Met a friend here for dinner and drinks and i really had a great experience. The sushi was fantastic, the place has a great vibe and i top it off the service was stellar. Angie was super cool- very welcoming and friendly, she made great recommendations and made us feel well taken care of throughout our meal. Thank you! It was my first time here and I'll be back again for sure ..... For more of those yummy brussel sprouts!!!
(5)
Jules J.
I had the best experience at the sushi lounge this past weekend! The food and service was amazing. I will recommend this restaurant to all my friends when visiting San Diego! Thanks hope to see ya soon!! Thanks to Julian!!! Xoxo
(4)
Gabrielle N.
Stumbled upon this gem while visiting from San Francisco and had a fabulous time! Five stars for service and flavor! Definitely a go-to if in San Diego! =)
(5)
Dee Dee S.
We had the best meal last night at Sushi Lounge on Market! We love food, so each time we go out, we really spend the time choosing the best restaurant for the perfect experience. We decided Sushi Lounge on Market would be our choice for our Friday night out. We have tried all the other Sushi restaurants in town, and we believe that Sushi Lounge on Market is by far the healthiest, freshest sushi in town. Where this restaurant exceeds other sushi restaurants, is that in addition to amazing food, the atmosphere is super cool and fun with great music in the background. This time, we went with the head chef James' suggestions for our meal. We ordered the Uni from Japan and Santa Barbara (both delicious but we definitely preferred the Uni from Santa Barbara), Spicy Salmon hand rolls (A-mazing), Short rib fried rice (My BF loved), Edamame Guacamole (A must each time we go), Blue Fin tuna nigiri (Wow, this just melted in our mouths) Panko Shrimp (loved!), and the 92101. (Later in the night we went back for a snack and a final drink before going home. Soooo good!) For drinks we tried two new drinks on the menu. We think they're called the Key Lime cocktail and the San Diego Sunset, but not 100% sure. The Key lime was good, but probably a little sweet for us. The Sunset was delicious! We also got a bottle of Sake which we finished the entire bottle! (Bartender's recommendation) We paid close attention to the service last night, and we were very pleased with the overall service. Our food came out in a timely manner, and everything was on point. We purposely watched how quickly they refilled our water without prompting. We also learned that the water is not just filtered, but completely purified, which was very cool to learn the difference. We highly recommend you try Sushi Lounge on Market next time you're downtown.
(5)
Bob B.
Tried this yesterday for lunch, and it's a mixed bag. First off, this trendy little place plays contemporary music WAY TOO LOUD, especially for lunch. You can see their posted hours (closed 2-4) noted by the manager as "traditional." Well, I've been to some top sushi/tempura bars in Tokyo, and they never have blaring music, nor do a number of other sushi places in SD. Also, I'm not a big sushi fan, but this is not all authentic sushi or tempura. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. They do their food right, although I thought the flavor from the ramen bowl was a bit lacking. The tempura was VERY tasty, but it came w/ the entrees instead of being a first served app. I was really anticipating the app, but the kitchen seemed kind of slow for a post lunch rush period. Anyways, decent portions and good food. A decent spot to eat in the Gaslamp.
(3)
Randall S.
Went for dinner as we were feeling like sushi. Had the dog with us so looking for somewhere we all could go. Nice patio, a little rain but had a slight roof that did the job. Sushi was very fresh and nice decor. We had the shisito peppers and vegetable tempura appetizers. Peppers were really good, tempura just ok. Had the rainbow roll and California roll. Both were fresh. As asahi beer on tap and finished off with green tea mochi. Nice sushi place!
(4)
Jodie S.
Drinks were great. Service was good. The sushi quality was not was I was expecting for $15 a roll. The Brussels sprouts were the highlight of my meal. Once again, not what I was expecting. The amount of fish on the rolls was a bit disappointing. It's a cool place. Probably won't be back unless they up their fish game though.
(2)
Jamie S.
I must start off by saying the sushi roll is the best. The service was ok. That is mainly why I'm giving 3 stars. We went on Valentine's Day and had reservations. We were seated promptly which was awesome. The guy in the front was super nice. But after the waitress took our drink order we didn't see her at all for 25 minutes! This was at 7pm and there was hardly anyone in there. I couldn't even find the waitress in the restaurant at all so I assumed she was in the back. I finally asked someone if we could order and she finally came out. Once eating never checked on us once and I needed a refill :( oh well. Sushi was great though. Truly thought Kaiju and Sushi lounge roll were great.
(3)
Adelle N.
Omg!!!! This place is so good and so fresh. The salmon tartar melts in your mouth. The sushi is amazing and the drinks are strong. They put a lot of time into the atmosphere, from fresh flowers on the table to unique bathrooms. Julian is spot on with his attentive, quick and pleasant service. A must when in San Diego
(5)
Dan C.
Stopped in here on a Thursday for dinner and had an amazing meal! The decor is very cool and all the staff was extremely friendly. Our server was great and helped us navigate the menu. She was always around when we needed something. The food was really really good, the Kaiju roll is now our new favorite sushi roll in SD! We will be back to try the rest.
(5)
JP H.
This was a terrific evening at a really unique and new sushi spot in the Gaslamp. The Sakura Emaki was the best sake I've ever tried. The decor is completely different than any other restaurant in town and the vibe is really cool. Additionally, the staff was knowledgable and terrific. Taylor and Anna were very attentive. I will definitely come back and bring friends.
(5)
Lenny T.
All I have to say is you have to order the Brussel Sprouts! Amazing! Went last Saturday with no reservations, 5 minute wait, GM personally visited our table...Julian I think, to make sure we were happy. Friendly atmosphere, sexy decor, next time definitely a spot to grab a drink at the bar and order a roll before heading out. BTW, unisex restrooms are super clean.
(5)
Bianca P.
Don't pass up the Kaiju Roll & The Edamame Guacamole - they were great! The service was amazing and they were very helpful in explaining the dishes to us. We found out that all the fish is sustainable and comes in daily. If you are looking for a fun treat, I would also try the brussel sprouts...they were delicious and crispy! Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Deanna W.
Good atmosphere and full bar. Sushi was really good. Could accommodate big parties. The owner was friendly and bought us beers. Thanks for a nice lunch!
(5)
C M.
Just finished my meal at Sushi Lounge and was happy overall. My server (lady bartender sorry I forgot your name) was especially helpful and very attentive.Decor was modern and clean. I ordered the brussel sprouts, and while they were very tasty, there was too much glaze used which left the bottom of my bowl full of saturated soggy sprouts. So unfortunately I only ate half the serving. In my opinion, the brussels were cooked so well they could have stood on their own with only a light drizzle of sauce. i also ordered salmon and yellowtail Nigiri sushi, both were fresh and very tasty, and the Kaiju roll (9 pieces) which was average.
(3)
Felipe L.
Stupid by this restaurant while taking on business. It's located a bit outside the gaslamp district in downtown San Diego. I ordered a little sushi and a Thai dish. The sushi had to be the best I've ever had. Hamachi and sake with a spider roll. Incredible.
(5)
Kelly C.
Simply the best Sushi downtown San Diego! Most amazing Chef, friendly staff, and the owners, Reef Mowers & Matt Green, are always onsite and are there to make sure your experience is one that will not be forgotten. The decor is unreal, vibe is on point, fun downtown feel, great for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion with a large group of friends! This is a must try if you haven't been...once you go, YOU'LL BE HOOKED!!! Thank you for opening a sushi lounge downtown that not only offers the finest sushi but adds in the great experience and top notch customer service that just isn't as important to other options downtown!!!! Love this place!!!
(5)
Susan G.
Loved the new vibe! Food still amazing :) ESPECIALLY the Brussels and Edamame guacamole. Best sushi downtown AND reasonable. Thanks Taylor for excellence sound, service and sushi!
(5)
Kelsey D.
BOMB BRUSSEL SPROUTS! I absolutely LOVED this place! The atmosphere was super trendy, but not too loud to the point you couldn't hear the people next to you. The sushi tasted super fresh and did I mention the brussel sprouts..??? OMG I would go back just for those!
(5)
Andrew I.
This place has really turned around to be amazing experience! It was already great but now even better! Staff is really friendly and gourmet Sake is the best!
(5)
Jamie S.
Great location. The sushi was ok, nothing special. we sat outside which was fun, so many people on the street. Our server was helpful, but not around enough.
(3)
Stephanie O.
Great food! Love the ambience. Manager was also friendly and made experience even better! (:
(5)
Mya N.
I've been here once, but I had a great experience. The fish is extremely fresh. I had the chirashi, and they added amazing herbs e.g. cilantro, mint, and chives-sooo amazing. The vibe is awesome. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Ryan L.
The freshest sushi I ve ever had . Good beer selection too! Great vibe I would recommend it to everyone who is looking for really good sushi.
(5)
pete o.
Lots of tourist places, then you find a place where the locals are at. Not disappointed at all. Great food, reasonable drinks and the bar staff are more than cool. Second night here and I will be back tommorow night with the wife!!!
(5)
Moni L.
Bombest appetizers! Best Shishito peppers. Best seaweed salad. Best Brussel sprouts. Hands down.
(5)
Carla G.
We had reservations for New Years eve. We only had to wait a few minutes for a table to clear. They had big tall tables that you sat in stools on but you could not push your legs under the table. It was odd. Service was a bit slow but the sushi was decent.
(3)
Angela S.
Eaten here twice, good food, friendly service, cute ambiance, very fresh and inventive menu. Will go back again.
(5)
James S.
Had an awesome experience here!!! One of the managers (taylor) did a fantastic job and recommended excellent sushi, appetizers, and sake and was very knowledgeable. Good place to go hang out with friends, eat some delicious sushi, and grab a drink....or maybe two.
(5)
Jaclyn G.
Ate here tonight with a group of friends. Not only were we late but we reduced our number, and the staff was still incredibly accommodating. Our serving Rubina is an angel and took such good care of us, even humoring our sake bomb wims (we had an Aussie friend visiting). Good drinks, even better sushi. Not a fan of downtown but I will be back for happy hour very very soon.
(5)
Amber R.
Delicious food, great atmosphere and awesome champagne. The owner is super friendly and the service is amazing. Get the edamame guacamole!
(5)
Tyler K.
Great service and a fun space. Happy Hour was a good deal and a fun way to try a number of smaller plates.
(4)
Marina R.
So we decided on this place after doing a Yelp search, and my family LOVED IT! So my parents and aunt and uncle decided to go bar hopping (this was the first ever, literally) and omg best sushi ever. We shared a dragon roll (as we were going to dinner afterwards) and enjoyed every bite. Oh I forgot to mention, we had the best saki bombs ever (mom and aunt never had one). In the end, we were there just for HH so all of this fun was amazing at a low price.
(5)
Patrick Y.
Good sushi, great sake samplers and even better service. Ask for Taylor, Sonia or Rosie!
(5)
Gi Anna G.
This place is beyond amazing!!! The sushi is to die for! My girlfriend and I had the Old and the new Miso soup which are the best I've had, thus far from all of the Sushi places I've been to. The service was superb from the waiter getting us the best table, to customizing our Martinis and having the chef make a sushi roll with the ingredients we like best. On top of that the decor of the place is very chic with vibrant colors and upbeat but relaxing atmosphere. I will definitely visit again and recommend this place to others. Thank you for an amazing time :)
(5)
Jordan G.
The sushi is incredible. If you're going, definitely get the Crunchy Roll. It's imitation crab and tempura shrimp with flakes. Tremendous
(5)
Kassie L.
I had friends visiting from out of town and was looking for a super cool spot to take them, heard great things about sushi lounge and decided to try it out! My friends and I had a BLAST!! Food was amazing!! The whole staff was on top of everything and the vibe & music makes the dining experience really fun! It's our new favorite restaurant! Only sushi spot I got to now!
(5)
Austin E.
Been to a few of the sushi spots in town, this place by far is my favorite! They always have fresh fish, an interesting assortment of rolls, and super yummy ramen. Happy hour specials till 7!
(5)
Corey H.
Brussel sprouts are fantastic. Pizza Port IPA on tap. There was a little bit of a funny spice in the sushi we got. Someone else may love it but it was just not perfect for us. Would still recommend it as a great place to try.
(4)
Bradley C.
This is a great happy hour spot. The staff is great and the food is good. I recommend the brussel sprouts, the seaweed salad, the salmon and spicy tuna rolls. The brussel sprouts are some of the best I've had. You can get all of that for $18 before seven. Great value.
(5)
Daniel D.
I really like what they've done with this place over the past couple of months it has greatly improved ! The scenery is nice with a cool loungy vibe to it ! I tried the seaweed salad, seared ahi sashimi, ramen noodle soup which i strongly recommend to anyone ! I hear the brussel sprouts are really good and also so i'll be sure to try that next time along with the Omakaze which looks amazing in the pictures below! The service was great and I look forward to coming back here again soon for my next Sushi run!
(5)
Marni L.
Really great sushi and a super waitress but believe it or not, the highlight was their crispy Brussel sprout appetizer. Next time we will order 2!!!!
(4)
KELLI M.
Love this place. The ambiance is great at night, service was good and the food was delish. The brussel sprouts are TO DIE FOR! =)
(5)
Michael B.
Bottom line - freshest fish and the best atmosphere. The sushi chefs know their stuff and we now come twice a month.
(5)
Tim O.
I had dinner there with friends the other night and it was fantastic. The staff was very attentive and food quality was spot on! The shrimp tempura is the best in town.
(5)
Stephanie T.
This is for pick up order only. The restaurant looked like a cute date spot with dim lighting and modern decor. We weren't feeling too well so we picked up some nigiri and ramen. The ramen was tasty, nothing crazy special but helped my upset stomach a bit and the salmon nigiri was extremely fresh with buttery texture. I'm knocking off a star because there were no utensils, and as we were taking that to the hotel it was a bit of an inconvenience since they didn't have chopsticks.
(4)
Kristi H.
Great location! Awesome rolls and the bartenders don't make you wait and are on top of their game. I will return.
(4)
Steve B.
The Brussels sprouts are out of this world, a must order, everything they serve is great!!!
(5)
LuLu V.
It's OK. Read the reviews and thought we would try it. Eh... First of all the music is SO loud that we could hardly hear each other - had to continuously repeat ourselves huh? what? can't hear you! Secondly, we had the brussel sprouts - yeah, why would we do that at a sushi restaurant? Never again - the reviews said they were the appetizer to get - we love brussel sprouts - but really... at a sushi restaurant? They were good but we could get those anywhere. Thirdly, we ordered the chef's choice - the fish was fresh for sure but nothing where we thought it was outstanding yum in your mouth. So we will continue our quest to find the best sushi in San Diego - we will definitely not return - which is a shame since it's so close to our home.
(3)
Russ I.
I have eaten sushi all over the world. U.S., Europe, even on the docks of Tokyo at the tsukiji market, the epicenter of sushi on the planet. The sushi at Sushi Lounge in San Diego is second to none. The freshness of the fish is almost as awesome as the attitude of the staff. Seriously, this is serious sushi! They really care about quality and preparation. It's very clear that someone at the helm is watching closely to make sure the disk is ocean fresh and tastes like it was swimming last night. Kudos to the chef. The owner and the designer of this awesome sushi restaurant. This is my third visit, but I promise it won't be my last.
(5)
Min Z.
Now I know why my friend go to sushi Lounge Fresh. High quality. Delicious. Those three reasons are your must-haves when it comes to sushi. Yes there's a wait but all good things come to those who wait, right? Yes it's pricey, but oh my was it worth it! My taste buds are still thanking me. I highly recommend Go and try it for yourself already!
(5)
Scott C.
Had a great experience at Sushi Lounge. I loved the decor (Samurai Swords hanging overhead and old Asahi stills for the bathrooms) and the art/murals on the walls. The sushi was fresh and delicious, the Sushi Lounge Roll and the 92101 rolls were awesome and they made a very good Rainbow Roll, that was not on the menu, but they made for us anyways. The best part however were the appetizers. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing, the edemame was well seasoned and the edemame guacamole was also awesome (though a few more chips with it would have been nice). All and all it was a great time and we will be back.
(5)
Moriah M.
Went for lunch after a zoo trip. The menu is really fun, a mix of interesting rolls and delicious appetizers. The shishito peppers app is really stunning. The poke and salmon tartare are both served deconstructed and are tasty albeit small portions. Excellent beer list and great atmosphere. A win!
(5)
Marissa K.
Such an awesome cool place to have sushi! Chill relaxed atmosphere. Servers are so nice and the manager was very accommodating. Went here for a bachelorette party and had a wonderful girls night out! And the food is some of the best sushi I've had!
(5)
Ana R.
By far one of the best sushi places in San Diego. I highly recommend it! Julian is a great GM and he has done miracles with this place!! the executive chef, Robert, is awesome! Very friendly guy with a passion for what he does! the executive sushi chef James is absolutely incredible! he definitely knows how to make an amazing sushi roll that will leave you speechless! if you guys are in downtown and love sushi this is a must go to place!
(5)
Cindy V.
This place is AMAZING!!! I had lunch here today and it was soooo good!!! From the time I walked inside I was welcomed. My meal didn't take long and my server that was also a bartender was checking on me s lot which is awesome!!! Also one of the managers checked up on me to make sure I was satisfied, which of course I was!! This place is doing amazing!!! And the prices are VERY affordable!!! I love seeing a place that all their employees care about making their guest feel comfortable!! This is now my #1 sushi restaurant. Thanks Sushi Lounge.
(5)
Christina B.
Came in tonight for a corporate/birthday party. The new general manager Ryan is fantastic! He is so personable and has exceptional customer service. The restaurant is so welcoming! Not only that, but the food is better than ever. Love the new chef! There is not a place in town with fresher fish. Dine here and you're ruined for anywhere else!
(5)
Jessica B.
This place is amazing! Julian sent us in for a corporate/birthday party. I had the Kaiju roll and it was one of the best rolls I've ever had. So yummy and great atmosphere here. The new general manager Ryan is awesome and the customer service was great. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Nisa A.
The 902101 roll is one of the most refreshing rolls I've ever had - and I've eaten sushi in Japan, NYC, SF, Miami, Syria, LA... it's the perfect combo of awesomeness. Eat it with soy sauce, seems like it brings out the different fish more. Management and staff is also really cool too.
(5)
Mike g.
Food wss excellent. Our sushi chef Brad was great. He told us about the yelp check in. Thanks Brad. We will be back.
(5)
Alan M.
Came here on a date night. Early because we have kids. So it was slow but very welcoming. Service was awesome the entire time, Rosie was great and very helpful. The sashimi and rolls we had were very fresh and the flavors were outstanding (kajiu). Overall excellent experience. Will come back when we have the chance.
(5)
John A.
Poor quality rubbery sushi that was meh. Service was great, however the hostess kept bending over showing us her black underwear and rear with a white dress that barely covered her bum. It was really annoying and unappetizing.
(1)
Joe G.
Food - good. Rolls, sashimi etc. all solid. Service was spotty and chaotic even though the place was half empty at 6 pm. My overall impression, if you want to do sake bombs and get a late bite, this could be your place. If you're taking clients out for sushi, keep walking.
(3)
Sharlie R.
I've eaten at Sushi Lounge twice and both times it was phenomenal! Fresh sushi, creative rolls and fun appetizers. It's a must have if you love sushi.
(5)
Vivek B.
Excellent food. The food was pricey though but excellent.
(4)
Candee B.
Stopped in for a quick bite and really enjoyed the edamame guacamole. Great presentation and amazing flavor. You need to stop in and try it!!
(5)
Stevie B.
The food was really good. LOVE THE BRUSSEL SPROUTS! Just make sure you try the Kaiju roll. It's great. Also make sure your bill is correct and you use the Yelp discount. :)
(4)
Yohance R.
My god where do I begin. From horrible sushi, to long wait times, to management causing longer wait times by scolding waiters right in front of us. So unprofessional and the waiters were the only silver lining in this storm cloud of a "restaurant". My friends and I won't be coming here again.
(1)
R. M.
AMAZING!!! Not only did Julian take care of us for my bachelorette, but he made sure our dining experience was nothing short of wonderful! Colton was also great on giving us menu tips including the Kaiju rolls! The taro chips and Brussel sports were also yummy!!! If you're downtown check this place out for bomb sushi!!
(5)
Liz C.
Came here with my husband last night on a whim. We were walking around dt in the mood for some sushi and this was the first place we saw so decided to stop in and we were so glad we did :) the vibe was fun and The decor was very comfortable. I had the 92101 roll with the truffle oil on top and the brussel sprouts it was sooo yummy! My husband had the Kaiju roll and salmon nigiri he was very impressed. Lauren was our server and she was very accommodating and sweet my husband and I will def be back!! Five star for the great food and service!
(5)
Judy M.
One of the best places I've ever had sushi! I had no intention of eating the enormous portions but it was SO delicious I dove right in and didn't leave anything! The service is excellent, it's nicely decorated (loved the rest rooms!) and you can actually have a conversation without shouting. Can't wait to go back again!!!
(5)
Kynan R.
Great friendly staff. Egregiously cheap Saki flight. Traditional Japanese beers. And to say the least, good rolls with the option of brown rice. Always a plus in my book. Plus it's in the beating heart of the gaslamp! Will recommend.
(4)
Deslau D.
Omg you have to try the 92101 roll!!! It's freaking to die for! So fresh and perfect cut amazing! Also the teriyaki bowl with brown rice... Oh so good! Service is super good, super friendly staff :) definitely will come back here!!!
(5)
Meganshiri ..
Best place, had apps and drinks, super nice staff, delicious brussel sprouts! And great vibe
(5)
Ramie W.
By far the best food we had in San Diego. Super tasty, friendly & fun service. Taylor was amazing
(5)
Andrea P.
I went to this place last week with some friends, and We had the dragon roll, crunchy roll, the sushi lounge roll and kaiju roll, and some garlic edamame. The waitress that helped us I think her name is Anna Banana was just so nice and helpful with making decisions on what to order. Taylor one of the guys who works there was so friendly and treated us like if we had known each other for months it gave the place such a friendly vibe. The food was delicious and I really liked how they would bring the sushi one at a time it made me enjoy each roll. My favorite one was the dragon roll, they also have a huge selection of drinks which I like. Definitely going there again in the future and bringing more friends!
(5)
C D.
Favorite rolls....92101, has a truffle aioli and a nice citrus taste, market street was delish, and the Dragon Roll is my favorite. Edamame guac and brussel sprouts are out of this world, and if u like spicy get the Ghost Pepper edamame! Enjoy!
(5)
Jeremy F.
My boyfriend and I came in around 8:00PM Saturday night, against our better judgement having been here before and while the food was good the service was abysmal. The restaurant was already jamming and had a really good vibe tonight. We were seated as soon as a table opened up right near the front on the inside by the doors, which allowed us some privacy. We were really amazed by how delicious the food was and how attentive our server, apparently a new staff memeber gary, were. He recommended a couple rolls to us including the 91001 and dragon rolls to us and we also had some house cocktails. We finished the meal off with the almost too decadent honey toast. Seeing that they are fixing some of the kinks out and increasing the level of service to another level has made us both plan on being regular customers (it even made me decide to yelp!)
(5)
Krystle R.
I have been there a couple of times and the sushi is fresh and well prepared. The manager, Julian, is great and my experiences have been equally as great! oh, try the salmon sashimi!! It melts in your mouth!
(5)
Brandon S.
Great atmosphere and amazing sushi! The edamame guacamole is awesome!
(5)
Mich P.
Super FRESH and tasty! The 92101 roll is a must try. It has scallops and truffle. Truffle on a roll? Yes! Try it!
(5)
Ryan N.
Avoid. Sushi was not god and service was very, very spotty and slow. Received my two rolls about 10mins before I got my miso soup and my coworker didn't get his rolls until abotu 15mins after I received mine.
(2)
Sharla N.
I had originally left a 1 star review, but am updating it because of the attentiveness Julien showed for customers. I didn't have a great customer experience my first time their, but glad to see they hear reviews and try and make it right.
(3)
Arman N.
Best sushi spot I've been to. Lots of creative and original dishes, plus great tasting sushi! Definitely returning often.
(5)
Jamie R.
I was excited to check this place out after reading some of the reviews on the food. Unfortunately we didn't even get to try a few of items others raved about because by 8pm they were sold out. The worst past was not being told upfront, instead letting us order two different times and coming back after to tell us they were sold out. On the plus the Gojira roll was good and the host was probably the friendliest person in the restaurant.
(2)
Jason S.
Please read this review before making your decision to go to this restaurant. I have lived in San Diego my entire life and I've been to many of sushi restaurants here in San Diego. I went to this restaurant last night and had one of the most awful experiences of any sushi restaurant I've ever been to. They only had one waitress working and she even self admittedly said she'd never had a waitressing job in her life and that night was her first night. The food took about 50 to 60 minutes to get to our table. They never even asked if I wanted a drink. After we were done with our meal we waited an additional 25 minutes for a check. The entire time the manager/owner was just standing around the restaurant not helping or assisting to speed up the service of his customers. The sushi was average to poor at best, which truly made the experience that much worse. Please trust me when I say do not ever go to this restaurant no matter how good you see the reviews are on on yelp. There are plenty of sushi restaurants in downtown that far exceed this one in terms of service, food, and overall experience. I have never had such a horrible experience at any restaurant.
(1)
Alec B.
This place is so cool. Bathrooms are awesome and the set up of the place is great. The lights! Crunchy rolls all day and the orange beer is life-changing.
