatively easy which is always nice and it makes room for a fun turtle pond. I stayed with the sushi list for this visit and enjoyed my protein rolls and more traditional rainbow rolls. Portions and flavor were all spot on with what I would consider good sushi in the greater San Diego area. I will definitely pass through here again next time I am up in the Carlsbad area.
(5)
Di L.
Went here for a quick lunch. I ordered a small beer...they apparently ran out and gave me a large one instead but charged me for the small beer! Totally awesome :). I just ordered sushi and mine came out pretty quick, but we had to wait awhile for my other friends' orders. They apparently were under new management and so I guess it was kind of understandable that the orders were taking awhile to come out. But they were awesome about it and gave us appetizers to snack on. My caterpillar roll was pretty decent. I dont live in the area so not sure I'll really come back any time soon, but it wasnt that bad.
(3)
Steve M.
Had a great time here last week. We were a Party of 6 (we had two little kids)and the atmosphere was great. Sushi was fresh and the selection was nice. We shall return.
(4)
Ryan W.
Bt far the best Sushi I have ever had. I have been eating hear since they opened. Love the half price martinis on Tuesday. Everything is good hear. You cant go wrong. I love the blue fin tuna. Best on the planet. If you haven't tried this place your missing out. As far as rolls go I like them all but after a work out the Protein roll is great.
(5)
Mark B.
Wow! What a fantastic experience! We had a large group and they were ready for us the second we walked in. The food was perfect and the wait staff was excellent! You won't get a better experience in San Diego if you are looking for quality sushi. Go now!
(5)
Thomas L.
What a tricky experience it was. The adventure started even before we went into the restaurant. Coming in from I-5, I almost smashed into a speeding car turning into the parking lot. Be careful with that semi-blind corner! Then, we were completely confused by where the entrance was. Do yourself a favor and go toward the left side of the building, as seen from the parking lot. The dining area had a quaint multi-level setup. I had a hard time deciphering the menu, even though I was a veteran with Japanese food. As others have noted, it took quite a while for the food to get to the table. The salmon sashimi was very good, but the rest of the sashimi platter, the sushi special, and the tempura udon were only pretty average. Maybe we should have tried the fancy rolls, and perhaps this explains the varied (and sometimes polarized) reviews on Yelp. Kids loved the turtle pond at the bottom level. We'll probably try other spots first if we come back to Carlsbad.
(3)
Kristina C.
As someone who is part japanese I felt this sushi was pretty mediocre and inauthentic. Had the miso cod and it wasn't very good - just bland and one-dimensional. Had nigiri and it was okay but the rice was overly vinigery and unbalanced. Also serves me right for ordering dessert in a sushi restaurant but the it was terrible. Wouldn't recommend going back.
(2)
Amanda R.
I was in love with this place the moment we walked in. The turtle pond with color changing waterfall was very peaceful and inviting and the soft leather couches with the Cooking channel on TV were perfect for waiting on the rest of our group. We came in with some friends about a week ago and ended up meeting the owner Art who was a fantastic host! He recommended several items to us and our group split many dishes so we could try them all! Among my favorites were the Hula roll #1 fave, the Nozumi sashimi salad which was spicy but delicious and huge, ramen-huge bowl but I only had a small taste cuz everything else was really filling, garlic edamame, jalapeño poppers, baked mussels-yummy, the Twister roll wrapped in potato which was very unique, seaweed salad-always delicious, creamy shrimp and lobster tempura-didn't last very long so I only had a bite, hibachi scallops-small but delicious, steamed mussels and clams, and some various types of sake. Everything was really so delicious that even though I was beyond full, I wanted to keep eating. I am definitely looking forward to going back and tasting more-hopefully with another big group so we can have another family feast! Thanks Art!!
(5)
Danny S.
Wanted to try this restaurant out (due to yelp review) and took the family to it on Memorial Day at lunch. As we walked in, there was a sign to head upstairs and seat yourself. As we walked upstairs, we noticed that the restaurant was half empty but no server in sight. We asked the sushi chef if we could put 2 tables together and sit. He pointed us to the waitress (looked disheveled and overwhelmed). We asked her and she replied rudely..."You are gonna have to wait 30 minutes. I am the only server here and am too busy". WTH?!?! Not a response I expected from this restaurant. Obviously she didn't want to take on more customers so we left.
(1)
Scott S.
Nozomi is good sushi in Carlsbad. It used to be better. If you are looking for a cheap 2 for 1 California Roll, this place may not be for you. Sit at the bar, ask for the chef special and enjoy!
(4)
Josh D.
Great experience from start to end. loved the atmosphere and the food was amazing. I'll be coming back here more often with the daily deals they have now.
(5)
William M.
With our group of 7, the servers goofed up several of our orders, and didn't bring one of our entrees for 90 minutes. They finally said they accidentally gave it to another table!
(1)
teena y.
As you walked in you see a sign 'seat yourself' which was kinda funny. yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Then you see two caucasian sushi chefs. Red flag? We gave it a try anyways since the Four Seasons and yelp recommended it. Overall the food was ok. Nothing to rave about. Garlic edamame - just ok, i think people hyped it up too much for me yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Tempura udon - yummy, but would have been better with a cracked egg inside. They were very generous with the tempura though so this was definitely worth it (2 shrimp, 3 onion rings, 2 broccoli, 2 yams, 2 zucchini) yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Jalapeño hamachi - ok not as spicy as I thought it would be yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Sashimi sampler - yummy, nice presentation yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Dragon roll - big portion, ok yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Overall, I wasn't wowed by the place. Not bad and the service was good. Cute turtle pond downstairs. Just be sure not to go in the one way entrance of the parking lot or else your tires will be popped!
(3)
Carol K.
Pull up a chair and listen to my fish tale. First- the good. We were able to get a reservation at the last minute on a Friday night. I was surprised by this until I got to the place and realized that the restaurant is quite large. We were seated upstairs and began to look over the menu. There were plenty of things of the menu that sounded good- from the sashimi appetizer (6 good sized pieces of fish for $16) to specialty rolls and other entrees. I did laugh when I saw the notation at the end that they could make ANY type of roll that we wanted . . .all we had to do was ask. I bet they get some interesting requests. I went with the spicy tuna roll (my fav) and one of their specialty rolls, the Surf's up. It was then the bad began. Service is pretty much non existent at this place. Our drinks came up and then one of the appetizers showed up. We had told the server that we weren't going to be able to share food as one in our party had many food allergies so she needed to order her own food. So here I am with food in front of me- and none across the table. Then our rolls showed up . . .TWICE! Even the server looked confused. And just when we were finishing up- the missing appetizer showed up at the table. Very strange. And I think they must have been getting the drinks from a different bar altogether as we ordered a glass of wine to go with dinner, and it came up as we were asking to pay the bill. And all of this on a night when the place wasn't even really busy. The ambiance is nice- lots of wood and the turtle pond on the lower level is interesting. Dinner for two with drinks ran about $100 with most specialty rolls coming in around $15 each and regular rolls about $7.50. And there is plenty of parking on the street or in the lot behind the restaurant. And so ends my fish tale, but unlike most fish tales . . .this one is true!
(3)
Jacob W.
Good sushi but a bit on the pricey side. I would expect their prices in the Gaslamp but not east of the village. I got the volcano which was awesome but it was 6 pieces for $15. The quality is excellent just a little sticker shock.
(3)
Alex S.
My husband and I came here many years ago (approx 7 years ago) for a date night, and I remember LOVING the food/dish that each of us had. We made a mental note to come back for more date nights, as it is really close to us, but we just got busy (kids, you know...). We finally made it back for another date night a month or so ago. I was very unimpressed. I hadn't realized that since then the restaurant had changed owners (I only discovered that upon reading other YELP reviewers), but now it makes sense. The ambiance was quite different as we originally thought it was a romantic setting on the first floor, and while the upper level is decorated nicely, it doesn't have the same feel as we remembered. I thought the fish dish that I ordered was VERY "fishy" -- where as I usually don't think of that type of fish as being so. At the time, I did not eat sushi and recently discovered that I like sushi (minus the seaweed and with soy paper instead). So, I opted to return with a friend and see how I enjoyed their sushi. Now, as someone who is ordering sushi with soy paper, I'm obviously not a real "sushi critic." Therefore, I did find it to be quite tasty. However, in my new found love of sushi, I had not yet experienced such HIGH prices. I was a little in shell shock, unaware of how much a restaurant could charge for a roll of sushi! This was a huge disappointment. Knowing there are other places I can go to be just as satisfied with my sushi craving, and pay much less... makes me think it's unlikely I will be a return customer at Nozomi. It just isn't worth that much money, quite frankly. And, really, EVERYTHING was overpriced. Not only that, but being that I'm not a traditional sushi/japenese food consumer, I prefer regular salt over soy sauce. It's just my thing. The restaurant had ONE salt grinder (pink himalayan salt crystals), and I was told that the chef needed it, so they grinded some for me over our edamame and said they would need it back. There weren't too many people in the restaurant b/c it was early on a Monday, but eventually the manager allowed us to keep the grinder on our table until it was needed (it ended up being through our meal), but, I thought it was a little ridiculous that the restaurant didn't have SALT more easily/readily available for customers. I get that japanese restaurants don't use a lot of salt, but I've never run into this problem before anywhere. For a while there, I thought I was going to have to go to the other restaurant in the building and borrow their salt shaker. The wait staff was nice and friendly -- but, overall it wasn't a smooth and comfortable experience there. However, if they lowered their prices, I think I could deal with everything else and I might be more willing to return.
(2)
Jay J.
Went with the family and it was just ok. We were really disappointed that they charged us full price for a teriyaki chicken plate and teriyaki beef plate for our two children ($22 each) when they did not offer a kids menu! This is bad business in my opinion. The sashimi was ok, but I will say it was the first time ever that I had sashimi with 2 (very thin and small) pieces of fish on a rice pack...must have been running low on tuna or just skimping....try and you decide. As for me....I'll pass
(2)
Diana B.
Amazing food, amazing service! Come here, you will not be disappointed! Best sushi I've had in a while!
(5)
Brian K.
I hear this place was great from a couple of people. I saw a groupon for $20 for $35 in food so I picked one up. I went with my gf since we are both sushi fans. This has to be the best sushi in north county. We had a dragon roll, eel and another roll. The price is on the expensive side but the sushi is great. It's hard to want to commit to a $15 or $20 roll and then to add it on top a 12oz of sculpin was $7. The best sushi I've had but it would be hard on the wallet if I continued to go here without a groupon. The only reason I'm giving four stars and not five is the price. If the rolls are that expensive the alcohol prices should be significantly less. $7 for a sculpin on a 12oz is a 16oz pint anywhere else. But at least they had an IPA available unlike other places. If you want the best sushi and don't mind the price this is your place to go. We will be back but only for lunch or maybe during happy hour to check out the pricing there.
(4)
George V.
The spicy tuna rolls are great and very fresh. The service is decent and it's always nice to see the turtles downstairs on the way out.
(3)
T M.
Not sure how this place has so many "Amazing" reviews. The food was "ok". We ordered a basic meal. The waitress didn't know how to pronounce anything we ordered! (Bad sign!) the chefs said they knew how to make the roll we ordered (it wasn't on the menu but is a staple in any authentic Japanese kitchen), but when we got it we wanted to send it back. I was very disappointed I. Oh well, at least we had a chance to spend some time together!
(2)
Angelina S.
OMG!!! Amazing sushi :) We got like 5 different rolls an shared them... Every single one was delicious! Maybe the best sushi in San Diego!
(5)
David B.
I loved the atmosphere and food! Not to mention the waterfall with turtles swimming while we ate. The "Dream" roll was amazing. The service was outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant. Also the owner Art came by and was nothing but professional and respectful. 5 stars!
(5)
Fiona N.
Amazing !!!! The hula roll is so delicious ! And Lisa was so helpful! Definitely will be going back soon
One word, three syllables: A-MA-ZING! I had the pleasure of eating dinner at Nozomi last Sunday. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded, which meant better service for me. My party of 8 was promptly seated and our waitress was very accommodating. They have a pretty extensive menu, which made it difficult to decide what we wanted. If there is something that you want and it's not on the menu, just let them know and they will make it for you. We started off with the creamy shrimp and lobster, which was 'the bomb!' The shrimp and lobster tempura were perfectly fried, then tossed in a sweet and sour aioli. For the rest of the meal, we settled on the following rolls: Dragon roll, the Dream roll, Ceviche Roll, Philly roll along with fresh sushi (salmon belly and fatty tuna). The sushi was extremely fresh and all of the roll were delicious. The sushi chef also made a special Hawaiian Style Salmon Poke for the table and it was sooooo good. I'm salivating just thinking about it. To sum it all up, Nozomi offers amazing food, great service, and and fun atmosphere. I will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)
William N.
I have been going to Nozomi for years and am always happy with their unique and delicious food.
(5)
G R.
Pancho and Lane are BACK...this is once again the best sushi in SD County by far. Their supplier is the same as Nobu and these folks have things back on track here in Carlsbad...way to go!
(5)
Aubrey T.
Very good sushi! The dragon rolls were delicious .... Service was fast .... Would recommend
(5)
Marianne S.
Excellent sushi place. We came here for my Husbands birthday and were the first ones in for dinner. The chef (Lan? I think) was SUPER friendly and excellent. He made us amazing pieces, shared some of his favorite things to eat and was quite entertaining and fun to chat with. Other service (check, servers) were a tiny bit slow. But we were the first ones in and I think they were just getting started. Not a huge deal. ALL of our sushi was really tasty though, we would definitely go back if we were in the area again.
(4)
Krissy O.
Great place, great food. Came for drinks with the friends, must order the Manju, aka. Big Brother Sake. Turtles were awesome, will be bringing the kids back for dinner soon.
(5)
Javin H.
Simply mouth watering fresh sushi selections! The menu has diverse options to suit even my discriminating palate. The chef's and service was very impressive as well as the spacious setting and cozy atmosphere, not to mention the super cool turtle pond. Must try this if you are in the north county area, sooooo worth it!
(5)
Craig K.
Was OK - as in average. Seemed a bit overpriced for the food. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem paying for good sushi (Hane is one of my favorites) but this seemed a slight bit above mall quality. Protein roll was pretty good, the hamachi was definitely day-old so I sent it back. My girls seemed to be enjoying their udon and the beer was cold. I'm not ruling out coming back but my expectation on the quality of sushi is now calibrated.
(3)
Teresa N.
The downstairs room was perfect for our holiday party, loved the water feature! Both the food and the staff were amazing.
(5)
Patricia G.
Seriously the most delicious Sushi I have ever had! Sushi Chef, Lane, was fantastic!! He is truly a gifted chef and makes artwork with every dish! The price point was very reasonable considering we ordered a lot of fish. The restaurant seemed to have different segments from larger dinning area to an quaint upstairs. If you are in the Carlsbad area drop by!
(5)
Torri R.
Excellent Sushi!! Always fresh fish.. I have been coming here for years and can not complain. Always good service especially if you have Stephanie for your server and I love when Diego is there he's awesome and always makes the best sushi! The menu has a big variety so you can always find something good to eat for every appetite! Great place for big groups or a date night! Overall I recommend Nozomi's! Delicious fresh food and good service.
(5)
Jennifer H.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this Sushi spot. If I live din San Diego, I would go once a week for sure! They have Gluten Free Soy Sauce for those who need it. Wonderful Sushi, and if you let the Sushi Chef surprise you, you will be delighted. I was there last Thursday and it was by far the best Sushi experience I have had ever. I eat alot of sushi too....
(5)
Marina S.
I have eaten a lot of sushi. And good sushi - I'm from Japan (notice smart inset comment). :) LOL. Anyways. This place is great. I work in Carlsbad during the week, even though i live in LA... so to drown my homesickness I treat myself to very good food. Which you get here. The decor is kitchy asian which i thoroughly enjoy. Trickling water, bamboo, the waiters/waitresses wear the little kimonos... love it. I usually order a lot. Don't laugh. Seaweed salad: nice and simple. Fresh and yummy. Baked tofu: light and in a nice broth. Since it is in a fish-based broth, some people might not like it, but I love it. Hula Roll: NOMS. The perfect California, Americanized sushi roll. Shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, crunchy bits of awesomeness. Spicy, fishy, fried, and crunchy... it's just oh so good. My colleague and I have even come here on lunches a few days in a row and have started being recognized. That probably means we're coming too much, but I don't care :)
(5)
Maria P.
Hula roll....mmmmmmmm!!! Everything we ordered was good here. The ginger martini was soooooo delicious! The only thing I didn't like was the kimono robes the ladies had to wear. It looked a bit on the trashy side when they're wearing short kimonos and no pants. Please, let them wear pants!!! Say YES to leg wear!!
(5)
Valerie O.
Great food and exceptional service! We came in close to closing time and expected a hurried meal. On the contrary our waitress (Lisa I think) was extremely warm and welcoming. We didn't feel rushed at all. She gave great recommendations and even re-heated our sake that had cooled down. The food was equally wonderful with large portions of sashimi. We left full and very happy, I would definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Joe F.
Excellent Sushi! Generous cuts and very fresh fish. Also had Oyster with quail egg and it was a real treat. Very happy with this dining experience. The place was very attractive with the different levels , Koi pond and lots of wood.
(5)
Courtney K.
Ok food that is expensive but a nice atmosphere... Food: 2.5 stars Cost: 2 stars Atmosphere: 3.5 stars Service: 2.5 stars The atmosphere here is the best part and I think this would make a good date spot. I loved the decor and that the wait staff wore kimono-ish robes. But if you're going for Asian Fusion, I think you'll be disappointed. My friend and I ordered a variety of items ranging from sashimi, to teryaki chicken to pineapple-pork skewers. The teryaki chicken(her pick) was blah and I could get something better out of a frozen package from Costco. I really wanted the Seoul Ribs but they were out of them so we settled for the pineapple and pork skewers. The halibut sashimi (her pick) was excellent. The service was friendly but not very attentive. Parking was also a bit tough. I'll give this place another try, but not anytime soon.
(2)
Craig M.
This place is wonderful! From the turtle pond on the bottom floor to the excellent service and sushi. My wife and I came in decided to try their special rolls on the menu to have something different from the normal sushi trip (this was our first visit to this restaurant and had no idea what to expect). OH MY, EACH ROLL WAS PERFECTION! We had the Twisted roll that had potato warped around it and at first were thinking...this should be interesting and interesting it was... Pure genius! The twisted roll was one of the best rolls we have had in a long time. It is a definite must have when coming here. We also had the after burner, lemon cilantro, volcano and ungai bonsai rolls which were all top notch sushi rolls of perfection! Sorry to use perfection so much but this was the best sushi we have had in years. We go out to sushi all of the time to many locations and this is one will be a staple on the must go to restaurants in San Diego. Thank you Nozomi for the wonderful experience
(5)
Richelle L.
My boyfriend and I wanted Sushi and decided to try this place. We ordered the miso soup, Soporo, Rainbow Roll, and one that had potato shavings-- I think the Twister Roll. The miso soup was SO much better than any I had ever had. It had so much more flavor than any other place I've ever been to. The rolls were really good too, very filling. The turtle pond downstairs was closed for repairs, but we snuck in to see it anyways, happy to see tons of turtles floating around and hanging out. I really loved the interior upstairs where we ate with TVs, seats at the sushi bar, bar stools on the oposite side and tables in the middle. There were pretty cool lights and also great music playing in the background that night. The servers were super friendly and attentive. Not one complaint. Try it out!
(5)
Larry P.
Now this is a real Japanese restraint not the usual crap in Carlsbad and of course there's no coupons, no specials, no screemimg kids. Just great real Japanese food.
(5)
Heather A.
I seriously love this place. For soo many reasons. Staff is really nice and accommodating, food is amaaazzinngg, sushi chefs are outrageously talented and so sweet, atmosphere is perfect, and location is awesome! Perfect place for a nice date, or a dinner with friends and fam! Check it out for sure, you'll love it!
(5)
Lesley T.
We have been coming to Nozomi since it opened in Carlsbad about four years ago. The food is fantastic and each room has it's own ambiance. The prices are high, but not outrageous and even our pickiest sushi friends admit that it is one of the best they have been to. Try the Surf & Turf roll and the Twister. Fabulous - fun and never a bad meal. Service can be a little slow, but plan to come and enjoy your meal. You won't be sorry.
(5)
Drea M.
Just not the same. I was worried when I heard there was an ownership change recently. Often this means restructuring on all levels. We figured we'd give it a go anyway. Yup, just as I thought. The atmosphere has changed, the staff has changed, the items have changed...all, except the prices. Now they can't back up their prices w/the type of quality they had. The sushi isn't bad, it's just not as good as it was. The new head chef has a different presence, thus the atmosphere of the bar is very rigid, uncomfortable. I only recognized one chef from before, the rest are gone. In the past we would recognize the higher prices, but we were willing to pay them. Now, it's not justifiable.
(2)
Megan H.
Really awesome sushi! I went with a friend who had been before and LOVED Joey, so we sat at his section at the sushi bar and he took great care of us! For starters, we ordered the LEMONGRASS TIGER SHRIMP (edible, but not my favorite Tapa of the night) and the CARLSBAD CLAMS & MUSSELS (delicious in a shallot and butter sauce)...great way to start off the meal! Sushi wise, Joey impressed us with his creativity and made up a special roll not on the menu since my friend is a regular :) He coined it the BIRTHDAY sex roll, but just imagine the most fresh, melt in your mouth, fish of every kind wrapped in soy paper (no rice) and topped with fresh tuna and albacore, then he seared it with spicy mayo, jalapeno and siracha sauce to top it off! Also, I ordered the LEMON CILANTRO ROLL, it came with spicy krab, cilantro and cucumber (add avo if you arent allergic like me) and was topped in fresh seared albacore, jalapeno and lemon juice...it tasted so FRESH and light...highly recommended but I can't wait to come back and try some of the other things I noticed on the menu! I couldn't stop eating! I could've stayed all night :) I will definitely be back, especially if they get some HAPPY HOURS going!
(5)
Jorge M.
Visiting from Los Angeles and needed SUSHI fix ASAP! Came across this place and very happy we did! The Sushi Chef(Diego from Brazil) was very pleasant to talk to. Fresh Sashimi salad and rice free roll that I pretty much made up myself! I'd def. come back when I'm in town.
(4)
Katie S.
Our first Japanese fusion experience and we loved it! But I just wish our meal wasn't so expensive. Food was great. Everything we ordered were something different. We had the green tea edamame, Cajun tuna salad, baby yellowtail tiradito, aloha salmon (salmon, crab, gobo, wrapped with rice paper with herb aioli), kumamoto oysters on the half shell, and the protein roll (rice less roll with various types of fish and wrapped with soy paper) The aloha salmon and yellowtail were my favorite. But I thought the riceless soypaper roll was too different from what I'm used to as sushi.. so that wasn't my favorite. But overall everything was tasty, but expensive for tiny portions. What I really recommend is their matcha. Never at any other Japanese restaurant did I have someone prepare our tea in front of us the traditional way. Matcha is a type of very finely grouned green tea so you can make it thick or thin. Our server made it a little to thick to my liking, but the flavor of the tea was fantastic. She scooped some tea powder into a little bowl with a bamboo scoop, added hot water, and mixed around with a bamboo whisk. For $4, it was an awfully small cup of tea, but it was an interesting and unique experience. Definitely adds a twist to a Japanese meal. Nozomi is a great place to take a date to impress. Make sure you order the matcha!
(4)
Jennifer G.
Sushi like we are used to in SF! It's always sketchy to try an out-of-town sushi joint, but this place was amazing (even better than our awesome neighborhood spot!). Lane and my hubby totally hit it off, since he's an Hawaiian and the hubby used to live there. And everything we ate was just magical! Super fresh and even my kids kept asking for more (hand rolls, nigiri, etc). I loved the Hamachi Jalapeño, Garlic Edamame and Misoyaki Butterfish. Actually, we didn't order anything that wasn't up to our standard. And the unfiltered sake and Orion beer simply hit the spot. It's worth a repeat visit on our short stay...even if that means trying one less local restaurant. Loved the food, loved the sushi chefs and staff, loved the fellow diners. And they were super cool to our keikis. Must-do in Carlsbad!
(5)
Paul C.
My favorite sushi place in southern calif.
(5)
Aimi S.
Food was good and service was good but it is little bit pricy. I was expecting some Japanese menus and Japanese person but any. There are not authentic Japanese food like Izakaya style.
(3)
Mike H.
This place is definitely one of the best sushi restaurants that I have eaten at.
(4)
Christina P.
I really did not like the food here. Bleh. They brought us edamame with garlic to start and it was delicious, I had high hopes for the food. Upon ordering, my friend asked our server for suggestions and she didn't give him any. Her answer to questions he asked about deciding between a few different options: "It just depends." and "That's all up to you." (Obviously it's up to him, but it's your job to know what food you're selling.) I ordered a Sprite and it was $3 and was served to me in a small bottle. I thought that was kind of weird. Not really a big deal, but weird. Had I known it was going to come like that, I wouldn't have wasted $3. (I get thirsty!) The worst part was the sushi. My friends said theirs was okay, but I HATED mine. It was drenched in a sauce that was too funky to be soy sauce and it wasn't eel sauce. I couldn't even eat it. Our bill came to $80 for three people...we had three rolls, three misos, one order of edamame, one sprite, two teas, and three servings of mochi. $80? Really? My wonderful friend who is a complete gentleman took care of the bill so I couldn't dissect it to see if we were overcharged. Overall, not the best experience.
(2)
Karen H.
Really great dinner. The butter fish tapas was amazing, fish was fresh, rolls were good. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)
Patricia R.
Great good and horrible service! They took so long to get us out food and a roll came out after an hour being their with a toddler! Really people?!
(3)
Tony L.
Terrible terrible service. High high prices. Average food. Try any sushi in the area before this one
(1)
Eric K.
Great place. Fish was fresh and the service was excellent. Our sushi chef Kevin was very creative.
(4)
Callie D.
Was incredible until the new owners took over. I will never again step foot in here. Soo incredibly expensive, still good, just not as good as it was before. I don't enjoy it anymore because i'm just comparing it to how it used to be.
(4)
Aaron K.
Flew in from Texas for a business and was recommended this place by a few coworkers. Nozomi's was absolutely amazing. Hands down some of the best sushi I've ever had. I would stack this place up there with some if the best places I've been too and I've lived in Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, SF and Austin Texas. So I've had my fair share.The atmosphere was lively but not over the top. The Tokyo Sushi Bar sushi chefs made the experience a lot of fun and created a couple amazing rolls based on my particular tastes. Be sure to try the specialty sake's they have (Perfect Snow was my favorite). You may want to make reservations if going during the weekend as they said it can get pretty busy. They're a pretty popular spot in Carlsbad. This place just became my new favorite sushi joint in California! Wish I lived closer.
(5)
Mimi C.
We decided to come here while on vacation after reading the Yelp reviews. We wanted something different than the normal hotel fare we had been eating. This place was an excellent choice. We enjoyed everything from the sushi to the udon to the tempura and teriyaki. Favorites were definitely the rolls (amazingly the CA roll was delish!) the gyoza and the udon. Little disappointed in the the teriyaki steak but my husband was pleasantly surprised to see abalone on the menu. Service was great. Decor was very nice and truly enjoyed by my 4 year old niece. Her favorites were the turtles in the pond.
(4)
Joseph M.
Nozomi, has a beautiful interior and great service. Nozomi is what you expect, the food is delicious but you get what you pay for. I ordered a sushi combination, and i don't recall any negative feelings, all the fish tasted fresh. They have a great selection of teas and specialty rolls. They even have a selection where you can create your own roll coined "Make your Own" roll. I was disappointed for the lack of teriyaki plates and tempura combinations.
(3)
Natasha C.
Nozomi provides the best nigiri and sashimi in Southern California! I love Nozomi. I usually order omakase (chef's special) where the sushi chef provides sashimi that may not be on the menu as it is what is fresh that day. Or the chef will prepare Japanese cuisine with a delicious twist. The sashimi is so sweet and fresh. I've had toro, uni, hamachi, maguro, clam, scallop, salmon, and ika. All tasty and delicious. The ama ebi is live! The hamachi kama is so full of flavor.
(5)
Chris R.
We went last night and were not disappointed. Huge sake menu, organized by sweetness. We tried just about every type of nigiri there was, and every piece was fresh and delicious. We tried two rolls: Surf n Turf and the Hula roll. Fabulous. We went with friends that really knew their sushi, and they loved it too. Service was great and unobtrusive. Atmosphere was cool. I was disappointed that the bottom level where the turtle pond was was not being used last night. Free parking in a big lot. I highly recommend this place and will be back. It was $206 for the four of us, which included 2 bottles of sake, 2 premium rolls, and about 12 orders of nigiri, some of them the premium cuts. Well worth it.
(5)
Eli V.
Amazing fresh sushi! Can get a little pricey but worth it for the quality!
(5)
Laura M.
Ok, I don't know about the service reviews on this sushi place, but everytime my husband and I have eaten in this restaurant it's been 5 star service and food! The atmosphere is soo cool with its dim lighting and the turtle tank and the upstairs sportsbar feel. The sushi is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Ken, the head sushi chef is a genius and so is Derek (the owner) for hiring him. You'll find Derek most nights, hanging out just making sure your experience was memorable. Super fresh sushi and REALLY friendly staff at a gorgeous location. I'm addicted!
(5)
Cary J.
Great ambiance and great food. The servers are dressed up and there is a very cool water feature upstairs and downstairs. Be careful not to pick up the turtles...they do bite! The sushi chefs are friendly and serve very fresh sushi. The Hula Roll and Ginger Salad are both amazing!
(4)
Ian P.
This place has outstanding rolls and the bottom floor has a small pond with turtles in the dining area, which is really cool for kids to look at.
Solid, Solid, Solid. Good japanese beer selection, nice sake list. Sat near the turtle pond with my two little ones and they were adequately entertained by the many many turtles. Food was very tasty, fresh fish and presented in a creative and beautiful way. This menu has a nice variety of things to order aside from the usual sushi / sashimi and classic makis. Finally a sushi place in north county that i want to visit again!
(4)
Mike C.
Went here on Valentines Day. Decorated really well, the service was excellent and the staff was friendly. We originally wanted to go to Sushi Ota but they had no reservations at the sushi bar available. When we heard that Nozomi's head sushi chef used to work at Sushi Ota, we gave this place a shot. Sashimi was really fresh. We didn't order from the menu but asked Mr. Lee what was good on that day and went with his suggestions. Excellent fish, lots of sake options, and friendly staff. Thank god it was because once I received my bill after being there for about 2.5 hrs., I could have paid my cable bill for the next 10 months. Best sushi in SD? Nope. Maybe in North County. But this place is really good. You really should gives this place a try.
(4)
Ginger M.
Everything was wonderful. This is a Carlsbad gem. The decor is beautiful, the sushi was great, and the marsh mellow ice cream dessert was divine. This is a top choice for large parties or just an intimate evening. It is a nice distraction from the usual Carlsbad choices and chain restaurants. I would have to disagree with the service complaints, but this is admittedly biased because my brother works there. That being said, the owner is very charming and the cooks and waiters were suburb.
(5)
Bob B.
Interesting place with good sushi...off the beaten path away from the turisty parts of Carlsbad. Probably rates 3.5, but rounding down in this case. Some good starters (especially the yellow tail), pretty good nigiri (especially the red snapper and unagi is good everywhere), and a bunch of "innovative" rolls that were pretty good.
(3)
Anita S.
Because we are vegan, we called ahead to ask if they could make something vegan. Chef Tony not only rose to the occasion with mango/chili pepper sushi and incredible mountain mushroom treats, he seemed to enjoy the challenge. We have always loved this place for the freshness and tastiness of their ingredients, and the great preparation of the sushi, plus good service and a beautiful place that has a peaceful feel to it. We're pumped up to know we can still enjoy Nozomi's.
(5)
Justsun B.
Love Boat is way better than this place. We've been coming here for a couple years and the one thing that bugs me the most is their inconsistency. One day, you say wow good portions and great quality, the next time you bring your friends and it sucks. Poor quality overpriced and small portions. If you hit it on a good day it could be a 4 star, but a bad day could hit just 2 stars. I have enough moody people in my life, I'll stick to Love Boat where they have the business down to a science.
(3)
Food S.
I love this place. Been there so many times and I've never ben disapointed. My favorites are Hula rolls and Twister rolls...which both naturaly go well with a warm caraffe of sake :-) Great customer service too!
(4)
Erin J.
My boyfriend and I decided to have sushi on a rainy Tuesday night and decided to try Nozomi because we always say we should when we go to Lotus Thai next door. I'm not the biggest sushi fan and usually am that one person that orders some chicken rice bowl thing at a sushi place (I know, I'm embarrassed for myself) but I was willing to give it a show (that and they didn't have any rice bowls on their menu). WOW! on what we ordered!!! I wish I could remember the exact names but they were two of the specialty rolls on the menu. So good!!! I also like their selection of teas. My boyfriend and I each getting two different kinds that suit our different tastes. The whole meal was very satisfying. Why the missing star?? Well, we found it a bit pricey. The sushi was yummy but the atmosphere and service both lacked and we felt it wasn't worth the actual price of our meal. Next time we plan on going with a bunch of people to split the prices and try all the different rolls they have. Can't wait!
(4)
Geoffrey N.
The flavors are very authentic and delishious. The service was impecable. The menu shows originality and vision. the fish was fresh and bursting with flavor. The caviar dish was special. The green tea creme brulee was money.
(5)
Liz N.
Not great, but not bad either depending on what your predilection is for sushi. The restaurant itself is cute, the fish is fresh but not melt-in-your mouth, and the rolls are decent. Perhaps it isn't fair for me to judge since I never order rolls, except for the occasional hand roll, and I enjoy traditional sushi or fusion with more sophisticated flavors. Purists likely will not be too excited by Nozomi, but those into fanciful rolls will probably enjoy.
(3)
Nick B.
Great food and awesome service!!! Couldn't have been happier.
(5)
Mia E.
Love the "Taste of Carlsbad"! The seabass is just amazing...I wouldn't share this with anyone! Sushi is fantastic but it is pricey.
(4)
Brett S.
Went here last weekend with a couple of friends and had a great time. Won't say that the sushi is the absolute best I've ever had, but the staff was fun and friendly. Prices weren't too bad either for the sushi or drinks. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone in town. I got the great white roll, California roll, and shrimp tempura. All solid choices.
(4)
Meg K.
My husband and I had visited Nozomi twice now. There really isn't much to say.. just don't bother, save your money and go to Ota.
(2)
Kristen J.
A bit on the pricey side, but the atmosphere of the restaurant and the quality of the food more than makes up for it. Nice list of wines by the glass, which I've sadly found to be a rarity at sushi spots.
(4)
Mary E.
I really can't begin to describe how much I love this restaurant and hope that it survives. If you don't read anything else in this review, believe that first sentence, trust, and go eat. I promise you'll be happy you did. Now then, an explanation. My husband and I watched and discussed for 8 long months as construction on this restaurant stretched on and on beyond anything we'd expected. Gleeful about the idea of a Japanese restaurant within walking distance of our home, we joked back and forth that they had better be worth the wait. We had no idea. The first time we ate there was within a week of opening. Thinking we were going to a "bistro" type of restaurant (you might think so too, as many people are confusing this restaurant with a chain noodle house in San Diego proper), we plopped our toddler into his stroller, donned our flip-flops (only taken off for weddings and formal events) and tromped on down to Nozomi. When we walked inside, we gulped. The whole restaurant, all three levels, is really beautiful. I've found out from reading up on the establishment that each one represents a different Japanese city. The bottom floor has a turtle pond and waterfall (great for kids who are waiting to be fed), The middle floor has an open style kitchen and is just delicate and pristine but comfortable, and the top floor has a full sushi bar, waterfall wall (quiet and not distracting), and is open and inviting. So there we stood in flip-flops and full parent regalia, wondering if perhaps we wouldn't be welcome in such a pretty and obviously posher restaurant than we'd expected. However, that night and every night since, we were ushered immediately to a table, presented with a highchair, and welcomed warmly. Food for kiddos can be served on child-friendly plates (once we got a teddy bear plate), staff come by to greet your little one kindly, and no fuss is ever made if spills happen. Nozomi is unquestionably classy, comfortable, and whimsical all at the same time, with a staff who are a pleasure and seem pleased to be working there. An incredible breathe of fresh air. And now let me get to the really good part -- the food. Without a doubt, and with many sushi places under my belt, I can say that Nozomi has served me the best sushi I have ever eaten, hands down. I have eaten tuna there that was so fresh, so beautifully cut, and so wonderfully presented that I got chills and goosebumps when I put it in my mouth. My husband bears witness to this, and laughed at me when it happened, but understood entirely as he'd gotten the first bite. Their scallops are like ice cream for adults -- they are sweet, fresh, and tender. Amazing. None of their fish is ever even flash frozen, and it is delivered multiple times a day. I would say, with little hesitation, that the quality of the fish at Nozomi is unequaled in North County, and possibly all of the county. The fusion food, too, is lovely, though we have not tried as much of it for fear of stuffing ourselves of something that is not amazing fresh fish. And their desserts, as if everything else were not enough to sell you, are decadent and delicious. If I'm not mistaken, they are also all made on the premises. Don't miss out on the sake list or amazing teas, either, which put most offerings at other Japanese/sushi restaurants to shame. We have eaten there numerous times now (our finances weep at our addiction) and have consistently been impressed. I'm sure I will think of other things to say once I finish this review, but I will leave it at that and simply beg you, plead with you, and say "please" -- Go to Nozomi. Make sure this one makes it. You will not be sorry. I promise.
(5)
Jen T.
i'm a sucker for sushi and after visiting their website and seeing that they boast the best sushi in north county, i knew i had to give it a try! i have to say i wasn't disappointed! some of the best sashimi i've ever had and the rolls were amazing too! i've been dying to go back, but they were a little on the pricey side so i'm waiting for a moment when i have a little extra cash to spend on some top notch sushi! if you are a sushi-conoisseur, like me, and are looking for some amazing fish, check this place out!
(4)
Rebecca H.
I really liked the decor of this cute little restaurant, and the food was pretty good. They have a decent selection of Japanese green tea and a diverse menu. I had the chirashi lunch, which was good (though I could have done without the vinaigrette or whatever seasoning was poured on the fish), and sampled a delicious salmon roll. I want to go back and try their ramen. Definitely a great place to go for a relaxing lunch.
(4)
David M.
Found this place on google maps while visiting Carlsbad with my kids. We surfed and went to legoland. We went on a Saturday night. My kids are sushi coniseurs. My son's favorite is seared albacore sashimi with ponzu. The fish was amazing and the ponzu sauce was the best I've ever had. They even made special rolls for us. My son created his own roll a few years ago, it's seared albacore and tamago wrapped in seaweed with no rice and then drizzled with eel sauce. They made it for him with a smile. My daughters roll is a cucumber wrap ( instead of seaweed) with avocado, cucumber and tamago also with the eel sauce drizzle. The restaurant is beautiful with a turtle pond on the bottom floor. The sushi bar is upstairs. This place is excellent.
(4)
Amanda Z.
you want some great sushi? baby yellow tail, spicy tuna on crispy rice, Korean beef kabob, jalapeño crunchy rolls are so freaking good. pricey but worth it for occasions ;)
(4)
Tyler J.
The only thing I don't like about Nozomi is that it's al the way up in Carlsbad. If you want the best rolls around, hit this place tonight! The Hula Roll, enough said.
(5)
Geoff F.
I wish I could give this place 10 stars. I hate to even write this review because I want to keep this gem all to myself, but Ken (the sushi chef) deserves better than that. I've traveled the world eating sushi, and having Nozomi in my back yard makes me wonder why I even leave my town. It is by far the best sushi in San Diego- from live amaebi to the best uni you'll ever eat, Nozomi has it all. I cannot recommend it enough if you're into great fish and incredibly unique preparations. Open your mind and let Ken take charge of your meal, and you'll have a religious experience.
(5)
Levon N.
Wow, luckily we went with a gift card from a buddy otherwise I'd be pissed for what we got for the money. First off, atmosphere and service were great. Minus the screaming toddler and infant that thankfully left after we arrived. Hostess let us choose level, turtle pond was nice. Server was friendly and food came fast, especially for sushi. That's where the positives stop. Our app was served to us mid-dinner and it was so small, for $9. The chicken spring rolls. Dipping sauce was horrible, like it was a vinegar base. Unlike any other sweet and sour i've had. For the size and lack of flavor, one of the worst appetizers I've ordered. I ordered the almond vanilla black tea iced, which tasted really watered down and hardly black. I know good black tea, make my own sweet tea all the time, and this wasn't good. I ordered the Twister roll. It was pretty good actually, great spice and sauces on top. Just real small for $14, maybe six pieces. My wife ordered the Cherry Blossom, which she liked, but again, hers was so small, only 5 pieces for $13! Then, we thought Nozomi would redeem themselves with the Green Tea Creme Brulee, nope! The sugar on top was burnt and the green tea filling tasted from a box. Weird thing to is they served it with a scoop of the filling in corner of plate! We thought it was green tea ice cream, cold to compliment warm, but it was just more of the boring filling. Now I love creme brulee and green tea ice cream, so I expected the same tastes in brilliant package, but Nozomi failed both opportunities to make a great dessert. With the lack of a standard entree like a teriyaki rice bowl at most sushi spots or Teppanyaki offered, it's lacking in variety as well with only about 20 rolls to choose from. There's plenty places that will give you more quantity and quality for the same price, or half, if you know where to go. We'll stick with our usual spots, this place is as overpriced and low-quality as RA sushi. Luckily we only paid $9 out of pocket to learn not to go here again.
(1)
Liz G.
This place was great. My friend had her wedding reception here and the staff was so friendly. The place looks amazing and the food tasted amazing too. For her reception they were able to make a BOAT of sushi. It was awesome. The atmosphere was perfect.
(5)
Pamela C.
Delicious! The hula roll is a must have! Customer service was fabulous & everything was tasty. Liked the location too - very cute & small but quaint inside.
(5)
Paul C.
Yummy hula roll ***** and the cherry blossom a unexpected treat.
(4)
Lena R.
TWISTER, OONAGI BONZAI, DA BOMB DYNAMITE. 3 Best rolls. You can't go wrong. Start off with some Edamame and if you can handle it, top it off with the Chocolate Lava Cake. It's a little pricy, but WORTH IT. Love this place! Check out the waterfall pond...there is a TURTLE! Too legit.
(5)
Connie N.
I love this place! It satisfies my requirements for "clean, non-goopey" sushi while still being inventive and excellent presentation. I love the turtle pond too!
(4)
Pavel T.
I would never have expected to find a place this beautiful tucked away in the nowhere land that lies between I5 and El Camino Real in Carlsbad. There is a little nook that serves as a revolving door to a couple of restaurant spaces. I sure hope this one is here to stay. I mentioned in previous reviews that I'm not a big fan of sushi that emphasizes appearance at the cost of taste. Nozomi somehow manages to combine both. Perhaps it the pedigree of it's founders, one top chef from Sushi Ono (known for it's flavor) and one from Japango (known for its elaborate constructions). Each roll is an absolute artwork, starting with unique name combinations, delicious descriptions of ingredients, and, of course, the explosion of flavors when the food finally comes. The interior design is simultaneously creative and simplistic. There are Japanese characters carved into wood, flowing water streams, and even live turtles. This is a fantastic place for both an intimate dinner (lower level) or a family outing (upper levels).
(5)
Monique O.
I love Nozomi I do not want to tell you how much money my husband and I spent in this resturant it is just too embarrassing. Two words Tuna Poke if you don't get this you are missing out. My favorite roll is the Hula, the Twister is great too very different. Why not 5 stars ok the price so damn expensive okay woah and for the price put some real crab in my rolls okay:) Lower prices at lunch maybe?? The quality of the fish is great the owner is a nice guy chefs are great. The service is much better now than it has been. Very beautiful resturant the design of all three eating areas are very unique.
(4)
Danny D.
Hula Roll is great and is their specialty, make sure you try it.
(4)
Nina C.
As someone who has been eating sushi since age 5, I am pretty picky about Japanese restaurants. I have been to every top sushi restaurant in San DIego (Sushi Ota, Nobu, Hane Sushi, Harney Sushi, Sushi on the Rock, etc...), and NONE of them can hold a candle to Nozomi. The food is incredibly fresh and delicious, and surprisingly reasonably priced. I hated Uni before I came here. Now, I love it. Not only is the food amazing (clearly the most important factor), but the ambiance is great as well- nice enough to dress up, yet cute and casual enough to bring the whole family. If you go to Nozomi and you don't love it as much as I did, there is probably something wrong with your taste buds and you should be looked at by a professional ;)
(5)
maryanne b.
Killer sushi!!! The Hula Roll is a must have!!! Don't get much bettah dan dat brah! We loved the little turtle pond downstairs too! Prices were medium to high, but what can you expect for great sushi? Will definitely be hitting up Nozomi again when in Carlsbad.
(5)
H L.
A great sushi place. The parking lot is a bit strange since they share it with Thai place. Overall, the food was excellent. We had no problems devouring our rolls. The fish was fresh and the sushi chefs gave really good cuts. We had the yellow tail and toro. It was delish!!!! In the end, we topped it off with tempura ice cream. We were already full before the desert, but we had no problems finishing the tempura ice cream. We would definitely come back for more.
(5)
Bill L.
I have eatin at a fair amount of Sushi joints in my day, Nozomi's is by far the finest in all the land. Although it is a little pricey, the ambiance and the quality of food is well worth it. I prefer to sit at the bar mainly because the chef in the corner (dammit i forget his name) is a friggin riot. But if you prefer a more intimate dining experience with your date, i would suggest a window seat upstairs. The downstairs area has a cool little turtle pond, but i didn't dig on the smell too much. I would suggest the surf and turf, Kolby beef and lobster (this thing is money, literally its like 25 bucks for the roll. but is a must have, at least once).
(5)
Ben T.
Outstanding nigiri and rolls! It nice when you get to experience something new and different. Looking around at other tables, the fusion entrees looked great too!
(4)
Sufiya K.
I loved the atmosphere of this Jap fusion restaurant. Lots of water fountains and cool decor. I chose to sit at the sushi bar of course for my first experience. I loved my sushi chef, I believe his name was Ken. He was super friendly and made us some pretty yummy sushi. He definitely cracked up when I hit the gong to get his attention but knocked it over. Hey it worked...I got his attention. I will definitely come here again when I'm up in the Carlsbad area.
(4)
Sara L.
4 of us went Friday and had a good meal. We mostly got tapas, and a few rolls. Started with the jalapeno poppers, which were not exactly warm enough, but have such a great flavor. We had the sashimi platter which was okay except the pieces should have been cut a little smaller. We had the oh no ohyes roll which was tasty. The seoul ribs were satisfying. The gyoza were flavorful and had a nice crispy outside texture. The scallops themselves were not that great, but the sauce they come in was awesome. The baked halibut was delicious. My friend had miso soup which she said was delicious. The best thing we had were the mushroom and leek dumplings with truffle oil, yum! Service was fast and friendly, plates were cleared in the blink of an eye, water glasses refilled consistently. The ambiance is always pleasant. Somewhere to go back to, for sure.
(4)
Kendra N.
This sushi is the best I have had in San Diego. It is so fresh and every roll is fantastic. They have a turtle pond which is awesome too. It is a little pricey, but that is what happens when you want really fresh, fantastic sushi. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Mark L.
Best sushi in Carlsbad! Live Hamachi was outrageous and the service was excellent....as always.
Compared to other sushi places I have been to, Nozomi was very average. The nigri was very good but the speciality rolls were not particularly good (more of a strange flavor issue than quality). Ken, the Executive Chef, was nice to chat with since we were seated at the more informal sushi bar ... even though we didn't ask to be and there were plenty of open tables.
(3)
Sebastian G.
One of the worst 16 dollars I've spent for lunch. Ordered a bento box, cold food, nasty chicken, odd service. It's all about the money here.
(1)
Gertie E.
I have had a 20+ year career in the Los Angeles food scene both as an owner as a marketer of fine foods. I am one of the original Zagat reviewers from when it started back in the late '80s. I am telling you that so that you know I am not a kook. I recently retired in Carlsbad and was so pleasantly pleased to find Nozomi UNTIL the new owners took over. My experience is that there is no longer integrity in the quality of the sushi/sashimi. The cuts of the daily specials are SO amateur I am appalled! This restaurant never used to be like this! And yet the toro prices and the live scallop prices are higher than the best sushi bars in L.A. (known as some of the finest sushi in the world) and they are sliced below market quality in their fullness. For example I am used to live scallop being about 1/4" thick for two slices of sashimi for about $17, these guys sliced it (maybe) 1/32" for 6 slices that fell apart for the same price. The toro was tough (as a special it should be like butter, yet their's was absurdly tough!) and was sliced so amateurishly my 6 year old could have done a more professional job. When Ken was the Executive Chef it was a quality place, but now it is run by a couple of guys who appear to have no knowledge of the Japanese integrity of sushi. I am saddened that tonight is my last meal at Nozomi....right down the street from my new home...it was my "go to" sushi bar in North County. THIS IS THE FIRST YELP REVIEW OF MY LIFE!
(1)
Tundrah T.
Nozomi is excellent, I may even venture to say the best sushi in North County. Excellent service, fresh fish, creative rolls, good atmosphere. AND, they're open til late! We walked in at 9pm on a Monday night (the only ones in there), and no one batted an eye... very nice to find up in sleepy Carlsbad/NC.
(5)
Alvin C.
By far the best sushi in North County. Sushi Ota is the best in San Diego. Great staff, service and decor. Excellent traditional sushi and for you non-traditional sushi lovers, there seems to be a good selection of special rolls. Nice low key place, yet decor is nice enough to take a date. Generally I'll judge a place by its Albacore--and it is fresh. When Toro is in season its amazing...
(5)
Kim H.
I wish I could give negative stars. Went here with a party of 5 a few months ago. Food was amazing but the service was awful. We spent over $100 a person....Got the bill, signed the credit card receipts then looked at the itemized bill - The server added auto gratuity and didn't say a word about it. Auto gratuity policy (ie. for parties of 6 or more) was not posted on the menu and she couldn't tell me their auto gratuity policy. We had to resign the credit cards so we wouldn't double tip. I called the next day to speak to the manager who was rude and told me that if the server felt the customer spent too much money (regardless of the size of the party) she could add a tip and it is the guests job to look at the bill to see if it was added. Really?! Too much money?! Due to the way the situation was handled I will NEVER go back to this restaurant. Try Encinitas Sushi Lounge - way better prices and service.
(1)
J W.
Outstanding sushi and you will pay for it. Had a slight sticker shock or should I say I felt bad. Two Co-workers took me out for my birthday so that makes 3 of us. We just wanted a quick snack so we all decided on sushi. 5 drinks total and 3 rolls before the night out and it was $110 not including tip. Rolls where delicious but in these times it was a lil' much... This place has all the bells and whistles.. Great for a special night or if you have the coin to drop.
(4)
L. M.
San Diego Yelp... you rock. It was our first dinner in Carlsbad and was fantastic. Thanks Yelp! Great atmosphere (they had plenty of flat screen TVs with basketball for the adults... and downstairs they had a great pond with plenty of turtles to amuse the kids). The food was really great across the board and we thought they did a terrific job injected a California style to traditional Japanese dishes. I wish they had a Nozomi in SF!
(4)
alex n.
I love this place, favorite sushi place by far, the food is great, the service is excellent and it has a great atmosphere! James and yoshi ( the chefs) make this place an even better experience! I recommend the dragon roll!
(5)
ang w.
fresh sushi, strong presentation. I recommend the hula and dragon special roll. Basic rolls such as spicy tuna are decent; the albacore and yellowtail nigiri were absolutely succulent. Why did I not give it a higher rating? For the price, the sushi should be 1000x better. The feel of the restaurant also doesn't do anything for me, there is something unsettling about young girls parading in kimonos and stilettos pretending they know anything about sushi.
(4)
Amy M.
Service was spectacular, sushi was fresh and amazing, and the turtle pond captured our kids' attention! We are definitely coming back again- with and without kids! Favorite sushi rolls- hula, and the twister!!
(5)
Chris T.
This place is great. All rolls were fresh and tasted very good. Service was attentive and very friendly. The creamy shrimp and lobster and hibachi scallops tapas were outstanding. The Hula and the Great White rolls were great was well. We will defnetly go back to Nozomi.
(5)
E F.
After reading all the positive reviews I checked out this place and within the first two bites of my appetizer I new what all the hype was about. Yum! I got several things and each one was better than the next. The service was quick and friendly and I was cracking up that all the female servers were wearing kimonos, but really who cares when the food is this good?
(5)
Mark C.
I'm not so much of a Americanized roll eater and can't seem to spend $7 for two slices of raw fish. I ordered the tempura udon since that is the only one they have for about $6 more than other Japanese restaurants. Tempura looked fresh and artsy. Ended up being slightly undercooked because I tasted the goowy batter. The udon was in a small 8 " bowl. Decent broth. Yebisu beer very good. Glad I didn't get the sukiyaki since someone said you onlyget a few pieces of meat and it's $20 a la carte. Glad the waitress was "akiko" rather than "han oh Kim". Person in next table return a roll because avocado inside was hard. So that tells it all. Beutiful interior though. 3 stars for the atmosphere and ponds. 2 stars for food.
(2)
Don L.
Went for my latest time for the Mother's day brunch with my wife, mom, and grandmother in law and my two toddlers. The food was amazing as usual. To keep all of the sushi and rolls fresh and tasty was a great feat. I have had perfect experiences every time with food there, among the best sushi in all SD County. The service is very friendly just a bit awkward/amatureish. Anyway, Nozomi rocks overall.
(4)
B C.
Nothing but love for this Restaurant! The fish is delivered fresh daily and it shows in the taste. I have never had a bad experience or bad service. Every time I treat myself to Nozomi I love it even more!! The wait staff is wonderful and Chef Ken alway createsbeautiful dishes! See you soon Nozomi!
(5)
Anon A.
The sushi here is superb. The decor is a little tacky, but great if you have kids. highly recommend for fresh sushi and great rolls. Great service too.
(5)
Eric R.
I was down in North San Diego helping a friend look for new home in Carlsbad. After a day of house hunting he said that he had spotted to sushi spots. One was on Carlsbad Village Road and looked like it was in a old Denny's did not care for food poisoning as with a newborn at home I was seeing enough poop as well as sleepless nights. So we headed north and under neath the freeway to the left was this little gem called Nozomi. We are from OC/LA so first thing I thing of is parking. There was a huge lot so being in a beach community with parking was BIG. We walked in and the place was spotless and we were politely greeted. The place was empty but it was right at 5:00 on a Sunday. We went upstairs to the Sushi bar where they were not terribly friendly at first but we got James the executive chef to open up and have some fun. He is a great guy who use to race cars as well in Japan. We actually had some common friends. Well know to the food. My friend and I judge all Sushi ( notice I capitalize the word Sushi) by a hole in the wall called Sushi Geshin...I warn you this place is addicting. Well I have to say James the Executive Chef and Yoshi the Sushi Chef and Nozmi have given Geshin a run for the money. It was not cheap but good Sushi never is. The servers were very attentive as well. Definitely be back!
(4)
B T.
Noooo to Zomi. I really wanted to like this place because it is right by my house, but sad to say NOO! This place has not so fresh fish and horrible service. The fusion food was okay, but I am a sushi man and when you get bad fish/service you never want it again. I came here with my wife and kid and it has a cheesy, yet cool atmosphere with the turtle pond and decor! The waitress we had gave us the wrong order, we started to eat it and she asked if she could have it back to give to the other customers. I said I didn't want them to eat something that I had already touched so I would just finish it. Of course she charged us for it even though she screwed up. The aji was fishy and oily to the point that I couldn't eat it. The ahi was okay, the toro fishy and gross, the shima aji was okay. Not really impressed and hopefully they fix things, but not sure I will ever want to come back. I think when it comes to Sushi, I stick with real Japanese Sushi places, kind of like any ethnic food. PS. Wasn't really bothered by the waitresses talking about sleeping with some underage dude, but I was eating
(1)
BRENT H.
okay, its about time. This place is off the charts. The service might be its only drawback, but the quality of the fish and their awesome creations on the specialty rolls makes up for it. i've been there about 5 times since the beginning. i would even eat there before they had their liquor licence., and that is speaking volumes!!! eat here, bring friends, have a great time. And it doesnt hurt that all the servers are SUPER HOT in their kimono's!!!
(5)
Christian B.
The upstairs / downstairs layout is great. Downstairs with the pond and frogs is great for kids.Unfortunately there is no kids menu and it was hard for us to find something our 5 year old liked. The food we adults had was excellent. Some very creative rolls. While there was a good selection of sake our waitress couldn't really help us with selecting one that we would like. The one we ended up picking at random was however very tasty. Overall a bit to expensive for what we got.
(3)
Diana t.
this place is great! i have been on yelp for a while now and haven't been inspired to write a review until eating at nozomi. the decor is nice both on the inside and outside-my favorite is the turtle pond. the staff is very friendly and attentive. the quality of sushi is excellent and they have a whole bunch of delicious specialty rolls. their desserts are amazing!
(5)
Suzanne C.
UPDATED 8/20: After receiving an apology and explanation of short-staffing from the restaurant manager, I am upgrading my review to 3 stars. We still feel the sushi portions were small and the kitchen obviously bungled our order, not just the waitress. We decided to come here based on 4 1/2 stars on yelp. Apparently there is a shortage of expectations in sushi/fusion restaurants in this area, because our two families (with teens) all thought this place was pretty terrible. First, we were in what is decidedly a basement, theoretically masked by a turtle pond - cute, but maybe kinda gross in the middle of a restaurant? The food was good but not great, but shockingly small portions. We are used to twice as much for half the price here in LA. Lastly, the service was terrible. The sushi came out for the adults about 15 minutes before a bento box for one teen, and another 15 minutes for chicken teriyaki. The appetizer never appeared, and when asked, we were told they were out of mussels, but this information wasn't shared when appropriate ... like maybe, when ordering or shortly after submitting the order? Empty water glasses were not refilled. Would not recommend based on price, but don't know if there are any other options in this area!
(3)
melissa m.
Best sushi in san diego!! I love this place. The food is fresh and sooo good. The staff is nice and the menu is great. The chef even came out and talked to my husband and myself after we ate. He was very nice. We will be back A+++++++++
(5)
Shinae C.
We've been going to Nozomi for the past few years and have always enjoyed our meals there, but our visit last weekend took Nozomi from being really good sushi for North County to being some of the best sushi we've had in a long while, PERIOD. (We eat lots of sushi all over the place.) It seems there's been a change in staff and management - there's greater attention to organization, professionalism and detail - and the new (to us, anyway) sushi chef, Dave, makes impeccable nigiri. The quality of the fish, the knifework, the rice - flavorful yet finessed. Decent banzai (anything goes) sushi is easy to come by just about everywhere these days, but elegantly and deftly prepared nigiri with consideration for the progression of the meal without sushi nazi ambience and price tag are hard to come by anywhere. Dave saw from our order that we're the kind of people who order *the stuff* and treated our meal with such care and enthusiasm that this was undoubtedly the best meal we've ever had at Nozomi and certainly puts Nozomi in the ring with the best sushi to be found in all of San Diego. My only regret is that I didn't take more pics of the nigiri to show you how beautifully it was made, but I was really engrossed in the sushi. :) Dave's a keeper. Hope he stays.
(5)
Beth W.
This place has really great sushi! My favorite was the lemon roll, I would recommend that if you don't like the heavy type of rolls. The service was okay, the girl didn't seem to really want to be there. And the prices, they are so high, which I do understand if you are getting good sushi, but definitely be prepared to drop some money here. Overall left here satisfied.
As most people have pointed out, the ownership has changed. From what we were told about three years ago (from today). The service was pretty good. The sushi was very good. I would come back for the sushi. Looks like Chef David is the "rockstar" and it shows in his preparation of the sushi. A couple of things. The butterfish is not actually butterfish, it is Chilean sea bass. For people out there that are familiar with Japanese cuisine, there is a big difference and although we were told that the Sea bass is better; I personally think they are just different. All of that to say, it isn't authentic and although I am sure it probably tastes good enough it isn't that buttery, rich, wonderful, Butterfish (or Black Cod) that I have grown to obsess over. Also, their ramen, to me, is no longer the bees knees. The broth lack flavor as well as the pork, which was chewy and not of the melt in your mouth variety that I had grown to love from Nozomi. Lastly, they no longer have sukiyaki. Bummer. I would come back from the sushi, but not at a hustle.
(3)
Ivy C.
Not really surprised that the sushi was a bit expensive because come on sushi is expensive in general. My boyfriend ordered sushi and I ordered ramen. It was the worst ramen I've ever experienced. I already knew when you eat ramen the broth was going to be a bit salty. But it tasted like I just filled my bowl with the ocean. They changed the recipe to some of the dishes but didn't change it in the menu itself. All there was was ramen and tofu. Very disappointing 30$ meal and we only ordered 2 items each.
(1)
Bigmama S.
I love this place for many reasons! Consistency, consistency. Sushi is incredibly fresh, tasty adult beverages!! The waitstaff friendly and helpful. Came in on a Saturday night, of course means a full restaurant. The host (LISA)was very nice apologetic for the wait. We love her!! She was helpful in offering her recommendations! The service was impeccable. Very attentive that never left our drinks glasses empty or our eaten plates there longer than a minute. Each dish was perfectly times and just left you with a smile after every bite. Shout out to the Chef DAVID. He makes a genius menu that you can taste absolutely every flavor involved. Just a closing note, the presentation of each dish was quite nice, which I appreciated...rather than just throwing the food together in a rush!!
(5)
Robert T.
All four rolls were tasty to my big belly. Almost as happy as #RacingCampeon dooooole Racing!...Giving five stars for the excellent sushi. Service was average. The seating on top floor toooooo crammed...it is being in the conversation of the table next to you, 3 inches NEXT TO YOU! Hours are bad, no Saturday lunch :( They also moved opening from 4:30pm to 5pm, and what am I supposed to do with myself?
(5)
Kathe K.
I went in there for a business lunch and wasn't sure what to expect. We had to wait a little for the place to open as we got there a few minutes before they opened. When they did, we were greeted with a smile and taken to our table. The decor is lovely, but I left before I got a chance to check out the turtles. So of course I'll have to go back just for that! Anyway the sashimi was very good and we got to meet the new owner (he took over a month ago). I plan on going back in the evening to check out the happy hour menu and, of course, the turtles! And no, the turtles are NOT for eating...just for looking at. ;-)
(4)
Dean R.
We have frequented this restaurant for the last several years because, after our first experience, we knew it was the best sushi experience in the area. I don't remember exactly when, but for several months things were not firing on all cylinders so we took some time away from Nozomi. Last night we came back and Dave was our sushi chef. Dave was exceptionally skilled with the butchering of the fish as well as the seasoning (rice included-the rice is equally important as the fish BTW). Additionally, he completely understood the progression that our meal should take and cared to verify that with us. He also thoughtfully provided suggestions to enhance our meal (the cured toro nigiri was ridiculously amazing) and came to our table not only to present the quality ingredients but also to serve us despite us already having a server. Truly an attention to detail and dedication to service of a restaurant experience, not just a meal. Additionally, the restaurant seems to be taking a new direction in a great way. There is a more structured approach to service with hosting and an increased management presence. Every staff member was professional, friendly, and accommodating. THANK YOU!
(5)
Colleen M.
Met up with a large group of family and friends last night. Really good food and service. We ate upstairs and it had a nice vibe. Don't let the outside of the restaurant fool you. We had so many delicious things at the table. Started with the garlic edamame which was completely addicting. Hubby had the oysters. They looked good but I didn't try. Salmon sushi was exquisite! Several rolls came out that were all eaten in moments. Tried the ramen and loved it. Had them put shrimp in the ramen and that was a good move. Mmmmm! Several people ordered the teriyaki and they all loved it! Oh the tempura appetizer was worthy too! Go! No disappointments!! Lindsey our server was excellent as well. Very sweet and attentive!
(5)
Ali J.
Bought the Groupon and was super impressed with the insane amount of food my boyfriend and I got! Great sushi and even better appetizers! Very cool atmosphere and the entire staff from start to finish was great! Will be coming back!
(5)
Kemp W.
There are some great sushi options in Carlsbad. Land and Water, Blue Ocean offer upscale offerings in fabulous settings. Yoshino has great sushi for the price in a store front setting. Nozomi is a perfect neighborhood sushi restaurant. It is very similar to any mid range sushi place -- many rolls with strange names, some decent saki and wine. This place even has some rich ramen soups. Many tourists will be drawn to the village, but they should not overlook this place. It has a great product for the price.
(4)
Titi L.
In the area for work and needed to take a client to a quick lunch. Yelp reviews gave this place 4+ stars so why not try it?! This sushi place is real cute inside with a bamboo motif and a turtle fountain! Lots of live turtles! Sadly, the sushi was not very good. The rice was not sushi grade rice. It was hard. And although the fish was cut in fairly large slices, each piece tasted bland, and the texture was chewy. The garlic edamame however, was pretty good. One star for the server - she was attentive and nice. And one star for the turtle fountain - best part of the place!
(2)
Chad C.
Been coming to Nozomi for years as they have fantastic sushi with a very peaceful Zen interior with a waterfall turtle pond on the lower level. This is a good location for business lunches as it does not get very crowded and it is easy to communicate with whoever you have meet you. Some of the other sushi restaurants are so crowded and loud it makes it very hard to have a quality business lunch. To start off we ordered the miso soup and Agedashi Tofu with hot green tea, also had a number of different pieces of sashimi (the Bluefin was very fresh and quite enjoyable). As far as rolls go ordered the Hula Roll, Lemon Cilantro Roll and Da Bomb Dynamite Roll ... these rolls were very well presented with vibrant flavors. This is one of the top sushi spots in North County and is well worth a visit if you are a sushi fan. If you check-in with Yelp you get a complimentary Miso soup !!
(4)
Paul E.
An excellent fusion Japanese restaurant with extremely fresh fish. This place is an odd location sharing the lot with a Thai restaurant. Parking is pretty good as well. The dining room is on the smaller side so a reservation always helps. The staff are friendly and prompt. The menu is an interesting set of traditional and fusion Japanese food with an emphasis on sushi. Some fusion places bury their fish in sauces, like Hooked on Sushi, this place doesn't. The focus and star is the fresh fish and it definitely stands out as high quality. We had an assortment of five rolls, all of which were really good. The most interesting was the ceviche roll, which is very well balanced and absolutely worth a try. Don't forget to order some garlic edemame, they are excellent.
(4)
Louie L.
It was fun to see the water fountain in the "basement" w/ sliders swimming in it. The food was good. But twice they messed up on an order where we didnt want any greens on some rolls. But we ate them anyways and didnt complain. The staff was nice and they have plenty of beers on draft.
(3)
Liana B.
I had a really enjoyable experience at Nozomi's. My group came in around 9 pm on a Sunday and were greeted and seated immediately. We ordered and shared three rolls: hula, afterburner, and lime cilantro. We also ordered: ramen, butterfish, creamy lobster and shrimp tempura, and a poke salad cocktail of some sort (see photo), which we ate family style. We loved every single dish. I usually stay away from any sort of raw sushi, but I tried the poke salad cocktail and it was delicious. If I had to choose the must order dishes, I would recommend the butterfish, poke salad cocktail, and the afterburner roll. But as I said earlier, everything we ordered was delicious. The service was outstanding, and the decor was very elegant yet comfortable. If you're ever in the Carlsbad/San Diego area, come here if you want great sushi and great service!
(5)
Lilmissb B.
The sushi doesn't really get better than this. The quality of the salmon, crab and eel was great. I can't wait to go back and enjoy it again.
(5)
Sung N.
It was really empty on a wed during lunch hour (12-1pm), it was 4 people besides us. Service was good obviously and she asked if we had a groupon so I uploaded it there. $35 worth for $20 (save $15) on your check, but doesn't include lunch specials. It was good considering I ordered $45 worth of food and spent only $30. Connected to it is a Thai restaurant that looked packed. Overall, it was decent and looks authentic from the outside. Sushi was a 5 out of 10, but for the most part, it's above average compared to all the other SD Japanese restaurants.
(4)
Rachel Y.
Outstanding sushi in North County, San Diego. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar, as their chefs are extremely personable, knowledgable and genuine. Especially their Chef, Antonio Quindere, whom handled our sushi bar experience and prepared the best Chirasi platter we've ever had. He's spent time working all over the world, including Japan, which reflected in our experience at Nozomi. Fish quality is top notch and I look forward to returning to more items off the menu, both sushi and hot kitchen items. My new favorite sushi spot in Carlsbad. East of 5, off Carlsbad Village Drive. Away from the traffic and tourists within the Village.
(5)
Sam J.
Really great service. They only have two sushi chefs that I saw so things can take some time but nothing ridiculous. Again the staff is very friendly and helpful. A great way to spend a casual evening.
(4)
Madison S.
Went here yesterday. The fish is fairly fresh and the salad proportions are amazing (usually get a garden salad before ordering sushi). I had yellowtail, albacore, shrimp, tuna, and masago nigiri. The shrimp was old, the tuna was fresh, yellowtail tuna was great and the albacore wasn't that fresh. I also got the lemon cilantro roll, it's a really great roll. I believe it had albacore on top, and although the albacore wasn't that fresh, it tasted a bit better on the roll. The masago was absolutely terrible. The fishiest I've ever tasted. I go usually more than once a week to different sushi restaurants and order it and know how it's supposed to taste and it wasn't right. They said it had a citrus flavor to it. It came out completely electric yellow and the thought of it is just gross. Service: The service every time I go isn't great at all. The first time I believe I had a red haired girl and when I asked for things off of the rolls, she rolled her eyes and the rolls ended up coming with the things I asked to have off of them anyways, which happened to be very simple things like a sauce and the jalepeños. I told her I asked for it off but she just seemed annoyed and didn't ask if I wanted it remade or anything. My bill was close to 100$ and the service just wasn't cool at all. The second time, there was a new girl who didn't know much about serving it seemed like but the other servers helped her out. Not pleased at all Due to this complaint, the sushi chef complimented me on Yelp calling me a chump and said he won't let me back in because I didn't like his undercooked calamari. This establishment is completely unprofessional and plain rude. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT GOING HERE, DONT GIVE YOUR MONEY AWAY TO A PLACE WITH APPALLING SERVICE. You can find a way better tasting and priced joint. I recommend Wrench and Rodent, Hooked on Sushi or Kuchi sushi. All have amazing, fresh food with stellar employees who care about what they are serving you.
We came because of a groupon we were given as a gift. $35-. Of course I knew we'd spend more than $35, which was not a problem. I went with my husband & son. The decor inside was very cool, authentic Japanese style, it just had a very nice atmosphere. Front desk hostess was pleasant and seated us right away that Friday early evening. We had a pleasant waitress, she was attentive & kind. Sushi bar behind us seemed fun, great set up, but we had a table so our review is for sit down, food & service. I ordered a very regular dish of teriyaki chicken, on rice with veggies. For $15 I found it a bit over priced for what the dish actually was. It was a bit bland, and just an okay entree. My son had a shrimp appetizer $19-, he loves shrimp, but he wasn't thrilled about it. My husband and I both tasted it and it was a bit mushy shrimp, flavor seemed tasty but the texture & mushiness seemed odd. Can't explain why. Other crunchy sushi dish my husband ordered was good. (Pictured below, forgot the name). We had two happy hour watermelon martini's, small sized but tasted yummy, not much alcohol though. But 2 for one HH price was not bad. All in all it was a very nice restaurant, nice atmosphere, background music a bit on the loud side kinda like a sports bar type of loudness. But the staff was great, food was okay. Slightly too pricy for what the dish actually is worth. I think you pay for the nice restaurant atmosphere. Our bill came to about $80, I'd like to try a new place in Carlsbad next time & skip this place. It's fine, it's okay.
(3)
Juan Carlos I.
This place met all expectations for dinner tonight. The service was quick and the quality was great. The only problem that we had was the room being a little chilly (it's windy and a little cold out and the restaurant is kinda cold). Other then that the waitress was energetic and had a lot good recommendations. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IN SO YOU GET A FREE FRESH MISO SOUP.
(4)
Doris W.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. My girlfriend and I came here for dinner Monday night. I had purchased a groupon for $20 for $35.00. Monday night is also happy hour all night. With the groupon though we couldn't use it towards the happy hour menu. Prices were decent for the happy hour menu, with a good selection of rolls and appetizers. We ordered: - After burner roll (happy hour price $8) - Cilantro lemon roll - fried calamari - Hampachi sashimi ($15 special on the board) - Seaweed salad (happy hour price) The calamari was overly fried. The rolls were decent and so was the sashimi. A bit pricey for this place. I've been wanting to try this place for a while because of the good reviews but haven't because of the pricey side. Our bill came out to around $60.00.
(3)
Vicki C.
My cats love this restaurant. It is not often that they get a kitty bag of sashimi. For years I have wondered how Nozomi was, now I know. We had a couple of hours to kill while our sweet kitty Ozzy was getting xrays. The itamae may have had a bad day, everything we ordered was sub par except my beer. The tempura was undercooked, soft and still had raw batter in it. Our sashimi had that twanky funk that makes you hope that you will not get sick from it. We left with a large box of fish for the kitties, but this is their last visit to Nozomi.
(3)
Susan M.
I was a big fan of the Nozomi's in La Jolla and was super stoked that I had found one in the Carlsbad area. I gotta say that I am a bit disappointed. Although the ambiance and interior is very nice and huge (they even have a Khoi fish pond!!), the food was not very good. We were able to catch the happy hour and ordered the short ribs and the sushi plate which came with five pieces of nigiri and a California roll. We also got the sashimi salad. The fish on the nigiri did not seem fresh. I'm not sure if it was just because it was on the happy hour menu?? Anyway, the short rib came on skewers and it tasted pretty average. Meat was definitely overcooked. What I was most disappointed with was the sashimi salad. I always used to order that at the Nozomi's in La Jolla because it's so delicious there, however, the one here is not the same. There was supposed to be a mix of fish, however I probably saw only one piece of salmon and the rest was all tuna. My bf and I aren't huge fans of tuna and it said there would be other fish in there too but there wasn't. For such a large bowl, I was pretty disappointed when I found out that three quarters of it was filled with rice! This dish was definitely not worth the price. I would probably never come back here because the food isn't very good. I gave this place an extra star though because the waitress we had was awesome. She was very attentive and super helpful. I really wish the food here was better though as the place itself is super nice.
(2)
Tim R.
Ate at Nozomi in Carlsbad for a second time today, it confirmed my first visit. OK food and service but way overpriced. Last visit I only had sushi rolls including some of their specialty rolls...even with a Groupon they were way overpriced for quality and quantity. Today I tried their Miso Pork Ramen soup. Flavor was fine (hard to ruin Miso), but there were only 2 small pieces of pork and 1/2 a hard boiled egg. There was an ample portion of noodles, but it sure would have been nice to have more pork and egg for $14!! That dish could not have cost them more than $1.00 for the food portion, nice profit margin! When I arrived, everybody in the parking lot was headed to the adjoining restaurant, Lotus Thai, now I see why!
(1)
Pete T.
This place was beyond cool, I'd give them more stars if I could. We stayed at Legoland hotel for the weekend & decided to eat sushi since the reviews were pretty good, my kids loved the whole turtle display/fountain area. More importantly the sushi was outstanding, we live in Los Angeles & have ate at many different sushi bars from the basic to the high end & this place is right up there, especially when the GM named David presented us with a bottle of Kubota Manju at a good price........I was impressed. Above all David really stepped up as the new GM & helped to surpass all of our expectations from service to the actual food. Chef Tony was remarkable with his creations. The yellowtail belly sashimi was perfect. I definitely recommend this place, 100%! A+++++++++
(5)
Lisa S.
I showed up here yesterday at 4:45 pm. They were closed despite their hours of operation showing they open at 4:30. There was an employee waiting in the parking lot for them to open. I presume they need to be there before they open to prepare but door were locked.
(1)
Ashley M.
Just had the Hula and the Kai rolls... Amazing!!! A bit expensive, but the best sushi always is!
(5)
Matt M.
Stopped here for dinner one evening on the recommendation from a friend. We started with some miso soup and it was great. It seemed like it was taking a long time for our sushi to come out, which the waitress acknowledged with a free bowl of edamame. She said there was only 1 sushi chef on duty that evening, as there are typically 2-3. Well it was well worth the wait. I can't remember the dish we ordered, but waitress suggested it. It was the best sushi we've ever had. Along with the miso and edamame it was the perfect size portion for my wife and I to split. Absolutely phenomenal! I can't wait to get back to SD to hit this joint again.
(5)
Mike C.
Nozomi used to be a regular stop on the way home, usually to pick up an order of Chicken Fried Rice, but it had been a couple years since the last time I had stopped. The Manager on duty straightened out a misconception and did everything he possibly could to make it right. His great attitude alone was worth the 5 start rating, but the Fried Rice was excellent, as it has always been, so Nozomi is back on the regular take-out list!
(5)
Kara K.
The food and portions are pretty great here, down side is how pricey it is. We came here last night for a bday party and had the room downstairs with the water fall and turtles, it was awesome! Great for kids down there. The server was great, she was actually one of the best we've had lately. The seaweed salad is super good. We will maybe go back but most likely to try the shared restaurant lotus thai.
(4)
Davide C.
Too much sauces on the rolls. The restaurant smell like french fries as your hair when you go out.
(2)
Rachell L.
Came back here and I have to say I am impressed this time around (I stuck to sushi this time). The Twister Roll was another signature of theirs and was great. Also went for a classic Philly Roll and Rainbow Roll and both were phenomenal. And of course, my personal guilty pleasure of the Pancho Roll was great as always. Service was also much better this time around. Still advise to stick to the sushi.
(4)
Tiffany H.
I came here on a Sunday night and the place didn't sound too crowded although I stood at the front for a good 5 minutes before the host showed up. I chose to sit at the bar because I wanted to see if his place was an Japanese-American fusion sushi restaurant or it was authentic Japanese. Right after I was seated, I was not impressed with the fish they had in the display as there were not that many selections. Even that, I still wanted to keep an open mind since the board said fresh amaebi (which is my favorite if it's good and fresh). I looked at the menu and ordered engawa first. The chef had to tell me they don't have anymore (although they open at 5pm and I came at 5:30pm). He told me a list of fresh fish they had today and I tried hamachi toro first. It was pretty fresh so I thought I could try more nigiri instead just give up and order rolls. I ordered amaebi next and it was indeed fresh (they don't serve you the shrimp body first as they wanted to serve the fried head and the nigiri at the same time). Then I tried salmon (they didn't have salmon belly), and it was not bad. I next ordered scallop and I was not impressed as they were very cold and not very fresh. At that time I knew there was really nothing else to try so I ordered negi toro roll to finish and they were also out. Luckily there was a small tiny piece of toro left so the chef made a small roll for me for free. Although the place was not packed, the chefs (three at the bar) seemed very overwhelmed. Oh did I mention there was actually a very small piece of fish bone in my salmon nigiri. :(. I don't think I will come back again.
(2)
Michael S.
Okay, buckle up. First of all, the sushi we ordered last night was AMAZING!! We ordered (in order of tastiness!) a salmon with avocado roll, two bowls of miso soup, spicy hamachi roll, crunchy shrimp roll and ceviche roll. The ceviche roll was definitely worth putting on a pair of pants and driving to the place... but we didn't do that because THEY FREAKING DELIVER SUSHI TO YOUR HOUSE!!! I've been in person once, and the place is decent. This is not your cheap sushi place, and it's not some hoity-toity place either, it's good food at a fair price for what you get. A couple of downsides, and maybe I should rate it a four-star because of this (but DANG, that ceviche roll is seriously tasty!): they advertise it as "free delivery" except there's a mandatory 18% tip you gotta pay BEFORE they deliver your food. I used to deliver food, and if my tips were on the receipts before I left, I would have sorted them in descending order of amount, not when the order was placed. Not to worry though, the guy was here with the full order in about 45minutes (pretty impressed). The other thing, they didn't include any ginger or wasabi... We REALLY like ginger and wasabi, but because we don't make sushi at home, we don't stock that crazy stuff here. Luckily the food was incredible. We drank our own beer, and didn't have to get up/ready. The price was a bit of a splurge (around $70 for 2 people to be stuffed) for us on a weeknight, but very well worth it. I'd just recommend asking they include ginger and wasabi if you go the delivery route.
(5)
Hector L.
Recovered. The manager, Dave, comped us a sculpin grapefruit after an epic failure of not having his Sapporo happy hour beer the week before. Love this place having the best Sushi and the best drinks in C bad!! Thanks Dave!!!
(5)
Jeanelle J.
Interesting place and surprised to see the large koi pond filled with turtles. We got seated right away. We were in town for a short vacation in which we visit Carlsbad at least once a year. We were glad we stumbled upon this place. Overall the sushi quality was excellent and quite fresh. I prefer sashimi but the rolls we did order were extremely tasty. I love it when sushi chefs make cut rolls that can actually fit in my mouth without struggling with oversized rolls. The chefs take great care in their sushi preparation. I saw some reviews talking negative about the tempura. I honestly thought their tempura better was some of the best I've had...extremely light and crispy as opposed to the heavy greasy batter I've experienced in the past. We also ordered the shrimp fried rice and having an egg over easy with us opening the yolk all over the rice was pretty awesome. My only complaint was that the miso soup was too salty and their pricing was a bit more on the high side. However overall this place was a pleasant surprise and we will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Malia J.
this restaurant is a hidden jewel. I heard about it through Sushi Smackdown and decided to try it out. Chef Antonio, their Brazilian chef is absolutely amazing. The fish melts in your mouth and their rolls are full of flavor. You have to ask the chef to make you the salmon with pear. I don't know what its called but it's delicious. He also makes a protein roll that is amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are a sushi fan.
(5)
Lara R.
Been back a few times over the past few months. I've tried other sushi places, ones closer to my house, and I keep coming back to this one. The quality of the food, and friendliness of the staff, make it better than others in the area. Keep up the good work! :)
(5)
Kristin W.
Best experience I've had at restaurant in a long time!! I left extremely impressed with both the food and management! My Mom, my young daughters and I went to lunch today. I had never been here and it had been quite a while since my Mom had been in. My daughters were asleep in their double stroller (which is the size of a mini bus) when we arrived. We walked into the bottom level which is a cool lounge area with an awesome water feature that had live turtles in it! We quickly realized that the restaurant was upstairs on the third floor. My Mom walked up to the top level to see if there was any way to get us all up there. It was super busy. My Mom saw a server and asked if there was any way to get a stroller up there. The server said no and that she was the only server working so she wouldn't be able to help us down below. My Mom came back down and began to tell me the unfortunate news when an upbeat, friendly guy came down the stairs introducing himself as the manager, David. He said that the bottom level was closed but he would be happy to serve us himself. We told him that was OK and we would just go somewhere else. He quickly responded with "I don't want you to leave and you don't want to leave so please have a seat." (Later on we found out that they don't normally use the bottom level for service.) We told him that we were on a time crunch and he said, no problem! We sat down at a table and enjoyed the sound of the water fall while watching the turtles climb on the rocks. Before we knew it David was back with a smile, plates, napkins and menus in hand. He offered to get us water while we looked over the menus. We decided to order miso soup, 2 rolls (The Twister and Protein Roll), a tapa (Yellowtail Jalapeno) and some wine. David suggested that we also try the butter fish so we decided to order that as well. After the soup the butter fish came out first. Served on a a bed of carrots and asparagus in a ponzu type sauce this fish was to die for!! When David came back with our rolls we had pretty much cleaned the plate. The Yellowtail Jalapeno and both the rolls were great as well. All of the fish was very fresh and good quality. David let us know that he had recently taken over as manager and one of the owners. He told us that he was working on making some positive changes to the menu and restaurant its self. Let me tell you, he is off to a great start!! His friendly, outgoing personality combined with the fantastic food made for a lunch to remember. I was definitely not expecting this experience when we first walked in. I will not only be back but will be telling all of my friends about this place. I can not wait to come back on a date night with my husband! Thank you David for going above and beyond in every aspect of our visit. Keep up the great work!!