(5)
Jarren B.
Servers were fun and food was great. Definitely try this place if looking for sushi in gaslamp.
(5)
Laura V.
The food is delicious and the manager is amazing. This is our go to spot.. I've tried several rolls and we're all delicious. Very fresh as well. Definitely recommend sushi lounge
(5)
Yajaira C.
The food there is delicious and very fresh!! I had several rolls and they were all amazing. The manager Julian is amazing!! Very kind and warming with ALL his customers. This is my favorite spot!!
(5)
Amy B.
Wow! The sushi here is phenomenal! Thank you so much Chef Kato for the amazing service and serving us the most delicious sushi I have ever tasted! You ROCK!! NOTE TO SELF: BELLY UP TO THE SUSHI BAR W CHEF KATO!
(5)
Javier B.
I started to write this review with saying "this is the worst sushi" and immediately deleted the word "sushi" and continued with "dining experience I've ever had". This is the epitome of a run down, low quality, americanized sushi "joint". I went in on a Friday night and they were blasting techno music so loud that I had to scream to have a conversation with my girlfriend who was sitting next to me at the bar. The blue and pink neon lights, the over-use of bamboo decorations, as well as the obnoxiously drunk sake-bombers made us feel like we were at some cheap tourist attraction. DO NOT take a date here. Our waitress was so hyperactive and really had no clue what was going on. The manager had to go up to her and say "your soups have been ready for 5 minutes". Those were our Miso soups. I could tell because of how cold they were. Plus, I saw another waitress grab all the tops of 8 beer glasses as she loaded them onto the tray. Disgusting. We ordered yellow tail nigiri, 2 "specialty rolls", and a basic spicy tuna roll. The specialty rolls were not good. They were loaded with weird ingredients and the cream cheese in the Kaigu Roll is so overwhelming that you could not taste the fish at all. Even the spicy tuna roll was sub-par. How hard is it to mess up a simple spicy tuna roll?! The nigiri was ok, could had been more fresh. The entire time I was trying to keep my cool because I wanted to have a nice time with my girl. Turns out, she was more fed up with the place than I was. We each took 1 piece of the specialty rolls, looked at each other with a face of disgust, and I ordered the check. It was the worst sushi I have had in San Diego. Unbelievably bad.
(1)
Jacob H.
Terrible service. Excellent food and drinks. I knew we would have issues when the guy who sat us seemed inconvenienced from cleaning bar glasses (about an hour before closing on a non-busy wednesday night). After sitting down we waited about 15 minutes before anyone came over. Had to ask another server for water. Food came seperately with a long delay. I had to get up and find my own soy sauce on a platter of containers being refilled for closing. Nobody bothered to ask if the food came out ok. Several servers were hanging out and having a great time by the server station/pass line. Our server "Dale" spent more time doting on a table of three patrons in the back corner with the rest of the servers despite my numerous attempts to flag someone, anyone down for a water refill. Sushi was awesome. Imported black lager was wonderful. We live down the street, but we'll be walking right past this place from now on.
(1)
Jason M.
A-MAZING. Don't leave San Diego without eating here. And don't leave here without getting the Brussels sprouts and Market roll. Watch out for the Samurai swords (look up when you walk in). You're welcome.
(5)
Ellen H.
Awesome place... Yummy sushi..
(5)
Marcus L.
I dropped by SLM on Saturday for a break from all the Comic Con chaos. The place was packed but I was luckily able to grab a spot at the bar. Turns out I made a great decision to stop by as the food, drinks, and service were on point. I did come during Comic Con however, so keep that in mind. But I suppose if the service is good during the Comic Con madhouse, then it can't be any worse during normal hours. DRINKS Perfect. I love how the bar has such a great selection. I'm picky with vodka and they had all the right stuff. FOOD I ordered two sushi rolls and they came out good. There was a little bit of a wait for these but that's expected as this is sushi and not fast food. Presentation was great and the flavor was there. No complaints. I'm not sure what their regular prices are and if they adjusted pricing for Comic Con but I felt that the prices were fair. (I saw some places jack up their hamburgers to $20!!) SERVICE Service at the bar was great. Emmi took care of everything. The drinks were perfect and my whole experience was wonderful. Dressing up as Katniss to go along with the Comic Con theme...? That can only mean extra Stars!
(5)
Vanessa B.
Ordered delivery through Seamless. Apparently Sushi Lounge was out of a couple of the items we picked. When I called to complain, SL said they had told Seamless, but Seamless never communicated that to me (in fact, still disputing the charges). But even though it may not have been SL's fault they went above and beyond the make it right. They treated us to a full free dinner on them the next night!!! Talk about killer customer service. The quality is good. Their roll combinations aren't my absolute favorite, but they're good and the fish is fresh. And they deliver all the way to La Mesa, so certainly can't complain about that. Both deliveries took an hour and a half or so from the time of order. But again, all the way to La Mesa!
(4)
Kaylie S.
Horrible service :/ The food was pretty good, but I told the server no avocado because I am very allergic and all of my food had avocado.. Also took an hour for our food to arrive since the time we sat down... Not good for a lunch
(2)
Haley A.
On a downtown adventure with a friend, we made sure to make it to Sushi Lounge, as I had purchased a $20 groupon for $40 worth of sushi here (an awesome valued deal by the way). We walked around a bit, as SL opens at 2pm on Sundays, until we were eventually there and seated. First impression was wow! The atmosphere at SL is more than inviting. Very modern and interesting to the eye! So many details clearly went into the place, from the rendition of the San Diego skyline in chalk, to the beautiful murals, to the huge Japanese beer can that just so happens to be the bathroom! So cool. The wait staff was very friendly and quick to tend to our needs and questions. My friend and I started with the Edamame Guacamole appetizer which came with Taro Chips. I highly recommend this app, as it is a great take on guacamole. The taro chips had the perfect texture to them and with a little kick or siracha were on point. I posted a picture of it- kinda looks like a big helping of wasabi! Although a million times more palatable and delicious (obviously haha)! For the sushi, we went with a simple Caterpillar eel roll and the 92101 roll, which had fresh scallops and white fish. Both were delicious. You could tell the fish was very fresh. While we had both had caterpillar rolls many times, the 92101 roll was a nice change. A lot lighter and more of a summery roll in comparison to the very sweet caterpillar roll. Overall, will definitely come back the next time i make it down to Market! A great place to lounge out on some sushi with a cool vibe to match surrounding Gas Lamp area.
(4)
Kristal A.
So this place is NOT a Japanese restaurant. None of your typical Japanese food items. They have a different take on Chirashi, not sure I like it as much since the portion size left me hungry. The flavor was really good though. Bear in mind it's name. It's focus is sushi rolls, which is just what it's name entails. The spider roll was very good as was the California roll. The 90210 roll is good, very unusual, but very yummy! Avoid it if you dislike tart stuff. Garlic edamame is good but also slightly tart as well. They meet the standard I demand of any 4 star place. Our server was very nice and was accommodating to our needs. Even the hostess was very nice, constantly updating us on the time we would be seated. It was a consistently good service. My water glass didn't remain empty for long! All servers are willing to help, no poor excuse saying they will get my server. If I could give half a star extra for that kind of consideration that is consistent I would! The pricing is consistent for SD, so really no complaints there at all. Plus, I get 10% off via yelp for my first check in! Yay! I will return!
(4)
Colleen T.
If it must be said, I came here to pick up some sashimi for my cat's birthday. Yes, I am one of "those" people. The wait time was typical, the staff was friendly and informative; I enjoyed a cocktail ( with my favorite gin:Nolet's) and might return to this establishment. My cat loved his portion. I enjoyed mine, although the cuts were not as neat as I would expect from a high class sushi restaurant. Perhaps I am spoiled from my time in Tokyo. I would definitely return here for convenience and location, but I will also be seeking out a more traditional sushi house in the area.
(3)
Nikita J.
Fresh Fish but incredibly slow service, slow kitchen, & slow sushi chefs. I truly wanted to love this place but they dropped the ball too many times. This all begins with a Groupon that should have been our 1st red flag. Lets be honest... You never see successful restaurants on Groupon. But $24 for $40 isn't a bad deal! The 2nd red flag was listening to the table next to us complain about how slow the service was! It took them 20 min just to get their bill... yikes Edamame Guacamole (4/5) I love these two things separately so the combination of the two made me a happy panda! The fried Taro chips we're perfect! Not so thin that they crumble and not too thick making them chewy. The guac itself was delish! Light, creamy and perfectly seasoned. But it took 15-20 min to get that ap and all they have to do is fry the Taro chips... shouldn't have taken more then 5-10 min. *Nigiri* loved that you can order just one piece of nigiri! Aji- perfect and fresh 5/5 Kampachi - fresh but wish it had been garnished 4/5 Tomago- took them 15 min after we ordered to let us know they didn't have it. Of the sushi 4 chefs and two floor staff there is no excuse for taking that long to communicate with your table ESPECIALLY when we are 2 of the only 8 customers in the entire restaurant! *Specialty Rolls* 92101 (1/5)- scallops tuna, avocado, truffle aoili and temp green onion topped with yellowtail, yuzu juice, truffle shoyu oil finished with a red clay sea salt. I could defiantly taste the truffle oil... the yuzu was non existent. I LOVE YUZU! So I asked for a side of yuzu sauce. But when the waitress came back she said the chef handed her ponzu and told her "that's goes with it" she seemed uncomfortable she was stuck between a chef who refused to give her what her customer asked for and the customer who asked for it "Is that okay?" she asked meekly. That's not what I asked for but I clearly didn't have a choice. After all... I'm just the customer. Kumite Roll (1/5)- blanched asparagus, garlic aioli, salmon & Avo, topped with albacore, a habanero sauce, garlic chips and micro greens... All their rolls read very well but they alllll fell short on flavor. The fried garlic chips were cut way too thick! They were very hard and difficult to chew. Blind folded i would have guess they were garlic flavored pebbles. I thought the roll would have a little bit of kick due to the Habanero sauce but it had no heat whatsoever and impressively tasted like nothing... Over all... I have no desire to ever dine here again. Their product is fresh... so if you do find yourself here I would only recommend nigiri or sashimi. The specialty rolls don't have much flavor and aren't worth the $$. Evidently there is no sense of urgency in the entirety of this restaurant ... so I wouldn't recommend it if you're in a hurry.
(1)
Sara J.
Oh Em Gee!!!! This place is sooo yummy! BEST goyza ever! Melissa was our server. She was so helpful & sweet. She really made our experience a pleasure. Prices are super reasonable & great drinks. We will definitely be back very soon :-)
(5)
Pedro P.
I had the spider roll broccolini tempura, miso cup ...pretty darn good. I'm competing the spider roll with Ichiban in Hillcrest... We were just offers a 14 $ value free roll set very thankful!
(4)
Jeremy D.
Sushi Lounge is a combination of medium-higher end sushi and a lounge/bar scene with high energy music blasting the whole area - I brought my 2 tween kids with me and if I knew that there was a partial bar atmosphere, I would not have brought them to eat dinner here. They have friendly hosts and waiters that know how to funnel patrons (e.g. they stopped taking people in because the kitchen was behind and they didn't want the customers to wait so long once they were seated). My water never ran dry and I enjoyed them serving us our dinner. They also know how to keep patrons happy. For example, they forgot one of our dishes and provided it as complimentary even though the food didn't take more than 10 min to come out. Be cautious of their smaller than expected plates especially the Chirashi. Their garlic edamame was also too ripe and I found myself getting my hands dirtier than normal as I squeezed out the edamame like toothpaste. Their outdoor seating is a plus since it adds extra space and the ability to eat outdoors/people watch. As I left the restaurant, I felt up beat and ready to take on the night!
(4)
Drew S.
I'm shocked at any negative reviews. This place was really great. Food was interesting, different, and delicious. The food didn't come out in 5 minutes so giving a restaurant 1 star for slow service is retarded. Go to Mc donalds . I ordered the lobster sushi roll, it was delicious and wasnt full of a pound of rice. I had enough time for 3 drinks and dinner. Spent between the 2 of us $90. I will be coming back. Super close to all the good bars.
(5)
Sean M.
Good sushi lounge in downtown sd, outside sitting available. Sushi is very fresh, hand rolls are good. Sashimi salad is amazing must try!!! 1 star - for the slow service we waited 20 mins to have our sushis come out. 2 star - waiter never came by besides taking our order to ask us if we need anything, missing something. (Yes refill my drink )
(3)
Mark A.
Did my usual 92101 roll, that truffle oil just makes it all so amazing.
(5)
John S.
We decided to dine here after watching a movie, before checking out an art gallery/store. The service was good and attentive, the flavors are contemporary and a different path from the normal everyday sushi. I personally liked it but I am a bit of a foodie so like to try different things. Their modern and contemporary take on sushi and the flavors are a nice change from the normal everyday sushi place. We also had a sake beverage and it made for a good meal on a humid and warm night. I'd definitely recommend a stop by to try some different style sushi cuisine. Located in the heart of Gaslamp district.
(4)
O P.
Food - 1 out of 5 stars. We tried half of the rolls on the menu and some salmon and yellowtail sashimi and unfortunately it was some of the worst I had tried. And I have been to a fair number of sushi places. The flavor just sucked. Service - decent. 3/5 stars. Atmosphere - 5/5 stars. This place has potential. But at the moment it sucks!
(2)
Mignon C.
We came here on Saturday of Comic Con weekend so I really hope that the discrepancy between the ratings here on Yelp and what we experienced was due to the inordinate amount of people that were there that weekend. That being said, SDCC has been hosted here for so many years how do places close to the convention center not have their ish down already?? Firstly, we tried to share a bottle of sake at the table and about 70% of the bottles on their menu was sold out. We settled on something which cost $10/person for less than a cup of sake per person. Rip off. My second order for drinks was an Old Fashioned which I sent back because it came diluted with soda water?? I've never had an Old Fashioned diluted with anything. The 2nd one came out still diluted with something that was at least not carbonated and tasted only marginally better but I no longer wanted to try and order anything else or fix it. My SO's strawberry basil martini was so disgusting that every member at the table who tried to save the wounded soldier ultimately left it behind. (For a reference as to what a good strawberry basil martini should taste like please check out Seasons 52's.) My SO and I each got a chirashi bowl which featured a chef's unimaginative selection of albacore, tuna, and salmon sashimi (yes I know, two tunas). It also had ikura which was rancid in my bowl; it took me a while to pinpoint what I was eating that was giving me that somewhat fermented flavor and when I realized it was the salmon roe I was too far gone (and too hungry) to stop. I normally love ikura and this was so disappointing but at least my SO's was fresh and we could actually compare difference in color and clarity of our roe (yay!science). Speaking of being too hungry to stop eating obviously unfresh seafood, there were five of us at the table who all ordered at the same time. We all ate in shifts since food came out staggered so far apart that those of us still waiting told the others to start eating because we had no idea when our food would come out. In fact, my friend who had gotten the chicken teriyaki of all dishes didn't get his food until after my SO and I got our second round of orders delivered (well over an hour after we first sat down). First world problems, I know, but we wound up missing out on lining up for a panel we thought we had plenty of time to get into. Basically, the food was super over-priced for the quality and quantity that we got. My SO got another round of food (sushi rolls) because the whole experience had left him still feeling so hangry (hungry... and now angry as well), and I felt badly because it's not often that he gets fresh sushi/seafood in Texas and this was supposed to be a treat for him but it didn't feel that way. The only saving grace of the whole experience was that our waitress (dressed as sexy Pikachu?) was super friendly and nice and apologetic for everything that happened though most of it was beyond her control. After all was said and done and because we wound up missing the last panel we wanted to attend, we wound up leaving the area and going to Polite Provisions instead where our drinks were at least on point. I am normally inclined, given the situation, to give places like this another shot, but between the high prices and the gross rancid seafood, I'm not sure I want to risk and see if the wait and the dearth of menu items available was just due to Comic Con.. I would say that overall, the place I went to this weekend that really had their game on point and were prepped for the SDCC crowds was Werewolf.. that is worth checking out!
(1)
Michael K.
Disappointing that I have to lay down a 2 star review here since the reviews were saying best sushi in SD, but the food just came out too slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Had a reservation for Saturday night at 8. Place was fully occupied but nothing crazy...Party of 8, so a little challenge for the kitchen. Two hot dishes, the teriyaki bowl and steak lettuce wraps (marinated for 30 hours and was ironically the 2nd dish to come out) were ordered, every other order was fish. No free miso soup here so that's a bummer but it's alright. Brown rice is $2.50. A red flag. Cool art and decor. Took about 15 minutes for the teriyaki bowl to come out. Another 5 minutes for the steak lettuce wraps to come out. Another 10 minutes for an apology for why the food is coming out all separately. "Hot food comes out faster than sushi." Yes, indeed. Another 20 minutes until the 92101 rolls came out. Those with the hot food, now had cold food... Some manageresque figure came over at this point and promised that the food would come out in "5 more minutes." Another 5 minutes until three plates with assorted rolls/nigiri came out. Me and my boy who had ordered chirashi were doomed at this point, an hour in. Had to get to our club by 10 so this long dinner was putting a crimp in our style. Our chirashi bowls arrived at 9 approximately. Honestly, the quality of fish and taste was quite good. However, the portions were on the smaller side and their chirashi selection was poor. I don't expect chirashi bowls to fill me up but the majority were just basic tuna and salmon cubes, with little else of substance besides that. #cmonman They even skimp on the amount of rice that is given, not giving you a standard rice bowl size portion of rice but more like a half to three-quarters portion. The notion that chirashi in this state took this long to prepare was ludicrous, as the cuts provided were not especially complex, intricate, or rare. $17 for the chirashi bowl here so it is firmly in the mid-range price. For the uninitiated this may seem like a quality sushi experience, but no sir, no sir. Do a Google search for chirashi and you will understand my perspective. As for the other food, general consensus was the cuts of fish were very fresh and tasty. The lettuce steak wraps were quality and you could taste the marination well. The teriyaki bowl was sup-bar as the brown rice was overly dry and tasteless. The latter two dishes were eaten cold due to the wait which may have impacted the reviews for them haha. Overall, I'd recommend coming here on a weekday when the restaurant is not crowded at all and you can experience some quality fish. They should remove hot food from the menu if they cannot balance out food out times. Location is very prime and convenient in the Gaslamp which probably leads to higher rent and them pricing things up? 4 nice TVs hang above and good Padres support in this bar if you're into that. I will not be returning though as there are better sushi experiences around and I guess this was punishment for not eating Mexican food in SD.
(2)
Rebecca W.
Loved this place. I sat at the bar and the bartender was very happy to recommend dishes and sauces. The prices were great for the quality of food, which was delicious.
(5)
chi v.
I like this place .. Hip fun with downtown restaurant. Price is good with groupon deal $40.. I love the short cribs with lecture wraps...yum Will be here again..
(4)
Sarah P.
Great location with outdoor seating! Decent menu as far as number of items. Food was fresh and was brought to table fairly quickly. Our only complaint would be our server was very forgetful and slow to fulfill our requests. We found ourselves asking other servers to get us what we needed. I would visit again!
(4)
Marlon B.
What can I say...so many choices in SD for restaurants. We came here cause we had a Groupon but the sashimi was on point. Albacore, Salmon, Scallop, Tuna and Yellowtail all delicious. Service was prompt and friendly and had a Happy hour Asahi to compliment. Will definitely return.
(5)
Glen H.
Service here can use a little help. I've been here a couple times and they need better management. Service just didn't flow right. No chopsticks and plates were out for us when the food arrived. Went ahead and grabbed them from another table. Food, had better. Thumbs down on the Guacamole Edamame and it came highly suggested. Don't do it.
(2)
Jen C.
Impeccable service tonight from the online ordering; had a late night dinner at 10:53pm on a Friday. Delivery driver was attentive to details during the exchange, and professional when he dropped off the food -- basically told him not to ring the door bell because there's a sleeping baby in the main house and that I was staying in the back house. Food was tasty, can't beat it for a late night dinner that reminded me about good ol' college days again. +=online ordering, packaged food was neatly labeled and in reusable containers -=Spider roll could be wrapped tighter and smaller
(4)
Jenna P.
This is a fun place for the weekend. They have s good fun atmosphere and good sushi. It is a bit small and the staff could be a big more knowledgeable. The waitress admitted to not knowing what most of the rolls were. She was also very slow and spacey on a Saturday night. Overall it was a good experience for downtown though. It is a clean bar with good sushi.
(4)
Stephanie L.
The vibe is not only amazing but so is all of the food. The elephant privates are amazing
(5)
Cory H.
Pretty phenomenal. The Brussels Sprouts appetizer is amazing. The 92101 is perfect...if you like truffle oil. Staff was great and attentive. All of the sushi was fresh. San Diego makes me happy.
(5)
annie p.
Sad experience for me... We walked in, was completely ignored, after seeing flying gnats around the table...we walked out.
(1)
Ren C.
First time here and will definitely come back. Came here with a family visiting from out of town and we were happy with our choices of dragon roll, kumite, kaiju, and just to seal the deal, we finish the night off with 92101. Let's talk about their service first and then move on to the food. I called to make a reservation and they told me no need if we're only 5 minutes away. We showed up and were seated right away. Our server came to our table right away to see what we want to drink. We got some dark beer and appetizers. Brussels sprouts and/or garlic edamame is a must. Brussels sprouts is sweet with salty taste, delicious by the way! Garlic edamame will hit your taste bud perfectly. Our server came to our table to make sure we're ready to order our meal. So we did. They were all delicious and the only sushi I didn't was the spicy sushi (don't remember which one because I immediately chugged a glass of water). We finish the night off with dessert, green tea mochi. Needless to say, I was hungry going in and was in food coma getting out. If you're in town visiting and craving sushi, lunch or dinner, this is a great place to try!
(5)
Yuji A.
Service was nice and friendly. Got their edamame and avocado dip and chips as an appetizer. Which was delicious. I would have side more off that Unfortunately, their sushi is plain tasteless and overpriced. Ordered the Street Fighter and the Sushi Lounge, their specialty rolls. That were just plain tasteless and boring. Nothing really good on them, even supermarket sushi is superior than that. $15 sushi roll, not worth it at all. Don't waste your time or money, is just some hipster wanna be sushi place. Nothing Japanese about it.
(2)
Jes V.
Please keep note, I came here during the peak of Comic Con so there was a bit of a crowd. Nonetheless, I wasn't very pleased with the service and our waitress. The food was decent, but it is on the pricier side for the food. The eggplant fries were quite interesting and different and I ended up really like it. I also ordered the 92101 roll, which was decent. I had to have waited eternity for it though. Yes, there were quite a bit of people after we came in, HOWEVER ... the waiter took my group's order. I went first. I had told her to take my friend's first and then circle back to me. She took my friend's order and then left without taken my order (I had meant AFTER she took their order to circle back to me.) I eventually had to really wrangle the waiter back to take my order. By the time I got my order, my friends had long finished their meal due to my long attempts at getting the waiter and being in a queue for the sushi. It almost got to the point that I was going to cancel my order and find some place else. I don't think I'll be returning here again.
(2)
lisa c.
Fun atmosphere, pretty decent sushi. Hamachi Kama was well done, and the salmon poke was pretty good. Beware, it's really loud and seats are quite uncomfortable but then again it's downtown.
(3)
Paul P.
Sarah and Ashley are the best. Dragon Roll is bomb.com . Dragon roll is deliciousness
(5)
Lawrence C.
Was really craving Japanese food as many of you may have also experienced. =) So I Ubered over to Sushi Lounge on Market from my hotel to get my fix on. Surprisingly it was pretty busy and there were about 20 people waiting outside. Fortunately I was able to snag a spot at the bar and ordered Teriyaki Chicken, CA Rolls and Tempura. Forgot what the price was, but it was very economical. Service was quick, but food quality was very average. Not sure if I will go back, but I would recommend you try it for yourself.
(3)
Alicia Y.
I'd have to say the food itself wasn't bad but the staff was horrible! There werw 3 tables of people when we walked in and it Took 30 min to even take our order. We were never asked for our drink order and we saw our server once in the entire hour and a half it took us to eat our rolls. The servers and the MANAGER are walking around using cell phones, totally unprofessional and perhaps the reasons they aren't paying attention to their customers. I'd never come come back, not because of the food but the staff
(1)
Domenique H.
Great service from the time I placed the order to the moment we closed the door. But that's where it unfortunately ends. We were eager to eat! The first dig in was the spicy tuna classic roll... UGH! Not what we were expecting. Then we tried the spider roll... Do not attempt! They were both really fishy. The only items we enjoyed were the Brussel Sprouts and Kaiju Roll. The edamame was a little off as well.
(2)
Garrett Kaeo W.