(5)
Kyoko W.
I am a Japanese who loves Sushi. This place is only restaurant makes me felt I went back to Japan. Love it!!
(5)
Juliana W.
We arrived there with two kids at 9 pm after Legoland (in the area) was closed, and from what we could see, the restaurant was kind of half-emptied. Still, the host had us wait for 20 minutes or so to get "our table set". The food is ok but it didn't justify for the high price we paid.
(3)
Gabby J.
I've dined here several times and have always been pleased. The chefs are very creative and the service is always on point. I like my sushi traditional and the chefs put a creative spin on traditional sushi. If you want a chain sushi joint with spicy mayo and crappy fish than you may wanna skip out on nozomi.
(5)
Cori T.
This is our new date spot. Tony is an excellent sushi chef! Get the Pancho and the Hula rolls! The passion fruit martini is AMAZING!
(5)
ty D.
This place was horrible on many accounts. First being the service. The waitress was a twit. Second the food seriously lacked flavor. Sansai Udon bowl tasted like they used frozen veg and a flavor packet. The teriyaki chicken lunch special was NOTHING special! When we first walked in we said we had a made a reservation with a groupon. When we went to pay the our waitress, the same one that seated us said, OHHHHH I wish you would of told me you had a groupon, the lunch special can not be used with a groupon. Excuse me lady, we did tell you when you first seated us. She said "sorry I was frazzled" Our $11 lunch special then had to be changed to the $18 plate. UGH. We ended up having a $50 lunch of less than tasty food. Not going to be back anytime soon. You would be better off to stick with the delicious Thai food next door.
(1)
Kelly N.
Most amazing sushi restaurant I have ever be to! Art and his sister are fanatic hosts! If we had this place where I live my whole paycheck would go too eating here!!
(5)
Eliana S.
The food was okay, the atmosphere was nice, the turtles were fun. But the food was really expensive, especially for the serving sizes. $14 for fried rice with chicken and it came out as a single person serving. For $14 I'd want to have enough to split with a friend and take some home. The sushi was okay, but with Yoshino deli in the same neighborhood and $8 for a basic roll or two pieces of sashimi and around $20 for specialty rolls, it's hard to like them.
(3)
Gina H.
I have been here a couple of times. Everyone is friendly too. Sushi rolls here are delicious. The restaurant is small and cozy. The price is like what you would expect from other sushi restaurants as well.
(4)
John L.
Had a great dinner last night. Their rainbow roll is really good. The ahola role is nice, you can skip the mango one. Their halibut and crab dish is fantastic. Make sure to check for a groupon
(5)
Jewel L.
Not a place for true foodies. The 4 star rating must be for prior owners. Tuna poke: way too over sauced. Came with very little tuna and LOTS of seaweed. I've paid less for more tuna in other Japanese restaurants. Twister roll: Very tasty but again, this was because of the spicy mayo and all the other stuff. Very little fish; lots of imitation crab. Nicely fried but not worth the money if there isn't any fish. My party decided to skip the sashimi and order various teriyaki dishes. They tasted alright but they were more Benihana like than Japanese.
(2)
Lucky L.
Came here last night and all I can say the food and service was amazing. If you check in on yelp you get a free miso soup. They even have some Groupon. Place was not packed and was a great vibe to the place. Will becoming here again.
(5)
Chris F.
Sushi is good here, especially if you go off the menu with your top three favorite roll ingredients with the chef and let him do the rest. That's how they do it in Japan and it always turns out fun. Miso soup is good. Happy hour menu is good but a bit heavy on "krab" and other saucy stuff where I am a bit more of an au naturel sushi type. I try not to go drowning everything in soy and wasabi since everything will taste the same. I recommend either a spicy scallop hand roll or sake with a thin lemon slice and green onion. Be sure to do either without any sauce and if needed just a little bit of Kirin. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Tyisha C.
Best vegetable roll I ever tasted. This place is small but staff is nice. Loved our first experience.
(4)
dara u.
Sushi was good but the service was okay. A little pricey for the taste that's why I give 3 stars its almost a 4 star place.
(3)
Aubrey L.
It's hard to find fresh sushi, good drinks, and good service all in one place...but this place has mastered it ALL! The new owner is doing great things!! Try the butterfish, it's amazing!!
(5)
Madison M.
Where do I begin?? I just loved this place! I'm an adventurous foodie and decided to allow the chef free reign for the evening and I was not disappointed. Our server delivered roll after roll of delicious, creative and high quality selections. The sashimi was melt in your mouth delicious. I was traveling to Carlsbad from LA and I will willingly admit that I am a bit of an LA snob when it comes to sushi but Nozomi was able to go toe to toe with our restaurants here. Great food + fun atmosphere = a must go to spot. You won't be disappointed; in fact you'll be delighted. I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Billy A.
One of my tests for good Japanese food is the simple appraiser called Gyoza (potsticker). Besides the filling, the dumpling should be crisp on the bottom and steamed on the top. It takes longer to make and is rarely done correctly. Nozomi does it perfectly. Our lunch was artistic, fresh and served by Lyndsey with the pride of knowing her recommendations would be perfect for us. 5 stars...worth the extra cost.
(5)
Monique M.
I love this place and everyone who works here! Great food and service, they really do their best to make you happy. If you are adventurous like me I suggest you sit at the sushi bar upstairs and have chef Asa or chef Benjamin make you something special that's not on the menu, just trust me. Great cocktails here too.
(5)
Tyler C.
Solid sushi restaurant. They've become a staple in the community of Carlsbad and will continue to be so. The Mango A Go Go, Twister Roll and the Hula roll are mandatory picks. Great service, terrific sushi chefs and legit atmosphere. I back Nozimi 100%!
(4)
Judy S.
my daughter surprised me by coming home for the weekend from college & asked for sushi. I remembered seeing a groupon for Nozomi so I bought it & we came in for dinner. the pricing I feel is pretty high so the groupon helped. upon walking in, the host seems a little awkward & not too welcoming but our server was great so I quickly forgot about the host, maybe he was having a bad day. anyway, we ordered miso ramen, hula roll, unagi bansai, calamari & beef yakisoba. so let me start w/ the good. my daughter ordered the unagi bansai, I was a bit concerned that it was deep fried since all the deep fried sushis I've had have been not good, but to my surprise, it was pretty good. the hula roll was not bad but I would ask for no neon green matcha crunchies next time. the calamari was tasty but most of ours were clumped together, that's never happened to me before, maybe 1 or 2 pieces, but ours were pretty much 2 big clumps, too bad cause it was pretty good. I saw another table's order and theirs definitely looked better than ours... so consistency might be a issue. the miso ramen was a bit bland, and for $14, it was a huge disappointment. and the yakisoba was so greasy, my husband barely touched it. he ended up eating my ramen. I told the waitress but there wasn't a offer for something else or anything, almost like she didn't hear me? I told my husband we'd take it home & I'll try to degrease it for him & add a little more flavor. when we were done, the waitress informed us that we were a few dollars shy of our groupon so we ordered something to go, unfortunately, they got a bit busy & the kitchen & sushi chefs could not handle the rush, we waited 25 min after we paid for a simple spicy ahi roll. and there were 2 tables that had put in their orders way past 30 min. & were still waiting. we felt bad for them. so overall it wasn't a bad experience but it wasn't great either.
(3)
Cindy W.
I was craving sushi and since I'm pregnant, there's limited options as to what I can eat as far as sushi goes. I didn't care though, I wanted my sushi fix and I wanted it now! Specifically spicy tuna! Since it was Mother's day weekend, my husband gave in to my request. We were leaving the Flower Fields and so we wanted to go somewhere nearby. I found Nozomi on Yelp and after reading the reviews, I figured let's try it! We got there and the place was confusing, there was a Thai restaurant downstairs, we couldn't figure out how to get to the sushi place until we saw stairs, there was a sign to take an elevator but we didn't see one? So we took the stairs to the third floor and found the restaurant. We were there at 5 but people started coming in shortly afterwards. I didn't order much since the growing baby in my belly is squishing my stomach and I can only fit so much. So we got the yellow tail sashimi for my husband, the "da bomb dynamite" roll and the spicy tuna I was craving. We had edamame to start. I was very full afterwards, but like I said, tiny stomach from growing baby squishing it down to nothing. Our waitress was very quick and everything tasted good. Plus, no one got sick afterwards so I can't complain! :)
(4)
Erika T.
First time here and we're loving it! The sushi is very fresh and clean--specifically, the Twister and the Protein are amazing. They're at different ends of the taste spectrum, but so good! They brought out the sushi in the perfect order, so my meal built up well and I could thoroughly enjoy the fish from each dish. The sushi chefs are really talented and creative and I can't say enough good things about them.
(5)
Aaron L.
All lies. Don't believe it! Terrible service, below average fish. Rude chefs! Don't believe me go waste your time.
(1)
Bethany H.
I usually trust Yelp. Today, that bond was shattered. Looking for a deal, we found this restaurant through Groupon. $15 for $35, checked Yelp: 4 stars. Sounded good to me! Upon arrival, the hostess was friendly and welcoming (the only reason this has 2 stars and not one). We had our sleeping 6 month old with us, so she sat us in the more quiet downstairs area. From here, the evening went downhill fast. Our waitress seemed stoned out of her mind, the sushi was mediocre, and thanks to some mix up our last roll took about an hour to finally get to our table. At one point, my husband and I were just walking around the restaurant biding our time. Our waitress (bless her smokey little heart), brought us some edamame on the house. She also kindly took the final roll off our bill. This, however, made our bill now less than the $35 required to use our groupon! So in order to save money, we had to order a dessert. (The banana tempura is good if you like soggy tempura crust in your ice cream. Anyone who likes delicious desserts should stay away.) Overall, the spirit was willing but the delivery poor.
(2)
Linda J.
Brought my daughter last night early for Happy Hour. Sat at bar and had 3 chefs all to ourselves. After the happy hour special, we enjoyed chatting with Jeff, Tony and David. Asked what they like, and they told us a secret....if it's not busy, ask the chef to "Okmakase", which we were told means "trust the chef". They each made a dish that was not on the menu and was the most amazing sushi we ever had!!! We were wowed by all the customer service from everyone and how they catered to our wish, and even deducted the dessert, which was the only thing we weren't impressed with. Will come back again and again, especially when it's not busy, like Wednesday at 5 pm.
(5)
Mychael T.
The fish and sushi is pretty good but the service here is horrible. We waited over an hour for 3 rolls. The waitresses didn't even acknowledge the fact that it was a long wait or apologize for wasting our time. It took close to 45 minutes to get my first water refill. Id rather drive 30 minutes to go to RB sushi versus coming here ever again
(1)
Jo-Ellen D.
We went here for a Sushi Smackdown event, and it was OK. We'd like to go back and try it on just a regular night. The service was kind of slow, and they forgot to give us a few of our pieces, so they had to go back and have them make them again for us. The food was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't bad either.
(3)
Miki O.
Highly recommend this restaurant! Everything was fresh and very tasty. Even some details on decoration of this place are very nice.
(5)
Jennifer L.
Lane Manriki is THE man! I'd go back just to see him. He has that heavy Hawaiian accent yeah? Laid back and loving life. This restaurant is huge, with a small turtle pond downstairs but the main action is upstairs. Make sure you sit at the sushi bar where Lane is for the most enjoyable experience. Gyoza -- Average. The skin was at my preferred stage of texture in terms of crunch and hardness. The meat inside wasn't extraordinary but I don't expect much when it comes to gyoza. It's just something I like to start my meal off with. Sushi -- Fish is very fresh. Lane hand picks all of the fish daily like a boss. I was able to try the Albacore, Unagi, Surf clam, and chutoro. Lane had just picked up some fresh otoro and chutoro that night and was kind enough to let us sample his chutoro. Chutoro is the belly area of the tuna. While it is fatty, it is not as fatty as otoro. The chutoro was like butter in my mouth. With the exception of chutoro, I probably reordered every sushi a second time. Everything tasted so crisp and clean. They have black sesame and green tea ice cream. Naturally, we ordered it. The waitresses were a bit slow that night. I couldn't understand why as the restaurant wasn't all that packed. At times, we would order things and it took so long Lane had to remind them.
(4)
Noah M.
Sushi was great - I recommend the pancho roll made by none other than Poncho himself!! Violet was our server. Best server north of San Diego. Clean, fast and friendly. Well priced and delicious. I mean do you really need anything else?
(5)
Greg C.
Man so disappointed! The waitress was emo- hated life/ job etc....? Honestly thought she might start crying at any moment. The awful people who sat next to us were trash, vulgar, uneducated and loud- they ruined our conversation and our experience. However the lack of stars is mostly due to service. So bummed on this place after the great reviews I read. I don't think I will ever come back.
(2)
Delux L.
overpriced and just ok sushi. We sat at the sushi bar and there were only 2 sushi chefs for the bar and entire place. took too long to get a roll. $7.50 for a spicy tuna roll?? common! I had to ask for wasabi! if you are gonna charge $15-20 per special roll then make sure you have the staff and ability to pull it off! after 20 min, we asked for the check and cancelled the $18 roll we ordered.
(2)
Ann J.
This place was amazing! Went in with a Groupon and was so impressed, I will definitely be back! Freshest fish around. Excellent service, incredibly friendly manager and best raspberry lemon drop ever!
(5)
erica z.
The Crispy Calamari is nothing really- not crispy, not crunchy, not flavored. The calamari and coating were not seasoned with spices or anything so you just got the flavor from the dipping sauce which was probably Sriracha and mayo. We got a Hula Roll which was very well received. It was tasty. We also got the Ceviche Roll which was good, no rice involved so the texture may not be for everyone. The quantity is good, it was all very filling. The ambiance and turtle pond are a plus, but it's overall nothing that spectacular. We've been here at least a dozen times, as we live down the street. It's always solidly mediocre, but we love the turtle pond and the Groupon deals they offer.
(3)
Johnny A.
Ate there last night with 4 friends Stunning! We are SO MUCH! Not a bad dish on the menu. We had the ceviche rolls, the hulu roll, sashimi salad, the Twister, another sashimi plate, the Kai (wrapped in cucumber) the yellowtail taradito, and the jalapeño poppers as an app. I can't say enough except that I can't wait to go back. The ambience was deceptive as the food was made by such an impeccable artist I expected to hear Japanese music and yet Jimi Hendrix was playing in the background. The wait staff was supremely knowledgeable but more than that, they were proud and happy- a big plus in my book. The fish was seriously melt-in-your-mouth good. I dare you to go there and not absolutely love it!
(5)
Liz M.
Came here because of their Groupon deal and glad we did! Their baked sushi was so yummy! I recommend the Pancho Roll but beware--it's super spicy! For dessert we had their tempura banana and it was delicious. I loved the atmosphere, loved the turtle pond, and their staff was all friendly!
(5)
Kelly C.
This restaurant, is by far, my favorite sushi restaurant in San Diego. The sushi is so fresh, there's so much to choose from on the menu, the service is great and the ambiance is fun and inviting. They also have really unique Sake which I have not been able to find at other sushi restaurants around town. Come here, order the lemon cilantro roll and make sure to check out the turtle pond before you leave!
(5)
Lisel S.
Great food, fun sushi chef and neat atmosphere. Food can be a bit pricey but alcohol cost is low and the value is there. Just off Carlsbad Village Dr., and well hidden but worth the find.
(4)
Francesca S.
I went for my birthday with some friends and absolutely loved it. The service was just what I like, attentive, but not overbearing. The menu had a good balance of the sushi and sashimi basics we all love as well as unique and creative rolls. The cilantro roll was delicious! I plan to make this a birthday tradition.
(5)
Leigh Castelli P.
Nozomi is our favorite sushi spot in San Diego! We have been there several times in the last two years but our dinner Friday night was so good, I had to write a review! We sat at the sushi bar for the first time and it made our meal that much more enjoyable. Watching Diego and Kevin behind the bar is so fun -- you can tell they both love what they do. We let Diego create rolls for us based on our likes and we were happy with the choices. Also, the Kai roll on the speciality menu is awesome! The fish is so fresh and all of the flavors are amazing. We have recommended this place to all of our friends and we hope to return for date night soon.
(5)
Joe K.
My Wife and I recently dined at Nozomi and the fish was incredibly fresh and prepared like have never tasted before. My Wife has a gluten allergy and the chef Francisco was very helpful, accommodating and knowledgeable as to what ingredients had gluten. Francisco prepared a special type of rainbow roll for my wife with a gluten free eel sauce, she was incredibly happy and satisfied as she has not been with some other sushi restaurants in the area. We highly recommend Nozomi and chef Francisco for a great sushi spot!
(5)
Pamela C.
My husband surprised my friends and I with reservations here for my birthday. At first I thought he picked the place simply because it was a sushi spot and it shared my name. Looking at the description, I was a bit tentative of this place as I was bringing my mother and she is SOOOOOO critical of Japanese restaurants outside of Japan. We skipped over ordering any miso soup, because, I don't care how talented a chef you think you are, you can't make it better than my mama. We started with some gyoza, hibachi scallops, and oysters on the half shell. The gyoza wrappers were super thin and had that nice mix of crispy crunch and perfectly steamed and chewiness I love. Perfect side to when you have been out drinking. The scallops, and oysters were super fresh! When I say "super" I mean SOOOPAH! You could totally taste the sea and that clean sweetness from the meat! Now feeling that we weren't going to get any food poisoning, the ladies and I went ordering crazy. I can't remember everything we had ordered during the melee but I do recall ordering the chirashi , hamachi kama (2 orders), a few protein rolls, a few Kai rolls, and quite a lot of sushi and sashimi, and two bottles of sake. The only complaint my mom had was not enough shellfish/mollusk varieties available for sushi and sashimi. All the plates came out beautifully arranged and the attention from the waitstaff was really superb. Keep in mind that it is a fusion restaurant, and you might not find things that fit the traditional mark. But if you are looking for some really fresh seafood, this definitely is a great place to go!
(4)
Sa A.
We have tried many Japanese restaurants through out the LA, Orange County and San Diego area. We were looking for a place that served authentic Japanese food. Through may attempts none met that. We went to Nozomi 3 in Carlsbad, CA. It was a pleasant coastal ride to Nozomi. The ocean breeze set the tone for an amazing delightful experience of excellent dinning. The first time we dine at Nozomi 3, was Father's Day 2013. The menu has a large variety of dishes to accommodate every ones taste buds. The food was wonderful, the servings are large, come hungry. The sushi was very fresh. the Teriyaki grilled salmon was fresh and juicy, the presentation was mouth watering. The teriyaki grilled chicken was moist and tender, the saut'e vegetables had just enough crunch, the Dragon roll and the Dream roll was an absolute delight. The dinning experience was so great, we had to go back. We went back for lunch. The lunch menu was great, served with all the quality we expected. The waitress was very helpful with suggestions. The cream shrimp and lobster was very fresh with a crispy flaky tempura coating, the sauce was not overly sweet. The chicken Kara Age was tender moist chunks of chicken coated in a batter with just the right touch of seasoning, a hint of ginger, the honey aioli sauce was so good we used it for dipping other foods. So Good!!!!!!!!!! The edamame saute' in garlic is a must have. The environment was relaxing and inviting, the turtle ponds and waterfalls are beautiful and the kids enjoyed them. The waitress was attentive, she came by several times refilling our tea, very cheerful, pleasant and ready to serve. Good staff, Great food, a wonderful dinning experience. we will be back.
(5)
Ryan O.
Great atmosphere, great service and great food......a bit of a twist on some of my favorite rolls.....i'll definitely be back!!!
(5)
Tonia B.
I decided to cross an item off my 30 before 30 last night and head to dinner alone. I couldn't have picked a better ambiance, mouth pleaser and total food experience! Nozomi truly delivered. For 7pm on a Thursday it was quite empty, but once again, I am learning to expect this from Carlsbad. The minute I walked into Nozori, the soothing and amazing aromas filled my nose and put me at peace. It was like walking into an aromatherapy session. It lasted throughout the entire night and I have never experienced that at any other restaurant I've been to. I was greeted kindly by the hostess and allowed to sit wherever I liked. I chose downstairs after seeing the gorgeous waterfall and pond. It wasn't long before my server introduced herself and brought me a glass of water and the menu. I started with a blue lagoon martini which had nigori sake, han, pineapple, and blue curacao. It was well presented, sweet and delicious. I was also tempted by the sparkling mango martini and I wish I had time to try that one also. I ordered a tapa and a specialty roll for dinner. The king kong roll I ordered was absolutely delicious and a decent size. I savored it the entire meal. The aloha salmon tapa I ordered didn't taste like I expected it to. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I was craving. My sever kindly took it back and even removed the charge, which I was not expecting. For dessert I went with the Mt Fuji which was the most decadent dessert I've ever had. If you don't like sushi and are in the area, you need to come here just for the ambiance and the dessert. It was a white cake bottom topped with kona coffee ice cream and surrounded with burnt meringue. The texture and flavor was amazing. It was more than I had hoped for and I am actually craving one again now thinking about it. The lighting, the decor, the whole feel of the place was perfect for a date alone or a romantic date with someone other than yourself. My mouth and all my other senses left completely fulfilled and satisfied. I didn't find the prices unreasonable at all. For amazing sushi, well thought out desserts and martinis and a great atmosphere, $35 was not a bad price at all.
(5)
Jo S.
I'm trying to be open-minded here, so if you are from New York, LA, or San Francisco, you're not going to like this place. But if you at a point where you're looking for silver lining, this place isn't bad. Let's start out with the negatives and get them out of the way: *Rolls and sushi were loosely packed, so they don't stay together well; *Wine list could be better (not all of us like sake or beer, and white wines in variety can offer so much to sushi); *Service was okay. Wait staff--if you don't have many customers on a Friday night, wow the people you do have and don't wait until they have just put sushi in their mouths to ask them how everything is; *Prices (I didn't pick the place, so don't blame the reviewer). Good stuff: *Interesting fusion of Latino and sushi. If you like spicy, eat this stuff. Ceviche sushi most inventive; *The decor was cute and cozy; *Lots of parking.
(3)
S K.
Fabulous! Highly recommend sushi chef Lane and the Omakaze (chef's choice) dinner. My husband lived in Japan and knows his sushi - his mouth watered with each dish that came out. I loved that Lane made almost everything gluten free for me. Everything was super fresh and tasty, and we were stuffed by the end - one Omakaze is more than enough for the average couple. Great value for top-quality sashimi, creative and delicious rolls, and friendly hospitality. Sit upstairs with the regulars and ENJOY!
(5)
Daniel L.
First of all, if you've been to the other nozomi's, this is not like them at all! I loved the other nozomis in college because they were cheap, affordable and HUGE portions of korean/Japanese food, with Chirashi to die for. I was so happy to find out there was a nozomi right by my house when I moved up! This one? not at all. Perhaps an attempt to appeal to the rich, non-asian crowds of Carlsbad, the menu is completely different for double or triple the price. This was not what I expected, and although the food had a very nice presentation and everything, I could get comparable food at Sushi N' Joy and other nearby establishments like the recently opened Hooked on Sushi for half the price, and double the comfortable environment with friendlier looking sushi chefs. Although it'
(3)
Nicki N.
Great place for a quick bite. Recommend the Afterburner roll and blue fish appetizer.
(4)
Jamie O.
Tucked away off the main streets is a great little sushi joint called Nozomi. It offers nice ambiance, pleasant service and delicious, fresh sushi. The rolls are very creative and delicious and a they offer a great variety. The miso soup is good, garlic sauteed edamame, crispy rice, the rolls, and tempura friend ice cream are winners. The head sushi chef, Pancho is talented and super friendly. We enjoyed not only the food, but the whole dining experience. Even the prices were very reasonable. We're already looking forward to going back. My ONLY critique is no soap in the ladies room.
(4)
La L.
Nozomi is great! good food, awesome staff, & a cool atmosphere. The servers and cooks are very friendly and the restaurant is very clean. Its a place that you could go with family or a date depending on which floor you are on. And for the non seafood lovers, they have amazing vegetarian rolls
(5)
G K.
Too expensive. Very small pieces of fish. I spent $50 on sashimi and left very hungry. Quality is good though.
(2)
Jennifer P.
Went here for dinner one night On family vacation. Horrid service from start to finish. Overpriced meals. Tired decor. Do not trouble yourself by stepping foot in this place.
(1)
Sahana U.
I am picky about my sushi. Call me a cheater, but I love all non-traditional sushi. [Not to worry, they have the real traditional stuff, too] You know, the Americanized, tempura-ed, spicy mayo-ed, artsy creation yummy goodness that is rarely found many places. I like creative rolls, with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. But not too much of anything. Specific, I know. Before Nozomi, I refused to be adventurous with my sushi. I mainly ate veggie sushi. That's right - no fish. I cant stress how much I love Nozomi. I always go here for lunch with my colleague. Decor is very cute. If you're ever seated downstairs, check out the real turtle + fish in their indoor pond. This is what you must get for lunch: - Garlic edamame - Hula roll Slightly expensive, but it's worth it. We like it so much that sometimes come in a few days in a row. They've started to recognize us. Oops. :)
(5)
Grace M.
this place is super cute and feels hidden although it's very easy to get to. the building is a pretty green color and structured after traditional japanese architecture. outside there's a display: a bamboo bridge surrounded by a tiny plot of garden- a miniature japanese garden of sorts. inside there's a pond with a small waterfall which is home to many little turtles, a nice surprise when one might expect to see khoi fish. the food was good. my friend and i both got bento boxes, one with the chicken teriyaki and another with the beef. each were tasty and pretty to look it. in terms of the service, it was very slow considering the place seemed to be accordingly staffed in relation to the number of costumers. the waitress came to our table the minimal amount of times she had to to get her job done.
(3)
Jacque P.
Hands down the best sushi in carlsbad! The misoyaki butterfish is delicious as well as the Kai roll. The servers are very friendly and welcoming . They started offering daily specials like wine Wednesday (1/2 off wine and saki bottles ) and tapas Tuesday ( discounted appetizers) . They also do happy hour from 430-6 haven't tried it out yet but it looks like a great deal . Don't forget to ask if Pancho can make the civiche roll for you... it's to die for! If your a sushi lover like me you will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Lola D.
The best sushi experience you can have in Carlsbad. My favorites are the Amaebi and Chu-toro! Such high quality food & service. After coming here for years I have noticed the surplus of regulars so you know it's good! I definitely recommend it to everyone who enjoys sushi or is trying it out for the first time.
(5)
Aj B.
Been coming here for years and I hate to write this review but their food and service have dropped off considerably. I have no idea what's going on there but I can tell something has changed. Over the past 2-3 years their quality has steadily declined. We have ordered all over the menu. First and most important - their respect for rice must have fallen. Shame shame. The rice quality is not good now. The fish quality is inconsistent. tuna and salmon should not be rubbery - nor should it be thickly cut. The Taste of Nozomi that my husband likes to order was average the last time he ordered it (3/2011). I order the chirashi so that i can get a sampling of the fish, some pickles (because they don't carry oshinko as a menu item), and rice. i love rice. Theirs is not good now. My children typically get miso/rice and inari - no more inari they said. Oh really? Big fail in my book. inari is Japanese food. Their agedahi tofu was very greasy...that's kinda hard - yes i know - but it was. I miss the good old days when I could impress guests with this place. No more.
(1)
Chris L.
Not many Japanese restaurants to choose from if you live in Carlsbad/Oceanside. This one seems to have good rating on Yelp, so we decided to give it a try. Food was ok in Japanese standard (have you ever seen a bad Japanese restaurant?), but the price is way too high. Maybe it's lack of competition. Will probably not go back again. There are much better and more reasonably priced JP restaurants around Mitsuwa area.
(3)
Rudy T.
I haven't had a bite yet but expectations are high. Why? I got to order my food in Japanese to a Japanese waitress at a Japanese restaurant! I mean no offense since I love a couple of places in Anchorage, AK but you can't speak Japanese in any of the spots other than Yamaya. It just adds to the ambiance and the experience for me since I am fluent in Japanese. This is a sushi bar plus Japanese fusion tapas bar. Seafood salad -slightly spicy. Good wakame and seafood. Yummy. Stuffed tomatoes- no tomatoes! It's rice wrapped with raw tuna topped with spicy scallops. A little bland by itself. Interesting style fusion sushi with soy sauce and wasabi Sauteed edamame- great. Never had them sauteed. Ankimo( monkfish liver) too fishy for the kids. But it's the first time I have had in a longtime. Good stuff if you like this sort of thing. Panko oysters- deep fried oysters. Delicious. Hamachi Kama. Smaller portion but tasty. A tad over grilled. Tekka and kappa maki. Tuna and cucumber rolls. Standard fair for my kids. All gone before I had a chance to try them. Lol. Green tea creme brulee_ Delicious! My only complaint was that we sat next to the red backlit wall piece. Looked fine but a red light does bad things for food appearance. We couldn't find the wasabi until I used my iPhone like a flashlight. The really nice red tuna looked grey under the light. I thought maybe it was covering up for lower quality food but on closer inspection, the food looked beautiful under normal lighting. We've all heard the Japanese taste with their eyes. The red light had to go! Would recommend for anyone looking for sushi or Asian fusion tapas. Not cheap maybe a tad overpriced but all Japanese food seems to be. I'd come back again. Probably should be a four star but I am particularly tough on Japanese food.
(3)
Dan M.
Hands down, best Sushi in San Diego....grew up in Hawaii and Nozomi makes me forget how much we miss Hawaiian style sushi houses...
(5)
Joshy F.
Came here last night with the family from NY. It was a Thursday night and @ 7, it was not busy at all. We sat downstairs by the little turtle pond with one other family. Our server was... Danielle (?) and her service was good. I've served in the past for many years and always tend to judge when i eat out... oooopsss... Anyway, she did great and so did her busser. The menu had a wide selection and it seemed as if we got a variety of tapas, rolls, and apps to split between the 5 of us.... we got a cherry blossom roll, great white, protein roll, some combination plate, a spicy salad, mushroom dumplings and a few others... Presentation for all of the dishes was amazing. My step mom got the sizzling caviar and it looked out of this world! Everything was super fresh and came to the table in a timely manner. No excessive waiting in at any point of our meal.
(4)
Jenn H.
My boyfriend brought me here for valentines day and he HATES sushi but I was really excited. We figured it was pretty good from the start because we had to make an appointment it was so packed for vday. That was a good sign to me. We first ordered an asahi and garlic sauteed edemame. First off, it was soo good sauteed in garlic (I had never tried that before) I was very pleased. I ordered an unagi roll and a spicy tuna roll & they came out pretty fast! Both rolls were delicious. I highly recommend them to friends and family now. I will continue going to Nozomi.
(5)
rosa S.
After a day of overpriced, subpar, Themepark fare, (I can't come to terms with calling any of that stuff "food"), perhaps we would have given any restaurant 5 stars. However, we were extremely blessed by the gastronomic forces for good in finding this place just up the highway. The space itself is kind of strange...2 levels of Nozomi shares the same building with a Thai restaurant. Architecture and design aside, the food was incredibly fresh, full of flavor and perfectly satiating. Even our daughters devoured everything in site. About 2 or 3 exits north of The Legoland exit, worth the drive!
(5)
Addison P.
Very average sushi. If you're from LA, Sakura (on Centinela) is ten times better. If you are a sushi expert, don't believe the hype. If you like rolls and are not a hardcore sushi fan, you might be okay with this place. I think this may be one of those korean owned sushi places. Meaning the quality is a little off. The sushi fish portions are way too thin. So you don't really get a good taste of the fish. We ordered: Lobster & Shrimp Tempura $14 Taste of Nozomi $28 Dream Roll $14 Unagi Bonsai $14 Miso Soup $3 and for dessert Green Tea Creme Brulee Mt. Fuji The Lobster Tempura was tasty but not worth $14. The Dream Roll is warm which ruins the taste of the roll. The Unagi Bonsai roll tasted of sesame oil. As for the dessert, don't get the Mt. Fuji, it is really big and not very special. The Green Tea Creme Brulee was pretty good. The food isn't bad. But there's nothing special. It definitely does not warrant "Best Sushi" from the readers of Ranch and Coast magazine. In fact, if you read the article from RC magazine Oct 2008, you'll see that the readers also rated as follows: Best dessert: Champagne Best Chinese food: PF Chang's Best Fast Food: In N Out & Rubio's Are you kidding me? Don't get me wrong, those places are good. But who features chain restaurants in a magazine? Should have known.
(2)
skateboard c.
Can't say enough good about this place. Nice atmosphere, friendly/competent service, excellent fish. First visit was a week ago (fantastic) and my friend and I came back (to make up for an absolutely terrible experience the night before at nearby Sushi Taisho). Started with the Blue Fin platter...wow, wow, WOW. Do not miss this if they have it.
(4)
Kc S.
My favorite sushi restaurant In Carlsbad! Love the servers and the sushi chefs! Favorite rolls Kira roll(off menu) Twister roll Dream roll Great white with yellow tail Tuna sampler Mango a go go Green tea edamame We have been going here since it opened and it is consistently delicious.
(5)
Ava L.
If you haven't read my other reviews, I am a big stickler for customer service. I have always considered coming here since the outside always looked so cute to me, and I tell myself I need to try new sushi places (I like Blue Fin in Encinitas). We walked in and just like a lot of other yelpers stated, it's empty, and the sign says to go upstairs and seat yourself. Okay no problem. We seat ourselves and for an EMPTY restaurant we are sitting for about 3 minutes with no menu, (for their defense, we did get there within the first hour they were open)So I get up and grab menus. In the beginning our server was very nice. The food it a little pricey for my liking, but the food is good. We had 3 different rolls. Get the Hula Roll! Sooo yummy! We were waiting for a long time for our bill (we had a movie to catch) so I was starting to get impatient. I did not see my server for quite a while so I had to call another server over to ask for the bill. Then that SAME other server was the one who gave us the bill and said "thank you for coming" really? Not even our server could do that for us? So as we were walking out our original server was by the door, I thought she would say goodbye to us but didn't, however the chefs (male and female) said bye to us, which was nice. So the food was good, but overpriced and not the best service.
(3)
S S.
good place, reliable services. good prices
(4)
N M.
This is a relatively very good place for Carlsbad, their food is mostly good, but keep in mind their service is incredibly slow! They're all nice and there are so many servers and chefs compare to customers but regardless you will get your food, your water and your check much later than expected!
(3)
Alan Y.
The ambiance is good, the service was great, but the food was just okay, but definitely not worth the price. We ordered a roll and two sushi entrees. The unagi roll was good and sauced great. As for the sushi, the fish was fresh but the rice was too hard. It was good, but definitely not worth the price. I've had sushi from many other restaurants in San Diego and California with similar quality sushi that is for half the price. If you want to pay for nice ambiance, then this place could be worth it. But if you want to pay alot for deliciously prepared sushi, then you should consider elsewhere.
(2)
Gini B.
Pros: 1. Food was not too bad. 2. Large space. 3. Friendly waitress. Cons: 1. Expensive for the quality. 2. Head chef decided to not include "UNI" (Sea urchin) in a sea urchin dish simply because "he ran out." The uni is the main portion of this dish and what makes it $21!!! We had to ask why it wasn't included and then ask to get a substitute for it. 3. Sushi chef forgot to put "shrimp tempura" into one roll. 4. We had a party of 6 adults and 1 child. They added an 18% gratuity automatically to our bill. 5. All the soup bases tasted like tap water. 6. Originally we were waiting for a table to leave so we could sit in their place even though there were plenty of empty tables (total 3 parties eating at a fairly large restaurant!). Finally got tired of waiting and insisted to sit down at an empty table. I don't recommend this restaurant.
(1)
Sarah O.
I heard great things on this place from a couple of friends so we decided to check it out. It's right down the street from our new place so it would be great if we liked it as much as other reviewers. Unfortunately, we were NOT impressed. The restaurant was very pretty. The pond on the 1st level was nice and it seemed clean. The staff was friendly and service was good. Unfortunately, the food was just gross. We started with edamame which was good, but it's hard to screw up edamame! We decided to share several apps since we weren't super hungry. The chicken and potato spring rolls were okay. The chicken was dry and they were a little bland. Definitely had to load them up with the sweet and sour sauce to enjoy them at all. The crispy rice was awful. The rice is supposed to be crispy, not burned to a crisp. Neither of us could eat it. The panko oysters were decent. The gyoza (beef and veggie dumplings) tasted odd.....not sure what it was but they just didn't taste right. The sauce was also too sweet. They were better with regular soy sauce but still not good. Everything on the menu is overpriced, too. We just got back from Vegas where we had an AMAZING meal at an asian restaurant at the Wynn....4 star place, great service, great food and around the same price as this crap!? We didn't try any sushi so I can't say how that was, but everything else was bad enough that we won't be going back. Also, to the woman that found it necessary to breastfeed her newborn in the middle of the restauarant during the dinner rush.....ew. Bring a bottle, get a sitter, go to the restroom, or at least have the decency to come when the restaurant is slow. We don't want to watch that and we don't want to listen to your screaming child. To the staff - how about moving these inconsiderate people to one of the tables downstairs or one of the other completely empty rooms?? That was enough for us. There is a little sushi place in the shopping center with the movie theater in Aviara. We used to live there.....guess we'll just make the 15 minute drive and keep going!
(1)
Vivian K.
Excellent service - Plenty of seating - Plenty of parking - OK Prices Great food : Caviar Sizzler = Delish Cherry Blossom Roll = Delish Sushi roll with clam ceviche = Delish Green Tea Creme Brulee = OMG DELISH
(5)
Riley L.
Eh....I'm a big foodie on vacation and was soundly underwhelmed with Nozomi. The rolls were okay and the lobster shrimp tempura appetizer was mediocre. Yelp reviewers led me astray on this one. There are so many wonderful sushi restaurants in the area that Nozomi was a let down.
(2)
Brooke B.
What a beautiful restaurant. The decor is amazing from the inside, out. They even have a live turtle tank. Not for eating. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend the Maui special roll. Super fresh fish and a delicious selection on the menu. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Parker W.
3-stars for the rolls, most of them were not bad. Better than acceptable, but I wouldn't say ZOMG!!!^!^!&! 4-stars because my very celiac roommate went with a group of us for dinner and the restaurant accommodated her needs down to the soy sauce. The restaurant placed all snazzy sauces on the side, told us which contained gluten, and did their best to not cross contaminate. Any business that will go to such lengths for the customer is very cool in my book, plus TURTLE POND!
(4)
Katherine C.
decent sushi and pretty pricey despite the solid reviews by a good amount of people, it was completely empty when we went in around 1. not exactly the best sign of good sushi, but we were already there and unfamiliar with the area. the boyfriend and i shared the jalapeno poppers, dynamite roll, dream roll, and dragon roll. jalapeno poppers - panko crusted jalapenos stuffed with spicy tuna and cream cheese. i did not like the cream cheese in these poppers. it completely overwhelmed the spicy tuna. dynamite roll - crab, avocado, cucumber inside topped with salmon and baked scallops. i didn't really like the baked scallops on top of this roll, but the bottom part with the salmon was really good. dream roll - shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, roll topped with spicy yellowtail. the roll is then baked with a cream sauce. i really like the taste of this roll, but i over looked the fact that it was a baked roll and this particular baked yellowtail came out a little dry dragon roll - shrimp tempura, crab, and avocado roll layered with unagi. the simplest of our rolls, but also my favorite. you cant go wrong with avocado and unagi. it's not the best sushi i've ever had nor a place i would go around recommending. but while i was yelping for a nearby sushi place in carlsbad, this seems to be the best there is in the area. it's decent enough if you are absolutely craving sushi but it is pretty pricey!
(3)
Tom R.
walked in and smelled of dead rotted fish... walked out. no way going back
(1)
Thi N.
For a Sushi Fanatic as myself.. well I have to give you guys 3 stars... Food was OK not superb but just ok.. I must have tried at least 7 different things on your menu and unfortunately non of it really stood out. I do remember the fish being pretty fresh which is muy importante but taste or originality can't remember.. Is that bad? Decore was nice.. i almost accidentally walked into the Thai restaurant that was neighboring it .. And staff.. I think they forgot to take our order for awhile.. What does that say? more attention needed... i must try it again.. soon!
(3)
Bill M.
Gotta see what the bill runs....the chefs are excellent. No oyster available. Hitachi scallops were very spicy. Hula roll was good. Bill was over $100 for two. Green Tea Cream Brulee was great.
(5)
Tiffany W.
What makes their sushi so AMAZING.. is how fresh the product is that they use! My hubbs and I have gone here time and time again... and have enjoyed every minute of it! The service is great and the ambiance has a romantic date night feel but it is also a great place for small group or cocktail with a friend. Speaking of cocktails.. they have a nice selection of wines and great lemon-drop.. one of my fa vs cocktails.. made with a Japanese vodka. On to the sushi.. this place is definitely a place to try out lots of sushi and sashimi.. as I stated before the fish is delicious! My favorite roles include: The Twister, The Protein Role, Da Bomb Dynamite and Surfs Up. The miso is standard, along with the edamame and teas! It was definitely more on the pricey side but is worth every penny spent! Great place to check out if your in the area looking for great sushi!!
(5)
Jerry C.
The wife and I have ate here a couple of times and love what we have ordered each time. The prices are a little high but you get what you pay for! the food is fresh and the service is good. I like this place more each time I go there. I love to eat in the downstairs part of the restaurant where they have the turtle pond with the waterfall..... very relaxing ! I will be back here for sure.
(4)
Heather W.
Three levels to this funky lil place...I especially loved the turtle pond downstairs. Kind of reminded me of my Pudgy. Okay, everyone together now: Awwwww. Took someone here for her birthday today. She was born in Japan, and is 1/2 Japanese. We sat and ate upstairs. A nice selection of authentic green teas to start with. Friendly staff too. There was A LOT of food. We were stuffed. They were not skimpy on the rolls-at all! The Hula Roll- cha ching, baby! It was awesome. The Dynamite Roll wasn't 'as' good, but it was still quite the tasty delight. Someone ordered the chicken teryaki bento box (not as adventurous there) and she enjoyed it. I did try her seaweed and it was tasty, good texture. Everything was incredibly fresh, and as our Japanese colleague explained you can judge a sushi place by seeing if they freeze their squid-and how fresh it is. Well, my friends, the squid passed the test. As did the delicious unagi and scallops...and tuna, and shrimp, and salmon and...the list does go on. No wonder we're STILL full! Nozomi isn't the cheapest place in the world. $95 (with tip) for three people, and no dessert, but the quality of what you are getting makes this place worth it. They lose a star for only having two servers during the lunch rush. We waited quite a long time for our bill. I'll be trekking here from downtown to take friends in the future. /Insert Japanese Thumbs Up here.
(4)
Jenn L.
So far, this is the best sushi that I've found in North County. The atmosphere is nice and soothing. The decor has a modern twist. But most importantly, I thoroughly enjoyed the sushi here. The specialty rolls are a little pricey, but after trying the Great White and The Twister (which is wrapped in shredded potato and deep fried) were very yummy. My fiance rates sushi places on the quality of the crunchy roll. He thought this may have been one of the best crunchy rolls he's ever had. The seaweed salad was also really good, it came with two types of seaweed. Everything was so fresh and the rolls were wrapped nicely. We didn't have to worry about loosely rolled sushi or chewy nori. The service was awesome. You just gotta love the greeting you get at sushi places. Our waitress was adorable and very attentive. I'm already itching to go back, regardless of the spendiness...
(4)
El r.
Love this place. -Clean -Friendly -Nice atmosphere -Very fresh and clean tasting sushi. All I gotta say El
(5)
Sharon H.
Every item on their menu is fantastic!!! Service is extremely friendly and they have some of the highest quality fish around!!! Even if I didn't LOVE the atmosphere, how kid friendly it is, and the fabulous pond filled with turtles I would keep coming over and over again for the top-notch sushi!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Rick N.
I'm new to Sushi but found this place fresh and delicious. My friend dining with me said his Sushimi portion was small for the money but that it was very good as well. Decor is nice traditional Japanese and the service is good.
(4)
Cherie T.
the atmosphere is nice, i loved all the bamboo decor and glass waterfall. the food is fresh and good. ordered the Tokyo Sushi Combo - good selection of fish for the price of $26 but i wish i have more haha definitely not enough for one meal. also got the Taste of Nozomi, sea bass was amazing, the calamari salad was tasty. and the sashimi and sushi were fresh. we also got the Surfs Up, i love cilantro and i love tuna. Put those two ingredients together and you get a nice refreshing roll because the added ceviche topping on the rolls. perhaps we'll come back and try the omakase next time. one thing i didnt like this restaurant was the music that they played.. w/ the nice touch of japanese decor...japanese feel.. i wish they'd play some japanese instrumental music... i really rather not listen to hip hop and pop songs it was just a weird combo..didnt match the mood.
(4)
Amy Y.
Ok sushi. Not awesome but not bad for Carlsbad. Service was ok as well.
(3)
Jordyn D.
Okay food and it's terribly overpriced!
(2)
AMANDA L.
Yummy, yummy, yummy! the hula roll rocks..the da bomb dynamite is rad....so good! haven't had a bad roll there yet and don't even get me started on the lava cake! WORD! ooey, gooey chocolate heaven in my opinion! My husband had the two piece hamachi and said it was like butter!! great atmosphere and the servers were all very nice and our service was spot on!
(4)
James T.
Fusion food was very good, if expensive. Neither of us liked the surf and turf, and at $25 we were very disappointed. Hulu and Dream rolls came out well and were worth their $15 price tags. Ahi poke salad was good, but very small for its $15 price tag (think 10 bites total). Green Tea Creme Brule was really good, expensive at $15 for a small desert but the taste made up for it. Service was pleasant, but felt a little slow on a night of around 50% occupancy. Turtle pond was cool! It's a really nicely designed restaurant.
(4)
Michelle T.
Thanks Yelpers for leading us here for dinner! I have to say that this place gave me a weird first impression but I am glad we stuck around because we had a great meal. I was initially weirded out because the outside of the building is strikingly painted fluorescent green and when you step in the place, the two Caucasian hostesses who greet you look like sorority girls dressed up as Asian masseuses for Halloween. I was also put off by the fact that there were SCENTED candles on the steps leading down to the dining room with the turtle pond because, really, I don't want to feel like I am dining at the Yankee Candle. We were led to our table upstairs and my kids were mesmerized by the waterfall/Tokyo skyline mural on the wall. Luckily, all my qualms were dispelled when we were seated. Our waitress was super nice and gracious and gently reined us in when we tried to over order. We ended up choosing edamame, gyoza, shumai, lemongrass tiger shrimp scampi, and the Taste of Nozomi platter. The gyozas were yummy and had a nice golden crust on the bottom. All the items that came with the Taste of Nozomi platter were very tasty and the sashimi was very fresh. My least favorite dish was the shumai because it had a weird texture - like steamed shrimp paste. All in all, a great find in Carlsbad!
(4)
Howard T.
So after a fun filled day at Legoland we headed off toward Nozomi, the restaurant recently voted best Sushi in North San Diego. My feet were aching, the kid was pissed, and the wife was cranky. It was a weekday, but I didn't want to take any chances so I made reservations the night before. They recommended sitting by their turtle pond so my kid would be distracted. Great! This was also going to be our late Valentines dinner. The building isn't much to look at from the outside. But once you get in, you're immediately drawn to Nozomi's beautiful decor with warm lighting. You're greeted by a friendly staff adorned in a cute kimono-type outfits. We were led to the lower level of the restaurant and right there was a huge turtle pond. Now, if you don't know, turtles get dirty fast and they can get really smelly. I was quite impressed that pond was clean and beautifully set up. There had to be 10 turtles in there so I'm glad it didn't stink. I was pretty much ready to order, but I wanted to check out the drink menu. As soon as I opened it, 2 fricken mosqitoes flew out and up toward the ceiling. I hope it wasn't from the turtle pond. Clean your menus Nozomi. Now for the food. Miso Soup - WATERED DOWN. I couldn't taste any miso..... Taste of Nozomi ($28) - It consists of Albacore, salmon, shrimp, uni sushi, tuna, salmon, yellowtail sashimi, organic garden salad, 4 piece hula roll, and miso marinated seabass. Every item in this dish was so fresh. The sashimi just melted in my mouth.Well, all except for the tuna. The tuna was grainy and gooey like it was old. My dissatifaction with it was that the sushi was very SMALL. I've never been to any sushi restaurant with cuts this small. Well, once in San Fran. Their dragon roll was just like any old roll. Nothing special and definitely doesn't warrant the $15. Kobe Tataki ($30) which is real Japanese kobe seared and drizzled with a garlic oil and ponzu. The picture on their website is so deceiving. If you look at the website, thick slices wrap around a small salad. My slices were half that size. I wasn't too fond of this dish because the ponzu and garlic oil just left a really bad after-taste. (Bust of the night) My wife ordered the Sirloin beef Sukiyaki. If you're not a mushroom fan, avoid at all cost. The mushroom was so strong, that it overwhelmed the entire dish. Oh yeah, you get 4 puny little slices of "Sirloin Beef". This was probably the worst Sukiyaki we've ever had. (Biggest Ripoff of the night) The plus side was that they had good items for kids on their tapas menu like shumai. ($5) Five small...very small pieces. Finally, the desert. Yeah, I ordered desert, because I was still fricken hungry. The wife and I shared some tempura ice cream and we got the girl a scoop of vanilla sprinkled with a chocolate powder. ($9+$2.50). What I liked about Nozomi's tempura ice cream is that they add additional tempura flakes and I believe a berry syrup. We loved it! Now, if you're from LA, you'll be pretty dissapointed with Nozomi. Everything is extremely overpriced. As good as the sashimi was, I felt that they were too stingy with the portions. I think they may be out of their expertise with some of the dishes too. We definitely loved the service and the kid friendly atmosphere. There is room for improvement, but the locals seem to love this place. Good job Nozomi, you have San Diego in the palm of your hands. Muwahahahahaha!
(3)
Tom S.
This place doesn't deserve even one star (required field). Not the worst fish ever, but pretty bad. The sushi chefs were absolutely the worst. Don't go here! I don't recommend this place AT ALL, PERIOD.
(1)
Bethany B.
The sushi here is delicious. We even tried the jalapeno poppers for an appetizer and they were yummy. My favorite rolls are the Hula, King Kong and the Twister. It is a little on the pricey side, but I don't mind paying for good sushi. The downside...we were a party of 8 for dinner on a Saturday night. I made a reservation and we were seated right away, but the service was awful. The wait staff was polite and all, but they were very slow getting our food to us. I think they were giving our food to another table because several times the brought us someone else's food and we had to tell them it wasn't what we ordered. At one point the waitress brought us our check and we had only received half of the food that we ordered. It was sort of funny. I had 3 glasses of wine and the second and third were in smaller glasses than the first but still the same price. The wait staff didn't remove any of the eaten/empty dishes from our table and it was getting crowded. We had to put our dirty dishes on a table next to us and it piled up pretty high before they removed them. (only when they needed to seat someone there) We ended up being there a total of 3 hours!!! So to conclude my review, the food is delicious and worth the price. The service is polite, but a little confused and slow. Perhaps going as a smaller party would make a difference. Will still come here but not in a large party.
(3)
don p.
ummm so far, Not great, but not bad either mmmmm
(2)
Aerial A.
I've never eaten in the restaurant, only had take-out from here, but it has been delicious every time. I'm looking forward to eating in the actual restaurant and I'm sure it will be even better.
(4)
Eugene A.
Thoughtful and artfully prepared rolls. Everything we ate was tasty. They have an interesting tapas menu and other delightful creations. They have bento and sashimi too. We started out with the hibachi scallop appetizer with warm sake and japanese beers. Also very tasty but not over the top. The wait staff was attentive and everyone looked like they were busy about their duties. They share the building with a Thai restaurant next door and the restrooms are shared but neither place is so big that it's a problem. It is nicely decorated on the interior. But outside you can't quite figure out what might be on the inside. It's worth the trip. Nozomi will not disappoint.
(4)
Andrea S.
We eat sushi pretty frequently and I have to say hands down this is our favorite place to date. Not just in Carlsbad but anywhere else we have been. Do yourself a favor and order "the bomb dynamite" roll!! It is in fact (yes I am going to say it) The bomb!!! We usually order to go since I have a 3 year old who doesn't currently isn't a fan of sitting still in restaurants. Even though it is to go, they do not skimp on the quality or quantity. They always get the order correct and are super friendly. The one time we actually got to sit down and eat we were not disappointed. The chef's at the sushi bar were friendly and all around awesome. Can't wait to get it again!!
(5)
M S.
best place for sushi, most interesting and original rolls, Hula Roll, great white, protein roll even the sashimi salad, yummmm Most places offer a California roll with a different fish on top and call it a different fancy name - that is boring. This place has great food, great service. Cool tea and saki selection. Decor is very nice. This place has a pool of turtles - turtles usually smell, not here. It is very tranquil. Great place to go on a payday :-) Best place in Carlsbad/ San Diego. I brought my daughter a non-fish eater and her dish was amazing looking and tasting. We didn't want to eat it because it was so pretty. Tried all of the desserts - awesome! The lava cake is great.
(5)
Mo O.
A very good place to eat sushi at in north Carlsbad. I recommend getting the Love or Pride Omakase, they are both EXCELLENT! In 3 trips there we have had great sake and sushi. Everything has been presented creatively and tasted even better. The service is great; everyone is so nice. For some people it may be a little pricey but for me it is worth paying a little more for real good sushi. Thank you Nozomi!!!
(5)
Marissa C.
Unique high end Japanese cuisine including an extensive Sake menu and tea menu. Sushi/sashimi selection was extensive and super fresh including items like black snapper, kobe beef sashimi, and blue fin tuna. Service was slow as the restaurant was understaffed and overwhelmed. Not exactly sure as to why a good deal of restaurants in Carlsbad are understaffed especially in a state with 10%+ unemployment. Went back yesterday early and sat at the sushi bar. Much better experience. Was in the capable hands of Executive Sushi Chef Lee.
(4)
Bree W.
This is the best sushi ever but I heard it was sold! Where did Ken Lee go??
(5)
Cris B.
The sushi is the best around! Great White or Mango Madness - you can't go wrong.
(5)
Lily H.
This restaurant is unfortunately way over-rated. I do not understand how it gets 4 stars. Food: Sushi pieces are not fresh, warm in temperature and way too "mushy" in texture to be fresh. The combo comes with only soup and nothing else. How does this "4 star" sushi restaurant get away with this level of fish quality and meal presentation? Service: What service? We were there with only 2 other tables, and there were 4 waitress running around ineffectively. It took a total of 2 hours for us to complete meal - We waited 30 minutes just to get food for one of us to arrive, the second person's meal came another 20 minutes later. During all the wait time our water and ice tea glass kept on getting emptied and none of the 4 waitresses bother to come refill them. It was really a big disappointment for us in all possible ways. The only thing that was positive about our experience was the 'visit" with their pet turtles.
(1)
Lumberjackal O.
Still high prices but went back and enjoyed it. Wife liked the turtle pond:0
(3)
Amara S.
Ok food but the portions are not great for the price you pay. The atmosphere is nice (especially the turtle room) but I have had much better sushi elsewhere. Drinks are expensive as well.
(2)
Cody H.
It was getting late and we were getting hungry during a drive back from LA to San Diego. Based on some Yelp reviews, we pulled off the highway for some sushi at Nozomi. It seemed a bit odd, sitting there right next to the off-ramp, but when we walked in we were impressed. The staff was friendly and very attentive. The interior is well done, if almost a bit cheesy. At first, they were playing the hits of Andrew Lloyd Weber over the stereo, which was very strange and something of a non sequitur in a sushi restaurant. They also had two flat screen TVs upstairs, one of which was playing a football game, which I appreciated, and one of which was playing some TV show about people making glass bowls or something. Weird. The sushi, though, was outstanding. I tried a roll that was a combo of tuna, yellowtail, and salmon, along with Japanese radish. No rice. It was light, fresh, and delicious. I also ordered a few pieces of Nigiri, and that was really the highlight. I don't think I've ever had such fresh and delicious salmon. It was just perfect, seriously. We also had a few appetizers -- edamame, which was excellent -- and a chicken egg roll sort of thing, which was a bit too hot but delicious once it cooled down. The food was pricey, but I think it was worth it for that sushi. On our way out, we stopped in the downstairs area where Nozomi has a little fountain and pool filled with live turtles. They were hysterical to watch -- why are turtles such inherently funny animals? I don't have kids, but a kid would have loved it.
(4)
Frederick H.
We've been here several times now, and been quite impressed. We sit at the tables - I'd prefer to sit at the sushi bar and order one-at-a-time but I've only been with my wife's family and they'd rather sit at a table and chat; the table service was fine. Tonight we had a load of appetizers and three sushi rolls. There were two kinds of expensive Nigori-sake, I had the cheaper kind; they've got a tea menu that's blissful just to read. Garlic edamame I thought was ok, the rest of the table loved it. Tempura was somewhat better than so-so. Calamari was quite good, sauce was great. There's some "fusion" to the menu - pot stickers that melted in your mouth with a light sauce that tasted a bit like barbecue. Very, very good sushi rolls. We had "Da Bomb", and two others whose names I can't recall (I blame the Nigori-sake) but they were all "quite delicious". Other times I've had salmon sashimi and it was lemon lip smacking tasty. The place has the feel of a small Japanese country inn that somehow got dropped in Socal and isn't sure what to do with itself now that it's here. Cute waitresses, mostly not Japanese. Half a point off for the big screen TVs showing sports - do not need, distracts from the ambiance. Fun to watch the turtles in the pond. There were some annoying people taking pictures of the turtles, but since it was us I didn't take off points for that. Speaking of which, I should probably give the place a 5, but I'm really stingy with my 5s, so. Will certainly go again; would love to try the Omakase ($65 or $80 - don't know if that's per person?). I now know ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No… ) that Nozomi means "bullet train"; not sure what the connection is to Carlsbad. (later) A very nice note from the owner gives me the knowledge that Nozomi means "Hope"; that Omakase is per person and should be ordered at the bar from the Executive Chef, Ken; and earns them another star!
(5)
BGrace G.
I've eaten here twice, the first time I was with a group and was so impressed I came back with my guy. The atmosphere was attractive and spacious, and it seemed like they had an awfully high help-to-diner ratio. They layout of the place is a bit convoluted, it's like a complex in a building. The service was at times too much, a bit intrusive, too many greetings and how are you doings (while eating), but that was probably because there was so much help about. We had a soup that was delicious, the rolls were ok, dream roll was pretty good. At the end of the last visit we didn't feel the prices warranted the meal, you sort of do that little calculus in your mind, and in this case, didn't compute. But they try hard and it is a nice atmosphere. I don't know if they have happy hour or some specials, but if so I'd go back, otherwise not.
(3)
Ono A.
Is this really a Japanese restaurant? Waitresses in short kimonos. I thought this was a karoake bar! Food was ok, not what I expected for a Japanese restaurant. Teriyaki sauce taste like it came out of a bottle. Wouldn't have ended up here if Mikko's across the other side of the freeway was closed.
(1)
Vamshi J.
The sushi here is the best. I was here for lunch and my experience was very satisfying. The service was excellent and the hostess was knowledgeable. She helped us out with our order. Try the twister roll. They have a downstairs seating area and a turtle laden fountain. For all you tea lovers, they have separate menu for tea. A sushi lunch will cost you about $20 including the tip. Also, they have the chef's special Omakase on their menu, I've always wanted to try that, maybe next time.
(5)
Ewa M.
Thanks to my new mobile and yelp I was able to find this cute Japanese place and I wasn't disappointed. Really cute design and space, except those plasma TV's. In my opinion, if you are going to enjoy expensive sushi there is no need for television, period. For starters, the menu is definitely original with many unusual items. I wish I was able to try all of them, but I had to stick to rolls. In addition to quite pricey, but original rolls, they create any rolls to your order, my mine $15 each. I must admit, the quality is really fresh and good, but overall, this wasn't the best Japanese place I've been to. Maybe because it wasn't L.A.? Maybe because we were not served water automatically upon arrival? Maybe, cause we had to wait a while for water and food altogether? I don't know, but after we soaked our mouths in fresh and juicy food, suddenly, it all did not matter anymore. It was simply good. The rolls were huge and our appetites even bigger. My creation of salmon/yellowtail/avocado rolls was pure, fresh and simple. The other speciality rolls were quite big and spectacular. And even though the bill was high we did not care anymore. Nozomi in Carlsbad was a unique experience and I wish I had more money to try other amazing creations!
(4)
Benito D.
Decor: Awesome. I would have the orange/red bamboo-silhouette thing in my own house. The inside pond with the turtles is really cool. The outside pond is nice with the baby koi and water features. Their security gate arm is even made of bamboo...nice touch. Service: Quick, attentive and really nice. We wanted something that was off-menu and they made it. Food: Fish tasted fresh. Ask for a side of ginger sauce on the side and put it on top of your rice if you order a non-sushi dish...mmmmmmm. Good date place.
(5)
Patrick G.
Fantastic food and great place to bring kids. We were in Carlsbad for vacation and wanted to get something different for dinner. We had had our fill of burgers and chicken fingers for the week. We found Nozomi on Yelp and decided to do takeout since the kids were tired. When we got their, we quickly changed our order to stay since the place was set up with kids in mind. Picture sitting in a 6 table room with Food Network on one flat screen, CNBC on another, and then a big waterfall & pool in the middle of the room with a large family of turtles swimming around.... Eclectic? Heck yeah, but this is a fusion restaurant after all. The kids were fascinated, and we got to enjoy some great food. Food highlights: Black miso cod: need I say more? Chicken teryaki: seriously, this was excellent - and about half a chicken Tiger prawn risotto: delicious Ramune soda for kids: a huge hit We will be back when we return for vacation. Loved it.
(5)
Nancy L.
Loved the setting in the upstairs room - presentation and quality of fish were on par - it's just so expensive for a family of five. That's why I was so excited when owner (?), Derek, made up a sampler menu for a good price for a large group. Unfortunately, ultimate approval rested with a sushi-phobe, so the opportunity to expose more people to the innovative cuisine and help ensure the restaurant's survival (that site may be jinxed) was wasted.
(4)
DeeDee E.
love the place have been back over and over. Hit there first then Coyote's.
(5)
Sean D.
I was there about a month ago. It was a quite night, but the service was really not that good. Waited about 10 minutes just to get a bill. The food made up for it. Hula roll is a must order!
(4)
Cheryl B.
The Hula Roll is the best roll I've ever had. It is the best Sushi in North County. Nice atmosphere, very good service, you feel pampered and attended to without being constantly interrupted.
(5)
Laurel C.
The very best sushi I have ever had. The fish is unbelievably fresh and delicious. Get the gyoza -- fried pork dumplings that melt in your mouth with an awesome sauce.
(5)
Dean S.
The atmosphere is nice and sushi here is fresh and tasty. Fabulous sake list.
(4)
Eric T.
SCRUMTRULESCENT (Wink to Ferrell fans)! First off, the place is so damn serene, I want to get rich and make it my bedroom. You are greeted by the amicable chefs after you walk up the stairs and into this outdoor-in-doors Japanese garden of awesome. I realize I am getting sappy here, but I love this place. The miso was semi bland the first time I had it, but they got it right the second time. The salmon nigiri was unreal, literally the best salmon I have ever wolfed down. Ever. The rolls were all great as well, not just in taste, but in presentation. Each ingredient is pronounced in its appropriate way, giving each roll a unique, balanced and delicious character. The albacore was as good as it gets, and the ahi was super-good. The kobe sashimi? Hell yes I will take some more! Never thought beef could dissolve in your jawbox, and now I know. The seaweed salad is sweet, tangy and smooth. The tempura was very good. The pork loin was a gift from the pig goddess. Everything down to the carved up oranges and the tropical tea were above the rest. I have eaten at many North County Sushi joints and this place is top shelf. I don't know who picks the fish out, but I want to give him or her a PHD in fishology. I have now changed my lineup for my "last meal". You should already be on the 5, heading there right now.
(5)
Diana H.
Great food, great environment, unique combinations without getting all fusion-y. I really like the water features inside and out. My kids liked the turtles (and not to eat!). Pricey but good service and I'm saving up to go back!
(5)
Ary T.
Love the place, don't even like sushi, but love a couple of the deep fried rolls! A lil pricy, but very fancy and service is pretty good. Been there atleast 50 times since I found em a few years ago, can't get enough!
(4)
Lisa B.
Lots of choices in the menu, my favorites are the mango roll (I go just for that sometimes), the garlic edamame, Hula roll. They great you when you come in and when you leave. I sit upstairs when with friends and downstairs with my parents (need handicap access) which is near the turtle pond, entertaining, I like to count the turtles. My top choice for sushi in Carlsbad is Nozomi but it is pricing so I don't go too often. sometime just get rolls to go.
(4)
Kaio T.
Pretty nice place.. Here are my points: sushi has lots of fish little rice... nice atmosphere with turtle lagoon.. tasty food... Help was good.. And yes confirmed it is expensive but i was surprised.. little rice on the sushi.. lots of meat
(5)
Ben M.
Good sushi but very expensive. UPDATE. I've since been to Nozomi three times and I have updated them to 5 stars. It is still expensive but it is the best quality sushi I have found in North County! Excellent selection and many interesting options (like sashimi lobster) that I have never seen before.
(5)
Sarah J.
Im a vegetarian so sushi can be a challenge for me. Their attention to detail is impeccable. The vegetarian sushi platter is a work of art. Try the jalapeño poppers!
(5)
Michael S.
Being a Carlsbad native, I remember when this place was sevillas, and loved what they did to the place. The decorations here are really awesome. From the exterior to the interior of the restaurant, it is very well put together. I love the little touch of the turtle pond on the bottom floor. What shocked me the most was the non-Asian workers greeted my group and I in Japanese and without a horrible accent. I got a little kick out of that. Their food here is really good. The sushi here is of excellent quality, and very authentic. A very good selection from their menu as well. The teas here are great too! They actually make their own tea instead of packets, and they have a variety as well! The tempura ice cream here was THE BEST I've ever had too. This place is BY FAR one of the best Japanese restaurants in San Diego. A definite shock to me as I live only 5min away. My only complaint about this restaurant is that it is expensive. It's not meant for starving college students like me :( .
(5)
Toni Y.
We were in town for the second leg of our SoCal family vacation -- the Legoland stop. Service was great from booking my dinner reservation to closing the tab. We ordered a variety of sushi rolls and tapas that tasted fresh and delicious. Our server was really sweet and thoughtful and made us feel comfortable dining there with our 2 year old monster. Our dinner here was definitely a nice break from the usual American dishes we've picked up between our Disneyland and Legoland trip (it was nice to not have to order mac n cheese for my little one!). All in all, you can't go wrong with this place. Just make sure to keep your stomach in check while deciding what to order; things add up mighty fast if you don't pay close attention!!! :)
(4)
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Address :3050 Pio Pico Dr,Ste A
Carlsbad, CA, 92008
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Colette F.
The chefs sashimi special and oysters were extraordinary. Lane and Diego created beautiful plates, exciting flavors and used very fresh fish, Leslie served all our plates in a timely order, with helpful suggestions and smiles, Enjoyed the old style bamboo decor and turtle pond, the rock and roll music were nice old tunes but incongruous with the zen ambiance along with the television.....food still excelled for our 5 stars, the food was art for the eyes and mouth. Enjoy!
(5)Minnow N.
This is my favorite "nozomi" in san diego county. I think i've been to three other nozomis and although this one is out of the way (really far north) it is delicious and the quality is noticeably better than the other Nozomis. The fish is fresh and seasonal. The atmosphere is cute and welcoming. They even have a TV for my boyfriend to stare at while I eat. The food is delicious... the rolls are different than the other nozomis and, i think, more creative. The prices are different as well... by different, i mean more expensive (than other nozomis). Although it is more expensive, I am willing to pay the extra cash for better quality fish and food. Not only that, they have a good selection of hot teas. The tempura ice cream (deep fried vanilla ice cream) was yummmm!!!!! I highly recommend this place for when youre in the Carlsbad area. Delicious and fresh!
(4)Tobin L.
I was skeptical since the kitschy setting, which reminds me of 1980s Benihana in NY, makes this place feel a little like a nippon college beer hall. You know, the one where you were coerced into discovering sake bombs and to this day aren't really sure what the food tasted like. In contrast, the sushi at Nozomi was good to VERY good. Salmon was like butter; albacore was good despite the absence of Ponzu; and the rolls were tasty-- we really liked the super creative Twister roll. Ironically, the only disappointment was the Ponzu. All I could taste was... was that soy sauce? Service was friendly, just not remotely Japanese (which typically adds to the dining experience) and a little slow. Been back a few times now. It won't knock your socks off, but Nozomi is consistent enough to score 4.
(4)Cass L.
The food is expensive but I loved their sushi. I will definitely be back. I'll probably try to make it for happy hour next time.
(5)Jess B.
Had a very enjoyable experience at Nozomi! We ordered the shashimi sampler and the hula roll, both tasted fresh and would definitely order them again! The layout of the restaurant was super cool...u can find a fun spot at the bar or find a more quiet spot for a nice dinner. AND they have a turtle pond!! :) So I'd say this place was a pleasant surprise and I'll be recommending it to my friends!
(5)Crystal R.
The ambiance is nice. Felt the food was pretty pricey however it's in Carlsbad. Sushi was ok but nothing memorable. Not objective about not trying them out again, yet neither excited if someone suggested to eat there for dinner again.
(3)DJ M.
I, I'm sure like some, am all too quick to post a bad review faster than a good one. Admittedly, this review is well past due. Went to Nozomi for my third time tonight, and like the previous visits, I was very pleased with the food. Their Groupon deal is what got me in there the first time and has kept me coming back for more. Hands down one of my favorite sushi places in not only the Carlsbad area, but also San Diego and Oceanside. The food on every visit has always been five stars, and I make it a point to order something different every time to taste all there is to offer. The service has been varied from quickly served with attentiveness, to waiting for quite some time - comparing similar dinner crowds. Nozomi has a nice ambiance, but can get loud with multiple conversations as the place starts to fill up. The menu may seem a little on the pricey side for some, but I think it is justified by the quality and creativity of the food and menu. I can't wait to have family and friends visit so I can treat them to Nozomi.
(4)T2 D.
We went here for our 10 year anniversary and what a treat! Great service, amazing sushi. We had about 6 dishes...wow, I was very full and it was just a memorable experience.
(5)denni d.
Ate at Nozomi last night and was VERY disappointed! The sushi was absolutely tasteless, the ramen was also not very flavorful but the sushi - both the specialty roll and spicy tuna roll - were bland and unsatisfying. I can't say the fish wasn't fresh because it wasn't fishy, but rather the ingredients in total lacked flavor. I've frequented Nozomi a few times but will not return.
(1)Cassandra F.
Yes! Yes! and Yes! If I can give a 5*+, Nozomi would be the first recipient of such prestige. I have a lot of different "favorite" sushi restaurants and all for a variety of reasons. But after visiting Nozomi, I can confidently say that of all my favorites, this is my FAVORITE! The atmosphere? Love. The service? Top Notch. The food? Nom! Nom! Nom! I had a meeting in the OC one day and while making my way back to DTSD, I decided that I had sat in traffic long enough and needed to get my grub on. Making an exit off the 5 at Carlsbad Village Dr, I venture not more than 3 blocks before I find what would be my ultimate dreamland of raw fish, rice, sake, and seaweed. After a quick consult with my yelp app, it appeared to be a safe choice. As it turned out "safe" was a drastic understatement. This place is HEAVENLY! I walked in and was greeted by an incredibly gorgeous host. Like smokin' hot, ladies and gentlemen - tall, dark, and handsome hot. But I digress. The restaurant is multi-level giving it a dimension that makes you feel you really have just stepped into another realm, or maybe just Japan. I've never been to Japan, but the décor definitely makes me feel like that's where I was. It just exuded authenticness. On the first floor, there is the cutest little indoor pond with a few turtles swimming about. There was no one dining in that area, but it was definitely set up to accept patrons. It looked like this would be a cool spot for a large party or a private event. The second floor, was the welcome area and the third floor was apparently where the party was. I was dining solo and asked to be seated at the sushi bar. The restaurant was lively and bustling, but not obnoxiously overcrowded. After being seated and providing my drink order (Sake. Obviously.) I perused the menu. I decided on the jalapeño poppers (stuffed with spicy tuna and cream cheese!) and the Hula Roll (Shrimp tempura, crab and avocado roll topped with spicy tuna with crushed macadamia nuts). OH. MY. GOODNESS! Was I just super hungry? Or was that pretty much the best meal I've ever had in the history of ever! So fresh and full of flavor and texture. It was just a full on party explosion of deliciousness in my mouth. Just all around Yes! The sushi chef, Pancho, was so much fun to chat with and just delivered superb service. I mean he managed to keep me entertained and stay fully focused on his art/task at hand. His passion was obvious and evident in his work. You can tell he was just so rightfully proud of each and every masterpiece he produced. I had an incredible dining experience at Nozomi and can't wait for the next time I'm "stuck in traffic" (wink, wink) so I can go back and try everything else on their menu and catch up with my new pal, Pancho!
(5)Arizona B.
Delicious sushi and great service! Our chef was a really cool guy who told us about the home made spice company he was starting and even let us try a little, which was incredible. Definitely recommend!
(5)Kelly H.
Dirty kitchen, noisy environment, bad service. One server provide service for over 10 tables. Besides, food taste not fresh, especially salmon roe. Went to toilet several times after ate. :( bad!
(1)Richard C.
They have really great sushi here..been a long term client. I ordered a dish tonight that was the worst dish I have had in a very very long time. Never order the sukiyaki !! Stick with sushi. The sukiyaki beef ..which is the signature ingredient.. was done completely wrong. They served it in large very tough beef cubes... Instead of the regular way using paper thin large strips.. that makes the texture. ..Very tender. When I got the bill... I paid $20 for this crap....even though I normally get sukiyaki for only $10 at Ichiro on Convoy st. Or $15 for 10 times the beef that came with it here. The portion was also about half the size..so I feel really disappointed at one my favorite sushi places. Stick to sushi. .fellas. take the sukiyaki off the menu...or fix it...is my suggestion.
(2)Kara D.
Probably some of the best sushi I have had in San Diego. It's definitely expensive, but after eating it, you won't mind the cost.
(5)Andrew J.
sushi was alright, could of been better. the ambiance wasnt that good, the music made me feel like i was in a club.
(3)Denise C.
Walk in, empty, follow the signs to be seated. California rolls didn't taste fresh as their rice is dry and blah. The dessert was even worse. My friend had the big eye tuna he said it was fresh. Overall, I don't recommend this place. Terrible service.
(2)Scott M.
Incredible dinner at the hands of our master sushi chef Diego, the most Japanese Brazilian dude I've ever met...before getting to the food, the atmosphere and attitudes totally lend to an awesome, fun evening. The place wasn't packed but was probably 75% filled with people almost as incredible as we are, so it's a great mix. The food was delicious. The fish was fresh and you could taste and feel the subtle differences between different types in the Protein roll, though they all went together perfectly. Loved the Taste of Nozomi, which had a sample of so many different stomach treats, my tongue was overwhelmed with awesomeness....the Nozomi sashimi salad was amazing too...I doubt anything wouldn't be incredible here.... This is our new favorite sushi place in town...yum factor five.
(5)Tram P.
Excellent, great quality and fresh traditional sushi! No fluff here! Very straightforward rolls. Delicious! Came here for my birthday with a group of 22. We had our own room and overall good experience. I would just knock one star only due to slow service. Our server seemed really flustered and had a hard time splitting our checks. The owner did come by to say Hi. Cool guy! Awesome food Art!
(4)Wesley C.
This place was great! Easy access right off the Frwy, plenty of parking they have their own parking lot. They have an indoor turtle pond which was very tranquil. Most important of all the food was tasty, waitress was very attentive. My family and friend had a great time. This place is a must visit.
(5)Roger L.
The service was slow. Our martinis took 15 minutes to make. I guess the bartender must have been MIA because we watched our server painfully measure out the "supposed ingredients". They tasted like crap so we didn't finish them. The miso soup was super salty. The sushi rolls were pretty good, but overpriced.
(3)Kyle K.
This place is great! Good food and service. I will be back here a lot. Sushi was the best I've had anywhere in the area.
(5)Michelle P.
Decent sushi, but definitely overpriced for what you get. Rolls on average seem to be around 17$ and they all seem to be deep fried, or doused with spicy mayo or swimming in those crunch things . The 2 stars are for the nozomi sashimi salad, which is probably the only reason i go there. Its a good amount of fish, which all the times ive ordered it had been pretty fresh. The sushi chefs are always friendly when you sit at the sushi bar. The rest of the staff on the other hand is hit or miss. There is an older woman ( i forgot her name) and she is the sweetest and most helpful worker there. However, when i went there today it was just sort of a clusterfuck. Our rolls came out before our edamame and as we were finishing up the calamari finally came. (Really weird order of food) (By the way, the calamari is NOT GOOD.. pretty much fried batter in the shape of onion rings) Our waitress never came to our table again, we were forced to ask the passing hostess for our bill. Finally after we pay for our bill, the waitress comes back and informs us that they under charged us for a beer. So she went ahead and charged us for it... which is totally fine, except she charged us incorrectly and actually charged us more than a beer. Lol, but we were so over waiting we just paid for the overcharge. In summation Pro: Nozomi sashimi salad One nice waitress (i really wish i rememebered her name so i can give her the credit thats due) Friendly sushi chefs Big space Cons: Overpriced Really slow service (and i mean reallllllly slow) Lackluster food
(2)Cheng T.
I have always thought San Diego area have good Japanese food but this one is obviously not one of them. Over priced and under quality. Fourteen dollar for a bowl of bland taste ramen and it only have few strings of noodle. We ordered a tuna salad and it came at the end of the meal! We will never return.
(1)Coulter T.
Best sushi in town. Love to come hear and relax with a hot sake and beer. Oh yea and the sushi is crazy! So delicious!!! The Kai roll is my favorite and the twister is a close second. You have to try the hamachi Kama! All rolls are delicious and Antonio and Diego are amazing chefs!
(5)Samantha R.
This place is growing on me. I believe there are new owners. The sushi is delish. Fresh and innovative. We enjoy upstairs sushi bar atmosphere. Could be contender for best sushi in cbad?!
(4)Jordan D.
One of my favorite sushi spots in Cali. My favorite rolls are the pancho and the afterburner rolls. Pretty legit sushi bar. You can sit at the sushi bar or they have regular tables. Relaxed environment. Nothing fancy just good sushi.
(4)Sum Dum Gai S.
Cool little place a bit outside the village. The interior upstairs is nice and the services was attentive and polite. The food was decent. There's a little pond downstairs (indoors) with many small turtles which distracted/entertained the kids. A but pricier than the typically Japanese establishment.
(4)Marie H.
Sushi was ok, service was friendly but very absent-minded. Unless you have a 90 minute+ lunch hour, I wouldn't bother with this place because your meal will take that long even if you are one of the only people in there.
(2)Angie L.
The food here has always been great but the service has gone to shit. Our server forgot over half of our food that was written on our paper ticket and when we addressed her about it she insincerely said "oh I'm sorry did you want me to take that off of your order?" Um.. No.. We came to eat...? We watched her stand around chatting and have a drink with the chefs for awhile. It's a party of 3 and there's 2 other tables of finished people not being served next to us. On a Tuesday. It also took her over 30 minutes to check on us after bringing just the two rolls. Get your servers up to the level of your food, Nozomi.
(3)Ron G.
The place has an appealing appearance but overall the experience was "meh". The service was the worst part. Our waitress seemed to be completely inexperienced, failing that she was incompetent. Any question we had she had to ask another waitress and she tended to get lost (disappear for long periods of time). The other waitress spent virtually the entire time talking to two guys at another table. So I doubt the other diners were having a better experience. Of course bad services does not help the food taste better. We had sushi and sashimi - overall the quality was above average but not by much. Nowhere near the quality we get at our own spots at home. And unfortunately there was a smell of a sewer downstairs. We would not visit again. Searching for something positive, toward the end of our meal a sushi chef delivered some of our items (remember what I said about the waitress disappearing?). The chef seemed more friendly and competent.
(3)Krystal B.
Went for a friend's birthday. I don't eat sushi, but the steak teriyaki and miso soup were delicious. Great ambiance, very quaint, and the staff is extremely friendly. The turtle pond is awesome!! I had a great time and will definitely be back when I'm in the area.
(5)Jana N.
Everything we had was delicious! You MUST ask for the ceviche roll. It's not on the menu, but the chef will make it for you. We also had the Hula Roll; it just bursts with flavor. If you are going to get edamame, you need to get it with the garlic sauce. Their edamame has moved to #1 on my list. If I had any complaint, I would say the rolls are TOO big. I would prefer to be able to get a few rolls when we go out, but we couldn't even finish the two. But that's better than saying there wasn't enough! Only wish I lived closer...
(5)Kelsi I.
Great sushi! And they have pretty awesome happy hour deals. I love their pancho roll and it's half off during happy hour! The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because I wish the miso soup was complimentary. Overall great restaurant with nice decor and atmosphere. Definitely recommend for sushi in North County!
(4)D G.
Good decorations. Decent ambiance. Good variety. Decent vegetarian options. Friendly staff.
(4)Tracy p.
I don't know where to begin to share how bad the food is here. If you've truly eaten good sushi before you would know that the sushi here is far from good. Let's start first with the basic California Roll. The first thing that came to mind was that it tasted like the California Rolls from Costco. The rolls were unevenly cut, and the rice and crab mixture was soggy. We also ordered the beef Ramen soup. Boy, this set the record for the worst Ramen I've ever tried. Their version of beef ramen is to throw in two very thick and very fatty "steaks" of beef. It was so hard to eat beef that thick using chopsticks. I actually just took two bites then spit it out because the beef had so much fat and grizzle. I ended up just fishing out the noodles and egg, then threw away the rest. Stay clear from the Ceviche roll. It seemed like they just chopped up a variety of leftover pieces of fish, squeezed in some lime and called it ceviche. The fish here tasted fishy and did not seem fresh. Also, if you have any type of food sensitivity (e.g. Gluten allergy) and you want to make a request for gluten free rolls then be ready to pay $4 extra per order. It doesn't really take much to replace regular soy sauce with gluten free soy as the seasoning. Talk about poor customer service!! Every restaurant that I have ever eaten at have been more than happy to accommodate their customers free of charge because they want repeat business, however, not here! We paid $25 for the Ceviche roll, only ate one piece and left the remainder behind. The nice waiter asked if we wanted to box it up but we knew we would just throw it out so we said NO. Our only conclusion is that the bar for sushi must be VERY low in the Carlsbad area, and that's why Nozomi's Yelp rating is high. Unfortunately, we only came to this conclusion $120 later when it was too late. Better luck next time!!!
(1)Anh ..
Ownership changed. Average at best now. Sad face.
(3)Dana H.
Came in for an impromptu date night and we'll definitely be back. Decor, service and sushi were all equally impressive. We ordered the jalapeño poppers for a starter. Presentation and taste were spot on. For rolls we opted for the Twister, a Lemon Cilantro and a Pancho. They were all fresh and full of vibrant flavors. Service was excellent; friendly and fast.
(5)Alex P.
First time here. The food was pretty good, not the best sushi I've ever had but still great. Server was very accommodating. The house hot sake was good and cheap. Had the rainbow roll, fish was good and buttery. Had a few pieces of some others rolls and were also good. The place is big, clean and looks nice. The lower lights are a nice touch. Would go again. (Also Thai place attached to the same building is quit good)
(4)Patrick D.
Over priced, bad service, noisy environment, you name it. We'll never come again. We had some nigiris and rolls and the total was around $35 per person. I don't know why this is a 4 star restaurant. There are plenty of good sushi restaurants around here.
(1)Chrissie O.