Ok. So we came in on a Wednesday night, figuring for a weekday shouldn't be to bad, and we were right. Plenty of seats open, so we sat a the bar (not the sushi bar but to the right of it). The bartender/server was preppy and very energetic. But she was all over the place it took about 10 mins just to take our drink order. Then we had to wait another 10 mins for here to make time for us to take our regular order. And I notice it was still happy hour and they never gave us the happy hour menu, because she said it was after 7, but in reality it was only 630 (which was ok after I insisted to take a look at it). The atmosphere was really cool had a great vibe to it though which was probably the best part of dining here. Once we ordered she convinced me that the Omasake Roll (Chef creation) was the best possible thing, because our chef get really creative and throw all kinds of amazing thing and make it all work. I LOVE sushi. I grew up in Hawai'i and SD and have been eating fish before I could realize it, and have eaten at practically ever sushi place in SD (just to set the stage). So when our food finally came, I was very unimpressed. My Chef creation tool was a very plain "creation" of a traditional rainbow cool, that had a crab/imitation crab meat on the inside. I was baffled, the least to say. My girlfriend had ordered the Market roll, which was actually much tastier than mine, along with being very creative. I would recommend this to anyone who stops in. But beware of the price. I have paid less at Harney, Ota, Hane, and Loha. I think this is where they lost me the most, and combined with the service. It just took way to long for the place being a 1/3 full. I really hate writing reviews like this because I do not do it often. Usually the yelpers are very accurate but this is a first for me that I have been disappoint at a sushi place. Overall this place is not on my top list and I would recommend looking else where before stoping here.
(2)
Jeremy W.
Five stars all around! -Food -Service -Atmosphere -Price I highly recommend! Sarah is a superb mixologist!
(5)
Casper L.
Unbelievable place! Amazing chefs with some awesome new takes on classics and with the freshest fish in town... incredible staff and service, really can't speak highly enough of this place. Just dropped in to kick off our labor day weekend and will be coming back at every opportunity!!!
(5)
Janel P.
Updated review- I've been meaning to review & finally have a chance to really go in. I NEVER leave horrible reviews but I will never go here again. Apparently new management or something. My original review was 4 stars... One star because the hostess was the only person who deserves it & the food we got was decent. We went for dinner as a party of 6. Service started out good but once the dishes started coming out we noticed that my bf's meal hadn't come out. We asked the server who brought out our food to check on it. We then told the hostess who actually apologized. Our actual server didn't come back until we were all almost done eating! We told him the food never came and just to cancel it. No apologies, no drink refills, nothing. We tried to split checks (which we told them we would do) and the checks were wrong 3x. We asked to speak to the manager, no one ever came. That's unacceptable. Any business should have a manager that can show the courtesy & respect to approach their patrons, especially if it is feedback for improvement. The hostess was the only person to speak to us or even apologize for the horrendous service. As we left, we asked one more time for the manager & waited. Again, nothing. As a local downtown, I will not recommend this place to anyone. There are way more sushi spots that actually serve their paying customers.
(1)
Crystal J.
Pros: The place looks fantastic! I loved the vibe. I got the Kaiju, which tasted great. I don't remember the name of my cocktail, but it was delicious as well. Cons: The cocktail was not very strong. I wish there were descriptions of the classic rolls on the menu and a larger selection of specialty rolls. I understand that we arrived late in the evening, but we had to wait for a table to be cleaned, even though the place was basically empty. By the time we finally ordered, there was only 1 other couple there, but it took forever to get our food- even though we only ordered 1 roll each (5 people).
(3)
Milly T.
First time here, and the place is nice service is great but the food is alright, I feel it's over priced for the amount I get and the freshness defiantly I've had better.
(3)
Dustin G.
This is a great lil spot nestled right inside the gas lamp quarter.. Beautiful interior, friendly service, and quality food.. They have free-range chicken if you don't go the sushi route, as well as ramen, bowls, and sake to go alongside their rolls.. My gf inhaled the street fighter roll and she said it was real good with an evil smile.. Will most likely be dining here again in the future..
(5)
Kirk P.
Awesome location, fresh food and taste. Creative menu with smoked ghost pepper edamame. We tried the Market Street Roll, the Street Fighter Roll, the sea salt edamame, smoked ghost pepper edamame, miso soup and the teriyaki bowl. I love this place and highly recommend it. Oh, and most important... did I mention fantastic service.
(5)
Lupe D.
Came in to a nice classy looking sushi bar only to wait 45 for my rolls. No beer. No straws. Finally sushi came and it was ok and when we ordered a different roll we waited ANOTHER 30min! It was not even busy. 3 tables other than us. Seriously?! I can find great sushi and faster service other places! Cancel my sushi!
(1)
Raina D.
Salad was fresh, and flavorful. Sushi was good. Service was good. Some sushi rolls are served hot and menu does not fisclose thar.. I Would come back but overall good time.
(4)
Jamie D.
I love love love this place! Sat at the bar with some white wine that tickled my fancy mixed with seaweed salad and miso soup, then onto the fab 92101 Roll and the Samurai Roll! Duh Yum! #jdixxphoto
(5)
Miss D.
The food was amazing and quick. We had sea salted edamame, spicy tuna roll, gojira, dragon, samurai and ended it with the Kanjit. All amazing. The price is a little high, but worth every bite. The setting is cool. Love the style and the music. Our server Everett was very courteous and funny. He encouraged our dancing with his own moves.
(5)
Karina G.
Made a reservation and was not seated until 20 minutes later. The hosted was very nice and I could see she was trying to get us a table. Good food , but my chief complaint is it is more like a bar/club than a lounge or restaurant. Music is soooo ridiculously loud - can't even have a conversation. In fact the bass is so strong that at times you can't even make out the music. Not returning.
(3)
Sara L.
Came here from LA for a teachers conference & didn't know what was good. I ordered take out at 5pm, and it took about 20 minutes for me to come and pick up my Kaiju Roll and green house salad, which by the way, were the best choice. They were ready in a nice little bag, and I got 10%off due to yelp, so the bill came out to be $18. The roll was AMAZING. I just wanted time to stop there so I could have the taste of the roll in my mouth forever. The salad was also VERY good, whatever sauce they had on it. If only the roll wasn't so darn expensive ($15)!! I planned on ordering take out again two days later at 7 pm, but I guess that time is extremely busy for them, and i didn't want to wait 45 minutes to get my food. But needless to say, this spot will be a place I'll come back to.
(5)
Tiffany B.
Sushi Lounge is a great way to start the night off right!! I absolutely love the design and atmosphere Sushi Lounge gives. I have been there a few times now and every time I have gone in I have never felt more special! The food is beyond AMAZING too!! I can't express enough how delicious and fresh the sushi is!! You def cannot miss out on the extremely tasty Kaiju roll (that I always get), dumplings and the brussel sprouts!! The menu just recently changed and I have already tried the juicy burger and the huge chicken fried rice bowl. Next to the food being so incredibly good, so is the staff!!! Shout to Taylor, Rosie, Julian and Rubina for being so awesome and treating me and my friends like royalty : ) I will be back very soon! Probably again this week!
(5)
Kate M.
Previous reviews are correct in stating the Brussel sprouts are where it's at. Trendy spot that plays good music. Staff are super friendly. Sushi is above average.
(4)
Andrea G.
My bf and I came to San Diego for a getaway and came here jan 29 due to yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. Rosie was an amazing fun loving barista/ waitress and did not disappoint. When we arrived we waited 30 min but they allowed us to order drinks as we waited on the couch to get a table. The music and atmosphere was more than suitable for someone In mid twenties looking for an evening to relax and have a great time. I definitely recommend the Brussel sprouts. We ended up ordering 2 orders. The sushi was fresh, though I personally wasn't too happy with the Sushi lounge roll but that's because I don't like fried rolls (I should've paid attention to the menu details). I will for sure be coming back here next visit!
(5)
Venessa C.
I came here for dinner with some of my CAbi gals. I love sushi so much so I could eat it all the time. We first got here and had the large long table in the center of the restaurant. Not the best for a large group. We ended up moving to the round one. we ordered our drinks and my girlfriend ordered a wine and it was served in a stella glass! Wine in a beer glass NOT SO MUCH. However our waiter was awesome left the wine and she ended up with a Stella. We asked our waiter to pick his/chefs top 6 sushi rolls and they did great. Fresh, tasty and could have eaten more. However, the BRUSSEL SPROUTS.....two maybe three bowls later....AMAZING and you have to get, it seems odd to get them at a Sushi place. But do. This is a great place and a must to go too. Next time I visit I will be going back.
(4)
Derek B.
Samurai was awesome; gyoza was solid but unimpressive. The gyoza sauce had a nice spiciness to it. Nunchuk roll was also solid but nothing to write home about.
(4)
Debbie H.
Food was great and atmosphere was gorgeous. Used a groupon for lunch and the edamame guacamole with taro chips was awesome!
(5)
Stephen B.
I came in on a week night and did not know that this place had transitioned from K7 or Kamikaze 7 and the ownership of Kevin Roberts. I liked K7 because of the fact that they had decent nigiri and rolls and had hired a mixologist to make some awesome cocktails using Japanese Whiskeys. So anyway, while IMHO the new ownership really needs to bring back that last part and promote it, the customer service experience I had here was exemplary. Ryan (new GM) was working the floor that night, and there was some sort of a snafu with my order because of a large party that had hijacked the services of the kitchen. I understand this shit happens, so I was not a dick about it, just made it clear that I had been waiting on a simple hand roll and one order of nigiri for over 20 minutes. Ryan got wind of this and really went out of his way to make sure I was taken care of because of the inconvenience. He seems to be a very nice guy and definitely seems to care about the customer experience. I believe that this is missing from a lot of the restaurant scene here in SD, and especially in the Gaslamp (see my upcoming review of Lucky Liu's for an example of this) and that Ryan is a huge asset for the ownership. The food is good and they have some great specials, a refreshingly non-traditional atmosphere and obviously some very good people running the day to day show. Thanks again Ryan, and sorry it took me so long to write this.
(5)
Vijay R.
Good spot if you are in the mood for good Sushi in a prime location in the center of the gaslamp district. Located on market between 4th & 5th, the location is ideal if you want to explore the gaslamp. The Sushi is very good, large menu with plenty of options for any sushi lover and even a few excellent alternative choices for your date if he/she is not into Sushi.
(4)
Korey B.
Was looking for a Ramen place downtown and found sushi lounge. I'm glad I did. The staff was friendly and the food was good. Only reason I'm not giving 5 starts is due to their garlic edamame being soggy and drowned in garlic/lemon.
(4)
Val S.
Their sushi is very fresh. The street fighter roll is my favorite. The garlic edamame is not what I expected. I am used to eating edamame with the skin but in this case it is too chewy and rough. Once you get the edamame beans out there really is no garlic taste.
(4)
Nikki L.
I had a groupon for this place & loved the interior. Awesome art, real nice place. It's directly across the street from Hooters, same side of road as El Pulpos. We were seated, after getting our drinks and settling in, the hostess asked us if we could move to accommodate another party that came in. No big deal. I guess this review is to give kudos to the manager Kimberly because she is on her A game! Awesome customer service from her!!! We got the brussel sprouts & garlic edamame for an app - DELICIOUS! And a nunchuck roll as well as a market roll. Both of which I HATED, lol, BUT- my boyfriend loved them both so do not take that to heart, just not in my taste is all. Would totally recommend to anyone. :)
(4)
vikki l.
Another great meal. The best tasting sushi I've ever had. My husband enjoys the Kobe burger and Japanese fries
(5)
Eva L.
Update: ok, fair enough, the wall art and decor has changed some, but same themes which isn't a bad thing. I happen to like it. Rating hasn't changed but in response to managers message I guess I'll clarify some... The staff was excellent and attentive, no probs there! Food-wise, it may just be preference, but I stand by the descriptions. Bland wasabi and missing cucumber in Cali roll was probably the most major aside from the super salty guacamole. Like I said, maybe a bad batch. This used to be Kamikaze 7, same decor and all but with much better quality and reasonably priced sushi. I decided to give this new place a shot, but everything we ordered here was.... bad. It's basically an overpriced tourist trap. Don't come here if you want to eat sushi, just come in to have a beer at the bar and enjoy the nice decor and staff or don't come at all. The 2 stars are for the excellent service and staff, but I can't give more than that because the food was so bad. Sushi : tasteless. We didn't order the special rolls, just nigiri, spicy salmon roll and a California roll (maybe that was our mistake?) California roll didn't have cucumber. The big-eye tuna and salmon tasted the same (like nothing)... Spicy salmon roll tasted bland and not spicy at all. Wasabi was tasteless. Appetizer: we got the much raved about edamame guacamole. Maybe we got a bad batch, but it was so salty I couldn't eat it... All you could taste was table salt and nothing else. The taro chips were pretty good, so I just ate that plain. I'll never come back here. We were in such a hurry to get out of there I even forgot to use the 10% off.
(2)
Bryan S.
Laura is the most amazing host! Please try the burger, it's unbelievable! Their specialty menu during Saturday afternoons is incredible, I basically ordered everything on the menu (about 7 items), and they didn't disappoint. I recommend this restaurant, it was my first time and I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Lynette V.
Mediocre sushi, nothing special at a high price. Edamame was a little on the hard side, how can you screw that one up? We had 3 rolls, 2 alcoholic drinks and 1appetizer for $72.xx including tip and the 10% off yelp check-in offer. You can tell they are really trying to keep up with their competitors at Gaslamp but its the little things that make the difference. Pro: Nice decor. Con: No plum wine.
(2)
Tiare D.
By far, the best sushi restaurant in the gaslamp. Amazing staff and chef's. Never has there ever been a disappointment. If your look for good priced, fresh sushi,and good sake, the sushi lounge is the go-to place. Much thanks to Chef Kato ! He is amazing! Must have: Brussel sprouts!!! And all the rolls, their all my absolute favorite! Highly recommended for a nice special dinner , or even to drop in for happy hour . Best place in town. Thank you Julian !!
(5)
Ryan M.
Solid 4. This may be because I recently fell in love with Full Moon Sushi, but this place is centrally located and is a good warm-up for a night out! I enjoyed that the patio was pet-friendly, my niece's dog was able to hang out with us. I dint see a specific roll that stood out to me. 10 pieces for a specialty roll is great for sharing(explains the slight price uphike). Food was good enough for me to buy a groupon which means I'LL BE BACK (Terminator voice) I do love their loud interior and awesome artifacts and lighting! Again, Solid 4!
(4)
Nicky L.
I was pretty underwhelmed with this sushi joint. They have a great location and awesome seating- both indoor and outdoor.... BUT the food is just eh for the price. It's basic, lacked seasoning and was overall kinda plain jane. I tried some specialty rolls and didn't find them to be special at all. The hostess was super sweet and sat us right away, just to leave us wanting to order and get some water for over 10 minutes. Maybe they were understaffed on this particular Sunday night? I'm not mad I tried this place, but I probably won't be back.
(2)
Monika P.
I had lunch here and the sushi was fresh and very tasty. The service was good and the waiters were nice. I gave 5 star mainly because of the food and ambiance. My favorite was the market roll, I had it twice... :-)
(5)
Angela N.
The sushi and service was fantastic! Our server Melissa was very friendly and prompt. A must order is the 92101 sushi roll. Awesome deviousness! Have it without dumpling it into your soy sauce. It's fantastic!
(5)
Debra G.
Good was amazing presentation very creative and service was fabulous great staff we will be back
(5)
Saunak S.
Great food, Great Service, Reasonably Priced Like all the other reviews edamame guacamole is a new distinct twist on guac. Good not as good as avocado guac but this isn't Mexican. With so many good sushi places this one is definitely a must try. They have outdoor seating with heat lamps, a good mixture of sushi rolls. They also made the rolls to accommodate us. For example, one person in my party doesn't like spicy anything, so they only put the spicy sauce on half the roll.
(4)
Elijah S.
Great vibe and great eats! Location is clutch and the girls are often beautiful. Could use a little more grace at the door but its inevitable with that kind of volume. Still a 5 star ultra lounge / restaurant to me :)
(5)
Anne L.
Second visit, months apart, they remembered Us, and our dog! Service is still impeccable, and the food is exquisite. The edamame guacamole I don't even have words for. The chips they made out of taro root are so amazing. I love this place so much, and I'm not easy to please when it comes to sushi!
(5)
Kimberly V.
A very trendy place. The food was unbelievably delicious. Everything went well with my orange flavored vodka. The Brussels sprouts are a must to start and the lettuce wraps paired nicely. I had the teriyaki chicken bowl and ended with green tea mochi ice cream. Becky was our wonderful server and Julian Verderber welcomed us at the front door.
(5)
Julian V.
Came in with 2 clients from the Hilton Bay front resort. What an amazing time We had. The staff was accommodating. The Gm Ryan was most attentive and welcoming. The only Sushi venue that I am aware of of this caliber that is open weekly 11-10 and weekends from 11-2am Something for everybody. The fish is fresh and delivered daily and the service is impeccable. Must try in the Gaslamp for Sushi.
(5)
Christine W.
I had the kaiju sushi and loved it. The food was excellent but service was very slow which is what I took stars away for.
(3)
Wilton C.
Got the salmon tartare which was fantastic and luxurious. Highly recommended for those celebration occasions. Also got the market roll and the dragon roll, both were super and might I say exactly what any person should expect. The classic rolls-california and spicy tuna- were also just right. The price fits the quality. What got them that last well deserved five star was the new bar manager, Adrian, who made that night "bomb" by showing appreciation with excellent service. Please be sure to ask about his super interesting story of how he got here if you decide(you should) to go!
(5)
Michael C.
Woooooah. Horrible. Stay away. Worst dining experience ever. Too much to write. You can get a better tasting cali roll at the closest gas station and it will be quicker and taste better. They must have zero repeat biz and sucker tourists. Holy shit. Never had this bad of a dining experience. Kim, I made a reservation for a 7 top at 9pm friday. We called to move it to 930 but there was no record of it however were put on the books. We walked out at 11 with zero of our 7 specialty rolls served. Ticket lost, even after manager tried to.jump in we watched to-go orders and other tables rolls go out. Other tables turned over and were served even after we brought this to the restaurants attention.hot Sake served without shot.glasses had to ask and 10 mins later received unmatching glassware to drink the sake that was no longer warm. Water took 20 mins to get after our second request for it. My son doesn't like sushi and we had the restaurant next door feed him 2x while we sat and waited 90 mins. Limited menu. Server brought me a second giant Asahi that I didn't order by mistake. Staff is aloof or out of their league. Uncooked scallop on the one food item that made it. We left when the first roll was dropped at table 90 mins in. When manager tried to make it right with the offer of a sake bomb (4 adults 2 high schoolers, and my 2nd grader) we declined. He said he would make it right on the bill "a little bit". We waited over an hour before complaining because living in Vegas, we realize our food is on another level. This was the only bad meal I've had in gas lamp and the first dinner I've had where we literally had to walk out without the entree. You all need a rescue it was that bad. Good luck fixing it.
(1)
Mallory R.
Super chill sushi joint with excellent food. Staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Will make this a yearly run with our con trip! :)
(5)
Jackie N.
Food: Ok. Nothing special. Sushi deli tastes better and fresher. Price: not worth paying full price. We got a groupon so that made it less disappointing. Service: HORRIBLE. Monday night and restaurant is only half full. Waited 15 mins for a waiter to approach to ask for drink orders. Another 10 to get drinks ( water and a coke). Ordered 2 special rolls and lettuce wraps which took another 20-30 mins. Food comes out and we have no condiments ( soy sauce, wasabi, ginger). Waiter says he'll Be back right away...all the while he brings condiments to the other table that sat down after us. 10 mins later brings out condiments but no soy sauce and asks if we need anything else...uh hello....need soy sauce for my soy sauce dipping bowl...brings it right out; fastest thing he's done all night!
(1)
Angelica R.
I wish I loved the service at this place because the food was very good. But unfortunately the service sucked !!! What a bummer!!
(3)
Amanda G.
Awesome, fresh, creative sushi! The service here was excellent. We had a Groupon which was graciously accepted, not scoffed at as many places do. I ordered one drink that was absolutely horrible. I can't remember what it was called, cherry-something... But it tasted like cherry cough syrup. This was taken back and replaced with a different drink no questions asked and that was very much appreciated. The hostess stand was near our table. We had a lively group of 4 and the hostess kept us entertained all night. We had several rolls, all of them were good. Specifically I remember the 92101 and the Lounge roll. You MUST get the Brussel sprouts! Not only great food but an all-around great experience!
(5)
Rachel T.
Their food was awesome. Had the garlic edamame (recommendation from the server) and i didn't regret it. Got the susumono cucumber salad and the samurai roll. Really good. I like less rice so this roll has no rice. Filled me up though. The servers took good care of us. definitely go back. Only thing I would suggest is bring a sweatshirt just in case. They leave the door open and a nice breeze comes in and it would be ok if your running hot.
(5)
Brooke L.
Incredible, fresh sushi with unique flavor combinations, but the real star here was our waitress. I asked if they had coffee, and she said that they didn't but that there was a Starbucks across the street. Then she (genuinely) offered to run across the street and grab a coffee for me. Of course I declined, but the fact that she offered was insane. The service went above and beyond expectations. All around excellent experience.
(5)
Julia H.
I live across the street and for sure the best sushi in town, Next door to the best tacos. Manager I believe his name is Ryan always make me feel at home. Super personable to all the other customers. Staff really has it going on. Kitchen a little slow but when your waiting for art:)!
(5)
Keren K.
Cutest little sushi bar in Gaslamp! The owner of this restaurant is clearly aiming to please, and boy, was I pleased. As my group was waiting for a table in the outdoor patio on a chilly night, the nice man brought out warm sake for everyone to 'warm up' from the inside out. Then he shared some mini cupcakes that was made that day! What service! We ordered their sushi and sashimi platter. Exceptionally fresh fish and shellfish. Sure, the sushi is great, but their desserts is where I was really impressed. Japanese restaurants typically have poor choices--mochi ice cream or some gimmicky fried tempura ice cream...but not sushi lounge. Sushi lounge has honey toast. Honey toast is this amazing airy loaf of buttery sweet bread thats covered with honey, condensed milk, fruits, ice creams, and all kinds of great chocolately toppings. They have it here! I thought I could only have it in Japan. Its not as large and grandiose as the honey toast in tokyo, but it tastes just as good. I was in san diego on business, and hope to visit sushi lounge again very soon.
(4)
Kevin S.
Good solid sushi restaurant. Food was very fresh and tasty and atmosphere nice. Good selection and our server was very attentive and knew the menu well. It is always nice when the server knows what he's doing and recommends the right selections. Good 4-5 star sushi. We will return.
(5)
Myles P.
These are kind good folk here. Delicious food, even the Ramen was good and I don't usually touch it outside of Japan and LA. Atmosphere tops, piping hot wifi, no nonsense service. A+
(5)
Angelie D.
Must have been a bad night when I came in with my friends. Or maybe being from LA and having a huge selection of sushi spots spoiled me? The ambiance of this place was definitely inviting. It definitely looked like a lounge, too bad I was hungry and this review is base on the food. The bf ordered a charashi bowl. Smallest bowl I have ever seen. He finished it within 5 minutes and the fish wasn't all that great. I ordered the Kumite Roll. This is exactly why I would prefer Nigiri over Specialty Rolls because if you have one bad roll then you are done. The sauce was horrible. It tasted like salsa which I would love on a burrito, but not a fish roll. On top of all of this, our food took forever to bring out. The only good thing I had were the Shashito peppers and I would have been livid if they also screwed that up!
(2)
Aubrie G.
Might be the best sushi I've ever had. Get the garlic edamame and the Kaiju. Amazing. Plus the service was great. My waiter Ryan was very on top of things the entire time! I live an hour and a half from here unfortunately but we come down here a lot so I will most definitely be back.
(5)
Jason B.
The sushi was good but the service was so slow. Not a good option for a quick lunch.
(3)
Katie H.
Lunch! Traveling with our newby and wanted some good sushi. They had great sushi and more. Brussels sprouts app was unexpected at a sushi bar but so good. Excellent salads too. My wife really liked the house salad made with fresh kale and greens. Sushi chef was backed up and took awhile to get my roll out, but well worth the wait. Got the 92101 Roll, best new roll I've had in a lonnnng time. And, they totally comped the roll because of our wait. It seems every sushi place is trying to come up with crazier and more obscure crap to throw into a roll just to be different, but this roll was simple(ish) fresh and delicious. Scallop, fried green onion, avocado, truffle oil and yellowtail. Attentive service, and lovely server.
(5)
Richie S.
Good Sushi, cool place. Slowest service of any sushi place I've ever been to by FAR. I am not someone who would just write a bad review because I had a chip on my shoulder and got off on the fact that my opinion could count for something. I've owned multiple restaurants and know and understand all the reasons service could get slow at times, I always try to look at those reasons before making a judgement. Those circumstances didn't apply tonight. I came on a Monday, not super busy, we only had a party of 3 and ordered very basic rolls. Wait time per roll order was well over 30 minutes which is honestly inexcusable in any case. Food was decent enough to return but service needs to be stepped up A LOT. Definitely going to explore other options for Sushi downtown. Sorry Sushi Lounge, step it up.
(3)
Joshua S.
Great food, great service, great time :))))) Specifically the samurai, market street, kaiju, street fighter and crunchy. For dessert, the green tea ice cream was well good!!!
(5)
Taylor C.
Went her on my birthday, it was on a Monday, so nothing to crazy was going on. Sat at the sushi/drink bar. Service was on point, staff was friendly and knowledgable. But most importantly they have some amazing sushi. Fish is fresh and if you are a octopus lover like myself you will fine a couple items that will make your mouth water! Will come back for sure!
(5)
Solana B.
After a previously bad delivery experience, the manager reached out to me right away to mend the situation. The customer service was excellent on my second visit, and our server Ashley was awesome and went above and beyond for us. This is a cool little spot that is unlike others in Gaslamp. They also have a good drink selection for sushi spot, including beers beyond the typical Sapporo. I didn't love the rolls, but they tasted fresh and had plenty of options.