My last dinner in San Diego with my cousins. I miss San Diego. I moved last Sunday to SF and I miss home. Anyways, we decided to meet in Carlsbad because one of my cousins was coming from orange county. Sushi is always a good choice for us cousins! We love it! At first I thought the restaurant was closed. I was so confused! The bottom half was completely empty. We found the door and it said to go up so we did and there were people up there!! I was happy we found the restaurant!! Everything on the menu sounded delicious. There is a lot to choose from. Only one cousin came on time so we decided to have tapas first. They have seperate sections for different types of tapas. Tapas from the land, sea, and speciality tapas. My favorite was creamy shrimp and lobster. It's a good starter especially when you are waiting. We ordered the jalapeno poppers as well and those were very spicy. It has a good kick! The sushi we ordered was da bomb dynamite, and hula roll. I got to try the protein roll as well when another cousin came. All were amazing. I was surprised how good the protein roll was. Rice-less roll sounds interesting and not my first choice but it was definitely a favorite of the ones I tried. Da bomb roll is good for people who don't really like raw. Hula was a good sweet roll. Definitely a great spot in Carlsbad for sushi. By the way they have a pond on the bottom floor and don't pick up the turtles. There is a really tiny sign which my cousin didn't read! whoops!
(4)Leslie A.
Ok people....seriously the BEST sushi I have ever had! And I LOVE sushi....so I know..lol We will be back...my boys tried sushi for the first time & they even loved it. Boys loved the Dream Roll, the noodles & the creamy shrimp & lobster appetizer the best. We had one of everything, pretty much:-)) Love it here!! Great kid restaurant too.
(5)Izzy B.
My son insisted on eating sushi for his birthday. Our first choice location said it will be an hr and a half to two hr wait so we ended up here. The hostess seated our party of 6 promptly upon arrival. Miso soup doesn't come standard with your meal which was surprising when we were asked if we'd like apps & miso soup??? Our table ordered udon, ramen, various rolls, chicken & steak teriyaki. My daughter really enjoyed their udon. The base was flavorful. There teri sauce was a little too thick but the flavor was still good. The Hawaiian roll was ok however I couldn't really taste the macadamia nuts. My favorite was the Kai roll...a variety of fish wrapped in cucumber without any rice. It was so refreshing. All in all it was good. My son was very happy with his sushi & they surprised us with fried banana & ice cream enough for the whole table...yum!
(3)Denise G.
I'm from the bay area and came on vacation to legoland. I yelped sushi restaurants and decided to check this one out. It was 9:30 and we were the last ones there on a Sunday. Jennifer the waiter was one of the sweetest waiters I've ever had ! Also the manager was very friendly and accommodating! They were patient and let us take our time and did not rush us even though it was after closing and made conversation. Definitely recommend it! The hula roll was really good as well. Absolutely coming back!
(5)Northofthirty D.
came here after finding Nozomi on yelp and we LOVED it! we had the sunset sushi combo, a rainbow roll, the baked mussels, and some kalbi short ribs. Everything was delicious! the fish was fresh. the baked mussels were deliciously decadent. and the ribs were yummy! would definitely come back.
(5)Lily H.
There wasn't no one here other than our table during lunch time. That kind of tells you how good their business is. The waitress was very nice. My husband ordered their special menu Toro hand roll but the chef came out with different fish hand roll because they run out toro. We got hula roll, chicken bento, california hand roll and Unagi hand roll, all the food were okay but a little pricy for okay food.
(3)Bernadette B.
Exceptional menu and terrific staff. Spicy Tuna on crispy rice is to die for. Just celebrated my parents 50th anniversary and they could not have been more professional or accommodating.
(5)Erica L.
is okay, may be the best sushi within 15 miles
(3)Kevin J.
They're back on top in my book! There was a rough time a few months ago and I stopped coming. But they're back and amazing again. I'm so happy to have my favorite sushi plAce back! Than you, Nozomi!
(5)Melissa C.
Very fresh and delicious sushi. Their sashimi is excellent. I love their octopus salad. The rolls are very filling. My colleague usually order the chirashi which looks pretty good. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Lissa K.
We've had mostly good luck here. The service wasn't great the first time, but very good the second time. The sushi and food are really good. Menu has lots of variety, even for non sushi eaters. Fun atmosphere. It's not the cheapest place in town, but they offer groupons quite often and if you can catch a deal, it's worth it.
(4)Alan C.
Used to come here often; then again last night for first time in several years. Sad to see that other reviews are correct: since it was sold the food quality, vibe and service are not the same. Used to love food here but probably won't be back.
(2)William E.
We've eaten here 3 times now. Always good service and food, albeit a bit pricey all things considered. We dine mid day on week days so no crowds, perhaps the quality goes down when they are busy as I am confused by the other poor ratings. I suggest you give them a try, we like it there.
(4)Mike S.
This place is incredible! The best sushi I've had in North County!!
(5)Alan C.
New ownership, new chefs, new Yelp rating. 2 Stars now. The quality has gone down, but the prices have stayed the same which was already fairly high. The fish is a lower grade than before- not the melt in your mouth type anymore. Chef Ken will be sorely missed here.
(2)Teresa M.
Best sushi I have ever had! So fresh. Had salmon and halibut sushi. Also had dream, hula, and volcano rolls. We went on wine Wednesday and loves the 1/2 off sake.so wish I didn't live in Houston, I would be a regular here. Great service too... Waitress recommended some good choices and although the restaurant was pretty full, service was prompt.
(5)Melina S.
Myself, my boyfriend and a mutual friend of ours had gone out to shop for clothes and we were hungry. So I yelped sushi and this place came up and thought to try it out. It was one of the best places I have gone to in a long time! I ended up spending about 60$ for my boyfriend and I, but it was well worth it! Sushi was extremely fresh and the waitresses were respectful and nice. They evern had on Kimonos! It was pretty authentic. Down stairs, they have a comfortable set up with a man-made pond with awesome lights and turtles! I'll be back when I have some extra money to spend.
(5)Dr. T.
We were headed home from the Del Mar fair and were craving something light and clean after eating fair food. Very nice vibe, awesome music and they had the NBA finals on. All my senses were satisfied. The food was tasty. Ramen and the spicy salad. Delicious. We will definitely be coming back.
(4)Stephen J.
New ownership. Same building but nothing the same as far as the food service and hospitality goes. Been twice in the past two months and was not impressed
(2)Rafael I.
Super friendly staff and huge portions. I would go back there again. I ordered a few dishes that they were out and they give me 20% off and didn't charges me fir few other plates. I love this service. Can't find that in Los Angeles.
(5)Peter M.
Went here for my birthday as the Yu Me Ya Sake House was closed. It turned out to be a bad choice. My group ordered vegetable tempura to start, two entrée sushi samplers(nigiri), an afterburner roll and the sirloin beef sukiyaki entrée. The sushi was mostly ok, some of it was good. The tempura was greasy and had an asparagus spear which was out of place. Not that good of a tempura. My Osaka sampler was missing uni(sea urchin) and tobiko(flying fish roe). Long story short, the sushi chef (he personally handed us the samplers) either messed up the order or there was some miscommunication, substituting the more expensive elements of the sampler for cheaper ones(salmon and shrimp). When I pointed out stuff was missing they only brought me the uni. I didn't have a menu to check what was supposed to come so I missed the tobiko. My mother said the sirloin beef sukiyaki was bland, "a dish not worth $20, worth more like $10". The house special ice tea was too sweet for my taste. The hot house sake was great for the price. Every single specialty roll here has imitation Krab and the afterburner roll was just a California roll with some spicy sauce and jalapeño on top. I didn't order rolls because I don't like Krab. Apart from the food, the service was a disaster. Everything came out at different times, an obvious service mistake. Basically, we got the two sushi samplers, and then 15 minutes later the sukiyaki came out. Then it took another 10 min for my mother to get the rice that is supposed to come with the sukiyaki. The sukiyaki was missing yam too. I had to ask for a water refill and it took a long time to come. Why is this place decorated like a tiki-lounge? Bamboo on the ceiling, walls, fake plastic bamboo plants.
(1)Guy R.
What an amazing restaurant in a great location! The food is outstanding and the menu is always changing as the sushi chefs are coming uo with new outstanding creations. I even met one of the owners there one day his name is Devin. What a great down to earth guy. You can see why it is so well run and the staff is so happy and courteous. If I could give this 6 stars I would, can't wait for my next visit!!
(5)Jason S.
AMAZING!!! Kevin Saito is the new head chef and part owner. He was previously the head chef at Station Sushi, Birdrock where I was a regular. I've been in Encinitas for a year and was excited to have our fav sushi chef back and close by. Kevin brings the same high quality sushi and fun atmosphere to Nozomi. Make sure to sit at the bar and have him, or any of the chefs, serve you up the daily specials. The rolls and cuts are huge so come hungry! 2 biters for most. We ordered the Toro nigiri and the Lemon Cilantro Roll. Kevin took care of the rest. Toro was buttery heaven. The Lemon Cilantro Roll was refreshing. Ahi nigiri was seared perfectly. Hula Roll, their most popular, was crunchy and delicious. The waitress was attentive. She came by three times to check up on us. Restaurant has an interesting layout. Make sure to check out the turtle pond on the bottom floor. Main sushi bar is upstairs. Will be going back ASAP.
(5)Chili B.
Average Japanese. The miso soup was among the worst I've had. First of all it come lukewarm - steaming hot like it should. And it has gritty chunks in it. Like it wasn't stirred or prepared properly. Not good. The salad was nice and fresh - nothing special. Though I wish it was more traditional with a miso type dressing, The bento box was pretty good. I got salmon terriyaki. The salmon was great - cooked perfectly and with a nice sweet terriyaki sauce. The tempura wasn't so good. The batter wasn't crunchy and the tempura sauce tasted like water...YUCK!! so bland and disappointing, The service was very slow. And the bathrooms were pretty nasty and rundown.
(3)E. M.
Worth a try! Sushi is good despite servings are small. Last minute reservations worked well, even with the 3 kids!
(4)Ashley E.
I love sushi and I love tapas and man oh man does this place meet my love! The presentation of the food is impeccable. First started with the house salad which was a very large portion and then went to the Dream roll. It is exactly its name - a dream. In addition to top notch quality food, the chefs are wonderful. I've been impressed both times by Poncho and Diego. I'd recommend sitting at the sushi bar as these guys are attentive and funny. Can't wait for many meals at Nozomi as the menu has so much to offer.
(5)Fatimah E.
Nothing short of amazing. The food is really REALLY delicious. I have been here many times and have had most of the menu. The only problem is that once you eat here you won't want sushi from anywhere else... Which I suppose really isn't a problem; it's a solution.. Because you will stop wasting money on garbage. Eat here. It will make you happy. My favorite roll is the hula. If you are having a fat night eat the twister, it's yummy too.
(5)Josh P.
Amazing sushi great atmosphere lunch hrs 8.5 quiet and very enjoyable. will definitely come back an bring friends
(5)Scott T.
WYATT (my four-year old) and i stopped in for a boy's lunch (MICHAEL canceled at the last minute -- okay about forty-five minutes past the last minute, KEEGAN was in school and CALEB was just AWOL) ... anyway, the food was exceptional. WYATT had beef teriyaki with steamed rice and a bowl of miso with extra tofu. dad had the YELLOWTAIL JALAPENO (from the TAPAS section of the menu) -- a crudo with thinly sliced peppers and a soy-yuzu dressing really amazing. that was followed by one of the lunch specials -- the BLUE FIN sampler, basically a horizontal tasting of toro, chu-toro and o-toro -- deliciously decadent. we finished with the KUMAMOTO OYSTERS (also a lunch special). they arrived (five to the plate) on the half-shell with the same tart soy-yuzo dressing. WYATT had one, made a face, said it tasted funny and then asked for another. we were very happy boys.
(4)Jackie V.
The food is amazing! We met the head chef and he is super nice and talented!! We highly recommend this place.
(5)Steven W.
Sushi is prevalent in North Park and Hillcrest areas and the quality has always been, in my humble American opinion, rather good. I don't often get the chance to make it so far up north to dine for sushi, but I did so recently for a dinner date with friends. As far as sushi goes this place was quite good and comparable to anything I would typically have further down south. The ambiance and staff both made this restaurant warm and inviting. There are a few tastefully displayed televisions which don't distract from the restaurant, but would probably allow you to keep up on sporting events without being in a place that looks like a sports bar. The overall building is very large for a sushi restaurant which would likely make finding extra seating for a large group relatively easy which is always nice and it makes room for a fun turtle pond. I stayed with the sushi list for this visit and enjoyed my protein rolls and more traditional rainbow rolls. Portions and flavor were all spot on with what I would consider good sushi in the greater San Diego area. I will definitely pass through here again next time I am up in the Carlsbad area.
(5)Di L.
Went here for a quick lunch. I ordered a small beer...they apparently ran out and gave me a large one instead but charged me for the small beer! Totally awesome :). I just ordered sushi and mine came out pretty quick, but we had to wait awhile for my other friends' orders. They apparently were under new management and so I guess it was kind of understandable that the orders were taking awhile to come out. But they were awesome about it and gave us appetizers to snack on. My caterpillar roll was pretty decent. I dont live in the area so not sure I'll really come back any time soon, but it wasnt that bad.
(3)Steve M.
Had a great time here last week. We were a Party of 6 (we had two little kids)and the atmosphere was great. Sushi was fresh and the selection was nice. We shall return.
(4)Ryan W.
Bt far the best Sushi I have ever had. I have been eating hear since they opened. Love the half price martinis on Tuesday. Everything is good hear. You cant go wrong. I love the blue fin tuna. Best on the planet. If you haven't tried this place your missing out. As far as rolls go I like them all but after a work out the Protein roll is great.
(5)Mark B.
Wow! What a fantastic experience! We had a large group and they were ready for us the second we walked in. The food was perfect and the wait staff was excellent! You won't get a better experience in San Diego if you are looking for quality sushi. Go now!
(5)Thomas L.
What a tricky experience it was. The adventure started even before we went into the restaurant. Coming in from I-5, I almost smashed into a speeding car turning into the parking lot. Be careful with that semi-blind corner! Then, we were completely confused by where the entrance was. Do yourself a favor and go toward the left side of the building, as seen from the parking lot. The dining area had a quaint multi-level setup. I had a hard time deciphering the menu, even though I was a veteran with Japanese food. As others have noted, it took quite a while for the food to get to the table. The salmon sashimi was very good, but the rest of the sashimi platter, the sushi special, and the tempura udon were only pretty average. Maybe we should have tried the fancy rolls, and perhaps this explains the varied (and sometimes polarized) reviews on Yelp. Kids loved the turtle pond at the bottom level. We'll probably try other spots first if we come back to Carlsbad.
(3)Kristina C.
As someone who is part japanese I felt this sushi was pretty mediocre and inauthentic. Had the miso cod and it wasn't very good - just bland and one-dimensional. Had nigiri and it was okay but the rice was overly vinigery and unbalanced. Also serves me right for ordering dessert in a sushi restaurant but the it was terrible. Wouldn't recommend going back.
(2)Amanda R.
I was in love with this place the moment we walked in. The turtle pond with color changing waterfall was very peaceful and inviting and the soft leather couches with the Cooking channel on TV were perfect for waiting on the rest of our group. We came in with some friends about a week ago and ended up meeting the owner Art who was a fantastic host! He recommended several items to us and our group split many dishes so we could try them all! Among my favorites were the Hula roll #1 fave, the Nozumi sashimi salad which was spicy but delicious and huge, ramen-huge bowl but I only had a small taste cuz everything else was really filling, garlic edamame, jalapeño poppers, baked mussels-yummy, the Twister roll wrapped in potato which was very unique, seaweed salad-always delicious, creamy shrimp and lobster tempura-didn't last very long so I only had a bite, hibachi scallops-small but delicious, steamed mussels and clams, and some various types of sake. Everything was really so delicious that even though I was beyond full, I wanted to keep eating. I am definitely looking forward to going back and tasting more-hopefully with another big group so we can have another family feast! Thanks Art!!
(5)Danny S.
Wanted to try this restaurant out (due to yelp review) and took the family to it on Memorial Day at lunch. As we walked in, there was a sign to head upstairs and seat yourself. As we walked upstairs, we noticed that the restaurant was half empty but no server in sight. We asked the sushi chef if we could put 2 tables together and sit. He pointed us to the waitress (looked disheveled and overwhelmed). We asked her and she replied rudely..."You are gonna have to wait 30 minutes. I am the only server here and am too busy". WTH?!?! Not a response I expected from this restaurant. Obviously she didn't want to take on more customers so we left.
(1)Scott S.
Nozomi is good sushi in Carlsbad. It used to be better. If you are looking for a cheap 2 for 1 California Roll, this place may not be for you. Sit at the bar, ask for the chef special and enjoy!
(4)Josh D.
Great experience from start to end. loved the atmosphere and the food was amazing. I'll be coming back here more often with the daily deals they have now.
(5)William M.
With our group of 7, the servers goofed up several of our orders, and didn't bring one of our entrees for 90 minutes. They finally said they accidentally gave it to another table!
(1)teena y.
As you walked in you see a sign 'seat yourself' which was kinda funny. yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Then you see two caucasian sushi chefs. Red flag? We gave it a try anyways since the Four Seasons and yelp recommended it. Overall the food was ok. Nothing to rave about. Garlic edamame - just ok, i think people hyped it up too much for me yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Tempura udon - yummy, but would have been better with a cracked egg inside. They were very generous with the tempura though so this was definitely worth it (2 shrimp, 3 onion rings, 2 broccoli, 2 yams, 2 zucchini) yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Jalapeño hamachi - ok not as spicy as I thought it would be yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Sashimi sampler - yummy, nice presentation yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Dragon roll - big portion, ok yelp.com/biz_photos/O7VC… Overall, I wasn't wowed by the place. Not bad and the service was good. Cute turtle pond downstairs. Just be sure not to go in the one way entrance of the parking lot or else your tires will be popped!
(3)Carol K.
Pull up a chair and listen to my fish tale. First- the good. We were able to get a reservation at the last minute on a Friday night. I was surprised by this until I got to the place and realized that the restaurant is quite large. We were seated upstairs and began to look over the menu. There were plenty of things of the menu that sounded good- from the sashimi appetizer (6 good sized pieces of fish for $16) to specialty rolls and other entrees. I did laugh when I saw the notation at the end that they could make ANY type of roll that we wanted . . .all we had to do was ask. I bet they get some interesting requests. I went with the spicy tuna roll (my fav) and one of their specialty rolls, the Surf's up. It was then the bad began. Service is pretty much non existent at this place. Our drinks came up and then one of the appetizers showed up. We had told the server that we weren't going to be able to share food as one in our party had many food allergies so she needed to order her own food. So here I am with food in front of me- and none across the table. Then our rolls showed up . . .TWICE! Even the server looked confused. And just when we were finishing up- the missing appetizer showed up at the table. Very strange. And I think they must have been getting the drinks from a different bar altogether as we ordered a glass of wine to go with dinner, and it came up as we were asking to pay the bill. And all of this on a night when the place wasn't even really busy. The ambiance is nice- lots of wood and the turtle pond on the lower level is interesting. Dinner for two with drinks ran about $100 with most specialty rolls coming in around $15 each and regular rolls about $7.50. And there is plenty of parking on the street or in the lot behind the restaurant. And so ends my fish tale, but unlike most fish tales . . .this one is true!
(3)Jacob W.
Good sushi but a bit on the pricey side. I would expect their prices in the Gaslamp but not east of the village. I got the volcano which was awesome but it was 6 pieces for $15. The quality is excellent just a little sticker shock.
(3)Alex S.
My husband and I came here many years ago (approx 7 years ago) for a date night, and I remember LOVING the food/dish that each of us had. We made a mental note to come back for more date nights, as it is really close to us, but we just got busy (kids, you know...). We finally made it back for another date night a month or so ago. I was very unimpressed. I hadn't realized that since then the restaurant had changed owners (I only discovered that upon reading other YELP reviewers), but now it makes sense. The ambiance was quite different as we originally thought it was a romantic setting on the first floor, and while the upper level is decorated nicely, it doesn't have the same feel as we remembered. I thought the fish dish that I ordered was VERY "fishy" -- where as I usually don't think of that type of fish as being so. At the time, I did not eat sushi and recently discovered that I like sushi (minus the seaweed and with soy paper instead). So, I opted to return with a friend and see how I enjoyed their sushi. Now, as someone who is ordering sushi with soy paper, I'm obviously not a real "sushi critic." Therefore, I did find it to be quite tasty. However, in my new found love of sushi, I had not yet experienced such HIGH prices. I was a little in shell shock, unaware of how much a restaurant could charge for a roll of sushi! This was a huge disappointment. Knowing there are other places I can go to be just as satisfied with my sushi craving, and pay much less... makes me think it's unlikely I will be a return customer at Nozomi. It just isn't worth that much money, quite frankly. And, really, EVERYTHING was overpriced. Not only that, but being that I'm not a traditional sushi/japenese food consumer, I prefer regular salt over soy sauce. It's just my thing. The restaurant had ONE salt grinder (pink himalayan salt crystals), and I was told that the chef needed it, so they grinded some for me over our edamame and said they would need it back. There weren't too many people in the restaurant b/c it was early on a Monday, but eventually the manager allowed us to keep the grinder on our table until it was needed (it ended up being through our meal), but, I thought it was a little ridiculous that the restaurant didn't have SALT more easily/readily available for customers. I get that japanese restaurants don't use a lot of salt, but I've never run into this problem before anywhere. For a while there, I thought I was going to have to go to the other restaurant in the building and borrow their salt shaker. The wait staff was nice and friendly -- but, overall it wasn't a smooth and comfortable experience there. However, if they lowered their prices, I think I could deal with everything else and I might be more willing to return.
(2)Jay J.
Went with the family and it was just ok. We were really disappointed that they charged us full price for a teriyaki chicken plate and teriyaki beef plate for our two children ($22 each) when they did not offer a kids menu! This is bad business in my opinion. The sashimi was ok, but I will say it was the first time ever that I had sashimi with 2 (very thin and small) pieces of fish on a rice pack...must have been running low on tuna or just skimping....try and you decide. As for me....I'll pass
(2)Diana B.
Amazing food, amazing service! Come here, you will not be disappointed! Best sushi I've had in a while!
(5)Brian K.
I hear this place was great from a couple of people. I saw a groupon for $20 for $35 in food so I picked one up. I went with my gf since we are both sushi fans. This has to be the best sushi in north county. We had a dragon roll, eel and another roll. The price is on the expensive side but the sushi is great. It's hard to want to commit to a $15 or $20 roll and then to add it on top a 12oz of sculpin was $7. The best sushi I've had but it would be hard on the wallet if I continued to go here without a groupon. The only reason I'm giving four stars and not five is the price. If the rolls are that expensive the alcohol prices should be significantly less. $7 for a sculpin on a 12oz is a 16oz pint anywhere else. But at least they had an IPA available unlike other places. If you want the best sushi and don't mind the price this is your place to go. We will be back but only for lunch or maybe during happy hour to check out the pricing there.
(4)George V.
The spicy tuna rolls are great and very fresh. The service is decent and it's always nice to see the turtles downstairs on the way out.
(3)T M.
Not sure how this place has so many "Amazing" reviews. The food was "ok". We ordered a basic meal. The waitress didn't know how to pronounce anything we ordered! (Bad sign!) the chefs said they knew how to make the roll we ordered (it wasn't on the menu but is a staple in any authentic Japanese kitchen), but when we got it we wanted to send it back. I was very disappointed I. Oh well, at least we had a chance to spend some time together!
(2)Angelina S.
OMG!!! Amazing sushi :) We got like 5 different rolls an shared them... Every single one was delicious! Maybe the best sushi in San Diego!
(5)David B.
I loved the atmosphere and food! Not to mention the waterfall with turtles swimming while we ate. The "Dream" roll was amazing. The service was outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant. Also the owner Art came by and was nothing but professional and respectful. 5 stars!
(5)Fiona N.
Amazing !!!! The hula roll is so delicious ! And Lisa was so helpful! Definitely will be going back soon
(5)Michael L.
I've been to many sushi bars over the years, and all but 2 of them were "one and done". Nozomi is one of them. I've been there many times over the years and haven't had one bad experience with the rolls and appetizers. A bit of advice, scan the specialty rolls on the menu, every one I've tried has been memorable.... The décor is pretty cool, clean, lot's of wood and bamboo. Ambience is nice as well, they actually have some high def TV's (always muted sound) so you can check out a game, if that's your thing.... Waitress service is usually good, sometimes a little flaky, but watching them strut around in their cute little mini kimono's makes up for it.... A word of warning, there's a turtle pond downstairs with seating.... Sometimes there's a stink emanating from the pond.... Thankfully, I haven't seen no little turtles floating belly up as of yet....
(4)Melisa S.
One word, three syllables: A-MA-ZING! I had the pleasure of eating dinner at Nozomi last Sunday. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded, which meant better service for me. My party of 8 was promptly seated and our waitress was very accommodating. They have a pretty extensive menu, which made it difficult to decide what we wanted. If there is something that you want and it's not on the menu, just let them know and they will make it for you. We started off with the creamy shrimp and lobster, which was 'the bomb!' The shrimp and lobster tempura were perfectly fried, then tossed in a sweet and sour aioli. For the rest of the meal, we settled on the following rolls: Dragon roll, the Dream roll, Ceviche Roll, Philly roll along with fresh sushi (salmon belly and fatty tuna). The sushi was extremely fresh and all of the roll were delicious. The sushi chef also made a special Hawaiian Style Salmon Poke for the table and it was sooooo good. I'm salivating just thinking about it. To sum it all up, Nozomi offers amazing food, great service, and and fun atmosphere. I will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)William N.
I have been going to Nozomi for years and am always happy with their unique and delicious food.
(5)G R.
Pancho and Lane are BACK...this is once again the best sushi in SD County by far. Their supplier is the same as Nobu and these folks have things back on track here in Carlsbad...way to go!
(5)Aubrey T.
Very good sushi! The dragon rolls were delicious .... Service was fast .... Would recommend
(5)Marianne S.
Excellent sushi place. We came here for my Husbands birthday and were the first ones in for dinner. The chef (Lan? I think) was SUPER friendly and excellent. He made us amazing pieces, shared some of his favorite things to eat and was quite entertaining and fun to chat with. Other service (check, servers) were a tiny bit slow. But we were the first ones in and I think they were just getting started. Not a huge deal. ALL of our sushi was really tasty though, we would definitely go back if we were in the area again.
(4)Krissy O.
Great place, great food. Came for drinks with the friends, must order the Manju, aka. Big Brother Sake. Turtles were awesome, will be bringing the kids back for dinner soon.
(5)Javin H.
Simply mouth watering fresh sushi selections! The menu has diverse options to suit even my discriminating palate. The chef's and service was very impressive as well as the spacious setting and cozy atmosphere, not to mention the super cool turtle pond. Must try this if you are in the north county area, sooooo worth it!
(5)Craig K.
Was OK - as in average. Seemed a bit overpriced for the food. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem paying for good sushi (Hane is one of my favorites) but this seemed a slight bit above mall quality. Protein roll was pretty good, the hamachi was definitely day-old so I sent it back. My girls seemed to be enjoying their udon and the beer was cold. I'm not ruling out coming back but my expectation on the quality of sushi is now calibrated.
(3)Teresa N.
The downstairs room was perfect for our holiday party, loved the water feature! Both the food and the staff were amazing.
(5)Patricia G.
Seriously the most delicious Sushi I have ever had! Sushi Chef, Lane, was fantastic!! He is truly a gifted chef and makes artwork with every dish! The price point was very reasonable considering we ordered a lot of fish. The restaurant seemed to have different segments from larger dinning area to an quaint upstairs. If you are in the Carlsbad area drop by!
(5)Torri R.
Excellent Sushi!! Always fresh fish.. I have been coming here for years and can not complain. Always good service especially if you have Stephanie for your server and I love when Diego is there he's awesome and always makes the best sushi! The menu has a big variety so you can always find something good to eat for every appetite! Great place for big groups or a date night! Overall I recommend Nozomi's! Delicious fresh food and good service.
(5)Jennifer H.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this Sushi spot. If I live din San Diego, I would go once a week for sure! They have Gluten Free Soy Sauce for those who need it. Wonderful Sushi, and if you let the Sushi Chef surprise you, you will be delighted. I was there last Thursday and it was by far the best Sushi experience I have had ever. I eat alot of sushi too....
(5)Marina S.
I have eaten a lot of sushi. And good sushi - I'm from Japan (notice smart inset comment). :) LOL. Anyways. This place is great. I work in Carlsbad during the week, even though i live in LA... so to drown my homesickness I treat myself to very good food. Which you get here. The decor is kitchy asian which i thoroughly enjoy. Trickling water, bamboo, the waiters/waitresses wear the little kimonos... love it. I usually order a lot. Don't laugh. Seaweed salad: nice and simple. Fresh and yummy. Baked tofu: light and in a nice broth. Since it is in a fish-based broth, some people might not like it, but I love it. Hula Roll: NOMS. The perfect California, Americanized sushi roll. Shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, crunchy bits of awesomeness. Spicy, fishy, fried, and crunchy... it's just oh so good. My colleague and I have even come here on lunches a few days in a row and have started being recognized. That probably means we're coming too much, but I don't care :)
(5)Maria P.
Hula roll....mmmmmmmm!!! Everything we ordered was good here. The ginger martini was soooooo delicious! The only thing I didn't like was the kimono robes the ladies had to wear. It looked a bit on the trashy side when they're wearing short kimonos and no pants. Please, let them wear pants!!! Say YES to leg wear!!
(5)Valerie O.
Great food and exceptional service! We came in close to closing time and expected a hurried meal. On the contrary our waitress (Lisa I think) was extremely warm and welcoming. We didn't feel rushed at all. She gave great recommendations and even re-heated our sake that had cooled down. The food was equally wonderful with large portions of sashimi. We left full and very happy, I would definitely recommend this place!
(5)Joe F.
Excellent Sushi! Generous cuts and very fresh fish. Also had Oyster with quail egg and it was a real treat. Very happy with this dining experience. The place was very attractive with the different levels , Koi pond and lots of wood.
(5)Courtney K.
Ok food that is expensive but a nice atmosphere... Food: 2.5 stars Cost: 2 stars Atmosphere: 3.5 stars Service: 2.5 stars The atmosphere here is the best part and I think this would make a good date spot. I loved the decor and that the wait staff wore kimono-ish robes. But if you're going for Asian Fusion, I think you'll be disappointed. My friend and I ordered a variety of items ranging from sashimi, to teryaki chicken to pineapple-pork skewers. The teryaki chicken(her pick) was blah and I could get something better out of a frozen package from Costco. I really wanted the Seoul Ribs but they were out of them so we settled for the pineapple and pork skewers. The halibut sashimi (her pick) was excellent. The service was friendly but not very attentive. Parking was also a bit tough. I'll give this place another try, but not anytime soon.
(2)Craig M.
This place is wonderful! From the turtle pond on the bottom floor to the excellent service and sushi. My wife and I came in decided to try their special rolls on the menu to have something different from the normal sushi trip (this was our first visit to this restaurant and had no idea what to expect). OH MY, EACH ROLL WAS PERFECTION! We had the Twisted roll that had potato warped around it and at first were thinking...this should be interesting and interesting it was... Pure genius! The twisted roll was one of the best rolls we have had in a long time. It is a definite must have when coming here. We also had the after burner, lemon cilantro, volcano and ungai bonsai rolls which were all top notch sushi rolls of perfection! Sorry to use perfection so much but this was the best sushi we have had in years. We go out to sushi all of the time to many locations and this is one will be a staple on the must go to restaurants in San Diego. Thank you Nozomi for the wonderful experience
(5)Richelle L.
My boyfriend and I wanted Sushi and decided to try this place. We ordered the miso soup, Soporo, Rainbow Roll, and one that had potato shavings-- I think the Twister Roll. The miso soup was SO much better than any I had ever had. It had so much more flavor than any other place I've ever been to. The rolls were really good too, very filling. The turtle pond downstairs was closed for repairs, but we snuck in to see it anyways, happy to see tons of turtles floating around and hanging out. I really loved the interior upstairs where we ate with TVs, seats at the sushi bar, bar stools on the oposite side and tables in the middle. There were pretty cool lights and also great music playing in the background that night. The servers were super friendly and attentive. Not one complaint. Try it out!
(5)Larry P.
Now this is a real Japanese restraint not the usual crap in Carlsbad and of course there's no coupons, no specials, no screemimg kids. Just great real Japanese food.
(5)Heather A.
I seriously love this place. For soo many reasons. Staff is really nice and accommodating, food is amaaazzinngg, sushi chefs are outrageously talented and so sweet, atmosphere is perfect, and location is awesome! Perfect place for a nice date, or a dinner with friends and fam! Check it out for sure, you'll love it!
(5)Lesley T.
We have been coming to Nozomi since it opened in Carlsbad about four years ago. The food is fantastic and each room has it's own ambiance. The prices are high, but not outrageous and even our pickiest sushi friends admit that it is one of the best they have been to. Try the Surf & Turf roll and the Twister. Fabulous - fun and never a bad meal. Service can be a little slow, but plan to come and enjoy your meal. You won't be sorry.
(5)Drea M.
Just not the same. I was worried when I heard there was an ownership change recently. Often this means restructuring on all levels. We figured we'd give it a go anyway. Yup, just as I thought. The atmosphere has changed, the staff has changed, the items have changed...all, except the prices. Now they can't back up their prices w/the type of quality they had. The sushi isn't bad, it's just not as good as it was. The new head chef has a different presence, thus the atmosphere of the bar is very rigid, uncomfortable. I only recognized one chef from before, the rest are gone. In the past we would recognize the higher prices, but we were willing to pay them. Now, it's not justifiable.
(2)Megan H.
Really awesome sushi! I went with a friend who had been before and LOVED Joey, so we sat at his section at the sushi bar and he took great care of us! For starters, we ordered the LEMONGRASS TIGER SHRIMP (edible, but not my favorite Tapa of the night) and the CARLSBAD CLAMS & MUSSELS (delicious in a shallot and butter sauce)...great way to start off the meal! Sushi wise, Joey impressed us with his creativity and made up a special roll not on the menu since my friend is a regular :) He coined it the BIRTHDAY sex roll, but just imagine the most fresh, melt in your mouth, fish of every kind wrapped in soy paper (no rice) and topped with fresh tuna and albacore, then he seared it with spicy mayo, jalapeno and siracha sauce to top it off! Also, I ordered the LEMON CILANTRO ROLL, it came with spicy krab, cilantro and cucumber (add avo if you arent allergic like me) and was topped in fresh seared albacore, jalapeno and lemon juice...it tasted so FRESH and light...highly recommended but I can't wait to come back and try some of the other things I noticed on the menu! I couldn't stop eating! I could've stayed all night :) I will definitely be back, especially if they get some HAPPY HOURS going!
(5)Jorge M.
Visiting from Los Angeles and needed SUSHI fix ASAP! Came across this place and very happy we did! The Sushi Chef(Diego from Brazil) was very pleasant to talk to. Fresh Sashimi salad and rice free roll that I pretty much made up myself! I'd def. come back when I'm in town.
(4)Katie S.
Our first Japanese fusion experience and we loved it! But I just wish our meal wasn't so expensive. Food was great. Everything we ordered were something different. We had the green tea edamame, Cajun tuna salad, baby yellowtail tiradito, aloha salmon (salmon, crab, gobo, wrapped with rice paper with herb aioli), kumamoto oysters on the half shell, and the protein roll (rice less roll with various types of fish and wrapped with soy paper) The aloha salmon and yellowtail were my favorite. But I thought the riceless soypaper roll was too different from what I'm used to as sushi.. so that wasn't my favorite. But overall everything was tasty, but expensive for tiny portions. What I really recommend is their matcha. Never at any other Japanese restaurant did I have someone prepare our tea in front of us the traditional way. Matcha is a type of very finely grouned green tea so you can make it thick or thin. Our server made it a little to thick to my liking, but the flavor of the tea was fantastic. She scooped some tea powder into a little bowl with a bamboo scoop, added hot water, and mixed around with a bamboo whisk. For $4, it was an awfully small cup of tea, but it was an interesting and unique experience. Definitely adds a twist to a Japanese meal. Nozomi is a great place to take a date to impress. Make sure you order the matcha!
(4)Jennifer G.
Sushi like we are used to in SF! It's always sketchy to try an out-of-town sushi joint, but this place was amazing (even better than our awesome neighborhood spot!). Lane and my hubby totally hit it off, since he's an Hawaiian and the hubby used to live there. And everything we ate was just magical! Super fresh and even my kids kept asking for more (hand rolls, nigiri, etc). I loved the Hamachi Jalapeño, Garlic Edamame and Misoyaki Butterfish. Actually, we didn't order anything that wasn't up to our standard. And the unfiltered sake and Orion beer simply hit the spot. It's worth a repeat visit on our short stay...even if that means trying one less local restaurant. Loved the food, loved the sushi chefs and staff, loved the fellow diners. And they were super cool to our keikis. Must-do in Carlsbad!
(5)Paul C.
My favorite sushi place in southern calif.
(5)Aimi S.
Food was good and service was good but it is little bit pricy. I was expecting some Japanese menus and Japanese person but any. There are not authentic Japanese food like Izakaya style.
(3)Mike H.
This place is definitely one of the best sushi restaurants that I have eaten at.
(4)Christina P.
I really did not like the food here. Bleh. They brought us edamame with garlic to start and it was delicious, I had high hopes for the food. Upon ordering, my friend asked our server for suggestions and she didn't give him any. Her answer to questions he asked about deciding between a few different options: "It just depends." and "That's all up to you." (Obviously it's up to him, but it's your job to know what food you're selling.) I ordered a Sprite and it was $3 and was served to me in a small bottle. I thought that was kind of weird. Not really a big deal, but weird. Had I known it was going to come like that, I wouldn't have wasted $3. (I get thirsty!) The worst part was the sushi. My friends said theirs was okay, but I HATED mine. It was drenched in a sauce that was too funky to be soy sauce and it wasn't eel sauce. I couldn't even eat it. Our bill came to $80 for three people...we had three rolls, three misos, one order of edamame, one sprite, two teas, and three servings of mochi. $80? Really? My wonderful friend who is a complete gentleman took care of the bill so I couldn't dissect it to see if we were overcharged. Overall, not the best experience.
(2)Karen H.
Really great dinner. The butter fish tapas was amazing, fish was fresh, rolls were good. I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Patricia R.
Great good and horrible service! They took so long to get us out food and a roll came out after an hour being their with a toddler! Really people?!
(3)Tony L.
Terrible terrible service. High high prices. Average food. Try any sushi in the area before this one
(1)Eric K.
Great place. Fish was fresh and the service was excellent. Our sushi chef Kevin was very creative.
(4)Callie D.
Was incredible until the new owners took over. I will never again step foot in here. Soo incredibly expensive, still good, just not as good as it was before. I don't enjoy it anymore because i'm just comparing it to how it used to be.
(4)Aaron K.
Flew in from Texas for a business and was recommended this place by a few coworkers. Nozomi's was absolutely amazing. Hands down some of the best sushi I've ever had. I would stack this place up there with some if the best places I've been too and I've lived in Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, SF and Austin Texas. So I've had my fair share.The atmosphere was lively but not over the top. The Tokyo Sushi Bar sushi chefs made the experience a lot of fun and created a couple amazing rolls based on my particular tastes. Be sure to try the specialty sake's they have (Perfect Snow was my favorite). You may want to make reservations if going during the weekend as they said it can get pretty busy. They're a pretty popular spot in Carlsbad. This place just became my new favorite sushi joint in California! Wish I lived closer.
(5)Mimi C.
We decided to come here while on vacation after reading the Yelp reviews. We wanted something different than the normal hotel fare we had been eating. This place was an excellent choice. We enjoyed everything from the sushi to the udon to the tempura and teriyaki. Favorites were definitely the rolls (amazingly the CA roll was delish!) the gyoza and the udon. Little disappointed in the the teriyaki steak but my husband was pleasantly surprised to see abalone on the menu. Service was great. Decor was very nice and truly enjoyed by my 4 year old niece. Her favorites were the turtles in the pond.
(4)Joseph M.
Nozomi, has a beautiful interior and great service. Nozomi is what you expect, the food is delicious but you get what you pay for. I ordered a sushi combination, and i don't recall any negative feelings, all the fish tasted fresh. They have a great selection of teas and specialty rolls. They even have a selection where you can create your own roll coined "Make your Own" roll. I was disappointed for the lack of teriyaki plates and tempura combinations.
(3)Natasha C.
Nozomi provides the best nigiri and sashimi in Southern California! I love Nozomi. I usually order omakase (chef's special) where the sushi chef provides sashimi that may not be on the menu as it is what is fresh that day. Or the chef will prepare Japanese cuisine with a delicious twist. The sashimi is so sweet and fresh. I've had toro, uni, hamachi, maguro, clam, scallop, salmon, and ika. All tasty and delicious. The ama ebi is live! The hamachi kama is so full of flavor.
(5)Chris R.
We went last night and were not disappointed. Huge sake menu, organized by sweetness. We tried just about every type of nigiri there was, and every piece was fresh and delicious. We tried two rolls: Surf n Turf and the Hula roll. Fabulous. We went with friends that really knew their sushi, and they loved it too. Service was great and unobtrusive. Atmosphere was cool. I was disappointed that the bottom level where the turtle pond was was not being used last night. Free parking in a big lot. I highly recommend this place and will be back. It was $206 for the four of us, which included 2 bottles of sake, 2 premium rolls, and about 12 orders of nigiri, some of them the premium cuts. Well worth it.
(5)Eli V.
Amazing fresh sushi! Can get a little pricey but worth it for the quality!
(5)Laura M.
Ok, I don't know about the service reviews on this sushi place, but everytime my husband and I have eaten in this restaurant it's been 5 star service and food! The atmosphere is soo cool with its dim lighting and the turtle tank and the upstairs sportsbar feel. The sushi is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Ken, the head sushi chef is a genius and so is Derek (the owner) for hiring him. You'll find Derek most nights, hanging out just making sure your experience was memorable. Super fresh sushi and REALLY friendly staff at a gorgeous location. I'm addicted!
(5)Cary J.
Great ambiance and great food. The servers are dressed up and there is a very cool water feature upstairs and downstairs. Be careful not to pick up the turtles...they do bite! The sushi chefs are friendly and serve very fresh sushi. The Hula Roll and Ginger Salad are both amazing!
(4)Ian P.
This place has outstanding rolls and the bottom floor has a small pond with turtles in the dining area, which is really cool for kids to look at.
(5)Danielle M.
We go to this restaurant ALL the time. To say it has my favorite sushi selections would be an understatement. We routinely order the garlic sauté edamame, and twister and king kong rolls. Makes me happy every time.
(4)Jody C.
Solid, Solid, Solid. Good japanese beer selection, nice sake list. Sat near the turtle pond with my two little ones and they were adequately entertained by the many many turtles. Food was very tasty, fresh fish and presented in a creative and beautiful way. This menu has a nice variety of things to order aside from the usual sushi / sashimi and classic makis. Finally a sushi place in north county that i want to visit again!
(4)Mike C.
Went here on Valentines Day. Decorated really well, the service was excellent and the staff was friendly. We originally wanted to go to Sushi Ota but they had no reservations at the sushi bar available. When we heard that Nozomi's head sushi chef used to work at Sushi Ota, we gave this place a shot. Sashimi was really fresh. We didn't order from the menu but asked Mr. Lee what was good on that day and went with his suggestions. Excellent fish, lots of sake options, and friendly staff. Thank god it was because once I received my bill after being there for about 2.5 hrs., I could have paid my cable bill for the next 10 months. Best sushi in SD? Nope. Maybe in North County. But this place is really good. You really should gives this place a try.
(4)Ginger M.
Everything was wonderful. This is a Carlsbad gem. The decor is beautiful, the sushi was great, and the marsh mellow ice cream dessert was divine. This is a top choice for large parties or just an intimate evening. It is a nice distraction from the usual Carlsbad choices and chain restaurants. I would have to disagree with the service complaints, but this is admittedly biased because my brother works there. That being said, the owner is very charming and the cooks and waiters were suburb.
(5)Bob B.
Interesting place with good sushi...off the beaten path away from the turisty parts of Carlsbad. Probably rates 3.5, but rounding down in this case. Some good starters (especially the yellow tail), pretty good nigiri (especially the red snapper and unagi is good everywhere), and a bunch of "innovative" rolls that were pretty good.
(3)Anita S.
Because we are vegan, we called ahead to ask if they could make something vegan. Chef Tony not only rose to the occasion with mango/chili pepper sushi and incredible mountain mushroom treats, he seemed to enjoy the challenge. We have always loved this place for the freshness and tastiness of their ingredients, and the great preparation of the sushi, plus good service and a beautiful place that has a peaceful feel to it. We're pumped up to know we can still enjoy Nozomi's.
(5)Justsun B.
Love Boat is way better than this place. We've been coming here for a couple years and the one thing that bugs me the most is their inconsistency. One day, you say wow good portions and great quality, the next time you bring your friends and it sucks. Poor quality overpriced and small portions. If you hit it on a good day it could be a 4 star, but a bad day could hit just 2 stars. I have enough moody people in my life, I'll stick to Love Boat where they have the business down to a science.
(3)Food S.
I love this place. Been there so many times and I've never ben disapointed. My favorites are Hula rolls and Twister rolls...which both naturaly go well with a warm caraffe of sake :-) Great customer service too!
(4)Erin J.
My boyfriend and I decided to have sushi on a rainy Tuesday night and decided to try Nozomi because we always say we should when we go to Lotus Thai next door. I'm not the biggest sushi fan and usually am that one person that orders some chicken rice bowl thing at a sushi place (I know, I'm embarrassed for myself) but I was willing to give it a show (that and they didn't have any rice bowls on their menu). WOW! on what we ordered!!! I wish I could remember the exact names but they were two of the specialty rolls on the menu. So good!!! I also like their selection of teas. My boyfriend and I each getting two different kinds that suit our different tastes. The whole meal was very satisfying. Why the missing star?? Well, we found it a bit pricey. The sushi was yummy but the atmosphere and service both lacked and we felt it wasn't worth the actual price of our meal. Next time we plan on going with a bunch of people to split the prices and try all the different rolls they have. Can't wait!
(4)Geoffrey N.
The flavors are very authentic and delishious. The service was impecable. The menu shows originality and vision. the fish was fresh and bursting with flavor. The caviar dish was special. The green tea creme brulee was money.
(5)Liz N.
Not great, but not bad either depending on what your predilection is for sushi. The restaurant itself is cute, the fish is fresh but not melt-in-your mouth, and the rolls are decent. Perhaps it isn't fair for me to judge since I never order rolls, except for the occasional hand roll, and I enjoy traditional sushi or fusion with more sophisticated flavors. Purists likely will not be too excited by Nozomi, but those into fanciful rolls will probably enjoy.
(3)Nick B.
Great food and awesome service!!! Couldn't have been happier.
(5)Mia E.
Love the "Taste of Carlsbad"! The seabass is just amazing...I wouldn't share this with anyone! Sushi is fantastic but it is pricey.
(4)Brett S.
Went here last weekend with a couple of friends and had a great time. Won't say that the sushi is the absolute best I've ever had, but the staff was fun and friendly. Prices weren't too bad either for the sushi or drinks. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone in town. I got the great white roll, California roll, and shrimp tempura. All solid choices.
(4)Meg K.
My husband and I had visited Nozomi twice now. There really isn't much to say.. just don't bother, save your money and go to Ota.
(2)Kristen J.
A bit on the pricey side, but the atmosphere of the restaurant and the quality of the food more than makes up for it. Nice list of wines by the glass, which I've sadly found to be a rarity at sushi spots.
(4)Mary E.
I really can't begin to describe how much I love this restaurant and hope that it survives. If you don't read anything else in this review, believe that first sentence, trust, and go eat. I promise you'll be happy you did. Now then, an explanation. My husband and I watched and discussed for 8 long months as construction on this restaurant stretched on and on beyond anything we'd expected. Gleeful about the idea of a Japanese restaurant within walking distance of our home, we joked back and forth that they had better be worth the wait. We had no idea. The first time we ate there was within a week of opening. Thinking we were going to a "bistro" type of restaurant (you might think so too, as many people are confusing this restaurant with a chain noodle house in San Diego proper), we plopped our toddler into his stroller, donned our flip-flops (only taken off for weddings and formal events) and tromped on down to Nozomi. When we walked inside, we gulped. The whole restaurant, all three levels, is really beautiful. I've found out from reading up on the establishment that each one represents a different Japanese city. The bottom floor has a turtle pond and waterfall (great for kids who are waiting to be fed), The middle floor has an open style kitchen and is just delicate and pristine but comfortable, and the top floor has a full sushi bar, waterfall wall (quiet and not distracting), and is open and inviting. So there we stood in flip-flops and full parent regalia, wondering if perhaps we wouldn't be welcome in such a pretty and obviously posher restaurant than we'd expected. However, that night and every night since, we were ushered immediately to a table, presented with a highchair, and welcomed warmly. Food for kiddos can be served on child-friendly plates (once we got a teddy bear plate), staff come by to greet your little one kindly, and no fuss is ever made if spills happen. Nozomi is unquestionably classy, comfortable, and whimsical all at the same time, with a staff who are a pleasure and seem pleased to be working there. An incredible breathe of fresh air. And now let me get to the really good part -- the food. Without a doubt, and with many sushi places under my belt, I can say that Nozomi has served me the best sushi I have ever eaten, hands down. I have eaten tuna there that was so fresh, so beautifully cut, and so wonderfully presented that I got chills and goosebumps when I put it in my mouth. My husband bears witness to this, and laughed at me when it happened, but understood entirely as he'd gotten the first bite. Their scallops are like ice cream for adults -- they are sweet, fresh, and tender. Amazing. None of their fish is ever even flash frozen, and it is delivered multiple times a day. I would say, with little hesitation, that the quality of the fish at Nozomi is unequaled in North County, and possibly all of the county. The fusion food, too, is lovely, though we have not tried as much of it for fear of stuffing ourselves of something that is not amazing fresh fish. And their desserts, as if everything else were not enough to sell you, are decadent and delicious. If I'm not mistaken, they are also all made on the premises. Don't miss out on the sake list or amazing teas, either, which put most offerings at other Japanese/sushi restaurants to shame. We have eaten there numerous times now (our finances weep at our addiction) and have consistently been impressed. I'm sure I will think of other things to say once I finish this review, but I will leave it at that and simply beg you, plead with you, and say "please" -- Go to Nozomi. Make sure this one makes it. You will not be sorry. I promise.
(5)Jen T.
i'm a sucker for sushi and after visiting their website and seeing that they boast the best sushi in north county, i knew i had to give it a try! i have to say i wasn't disappointed! some of the best sashimi i've ever had and the rolls were amazing too! i've been dying to go back, but they were a little on the pricey side so i'm waiting for a moment when i have a little extra cash to spend on some top notch sushi! if you are a sushi-conoisseur, like me, and are looking for some amazing fish, check this place out!
(4)Rebecca H.
I really liked the decor of this cute little restaurant, and the food was pretty good. They have a decent selection of Japanese green tea and a diverse menu. I had the chirashi lunch, which was good (though I could have done without the vinaigrette or whatever seasoning was poured on the fish), and sampled a delicious salmon roll. I want to go back and try their ramen. Definitely a great place to go for a relaxing lunch.
(4)David M.
Found this place on google maps while visiting Carlsbad with my kids. We surfed and went to legoland. We went on a Saturday night. My kids are sushi coniseurs. My son's favorite is seared albacore sashimi with ponzu. The fish was amazing and the ponzu sauce was the best I've ever had. They even made special rolls for us. My son created his own roll a few years ago, it's seared albacore and tamago wrapped in seaweed with no rice and then drizzled with eel sauce. They made it for him with a smile. My daughters roll is a cucumber wrap ( instead of seaweed) with avocado, cucumber and tamago also with the eel sauce drizzle. The restaurant is beautiful with a turtle pond on the bottom floor. The sushi bar is upstairs. This place is excellent.
(4)Amanda Z.
you want some great sushi? baby yellow tail, spicy tuna on crispy rice, Korean beef kabob, jalapeño crunchy rolls are so freaking good. pricey but worth it for occasions ;)
(4)Tyler J.
The only thing I don't like about Nozomi is that it's al the way up in Carlsbad. If you want the best rolls around, hit this place tonight! The Hula Roll, enough said.
(5)Geoff F.
I wish I could give this place 10 stars. I hate to even write this review because I want to keep this gem all to myself, but Ken (the sushi chef) deserves better than that. I've traveled the world eating sushi, and having Nozomi in my back yard makes me wonder why I even leave my town. It is by far the best sushi in San Diego- from live amaebi to the best uni you'll ever eat, Nozomi has it all. I cannot recommend it enough if you're into great fish and incredibly unique preparations. Open your mind and let Ken take charge of your meal, and you'll have a religious experience.
(5)Levon N.
Wow, luckily we went with a gift card from a buddy otherwise I'd be pissed for what we got for the money. First off, atmosphere and service were great. Minus the screaming toddler and infant that thankfully left after we arrived. Hostess let us choose level, turtle pond was nice. Server was friendly and food came fast, especially for sushi. That's where the positives stop. Our app was served to us mid-dinner and it was so small, for $9. The chicken spring rolls. Dipping sauce was horrible, like it was a vinegar base. Unlike any other sweet and sour i've had. For the size and lack of flavor, one of the worst appetizers I've ordered. I ordered the almond vanilla black tea iced, which tasted really watered down and hardly black. I know good black tea, make my own sweet tea all the time, and this wasn't good. I ordered the Twister roll. It was pretty good actually, great spice and sauces on top. Just real small for $14, maybe six pieces. My wife ordered the Cherry Blossom, which she liked, but again, hers was so small, only 5 pieces for $13! Then, we thought Nozomi would redeem themselves with the Green Tea Creme Brulee, nope! The sugar on top was burnt and the green tea filling tasted from a box. Weird thing to is they served it with a scoop of the filling in corner of plate! We thought it was green tea ice cream, cold to compliment warm, but it was just more of the boring filling. Now I love creme brulee and green tea ice cream, so I expected the same tastes in brilliant package, but Nozomi failed both opportunities to make a great dessert. With the lack of a standard entree like a teriyaki rice bowl at most sushi spots or Teppanyaki offered, it's lacking in variety as well with only about 20 rolls to choose from. There's plenty places that will give you more quantity and quality for the same price, or half, if you know where to go. We'll stick with our usual spots, this place is as overpriced and low-quality as RA sushi. Luckily we only paid $9 out of pocket to learn not to go here again.
(1)Liz G.
This place was great. My friend had her wedding reception here and the staff was so friendly. The place looks amazing and the food tasted amazing too. For her reception they were able to make a BOAT of sushi. It was awesome. The atmosphere was perfect.
(5)Pamela C.
Delicious! The hula roll is a must have! Customer service was fabulous & everything was tasty. Liked the location too - very cute & small but quaint inside.
(5)Paul C.
Yummy hula roll ***** and the cherry blossom a unexpected treat.
(4)Lena R.
TWISTER, OONAGI BONZAI, DA BOMB DYNAMITE. 3 Best rolls. You can't go wrong. Start off with some Edamame and if you can handle it, top it off with the Chocolate Lava Cake. It's a little pricy, but WORTH IT. Love this place! Check out the waterfall pond...there is a TURTLE! Too legit.
(5)Connie N.
I love this place! It satisfies my requirements for "clean, non-goopey" sushi while still being inventive and excellent presentation. I love the turtle pond too!
(4)Pavel T.
I would never have expected to find a place this beautiful tucked away in the nowhere land that lies between I5 and El Camino Real in Carlsbad. There is a little nook that serves as a revolving door to a couple of restaurant spaces. I sure hope this one is here to stay. I mentioned in previous reviews that I'm not a big fan of sushi that emphasizes appearance at the cost of taste. Nozomi somehow manages to combine both. Perhaps it the pedigree of it's founders, one top chef from Sushi Ono (known for it's flavor) and one from Japango (known for its elaborate constructions). Each roll is an absolute artwork, starting with unique name combinations, delicious descriptions of ingredients, and, of course, the explosion of flavors when the food finally comes. The interior design is simultaneously creative and simplistic. There are Japanese characters carved into wood, flowing water streams, and even live turtles. This is a fantastic place for both an intimate dinner (lower level) or a family outing (upper levels).
(5)Monique O.
I love Nozomi I do not want to tell you how much money my husband and I spent in this resturant it is just too embarrassing. Two words Tuna Poke if you don't get this you are missing out. My favorite roll is the Hula, the Twister is great too very different. Why not 5 stars ok the price so damn expensive okay woah and for the price put some real crab in my rolls okay:) Lower prices at lunch maybe?? The quality of the fish is great the owner is a nice guy chefs are great. The service is much better now than it has been. Very beautiful resturant the design of all three eating areas are very unique.
(4)Danny D.
Hula Roll is great and is their specialty, make sure you try it.
(4)Nina C.
As someone who has been eating sushi since age 5, I am pretty picky about Japanese restaurants. I have been to every top sushi restaurant in San DIego (Sushi Ota, Nobu, Hane Sushi, Harney Sushi, Sushi on the Rock, etc...), and NONE of them can hold a candle to Nozomi. The food is incredibly fresh and delicious, and surprisingly reasonably priced. I hated Uni before I came here. Now, I love it. Not only is the food amazing (clearly the most important factor), but the ambiance is great as well- nice enough to dress up, yet cute and casual enough to bring the whole family. If you go to Nozomi and you don't love it as much as I did, there is probably something wrong with your taste buds and you should be looked at by a professional ;)
(5)maryanne b.
Killer sushi!!! The Hula Roll is a must have!!! Don't get much bettah dan dat brah! We loved the little turtle pond downstairs too! Prices were medium to high, but what can you expect for great sushi? Will definitely be hitting up Nozomi again when in Carlsbad.
(5)H L.
A great sushi place. The parking lot is a bit strange since they share it with Thai place. Overall, the food was excellent. We had no problems devouring our rolls. The fish was fresh and the sushi chefs gave really good cuts. We had the yellow tail and toro. It was delish!!!! In the end, we topped it off with tempura ice cream. We were already full before the desert, but we had no problems finishing the tempura ice cream. We would definitely come back for more.
(5)Bill L.
I have eatin at a fair amount of Sushi joints in my day, Nozomi's is by far the finest in all the land. Although it is a little pricey, the ambiance and the quality of food is well worth it. I prefer to sit at the bar mainly because the chef in the corner (dammit i forget his name) is a friggin riot. But if you prefer a more intimate dining experience with your date, i would suggest a window seat upstairs. The downstairs area has a cool little turtle pond, but i didn't dig on the smell too much. I would suggest the surf and turf, Kolby beef and lobster (this thing is money, literally its like 25 bucks for the roll. but is a must have, at least once).
(5)Ben T.
Outstanding nigiri and rolls! It nice when you get to experience something new and different. Looking around at other tables, the fusion entrees looked great too!
(4)Sufiya K.
I loved the atmosphere of this Jap fusion restaurant. Lots of water fountains and cool decor. I chose to sit at the sushi bar of course for my first experience. I loved my sushi chef, I believe his name was Ken. He was super friendly and made us some pretty yummy sushi. He definitely cracked up when I hit the gong to get his attention but knocked it over. Hey it worked...I got his attention. I will definitely come here again when I'm up in the Carlsbad area.
(4)Sara L.
4 of us went Friday and had a good meal. We mostly got tapas, and a few rolls. Started with the jalapeno poppers, which were not exactly warm enough, but have such a great flavor. We had the sashimi platter which was okay except the pieces should have been cut a little smaller. We had the oh no ohyes roll which was tasty. The seoul ribs were satisfying. The gyoza were flavorful and had a nice crispy outside texture. The scallops themselves were not that great, but the sauce they come in was awesome. The baked halibut was delicious. My friend had miso soup which she said was delicious. The best thing we had were the mushroom and leek dumplings with truffle oil, yum! Service was fast and friendly, plates were cleared in the blink of an eye, water glasses refilled consistently. The ambiance is always pleasant. Somewhere to go back to, for sure.
(4)Kendra N.
This sushi is the best I have had in San Diego. It is so fresh and every roll is fantastic. They have a turtle pond which is awesome too. It is a little pricey, but that is what happens when you want really fresh, fantastic sushi. I highly recommend it!
(5)Mark L.
Best sushi in Carlsbad! Live Hamachi was outrageous and the service was excellent....as always.
(5)Ken M.
I went there yesterday with friends from Carlsbad; this was the second time I visited the restaurant. The first time, I was there about two years ago, my friend told me that she had deliberately steered me away from the sushi because she loved the place and didn't want me to tear it down. She knows that I worked for a Japanese company and that I have been sake'd and dined in Tokyo many times, and I am very fussy about my sushi. During that visit, before I joined Yelp, I enjoyed of few of the cooked entrees and the APP's were very good. There was one dish that I didn't like and I didn't see it on the menu this time. I hadn't tried any of the sushi on that visit. This time I took control as I walked into the place. I walked up to the sushi bar and liked what I saw (more on that later). Alas, there was no room for the three of us at the sushi bar. Two of us were sushi lovers, the other wasn't, so most likely it was a good thing that we sat at a table nearest to the sushi bar. I was a little unnerved by the hostess in traditional Japanese attire with long blond hair, but figured: "What the Hell! Let's go with it. After all it is a statement of some sort." My waitress was Japanese, and we bantered a bit with Japanese expressions. I ordered a bottle of Kurosawa sake for the table, and it was a good choice, since everyone liked it. We toasted to the great filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa and his classic film Rashomon, as we drank our first class of sake. Then we ordered some APP's, that we all shared: Tiger Shrimp Scampi, Creamy Lobster and Shrimp, Fresh scallop w/ceviche, Hiyashi Wakame (seaweed salad), and Mushroom dumplings . They were all great, except that the seaweed salad had too much dressing. The most decadent APP, however, were the Mushroom-leek-truffle style fillings in the Mushroom dumplings. Great stuff. Then I took over with nigiri sushi; I ordered two orders of O-Toro Sushi: 4 pieces of supreme tuna belly in the lowest section of the tuna belly (toro) and the highest in fat content. It is rich with omega 3 oils and simply melts in your mouth. Also ordered two orders of Chu Toro (half&half) and to top it off, one order of Sake toro (two pieces of salmon belly). When they came out on a long platter I involuntary drooled looking at them; I quickly licked my lips and shared with my fellow sushi lover, while my other friend had Tomago sushi.LOL. He didn't know what he was missing. They were all absolutely delightful, and the O-toro did its magical thing in my mouth.My fellow sushi loving friend said that she had never eaten anything like it. I believe that she used the word divine. I can't remember since I was also in a state of bliss. Just a note on the sake toro presentation. It was spectacular. It was served over a ball of rice with a long tail dragging behind. Twice the size of the usual sake with graceful colors of white and orange stripes. Superb. After that order, we ordered dessert. Green tea mochi. I was spending a lot buying very high end items, so Ken-San, the head sushi chef stopped by with the green tea mochi and a specially prepared green tea crème brûlée on the house. It was devine. A perfect ending to a great meal. How many times do you walk into a restaurant expecting good food and then get your socks knocked off. Not many. This was one of those times. I was surprised and delighted at the same time. I picked up the tab and I was happy to do it. The presentations were terrific and the food was superb. Bravo to Ken-san, his staff at Nozomi. I will definitely be back. And to anyone who wrote a bad review of this place. You must be either a competitor or you don't know jack about the true Japanese dining experience. Now I have two places I absolutely love in California. Nozomi in Carlsbad, just off the 5 and Carlsbad Village Drive, and Toshi Sushi in Little Tokyo, LA. You will notice that I did not order any gajin rolls that Japanese American sushi owners must create for their American customers. I just ordered the high end traditional delicacies. Maybe I will try a few of the gajin rolls on another visit. But, then again, if they have O-Toro, how can I resist. I can resist anything but temptation. BTW, in the price rage below. I put what the average customer would spend, not what I spent. I kept on mentioning presentation and I learned in Japan that rice making, fish preparation, and presentation are steeped in Japanese tradition; they are all equally important.
(5)Tony S.
Compared to other sushi places I have been to, Nozomi was very average. The nigri was very good but the speciality rolls were not particularly good (more of a strange flavor issue than quality). Ken, the Executive Chef, was nice to chat with since we were seated at the more informal sushi bar ... even though we didn't ask to be and there were plenty of open tables.
(3)Sebastian G.
One of the worst 16 dollars I've spent for lunch. Ordered a bento box, cold food, nasty chicken, odd service. It's all about the money here.
(1)Gertie E.
I have had a 20+ year career in the Los Angeles food scene both as an owner as a marketer of fine foods. I am one of the original Zagat reviewers from when it started back in the late '80s. I am telling you that so that you know I am not a kook. I recently retired in Carlsbad and was so pleasantly pleased to find Nozomi UNTIL the new owners took over. My experience is that there is no longer integrity in the quality of the sushi/sashimi. The cuts of the daily specials are SO amateur I am appalled! This restaurant never used to be like this! And yet the toro prices and the live scallop prices are higher than the best sushi bars in L.A. (known as some of the finest sushi in the world) and they are sliced below market quality in their fullness. For example I am used to live scallop being about 1/4" thick for two slices of sashimi for about $17, these guys sliced it (maybe) 1/32" for 6 slices that fell apart for the same price. The toro was tough (as a special it should be like butter, yet their's was absurdly tough!) and was sliced so amateurishly my 6 year old could have done a more professional job. When Ken was the Executive Chef it was a quality place, but now it is run by a couple of guys who appear to have no knowledge of the Japanese integrity of sushi. I am saddened that tonight is my last meal at Nozomi....right down the street from my new home...it was my "go to" sushi bar in North County. THIS IS THE FIRST YELP REVIEW OF MY LIFE!
(1)Tundrah T.
Nozomi is excellent, I may even venture to say the best sushi in North County. Excellent service, fresh fish, creative rolls, good atmosphere. AND, they're open til late! We walked in at 9pm on a Monday night (the only ones in there), and no one batted an eye... very nice to find up in sleepy Carlsbad/NC.
(5)Alvin C.
By far the best sushi in North County. Sushi Ota is the best in San Diego. Great staff, service and decor. Excellent traditional sushi and for you non-traditional sushi lovers, there seems to be a good selection of special rolls. Nice low key place, yet decor is nice enough to take a date. Generally I'll judge a place by its Albacore--and it is fresh. When Toro is in season its amazing...
(5)Kim H.
I wish I could give negative stars. Went here with a party of 5 a few months ago. Food was amazing but the service was awful. We spent over $100 a person....Got the bill, signed the credit card receipts then looked at the itemized bill - The server added auto gratuity and didn't say a word about it. Auto gratuity policy (ie. for parties of 6 or more) was not posted on the menu and she couldn't tell me their auto gratuity policy. We had to resign the credit cards so we wouldn't double tip. I called the next day to speak to the manager who was rude and told me that if the server felt the customer spent too much money (regardless of the size of the party) she could add a tip and it is the guests job to look at the bill to see if it was added. Really?! Too much money?! Due to the way the situation was handled I will NEVER go back to this restaurant. Try Encinitas Sushi Lounge - way better prices and service.
(1)J W.
Outstanding sushi and you will pay for it. Had a slight sticker shock or should I say I felt bad. Two Co-workers took me out for my birthday so that makes 3 of us. We just wanted a quick snack so we all decided on sushi. 5 drinks total and 3 rolls before the night out and it was $110 not including tip. Rolls where delicious but in these times it was a lil' much... This place has all the bells and whistles.. Great for a special night or if you have the coin to drop.
(4)L. M.
San Diego Yelp... you rock. It was our first dinner in Carlsbad and was fantastic. Thanks Yelp! Great atmosphere (they had plenty of flat screen TVs with basketball for the adults... and downstairs they had a great pond with plenty of turtles to amuse the kids). The food was really great across the board and we thought they did a terrific job injected a California style to traditional Japanese dishes. I wish they had a Nozomi in SF!
(4)alex n.
I love this place, favorite sushi place by far, the food is great, the service is excellent and it has a great atmosphere! James and yoshi ( the chefs) make this place an even better experience! I recommend the dragon roll!
(5)ang w.
fresh sushi, strong presentation. I recommend the hula and dragon special roll. Basic rolls such as spicy tuna are decent; the albacore and yellowtail nigiri were absolutely succulent. Why did I not give it a higher rating? For the price, the sushi should be 1000x better. The feel of the restaurant also doesn't do anything for me, there is something unsettling about young girls parading in kimonos and stilettos pretending they know anything about sushi.
(4)Amy M.
Service was spectacular, sushi was fresh and amazing, and the turtle pond captured our kids' attention! We are definitely coming back again- with and without kids! Favorite sushi rolls- hula, and the twister!!
(5)Chris T.
This place is great. All rolls were fresh and tasted very good. Service was attentive and very friendly. The creamy shrimp and lobster and hibachi scallops tapas were outstanding. The Hula and the Great White rolls were great was well. We will defnetly go back to Nozomi.
(5)E F.
After reading all the positive reviews I checked out this place and within the first two bites of my appetizer I new what all the hype was about. Yum! I got several things and each one was better than the next. The service was quick and friendly and I was cracking up that all the female servers were wearing kimonos, but really who cares when the food is this good?
(5)Mark C.
I'm not so much of a Americanized roll eater and can't seem to spend $7 for two slices of raw fish. I ordered the tempura udon since that is the only one they have for about $6 more than other Japanese restaurants. Tempura looked fresh and artsy. Ended up being slightly undercooked because I tasted the goowy batter. The udon was in a small 8 " bowl. Decent broth. Yebisu beer very good. Glad I didn't get the sukiyaki since someone said you onlyget a few pieces of meat and it's $20 a la carte. Glad the waitress was "akiko" rather than "han oh Kim". Person in next table return a roll because avocado inside was hard. So that tells it all. Beutiful interior though. 3 stars for the atmosphere and ponds. 2 stars for food.
(2)Don L.
Went for my latest time for the Mother's day brunch with my wife, mom, and grandmother in law and my two toddlers. The food was amazing as usual. To keep all of the sushi and rolls fresh and tasty was a great feat. I have had perfect experiences every time with food there, among the best sushi in all SD County. The service is very friendly just a bit awkward/amatureish. Anyway, Nozomi rocks overall.
(4)B C.
Nothing but love for this Restaurant! The fish is delivered fresh daily and it shows in the taste. I have never had a bad experience or bad service. Every time I treat myself to Nozomi I love it even more!! The wait staff is wonderful and Chef Ken alway createsbeautiful dishes! See you soon Nozomi!
(5)Anon A.
The sushi here is superb. The decor is a little tacky, but great if you have kids. highly recommend for fresh sushi and great rolls. Great service too.
(5)Eric R.
I was down in North San Diego helping a friend look for new home in Carlsbad. After a day of house hunting he said that he had spotted to sushi spots. One was on Carlsbad Village Road and looked like it was in a old Denny's did not care for food poisoning as with a newborn at home I was seeing enough poop as well as sleepless nights. So we headed north and under neath the freeway to the left was this little gem called Nozomi. We are from OC/LA so first thing I thing of is parking. There was a huge lot so being in a beach community with parking was BIG. We walked in and the place was spotless and we were politely greeted. The place was empty but it was right at 5:00 on a Sunday. We went upstairs to the Sushi bar where they were not terribly friendly at first but we got James the executive chef to open up and have some fun. He is a great guy who use to race cars as well in Japan. We actually had some common friends. Well know to the food. My friend and I judge all Sushi ( notice I capitalize the word Sushi) by a hole in the wall called Sushi Geshin...I warn you this place is addicting. Well I have to say James the Executive Chef and Yoshi the Sushi Chef and Nozmi have given Geshin a run for the money. It was not cheap but good Sushi never is. The servers were very attentive as well. Definitely be back!
(4)B T.
Noooo to Zomi. I really wanted to like this place because it is right by my house, but sad to say NOO! This place has not so fresh fish and horrible service. The fusion food was okay, but I am a sushi man and when you get bad fish/service you never want it again. I came here with my wife and kid and it has a cheesy, yet cool atmosphere with the turtle pond and decor! The waitress we had gave us the wrong order, we started to eat it and she asked if she could have it back to give to the other customers. I said I didn't want them to eat something that I had already touched so I would just finish it. Of course she charged us for it even though she screwed up. The aji was fishy and oily to the point that I couldn't eat it. The ahi was okay, the toro fishy and gross, the shima aji was okay. Not really impressed and hopefully they fix things, but not sure I will ever want to come back. I think when it comes to Sushi, I stick with real Japanese Sushi places, kind of like any ethnic food. PS. Wasn't really bothered by the waitresses talking about sleeping with some underage dude, but I was eating
(1)BRENT H.
okay, its about time. This place is off the charts. The service might be its only drawback, but the quality of the fish and their awesome creations on the specialty rolls makes up for it. i've been there about 5 times since the beginning. i would even eat there before they had their liquor licence., and that is speaking volumes!!! eat here, bring friends, have a great time. And it doesnt hurt that all the servers are SUPER HOT in their kimono's!!!
(5)Christian B.
The upstairs / downstairs layout is great. Downstairs with the pond and frogs is great for kids.Unfortunately there is no kids menu and it was hard for us to find something our 5 year old liked. The food we adults had was excellent. Some very creative rolls. While there was a good selection of sake our waitress couldn't really help us with selecting one that we would like. The one we ended up picking at random was however very tasty. Overall a bit to expensive for what we got.
(3)Diana t.
this place is great! i have been on yelp for a while now and haven't been inspired to write a review until eating at nozomi. the decor is nice both on the inside and outside-my favorite is the turtle pond. the staff is very friendly and attentive. the quality of sushi is excellent and they have a whole bunch of delicious specialty rolls. their desserts are amazing!
(5)Suzanne C.
UPDATED 8/20: After receiving an apology and explanation of short-staffing from the restaurant manager, I am upgrading my review to 3 stars. We still feel the sushi portions were small and the kitchen obviously bungled our order, not just the waitress. We decided to come here based on 4 1/2 stars on yelp. Apparently there is a shortage of expectations in sushi/fusion restaurants in this area, because our two families (with teens) all thought this place was pretty terrible. First, we were in what is decidedly a basement, theoretically masked by a turtle pond - cute, but maybe kinda gross in the middle of a restaurant? The food was good but not great, but shockingly small portions. We are used to twice as much for half the price here in LA. Lastly, the service was terrible. The sushi came out for the adults about 15 minutes before a bento box for one teen, and another 15 minutes for chicken teriyaki. The appetizer never appeared, and when asked, we were told they were out of mussels, but this information wasn't shared when appropriate ... like maybe, when ordering or shortly after submitting the order? Empty water glasses were not refilled. Would not recommend based on price, but don't know if there are any other options in this area!
(3)melissa m.
Best sushi in san diego!! I love this place. The food is fresh and sooo good. The staff is nice and the menu is great. The chef even came out and talked to my husband and myself after we ate. He was very nice. We will be back A+++++++++
(5)Shinae C.
We've been going to Nozomi for the past few years and have always enjoyed our meals there, but our visit last weekend took Nozomi from being really good sushi for North County to being some of the best sushi we've had in a long while, PERIOD. (We eat lots of sushi all over the place.) It seems there's been a change in staff and management - there's greater attention to organization, professionalism and detail - and the new (to us, anyway) sushi chef, Dave, makes impeccable nigiri. The quality of the fish, the knifework, the rice - flavorful yet finessed. Decent banzai (anything goes) sushi is easy to come by just about everywhere these days, but elegantly and deftly prepared nigiri with consideration for the progression of the meal without sushi nazi ambience and price tag are hard to come by anywhere. Dave saw from our order that we're the kind of people who order *the stuff* and treated our meal with such care and enthusiasm that this was undoubtedly the best meal we've ever had at Nozomi and certainly puts Nozomi in the ring with the best sushi to be found in all of San Diego. My only regret is that I didn't take more pics of the nigiri to show you how beautifully it was made, but I was really engrossed in the sushi. :) Dave's a keeper. Hope he stays.
(5)Beth W.
This place has really great sushi! My favorite was the lemon roll, I would recommend that if you don't like the heavy type of rolls. The service was okay, the girl didn't seem to really want to be there. And the prices, they are so high, which I do understand if you are getting good sushi, but definitely be prepared to drop some money here. Overall left here satisfied.
(4)Saunak S.
The sushi was good, and they allowed us to make a few tweaks to the sushi, so we didn't have to get spicy sushi. We also has the chicken teriyaki which I thought was a good size and cooked well. Comes with sautéed vegetables. I would try the green tea martini. They had a two for one martini special when we went. Average size dessert ice cream and mochi.
(4)Kris C.
As most people have pointed out, the ownership has changed. From what we were told about three years ago (from today). The service was pretty good. The sushi was very good. I would come back for the sushi. Looks like Chef David is the "rockstar" and it shows in his preparation of the sushi. A couple of things. The butterfish is not actually butterfish, it is Chilean sea bass. For people out there that are familiar with Japanese cuisine, there is a big difference and although we were told that the Sea bass is better; I personally think they are just different. All of that to say, it isn't authentic and although I am sure it probably tastes good enough it isn't that buttery, rich, wonderful, Butterfish (or Black Cod) that I have grown to obsess over. Also, their ramen, to me, is no longer the bees knees. The broth lack flavor as well as the pork, which was chewy and not of the melt in your mouth variety that I had grown to love from Nozomi. Lastly, they no longer have sukiyaki. Bummer. I would come back from the sushi, but not at a hustle.
(3)Ivy C.
Not really surprised that the sushi was a bit expensive because come on sushi is expensive in general. My boyfriend ordered sushi and I ordered ramen. It was the worst ramen I've ever experienced. I already knew when you eat ramen the broth was going to be a bit salty. But it tasted like I just filled my bowl with the ocean. They changed the recipe to some of the dishes but didn't change it in the menu itself. All there was was ramen and tofu. Very disappointing 30$ meal and we only ordered 2 items each.
(1)Bigmama S.
I love this place for many reasons! Consistency, consistency. Sushi is incredibly fresh, tasty adult beverages!! The waitstaff friendly and helpful. Came in on a Saturday night, of course means a full restaurant. The host (LISA)was very nice apologetic for the wait. We love her!! She was helpful in offering her recommendations! The service was impeccable. Very attentive that never left our drinks glasses empty or our eaten plates there longer than a minute. Each dish was perfectly times and just left you with a smile after every bite. Shout out to the Chef DAVID. He makes a genius menu that you can taste absolutely every flavor involved. Just a closing note, the presentation of each dish was quite nice, which I appreciated...rather than just throwing the food together in a rush!!
(5)Robert T.
All four rolls were tasty to my big belly. Almost as happy as #RacingCampeon dooooole Racing!...Giving five stars for the excellent sushi. Service was average. The seating on top floor toooooo crammed...it is being in the conversation of the table next to you, 3 inches NEXT TO YOU! Hours are bad, no Saturday lunch :( They also moved opening from 4:30pm to 5pm, and what am I supposed to do with myself?
(5)Kathe K.
I went in there for a business lunch and wasn't sure what to expect. We had to wait a little for the place to open as we got there a few minutes before they opened. When they did, we were greeted with a smile and taken to our table. The decor is lovely, but I left before I got a chance to check out the turtles. So of course I'll have to go back just for that! Anyway the sashimi was very good and we got to meet the new owner (he took over a month ago). I plan on going back in the evening to check out the happy hour menu and, of course, the turtles! And no, the turtles are NOT for eating...just for looking at. ;-)
(4)Dean R.
We have frequented this restaurant for the last several years because, after our first experience, we knew it was the best sushi experience in the area. I don't remember exactly when, but for several months things were not firing on all cylinders so we took some time away from Nozomi. Last night we came back and Dave was our sushi chef. Dave was exceptionally skilled with the butchering of the fish as well as the seasoning (rice included-the rice is equally important as the fish BTW). Additionally, he completely understood the progression that our meal should take and cared to verify that with us. He also thoughtfully provided suggestions to enhance our meal (the cured toro nigiri was ridiculously amazing) and came to our table not only to present the quality ingredients but also to serve us despite us already having a server. Truly an attention to detail and dedication to service of a restaurant experience, not just a meal. Additionally, the restaurant seems to be taking a new direction in a great way. There is a more structured approach to service with hosting and an increased management presence. Every staff member was professional, friendly, and accommodating. THANK YOU!
(5)Colleen M.
Met up with a large group of family and friends last night. Really good food and service. We ate upstairs and it had a nice vibe. Don't let the outside of the restaurant fool you. We had so many delicious things at the table. Started with the garlic edamame which was completely addicting. Hubby had the oysters. They looked good but I didn't try. Salmon sushi was exquisite! Several rolls came out that were all eaten in moments. Tried the ramen and loved it. Had them put shrimp in the ramen and that was a good move. Mmmmm! Several people ordered the teriyaki and they all loved it! Oh the tempura appetizer was worthy too! Go! No disappointments!! Lindsey our server was excellent as well. Very sweet and attentive!
(5)Ali J.
Bought the Groupon and was super impressed with the insane amount of food my boyfriend and I got! Great sushi and even better appetizers! Very cool atmosphere and the entire staff from start to finish was great! Will be coming back!
(5)Kemp W.
There are some great sushi options in Carlsbad. Land and Water, Blue Ocean offer upscale offerings in fabulous settings. Yoshino has great sushi for the price in a store front setting. Nozomi is a perfect neighborhood sushi restaurant. It is very similar to any mid range sushi place -- many rolls with strange names, some decent saki and wine. This place even has some rich ramen soups. Many tourists will be drawn to the village, but they should not overlook this place. It has a great product for the price.
(4)Titi L.
In the area for work and needed to take a client to a quick lunch. Yelp reviews gave this place 4+ stars so why not try it?! This sushi place is real cute inside with a bamboo motif and a turtle fountain! Lots of live turtles! Sadly, the sushi was not very good. The rice was not sushi grade rice. It was hard. And although the fish was cut in fairly large slices, each piece tasted bland, and the texture was chewy. The garlic edamame however, was pretty good. One star for the server - she was attentive and nice. And one star for the turtle fountain - best part of the place!
(2)Chad C.
Been coming to Nozomi for years as they have fantastic sushi with a very peaceful Zen interior with a waterfall turtle pond on the lower level. This is a good location for business lunches as it does not get very crowded and it is easy to communicate with whoever you have meet you. Some of the other sushi restaurants are so crowded and loud it makes it very hard to have a quality business lunch. To start off we ordered the miso soup and Agedashi Tofu with hot green tea, also had a number of different pieces of sashimi (the Bluefin was very fresh and quite enjoyable). As far as rolls go ordered the Hula Roll, Lemon Cilantro Roll and Da Bomb Dynamite Roll ... these rolls were very well presented with vibrant flavors. This is one of the top sushi spots in North County and is well worth a visit if you are a sushi fan. If you check-in with Yelp you get a complimentary Miso soup !!
(4)Paul E.
An excellent fusion Japanese restaurant with extremely fresh fish. This place is an odd location sharing the lot with a Thai restaurant. Parking is pretty good as well. The dining room is on the smaller side so a reservation always helps. The staff are friendly and prompt. The menu is an interesting set of traditional and fusion Japanese food with an emphasis on sushi. Some fusion places bury their fish in sauces, like Hooked on Sushi, this place doesn't. The focus and star is the fresh fish and it definitely stands out as high quality. We had an assortment of five rolls, all of which were really good. The most interesting was the ceviche roll, which is very well balanced and absolutely worth a try. Don't forget to order some garlic edemame, they are excellent.
(4)Louie L.
It was fun to see the water fountain in the "basement" w/ sliders swimming in it. The food was good. But twice they messed up on an order where we didnt want any greens on some rolls. But we ate them anyways and didnt complain. The staff was nice and they have plenty of beers on draft.
(3)Liana B.
I had a really enjoyable experience at Nozomi's. My group came in around 9 pm on a Sunday and were greeted and seated immediately. We ordered and shared three rolls: hula, afterburner, and lime cilantro. We also ordered: ramen, butterfish, creamy lobster and shrimp tempura, and a poke salad cocktail of some sort (see photo), which we ate family style. We loved every single dish. I usually stay away from any sort of raw sushi, but I tried the poke salad cocktail and it was delicious. If I had to choose the must order dishes, I would recommend the butterfish, poke salad cocktail, and the afterburner roll. But as I said earlier, everything we ordered was delicious. The service was outstanding, and the decor was very elegant yet comfortable. If you're ever in the Carlsbad/San Diego area, come here if you want great sushi and great service!