(4)
Dina O.
Unimpressed. Came because of all reviews. Service bad. Appetizer came before drinks and rest of food came too quickly. Not what we were looking for Sushi average. Disappointed. Toilets clogged or wouldn't work. Then slow to get us bill. We quit after the bland miso soup and below average roll. Try another restaurant. One plus. Brussels sprouts.
(2)
Brian R.
Food was good but service was extremely slow. Out of 5 beers. Lost our last order. It was not busy at all.
(1)
Shay L.
Pros: friendly staff, have to give props to the hostess last night, she was a gem and our server was very pleasant The sushi was 5 stars (however i gave 3 stars based on the overall experience and impression of the restaurant) but the food was a treat for the palate, incredible flavours, loved the Brussels sprouts, they are a must! Cons: We had requested indoor seating, however there are only like 6 tables inside which are extremely uncomfortable for a dining experience, all of which are high top bar stool style, and hard to get your legs under the table because the chairs are too tall, so we opted to sit on the patio Since the four of us were all sharing, one of us ordered for everyone at once and told the server that we would all be sharing, we asked our server for no sesame seeds on anything for a serious health condition a member of our party has, only 1 of the 3 rolls we ordered came out with no seeds, sesame seeds were also in the seaweed salad and all over the top of the tempura veggie dipping sauce...note to server: health issues (gluten intolerant, allergies, and medical conditions) are extremely important to pay attention to in the food industry Also a member of our party got an unwelcome sprinkling of ceiling water on his head while visiting the men's bathroom, perhaps a busted pipe or leaky plumbing The menus need work, very bland, no pictures, and no real appeal to the eye, some items didn't even have a description of ingredients And lastly the appetizer tuna salad we ordered was $14 a bit pricey for what it was...a tuna salad. All in all, the sushi was fantastic and a total success, however there are a few kinks that still could use some ironing out and since this is a new establishment and has only been operating for 3 months I am certain things are on the up and up for them ;) good luck sushi lounge and thanks for the delicious experience!
(3)
Laura S.
Such a great vibe in this hot trendy sushi lounge in the gas lamp district. My girlfriends and I flew down from Vancouver BC and this place blew us away!! personal favourites ....Maple Glazed Eggplant... amazing !! Smoked I'm house New Zealand Salmon the best I've ever had. We will be back !!
(5)
Maria W.
Worst sushi place I've ever been to. The service was so slow, we had to ask if we could be seated because the waiter wasn't paying attention, the dishes were dirty. I went there with my husband and a friend of his and after 45 mins they finally got their food, it took AN HOUR just for my dragon roll. It wasn't even good nor filling. Too overpriced for small portion sizes and not fresh fish. Will never return to this place at all. Oh, also the waiter NEVER checked in with us.
(1)
Tiffany S.
My girlfriends and I love this place. Hands down the best sushi I've had in the states. The gluten free options are good and the vibe is good. They also deliver. I would highly recommend a reservation on busy nights but they always find us a table and are very accommodating.
(5)
Ginger Q.
Amazing atmosphere and very friendly servers! I would recommend a reservation as this place is usually packed! The sushi is amazing and they use truffle oil on many of the rolls which make for an amazing new taste, Much different then other sushi restaurants I've been to. Every time I have been there the manager and the owners have come up to my table to make sure we where enjoying ourselves and where very friendly and personable. I always ask my server for recommendations and have they never disappoint! The service is amazing, the food is impeccable, and the experience is priceless! Sushi lounge on market is worth every penny!! Also, a side note, if you're with that one friend in your group that doesn't like raw fish, there is a delicious burger on the menu as well!!!
(5)
Tye D.
This is my favorite place to eat. The chef, Kato, is an artist. The food, presentation, and service will exceed all expectations, and possibly the best deal in town. The mural on the wall is amazing, and makes any meal a special occasion. I took my daughter there for her 16th birthday (her favorite place), and we had the best time. The rolls are huge, and just too good for words to describe. In the heart of the gaslamp qtr. This is an absolute MUST try spot. I could not suggest a favorite roll. Every roll I try, is the best thing I've ever eaten. Seriously. It's that good.
(5)
Jonathan D.
Delicious sushi with awesome service from Sarah and a unique ambiance, definitely will be coming back when I come back to San Diego.
(5)
Melissa M.
Great food, great atmosphere!!! Great place to hang out for the night or as a spot to stop in for food and drinks before going to out on the town. Food: Brussels sprouts were delicious and the sushi lounge roll is a must try. Really happy with the sushi, overall.
(4)
Cameron R.
Fantastic food, my party had the spider roll, the edamame and the dragon roll. The food took a too long to get there however our bartender "Jessica" more than made up for the wait with her or prompt service and engaging personality(Hence the 5 stars and not 4), She made me a very tasty margarita and was very attentive to our needs. All in all sushi lounge has great food (might wanna grab a snickers first tho) and one great bartender that I can vouch for. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Johanna-Joy G.
Long story short: decent food, very poor service. We walked in early for our reservation, so we got a drink at the bar. The bartender was all over the place. Rushing from side to side, pouring drinks haphazardly. Apparently there was no cocktail menu because they were changing menus the following day. So I went with the bartender's suggestion of drink. It wasn't that good. We got seated on time and ordered appetizers. They came at separate times within 20 minutes. I ordered a drink off of the cocktail menu that our server was able to find (hmmm...thought they didn't have those anymore). Drink was crappy too. Our food took forever to come. And it came in spurts. With different food on different plates that didn't make sense for a group of six. We constantly had to reach over to get our share of our rolls. T Towards the end of our meal, a woman from another table came up to us and explained to us that their food also took forever and they were given coupons to use for their next visit. Well, they weren't coming back. So, she gave them to us to use for our meal. We gave all six of the coupons to our server to use for our meal. It looked like it was a manager of some sort who told us we can only use one coupon and that the 15% off would be most advantageous. We all agreed and he actually tried to walk away with the rest of the coupons. Ummm...please give us those coupons back. Super shady. We probably won't ever go back. Might give these coupons to someone else. But wanted to make sure people knew about our experience. Especially with a place that has 4.5 stars. Very deceiving.
(2)
Jaina R.
If you are here for the drinks I'm sure it's star rating is fair, but the sushi is subpar. If you are looking for good sushi and not just drinks before hitting 5th look elsewhere.
(2)
Jackie L.
Came here for one of my best friends bridal shower and the food was delicious. We had numerous items from the menu and a variety of cocktails. The Brussel sprouts and lounge salad were phenomenal. Julian was awesome with his service and attention to our party. I am from out of town but will definitely be back whenever I visit the Gaslamp District.
(5)
Lia D.
I asked the waiter what she recommended and she said the rainbow roll & the nunchuck roll! Both rolls were so good, I would recommended both to anyone who visits!
(4)
Jerry L.
We had Jefferson as a server and this place is awesome. Street fighter and 92101, and Brussels spouts. Yummm
(5)
Bart H.
My wife and I are staying at a near by hotel and came across these guy's business card. We love sushi so why not give them a try. We were not disappointed! Excellent and unique sushi, pleasant staff, great service and reasonable prices! Although here for a short stay in San Diego, we will go back before we leave.
(5)
Shawn Y.
With San Diego being a city that prides itself on it's fresh seafood, I expected more from the sushi joints here. Being from a city that has quality sushi restaurants on just about every corner, I found Sushi Lounge on Market a disappointment. I'd have to say that this place would be best described as a bar/lounge first, and sushi restaurant an afterthought. I have to give them credit though for the ambiance. It certainly screams trendy, "look at me" sushi joint (which some people might like) I had the 92101 roll and a some nigiri. I find myself as a bit more of a purist and not a huge fan of the more "creative" rolls which meant that the menu here wasn't really quite my thing. They do have the regular stuff too but I figured I'd try something different for a change. Food was what I would classify as average (though the presentation was nice) and would be what I'd classify as on the pricier end for sushi, although it's probably close to what you'd pay at the fancier sushi places in other major cities. I'd probably say don't go here expecting mind blowingly good sushi. You'll be disappointed. It's more of a place to hang out with friends and grab a drink and be seen. My biggest gripe with this place was with the service. I'm hoping the waitress we had was new. Service was slow (there was only one other table occupied when we went there and about 3 servers working the floor that night). Most of the time, I saw them standing around chatting and not really paying attention to customers. Stuff you'd expect at a normal sushi joint (like chopsticks, small dish for soya sauce, wasabi, ginger and even the soya sauce) we had to ask the waitress for. This is stuff that should be the first thing you put on the table when a customer gets there - or even before they show up) The waitress wasn't really familiar with the menu and always had to check with the chef if there were any changes/substitutions that needed to be made. We chose this place based on Yelp reviews and it seems like our experience was a complete opposite. I'm hoping its an anomaly and they're normally better than this.
(2)
Matthew C.
Seriously fun place for a meal. The Brussels sprouts app, un... Freaking....believeable. I could eat so many of those. The sushi rolls are excellent, and a great variety. The service was exceptional, and the suggestions perfect. Priscilla was a perfect host and guided us in both drinks and food. All in all, a great to eat. Check it out.
(5)
Brenda V.
My friend and I tried this place last night and our expectations were beyond met. We started w the miso soup. They offer two version, an old and new. I had the new, my friend had the old and both agreed it's the best miso we've ever had. The ambiance was great for dinner w friends or a date. Finally the grapefruit belvedere martini was delicious. I definitely suggest this places and plan on going back. Good price , ambience, and energy.
(5)
Zhaneta M.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food at this restaurant. Great place and I would highly recommend it. I met one of the owners Matt who was extremely kind and generous and let us enjoy some of their unique dishes. Thank you Matt! The fish was very fresh and their sushi rolls are very unique!
(5)
Sarah H.
Tried this place with my boyfriend based on the awesome reviews, and we were a little disappointed. It seemed like this place is more of a bar, and less of a sushi restaurant. My boyfriend got one of the chef special sashimis which was ok, the fish had a bit of skin still left on it, and could have been cut better, but he still enjoyed it. I ordered the lettuce wrap entree with pork, it came in a nicely prepared taco stand which seemed like it would be easy to eat. Wrong, the pork cuts were so large, I ended up with a massive mouthful every time I bit I to the lettuce wrap, and with no knife to cut the pork into smaller pieces, it was difficult to eat. The miso soup was pretty awesome, lots of flavor, lots of tofu, lots of seaweed, just what I'm looking for! My fav part of this meal actually. Overall, I wasn't overly impressed with this place, it was ok, but nothing I would describe as great. The decor was cool, the service was decent, maybe I'll have to try it for just drinks and appetizers sometime, but until then I'm rating it a solid 3 stars for an ok experience.
(3)
Mick F.
Stopped by for lunch while attending a conference in San Diego. I ordered the rainbow roll and some salmon sashimi. The place was relatively empty for a lunch hour but there was a Padres game starting so that may have affected lunch rush. I did wait about 30 minutes for my for food to arrive which was not exceptionally long. The fish was amazing once it arrived. The quality was high. Very smooth and fresh fish which seems to be getting harder to find. I would highly recommend stopping for lunch or dinner. The staff was very nice and helpful. My only criticism of the restaurant was the wait time. The price is on the medium to higher end but the quality is worth the price.
(4)
Jonathan H.
It was a nice atmosphere and the bar staff was really friendly and great. Food was good and it wasn't super crowded even though there were several events going on that weekend which was nice.
(4)
Tina N.
Stumbled upon this sushi place looking at groupon. The place gave off a modern trendy vibe. I love how some of the tables have glowing lights. Their sashimi is really fresh which is a plus for me. The presentation for chirashi and salmon poke were nice too. Good and attentive service! Will come again:)
(5)
Yolanda D.
Best sushi I have had so far. The fish was very fresh and the rolls were to die for. They played awesome music and the manager was hilarious, little creepy but funny none the less .
(5)
Cal F.
Went back, disappointed. Apparently the fish freshness depends on the event/holiday. Day to day, the fish quality really is not too good. Had tuna and salmon and a white fish. Salmon was just typical farm raised. Bluefin tuna was horrible. It was previously frozen, maybe refrozen, and had a bad smell. I felt that sushi for days. The white fish also was not too fresh, but ok. Their rolls are well made, the one item they excel at. For the price this place charges, the fish MUST BE TOP NOTCH. Just having a fun club-like atmosphere does not justify subpar food. And what is with all the people in the kitchen. 5-7 people, not too many customers, and it still takes a long time to get your order. I'd rather go to a real Japanese place like Taka, and go somewhere else for socializing.
(2)
Kita P.
Was able to get a last minute reservation here after our original dinner plans fell through. Fantastic sushi and great vibe! LIKES: Low-key & trendy vibe Sushi is delicious and they offer several creative rolls Service was great and food came out in a timely manner. The house hot sake was delicate and delicious! Gripes: None
(5)
Kristen A.
Can I just say that Julian is amazing.... he was so accomodating to me and my friends as we celebrated a bachlorette party. The drinks were great, my personal fave was the lemon saketini. The food was fantastic, personal fave was the kaiju roll... so good. The serving staff was on point. The ambience was great! I will definitely be back when I'm in town!
(5)
Irene Y.
The special rolls here are fabulous! And the host are very kind. I'll recommend my friends to here next time.
(5)
Krystal M.
Awesome gluten free options and our waitress, Ashley, was super helpful with customizing my order for my gluten free lifestyle!
(5)
Avyon M.
The service here was amazing!! Our server greeted us immediately and made sure we were taken care of like we were VIPs. The servers were honest when it came to the quality of the food. I trusted them with everything I ordered and it was perfect !! I would definitely come back here again
(5)
Heidi C.
Came here on a Sunday for lunch on a weekend trip to the San Diego area with my boyfriend. We ordered the Brussels Sprouts (which are a must!), the Kaiju roll, and the 92101 roll. Both rolls were tasty and really fresh. The Kaiju roll was my personal favorite because of the combination of spicy tuna, jalapeños, eel sauce, and crunchy flakes. The server could have been more attentive but overall, we had a great experience.
Came here on a Friday night for some sushi and drinks, it wasn't too crowded, we didn't have a reservation so we had to wait about 25 minutes which is pretty good for a Friday night in the Gaslamp district. The manager and host were fantastic and accommodating since we didn't have a reservation, but I probably won't be coming back because the waitress was really horrible. It was a Friday night so she might have just been tired or something, but after reading multiple reviews about bad service I think the service is just always bad. We were there for about an hour and a half, maybe two hours, but that time definitely could have been reduced if we weren't waiting for our drinks for so long, or waiting for the waitress to get our check. We ordered the chips and edamame guac, and the brussel sprouts for appetizers, and we got the chicken fried rice for an entre. The guac and fried rice were ok, nothing special, the brussel sprouts however were delicious and I'm glad we ordered them. All in all I'm not sure if I would recommend this place, the food doesn't seem to be worth the stress of the bad service and you can definietly find a better sushi place to eat at.
(3)
Arian R.
This gem is tucked away in the heart of gaslamp, its beautiful on the inside, and has a very welcoming feel. The entire staff is attentive, courteous and speedy. I love everything about Sushi Lounge, I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Kim G.
This has to be hands down the best seared Brussel sprouts I have ever had!!! And the sushi was very fresh. I will come back here every time I'm in the gas lamp.
(5)
Matt B.
Amazing food amazing service! This is the place to be seen in SD. Try the Japanese Whiskey!!
(5)
Davinia P.
SUSHI LOUNGE IS EVERYTHING THATS RIGHT IN THIS WORLD ! Incredible food amazing service and loads of celebrities everywhere ! Make sure you go down there and try the Japanese whiskey which is extremely rare and hard to find! Every time I'm in San Diego this is my go to place :)
(5)
Roberta M.
They now have a killer Kobe Beef Burger - A must try. This place draws the best talent I've seen so far in San Diego.
(5)
Anna K.
So delicious! We had them deliver to out hotel, which they were happy to do. the Kaiju roll was tasty and so were the Brussels sprouts and teriyaki bowl. Great food and service.
(5)
Zeek D.
Poor service, bartender forgot to put in appetizer and we were starving! And then sushi role took forever and she put in the appetizer when the roll arrived and then we paid our bill before the brought it. Overpriced for such a bad experience. At least my girlfriend got off cheap for my birthday dinner
(1)
Ben C.
The rolls were poorly rolled and fell apart instantly. Spicy tuna roll was okay but not great. Had the Crazy 88 roll which is poorly thought out and way to sweet. The sauce completely overwhelmed the roll. Service was very poor. Waitress was unfamiliar with menu and the daily catch. Getting anyone's attention was near impossible which was odd since they seemed very well staffed. At times it seemed like all the servers were just chatting behind the bar. Not worth a return visit.
(2)
Kaylin G.
Poor service and sub-par sush. Came here for a dinner on my bachelorette weekend with four girls and after 2 hours some food never made it to the table. The waitress even told us staff drama was the reason why. Then, we had to ask her to make it right. Won't go back.
(1)
G V.
Against my better judgement I decided to take the wife to a restaurant in downtown on a holiday weekend. We looooooove sushi and we wanted to try a new place. Ambience: whoever designed this place didn't skimp on the details. The large wall mural was nicely done and very eye catching. The restroom was a custom job made to look like a large can of asahi beer and upon closer inspection it looks like a part of a wwII era jet...it ties in nicely with the WWII mural on the hallway. You gotta see it to appreciate it. Lighting was just right. Drinks: my wife really wanted a mojito style drink but they were out of mint so she defaulted to some kind of "saketini" which to her suprise was"pretty good." I had a orange wheat beer that was nice and cold. There drink prices were a little high but expected due to the location. Beer selection was "meh." Good: we had the edemame guac it was good. We had the samurai roll it was alright. It was wrapped in cucumber shavings which seemed like a neat idea but was a little too much cucumber in the end. My wife and I usually try new things and usually like a majority of the new rolls we order. The three rolls we got were just okay. Service: waitress was very nice. She mentioned that we the rolls were gonna take a long time due to the kitchen being understaffed. Well she was right it took about 25 minutes to get our rolls. At some point during our meal our waitress was pulled to the bar and we didn't see her for 20-30 minutes. We had to wave our hands around and get another server to get us some more drinks. Our waitress finally returned and apologized. Our trip wasn't a complete bust mainly just because I was having a good time with my wife and wasn't starving or in a hurry but I could easily see some people getting up and leaving out of frustration. Some of the people around us took there food to go because it was getting late. The waitress gave us a sob story about being so short staffed in the kitchen and on the front end. I guess there was some truth to her story but that's not my problem. I don't think I'll be giving this place a second chance due to the fact that there's so many other good restaurants out there. I gave them three stars because I think the place has potential and maybe we just order the wrong rolls...The waitress gave us a $20 discount so that made up for a little bit.
(2)
Emily M.
Food is amazing! We were all really impressed. It's a really cool little spot worth visiting. I would come back again. The Brussels sprouts are a must! With a downtown filled with so many restaurants and over barring hostesses that try to lure you in to there spot. This restaurant stands on its own. It's has its owe personality and great food to back it up. I will defiantly be back.
(5)
Batsheva L.
Sushi Lounge on Market was the perfect place to visit before our night out on the town! The ambience was hip, the service was excellent, the sushi was extremely fresh and the appetizers were delicious! MUST TRY DISHES: Edamame Guacamole, Brussel Sprouts, the Kaiju roll and the Sushi Lounge roll. Every bite was delicious! We will definitely be returning to Sushi Lounge on Market!
(5)
Chrissy C.
Delish! Great service, friendly staff and wonderful food. Found some great items for my kids and we enjoyed the entire meal!
(4)
Roxanne C.
So it was my mom's birthday and my sister and I plus our boyfriends were walking around Gaslamp to try to figure out how to get my ma turnt up. It was very rowdy this night, so it was kind of hard to find a bar that wasn't too crazy for her. We looked on yelp and found this little spot. We peeped in and the place looked nice and wasn't overly crowded like the rest of the bars. There was no host in the front, so we just walked in and sat ourselves. The waiter brings us the menus and we get stoked because everything is $5 or less. Hot Deals! He takes awhile to take our order because there is a really big Britney Spears party ahead of us. (I'm not exaggerating, they were all dressed up as Britney Spears from different music videos) After we order, he comes back 15 minutes later and tells us he gave us the wrong menu. That the items we ordered weren't available until 12AM and we had to order from the regular menu. It was 11:30 AM at this point. Like really, you couldn't just start making it 30 minutes early for us especially when you wasted our time. He did comp us $4 edamame, but our deals went from hot to not. The regular menu ranged from $10-18 items. After we order again, he comes back 10 minutes later to tell us our food is going to take awhile to come because of the Britney Spears party, so we should order some more appetizers. Sorry, we are not spending more money because you guys can't squeeze in our orders in between a huge party. If they wanted to accomodate to us, they should've brought out a complimentary app instead of asking us to buy one. Don't get me wrong, our waiter was nice to us... the situation we were in sucked. I'm also not sure he knew anything about the menu because we all had to repeat ourselves when we said our order, and he pronounced unagi as "you-nagi." If you work at a sushi place, I would think you would at least know how to pronounce the items. FOOD: Maybe I'm spoiled by all the gewd gewd sashimi I've had in the past, or maybe it's because I just came back from Hawaii, but I had the Salmon Tartare and it was whatever. With so many yelp reviews, it wasn't at all what I was expecting. I really had to swipe the sauce from the plate and have every bite with a garlic clove to give it some flavoring. Usually when I order tartare it comes with wonton chips or something to eat it with but no. It was a small portion with dots of sauce on the side. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good. Which I expect it to be for $14. Everyone else at my table had to pick something out of their food or douse it in shoyu to make their food tolerable as well. The good things about this place is the ambience. The painting on the walls are awesome. The restroom is a giant Asahi can. and there are Samurai swords hanging above one of the tables. Dangerous, but AWESOME. You can change the color of the lights that glow around your table which is pretty dope. and I got my mom to take a sake bomb. I wish I had snapchatted or instagrammed it or somethin. If there's a party constantly doing sake bombs though, I can see how it can get kind of annoying. SO! Place looks nice, but the service is slow and the food wasn't impressive at all. So unimpressive that I'm wondering how this place has 4 1/2 stars.
(3)
Lauren K.
Nice place, cool art, nice servers. GOOD japanese sytle old fashion (drink). Sushi is definitely below my standard, its not bad as in spoiled, but poor quality, taste is very bland, size is very small. Normally I would go to a better place, but they had a good Groupon... so my husband and I gave them a shot. Will not be returning unless sushi rolls are upgraded, more options would be nice as well... not many to choose from. Would not recommend for sushi.
(2)
Trish C.
The sushi lounge is a very nice place for a good time, or a romantic dinner, but I have to be honest it was a 100% better because of the customer service, friendliness, and outright amazing cuisine made by one of their chefs Kato. I am not one to write many reviews, but if you're ever in San Diego, or get the chance to enjoy his service, and amazing skill jump on it asap. I would go back, and back daily if I could. Hands down the best sushi experience of my life.
(5)
Nuria C.
Our food (Kaiju roll, brussel sprouts, teriyaki chicken and chicken gyoza) were all delicious, but our service was SO, SO bad. Servers were unattentive, brussel sprouts came out after 1 hour (it was my appetizer), and drinks were never refilled. The service was stepped up only when we asked for our check. All of the sudden we had a ton of attention. I wish the service would have matched the quality of the food. I plan on coming back to see if it's better in a few days! Definetly try it!!
(3)
A J.
As a professonal athlete here in San Diego I only put the freshest and highest quaulity sushi in my body. Of all the sushi places I have been to, this is the best sushi place hands down. Not only will you enjoy great tasting high quality sushi but the atmosphere and vibe is great. The staff is very friendly and the sushi chefs were excellent. This place will not disappoint!
(5)
Jim E.
We had an early dinner with kids on a Thursday. We were seated immediately. Tons of cheerful staff, happy to serve. We ordered the edamame, salmon roll, veggie roll, ramen and eggplant fries with pork. The veggie roll was a perfect way to eat a fresh salad that looked like a sushi roll. The eggplant fries were cut in thick strips and were tasty with the pork chunks. The ramen was basically everything you would hope for in sushi place. Thanks for the good experience!
(5)
Danniella M.
We came in on a Tuesday night with a reservation for our group of 6 and were seated immediately. Had to ask the waitress five times for my drink, which was a San Pellegrino. My friend ordered a specialty roll that never showed up; good thing the Brussel sprouts were good or he would have gone hungry. The food was phenomenal, I give the Brussel Sprouts and the Sushi Lounge roll five stars, but the service was about one star.
(4)
Devon L.
We had dinner here (11 of us) for my bachelorette party and it was amazing. Ryan took such good care of us and the food was awesome!!
(5)
Joshua G.
Fantastic atmosphere when you first walk in. Something that you MUST order are the brussels sprouts. Don't think twice about it or even pretend like there's another appetizer. Then, order the Kaiju roll. It's well balanced, has lots of great textures, and is very, very fresh. The cucumber mojito was very good but I would also encourage trying other cocktails. Ending with the mochi a refreshing way to close the night. All around, a wonderful experience and the wait staff were extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. We are from out of town and I will tell everyone about this place.
(5)
Declan F.