(5)Lilmissb B.
The sushi doesn't really get better than this. The quality of the salmon, crab and eel was great. I can't wait to go back and enjoy it again.
(5)Sung N.
It was really empty on a wed during lunch hour (12-1pm), it was 4 people besides us. Service was good obviously and she asked if we had a groupon so I uploaded it there. $35 worth for $20 (save $15) on your check, but doesn't include lunch specials. It was good considering I ordered $45 worth of food and spent only $30. Connected to it is a Thai restaurant that looked packed. Overall, it was decent and looks authentic from the outside. Sushi was a 5 out of 10, but for the most part, it's above average compared to all the other SD Japanese restaurants.
(4)Rachel Y.
Outstanding sushi in North County, San Diego. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar, as their chefs are extremely personable, knowledgable and genuine. Especially their Chef, Antonio Quindere, whom handled our sushi bar experience and prepared the best Chirasi platter we've ever had. He's spent time working all over the world, including Japan, which reflected in our experience at Nozomi. Fish quality is top notch and I look forward to returning to more items off the menu, both sushi and hot kitchen items. My new favorite sushi spot in Carlsbad. East of 5, off Carlsbad Village Drive. Away from the traffic and tourists within the Village.
(5)Sam J.
Really great service. They only have two sushi chefs that I saw so things can take some time but nothing ridiculous. Again the staff is very friendly and helpful. A great way to spend a casual evening.
(4)Madison S.
Went here yesterday. The fish is fairly fresh and the salad proportions are amazing (usually get a garden salad before ordering sushi). I had yellowtail, albacore, shrimp, tuna, and masago nigiri. The shrimp was old, the tuna was fresh, yellowtail tuna was great and the albacore wasn't that fresh. I also got the lemon cilantro roll, it's a really great roll. I believe it had albacore on top, and although the albacore wasn't that fresh, it tasted a bit better on the roll. The masago was absolutely terrible. The fishiest I've ever tasted. I go usually more than once a week to different sushi restaurants and order it and know how it's supposed to taste and it wasn't right. They said it had a citrus flavor to it. It came out completely electric yellow and the thought of it is just gross. Service: The service every time I go isn't great at all. The first time I believe I had a red haired girl and when I asked for things off of the rolls, she rolled her eyes and the rolls ended up coming with the things I asked to have off of them anyways, which happened to be very simple things like a sauce and the jalepeños. I told her I asked for it off but she just seemed annoyed and didn't ask if I wanted it remade or anything. My bill was close to 100$ and the service just wasn't cool at all. The second time, there was a new girl who didn't know much about serving it seemed like but the other servers helped her out. Not pleased at all Due to this complaint, the sushi chef complimented me on Yelp calling me a chump and said he won't let me back in because I didn't like his undercooked calamari. This establishment is completely unprofessional and plain rude. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT GOING HERE, DONT GIVE YOUR MONEY AWAY TO A PLACE WITH APPALLING SERVICE. You can find a way better tasting and priced joint. I recommend Wrench and Rodent, Hooked on Sushi or Kuchi sushi. All have amazing, fresh food with stellar employees who care about what they are serving you.
(1)sarah t.
Service and casual, relaxing atmosphere made me give 4 stars! We chose the 2nd floor for the quieter space...We ordered a the pork dumplings which were awesome! We also ordered the salmon, which -unfortunately the server mixed up with chicken-...normally I might find myself annoyed because I have to ask friends and family to wait, however, as soon as the problem was recognized, the owner was over immediately to tend to the issue! I appreciate an owner on site who cares enough to ensure a customers happiness ' thus, 4 stars!!!! I'm not sure I've ever given more than that! As for the rest, the salmon was good , fried rice-ok, perfect asparagus, healthily good, and the green tea Creme brûlée ok -wish it was a chai latte flavor! Our experience was so surprisingly Great! That I will return to sample more...waitstaff and management was amazing!
(4)Dina B.
We came because of a groupon we were given as a gift. $35-. Of course I knew we'd spend more than $35, which was not a problem. I went with my husband & son. The decor inside was very cool, authentic Japanese style, it just had a very nice atmosphere. Front desk hostess was pleasant and seated us right away that Friday early evening. We had a pleasant waitress, she was attentive & kind. Sushi bar behind us seemed fun, great set up, but we had a table so our review is for sit down, food & service. I ordered a very regular dish of teriyaki chicken, on rice with veggies. For $15 I found it a bit over priced for what the dish actually was. It was a bit bland, and just an okay entree. My son had a shrimp appetizer $19-, he loves shrimp, but he wasn't thrilled about it. My husband and I both tasted it and it was a bit mushy shrimp, flavor seemed tasty but the texture & mushiness seemed odd. Can't explain why. Other crunchy sushi dish my husband ordered was good. (Pictured below, forgot the name). We had two happy hour watermelon martini's, small sized but tasted yummy, not much alcohol though. But 2 for one HH price was not bad. All in all it was a very nice restaurant, nice atmosphere, background music a bit on the loud side kinda like a sports bar type of loudness. But the staff was great, food was okay. Slightly too pricy for what the dish actually is worth. I think you pay for the nice restaurant atmosphere. Our bill came to about $80, I'd like to try a new place in Carlsbad next time & skip this place. It's fine, it's okay.
(3)Juan Carlos I.
This place met all expectations for dinner tonight. The service was quick and the quality was great. The only problem that we had was the room being a little chilly (it's windy and a little cold out and the restaurant is kinda cold). Other then that the waitress was energetic and had a lot good recommendations. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IN SO YOU GET A FREE FRESH MISO SOUP.
(4)Doris W.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. My girlfriend and I came here for dinner Monday night. I had purchased a groupon for $20 for $35.00. Monday night is also happy hour all night. With the groupon though we couldn't use it towards the happy hour menu. Prices were decent for the happy hour menu, with a good selection of rolls and appetizers. We ordered: - After burner roll (happy hour price $8) - Cilantro lemon roll - fried calamari - Hampachi sashimi ($15 special on the board) - Seaweed salad (happy hour price) The calamari was overly fried. The rolls were decent and so was the sashimi. A bit pricey for this place. I've been wanting to try this place for a while because of the good reviews but haven't because of the pricey side. Our bill came out to around $60.00.
(3)Vicki C.
My cats love this restaurant. It is not often that they get a kitty bag of sashimi. For years I have wondered how Nozomi was, now I know. We had a couple of hours to kill while our sweet kitty Ozzy was getting xrays. The itamae may have had a bad day, everything we ordered was sub par except my beer. The tempura was undercooked, soft and still had raw batter in it. Our sashimi had that twanky funk that makes you hope that you will not get sick from it. We left with a large box of fish for the kitties, but this is their last visit to Nozomi.
(3)Susan M.
I was a big fan of the Nozomi's in La Jolla and was super stoked that I had found one in the Carlsbad area. I gotta say that I am a bit disappointed. Although the ambiance and interior is very nice and huge (they even have a Khoi fish pond!!), the food was not very good. We were able to catch the happy hour and ordered the short ribs and the sushi plate which came with five pieces of nigiri and a California roll. We also got the sashimi salad. The fish on the nigiri did not seem fresh. I'm not sure if it was just because it was on the happy hour menu?? Anyway, the short rib came on skewers and it tasted pretty average. Meat was definitely overcooked. What I was most disappointed with was the sashimi salad. I always used to order that at the Nozomi's in La Jolla because it's so delicious there, however, the one here is not the same. There was supposed to be a mix of fish, however I probably saw only one piece of salmon and the rest was all tuna. My bf and I aren't huge fans of tuna and it said there would be other fish in there too but there wasn't. For such a large bowl, I was pretty disappointed when I found out that three quarters of it was filled with rice! This dish was definitely not worth the price. I would probably never come back here because the food isn't very good. I gave this place an extra star though because the waitress we had was awesome. She was very attentive and super helpful. I really wish the food here was better though as the place itself is super nice.
(2)Tim R.
Ate at Nozomi in Carlsbad for a second time today, it confirmed my first visit. OK food and service but way overpriced. Last visit I only had sushi rolls including some of their specialty rolls...even with a Groupon they were way overpriced for quality and quantity. Today I tried their Miso Pork Ramen soup. Flavor was fine (hard to ruin Miso), but there were only 2 small pieces of pork and 1/2 a hard boiled egg. There was an ample portion of noodles, but it sure would have been nice to have more pork and egg for $14!! That dish could not have cost them more than $1.00 for the food portion, nice profit margin! When I arrived, everybody in the parking lot was headed to the adjoining restaurant, Lotus Thai, now I see why!
(1)Pete T.
This place was beyond cool, I'd give them more stars if I could. We stayed at Legoland hotel for the weekend & decided to eat sushi since the reviews were pretty good, my kids loved the whole turtle display/fountain area. More importantly the sushi was outstanding, we live in Los Angeles & have ate at many different sushi bars from the basic to the high end & this place is right up there, especially when the GM named David presented us with a bottle of Kubota Manju at a good price........I was impressed. Above all David really stepped up as the new GM & helped to surpass all of our expectations from service to the actual food. Chef Tony was remarkable with his creations. The yellowtail belly sashimi was perfect. I definitely recommend this place, 100%! A+++++++++
(5)Lisa S.
I showed up here yesterday at 4:45 pm. They were closed despite their hours of operation showing they open at 4:30. There was an employee waiting in the parking lot for them to open. I presume they need to be there before they open to prepare but door were locked.
(1)Ashley M.
Just had the Hula and the Kai rolls... Amazing!!! A bit expensive, but the best sushi always is!
(5)Matt M.
Stopped here for dinner one evening on the recommendation from a friend. We started with some miso soup and it was great. It seemed like it was taking a long time for our sushi to come out, which the waitress acknowledged with a free bowl of edamame. She said there was only 1 sushi chef on duty that evening, as there are typically 2-3. Well it was well worth the wait. I can't remember the dish we ordered, but waitress suggested it. It was the best sushi we've ever had. Along with the miso and edamame it was the perfect size portion for my wife and I to split. Absolutely phenomenal! I can't wait to get back to SD to hit this joint again.
(5)Mike C.
Nozomi used to be a regular stop on the way home, usually to pick up an order of Chicken Fried Rice, but it had been a couple years since the last time I had stopped. The Manager on duty straightened out a misconception and did everything he possibly could to make it right. His great attitude alone was worth the 5 start rating, but the Fried Rice was excellent, as it has always been, so Nozomi is back on the regular take-out list!
(5)Kara K.
The food and portions are pretty great here, down side is how pricey it is. We came here last night for a bday party and had the room downstairs with the water fall and turtles, it was awesome! Great for kids down there. The server was great, she was actually one of the best we've had lately. The seaweed salad is super good. We will maybe go back but most likely to try the shared restaurant lotus thai.
(4)Davide C.
Too much sauces on the rolls. The restaurant smell like french fries as your hair when you go out.
(2)Rachell L.
Came back here and I have to say I am impressed this time around (I stuck to sushi this time). The Twister Roll was another signature of theirs and was great. Also went for a classic Philly Roll and Rainbow Roll and both were phenomenal. And of course, my personal guilty pleasure of the Pancho Roll was great as always. Service was also much better this time around. Still advise to stick to the sushi.
(4)Tiffany H.
I came here on a Sunday night and the place didn't sound too crowded although I stood at the front for a good 5 minutes before the host showed up. I chose to sit at the bar because I wanted to see if his place was an Japanese-American fusion sushi restaurant or it was authentic Japanese. Right after I was seated, I was not impressed with the fish they had in the display as there were not that many selections. Even that, I still wanted to keep an open mind since the board said fresh amaebi (which is my favorite if it's good and fresh). I looked at the menu and ordered engawa first. The chef had to tell me they don't have anymore (although they open at 5pm and I came at 5:30pm). He told me a list of fresh fish they had today and I tried hamachi toro first. It was pretty fresh so I thought I could try more nigiri instead just give up and order rolls. I ordered amaebi next and it was indeed fresh (they don't serve you the shrimp body first as they wanted to serve the fried head and the nigiri at the same time). Then I tried salmon (they didn't have salmon belly), and it was not bad. I next ordered scallop and I was not impressed as they were very cold and not very fresh. At that time I knew there was really nothing else to try so I ordered negi toro roll to finish and they were also out. Luckily there was a small tiny piece of toro left so the chef made a small roll for me for free. Although the place was not packed, the chefs (three at the bar) seemed very overwhelmed. Oh did I mention there was actually a very small piece of fish bone in my salmon nigiri. :(. I don't think I will come back again.
(2)Michael S.
Okay, buckle up. First of all, the sushi we ordered last night was AMAZING!! We ordered (in order of tastiness!) a salmon with avocado roll, two bowls of miso soup, spicy hamachi roll, crunchy shrimp roll and ceviche roll. The ceviche roll was definitely worth putting on a pair of pants and driving to the place... but we didn't do that because THEY FREAKING DELIVER SUSHI TO YOUR HOUSE!!! I've been in person once, and the place is decent. This is not your cheap sushi place, and it's not some hoity-toity place either, it's good food at a fair price for what you get. A couple of downsides, and maybe I should rate it a four-star because of this (but DANG, that ceviche roll is seriously tasty!): they advertise it as "free delivery" except there's a mandatory 18% tip you gotta pay BEFORE they deliver your food. I used to deliver food, and if my tips were on the receipts before I left, I would have sorted them in descending order of amount, not when the order was placed. Not to worry though, the guy was here with the full order in about 45minutes (pretty impressed). The other thing, they didn't include any ginger or wasabi... We REALLY like ginger and wasabi, but because we don't make sushi at home, we don't stock that crazy stuff here. Luckily the food was incredible. We drank our own beer, and didn't have to get up/ready. The price was a bit of a splurge (around $70 for 2 people to be stuffed) for us on a weeknight, but very well worth it. I'd just recommend asking they include ginger and wasabi if you go the delivery route.
(5)Hector L.
Recovered. The manager, Dave, comped us a sculpin grapefruit after an epic failure of not having his Sapporo happy hour beer the week before. Love this place having the best Sushi and the best drinks in C bad!! Thanks Dave!!!
(5)Jeanelle J.
Interesting place and surprised to see the large koi pond filled with turtles. We got seated right away. We were in town for a short vacation in which we visit Carlsbad at least once a year. We were glad we stumbled upon this place. Overall the sushi quality was excellent and quite fresh. I prefer sashimi but the rolls we did order were extremely tasty. I love it when sushi chefs make cut rolls that can actually fit in my mouth without struggling with oversized rolls. The chefs take great care in their sushi preparation. I saw some reviews talking negative about the tempura. I honestly thought their tempura better was some of the best I've had...extremely light and crispy as opposed to the heavy greasy batter I've experienced in the past. We also ordered the shrimp fried rice and having an egg over easy with us opening the yolk all over the rice was pretty awesome. My only complaint was that the miso soup was too salty and their pricing was a bit more on the high side. However overall this place was a pleasant surprise and we will definitely be coming back.
(4)Malia J.
this restaurant is a hidden jewel. I heard about it through Sushi Smackdown and decided to try it out. Chef Antonio, their Brazilian chef is absolutely amazing. The fish melts in your mouth and their rolls are full of flavor. You have to ask the chef to make you the salmon with pear. I don't know what its called but it's delicious. He also makes a protein roll that is amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are a sushi fan.
(5)Lara R.
Been back a few times over the past few months. I've tried other sushi places, ones closer to my house, and I keep coming back to this one. The quality of the food, and friendliness of the staff, make it better than others in the area. Keep up the good work! :)
(5)Kristin W.
Best experience I've had at restaurant in a long time!! I left extremely impressed with both the food and management! My Mom, my young daughters and I went to lunch today. I had never been here and it had been quite a while since my Mom had been in. My daughters were asleep in their double stroller (which is the size of a mini bus) when we arrived. We walked into the bottom level which is a cool lounge area with an awesome water feature that had live turtles in it! We quickly realized that the restaurant was upstairs on the third floor. My Mom walked up to the top level to see if there was any way to get us all up there. It was super busy. My Mom saw a server and asked if there was any way to get a stroller up there. The server said no and that she was the only server working so she wouldn't be able to help us down below. My Mom came back down and began to tell me the unfortunate news when an upbeat, friendly guy came down the stairs introducing himself as the manager, David. He said that the bottom level was closed but he would be happy to serve us himself. We told him that was OK and we would just go somewhere else. He quickly responded with "I don't want you to leave and you don't want to leave so please have a seat." (Later on we found out that they don't normally use the bottom level for service.) We told him that we were on a time crunch and he said, no problem! We sat down at a table and enjoyed the sound of the water fall while watching the turtles climb on the rocks. Before we knew it David was back with a smile, plates, napkins and menus in hand. He offered to get us water while we looked over the menus. We decided to order miso soup, 2 rolls (The Twister and Protein Roll), a tapa (Yellowtail Jalapeno) and some wine. David suggested that we also try the butter fish so we decided to order that as well. After the soup the butter fish came out first. Served on a a bed of carrots and asparagus in a ponzu type sauce this fish was to die for!! When David came back with our rolls we had pretty much cleaned the plate. The Yellowtail Jalapeno and both the rolls were great as well. All of the fish was very fresh and good quality. David let us know that he had recently taken over as manager and one of the owners. He told us that he was working on making some positive changes to the menu and restaurant its self. Let me tell you, he is off to a great start!! His friendly, outgoing personality combined with the fantastic food made for a lunch to remember. I was definitely not expecting this experience when we first walked in. I will not only be back but will be telling all of my friends about this place. I can not wait to come back on a date night with my husband! Thank you David for going above and beyond in every aspect of our visit. Keep up the great work!!
(5)Kyoko W.
I am a Japanese who loves Sushi. This place is only restaurant makes me felt I went back to Japan. Love it!!
(5)Juliana W.
We arrived there with two kids at 9 pm after Legoland (in the area) was closed, and from what we could see, the restaurant was kind of half-emptied. Still, the host had us wait for 20 minutes or so to get "our table set". The food is ok but it didn't justify for the high price we paid.
(3)Gabby J.
I've dined here several times and have always been pleased. The chefs are very creative and the service is always on point. I like my sushi traditional and the chefs put a creative spin on traditional sushi. If you want a chain sushi joint with spicy mayo and crappy fish than you may wanna skip out on nozomi.
(5)Cori T.
This is our new date spot. Tony is an excellent sushi chef! Get the Pancho and the Hula rolls! The passion fruit martini is AMAZING!
(5)ty D.
This place was horrible on many accounts. First being the service. The waitress was a twit. Second the food seriously lacked flavor. Sansai Udon bowl tasted like they used frozen veg and a flavor packet. The teriyaki chicken lunch special was NOTHING special! When we first walked in we said we had a made a reservation with a groupon. When we went to pay the our waitress, the same one that seated us said, OHHHHH I wish you would of told me you had a groupon, the lunch special can not be used with a groupon. Excuse me lady, we did tell you when you first seated us. She said "sorry I was frazzled" Our $11 lunch special then had to be changed to the $18 plate. UGH. We ended up having a $50 lunch of less than tasty food. Not going to be back anytime soon. You would be better off to stick with the delicious Thai food next door.
(1)Kelly N.
Most amazing sushi restaurant I have ever be to! Art and his sister are fanatic hosts! If we had this place where I live my whole paycheck would go too eating here!!
(5)Eliana S.
The food was okay, the atmosphere was nice, the turtles were fun. But the food was really expensive, especially for the serving sizes. $14 for fried rice with chicken and it came out as a single person serving. For $14 I'd want to have enough to split with a friend and take some home. The sushi was okay, but with Yoshino deli in the same neighborhood and $8 for a basic roll or two pieces of sashimi and around $20 for specialty rolls, it's hard to like them.
(3)Gina H.
I have been here a couple of times. Everyone is friendly too. Sushi rolls here are delicious. The restaurant is small and cozy. The price is like what you would expect from other sushi restaurants as well.
(4)John L.
Had a great dinner last night. Their rainbow roll is really good. The ahola role is nice, you can skip the mango one. Their halibut and crab dish is fantastic. Make sure to check for a groupon
(5)Jewel L.
Not a place for true foodies. The 4 star rating must be for prior owners. Tuna poke: way too over sauced. Came with very little tuna and LOTS of seaweed. I've paid less for more tuna in other Japanese restaurants. Twister roll: Very tasty but again, this was because of the spicy mayo and all the other stuff. Very little fish; lots of imitation crab. Nicely fried but not worth the money if there isn't any fish. My party decided to skip the sashimi and order various teriyaki dishes. They tasted alright but they were more Benihana like than Japanese.
(2)Lucky L.
Came here last night and all I can say the food and service was amazing. If you check in on yelp you get a free miso soup. They even have some Groupon. Place was not packed and was a great vibe to the place. Will becoming here again.
(5)Chris F.
Sushi is good here, especially if you go off the menu with your top three favorite roll ingredients with the chef and let him do the rest. That's how they do it in Japan and it always turns out fun. Miso soup is good. Happy hour menu is good but a bit heavy on "krab" and other saucy stuff where I am a bit more of an au naturel sushi type. I try not to go drowning everything in soy and wasabi since everything will taste the same. I recommend either a spicy scallop hand roll or sake with a thin lemon slice and green onion. Be sure to do either without any sauce and if needed just a little bit of Kirin. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Tyisha C.
Best vegetable roll I ever tasted. This place is small but staff is nice. Loved our first experience.
(4)dara u.
Sushi was good but the service was okay. A little pricey for the taste that's why I give 3 stars its almost a 4 star place.
(3)Aubrey L.
It's hard to find fresh sushi, good drinks, and good service all in one place...but this place has mastered it ALL! The new owner is doing great things!! Try the butterfish, it's amazing!!
(5)Madison M.
Where do I begin?? I just loved this place! I'm an adventurous foodie and decided to allow the chef free reign for the evening and I was not disappointed. Our server delivered roll after roll of delicious, creative and high quality selections. The sashimi was melt in your mouth delicious. I was traveling to Carlsbad from LA and I will willingly admit that I am a bit of an LA snob when it comes to sushi but Nozomi was able to go toe to toe with our restaurants here. Great food + fun atmosphere = a must go to spot. You won't be disappointed; in fact you'll be delighted. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Billy A.
One of my tests for good Japanese food is the simple appraiser called Gyoza (potsticker). Besides the filling, the dumpling should be crisp on the bottom and steamed on the top. It takes longer to make and is rarely done correctly. Nozomi does it perfectly. Our lunch was artistic, fresh and served by Lyndsey with the pride of knowing her recommendations would be perfect for us. 5 stars...worth the extra cost.
(5)Monique M.
I love this place and everyone who works here! Great food and service, they really do their best to make you happy. If you are adventurous like me I suggest you sit at the sushi bar upstairs and have chef Asa or chef Benjamin make you something special that's not on the menu, just trust me. Great cocktails here too.
(5)Tyler C.
Solid sushi restaurant. They've become a staple in the community of Carlsbad and will continue to be so. The Mango A Go Go, Twister Roll and the Hula roll are mandatory picks. Great service, terrific sushi chefs and legit atmosphere. I back Nozimi 100%!
(4)Judy S.
my daughter surprised me by coming home for the weekend from college & asked for sushi. I remembered seeing a groupon for Nozomi so I bought it & we came in for dinner. the pricing I feel is pretty high so the groupon helped. upon walking in, the host seems a little awkward & not too welcoming but our server was great so I quickly forgot about the host, maybe he was having a bad day. anyway, we ordered miso ramen, hula roll, unagi bansai, calamari & beef yakisoba. so let me start w/ the good. my daughter ordered the unagi bansai, I was a bit concerned that it was deep fried since all the deep fried sushis I've had have been not good, but to my surprise, it was pretty good. the hula roll was not bad but I would ask for no neon green matcha crunchies next time. the calamari was tasty but most of ours were clumped together, that's never happened to me before, maybe 1 or 2 pieces, but ours were pretty much 2 big clumps, too bad cause it was pretty good. I saw another table's order and theirs definitely looked better than ours... so consistency might be a issue. the miso ramen was a bit bland, and for $14, it was a huge disappointment. and the yakisoba was so greasy, my husband barely touched it. he ended up eating my ramen. I told the waitress but there wasn't a offer for something else or anything, almost like she didn't hear me? I told my husband we'd take it home & I'll try to degrease it for him & add a little more flavor. when we were done, the waitress informed us that we were a few dollars shy of our groupon so we ordered something to go, unfortunately, they got a bit busy & the kitchen & sushi chefs could not handle the rush, we waited 25 min after we paid for a simple spicy ahi roll. and there were 2 tables that had put in their orders way past 30 min. & were still waiting. we felt bad for them. so overall it wasn't a bad experience but it wasn't great either.
(3)Cindy W.
I was craving sushi and since I'm pregnant, there's limited options as to what I can eat as far as sushi goes. I didn't care though, I wanted my sushi fix and I wanted it now! Specifically spicy tuna! Since it was Mother's day weekend, my husband gave in to my request. We were leaving the Flower Fields and so we wanted to go somewhere nearby. I found Nozomi on Yelp and after reading the reviews, I figured let's try it! We got there and the place was confusing, there was a Thai restaurant downstairs, we couldn't figure out how to get to the sushi place until we saw stairs, there was a sign to take an elevator but we didn't see one? So we took the stairs to the third floor and found the restaurant. We were there at 5 but people started coming in shortly afterwards. I didn't order much since the growing baby in my belly is squishing my stomach and I can only fit so much. So we got the yellow tail sashimi for my husband, the "da bomb dynamite" roll and the spicy tuna I was craving. We had edamame to start. I was very full afterwards, but like I said, tiny stomach from growing baby squishing it down to nothing. Our waitress was very quick and everything tasted good. Plus, no one got sick afterwards so I can't complain! :)
(4)Erika T.
First time here and we're loving it! The sushi is very fresh and clean--specifically, the Twister and the Protein are amazing. They're at different ends of the taste spectrum, but so good! They brought out the sushi in the perfect order, so my meal built up well and I could thoroughly enjoy the fish from each dish. The sushi chefs are really talented and creative and I can't say enough good things about them.
(5)Aaron L.
All lies. Don't believe it! Terrible service, below average fish. Rude chefs! Don't believe me go waste your time.
(1)Bethany H.
I usually trust Yelp. Today, that bond was shattered. Looking for a deal, we found this restaurant through Groupon. $15 for $35, checked Yelp: 4 stars. Sounded good to me! Upon arrival, the hostess was friendly and welcoming (the only reason this has 2 stars and not one). We had our sleeping 6 month old with us, so she sat us in the more quiet downstairs area. From here, the evening went downhill fast. Our waitress seemed stoned out of her mind, the sushi was mediocre, and thanks to some mix up our last roll took about an hour to finally get to our table. At one point, my husband and I were just walking around the restaurant biding our time. Our waitress (bless her smokey little heart), brought us some edamame on the house. She also kindly took the final roll off our bill. This, however, made our bill now less than the $35 required to use our groupon! So in order to save money, we had to order a dessert. (The banana tempura is good if you like soggy tempura crust in your ice cream. Anyone who likes delicious desserts should stay away.) Overall, the spirit was willing but the delivery poor.
(2)Linda J.
Brought my daughter last night early for Happy Hour. Sat at bar and had 3 chefs all to ourselves. After the happy hour special, we enjoyed chatting with Jeff, Tony and David. Asked what they like, and they told us a secret....if it's not busy, ask the chef to "Okmakase", which we were told means "trust the chef". They each made a dish that was not on the menu and was the most amazing sushi we ever had!!! We were wowed by all the customer service from everyone and how they catered to our wish, and even deducted the dessert, which was the only thing we weren't impressed with. Will come back again and again, especially when it's not busy, like Wednesday at 5 pm.
(5)Mychael T.
The fish and sushi is pretty good but the service here is horrible. We waited over an hour for 3 rolls. The waitresses didn't even acknowledge the fact that it was a long wait or apologize for wasting our time. It took close to 45 minutes to get my first water refill. Id rather drive 30 minutes to go to RB sushi versus coming here ever again
(1)Jo-Ellen D.
We went here for a Sushi Smackdown event, and it was OK. We'd like to go back and try it on just a regular night. The service was kind of slow, and they forgot to give us a few of our pieces, so they had to go back and have them make them again for us. The food was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't bad either.
(3)Miki O.
Highly recommend this restaurant! Everything was fresh and very tasty. Even some details on decoration of this place are very nice.
(5)Jennifer L.
Lane Manriki is THE man! I'd go back just to see him. He has that heavy Hawaiian accent yeah? Laid back and loving life. This restaurant is huge, with a small turtle pond downstairs but the main action is upstairs. Make sure you sit at the sushi bar where Lane is for the most enjoyable experience. Gyoza -- Average. The skin was at my preferred stage of texture in terms of crunch and hardness. The meat inside wasn't extraordinary but I don't expect much when it comes to gyoza. It's just something I like to start my meal off with. Sushi -- Fish is very fresh. Lane hand picks all of the fish daily like a boss. I was able to try the Albacore, Unagi, Surf clam, and chutoro. Lane had just picked up some fresh otoro and chutoro that night and was kind enough to let us sample his chutoro. Chutoro is the belly area of the tuna. While it is fatty, it is not as fatty as otoro. The chutoro was like butter in my mouth. With the exception of chutoro, I probably reordered every sushi a second time. Everything tasted so crisp and clean. They have black sesame and green tea ice cream. Naturally, we ordered it. The waitresses were a bit slow that night. I couldn't understand why as the restaurant wasn't all that packed. At times, we would order things and it took so long Lane had to remind them.
(4)Noah M.
Sushi was great - I recommend the pancho roll made by none other than Poncho himself!! Violet was our server. Best server north of San Diego. Clean, fast and friendly. Well priced and delicious. I mean do you really need anything else?
(5)Greg C.
Man so disappointed! The waitress was emo- hated life/ job etc....? Honestly thought she might start crying at any moment. The awful people who sat next to us were trash, vulgar, uneducated and loud- they ruined our conversation and our experience. However the lack of stars is mostly due to service. So bummed on this place after the great reviews I read. I don't think I will ever come back.
(2)Delux L.
overpriced and just ok sushi. We sat at the sushi bar and there were only 2 sushi chefs for the bar and entire place. took too long to get a roll. $7.50 for a spicy tuna roll?? common! I had to ask for wasabi! if you are gonna charge $15-20 per special roll then make sure you have the staff and ability to pull it off! after 20 min, we asked for the check and cancelled the $18 roll we ordered.
(2)Ann J.
This place was amazing! Went in with a Groupon and was so impressed, I will definitely be back! Freshest fish around. Excellent service, incredibly friendly manager and best raspberry lemon drop ever!
(5)erica z.
The Crispy Calamari is nothing really- not crispy, not crunchy, not flavored. The calamari and coating were not seasoned with spices or anything so you just got the flavor from the dipping sauce which was probably Sriracha and mayo. We got a Hula Roll which was very well received. It was tasty. We also got the Ceviche Roll which was good, no rice involved so the texture may not be for everyone. The quantity is good, it was all very filling. The ambiance and turtle pond are a plus, but it's overall nothing that spectacular. We've been here at least a dozen times, as we live down the street. It's always solidly mediocre, but we love the turtle pond and the Groupon deals they offer.
(3)Johnny A.
Ate there last night with 4 friends Stunning! We are SO MUCH! Not a bad dish on the menu. We had the ceviche rolls, the hulu roll, sashimi salad, the Twister, another sashimi plate, the Kai (wrapped in cucumber) the yellowtail taradito, and the jalapeño poppers as an app. I can't say enough except that I can't wait to go back. The ambience was deceptive as the food was made by such an impeccable artist I expected to hear Japanese music and yet Jimi Hendrix was playing in the background. The wait staff was supremely knowledgeable but more than that, they were proud and happy- a big plus in my book. The fish was seriously melt-in-your-mouth good. I dare you to go there and not absolutely love it!
(5)Liz M.
Came here because of their Groupon deal and glad we did! Their baked sushi was so yummy! I recommend the Pancho Roll but beware--it's super spicy! For dessert we had their tempura banana and it was delicious. I loved the atmosphere, loved the turtle pond, and their staff was all friendly!
(5)Kelly C.
This restaurant, is by far, my favorite sushi restaurant in San Diego. The sushi is so fresh, there's so much to choose from on the menu, the service is great and the ambiance is fun and inviting. They also have really unique Sake which I have not been able to find at other sushi restaurants around town. Come here, order the lemon cilantro roll and make sure to check out the turtle pond before you leave!
(5)Lisel S.
Great food, fun sushi chef and neat atmosphere. Food can be a bit pricey but alcohol cost is low and the value is there. Just off Carlsbad Village Dr., and well hidden but worth the find.
(4)Francesca S.
I went for my birthday with some friends and absolutely loved it. The service was just what I like, attentive, but not overbearing. The menu had a good balance of the sushi and sashimi basics we all love as well as unique and creative rolls. The cilantro roll was delicious! I plan to make this a birthday tradition.
(5)Leigh Castelli P.
Nozomi is our favorite sushi spot in San Diego! We have been there several times in the last two years but our dinner Friday night was so good, I had to write a review! We sat at the sushi bar for the first time and it made our meal that much more enjoyable. Watching Diego and Kevin behind the bar is so fun -- you can tell they both love what they do. We let Diego create rolls for us based on our likes and we were happy with the choices. Also, the Kai roll on the speciality menu is awesome! The fish is so fresh and all of the flavors are amazing. We have recommended this place to all of our friends and we hope to return for date night soon.
(5)Joe K.
My Wife and I recently dined at Nozomi and the fish was incredibly fresh and prepared like have never tasted before. My Wife has a gluten allergy and the chef Francisco was very helpful, accommodating and knowledgeable as to what ingredients had gluten. Francisco prepared a special type of rainbow roll for my wife with a gluten free eel sauce, she was incredibly happy and satisfied as she has not been with some other sushi restaurants in the area. We highly recommend Nozomi and chef Francisco for a great sushi spot!
(5)Pamela C.
My husband surprised my friends and I with reservations here for my birthday. At first I thought he picked the place simply because it was a sushi spot and it shared my name. Looking at the description, I was a bit tentative of this place as I was bringing my mother and she is SOOOOOO critical of Japanese restaurants outside of Japan. We skipped over ordering any miso soup, because, I don't care how talented a chef you think you are, you can't make it better than my mama. We started with some gyoza, hibachi scallops, and oysters on the half shell. The gyoza wrappers were super thin and had that nice mix of crispy crunch and perfectly steamed and chewiness I love. Perfect side to when you have been out drinking. The scallops, and oysters were super fresh! When I say "super" I mean SOOOPAH! You could totally taste the sea and that clean sweetness from the meat! Now feeling that we weren't going to get any food poisoning, the ladies and I went ordering crazy. I can't remember everything we had ordered during the melee but I do recall ordering the chirashi , hamachi kama (2 orders), a few protein rolls, a few Kai rolls, and quite a lot of sushi and sashimi, and two bottles of sake. The only complaint my mom had was not enough shellfish/mollusk varieties available for sushi and sashimi. All the plates came out beautifully arranged and the attention from the waitstaff was really superb. Keep in mind that it is a fusion restaurant, and you might not find things that fit the traditional mark. But if you are looking for some really fresh seafood, this definitely is a great place to go!
(4)Sa A.
We have tried many Japanese restaurants through out the LA, Orange County and San Diego area. We were looking for a place that served authentic Japanese food. Through may attempts none met that. We went to Nozomi 3 in Carlsbad, CA. It was a pleasant coastal ride to Nozomi. The ocean breeze set the tone for an amazing delightful experience of excellent dinning. The first time we dine at Nozomi 3, was Father's Day 2013. The menu has a large variety of dishes to accommodate every ones taste buds. The food was wonderful, the servings are large, come hungry. The sushi was very fresh. the Teriyaki grilled salmon was fresh and juicy, the presentation was mouth watering. The teriyaki grilled chicken was moist and tender, the saut'e vegetables had just enough crunch, the Dragon roll and the Dream roll was an absolute delight. The dinning experience was so great, we had to go back. We went back for lunch. The lunch menu was great, served with all the quality we expected. The waitress was very helpful with suggestions. The cream shrimp and lobster was very fresh with a crispy flaky tempura coating, the sauce was not overly sweet. The chicken Kara Age was tender moist chunks of chicken coated in a batter with just the right touch of seasoning, a hint of ginger, the honey aioli sauce was so good we used it for dipping other foods. So Good!!!!!!!!!! The edamame saute' in garlic is a must have. The environment was relaxing and inviting, the turtle ponds and waterfalls are beautiful and the kids enjoyed them. The waitress was attentive, she came by several times refilling our tea, very cheerful, pleasant and ready to serve. Good staff, Great food, a wonderful dinning experience. we will be back.
(5)Ryan O.
Great atmosphere, great service and great food......a bit of a twist on some of my favorite rolls.....i'll definitely be back!!!
(5)Tonia B.
I decided to cross an item off my 30 before 30 last night and head to dinner alone. I couldn't have picked a better ambiance, mouth pleaser and total food experience! Nozomi truly delivered. For 7pm on a Thursday it was quite empty, but once again, I am learning to expect this from Carlsbad. The minute I walked into Nozori, the soothing and amazing aromas filled my nose and put me at peace. It was like walking into an aromatherapy session. It lasted throughout the entire night and I have never experienced that at any other restaurant I've been to. I was greeted kindly by the hostess and allowed to sit wherever I liked. I chose downstairs after seeing the gorgeous waterfall and pond. It wasn't long before my server introduced herself and brought me a glass of water and the menu. I started with a blue lagoon martini which had nigori sake, han, pineapple, and blue curacao. It was well presented, sweet and delicious. I was also tempted by the sparkling mango martini and I wish I had time to try that one also. I ordered a tapa and a specialty roll for dinner. The king kong roll I ordered was absolutely delicious and a decent size. I savored it the entire meal. The aloha salmon tapa I ordered didn't taste like I expected it to. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I was craving. My sever kindly took it back and even removed the charge, which I was not expecting. For dessert I went with the Mt Fuji which was the most decadent dessert I've ever had. If you don't like sushi and are in the area, you need to come here just for the ambiance and the dessert. It was a white cake bottom topped with kona coffee ice cream and surrounded with burnt meringue. The texture and flavor was amazing. It was more than I had hoped for and I am actually craving one again now thinking about it. The lighting, the decor, the whole feel of the place was perfect for a date alone or a romantic date with someone other than yourself. My mouth and all my other senses left completely fulfilled and satisfied. I didn't find the prices unreasonable at all. For amazing sushi, well thought out desserts and martinis and a great atmosphere, $35 was not a bad price at all.
(5)Jo S.
I'm trying to be open-minded here, so if you are from New York, LA, or San Francisco, you're not going to like this place. But if you at a point where you're looking for silver lining, this place isn't bad. Let's start out with the negatives and get them out of the way: *Rolls and sushi were loosely packed, so they don't stay together well; *Wine list could be better (not all of us like sake or beer, and white wines in variety can offer so much to sushi); *Service was okay. Wait staff--if you don't have many customers on a Friday night, wow the people you do have and don't wait until they have just put sushi in their mouths to ask them how everything is; *Prices (I didn't pick the place, so don't blame the reviewer). Good stuff: *Interesting fusion of Latino and sushi. If you like spicy, eat this stuff. Ceviche sushi most inventive; *The decor was cute and cozy; *Lots of parking.
(3)S K.
Fabulous! Highly recommend sushi chef Lane and the Omakaze (chef's choice) dinner. My husband lived in Japan and knows his sushi - his mouth watered with each dish that came out. I loved that Lane made almost everything gluten free for me. Everything was super fresh and tasty, and we were stuffed by the end - one Omakaze is more than enough for the average couple. Great value for top-quality sashimi, creative and delicious rolls, and friendly hospitality. Sit upstairs with the regulars and ENJOY!
(5)Daniel L.
First of all, if you've been to the other nozomi's, this is not like them at all! I loved the other nozomis in college because they were cheap, affordable and HUGE portions of korean/Japanese food, with Chirashi to die for. I was so happy to find out there was a nozomi right by my house when I moved up! This one? not at all. Perhaps an attempt to appeal to the rich, non-asian crowds of Carlsbad, the menu is completely different for double or triple the price. This was not what I expected, and although the food had a very nice presentation and everything, I could get comparable food at Sushi N' Joy and other nearby establishments like the recently opened Hooked on Sushi for half the price, and double the comfortable environment with friendlier looking sushi chefs. Although it'
(3)Nicki N.
Great place for a quick bite. Recommend the Afterburner roll and blue fish appetizer.
(4)Jamie O.
Tucked away off the main streets is a great little sushi joint called Nozomi. It offers nice ambiance, pleasant service and delicious, fresh sushi. The rolls are very creative and delicious and a they offer a great variety. The miso soup is good, garlic sauteed edamame, crispy rice, the rolls, and tempura friend ice cream are winners. The head sushi chef, Pancho is talented and super friendly. We enjoyed not only the food, but the whole dining experience. Even the prices were very reasonable. We're already looking forward to going back. My ONLY critique is no soap in the ladies room.
(4)La L.
Nozomi is great! good food, awesome staff, & a cool atmosphere. The servers and cooks are very friendly and the restaurant is very clean. Its a place that you could go with family or a date depending on which floor you are on. And for the non seafood lovers, they have amazing vegetarian rolls
(5)G K.
Too expensive. Very small pieces of fish. I spent $50 on sashimi and left very hungry. Quality is good though.
(2)Jennifer P.
Went here for dinner one night On family vacation. Horrid service from start to finish. Overpriced meals. Tired decor. Do not trouble yourself by stepping foot in this place.
(1)Sahana U.