We went on a Sunday evening. It wasn't crowded, couple tables here and there so you don't really need to make a reservation like we did. We started off with miso soup, they were great because they had big pieces of tofu. We then ordered a bunch of rolls to share. That's when things went downhill. We waited around 40-50 minutes and still no rolls. Finial our server comes and tell us that they never made them because the other waitress told them not to? Wow spiteful staff towards each other! Not good teamwork- management should do some team bonding exercises. They took off 20% which was expected but then we couldn't use our 10% off yelp check in. On the food- mostly all the rolls are spicy which sucked for my friend who couldn't tolerate any spicy level. They were average. I gave them a 3 because I loved the ambiance and the place is truly a lounge to come with your friends to. Will I return? Yes I will, but not again of service isn't improved.
(3)
Karin B.
This place is incredible!!!! Amazing sashimi, fun awesome rolls. Hundreds of different sakes and their new handcrafted cocktails are soooo yummy!!!! Ambiance, trendy and fun... A must go to for sushi downtown! I'm a really picky sushi eater and I was super impressed! Try the 92101 roll or ask for Juan special (not on menu) and the Omakase and you won't be sorry. Open for lunch and happy hour.
(5)
Brian J.
We has an office party at Sushi Lounge and all I can say is Holy Crap!!!! The sushi was absolutely the best I have ever had in San Diego. It is all super fresh and pair perfectly (in the case of the rolls). They have something for everyone, even if you don't care for raw fish. The chicken ramen is worth a trip, by itself. The seaweed salad is quite possibly the best I have had anywhere. The atmosphere is very trendy without being overwhelming. A lot of sushi places I have been to nlast the music and the color scheme is an assault on your eyes. With Sushi lounge you can actually carry on a conversation without screaming. The staff is not only fast and friendly, but extremely knowledgeable. We ordered a bunch of sashimi and rolls. Our server was able to identify the sashimi we were eating amongst all the other plates of sashimi. Not only that but she knew where it came from and when it came in. The only complaint is not even a real complaint, it's a little pricey. For what you get it is well worth the price!
(5)
Claire K.
Well, it was St. Patrick's Day weekend in SD and yet we needed sushi! The venue was okay and overall the food was good. The speciality rolls were amazing so I would highly recommend ensuring that you get yourself at least one of them. It is worth a visit for fresh sushi.
(3)
Sarah T.
The sushi was so awful we couldn't eat the rolls. The staff was super nice and took the plates back. Only thing to get is the brussel sprouts and maybe a glass of wine before you go have dinner elsewhere or hit Gaslamp for some drinks on the weekend!
(2)
Sean B.
Just happened to walk by and said to the bf that it looks cool. Let's try it. Sooooo glad we did. Service was super friendly. The food was absolutely perfect. Cucumber salad was delicious and the sushi was super fresh. A must come and eat place.
(5)
Christina L.
Alright. This experience made me come out of Yelp retirement. On a whimsical pre-New Year's celebration vacation, the BF and I decided to stay in the Gaslamp District for two nights. We opted for something light on the night of 12/27. First of all, I made a reservation through Yelp. Since we hiked Torrey Pines that day, we were hungry. We were greeted by a male host, who promptly seated us AT THE BAR with a reservation sign. I have never in my life made a reservation and had to be seated at the bar. The host saw the look on my face, but never made an attempt to offer an actual table. FINE, whatever, feed me. The quiet brunette behind the bar asked us if we wanted drinks, and since we are sitting at the bar, why not? $13 for a martini, $13 for a manhattan. We looked over the menu, and realized...this would be a better place for appetizers. With the plethora of restaurants in the Gaslamp, these prices were astronomical. $15-$19 for rolls? Fine, again, I could deal since I made the mistake of suggesting this place, so I would be paying. We ordered....and this is where things got really really weird. The Nebraska/USC game was on, and we wanted to watch it. We asked the host to switch the channels (it was playing ESPN 2 instead of ESPN), and he enthusiastically agreed. He walked away. The restaurant is not that big. He continued seeing us for the rest of the night, with no acknowledgment we asked him a question. The food was fine. Small portions (thanks for supporting my quest to fit into my NYE dress), and just fine. I was kind of pissed to be honest, since the price did not reflect portions or quality. We were consistently distracted by the sake bombs. Perhaps we picked the wrong place to eat. Now, the icing on the cake was this female bartender with glasses. Apparently there is no bartender and waiters must make the drinks for their own tables. Why on earth and when on earth has this method ever worked in customer service? Also, the glasses bartender was talking to herself and even got in a tiff with one of the sushi chefs, who was annoyed she kept forgetting WHAT SHE WAS DOING AT THE MOMENT. As in, she would mix a drink then stare at it blankly, wondering why she mixed this drink. Then, she would ask herself. Ooookay. Anyway, some of the sushi chefs glanced over to us and clearly saw we were amused at her behavior. We're nice people...so we quietly paid and left. Please learn to run a business and hire waiters/hosts to cater to the guests. Also lower your prices. This isn't Tsujuki. This is a party fusion sushi place.
(2)
JoJo R.
I love that this place is open later!! I came here on a weekday night and absolutely loved it!! It was pretty mellow when I came in, but according to the staff they get a rush later on in the night. My server was Taylor, who I think was also the manager, and he totally made my night. He was funny, friendly and professional, the ambiance wouldn't have been the same without him! I sat at the bar alone for a quick bite to eat and a drink. He recommended the perfect dish along with the perfect saki. I got some kind of shrimp tempura sushi roll. The sauce was amazing! I also tried the grapefruit soda, which was refreshing. The decor of the place is really chic and cozy as well. It would be a perfect place for a date or a night or with friends. :) Def recommend this place and will be returning!
(5)
Memeow R.
Went here on Friday night for my best friends birthday party. We had a group of 7 people and the service made us feel like we were the only ones in the restaurant. They answered all our questions with patience no matter how many times we asked the same one. We got a bottle of snow maiden sake and it was superb. They have a huge selection of sake. We ordered eggplant frittes, gyoza because someone finally put only chicken in a dumpling instead of always pork and octopus, eel and yellowtail nigiri as our appetizers. Everything was fresh and vibrant with flavor. For dinner we had their delicious ramen and teriyaki bowls. From start to finish everything was amazing. Come here to feel like a star.
(5)
Why N.
The food was wonderful. I would have given this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the subpar service. My husband and I sat at the bar and had a very disinterested, almost antisocial bartender waiting on us. She forgot our drinks twice even though we were sitting right in front of her. And again, we felt like we were inconveniecing her with our mere presence. I expected a lot more.
(3)
Shannon M.
The sushi was ok. Disappointed in the taste though. The sushi was warm and that made us a little nervous. We had the Brussels sprouts though as an appetizer and they were great. They service was great and we appreciated that.
(3)
Daniel R.
Great atmosphere and awesome staff, I came in 45 minutes before closing, Fat Tuesday in Gaslamp is no joke, they treat my girlfriend amazing and didn't rush is even tho we finished a little passed closing time. Oh and the unagi sashimi was amazing. I'm gonna recommend the Edamame guacamole, amazing!
(5)
Nicole H.
Wow, where do I even begin? My friend and I are visiting from Vancouver where you don't have to look too far for a decent sushi restaurant, so we were quite disappointed to have wasted one of our few meals in San Diego at this place. First of all, the waitress didn't seem to have a clue about the menu. I asked her if I could replace white rice with brown rice on my sushi and she said she didn't know (even though it lists this as an option on the menu..). She said she'd have to check with the chef as it was more complicated? Huh? Next, I ordered a miso soup and it was nothing like what miso soup should be. So awful. Very watery and no taste. On top of that, when the miso soup was brought out the waitress asked if I wanted siratcha sauce for my soup.....who puts siratcha in miso soup?!? Well I guess it helps with the no taste miso soup that this was... When the sushi finally did come, my friends sushi came out before mine so we sat there and waited until mine finally came out...20 min later for a rainbow roll?!? We had to ask for soy sauce, plates, and wasabi since the waitress didn't bring any of that out.We thought maybe she was new? All in all, the food was terrible, nothing like real Japanese and the service was awful. Everything took so long (food to arrive, check to arrive, payment). At the very end the waitress asked us to leave a review for 10% off the bill. Now, I know why this place has such a high rating. Beware.
(1)
Carlin Y.
Excellent Sashimi Salad and Samurai Roll! Have never liked ginger before, but their pickled ginger is awesome!
(5)
Maire G.
I had an amazing time at this place. The host sat us at the bar and the bartender was so amusing. The place was clean, the staff was friendly and the food was excellent. My boyfriend and I went there on a date and it was perfect. We will be returning and bringing friends.
(5)
Tam N.
Was in the area for a convention and had dinner at the famous Nobu at the Hard Rock the night before. We had their "Omakaze" and it was horrible for the $110 retail price! We were quite let down and was looking for something to redeem San Diego's sushi cred, and this place nailed it! Kato took great care of us, and we got an impressively crafted omakaze plate with typical as well as rare fish cuts. We followed it up with some apps and rolls he recommended. Everything was on point, and creative. We had a great dining experience and would highly recommend this place for a modern sushi establishment with high quality sushi.
(5)
Eric Z.
Amazing sushi! Great sake. Fabio chopped up some Amazing custom sashimi and nigiri. Even a great toro. Albacore. Kampachi sashimi from Justin. Go check out Sushi Lounge. Sit in front of Fabio!
(5)
J S.
A very nice, pleasant surprise. The Kaiju roll was fantastic we ended up ordering a second round. Our server was fabulous (forgot his name), but wasn't really impressed with the rest of the food. Perhaps I should have stuck with more traditional sushi rather than the specialty rolls. A guy who imagine must be the Manager checked up on us and offered each of us a coupon for a 50% roll on our next visit. I was tempted to come back a few days later, but didn't, though I'm fairly certain I'll come back at some point to try other things on the menu. Word to the wise: the large Asahi is actually the rest room.
(3)
Christine S.
This restaurant is beautifully decorated, staff is super friendly, but the food is not all that. My husband and I ordered 3 sushi rolls, We weren't a fan of any of them. I ordered a veggie teriyaki bowl, it was good but way to much black pepper (I never knew black pepper could be so spicy). I love spicy food but this teriyaki bowl had my nose running. To much pepper but otherwise good. I did enjoy my green salad and pickled cucumbers. Our waitress, Anna was super friendly and on point. Very good service. But the food is not what people make out to be on here.
(3)
Phil C.
Expensive sushi that is good but not worth the cost. Loud. Decent service although it took them four requests to bring miso soup. All in all, okay but underwhelming given the price...
(3)
Alex R.
This place has an awesome vibe to it and the sushi stands up to any sushi I've had downtown. This includes Nobu and Katsuya (R.I.P.), which are at least double the price. The rolls are original and delicious and the sashimi is fresh. I always have a good time here. My only complaint is the place is stuck in the middle of El Pulpo and The Reef, one of the worst downtown restaurants and bars, respectively. I can't fault them for that though ;)
(5)
Darek H.
The portions were small for the price and the place was dirty. We asked the waitress for separate bills and she said she couldn't give us separate bills but she allowed us to pay with individual cards.
(1)
Stephanie G.
In town for a conference and came here for lunch with some co workers. We were very pleasantly surprised! Miso soup was tasty :) I had the market roll... It was very fresh and satisfying. We were indecisive about the edamame Guac ... Sushi chef overheard and surprised us with the complimentary appetizer! The Guac comes with taro chips- light and crispy.. Reminded me of plantain chips. Sunomo salad was mediocre. Also I recommend samurai roll it was so fresh!
(4)
A C.
The wait was absolutely ridiculous. When we arrived there was one other table filled, with two adults and a small child. We ordered within 8 minutes - 3 sushi rolls. After 40 minutes, we asked the waitress how much longer it would be and she said "everything is made to order." Um...all sushi is made to order - and most food at restaurants. Worse than that, the guy making sushi was spending his time flirting with the girl behind the bar, rather than making our rolls. When they finally arrived, around the 50 minute mark, they were good - but nothing special or justifying the $16 each price tag. I don't fault the waitress, but I can't imagine how long it would take if it was busy. If we hadn't already paid for our groupon, we would have walked out. I won't be returning.
(1)
George Z.
If you are looking to explore excellent sake, eat fresh fish, or try new foods, this is the place. This is the type of place that prizes quality and customer service above all else. It provides a true foodie experience. Their selection of sake is of the highest quality. The range of sake selection is wide and includes interesting sake not usually available. Along these lines, I would recommend both the sparkling sake and if you like the taste of cherry - the Rose sake. The menu includes very good rolls with fresh fish. In addition to the rolls, I would recommend trying the grilled kale in coconut milk - a unique dish - and the guacamole with taro chips - an excellent starter. One additional note. I last visited here 1 year ago. It was an average sushi experience then. The difference in quality led me to ask more about this. It has been under new management with an emphasis on quality that is evident as in the review above. This restaurant is now on my list of places to go every time I am in San Diego. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Dale B.
This place is great! I Met a few friends here for drinks and had to order some food because everything looked so good! We started with Edamame Guacamole, Brussels Sprouts, and Gyoza. All were delicious. Then we ordered a few rolls. The "Market Street" and the "Sushi Lounge" both were fantastic and perfect to share. The drinks were great too. I loved the cucumber Mojito!! We will definitely be back!!)
(5)
Nora Z.
Cool place. The sushi is decent and I left full. However, service was sloooooooooooooow. Although our server was nice, she was very very slow. The restaurant was not busy, and yet it took almost 10 minutes to be greeted by a server. The hostess sat us and brought us waters, which was great because we would have probably walked out if we had sat there for almost ten minutes without water or being greeted. Kudos to the hostess. It also took forever to get our drinks. It took a solid 15 minutes for us to get our drinks and the bar was DEAD. Overall, we had a good time and will probably be back, but the staff needs to pick up the pace.
(4)
M G.
Best thing: brussel sprouts - they're SPECTACULAR. Crispy and cooked in a sweet chili sauce. Other than that, meh. Terriayaki tofu was okay - not much tofu but lots of rice. The tofu did have good consistency, but the teriyaki sauce was too sweet. Terrible service. We were there for a large birthday dinner, and they brought all the food at different times. Some of us had to wait for +1 hour. They also charged us for a birthday dessert we didn't even order.
(2)
D M.
Pro tip: Get the brussel sprouts with the sauce on the side, instead of already mixed in. I loved the vibe, very cool people. I'm vegetarian so can't say much about the seafood, but the avocado rolls were good. Didn't much care for the veggie sushi roll. Brussel sprouts were delicious. The paintings on the walls were done by a Cuban artist who painted solely by hand, like ONLY his hand, no paintbrush. I really liked the paintings and kept unintentionally staring at them.
(4)
Thomas M.
Solid sushi place in the Gaslamp. I had lunch there, and felt the choices were great and the portions were very generous. Others have said the place was expensive; but, grading on the sushi curve, I was very happy with what I got for my money. The special rolls that I had were fantastic, and the menu had more very spicy options than I am used to seeing. Service was attentive and the atmosphere was nice. I would definitely go back again.
(4)
J P.
I have a love hate relationship with this restaurant. We have been here three times and each time the service has been, well, awful. However, the sushi is delicious and the ambiance is cool! Make sure you give yourself extra time if you come here - and don't come starving & expecting to get food right away... it won't happen.
(3)
Thomas G.
Great Venue to hang out at with friends or on a date. Service was great and staff were all very friendly and fun to hang out with. The Sushi Chef, Kato, welcomed me and my group at the sushi bar when we walked up to sit down. Kato is a more than hospitable and amazing chef. The menu was solid, but Kato was able to make some very original unique dishes that were top notch when I challenged him to some off menu items that I personally wanted. Bar tenders were great, more than generous with the pours, and even offered a few samples to try from their selection of saki. On top of that, the attitude was up beat and fun to be around as all the employees were engaging and personable. Definitely makes you feel like your money was well spent.... With that the price was fair too.
(5)
Jason Z.
A couple of things I really liked about this place: - Proximity to the heart of downtown but away from the main hustle and bustle - I really liked the decor of the place, it's got a really cool and unique look - My favorite was the 92101 roll.. Scallops, Tuna, Yellowtail, aaaaand Avocado?! #Yummmmmm - Taylor is the freaking man! He was knowledgeable about the menu and gave us the low down on the go to items. He took great care of our table and with so many sushi restaurants in SD, his service, recommendations, and sushi has set this restaurant apart from the others.
(5)
Kristina K.
Although the sake selection was proper and we even got a specialist to speak with us on options, the sushi itself was hit or miss in terms of roll quality and pricing. Creativity wasn't bad but the results were nothing to write home about and our server forgot a part of our order. I did, however, appreciate the outdoor seating option.
(3)
Sarah K.
This is my favorite sushi place in San Diego! My girl friend and I come here often because we love the brussels sprouts and the edamame guacamole. But best of all, the staff here are awesome. Shout out to Taylor, Kris, Julian, Rebina, and the cute girl that works the front, Dee. keep up the great attitude! This place is so much fun. We also love the sake bombs and champagne cocktails. Kom Pe!
(5)
Marjorie P.
My boyfriend was visiting and we were craving sushi so we went here after I got off work! They have a Groupon which was awesome and they took it with no problem. The guy at the front of the house was super cool, got us seated and answered any questions I had. Our server was Ashley, she was sweet and also helped me pick out a cocktail since I'm always so indecisive. We ordered their Edamame Guacamole Dip since everyone on Yelp talked about it ;) and with no surprise it was AMAZING. Their chips we're perfect, I think taro root? Super thin and crispy. We ended up running out of chips but I still finished that dip. Haha! Only thing I would say is it took a awhile for our waitress to come back after taking our appetizer order, we had to ask for her. We then got a spider, crunchy, spicy tuna and rainbow roll! Everything was super fresh and tasty. I do wish they brought a side of wasabi though! Cool atmosphere and perfect food, will definitely be going back.
(4)
Ellina C.
I've come here a few times previously and have always had good service. This time it was amazing!!! The manager was our server and she did a great job! She accidentally put in an extra roll and gave it to use free of charge. She also gave us free green tea mochi. I will definitely make this place a sushi staple for the gas lamp. The portions were great and the pricing is extremely reasonable. Love it! And don't forget the great check in deal!
(5)
Rada K.
What can I say. Visiting from Orlando. Love sushi. Consider myself a foodie. This place is amazing. The chefs recommendations are very impressive. Great vibe/ amazing food and wonderful service. Highly recommend. Will return for sure.
(5)
Mary N.
So we went again last Saturday... Awesome sushi as always.. We always have fun and enjoy our time, not much to add other than Tyler is awesome! Great service he really took care of us and made the experience that much better
(5)
Chad H.
Just ate here for the first time this week. For starters the food was excellent. Our group ordered 6 different rolls as well as a few of the different appetizers so that we could taste a wide variety of the food on the menu. Definitely some of the best sushi that I have personally had in San Diego! Additionally, the service was quick, friendly and on point. We had no issues getting our food in a timely manner and for a big party, our servers did a great job in getting all of the orders correct the first time around. Finally, the environment is casual and fun. The music isn't too loud and the food prices won't break the bank. A great date spot for the night as it is in the thick of the gaslamp district. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves delicious sushi!
(5)
Chio P.
We loved this place so much we had to come back! The personable experience is hard to find in a big city like san diego. The people here remember who you are and welcome with open arms new customers. Prepare to be pampered because this place only wants to please you..and it's with a smile.Rubina was a phenomenal waitress who deserves to be recognized. Sushi place continues to be highly recommended.Their flavirs never disappoint.
(5)
Alex W.
Was in Friday evening. My group of 6 didn't have a reservation however their GM Julian was just amazing! He gave Us the VIP treatment. Had us at a table within 5 minutes. The place was packed The service was impeccable and the Sushi was some of the best I've ever had. Kudos to this amazing venue and for hitting it out of the ballpark!
(5)
Bianca R.
After much deliberation and a very convincing guy out front we decided to give this place a shot. We were looking for good sushi around the area and wanted to try something different. Taka, Nobu and RA were out of the question since we all had been to those places plenty of times. I'm a huge sushi fan and always open to trying new places. This place is renovated with new chefs, owners and investors. The restaurant is a good size but on the smaller side. We sat at the bar and quickly browsed the menu. The options were few but all very tasty. I was impressed. I ordered the Market Street roll and my friends ordered A crunchy roll and Street Fighter. They all were delicious and very fresh. I'm glad we ran into this place and I'll definitely be back!! I definitely recommend it. p.S. They have full bar with really cool cocktails on the menu. Try the Lemoncello LemonTini I loved it!!!
(5)
Mike D.
The food was good and fresh, not a huge selection for lunch it seemed. The waitress was very nice, but it took forever for my friend to get a simple ramen noodle dish. I've found a lot of mediocre sushi places in San Diego, this is the upper end of mediocre - I will definitely go back.
(3)
Elisabeth T.
The event coordinator e-mailed and called my boyfriend and I personally. She refunded us our dinner for that night and told us that she would like to extend an invitation for us to try the restaurant again. She said she would provide us with a reserved table and then the meal would be on the house. At this time, we have not taken her up on this very nice gesture, but we plan to in the near future once work settles down.
(4)
Carl S.
New management new Decore fresh food it doesn't get any better than this in the gaslamp! Organic, non-GMO food with a cool trendy vibe...the head chef james is so creative and put together some seriously good sushi plates ....best in the gaslamp imo
(5)
Jonathan D.
Worst service ever. Customer service sucks. This place was good back in the day before they switched management. Ehhhh wouldn't come here again.
(1)
David W.
Fun, spot. Great food and drinks, inexpensive prices, attentive staff, if you get a chance sit at the sushi bar.
(5)
Ashley A.
Veggie options for sushi that's not just an Avo roll! They have a lot of different veggies that must sushi places don't offer, making this the place for veggie sushi. For this of you who eat fish they have lots of different rolls and they offer fish that I didn't even know existed. Service was great, my drink was never less than half full. Rolls were made quickly Atmosphere was great, place is super clean. Staff is very friendly.. Easily one of the best sushi joints in SD.
(5)
Chris W.
Awesome experience! Great food and great service. The Brussel sprouts were excellent. Highly recommend the 90212 and dragon roll. Will definitely come back next time I'm in San Diego.
(5)
Metha W.
Great service. The decor is to die for. They have one of the most cleanest bathrooms I have ever been to in a establishment. I met with the owner Carl and he is such a friendly person. Carl we plan on coming back so look out for us! I got a chance to spend my birthday here they were so accommodating and made me feel special on my Big 25 ;)
(5)
Emma H.
Loved the sushi. Great atmosphere and Chris was the best server I've ever had. He really knew his menu and gave us the best recommendations! I can't wait to come back for those Brussels sprouts and the 92101!
(4)
She C.
Went back to try again.. Portion sizes were on point. Atmosphere was great. Fabio was great to us. Thank you for having us!
(5)
Heeva G.
Came here with my boyfriend for lunch during Comic Con weekend. The first thing that I noticed walking into this bar/restaurant/lounge was the ambiance! Love the art work on the wall. Definitely makes this place stand out. Ryan was our waiter and he was very friendly. We ordered the Nunchuck, teriyaki chicken lunch special, and yellowtail with masago hand roll. First of all, the fish quality is really good here. The rolls are great and are different compared to other sushi bars. They include special seasons, spices, and oils. Also, the speciality rolls came with 10 pieces compared to the normal 8. As for the teriyaki lunch special, the salad was amazing! I loved the salad dressing they used. The teriyaki chicken was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. The yellowtail with masago hand roll was very delicious and was the perfect thing to end off our meal. Overall I Definitely recommend this place. Good music, food, ambience, and service :)
(4)
W M.
Phenomenal tasting fish, great omakase selection by a very good chef, wonderful selection of sake wines, friendly waitstaff and cool owners. If this place keeps everything I just mentioned intact, they will do extremely well. The ambiance was also really fun. Between the over sized artworks and the samurai swords, it was really fun. The music was good, but a teeny bit loud for my taste. That said, we could still easily talk to the barkeep and yet avoid hearing the too-drunk patron near us mumble through her requests as she placed her handbag on top of her sushi (a move she will likely smell in a few days).
(5)
Katie C.
I went to the Sushi Lounge tonight and the food and atmosphere were great! As with many of the earlier reviews, the service was horrible. Our server was very pushy trying to make us change our orders after we ordered, and trying to get us to add on multiple sides. We got our food in a timely manner, though. We ate and never saw our server the entire time. She came back once and filled 2 of the 4 empty glasses saying she would be right back to fill the rest and she never came. After we got our check we got attitude when asking for it to be split amongst us, and she ended up just splitting the check evenly among each of us, making some pay way too much and others pay barely nothing for what they ate. The process of getting the check and trying to pay for it took longer than the entire ordering and eating process. I've never seen a company so slow to take money before. I am sure the server is a good server. Maybe she was too overloaded with work or something but our service sucked.
(3)
Colby C.
Went here on a Friday night, was able to be immediately seated at the bar and the service was great. I ordered the Market Street Roll and the 92101 roll. Only ate about a third of each one as the oils/juices on them were too much for me. I think they should let the fish speak for itself but I definitely won't order them again.
(2)
Paul G.
Food was good. $$$ on price. Service was awesome too but place just opened. Would have been 5 stars but the brought my egplant pork belly all soggy! But it was still scrafable!
(4)
Patrick Shane D.
If it weren't for the doorman/greeter, we probably would have walked on by. Sorry I can't recall your name, but you were a cool guy, made us laugh, and hooked us up. Overall the sushi was very good and the quality of the ingredients was high. The price was reasonable. Including the drinks and appetizers, there were a couple of things that seemed a little on the experimental side that I wasn't crazy about and wouldn't order again. That being said, keep experimenting! But consider offering these as free samples to your customers and implore honest feedback. The service was super-attentive. If you really enjoy interacting with the staff, you won't find better people. For me, it was a bit of turn-off being asked every few minutes how the food tastes and if I am okay. Still, I respect the effort. Next time I'm in San Diego and someone asks me where to get sushi, I'll be happy to be the "insider" and bring them here.
(4)
Emiliano B.
WOW! I am impressed! I believe it to be the best sushi and best kept secret downtown. The salmon was so fresh it was melting in my mouth! I'm definitely coming here again. Oh! And they are also open late, can it get any better?! Healthy food late at night, an answer to my prayers. Thank you God!
(5)
Adam D.
First time at Sushi Lounge and it was great. Nice environment, friendly staff, and excellent food! I went with a group and we tried a lot of the menu. Two of my favorite things were the brussel sprouts and Kaiju roll. The brussel sprouts were coated in a sweet chili sauce that really put them over the top and the Kaiju roll was one of the best rolls I've ever had!
(5)
Maggie S.
We stopped in on Tuesday around 7 pm for dinner. The restaurant wasn't too busy and service was amazing! Our server came by our table every few minutes to check on us. The portions are definitely large compared to similar sushi restaurants - not just the rolls, but the soup and shishito peppers we ordered as well. The kaiju roll was our favorite and the 92101 was also good, but had a stronger taste of truffle oil that we'd like, which the server mentioned ahead of time but we chose to order it anyways. I would definitely come back here and am excited to check out the happy hour menu!
(4)
Marissa M.
This place was fantastic! Went there for a quick lunch meeting, loved everything we got. There aren't a lot of sushi options downtown so this was definitely a great find!
(4)
Tati S.
Love this place!! Colton was the best we would take him home but we can't lol. We will all return here when we are back in San Diego:) thank you so much for the sushi on the house as well!!!
(5)
Mike M.
Stopped in for lunch with my co-workers. Food was amazing and service was on point. I loved the vibe and music here. Can not wait to go again!!
(5)
Chris H.
All the food was great. The menu was incorrect and the service was immature. It doesn't get any more Americanized than this place. The bartender was clueless to even the beers on tap! When I ordered a sashimi salad, which on the menu said was with seaweed and cucumber and a sashimi salad with greens came out instead. The other bartender B.S.ed me that they took extra special care of me and gave me the greens. I wanted the seaweed with the sashimi as the menu stated but there was none and I had to order a sashimi salad, which I did for an extra $7 which they ended up taking off the bill so one star back from 2. I ordered a spider handroll which I was told 25 minutes later that they didn't make spider hand rolls. I had to point to the menu for the second time to inform them what it said. Then the waitress came back as if she was doing me a big favor and said that my spider handroll has been ordered. I do like the fact that they have good beers on tap. If they train their staff a bit better and get the menu straight, I will give them 4 stars. Don't come here if you want anything close to traditional Japanese sushi. Otherwise, for a hip and happening scene with decent sushi, this is da place
(3)
Melanie B.
Chef Kato at Sushi Lounge is amazing. His preparations and treatment of fish is to die for. So creative, yet subtle and with clean, fresh flavors that enhance the sushi. BRAVO! Also chefs Fabio and Brad make amazing dishes to compliment Kato's genius. Would highly recommend this restaurant to others.
(5)
Molly F.
great atmosphere, yummy food + awesome staff (esp. Ryan!) also, coolest bathroom ever and they have gluten free soy sauce!
(5)
Brianadiamond Renee C.
The food was wonderful and Ryan was a great waiter. I love this pace. I really enjoyed it so much. And the hot sake was so great. It's a very pretty place and very nice and all that stuff. And Carl is a great owner. Such a sweet guy.
(5)
Jason H.
For starters it is Monday at 6:00 pm and there is 4 tables with people here and it's our first meal since we drove down here and we just started our honeymoon today. We were extremely unimpressed with the service. We got seated right away and the hostess was really nice. But it took more than 20 minutes for a waitress to come up and even ask if we have been helped. He apologized for the wait, I then ordered a beer and my wife of 48 hours ordered a 10 dollar drink. We also ordered fried tempura as an appetizer. The drinks and appetizer came out within a few minutes. And then we continued to sit there for almost 45 minutes before they tried to come ask what we would like to order for dinner. We told them that we would just like the check because we were affraid of being stuck there any longer without food. They promptly brought the check and then we had to wait 10 min before we had to get up and give them our card........ And then it took another 10 min to get the card back.... Like I said the hostess was fantastic but the service was absolutely horrible!!! Will not return!
(2)
Jana H.
Sushi is average at best. The bartender mixes stuff up (for multiple customers) and the service is slow. Samurai roll was total mush. You can do better than this place
(2)
Christina C.
This place is so bomb! And they deliver! Which is a total rarity! I got the kaiju roll it was delicious, seaweed salad and also mochi. Everything was excellent! The timing on delivery was prompt and the girl was very sweet who delivered. Definitely recommend and will be getting delivery again!
(5)
Brad B.
Nice clubby vibe, decent but novelty sushi, horrible service. Bartender was very nice and friendly, but it took 1 hour to bring out 2 rolls.
(2)
Aaron C.
Great ramen bowl and the specialty rolls are fantastic. about $10 dish prices and fills the plate too. Well worth the price. HOWEVER, I GOT MY DRINK FOR DESERT, after i ordered it with my meal, with a half an apology. Charged for everything and the service was lacking. To say the least. Rated only a 3 due to service
(3)
Ohhh Y.
Not a foodie experience... More about cocktails than food. Large sake list, I asked for recommendation and was recommended the very average house sake which comes hot or cold. This was after I order a Daiginjo for my first glass. Portions small, rice with the nigiri was not fresh. Part of my order never arrived, had to ask to have it removed, didn't want it after what was delivered. About 9:15 manager took a call then ran around telling all the staff in an urgent, panicked tome that someone called in sick so he was closing early, shut the doors and spent 5 min frantically telling all the servers to get final food orders in immediately. Weird that a single person could be so vital, there were 9 staff working that I could see, maybe more in back. If I was drunk, maybe I would return, other than that, not by choice
(2)
Audrianna G.
Came in on a Sunday night with a group of girls and we were all immediately Ooo-ing and aww-ing over the super trendy decor! The waiter was attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu and what the favorites were among customers. Even the music was great... twice we stopped our conversation to comment on how awesome it was to hear some of our favorite Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris songs playing (random for a sushi place, but a fun and absolutely perfect touch for us!) The food was bomb too! You could tell it was fresh and the flavors were amazing (especially the brussel sprouts). Nice presentation to everything and overall a great experience for us. I will definitely be bringing more of my friends to this little gem!
(5)
Dustin L.
This place is awesome. Very fresh food and a cool exciting atmosphere. Its right in the heart of downtown. I'll definitely be going here again. The people made me feel awesome and not like a number in most restaurants. They got my money and they'll get some more of it soon. thank you very much! " vote with your dollar"
(5)
Lanna B.
Sushi is amazing! Try the 92101 roll. Decor is very pretty and interesting. Good service! Manager rocks.
(5)
Jocelyn At Bassmnt B.
Great customer service. Laid back environment with delicious fresh food. Hands down my new favorite sushi spot in downtown. Definitely recommend you to try it out!
(5)
Darius C.
Best find in 8 years of travel. Fish that just fell off the boat. Get the Shiso Rickey to put some hop in your hip meal. Ask Sarah, she will take care of you. Just let her know if you want sour, sweet or sweet & sour. The Orange Shiso Rickey is the second one invented. Enjoy.
(5)
Daniel W.
Great place for creative decor and food! The Brussels sprouts are not what you'd expect at a sushi place, but I highly recommend that you try them. Good selection of fun rolls and sake as well. And you have to take a stop in "the Can". You have to be there. Our hosted seated us quickly and waiter showed up promptly to take our orders. The 92101 roll had truffle and aioli and was delicious. Also the Kaju roll. The bandito roll has spicy salsa on top and helped clear my head.
(5)
Jason C.
Great restaurant! The old K7. We came on a random Thursday night and it wasn't packed at all. Cheap drinks during their happy hour.
(5)
Ariel M.
What an amazing spot! Came in a Monday night and had great device from our server dale and the food spectacular. Couldn't have picked a better sushi spot. Definitely will be telling my friends about this place!
(5)
Christopher C.
So damn good! Tried this place on the advice of a local while in town for SDCC. The sushi is awesome (kaiju roll!) and the atmosphere is super chill. Adrien the bar manager is great and super friendly. Highly recommend and we'll def be back.
(5)
Katia D.
Amazing place!!! The food is really delicious and exotic, I love it, and very gently service...thank you!! Keep going like this :)
(5)
Jake B.
Had reservations, but got there an hour early...they were busy, but fit us right in with no hesitation. overall the sushi was amazing. I've never been a sushi fan, but we ordered 4 rolls, the bandito, the street fighter, kaiju, and Sushi Lounge roll...all of them were great. The Sushi Lounge roll is lobster, avacado, cream cheese and fried with a spicy sauce and was my favorite. The service was beyond amazing as well. Miles and Rosey went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. Definitely be back the next time we are in town!
(5)
elizabeth d.
My friends and I arrived looking for a sushi Chef we knew from around town, with the hopes of finding some amazing vegetarian sushi. When we arrived, we were informed that he was no longer working there. Lucky for us, the bartender and waitress enticed us into staying and trying The Rabbit. She asked Sushi Chef Cato to come up with creative vegetarian rolls, fresh and tempura. We were delighted with his creativity, artistry and flat out yummy presentations. I would have given it 5 stars, but the seating was a bit uncomfortable...regardless, we will be back.
(4)
Colton P.
Finally a sushi venue downtown that is worth the visit!! In the heart of the Gaslamp the location is perfect. When I came here with my friends we had the best time we have ever had downtown. The atmosphere was great with fun music and dazzling lights. When you walk in you can see someone took the time to design this restaurant right. As for the food....fantastic! We had the Kaiju, Sushi lounge, and Samurai roll which were outstanding. You could tell everything was fresh and our server informed us all the fish is delivered fresh daily!! The prices were also incredibly reasonable for the amount of food and the quality. The service was impeccable as the server, Sonia took great care of us. Even the managers Taylor and Julian came and made sure we wanted for nothing the whole visit. This was one of the best venues I have been to downtown and I will definitely be back! Thank you Sushi Lounge!!
(5)
Saeed C.
This place has the best sushi I have ever had. The sashimi salad was amazing and the drink which has raspberry tasted so good we got two of it. The rolls were so good we got one to go as well.
(5)
Ryan H.
Absolutely love the ambiance, food, and service of this place. The GM was ever so kind to me and my friends i will for sure be back! Definitely get the brussel sprouts and kaiju roll :) Tip: ask about the sake list they have many to choose from!
Delicious! Loved this place! Everything about it was good! I can't remember the name of the rolls we had, but my favorite had salmon in it and topped with spicy goodness! The whole restaurant was amazing from the decor, staff and all the way down to the food.
(5)
Josh A.
Great service and very good sushi. Loved the Kaiju and crazy 88 rolls. We had time finding another sushi place open before 5/6 pm, but we're happy we found sushi lounge.
(4)
Eduardo E.
First time here and I love it great quality food, they have a lettuce taco that is delicious and a roll with spicy mexican salsa is just the best, you have to try this. Very nice place no to loud not to quiet just perfect you can enjoy nice good food, nice good music, in a nice good sushi place. I can't wait to come back delicious....
(5)
Narmina V.
We were in town this weekend and it was horrible!!!! Worst service and unprofessional employees.
(1)
Erin K.
We came here because of good yelp reviews and the inviting atmosphere, but we'll be back because of our server Rubia. Literally the best service! And that's something to pay for folks. She was so sweet, helpful, knowledgeable about the drinks and menu, and made our whole dining experience really fun. The sushi was good too ;]
(5)
Mareline C.
It was my first time here. My friend & I have been craving sushi for ever you can say hahaa. the service was great. Got greeted by what looked to be the manager. Very friendly he explain how the menu work. Major points! Later miss Sonia came by & Took our drink order, my friend was a bit disappointed that they didn't have Vodka Smirnoff. But his cranberry vodka was on point the first time, the second time it was more cranberry than vodka. Now for mine, I got a beer.. Mother Earth Cali Creamin' to be exact. They gave me too much head. If I was a guy I probably wouldn't mind that, but I had to wait a good 10 minutes for the foam to go down. It was 2/3 of beer served when the foam went down. 2nd time around it had less head so I was fine with that glass. They did take quite a while to check on us if we were ready to order some food. Once they did, the food was worth the wait. Simply amazingly delicious. I got the street fighter & California roll. My friend got the Sushi Lounge roll along with the Rainbow roll. 4 rolls in total. All devavored. I personally like my side of teriyaki sauce but I hardly used it. That's how delicious it was. The restaurant's interior definitely fits the art theme with the food. Such beautiful presentation. Great experience over all. When we got the check its was a little under $100. Why so much you ask? My friend got charged $28 dollars for 2 cranberry vodka. I order 2 cali creamin' both for $7. So in total my friend paid more than what I did. Of course with gratitude on tip, my bill was less than $50. Well worth spending. I am definitely coming back. The ambience was great. Thank you Sonia for serving us. :) she gave me 10% off bill because I told them I was yelping them.
(4)
Maria D.
Love this place! Sushi is amazing, the staff is great! Had a birthday party here recently and it was a blast! They also had a sushi making class a few months ago, which was really fun, too. Can't wait for another one! Way to go, Sushi Lounge on Market!
(5)
Ashley B.
This place is great! They have some of the best sushi in SD! You can't go wrong with any of the speciality rolls!! And the service is AWESOME! Everyone is just so nice and always checking up on you! Everyone needs to check this place out!
(5)
Jesslyn L.
I love this place. I have been there several times and the food has never dissapointed me. I love coming in specially when the manager comes to check on us and knows us by our name. I love his service.
(5)
Tami G.
Everything is amazing! Don't pass on the opportunity to try the Brussels sprouts - best I've ever had!
(5)
Jimmy J.
My first time here but it's my last. Service was very bad and the food was bad too. I made a reservation but when I came I had to wait or sit at the bar. I was very disappointed . Bang bang better. Go there.
(1)
Matthew J.
Fantastic sushi. Came here for Valentines Day '15 and was impressed with how smoothly the operation ran on a very hectic night. Highly recommend!
(5)
Jodie H.
Ordered the ramen and was disappointed. Lacked flavor and originality. Heard other people raving about their dishes. Staff was very nice and welcoming. Perhaps I just ordered wrong.
(3)
Azia M.
Our server was awesome he had a great suggestion of Sake which was delishhh! Brussle Sprouts were the most amazing appetizer ever and each roll was really good. I think the 92101 was probably my favorite out of all of them. Bathrooms are really cool also.. on a side note! It's shaped like a beer can which was cool. The whole atmosphere of the place is really cool. Would definitely want to come back for a date night. Also perfect location right downtown close to all the clubs. Overall was a great start to a fun night downtown :]
(5)
Chris M.
Tried several rolls and the only one that really packed some flavor was the Street Fighter. The jalapeño roll was also good (think jalapeño popper but in a sushi roll). We sat outside which is quite different from the inside lounge which is a pretty cool bar atmosphere. What disappointed us the most was the slow service and the fact that they served one person in our group their entree about 20 mins before everyone else got their food...makes someone feel awkward eating in front of everyone else before the group has food. This makes be believe they have some logistical opportunities to work on so the diner's experience meets expectations.
(3)
Michelle S.
We arrived at approximately 1:30 pm and proceeded to order some food and eat a slow late lunch. We started with Nigiri and sake. When we wanted to order our next entree, we were told that the "kitchen was closed" (it was 2:30 p.m.) and they weren't serving any more food. So, we left....still hungry and irritated. The staff were nice about it, but no notice was given before the kitchen closed. No need to go back there for us.
(2)
Katrina C.
I had one of the best meals I've had in San Diego here! My friend and I sat at the sushi bar got an assortment of sushi and rolls. The fish was sooooo fresh and delicious, and the different flavors and combinations were really creative without overwhelming the fish. In addition, the service was really friendly and attentive. Sushi Lounge is definitely worth braving the drive downtown!
(5)
Kevin S.
The sushi here was great and awesome service. I checked in for a 10% discount from my tab. That is always a plus. I would definatly go back again the next time I'm in town.
(4)
Reef M.
Best sushi in town hands down. Their rolls are light on rice with mainly protein and have a lot of flavor. The 92101 roll has a great taste and has truffle oil, a whole new dimension is sushi for me. The vibe here is clean and sexy and you will not be disappointed. The place fills up quickly so do make reservations. For a change, they use Tamari a healthier alternative to soy sauce. It's hard to find at most places since it cost more money but here food quality obviously comes first. Plenty of Sakes and local draft beers to choose from. A must try!
(5)
SF Foodie L.
If I could give TEN STARS, I would. Especially since I wish I could give 5 extra stars to this establishment after having a horrid time at a different one. Thank you, Sushi Lounge, for saving the day! I was really famished after a long work day, and wandered over here with my boyfriend. Our server was so knowledgeable about the food and very attentive to us. I recommend the delicious Crazy 88 and Sashimi salad. Harrrgggh :-) So good!! No Cons. Pros: 1) Delightful + Attentive staff 2) Delicious food 3) Comfy chairs 4) Spacious 5) Beautiful artwork 6) Hip music 7) Convenient location 8) Wonderful ambiance 9) Welcoming vibe 10) Fast service 11) Eclectic atmposphere We will return very soon, and tell friends to dine there as well.
(5)
Matt B.
I have been to a lot of sushi restaurants in my time and this one stood out. Atmosphere is awesome, the owner or manger is super friendly, and the food is unreal. This place will blow you away.
(5)
Raven S.
We had so much fun eating here. The food was excellent, and waitress was very knowledgable and friendly. Brussel sprouts like you wouldn't believe!
(4)
Brandon S.
Great sushi rolls, very fresh, good music. Bartender Sarah is super friendly. Great place to spend time in. Been here twice and every time had an awesome time. Will definitely make this my go to sushi place in San Diego!
(5)
britt g.
Sushi Lounge is definitely the best rolls I've had in San Diego! We ordered a few pieces of nigiri (so fresh!) and a couple rolls, the kumite and 92101. They were both delicious, the 92101 comes with truffle oil which sounded a little different but was sooooo good. Definitely my favorite. I believe the cocktail I had was the lounge delight fresh berries and cucumbers in it- so good I had two! Service was great, we sat at the bar and the chefs and bartender were able to answer any questions we had. I will definitely be coming back to sushi lounge.
(5)
gabriella S.
Unsuspecting location, ended up being awesome!!!! Great sushi chefs that truly know about quality!
(5)
James R.
Wow I loved K7 but as Sushi Lounge I love it even more! Chris and Rose are on point with their service. The new menu even better and the food is fresher! I'll be a regular here for sure!
(5)
nicole t.
Not a fan of this place. I came here with a friend to have some sushi. We saw the reviews on yelp and it looked very promising! When we first arrive we were greeted by the very friendly hostess. She seated us promptly at a long communal table. Upon sitting down we notice the chairs were so uncomfortable! We look around to see if there was another table we could be moved to. We see that these instruments of torture are the only seating options. Ok, no big deal, the sushi is supposed to be amazing so let's not get hung up on chairs. After about 5 minutes we're approached by our server who was also the hostess who seated us. We order the brussels sprouts, edamame guacamole, and for a sake list, she grabs us the menu and water and says she'll give us time to look it over and then come back. After about 15 minutes she brings our appetizers but bolts before we get an opportunity to order our drinks. We then spend about 20 minutes waiting/trying to get the attention of our server. For the first 10 minutes we were fine; we had our appetizers and we had water so we were fine for the time being. The Brussels sprouts were delicious! I loved the crispy caramelized outer layer! The edamame guacamole was pretty yummy but seemed like something you could easily make at home. As we were half way into appetizers and completely out of water we start to get a little impatient. We then realize the root of the problem. Our server is also the hostess and busser for the entire restaurant! We start to feel so sorry for her as she runs from table to table (the place was pretty full), seats people, and clears tables. Meanwhile, what I can only assume is the manager is taking care of one guy sitting next to us. Really dude? Your server is running around like a crazy person trying to serve literally everyone and ultimately failing at it (not her fault) and you're helping one guy? Our server/hostess/busser finally has time to stop by and we order our sake, beer, and the 92101 roll. She takes our order and walks/runs to whatever else she has to do. We are now officially drink-less. After another 15 minutes the manager who has been so attentive to the guy next to us looks our way to ask us how we're doing. Service! We take the opportunity to ask for our drinks and water. He grabs our beverages just as the server brings over our roll with an apology. Not your fault! By now we're parched and starving! We dig in. YUCK!! The roll was horrible! One of the reasons I eat sushi is because I love the taste of fish. All you could taste was truffle oil and lots and lots of salt. I'm fan of both of those ingredients but the flavor a were so unbelievably overpowering we couldn't even finish the roll. We debated ordering another roll but realized it would probably take forever to get so opted for the check instead. On a whole it was a very unpleasant dining experience. I'll admit the appetizers were delicious and maybe if we had ordered a different roll we might have enjoyed it. But if there's one thing I can't stand it's when establishments try to save money by extremely cutting their labor and overwhelming their employees. It's just a poor business practice. This is what will ultimately drive me to never give this place a second chance.
(2)
Jonathan K.
The sushi was delicious, and the fish was so fresh! The chef was very accommodating to dietary restrictions. The samurai roll is one of my favorites, and the brussel sprouts were phenomenal, a must have. Drinks were very tasty, the bartender was knowledgable and creative. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The bathrooms and what you can see of the kitchen is very clean. This sushi lounge is the best in the area, by far!
(5)
Kathy L.
Have been to Sushi Lounge three times. Have never been disappointed. They use the freshest ingredients. The presentation of all the dishes was amazing and the taste was heavenly. My favorites are the Brussel Sprouts, the garlic Edamame and the Sushi Lounge Roll. I brought my little grandsons in for a sushi dinner and they wanted to go back the next day. The ambience of the venue was so inviting and comfortable with low and high top tables. Love, love this place! Will go back definitely!
(5)
Brian P.
I had a chance to stop in and try this restaurant out on Saturday. To start from the top I had set a reservation and was running a few minutes behind due too the ballgame's traffic. The hostess was kind enough to hold my reservation and even follow up with me to assure I didn't need to adjust the time. Once I arrived I was seated right away, and also took note to a walk up that they worked generously hard to seat right away as well. The environment is a fusion of upscale classical Japanese with a fun fusion of nightlife that makes this downtown stop very appealing. My waitress Jacqueline was on top of everything, and very knowledgeable. Sushi lounge has a most impressive drink menu, and the best selection of Saki Nigori I've seen in San Diego. For appetizers I had a great garlic edamame, and a MUST have which is their flash fried Brussels sprouts with a perfect hint of char then tossed, and deglazed with a roasted sweet chile sauce that excites the pallet! The sushi menu has all the classics along with a gourmet selection of house specialties that work with infused truffle oils, red clay salts, and chefs that pour their passion into their work. I personally loved the Kaiju roll, and a chefs custom spider roll. I've heard they're under new management and like what I saw. Ryan who periodically checked on my meal assuring everything was to my satisfaction even bringing out a new house saki to sample together very fun! Kanpai! Mostly a chance to engage with Kimberly who through her dedication gained another very satisfied customer who looks forward to the next dinning experience there, and would gladly refer someone to Sushi Lounge. In fact highly recommend it! Thank you for a very fun date night...
(5)
Brad S.
I brought my wife and three children to The Sushi Lounge, we had a super special, memorable evening. Great sushi!! The service and ambiance were equally fabulous! I'll be back!
(5)
BriAnna M.
This is my favorite new sushi spot. Amazing food, awesome service, exquisite decor. Everything about it is a 5 star!!!!
(5)
Nathan C.
Awesome sushi joint! I was in town with my girlfriend for a wedding and decided to check this place out. It was a Friday night and the place seemed pretty full but they were able to accommodate us with a table inside. The table was glass with awesome lights INSIDE. The overall restaurant decor was great. The service was great also! My girlfriends cocktail was delicious and Kat, our server, was awesome! She introduced us to "sake bombs" and we ended up having two each! She recommended some appetizers and special rolls, all of which were amazing. My favorite was the order of brussel sprouts and my girlfriends was the Market Street Roll. We had a great experience here and if we're ever in town again we'll definitely stop by!
(5)
Autumn S.
I love the concept of this place. First of all, you can feel the subwoofers in the wall throwing out bass to the awesome variety of music they have playing. Second, the decor is an eclectic mix of rustic chic meets urban asian explosion. Imagine that for a second. The tables are community style also which is great for meeting people! Now for the food... Yellowtail collar-so good and seasoned with a salad that had a dressing to kill for. Spicy tuna roll (which I never order because it is usually too simple but this was on the house)-soo good and don't add too much wasabi or you'll pay the price! Finally- the Japanese Yellowtail nigiri...Oh.My.Gosh. It tasted like garlic buttery goodness but it was just fresh fish on rice and I would come back for that alone! They had some interesting specialty rolls which I didn't get around to trying but definitely will next time.
(5)
GeorgeandLinda D.