I am picky about my sushi. Call me a cheater, but I love all non-traditional sushi. [Not to worry, they have the real traditional stuff, too] You know, the Americanized, tempura-ed, spicy mayo-ed, artsy creation yummy goodness that is rarely found many places. I like creative rolls, with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. But not too much of anything. Specific, I know. Before Nozomi, I refused to be adventurous with my sushi. I mainly ate veggie sushi. That's right - no fish. I cant stress how much I love Nozomi. I always go here for lunch with my colleague. Decor is very cute. If you're ever seated downstairs, check out the real turtle + fish in their indoor pond. This is what you must get for lunch: - Garlic edamame - Hula roll Slightly expensive, but it's worth it. We like it so much that sometimes come in a few days in a row. They've started to recognize us. Oops. :)
(5)Grace M.
this place is super cute and feels hidden although it's very easy to get to. the building is a pretty green color and structured after traditional japanese architecture. outside there's a display: a bamboo bridge surrounded by a tiny plot of garden- a miniature japanese garden of sorts. inside there's a pond with a small waterfall which is home to many little turtles, a nice surprise when one might expect to see khoi fish. the food was good. my friend and i both got bento boxes, one with the chicken teriyaki and another with the beef. each were tasty and pretty to look it. in terms of the service, it was very slow considering the place seemed to be accordingly staffed in relation to the number of costumers. the waitress came to our table the minimal amount of times she had to to get her job done.
(3)Jacque P.
Hands down the best sushi in carlsbad! The misoyaki butterfish is delicious as well as the Kai roll. The servers are very friendly and welcoming . They started offering daily specials like wine Wednesday (1/2 off wine and saki bottles ) and tapas Tuesday ( discounted appetizers) . They also do happy hour from 430-6 haven't tried it out yet but it looks like a great deal . Don't forget to ask if Pancho can make the civiche roll for you... it's to die for! If your a sushi lover like me you will not be disappointed!!
(5)Lola D.
The best sushi experience you can have in Carlsbad. My favorites are the Amaebi and Chu-toro! Such high quality food & service. After coming here for years I have noticed the surplus of regulars so you know it's good! I definitely recommend it to everyone who enjoys sushi or is trying it out for the first time.
(5)Aj B.
Been coming here for years and I hate to write this review but their food and service have dropped off considerably. I have no idea what's going on there but I can tell something has changed. Over the past 2-3 years their quality has steadily declined. We have ordered all over the menu. First and most important - their respect for rice must have fallen. Shame shame. The rice quality is not good now. The fish quality is inconsistent. tuna and salmon should not be rubbery - nor should it be thickly cut. The Taste of Nozomi that my husband likes to order was average the last time he ordered it (3/2011). I order the chirashi so that i can get a sampling of the fish, some pickles (because they don't carry oshinko as a menu item), and rice. i love rice. Theirs is not good now. My children typically get miso/rice and inari - no more inari they said. Oh really? Big fail in my book. inari is Japanese food. Their agedahi tofu was very greasy...that's kinda hard - yes i know - but it was. I miss the good old days when I could impress guests with this place. No more.
(1)Chris L.
Not many Japanese restaurants to choose from if you live in Carlsbad/Oceanside. This one seems to have good rating on Yelp, so we decided to give it a try. Food was ok in Japanese standard (have you ever seen a bad Japanese restaurant?), but the price is way too high. Maybe it's lack of competition. Will probably not go back again. There are much better and more reasonably priced JP restaurants around Mitsuwa area.
(3)Rudy T.
I haven't had a bite yet but expectations are high. Why? I got to order my food in Japanese to a Japanese waitress at a Japanese restaurant! I mean no offense since I love a couple of places in Anchorage, AK but you can't speak Japanese in any of the spots other than Yamaya. It just adds to the ambiance and the experience for me since I am fluent in Japanese. This is a sushi bar plus Japanese fusion tapas bar. Seafood salad -slightly spicy. Good wakame and seafood. Yummy. Stuffed tomatoes- no tomatoes! It's rice wrapped with raw tuna topped with spicy scallops. A little bland by itself. Interesting style fusion sushi with soy sauce and wasabi Sauteed edamame- great. Never had them sauteed. Ankimo( monkfish liver) too fishy for the kids. But it's the first time I have had in a longtime. Good stuff if you like this sort of thing. Panko oysters- deep fried oysters. Delicious. Hamachi Kama. Smaller portion but tasty. A tad over grilled. Tekka and kappa maki. Tuna and cucumber rolls. Standard fair for my kids. All gone before I had a chance to try them. Lol. Green tea creme brulee_ Delicious! My only complaint was that we sat next to the red backlit wall piece. Looked fine but a red light does bad things for food appearance. We couldn't find the wasabi until I used my iPhone like a flashlight. The really nice red tuna looked grey under the light. I thought maybe it was covering up for lower quality food but on closer inspection, the food looked beautiful under normal lighting. We've all heard the Japanese taste with their eyes. The red light had to go! Would recommend for anyone looking for sushi or Asian fusion tapas. Not cheap maybe a tad overpriced but all Japanese food seems to be. I'd come back again. Probably should be a four star but I am particularly tough on Japanese food.
(3)Dan M.
Hands down, best Sushi in San Diego....grew up in Hawaii and Nozomi makes me forget how much we miss Hawaiian style sushi houses...
(5)Joshy F.
Came here last night with the family from NY. It was a Thursday night and @ 7, it was not busy at all. We sat downstairs by the little turtle pond with one other family. Our server was... Danielle (?) and her service was good. I've served in the past for many years and always tend to judge when i eat out... oooopsss... Anyway, she did great and so did her busser. The menu had a wide selection and it seemed as if we got a variety of tapas, rolls, and apps to split between the 5 of us.... we got a cherry blossom roll, great white, protein roll, some combination plate, a spicy salad, mushroom dumplings and a few others... Presentation for all of the dishes was amazing. My step mom got the sizzling caviar and it looked out of this world! Everything was super fresh and came to the table in a timely manner. No excessive waiting in at any point of our meal.
(4)Jenn H.
My boyfriend brought me here for valentines day and he HATES sushi but I was really excited. We figured it was pretty good from the start because we had to make an appointment it was so packed for vday. That was a good sign to me. We first ordered an asahi and garlic sauteed edemame. First off, it was soo good sauteed in garlic (I had never tried that before) I was very pleased. I ordered an unagi roll and a spicy tuna roll & they came out pretty fast! Both rolls were delicious. I highly recommend them to friends and family now. I will continue going to Nozomi.
(5)rosa S.
After a day of overpriced, subpar, Themepark fare, (I can't come to terms with calling any of that stuff "food"), perhaps we would have given any restaurant 5 stars. However, we were extremely blessed by the gastronomic forces for good in finding this place just up the highway. The space itself is kind of strange...2 levels of Nozomi shares the same building with a Thai restaurant. Architecture and design aside, the food was incredibly fresh, full of flavor and perfectly satiating. Even our daughters devoured everything in site. About 2 or 3 exits north of The Legoland exit, worth the drive!
(5)Addison P.
Very average sushi. If you're from LA, Sakura (on Centinela) is ten times better. If you are a sushi expert, don't believe the hype. If you like rolls and are not a hardcore sushi fan, you might be okay with this place. I think this may be one of those korean owned sushi places. Meaning the quality is a little off. The sushi fish portions are way too thin. So you don't really get a good taste of the fish. We ordered: Lobster & Shrimp Tempura $14 Taste of Nozomi $28 Dream Roll $14 Unagi Bonsai $14 Miso Soup $3 and for dessert Green Tea Creme Brulee Mt. Fuji The Lobster Tempura was tasty but not worth $14. The Dream Roll is warm which ruins the taste of the roll. The Unagi Bonsai roll tasted of sesame oil. As for the dessert, don't get the Mt. Fuji, it is really big and not very special. The Green Tea Creme Brulee was pretty good. The food isn't bad. But there's nothing special. It definitely does not warrant "Best Sushi" from the readers of Ranch and Coast magazine. In fact, if you read the article from RC magazine Oct 2008, you'll see that the readers also rated as follows: Best dessert: Champagne Best Chinese food: PF Chang's Best Fast Food: In N Out & Rubio's Are you kidding me? Don't get me wrong, those places are good. But who features chain restaurants in a magazine? Should have known.
(2)skateboard c.
Can't say enough good about this place. Nice atmosphere, friendly/competent service, excellent fish. First visit was a week ago (fantastic) and my friend and I came back (to make up for an absolutely terrible experience the night before at nearby Sushi Taisho). Started with the Blue Fin platter...wow, wow, WOW. Do not miss this if they have it.
(4)Kc S.
My favorite sushi restaurant In Carlsbad! Love the servers and the sushi chefs! Favorite rolls Kira roll(off menu) Twister roll Dream roll Great white with yellow tail Tuna sampler Mango a go go Green tea edamame We have been going here since it opened and it is consistently delicious.
(5)Ava L.
If you haven't read my other reviews, I am a big stickler for customer service. I have always considered coming here since the outside always looked so cute to me, and I tell myself I need to try new sushi places (I like Blue Fin in Encinitas). We walked in and just like a lot of other yelpers stated, it's empty, and the sign says to go upstairs and seat yourself. Okay no problem. We seat ourselves and for an EMPTY restaurant we are sitting for about 3 minutes with no menu, (for their defense, we did get there within the first hour they were open)So I get up and grab menus. In the beginning our server was very nice. The food it a little pricey for my liking, but the food is good. We had 3 different rolls. Get the Hula Roll! Sooo yummy! We were waiting for a long time for our bill (we had a movie to catch) so I was starting to get impatient. I did not see my server for quite a while so I had to call another server over to ask for the bill. Then that SAME other server was the one who gave us the bill and said "thank you for coming" really? Not even our server could do that for us? So as we were walking out our original server was by the door, I thought she would say goodbye to us but didn't, however the chefs (male and female) said bye to us, which was nice. So the food was good, but overpriced and not the best service.
(3)S S.
good place, reliable services. good prices
(4)N M.
This is a relatively very good place for Carlsbad, their food is mostly good, but keep in mind their service is incredibly slow! They're all nice and there are so many servers and chefs compare to customers but regardless you will get your food, your water and your check much later than expected!
(3)Alan Y.
The ambiance is good, the service was great, but the food was just okay, but definitely not worth the price. We ordered a roll and two sushi entrees. The unagi roll was good and sauced great. As for the sushi, the fish was fresh but the rice was too hard. It was good, but definitely not worth the price. I've had sushi from many other restaurants in San Diego and California with similar quality sushi that is for half the price. If you want to pay for nice ambiance, then this place could be worth it. But if you want to pay alot for deliciously prepared sushi, then you should consider elsewhere.
(2)Gini B.
Pros: 1. Food was not too bad. 2. Large space. 3. Friendly waitress. Cons: 1. Expensive for the quality. 2. Head chef decided to not include "UNI" (Sea urchin) in a sea urchin dish simply because "he ran out." The uni is the main portion of this dish and what makes it $21!!! We had to ask why it wasn't included and then ask to get a substitute for it. 3. Sushi chef forgot to put "shrimp tempura" into one roll. 4. We had a party of 6 adults and 1 child. They added an 18% gratuity automatically to our bill. 5. All the soup bases tasted like tap water. 6. Originally we were waiting for a table to leave so we could sit in their place even though there were plenty of empty tables (total 3 parties eating at a fairly large restaurant!). Finally got tired of waiting and insisted to sit down at an empty table. I don't recommend this restaurant.
(1)Sarah O.
I heard great things on this place from a couple of friends so we decided to check it out. It's right down the street from our new place so it would be great if we liked it as much as other reviewers. Unfortunately, we were NOT impressed. The restaurant was very pretty. The pond on the 1st level was nice and it seemed clean. The staff was friendly and service was good. Unfortunately, the food was just gross. We started with edamame which was good, but it's hard to screw up edamame! We decided to share several apps since we weren't super hungry. The chicken and potato spring rolls were okay. The chicken was dry and they were a little bland. Definitely had to load them up with the sweet and sour sauce to enjoy them at all. The crispy rice was awful. The rice is supposed to be crispy, not burned to a crisp. Neither of us could eat it. The panko oysters were decent. The gyoza (beef and veggie dumplings) tasted odd.....not sure what it was but they just didn't taste right. The sauce was also too sweet. They were better with regular soy sauce but still not good. Everything on the menu is overpriced, too. We just got back from Vegas where we had an AMAZING meal at an asian restaurant at the Wynn....4 star place, great service, great food and around the same price as this crap!? We didn't try any sushi so I can't say how that was, but everything else was bad enough that we won't be going back. Also, to the woman that found it necessary to breastfeed her newborn in the middle of the restauarant during the dinner rush.....ew. Bring a bottle, get a sitter, go to the restroom, or at least have the decency to come when the restaurant is slow. We don't want to watch that and we don't want to listen to your screaming child. To the staff - how about moving these inconsiderate people to one of the tables downstairs or one of the other completely empty rooms?? That was enough for us. There is a little sushi place in the shopping center with the movie theater in Aviara. We used to live there.....guess we'll just make the 15 minute drive and keep going!
(1)Vivian K.
Excellent service - Plenty of seating - Plenty of parking - OK Prices Great food : Caviar Sizzler = Delish Cherry Blossom Roll = Delish Sushi roll with clam ceviche = Delish Green Tea Creme Brulee = OMG DELISH
(5)Riley L.
Eh....I'm a big foodie on vacation and was soundly underwhelmed with Nozomi. The rolls were okay and the lobster shrimp tempura appetizer was mediocre. Yelp reviewers led me astray on this one. There are so many wonderful sushi restaurants in the area that Nozomi was a let down.
(2)Brooke B.
What a beautiful restaurant. The decor is amazing from the inside, out. They even have a live turtle tank. Not for eating. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend the Maui special roll. Super fresh fish and a delicious selection on the menu. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Parker W.
3-stars for the rolls, most of them were not bad. Better than acceptable, but I wouldn't say ZOMG!!!^!^!&! 4-stars because my very celiac roommate went with a group of us for dinner and the restaurant accommodated her needs down to the soy sauce. The restaurant placed all snazzy sauces on the side, told us which contained gluten, and did their best to not cross contaminate. Any business that will go to such lengths for the customer is very cool in my book, plus TURTLE POND!
(4)Katherine C.
decent sushi and pretty pricey despite the solid reviews by a good amount of people, it was completely empty when we went in around 1. not exactly the best sign of good sushi, but we were already there and unfamiliar with the area. the boyfriend and i shared the jalapeno poppers, dynamite roll, dream roll, and dragon roll. jalapeno poppers - panko crusted jalapenos stuffed with spicy tuna and cream cheese. i did not like the cream cheese in these poppers. it completely overwhelmed the spicy tuna. dynamite roll - crab, avocado, cucumber inside topped with salmon and baked scallops. i didn't really like the baked scallops on top of this roll, but the bottom part with the salmon was really good. dream roll - shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, roll topped with spicy yellowtail. the roll is then baked with a cream sauce. i really like the taste of this roll, but i over looked the fact that it was a baked roll and this particular baked yellowtail came out a little dry dragon roll - shrimp tempura, crab, and avocado roll layered with unagi. the simplest of our rolls, but also my favorite. you cant go wrong with avocado and unagi. it's not the best sushi i've ever had nor a place i would go around recommending. but while i was yelping for a nearby sushi place in carlsbad, this seems to be the best there is in the area. it's decent enough if you are absolutely craving sushi but it is pretty pricey!
(3)Tom R.
walked in and smelled of dead rotted fish... walked out. no way going back
(1)Thi N.
For a Sushi Fanatic as myself.. well I have to give you guys 3 stars... Food was OK not superb but just ok.. I must have tried at least 7 different things on your menu and unfortunately non of it really stood out. I do remember the fish being pretty fresh which is muy importante but taste or originality can't remember.. Is that bad? Decore was nice.. i almost accidentally walked into the Thai restaurant that was neighboring it .. And staff.. I think they forgot to take our order for awhile.. What does that say? more attention needed... i must try it again.. soon!
(3)Bill M.
Gotta see what the bill runs....the chefs are excellent. No oyster available. Hitachi scallops were very spicy. Hula roll was good. Bill was over $100 for two. Green Tea Cream Brulee was great.
(5)Tiffany W.
What makes their sushi so AMAZING.. is how fresh the product is that they use! My hubbs and I have gone here time and time again... and have enjoyed every minute of it! The service is great and the ambiance has a romantic date night feel but it is also a great place for small group or cocktail with a friend. Speaking of cocktails.. they have a nice selection of wines and great lemon-drop.. one of my fa vs cocktails.. made with a Japanese vodka. On to the sushi.. this place is definitely a place to try out lots of sushi and sashimi.. as I stated before the fish is delicious! My favorite roles include: The Twister, The Protein Role, Da Bomb Dynamite and Surfs Up. The miso is standard, along with the edamame and teas! It was definitely more on the pricey side but is worth every penny spent! Great place to check out if your in the area looking for great sushi!!
(5)Jerry C.
The wife and I have ate here a couple of times and love what we have ordered each time. The prices are a little high but you get what you pay for! the food is fresh and the service is good. I like this place more each time I go there. I love to eat in the downstairs part of the restaurant where they have the turtle pond with the waterfall..... very relaxing ! I will be back here for sure.
(4)Heather W.
Three levels to this funky lil place...I especially loved the turtle pond downstairs. Kind of reminded me of my Pudgy. Okay, everyone together now: Awwwww. Took someone here for her birthday today. She was born in Japan, and is 1/2 Japanese. We sat and ate upstairs. A nice selection of authentic green teas to start with. Friendly staff too. There was A LOT of food. We were stuffed. They were not skimpy on the rolls-at all! The Hula Roll- cha ching, baby! It was awesome. The Dynamite Roll wasn't 'as' good, but it was still quite the tasty delight. Someone ordered the chicken teryaki bento box (not as adventurous there) and she enjoyed it. I did try her seaweed and it was tasty, good texture. Everything was incredibly fresh, and as our Japanese colleague explained you can judge a sushi place by seeing if they freeze their squid-and how fresh it is. Well, my friends, the squid passed the test. As did the delicious unagi and scallops...and tuna, and shrimp, and salmon and...the list does go on. No wonder we're STILL full! Nozomi isn't the cheapest place in the world. $95 (with tip) for three people, and no dessert, but the quality of what you are getting makes this place worth it. They lose a star for only having two servers during the lunch rush. We waited quite a long time for our bill. I'll be trekking here from downtown to take friends in the future. /Insert Japanese Thumbs Up here.
(4)Jenn L.
So far, this is the best sushi that I've found in North County. The atmosphere is nice and soothing. The decor has a modern twist. But most importantly, I thoroughly enjoyed the sushi here. The specialty rolls are a little pricey, but after trying the Great White and The Twister (which is wrapped in shredded potato and deep fried) were very yummy. My fiance rates sushi places on the quality of the crunchy roll. He thought this may have been one of the best crunchy rolls he's ever had. The seaweed salad was also really good, it came with two types of seaweed. Everything was so fresh and the rolls were wrapped nicely. We didn't have to worry about loosely rolled sushi or chewy nori. The service was awesome. You just gotta love the greeting you get at sushi places. Our waitress was adorable and very attentive. I'm already itching to go back, regardless of the spendiness...
(4)El r.
Love this place. -Clean -Friendly -Nice atmosphere -Very fresh and clean tasting sushi. All I gotta say El
(5)Sharon H.
Every item on their menu is fantastic!!! Service is extremely friendly and they have some of the highest quality fish around!!! Even if I didn't LOVE the atmosphere, how kid friendly it is, and the fabulous pond filled with turtles I would keep coming over and over again for the top-notch sushi!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Rick N.
I'm new to Sushi but found this place fresh and delicious. My friend dining with me said his Sushimi portion was small for the money but that it was very good as well. Decor is nice traditional Japanese and the service is good.
(4)Cherie T.
the atmosphere is nice, i loved all the bamboo decor and glass waterfall. the food is fresh and good. ordered the Tokyo Sushi Combo - good selection of fish for the price of $26 but i wish i have more haha definitely not enough for one meal. also got the Taste of Nozomi, sea bass was amazing, the calamari salad was tasty. and the sashimi and sushi were fresh. we also got the Surfs Up, i love cilantro and i love tuna. Put those two ingredients together and you get a nice refreshing roll because the added ceviche topping on the rolls. perhaps we'll come back and try the omakase next time. one thing i didnt like this restaurant was the music that they played.. w/ the nice touch of japanese decor...japanese feel.. i wish they'd play some japanese instrumental music... i really rather not listen to hip hop and pop songs it was just a weird combo..didnt match the mood.
(4)Amy Y.
Ok sushi. Not awesome but not bad for Carlsbad. Service was ok as well.
(3)Jordyn D.
Okay food and it's terribly overpriced!
(2)AMANDA L.
Yummy, yummy, yummy! the hula roll rocks..the da bomb dynamite is rad....so good! haven't had a bad roll there yet and don't even get me started on the lava cake! WORD! ooey, gooey chocolate heaven in my opinion! My husband had the two piece hamachi and said it was like butter!! great atmosphere and the servers were all very nice and our service was spot on!
(4)James T.
Fusion food was very good, if expensive. Neither of us liked the surf and turf, and at $25 we were very disappointed. Hulu and Dream rolls came out well and were worth their $15 price tags. Ahi poke salad was good, but very small for its $15 price tag (think 10 bites total). Green Tea Creme Brule was really good, expensive at $15 for a small desert but the taste made up for it. Service was pleasant, but felt a little slow on a night of around 50% occupancy. Turtle pond was cool! It's a really nicely designed restaurant.
(4)Michelle T.
Thanks Yelpers for leading us here for dinner! I have to say that this place gave me a weird first impression but I am glad we stuck around because we had a great meal. I was initially weirded out because the outside of the building is strikingly painted fluorescent green and when you step in the place, the two Caucasian hostesses who greet you look like sorority girls dressed up as Asian masseuses for Halloween. I was also put off by the fact that there were SCENTED candles on the steps leading down to the dining room with the turtle pond because, really, I don't want to feel like I am dining at the Yankee Candle. We were led to our table upstairs and my kids were mesmerized by the waterfall/Tokyo skyline mural on the wall. Luckily, all my qualms were dispelled when we were seated. Our waitress was super nice and gracious and gently reined us in when we tried to over order. We ended up choosing edamame, gyoza, shumai, lemongrass tiger shrimp scampi, and the Taste of Nozomi platter. The gyozas were yummy and had a nice golden crust on the bottom. All the items that came with the Taste of Nozomi platter were very tasty and the sashimi was very fresh. My least favorite dish was the shumai because it had a weird texture - like steamed shrimp paste. All in all, a great find in Carlsbad!
(4)Howard T.
So after a fun filled day at Legoland we headed off toward Nozomi, the restaurant recently voted best Sushi in North San Diego. My feet were aching, the kid was pissed, and the wife was cranky. It was a weekday, but I didn't want to take any chances so I made reservations the night before. They recommended sitting by their turtle pond so my kid would be distracted. Great! This was also going to be our late Valentines dinner. The building isn't much to look at from the outside. But once you get in, you're immediately drawn to Nozomi's beautiful decor with warm lighting. You're greeted by a friendly staff adorned in a cute kimono-type outfits. We were led to the lower level of the restaurant and right there was a huge turtle pond. Now, if you don't know, turtles get dirty fast and they can get really smelly. I was quite impressed that pond was clean and beautifully set up. There had to be 10 turtles in there so I'm glad it didn't stink. I was pretty much ready to order, but I wanted to check out the drink menu. As soon as I opened it, 2 fricken mosqitoes flew out and up toward the ceiling. I hope it wasn't from the turtle pond. Clean your menus Nozomi. Now for the food. Miso Soup - WATERED DOWN. I couldn't taste any miso..... Taste of Nozomi ($28) - It consists of Albacore, salmon, shrimp, uni sushi, tuna, salmon, yellowtail sashimi, organic garden salad, 4 piece hula roll, and miso marinated seabass. Every item in this dish was so fresh. The sashimi just melted in my mouth.Well, all except for the tuna. The tuna was grainy and gooey like it was old. My dissatifaction with it was that the sushi was very SMALL. I've never been to any sushi restaurant with cuts this small. Well, once in San Fran. Their dragon roll was just like any old roll. Nothing special and definitely doesn't warrant the $15. Kobe Tataki ($30) which is real Japanese kobe seared and drizzled with a garlic oil and ponzu. The picture on their website is so deceiving. If you look at the website, thick slices wrap around a small salad. My slices were half that size. I wasn't too fond of this dish because the ponzu and garlic oil just left a really bad after-taste. (Bust of the night) My wife ordered the Sirloin beef Sukiyaki. If you're not a mushroom fan, avoid at all cost. The mushroom was so strong, that it overwhelmed the entire dish. Oh yeah, you get 4 puny little slices of "Sirloin Beef". This was probably the worst Sukiyaki we've ever had. (Biggest Ripoff of the night) The plus side was that they had good items for kids on their tapas menu like shumai. ($5) Five small...very small pieces. Finally, the desert. Yeah, I ordered desert, because I was still fricken hungry. The wife and I shared some tempura ice cream and we got the girl a scoop of vanilla sprinkled with a chocolate powder. ($9+$2.50). What I liked about Nozomi's tempura ice cream is that they add additional tempura flakes and I believe a berry syrup. We loved it! Now, if you're from LA, you'll be pretty dissapointed with Nozomi. Everything is extremely overpriced. As good as the sashimi was, I felt that they were too stingy with the portions. I think they may be out of their expertise with some of the dishes too. We definitely loved the service and the kid friendly atmosphere. There is room for improvement, but the locals seem to love this place. Good job Nozomi, you have San Diego in the palm of your hands. Muwahahahahaha!
(3)Tom S.
This place doesn't deserve even one star (required field). Not the worst fish ever, but pretty bad. The sushi chefs were absolutely the worst. Don't go here! I don't recommend this place AT ALL, PERIOD.
(1)Bethany B.
The sushi here is delicious. We even tried the jalapeno poppers for an appetizer and they were yummy. My favorite rolls are the Hula, King Kong and the Twister. It is a little on the pricey side, but I don't mind paying for good sushi. The downside...we were a party of 8 for dinner on a Saturday night. I made a reservation and we were seated right away, but the service was awful. The wait staff was polite and all, but they were very slow getting our food to us. I think they were giving our food to another table because several times the brought us someone else's food and we had to tell them it wasn't what we ordered. At one point the waitress brought us our check and we had only received half of the food that we ordered. It was sort of funny. I had 3 glasses of wine and the second and third were in smaller glasses than the first but still the same price. The wait staff didn't remove any of the eaten/empty dishes from our table and it was getting crowded. We had to put our dirty dishes on a table next to us and it piled up pretty high before they removed them. (only when they needed to seat someone there) We ended up being there a total of 3 hours!!! So to conclude my review, the food is delicious and worth the price. The service is polite, but a little confused and slow. Perhaps going as a smaller party would make a difference. Will still come here but not in a large party.
(3)don p.
ummm so far, Not great, but not bad either mmmmm
(2)Aerial A.
I've never eaten in the restaurant, only had take-out from here, but it has been delicious every time. I'm looking forward to eating in the actual restaurant and I'm sure it will be even better.
(4)Eugene A.
Thoughtful and artfully prepared rolls. Everything we ate was tasty. They have an interesting tapas menu and other delightful creations. They have bento and sashimi too. We started out with the hibachi scallop appetizer with warm sake and japanese beers. Also very tasty but not over the top. The wait staff was attentive and everyone looked like they were busy about their duties. They share the building with a Thai restaurant next door and the restrooms are shared but neither place is so big that it's a problem. It is nicely decorated on the interior. But outside you can't quite figure out what might be on the inside. It's worth the trip. Nozomi will not disappoint.
(4)Andrea S.
We eat sushi pretty frequently and I have to say hands down this is our favorite place to date. Not just in Carlsbad but anywhere else we have been. Do yourself a favor and order "the bomb dynamite" roll!! It is in fact (yes I am going to say it) The bomb!!! We usually order to go since I have a 3 year old who doesn't currently isn't a fan of sitting still in restaurants. Even though it is to go, they do not skimp on the quality or quantity. They always get the order correct and are super friendly. The one time we actually got to sit down and eat we were not disappointed. The chef's at the sushi bar were friendly and all around awesome. Can't wait to get it again!!
(5)M S.
best place for sushi, most interesting and original rolls, Hula Roll, great white, protein roll even the sashimi salad, yummmm Most places offer a California roll with a different fish on top and call it a different fancy name - that is boring. This place has great food, great service. Cool tea and saki selection. Decor is very nice. This place has a pool of turtles - turtles usually smell, not here. It is very tranquil. Great place to go on a payday :-) Best place in Carlsbad/ San Diego. I brought my daughter a non-fish eater and her dish was amazing looking and tasting. We didn't want to eat it because it was so pretty. Tried all of the desserts - awesome! The lava cake is great.
(5)Mo O.
A very good place to eat sushi at in north Carlsbad. I recommend getting the Love or Pride Omakase, they are both EXCELLENT! In 3 trips there we have had great sake and sushi. Everything has been presented creatively and tasted even better. The service is great; everyone is so nice. For some people it may be a little pricey but for me it is worth paying a little more for real good sushi. Thank you Nozomi!!!
(5)Marissa C.
Unique high end Japanese cuisine including an extensive Sake menu and tea menu. Sushi/sashimi selection was extensive and super fresh including items like black snapper, kobe beef sashimi, and blue fin tuna. Service was slow as the restaurant was understaffed and overwhelmed. Not exactly sure as to why a good deal of restaurants in Carlsbad are understaffed especially in a state with 10%+ unemployment. Went back yesterday early and sat at the sushi bar. Much better experience. Was in the capable hands of Executive Sushi Chef Lee.
(4)Bree W.
This is the best sushi ever but I heard it was sold! Where did Ken Lee go??
(5)Cris B.
The sushi is the best around! Great White or Mango Madness - you can't go wrong.
(5)Lily H.
This restaurant is unfortunately way over-rated. I do not understand how it gets 4 stars. Food: Sushi pieces are not fresh, warm in temperature and way too "mushy" in texture to be fresh. The combo comes with only soup and nothing else. How does this "4 star" sushi restaurant get away with this level of fish quality and meal presentation? Service: What service? We were there with only 2 other tables, and there were 4 waitress running around ineffectively. It took a total of 2 hours for us to complete meal - We waited 30 minutes just to get food for one of us to arrive, the second person's meal came another 20 minutes later. During all the wait time our water and ice tea glass kept on getting emptied and none of the 4 waitresses bother to come refill them. It was really a big disappointment for us in all possible ways. The only thing that was positive about our experience was the 'visit" with their pet turtles.
(1)Lumberjackal O.
Still high prices but went back and enjoyed it. Wife liked the turtle pond:0
(3)Amara S.
Ok food but the portions are not great for the price you pay. The atmosphere is nice (especially the turtle room) but I have had much better sushi elsewhere. Drinks are expensive as well.
(2)Cody H.
It was getting late and we were getting hungry during a drive back from LA to San Diego. Based on some Yelp reviews, we pulled off the highway for some sushi at Nozomi. It seemed a bit odd, sitting there right next to the off-ramp, but when we walked in we were impressed. The staff was friendly and very attentive. The interior is well done, if almost a bit cheesy. At first, they were playing the hits of Andrew Lloyd Weber over the stereo, which was very strange and something of a non sequitur in a sushi restaurant. They also had two flat screen TVs upstairs, one of which was playing a football game, which I appreciated, and one of which was playing some TV show about people making glass bowls or something. Weird. The sushi, though, was outstanding. I tried a roll that was a combo of tuna, yellowtail, and salmon, along with Japanese radish. No rice. It was light, fresh, and delicious. I also ordered a few pieces of Nigiri, and that was really the highlight. I don't think I've ever had such fresh and delicious salmon. It was just perfect, seriously. We also had a few appetizers -- edamame, which was excellent -- and a chicken egg roll sort of thing, which was a bit too hot but delicious once it cooled down. The food was pricey, but I think it was worth it for that sushi. On our way out, we stopped in the downstairs area where Nozomi has a little fountain and pool filled with live turtles. They were hysterical to watch -- why are turtles such inherently funny animals? I don't have kids, but a kid would have loved it.
(4)Frederick H.
We've been here several times now, and been quite impressed. We sit at the tables - I'd prefer to sit at the sushi bar and order one-at-a-time but I've only been with my wife's family and they'd rather sit at a table and chat; the table service was fine. Tonight we had a load of appetizers and three sushi rolls. There were two kinds of expensive Nigori-sake, I had the cheaper kind; they've got a tea menu that's blissful just to read. Garlic edamame I thought was ok, the rest of the table loved it. Tempura was somewhat better than so-so. Calamari was quite good, sauce was great. There's some "fusion" to the menu - pot stickers that melted in your mouth with a light sauce that tasted a bit like barbecue. Very, very good sushi rolls. We had "Da Bomb", and two others whose names I can't recall (I blame the Nigori-sake) but they were all "quite delicious". Other times I've had salmon sashimi and it was lemon lip smacking tasty. The place has the feel of a small Japanese country inn that somehow got dropped in Socal and isn't sure what to do with itself now that it's here. Cute waitresses, mostly not Japanese. Half a point off for the big screen TVs showing sports - do not need, distracts from the ambiance. Fun to watch the turtles in the pond. There were some annoying people taking pictures of the turtles, but since it was us I didn't take off points for that. Speaking of which, I should probably give the place a 5, but I'm really stingy with my 5s, so. Will certainly go again; would love to try the Omakase ($65 or $80 - don't know if that's per person?). I now know ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No… ) that Nozomi means "bullet train"; not sure what the connection is to Carlsbad. (later) A very nice note from the owner gives me the knowledge that Nozomi means "Hope"; that Omakase is per person and should be ordered at the bar from the Executive Chef, Ken; and earns them another star!
(5)BGrace G.
I've eaten here twice, the first time I was with a group and was so impressed I came back with my guy. The atmosphere was attractive and spacious, and it seemed like they had an awfully high help-to-diner ratio. They layout of the place is a bit convoluted, it's like a complex in a building. The service was at times too much, a bit intrusive, too many greetings and how are you doings (while eating), but that was probably because there was so much help about. We had a soup that was delicious, the rolls were ok, dream roll was pretty good. At the end of the last visit we didn't feel the prices warranted the meal, you sort of do that little calculus in your mind, and in this case, didn't compute. But they try hard and it is a nice atmosphere. I don't know if they have happy hour or some specials, but if so I'd go back, otherwise not.
(3)Ono A.
Is this really a Japanese restaurant? Waitresses in short kimonos. I thought this was a karoake bar! Food was ok, not what I expected for a Japanese restaurant. Teriyaki sauce taste like it came out of a bottle. Wouldn't have ended up here if Mikko's across the other side of the freeway was closed.
(1)Vamshi J.
The sushi here is the best. I was here for lunch and my experience was very satisfying. The service was excellent and the hostess was knowledgeable. She helped us out with our order. Try the twister roll. They have a downstairs seating area and a turtle laden fountain. For all you tea lovers, they have separate menu for tea. A sushi lunch will cost you about $20 including the tip. Also, they have the chef's special Omakase on their menu, I've always wanted to try that, maybe next time.
(5)Ewa M.
Thanks to my new mobile and yelp I was able to find this cute Japanese place and I wasn't disappointed. Really cute design and space, except those plasma TV's. In my opinion, if you are going to enjoy expensive sushi there is no need for television, period. For starters, the menu is definitely original with many unusual items. I wish I was able to try all of them, but I had to stick to rolls. In addition to quite pricey, but original rolls, they create any rolls to your order, my mine $15 each. I must admit, the quality is really fresh and good, but overall, this wasn't the best Japanese place I've been to. Maybe because it wasn't L.A.? Maybe because we were not served water automatically upon arrival? Maybe, cause we had to wait a while for water and food altogether? I don't know, but after we soaked our mouths in fresh and juicy food, suddenly, it all did not matter anymore. It was simply good. The rolls were huge and our appetites even bigger. My creation of salmon/yellowtail/avocado rolls was pure, fresh and simple. The other speciality rolls were quite big and spectacular. And even though the bill was high we did not care anymore. Nozomi in Carlsbad was a unique experience and I wish I had more money to try other amazing creations!
(4)Benito D.
Decor: Awesome. I would have the orange/red bamboo-silhouette thing in my own house. The inside pond with the turtles is really cool. The outside pond is nice with the baby koi and water features. Their security gate arm is even made of bamboo...nice touch. Service: Quick, attentive and really nice. We wanted something that was off-menu and they made it. Food: Fish tasted fresh. Ask for a side of ginger sauce on the side and put it on top of your rice if you order a non-sushi dish...mmmmmmm. Good date place.
(5)Patrick G.
Fantastic food and great place to bring kids. We were in Carlsbad for vacation and wanted to get something different for dinner. We had had our fill of burgers and chicken fingers for the week. We found Nozomi on Yelp and decided to do takeout since the kids were tired. When we got their, we quickly changed our order to stay since the place was set up with kids in mind. Picture sitting in a 6 table room with Food Network on one flat screen, CNBC on another, and then a big waterfall & pool in the middle of the room with a large family of turtles swimming around.... Eclectic? Heck yeah, but this is a fusion restaurant after all. The kids were fascinated, and we got to enjoy some great food. Food highlights: Black miso cod: need I say more? Chicken teryaki: seriously, this was excellent - and about half a chicken Tiger prawn risotto: delicious Ramune soda for kids: a huge hit We will be back when we return for vacation. Loved it.
(5)Nancy L.
Loved the setting in the upstairs room - presentation and quality of fish were on par - it's just so expensive for a family of five. That's why I was so excited when owner (?), Derek, made up a sampler menu for a good price for a large group. Unfortunately, ultimate approval rested with a sushi-phobe, so the opportunity to expose more people to the innovative cuisine and help ensure the restaurant's survival (that site may be jinxed) was wasted.
(4)DeeDee E.
love the place have been back over and over. Hit there first then Coyote's.
(5)Sean D.
I was there about a month ago. It was a quite night, but the service was really not that good. Waited about 10 minutes just to get a bill. The food made up for it. Hula roll is a must order!
(4)Cheryl B.
The Hula Roll is the best roll I've ever had. It is the best Sushi in North County. Nice atmosphere, very good service, you feel pampered and attended to without being constantly interrupted.
(5)Laurel C.
The very best sushi I have ever had. The fish is unbelievably fresh and delicious. Get the gyoza -- fried pork dumplings that melt in your mouth with an awesome sauce.
(5)Dean S.
The atmosphere is nice and sushi here is fresh and tasty. Fabulous sake list.
(4)Eric T.
SCRUMTRULESCENT (Wink to Ferrell fans)! First off, the place is so damn serene, I want to get rich and make it my bedroom. You are greeted by the amicable chefs after you walk up the stairs and into this outdoor-in-doors Japanese garden of awesome. I realize I am getting sappy here, but I love this place. The miso was semi bland the first time I had it, but they got it right the second time. The salmon nigiri was unreal, literally the best salmon I have ever wolfed down. Ever. The rolls were all great as well, not just in taste, but in presentation. Each ingredient is pronounced in its appropriate way, giving each roll a unique, balanced and delicious character. The albacore was as good as it gets, and the ahi was super-good. The kobe sashimi? Hell yes I will take some more! Never thought beef could dissolve in your jawbox, and now I know. The seaweed salad is sweet, tangy and smooth. The tempura was very good. The pork loin was a gift from the pig goddess. Everything down to the carved up oranges and the tropical tea were above the rest. I have eaten at many North County Sushi joints and this place is top shelf. I don't know who picks the fish out, but I want to give him or her a PHD in fishology. I have now changed my lineup for my "last meal". You should already be on the 5, heading there right now.
(5)Diana H.
Great food, great environment, unique combinations without getting all fusion-y. I really like the water features inside and out. My kids liked the turtles (and not to eat!). Pricey but good service and I'm saving up to go back!
(5)Ary T.
Love the place, don't even like sushi, but love a couple of the deep fried rolls! A lil pricy, but very fancy and service is pretty good. Been there atleast 50 times since I found em a few years ago, can't get enough!
(4)Lisa B.
Lots of choices in the menu, my favorites are the mango roll (I go just for that sometimes), the garlic edamame, Hula roll. They great you when you come in and when you leave. I sit upstairs when with friends and downstairs with my parents (need handicap access) which is near the turtle pond, entertaining, I like to count the turtles. My top choice for sushi in Carlsbad is Nozomi but it is pricing so I don't go too often. sometime just get rolls to go.
(4)Kaio T.
Pretty nice place.. Here are my points: sushi has lots of fish little rice... nice atmosphere with turtle lagoon.. tasty food... Help was good.. And yes confirmed it is expensive but i was surprised.. little rice on the sushi.. lots of meat
(5)Ben M.
Good sushi but very expensive. UPDATE. I've since been to Nozomi three times and I have updated them to 5 stars. It is still expensive but it is the best quality sushi I have found in North County! Excellent selection and many interesting options (like sashimi lobster) that I have never seen before.
(5)Sarah J.
Im a vegetarian so sushi can be a challenge for me. Their attention to detail is impeccable. The vegetarian sushi platter is a work of art. Try the jalapeño poppers!
(5)Michael S.
Being a Carlsbad native, I remember when this place was sevillas, and loved what they did to the place. The decorations here are really awesome. From the exterior to the interior of the restaurant, it is very well put together. I love the little touch of the turtle pond on the bottom floor. What shocked me the most was the non-Asian workers greeted my group and I in Japanese and without a horrible accent. I got a little kick out of that. Their food here is really good. The sushi here is of excellent quality, and very authentic. A very good selection from their menu as well. The teas here are great too! They actually make their own tea instead of packets, and they have a variety as well! The tempura ice cream here was THE BEST I've ever had too. This place is BY FAR one of the best Japanese restaurants in San Diego. A definite shock to me as I live only 5min away. My only complaint about this restaurant is that it is expensive. It's not meant for starving college students like me :( .
(5)Toni Y.
We were in town for the second leg of our SoCal family vacation -- the Legoland stop. Service was great from booking my dinner reservation to closing the tab. We ordered a variety of sushi rolls and tapas that tasted fresh and delicious. Our server was really sweet and thoughtful and made us feel comfortable dining there with our 2 year old monster. Our dinner here was definitely a nice break from the usual American dishes we've picked up between our Disneyland and Legoland trip (it was nice to not have to order mac n cheese for my little one!). All in all, you can't go wrong with this place. Just make sure to keep your stomach in check while deciding what to order; things add up mighty fast if you don't pay close attention!!! :)
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