We have owned our condo downtown for two years at The Mark. We ate at K7 early on and was very impressed and loved the menu. Service was personable and a inviting environment. It closed for a while and reopened with this new, oh so original name: Sushi Lounge!! We went for drinks and my husband ordered a martini that was not much bigger then a aperitif, although the price of $14.00 was not an aperitif price. Tonight we decided to choose this restaurant to have dinner, and sat at the bar. What a mistake....waited a long time to be asked if we would like a cocktail, one of the bartenders was so busy flipping her hair she had no time to look up to see if we need to order. The second bartender was much more attentive and took our drink and food order. A large group was coming in and the owner/manager began his chair arrangements to accommodate the group. Sliding, slamming and moving chairs on the concrete with no clue that perhaps there were other diners already enjoying their food! We asked the owner/manager how the restaurant was doing and he shot off all the money he had spent and how the former owners mismanaged etc. a lot information from just asking how the restaurant was doing, a little tacky to belittle a former owner. And finally the clincher, we were told that on weekends no special programs were available on the TV, well, lo and behold,until the large party came and alas there appears a football game. We asked to see a basketball game on another screen and were told at this time, the cable wasn't working. hmmmmm? The owner/manager said under his breath, I am not a tech person of how to have multiple programs and I said really? And he promptly shared with the bartender, I was rude! Good bye and never, ever will we ever go into this restaurant. And will share this review with our fellow penthouse condo dwellers as well. There are too many restaurants in San Diego that have the ability to have a multi-task owner/manager and run a restaurant in a non frantic atmosphere. We travel all over the world and this by far, is the worst....bar none!
(1)
Mark M.
Well to start, the service was horrible from the get-go. My girlfriend and I made reservations for 2 people b/c the receptionist told us we'd need them. When we got there the place was empty. I was shocked b/c they have so many good reviews. It then took 15 minutes to get drinks (or anyone to even notice) which was odd b/c there were only a few guests. Once I flagged down someone to ask who our waiter was and order drinks our 'waiter' forgot them so that took another 15 min. I'm not lying... We finally ordered everything at one time b/c we had reservations after dinner and I didn't like how this was going. The only reason I'm giving them 2 stars vs. 1 is b/c the sushi was quite good. PS the sashimi is priced for 1 NOT 2?? So you pay full price but usually you get 2 pieces of raw fish but not here so that jacks up the price very quickly. All in all, with so many 'good' restaurants wanting your business, you can find better elsewhere. Good luck!
(2)
Madeline J.
This place was awesome! Taylor was the best! We were there on a Sunday night and literally shut it down!!! I will definately be back. Good job and especially to Taylor for having such great customer service skills!!!
(5)
Dani L.
Taylor Is the reason why I give this place 5 stars and why I will be back everytime that in San diego. He was informative, kind, and gave the best recommendation for a Belgian beer that was to die for. Ashley was also so amazing and has a great energy. The sushi is fresh and delicious. give me more sushi : )
(5)
Bobby A.
Best sushi I've had. Great and unique atmosphere. 2 of us went. No double tables available. One of the owners was there dining at his table. He was gracious enough to allow us to join his table at the open chairs. Not many would have done that! Try the ice burg salmon sashimi. Excellent.
(5)
Sophie J.
Absolutely had the worst, slowest service I have ever experienced. It may have been the waiters first day though so I will give a go one more time.
(1)
Jennifer M.
Always love coming to see the crew for some of the best sushi in San Diego. Fresh, innovative, fun. And always delicious. I do wish they would improve the seating at the sushi bar, however, which needs to be reshaped so people can sit comfortably and watch the masters at work. Would also recommend a dedicated server/bus-person for the sushi bar seats, which get overlooked by the bartenders who are busy keeping things flowing for the rest of the restaurant. Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Jerry S.
All the dishes had an amazing profile and their menu had an awesome selection of creative rolls and cold beer from Japan. The sushi was fresh and the restaurant is super cool in a great location. The staff was super helpful and Carl made sure we enjoyed our time. I definitely would recommend Sushi Lounge on Market! :)
(5)
Edna L.
when in during my lunch break had edamame guac and the kaiju roll,have to say that I was very impress with the quality and taste of both I've never tasted anything like that roll before and edamame guacamole is definitely a different twist made my meal interesting also service was quick and friendly ,back bar guy Miles and server Britt took care of me during my Hangry moment!!!!
(5)
Mikaela M.
Such a fun late night sushi spot!! Always fresh ingredients and delicious sushi! The staff is so welcoming and lovable, they made us feel like regulars even though it was our first time!
(5)
Mckenzie C.
Fun girls night out. Sushi was amazing. Especially loved the 92101. Would come back again.
(4)
Ashley C.
We had a great meal here. Everything was very fresh and tasty. The service was great too... everyone was friendly and knowledgeable. We had several of the specialty rolls and they were the perfect bite size. You get 10 pieces which is a pretty big size and great for the price.
(5)
Martha V.
Loved this place! The atmosphere was welcoming, I feel like I can stop by here after a baseball or before going out. The sushi was delicious, I prefer the specialty sashimi dishes but also tried some really good rolls! And the Brussels Sprouts everyone is raving Amazing! I highly recommend this place, only place downtown I would go for sushi!
(5)
Katie W.
This sushi place is AMAZING. I've always been very picky with my sushi, and most sushi restaurants I've been to are notorious for their slow service, but not this place. The service is quick and friendly, the servers are all wonderful. Taylor always makes sure that you are taken care of! He's friendly and personable and makes an effort to really get to know the customers, which makes you feel welcomed and eager to return! The atmosphere is the best, I have to say, this place just looks SO cool! I love the decor, it really takes your experience to the next level. As far as the food goes, I've had many kinds of sushi and this place takes the cake. I come all the way from Los Angeles to eat here whenever I'm in the area. The sushi is better than Taka's, which I've also tried out. There's just something about the chef's in this restaurant; they really know what they're doing. I give this place a 10! Definitely come check it out, it's worth it!
(5)
Arielle R.
The brussels sprouts were really good. I had an allergic reaction to the nunchuck roll (last I checked I wasn't allergic to any of the listed ingredients) so ask your server for a full list of what goes in the roll of you have any food allergies.
(2)
Javie O.
This is my first Yelp review, though I've had my account for a couple years. I suppose for one reason or another I haven't been motivated by the businesses I've frequented since joining. But on a trip to San Diego's Gaslamp district Saturday night, I had a great experience and feel compelled enough by that to share with the Yelp community. My friend Anna & I had just arrived downtown from Las Vegas and agreed we needed some general nutritional value from all that Gaslamp has to offer. We passed by several establishments on Market Street, but the one that caught our eye was the Sushi Lounge. The quaint interior was plenty inviting, even from the sidewalk, and we both acknowledged that sushi sounded like a winner at that moment. We approached and the hostess was so quick with a hello and friendly smile, so we knew right away we'd made the right choice. There was some energy inside as it was-around 30 other customers that seemed to be enjoying themselves, but there were a couple tables open and we seated almost immediately. The mix of feng shui and rustic creative flair were a good mix and a young lady named Rubina stopped by to say she'd look after us in a moment. She was knowledgeable about the menu and we took her recommendation on the coconut kale salad as well as the brussel sprouts appetizer. The kale on the salad was perfectly charred in my opinion, but the brussels were 110% amazing. Rubina recommended a samurai roll and we chose an omakase for 1 to split for the 2 of us. We paired this up with a bottle of sake whose name escapes me now, but it was both delicious and aesthetically pleasing. As I noticed, most of their sake bottles were arranged and displayed in a cooler next to the bar, which is just delicately inviting. The manager, Julian, stopped by as we were eating entrees to ask how we were enjoying everything. He was extraordinarily pleasant and engaging, very warm gentleman. We even had a bit of mochi, something we'd generally pass on. Since everything else about the place was so fun, we figured to splurge our calorie count. And for the restroom enthusiast, the quarters there would more than suffice for even the most discerning of critics. The bill was very reasonable as well....tremendous overall value. I can't say enough about this place, quite honestly. It truly made the trip entirely worthwhile.
(5)
Ann S.
Love this place!! The food is amazing and so is the service. Experienced my first real sake bomb here tonight :)
(5)
Mike H.
Waitress was horrible and the sushi was subpar at best decent atmosphere but horrible overall experience...not worth the money not sure how they are going to survive we went with a large party on saturday night and had to wait 15 mins for soy sauce...one of the girls soup was cold when they got it too....wow
(1)
Krir S.
Came here early on a Thursday night craving tasty sushi. Was not disappointed! Staff was awesome. Kato is a star sushi master and Robert made the BEST Brussel Sprouts I have ever tasted. Secrets in the sauce plus and they aren't telling :) I think I could even get my kids to eat these!! Rosie behind the bar is an energized hostess and makes you feel like your part of the family. If your in SD downtown be sure to stop here.
(5)
Wyatt B.
Best sushi in San DIego so far. This is our3rd sushi place in downtown and amongst the $$ this place blows the competition out of the water!! You get tons of fish in the roll. It is fresh and delicious. The market roll with jalapeño and citrus glaze is amazing!! Great combo. The bar tender was amazing. She squeezes all her own fresh juices and my husband actually said its one of the best margaritas he's ever had. And at a sushi bar of all places. She knows her sake too!! Really friendly staff and the specialty rolls and everyday rolls were superb. Oh and how they got that rice so perfect I'll never know. Check it out. Pleasantly surprised!!
(5)
J H.
I love not only the food but the vibe is awesome! The wait staff have been really friendly. I even go by myself sometimes and sit at the bar. Love it.
(5)
Inocente A.
i ordered from them today for the first time! they where so nice! plus the food was really really good! they did not have the brown rice i wanted so they where extremely apologetic and offered me a complementary side plus gave me a card for a free sushi roll, again the food was really good and i will order from them again!
(5)
Taylor P.
I went here on a Sunday night, it was absolutely amazing. I had a few rolls, teriyaki chicken bowl, and ramen soup. I loved the way they decorated the food and how well it was presented. I also had their house Cabernet and Zing Red Velvet Vodka. I will always recommend these food items as well as these beverages. I have also had large parties here and the customer service was impeccable. COME TRY SUSHI LOUNGE!! :)
(5)
Sami R.
I would not go back to the Sushi Lounge on Market because the sushi chef James was so rude. The way he talked to the employees was beyond unprofessional. It was very uncomfortable to hear and we all felt that we were forced to be a part of it because we were sitting at the bar. There is so much more than food that makes up a fun night out. Our bartender, Jade, was awesome but she couldn't make up for the blatant disrespectful behavior of the sushi chef.
(1)
Tod W.
So I have to start off by saying that I frequent many sushi restaurants through the country as I travel for business quite a bit and I have yet to find a go to place in San Diego.. Until now. I actually stumbled upon this place on accident while downtown and am very glad I did. The ambiance was nice enough and enhanced by the friendly service which are aspects that are of some importance but the food, the food was unbelievable. The fish was fresh and our chef Cato blew us away with his stunning presentation and unique and explosive flavor profiles. I never had such a creative take on sushi or a more enjoyable experience. I have to tell my chef at Sushi Yasuda he needs to step up his game he has some steep competition out on the west coast. Will be back on my next trip NO QUESTION. -Doc Wilks
(5)
Tierney B.
Great place if your looking to grab a roll or two of sushi! Awesome service! The waitress even asked if we wanted spicy mayo or eel sauce which was a first for us! Great new place in the gaslamp!
(5)
Temple R.
This place is amazing. I could not find one flaw, not one! Manager was very friendly and so was our server. The food was great i ordered the Brussels sprouts. they were so good Ive been dreaming about them ! I recommend this place to everyone!
(5)
E O.
Love Sushi Lounge on Market! Amazing rolls, we especially enjoyed the Market St. and Street Fighter rolls were awesome and you cannot skip the brussel sprouts. Awesome service, super friendly staff and great atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Mandy M.
Very unique selection of specialty rolls, great albacore sashimi and lovely ambience with beautiful art.
(4)
T M.
Stellar service. Great sushi. Two miso soup choices, traditional or fish stock base. Great clean sushi. We would go back. Server offered a great Saki choice too.
(5)
M M.
Had a date night with my hubby at this wonderful Resturant. Sushi was excellent as was the service. We will definitely come back.
(5)
Kristen W.
really good food but still working out the kinks. i went there last night and the atmosphere was great, (although maybe they could add more comfortable/loungy seating given the name?) and the people were really nice and helpful. the food was sort of slow, but i'm not sure slow is the right word, things just came out in a strange order...we ordered edamame because we were starving and it came out after our soups and salads. and the sushi came out long after the hot kitchen dishes we ordered. i should mention there was hardly anyone there so its not like the kitchen was slammed...but its a new restaurant and they seem eager to improve and handed out feedback cards so i have high hopes for future visits!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
K I.
Met a friend here for dinner and drinks and i really had a great experience. The sushi was fantastic, the place has a great vibe and i top it off the service was stellar. Angie was super cool- very welcoming and friendly, she made great recommendations and made us feel well taken care of throughout our meal. Thank you! It was my first time here and I'll be back again for sure ..... For more of those yummy brussel sprouts!!!
(5)Jules J.
I had the best experience at the sushi lounge this past weekend! The food and service was amazing. I will recommend this restaurant to all my friends when visiting San Diego! Thanks hope to see ya soon!! Thanks to Julian!!! Xoxo
(4)Gabrielle N.
Stumbled upon this gem while visiting from San Francisco and had a fabulous time! Five stars for service and flavor! Definitely a go-to if in San Diego! =)
(5)Dee Dee S.
We had the best meal last night at Sushi Lounge on Market! We love food, so each time we go out, we really spend the time choosing the best restaurant for the perfect experience. We decided Sushi Lounge on Market would be our choice for our Friday night out. We have tried all the other Sushi restaurants in town, and we believe that Sushi Lounge on Market is by far the healthiest, freshest sushi in town. Where this restaurant exceeds other sushi restaurants, is that in addition to amazing food, the atmosphere is super cool and fun with great music in the background. This time, we went with the head chef James' suggestions for our meal. We ordered the Uni from Japan and Santa Barbara (both delicious but we definitely preferred the Uni from Santa Barbara), Spicy Salmon hand rolls (A-mazing), Short rib fried rice (My BF loved), Edamame Guacamole (A must each time we go), Blue Fin tuna nigiri (Wow, this just melted in our mouths) Panko Shrimp (loved!), and the 92101. (Later in the night we went back for a snack and a final drink before going home. Soooo good!) For drinks we tried two new drinks on the menu. We think they're called the Key Lime cocktail and the San Diego Sunset, but not 100% sure. The Key lime was good, but probably a little sweet for us. The Sunset was delicious! We also got a bottle of Sake which we finished the entire bottle! (Bartender's recommendation) We paid close attention to the service last night, and we were very pleased with the overall service. Our food came out in a timely manner, and everything was on point. We purposely watched how quickly they refilled our water without prompting. We also learned that the water is not just filtered, but completely purified, which was very cool to learn the difference. We highly recommend you try Sushi Lounge on Market next time you're downtown.
(5)Bob B.
Tried this yesterday for lunch, and it's a mixed bag. First off, this trendy little place plays contemporary music WAY TOO LOUD, especially for lunch. You can see their posted hours (closed 2-4) noted by the manager as "traditional." Well, I've been to some top sushi/tempura bars in Tokyo, and they never have blaring music, nor do a number of other sushi places in SD. Also, I'm not a big sushi fan, but this is not all authentic sushi or tempura. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. They do their food right, although I thought the flavor from the ramen bowl was a bit lacking. The tempura was VERY tasty, but it came w/ the entrees instead of being a first served app. I was really anticipating the app, but the kitchen seemed kind of slow for a post lunch rush period. Anyways, decent portions and good food. A decent spot to eat in the Gaslamp.
(3)Randall S.
Went for dinner as we were feeling like sushi. Had the dog with us so looking for somewhere we all could go. Nice patio, a little rain but had a slight roof that did the job. Sushi was very fresh and nice decor. We had the shisito peppers and vegetable tempura appetizers. Peppers were really good, tempura just ok. Had the rainbow roll and California roll. Both were fresh. As asahi beer on tap and finished off with green tea mochi. Nice sushi place!
(4)Jodie S.
Drinks were great. Service was good. The sushi quality was not was I was expecting for $15 a roll. The Brussels sprouts were the highlight of my meal. Once again, not what I was expecting. The amount of fish on the rolls was a bit disappointing. It's a cool place. Probably won't be back unless they up their fish game though.
(2)Jamie S.
I must start off by saying the sushi roll is the best. The service was ok. That is mainly why I'm giving 3 stars. We went on Valentine's Day and had reservations. We were seated promptly which was awesome. The guy in the front was super nice. But after the waitress took our drink order we didn't see her at all for 25 minutes! This was at 7pm and there was hardly anyone in there. I couldn't even find the waitress in the restaurant at all so I assumed she was in the back. I finally asked someone if we could order and she finally came out. Once eating never checked on us once and I needed a refill :( oh well. Sushi was great though. Truly thought Kaiju and Sushi lounge roll were great.
(3)Adelle N.
Omg!!!! This place is so good and so fresh. The salmon tartar melts in your mouth. The sushi is amazing and the drinks are strong. They put a lot of time into the atmosphere, from fresh flowers on the table to unique bathrooms. Julian is spot on with his attentive, quick and pleasant service. A must when in San Diego
(5)Dan C.
Stopped in here on a Thursday for dinner and had an amazing meal! The decor is very cool and all the staff was extremely friendly. Our server was great and helped us navigate the menu. She was always around when we needed something. The food was really really good, the Kaiju roll is now our new favorite sushi roll in SD! We will be back to try the rest.
(5)JP H.
This was a terrific evening at a really unique and new sushi spot in the Gaslamp. The Sakura Emaki was the best sake I've ever tried. The decor is completely different than any other restaurant in town and the vibe is really cool. Additionally, the staff was knowledgable and terrific. Taylor and Anna were very attentive. I will definitely come back and bring friends.
(5)Lenny T.
All I have to say is you have to order the Brussel Sprouts! Amazing! Went last Saturday with no reservations, 5 minute wait, GM personally visited our table...Julian I think, to make sure we were happy. Friendly atmosphere, sexy decor, next time definitely a spot to grab a drink at the bar and order a roll before heading out. BTW, unisex restrooms are super clean.
(5)Bianca P.
Don't pass up the Kaiju Roll & The Edamame Guacamole - they were great! The service was amazing and they were very helpful in explaining the dishes to us. We found out that all the fish is sustainable and comes in daily. If you are looking for a fun treat, I would also try the brussel sprouts...they were delicious and crispy! Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Deanna W.
Good atmosphere and full bar. Sushi was really good. Could accommodate big parties. The owner was friendly and bought us beers. Thanks for a nice lunch!
(5)C M.
Just finished my meal at Sushi Lounge and was happy overall. My server (lady bartender sorry I forgot your name) was especially helpful and very attentive.Decor was modern and clean. I ordered the brussel sprouts, and while they were very tasty, there was too much glaze used which left the bottom of my bowl full of saturated soggy sprouts. So unfortunately I only ate half the serving. In my opinion, the brussels were cooked so well they could have stood on their own with only a light drizzle of sauce. i also ordered salmon and yellowtail Nigiri sushi, both were fresh and very tasty, and the Kaiju roll (9 pieces) which was average.
(3)Felipe L.
Stupid by this restaurant while taking on business. It's located a bit outside the gaslamp district in downtown San Diego. I ordered a little sushi and a Thai dish. The sushi had to be the best I've ever had. Hamachi and sake with a spider roll. Incredible.
(5)Kelly C.
Simply the best Sushi downtown San Diego! Most amazing Chef, friendly staff, and the owners, Reef Mowers & Matt Green, are always onsite and are there to make sure your experience is one that will not be forgotten. The decor is unreal, vibe is on point, fun downtown feel, great for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion with a large group of friends! This is a must try if you haven't been...once you go, YOU'LL BE HOOKED!!! Thank you for opening a sushi lounge downtown that not only offers the finest sushi but adds in the great experience and top notch customer service that just isn't as important to other options downtown!!!! Love this place!!!
(5)Susan G.
Loved the new vibe! Food still amazing :) ESPECIALLY the Brussels and Edamame guacamole. Best sushi downtown AND reasonable. Thanks Taylor for excellence sound, service and sushi!
(5)Kelsey D.
BOMB BRUSSEL SPROUTS! I absolutely LOVED this place! The atmosphere was super trendy, but not too loud to the point you couldn't hear the people next to you. The sushi tasted super fresh and did I mention the brussel sprouts..??? OMG I would go back just for those!
(5)Andrew I.
This place has really turned around to be amazing experience! It was already great but now even better! Staff is really friendly and gourmet Sake is the best!
(5)Jamie S.
Great location. The sushi was ok, nothing special. we sat outside which was fun, so many people on the street. Our server was helpful, but not around enough.
(3)Stephanie O.
Great food! Love the ambience. Manager was also friendly and made experience even better! (:
(5)Mya N.
I've been here once, but I had a great experience. The fish is extremely fresh. I had the chirashi, and they added amazing herbs e.g. cilantro, mint, and chives-sooo amazing. The vibe is awesome. Will definitely be back!
(5)Ryan L.
The freshest sushi I ve ever had . Good beer selection too! Great vibe I would recommend it to everyone who is looking for really good sushi.
(5)pete o.
Lots of tourist places, then you find a place where the locals are at. Not disappointed at all. Great food, reasonable drinks and the bar staff are more than cool. Second night here and I will be back tommorow night with the wife!!!
(5)Moni L.
Bombest appetizers! Best Shishito peppers. Best seaweed salad. Best Brussel sprouts. Hands down.
(5)Carla G.
We had reservations for New Years eve. We only had to wait a few minutes for a table to clear. They had big tall tables that you sat in stools on but you could not push your legs under the table. It was odd. Service was a bit slow but the sushi was decent.
(3)Angela S.
Eaten here twice, good food, friendly service, cute ambiance, very fresh and inventive menu. Will go back again.
(5)James S.
Had an awesome experience here!!! One of the managers (taylor) did a fantastic job and recommended excellent sushi, appetizers, and sake and was very knowledgeable. Good place to go hang out with friends, eat some delicious sushi, and grab a drink....or maybe two.
(5)Jaclyn G.
Ate here tonight with a group of friends. Not only were we late but we reduced our number, and the staff was still incredibly accommodating. Our serving Rubina is an angel and took such good care of us, even humoring our sake bomb wims (we had an Aussie friend visiting). Good drinks, even better sushi. Not a fan of downtown but I will be back for happy hour very very soon.
(5)Amber R.
Delicious food, great atmosphere and awesome champagne. The owner is super friendly and the service is amazing. Get the edamame guacamole!
(5)Tyler K.
Great service and a fun space. Happy Hour was a good deal and a fun way to try a number of smaller plates.
(4)Marina R.
So we decided on this place after doing a Yelp search, and my family LOVED IT! So my parents and aunt and uncle decided to go bar hopping (this was the first ever, literally) and omg best sushi ever. We shared a dragon roll (as we were going to dinner afterwards) and enjoyed every bite. Oh I forgot to mention, we had the best saki bombs ever (mom and aunt never had one). In the end, we were there just for HH so all of this fun was amazing at a low price.
(5)Patrick Y.
Good sushi, great sake samplers and even better service. Ask for Taylor, Sonia or Rosie!
(5)Gi Anna G.
This place is beyond amazing!!! The sushi is to die for! My girlfriend and I had the Old and the new Miso soup which are the best I've had, thus far from all of the Sushi places I've been to. The service was superb from the waiter getting us the best table, to customizing our Martinis and having the chef make a sushi roll with the ingredients we like best. On top of that the decor of the place is very chic with vibrant colors and upbeat but relaxing atmosphere. I will definitely visit again and recommend this place to others. Thank you for an amazing time :)
(5)Jordan G.
The sushi is incredible. If you're going, definitely get the Crunchy Roll. It's imitation crab and tempura shrimp with flakes. Tremendous
(5)Kassie L.
I had friends visiting from out of town and was looking for a super cool spot to take them, heard great things about sushi lounge and decided to try it out! My friends and I had a BLAST!! Food was amazing!! The whole staff was on top of everything and the vibe & music makes the dining experience really fun! It's our new favorite restaurant! Only sushi spot I got to now!
(5)Austin E.
Been to a few of the sushi spots in town, this place by far is my favorite! They always have fresh fish, an interesting assortment of rolls, and super yummy ramen. Happy hour specials till 7!
(5)Corey H.
Brussel sprouts are fantastic. Pizza Port IPA on tap. There was a little bit of a funny spice in the sushi we got. Someone else may love it but it was just not perfect for us. Would still recommend it as a great place to try.
(4)Bradley C.
This is a great happy hour spot. The staff is great and the food is good. I recommend the brussel sprouts, the seaweed salad, the salmon and spicy tuna rolls. The brussel sprouts are some of the best I've had. You can get all of that for $18 before seven. Great value.
(5)Daniel D.
I really like what they've done with this place over the past couple of months it has greatly improved ! The scenery is nice with a cool loungy vibe to it ! I tried the seaweed salad, seared ahi sashimi, ramen noodle soup which i strongly recommend to anyone ! I hear the brussel sprouts are really good and also so i'll be sure to try that next time along with the Omakaze which looks amazing in the pictures below! The service was great and I look forward to coming back here again soon for my next Sushi run!
(5)Marni L.
Really great sushi and a super waitress but believe it or not, the highlight was their crispy Brussel sprout appetizer. Next time we will order 2!!!!
(4)KELLI M.
Love this place. The ambiance is great at night, service was good and the food was delish. The brussel sprouts are TO DIE FOR! =)
(5)Michael B.
Bottom line - freshest fish and the best atmosphere. The sushi chefs know their stuff and we now come twice a month.
(5)Tim O.
I had dinner there with friends the other night and it was fantastic. The staff was very attentive and food quality was spot on! The shrimp tempura is the best in town.
(5)Stephanie T.
This is for pick up order only. The restaurant looked like a cute date spot with dim lighting and modern decor. We weren't feeling too well so we picked up some nigiri and ramen. The ramen was tasty, nothing crazy special but helped my upset stomach a bit and the salmon nigiri was extremely fresh with buttery texture. I'm knocking off a star because there were no utensils, and as we were taking that to the hotel it was a bit of an inconvenience since they didn't have chopsticks.
(4)Kristi H.
Great location! Awesome rolls and the bartenders don't make you wait and are on top of their game. I will return.
(4)Steve B.
The Brussels sprouts are out of this world, a must order, everything they serve is great!!!
(5)LuLu V.
It's OK. Read the reviews and thought we would try it. Eh... First of all the music is SO loud that we could hardly hear each other - had to continuously repeat ourselves huh? what? can't hear you! Secondly, we had the brussel sprouts - yeah, why would we do that at a sushi restaurant? Never again - the reviews said they were the appetizer to get - we love brussel sprouts - but really... at a sushi restaurant? They were good but we could get those anywhere. Thirdly, we ordered the chef's choice - the fish was fresh for sure but nothing where we thought it was outstanding yum in your mouth. So we will continue our quest to find the best sushi in San Diego - we will definitely not return - which is a shame since it's so close to our home.
(3)Russ I.
I have eaten sushi all over the world. U.S., Europe, even on the docks of Tokyo at the tsukiji market, the epicenter of sushi on the planet. The sushi at Sushi Lounge in San Diego is second to none. The freshness of the fish is almost as awesome as the attitude of the staff. Seriously, this is serious sushi! They really care about quality and preparation. It's very clear that someone at the helm is watching closely to make sure the disk is ocean fresh and tastes like it was swimming last night. Kudos to the chef. The owner and the designer of this awesome sushi restaurant. This is my third visit, but I promise it won't be my last.
(5)Min Z.
Now I know why my friend go to sushi Lounge Fresh. High quality. Delicious. Those three reasons are your must-haves when it comes to sushi. Yes there's a wait but all good things come to those who wait, right? Yes it's pricey, but oh my was it worth it! My taste buds are still thanking me. I highly recommend Go and try it for yourself already!
(5)Scott C.
Had a great experience at Sushi Lounge. I loved the decor (Samurai Swords hanging overhead and old Asahi stills for the bathrooms) and the art/murals on the walls. The sushi was fresh and delicious, the Sushi Lounge Roll and the 92101 rolls were awesome and they made a very good Rainbow Roll, that was not on the menu, but they made for us anyways. The best part however were the appetizers. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing, the edemame was well seasoned and the edemame guacamole was also awesome (though a few more chips with it would have been nice). All and all it was a great time and we will be back.
(5)Moriah M.
Went for lunch after a zoo trip. The menu is really fun, a mix of interesting rolls and delicious appetizers. The shishito peppers app is really stunning. The poke and salmon tartare are both served deconstructed and are tasty albeit small portions. Excellent beer list and great atmosphere. A win!
(5)Marissa K.
Such an awesome cool place to have sushi! Chill relaxed atmosphere. Servers are so nice and the manager was very accommodating. Went here for a bachelorette party and had a wonderful girls night out! And the food is some of the best sushi I've had!
(5)Ana R.
By far one of the best sushi places in San Diego. I highly recommend it! Julian is a great GM and he has done miracles with this place!! the executive chef, Robert, is awesome! Very friendly guy with a passion for what he does! the executive sushi chef James is absolutely incredible! he definitely knows how to make an amazing sushi roll that will leave you speechless! if you guys are in downtown and love sushi this is a must go to place!
(5)Cindy V.
This place is AMAZING!!! I had lunch here today and it was soooo good!!! From the time I walked inside I was welcomed. My meal didn't take long and my server that was also a bartender was checking on me s lot which is awesome!!! Also one of the managers checked up on me to make sure I was satisfied, which of course I was!! This place is doing amazing!!! And the prices are VERY affordable!!! I love seeing a place that all their employees care about making their guest feel comfortable!! This is now my #1 sushi restaurant. Thanks Sushi Lounge.
(5)Christina B.
Came in tonight for a corporate/birthday party. The new general manager Ryan is fantastic! He is so personable and has exceptional customer service. The restaurant is so welcoming! Not only that, but the food is better than ever. Love the new chef! There is not a place in town with fresher fish. Dine here and you're ruined for anywhere else!
(5)Jessica B.
This place is amazing! Julian sent us in for a corporate/birthday party. I had the Kaiju roll and it was one of the best rolls I've ever had. So yummy and great atmosphere here. The new general manager Ryan is awesome and the customer service was great. Definitely coming back!
(5)Nisa A.
The 902101 roll is one of the most refreshing rolls I've ever had - and I've eaten sushi in Japan, NYC, SF, Miami, Syria, LA... it's the perfect combo of awesomeness. Eat it with soy sauce, seems like it brings out the different fish more. Management and staff is also really cool too.
(5)Mike g.
Food wss excellent. Our sushi chef Brad was great. He told us about the yelp check in. Thanks Brad. We will be back.
(5)Alan M.
Came here on a date night. Early because we have kids. So it was slow but very welcoming. Service was awesome the entire time, Rosie was great and very helpful. The sashimi and rolls we had were very fresh and the flavors were outstanding (kajiu). Overall excellent experience. Will come back when we have the chance.
(5)John A.
Poor quality rubbery sushi that was meh. Service was great, however the hostess kept bending over showing us her black underwear and rear with a white dress that barely covered her bum. It was really annoying and unappetizing.
(1)Joe G.
Food - good. Rolls, sashimi etc. all solid. Service was spotty and chaotic even though the place was half empty at 6 pm. My overall impression, if you want to do sake bombs and get a late bite, this could be your place. If you're taking clients out for sushi, keep walking.
(3)Sharlie R.
I've eaten at Sushi Lounge twice and both times it was phenomenal! Fresh sushi, creative rolls and fun appetizers. It's a must have if you love sushi.
(5)Vivek B.
Excellent food. The food was pricey though but excellent.
(4)Candee B.
Stopped in for a quick bite and really enjoyed the edamame guacamole. Great presentation and amazing flavor. You need to stop in and try it!!
(5)Stevie B.
The food was really good. LOVE THE BRUSSEL SPROUTS! Just make sure you try the Kaiju roll. It's great. Also make sure your bill is correct and you use the Yelp discount. :)
(4)Yohance R.
My god where do I begin. From horrible sushi, to long wait times, to management causing longer wait times by scolding waiters right in front of us. So unprofessional and the waiters were the only silver lining in this storm cloud of a "restaurant". My friends and I won't be coming here again.
(1)R. M.
AMAZING!!! Not only did Julian take care of us for my bachelorette, but he made sure our dining experience was nothing short of wonderful! Colton was also great on giving us menu tips including the Kaiju rolls! The taro chips and Brussel sports were also yummy!!! If you're downtown check this place out for bomb sushi!!
(5)Liz C.
Came here with my husband last night on a whim. We were walking around dt in the mood for some sushi and this was the first place we saw so decided to stop in and we were so glad we did :) the vibe was fun and The decor was very comfortable. I had the 92101 roll with the truffle oil on top and the brussel sprouts it was sooo yummy! My husband had the Kaiju roll and salmon nigiri he was very impressed. Lauren was our server and she was very accommodating and sweet my husband and I will def be back!! Five star for the great food and service!
(5)Judy M.
One of the best places I've ever had sushi! I had no intention of eating the enormous portions but it was SO delicious I dove right in and didn't leave anything! The service is excellent, it's nicely decorated (loved the rest rooms!) and you can actually have a conversation without shouting. Can't wait to go back again!!!
(5)Kynan R.
Great friendly staff. Egregiously cheap Saki flight. Traditional Japanese beers. And to say the least, good rolls with the option of brown rice. Always a plus in my book. Plus it's in the beating heart of the gaslamp! Will recommend.
(4)Deslau D.
Omg you have to try the 92101 roll!!! It's freaking to die for! So fresh and perfect cut amazing! Also the teriyaki bowl with brown rice... Oh so good! Service is super good, super friendly staff :) definitely will come back here!!!
(5)Meganshiri ..
Best place, had apps and drinks, super nice staff, delicious brussel sprouts! And great vibe
(5)Ramie W.
By far the best food we had in San Diego. Super tasty, friendly & fun service. Taylor was amazing
(5)Andrea P.
I went to this place last week with some friends, and We had the dragon roll, crunchy roll, the sushi lounge roll and kaiju roll, and some garlic edamame. The waitress that helped us I think her name is Anna Banana was just so nice and helpful with making decisions on what to order. Taylor one of the guys who works there was so friendly and treated us like if we had known each other for months it gave the place such a friendly vibe. The food was delicious and I really liked how they would bring the sushi one at a time it made me enjoy each roll. My favorite one was the dragon roll, they also have a huge selection of drinks which I like. Definitely going there again in the future and bringing more friends!
(5)C D.
Favorite rolls....92101, has a truffle aioli and a nice citrus taste, market street was delish, and the Dragon Roll is my favorite. Edamame guac and brussel sprouts are out of this world, and if u like spicy get the Ghost Pepper edamame! Enjoy!
(5)Jeremy F.
My boyfriend and I came in around 8:00PM Saturday night, against our better judgement having been here before and while the food was good the service was abysmal. The restaurant was already jamming and had a really good vibe tonight. We were seated as soon as a table opened up right near the front on the inside by the doors, which allowed us some privacy. We were really amazed by how delicious the food was and how attentive our server, apparently a new staff memeber gary, were. He recommended a couple rolls to us including the 91001 and dragon rolls to us and we also had some house cocktails. We finished the meal off with the almost too decadent honey toast. Seeing that they are fixing some of the kinks out and increasing the level of service to another level has made us both plan on being regular customers (it even made me decide to yelp!)
(5)Krystle R.
I have been there a couple of times and the sushi is fresh and well prepared. The manager, Julian, is great and my experiences have been equally as great! oh, try the salmon sashimi!! It melts in your mouth!
(5)Brandon S.
Great atmosphere and amazing sushi! The edamame guacamole is awesome!
(5)Mich P.
Super FRESH and tasty! The 92101 roll is a must try. It has scallops and truffle. Truffle on a roll? Yes! Try it!
(5)Ryan N.
Avoid. Sushi was not god and service was very, very spotty and slow. Received my two rolls about 10mins before I got my miso soup and my coworker didn't get his rolls until abotu 15mins after I received mine.
(2)Sharla N.
I had originally left a 1 star review, but am updating it because of the attentiveness Julien showed for customers. I didn't have a great customer experience my first time their, but glad to see they hear reviews and try and make it right.
(3)Arman N.
Best sushi spot I've been to. Lots of creative and original dishes, plus great tasting sushi! Definitely returning often.
(5)Jamie R.
I was excited to check this place out after reading some of the reviews on the food. Unfortunately we didn't even get to try a few of items others raved about because by 8pm they were sold out. The worst past was not being told upfront, instead letting us order two different times and coming back after to tell us they were sold out. On the plus the Gojira roll was good and the host was probably the friendliest person in the restaurant.
(2)Jason S.
Please read this review before making your decision to go to this restaurant. I have lived in San Diego my entire life and I've been to many of sushi restaurants here in San Diego. I went to this restaurant last night and had one of the most awful experiences of any sushi restaurant I've ever been to. They only had one waitress working and she even self admittedly said she'd never had a waitressing job in her life and that night was her first night. The food took about 50 to 60 minutes to get to our table. They never even asked if I wanted a drink. After we were done with our meal we waited an additional 25 minutes for a check. The entire time the manager/owner was just standing around the restaurant not helping or assisting to speed up the service of his customers. The sushi was average to poor at best, which truly made the experience that much worse. Please trust me when I say do not ever go to this restaurant no matter how good you see the reviews are on on yelp. There are plenty of sushi restaurants in downtown that far exceed this one in terms of service, food, and overall experience. I have never had such a horrible experience at any restaurant.
(1)Alec B.
This place is so cool. Bathrooms are awesome and the set up of the place is great. The lights! Crunchy rolls all day and the orange beer is life-changing.
(5)Jarren B.
Servers were fun and food was great. Definitely try this place if looking for sushi in gaslamp.
(5)Laura V.
The food is delicious and the manager is amazing. This is our go to spot.. I've tried several rolls and we're all delicious. Very fresh as well. Definitely recommend sushi lounge
(5)Yajaira C.
The food there is delicious and very fresh!! I had several rolls and they were all amazing. The manager Julian is amazing!! Very kind and warming with ALL his customers. This is my favorite spot!!
(5)Amy B.
Wow! The sushi here is phenomenal! Thank you so much Chef Kato for the amazing service and serving us the most delicious sushi I have ever tasted! You ROCK!! NOTE TO SELF: BELLY UP TO THE SUSHI BAR W CHEF KATO!
(5)Javier B.
I started to write this review with saying "this is the worst sushi" and immediately deleted the word "sushi" and continued with "dining experience I've ever had". This is the epitome of a run down, low quality, americanized sushi "joint". I went in on a Friday night and they were blasting techno music so loud that I had to scream to have a conversation with my girlfriend who was sitting next to me at the bar. The blue and pink neon lights, the over-use of bamboo decorations, as well as the obnoxiously drunk sake-bombers made us feel like we were at some cheap tourist attraction. DO NOT take a date here. Our waitress was so hyperactive and really had no clue what was going on. The manager had to go up to her and say "your soups have been ready for 5 minutes". Those were our Miso soups. I could tell because of how cold they were. Plus, I saw another waitress grab all the tops of 8 beer glasses as she loaded them onto the tray. Disgusting. We ordered yellow tail nigiri, 2 "specialty rolls", and a basic spicy tuna roll. The specialty rolls were not good. They were loaded with weird ingredients and the cream cheese in the Kaigu Roll is so overwhelming that you could not taste the fish at all. Even the spicy tuna roll was sub-par. How hard is it to mess up a simple spicy tuna roll?! The nigiri was ok, could had been more fresh. The entire time I was trying to keep my cool because I wanted to have a nice time with my girl. Turns out, she was more fed up with the place than I was. We each took 1 piece of the specialty rolls, looked at each other with a face of disgust, and I ordered the check. It was the worst sushi I have had in San Diego. Unbelievably bad.
(1)Jacob H.
Terrible service. Excellent food and drinks. I knew we would have issues when the guy who sat us seemed inconvenienced from cleaning bar glasses (about an hour before closing on a non-busy wednesday night). After sitting down we waited about 15 minutes before anyone came over. Had to ask another server for water. Food came seperately with a long delay. I had to get up and find my own soy sauce on a platter of containers being refilled for closing. Nobody bothered to ask if the food came out ok. Several servers were hanging out and having a great time by the server station/pass line. Our server "Dale" spent more time doting on a table of three patrons in the back corner with the rest of the servers despite my numerous attempts to flag someone, anyone down for a water refill. Sushi was awesome. Imported black lager was wonderful. We live down the street, but we'll be walking right past this place from now on.
(1)Jason M.
A-MAZING. Don't leave San Diego without eating here. And don't leave here without getting the Brussels sprouts and Market roll. Watch out for the Samurai swords (look up when you walk in). You're welcome.
(5)Ellen H.
Awesome place... Yummy sushi..
(5)Marcus L.
I dropped by SLM on Saturday for a break from all the Comic Con chaos. The place was packed but I was luckily able to grab a spot at the bar. Turns out I made a great decision to stop by as the food, drinks, and service were on point. I did come during Comic Con however, so keep that in mind. But I suppose if the service is good during the Comic Con madhouse, then it can't be any worse during normal hours. DRINKS Perfect. I love how the bar has such a great selection. I'm picky with vodka and they had all the right stuff. FOOD I ordered two sushi rolls and they came out good. There was a little bit of a wait for these but that's expected as this is sushi and not fast food. Presentation was great and the flavor was there. No complaints. I'm not sure what their regular prices are and if they adjusted pricing for Comic Con but I felt that the prices were fair. (I saw some places jack up their hamburgers to $20!!) SERVICE Service at the bar was great. Emmi took care of everything. The drinks were perfect and my whole experience was wonderful. Dressing up as Katniss to go along with the Comic Con theme...? That can only mean extra Stars!
(5)Vanessa B.
Ordered delivery through Seamless. Apparently Sushi Lounge was out of a couple of the items we picked. When I called to complain, SL said they had told Seamless, but Seamless never communicated that to me (in fact, still disputing the charges). But even though it may not have been SL's fault they went above and beyond the make it right. They treated us to a full free dinner on them the next night!!! Talk about killer customer service. The quality is good. Their roll combinations aren't my absolute favorite, but they're good and the fish is fresh. And they deliver all the way to La Mesa, so certainly can't complain about that. Both deliveries took an hour and a half or so from the time of order. But again, all the way to La Mesa!
(4)Kaylie S.
Horrible service :/ The food was pretty good, but I told the server no avocado because I am very allergic and all of my food had avocado.. Also took an hour for our food to arrive since the time we sat down... Not good for a lunch
(2)Haley A.
On a downtown adventure with a friend, we made sure to make it to Sushi Lounge, as I had purchased a $20 groupon for $40 worth of sushi here (an awesome valued deal by the way). We walked around a bit, as SL opens at 2pm on Sundays, until we were eventually there and seated. First impression was wow! The atmosphere at SL is more than inviting. Very modern and interesting to the eye! So many details clearly went into the place, from the rendition of the San Diego skyline in chalk, to the beautiful murals, to the huge Japanese beer can that just so happens to be the bathroom! So cool. The wait staff was very friendly and quick to tend to our needs and questions. My friend and I started with the Edamame Guacamole appetizer which came with Taro Chips. I highly recommend this app, as it is a great take on guacamole. The taro chips had the perfect texture to them and with a little kick or siracha were on point. I posted a picture of it- kinda looks like a big helping of wasabi! Although a million times more palatable and delicious (obviously haha)! For the sushi, we went with a simple Caterpillar eel roll and the 92101 roll, which had fresh scallops and white fish. Both were delicious. You could tell the fish was very fresh. While we had both had caterpillar rolls many times, the 92101 roll was a nice change. A lot lighter and more of a summery roll in comparison to the very sweet caterpillar roll. Overall, will definitely come back the next time i make it down to Market! A great place to lounge out on some sushi with a cool vibe to match surrounding Gas Lamp area.
(4)Kristal A.
So this place is NOT a Japanese restaurant. None of your typical Japanese food items. They have a different take on Chirashi, not sure I like it as much since the portion size left me hungry. The flavor was really good though. Bear in mind it's name. It's focus is sushi rolls, which is just what it's name entails. The spider roll was very good as was the California roll. The 90210 roll is good, very unusual, but very yummy! Avoid it if you dislike tart stuff. Garlic edamame is good but also slightly tart as well. They meet the standard I demand of any 4 star place. Our server was very nice and was accommodating to our needs. Even the hostess was very nice, constantly updating us on the time we would be seated. It was a consistently good service. My water glass didn't remain empty for long! All servers are willing to help, no poor excuse saying they will get my server. If I could give half a star extra for that kind of consideration that is consistent I would! The pricing is consistent for SD, so really no complaints there at all. Plus, I get 10% off via yelp for my first check in! Yay! I will return!
(4)Colleen T.
If it must be said, I came here to pick up some sashimi for my cat's birthday. Yes, I am one of "those" people. The wait time was typical, the staff was friendly and informative; I enjoyed a cocktail ( with my favorite gin:Nolet's) and might return to this establishment. My cat loved his portion. I enjoyed mine, although the cuts were not as neat as I would expect from a high class sushi restaurant. Perhaps I am spoiled from my time in Tokyo. I would definitely return here for convenience and location, but I will also be seeking out a more traditional sushi house in the area.
(3)Nikita J.
Fresh Fish but incredibly slow service, slow kitchen, & slow sushi chefs. I truly wanted to love this place but they dropped the ball too many times. This all begins with a Groupon that should have been our 1st red flag. Lets be honest... You never see successful restaurants on Groupon. But $24 for $40 isn't a bad deal! The 2nd red flag was listening to the table next to us complain about how slow the service was! It took them 20 min just to get their bill... yikes Edamame Guacamole (4/5) I love these two things separately so the combination of the two made me a happy panda! The fried Taro chips we're perfect! Not so thin that they crumble and not too thick making them chewy. The guac itself was delish! Light, creamy and perfectly seasoned. But it took 15-20 min to get that ap and all they have to do is fry the Taro chips... shouldn't have taken more then 5-10 min. *Nigiri* loved that you can order just one piece of nigiri! Aji- perfect and fresh 5/5 Kampachi - fresh but wish it had been garnished 4/5 Tomago- took them 15 min after we ordered to let us know they didn't have it. Of the sushi 4 chefs and two floor staff there is no excuse for taking that long to communicate with your table ESPECIALLY when we are 2 of the only 8 customers in the entire restaurant! *Specialty Rolls* 92101 (1/5)- scallops tuna, avocado, truffle aoili and temp green onion topped with yellowtail, yuzu juice, truffle shoyu oil finished with a red clay sea salt. I could defiantly taste the truffle oil... the yuzu was non existent. I LOVE YUZU! So I asked for a side of yuzu sauce. But when the waitress came back she said the chef handed her ponzu and told her "that's goes with it" she seemed uncomfortable she was stuck between a chef who refused to give her what her customer asked for and the customer who asked for it "Is that okay?" she asked meekly. That's not what I asked for but I clearly didn't have a choice. After all... I'm just the customer. Kumite Roll (1/5)- blanched asparagus, garlic aioli, salmon & Avo, topped with albacore, a habanero sauce, garlic chips and micro greens... All their rolls read very well but they alllll fell short on flavor. The fried garlic chips were cut way too thick! They were very hard and difficult to chew. Blind folded i would have guess they were garlic flavored pebbles. I thought the roll would have a little bit of kick due to the Habanero sauce but it had no heat whatsoever and impressively tasted like nothing... Over all... I have no desire to ever dine here again. Their product is fresh... so if you do find yourself here I would only recommend nigiri or sashimi. The specialty rolls don't have much flavor and aren't worth the $$. Evidently there is no sense of urgency in the entirety of this restaurant ... so I wouldn't recommend it if you're in a hurry.
(1)Sara J.
Oh Em Gee!!!! This place is sooo yummy! BEST goyza ever! Melissa was our server. She was so helpful & sweet. She really made our experience a pleasure. Prices are super reasonable & great drinks. We will definitely be back very soon :-)
(5)Pedro P.
I had the spider roll broccolini tempura, miso cup ...pretty darn good. I'm competing the spider roll with Ichiban in Hillcrest... We were just offers a 14 $ value free roll set very thankful!
(4)Jeremy D.
Sushi Lounge is a combination of medium-higher end sushi and a lounge/bar scene with high energy music blasting the whole area - I brought my 2 tween kids with me and if I knew that there was a partial bar atmosphere, I would not have brought them to eat dinner here. They have friendly hosts and waiters that know how to funnel patrons (e.g. they stopped taking people in because the kitchen was behind and they didn't want the customers to wait so long once they were seated). My water never ran dry and I enjoyed them serving us our dinner. They also know how to keep patrons happy. For example, they forgot one of our dishes and provided it as complimentary even though the food didn't take more than 10 min to come out. Be cautious of their smaller than expected plates especially the Chirashi. Their garlic edamame was also too ripe and I found myself getting my hands dirtier than normal as I squeezed out the edamame like toothpaste. Their outdoor seating is a plus since it adds extra space and the ability to eat outdoors/people watch. As I left the restaurant, I felt up beat and ready to take on the night!
(4)Drew S.
I'm shocked at any negative reviews. This place was really great. Food was interesting, different, and delicious. The food didn't come out in 5 minutes so giving a restaurant 1 star for slow service is retarded. Go to Mc donalds . I ordered the lobster sushi roll, it was delicious and wasnt full of a pound of rice. I had enough time for 3 drinks and dinner. Spent between the 2 of us $90. I will be coming back. Super close to all the good bars.
(5)Sean M.
Good sushi lounge in downtown sd, outside sitting available. Sushi is very fresh, hand rolls are good. Sashimi salad is amazing must try!!! 1 star - for the slow service we waited 20 mins to have our sushis come out. 2 star - waiter never came by besides taking our order to ask us if we need anything, missing something. (Yes refill my drink )
(3)Mark A.
Did my usual 92101 roll, that truffle oil just makes it all so amazing.
(5)John S.
We decided to dine here after watching a movie, before checking out an art gallery/store. The service was good and attentive, the flavors are contemporary and a different path from the normal everyday sushi. I personally liked it but I am a bit of a foodie so like to try different things. Their modern and contemporary take on sushi and the flavors are a nice change from the normal everyday sushi place. We also had a sake beverage and it made for a good meal on a humid and warm night. I'd definitely recommend a stop by to try some different style sushi cuisine. Located in the heart of Gaslamp district.
(4)O P.
Food - 1 out of 5 stars. We tried half of the rolls on the menu and some salmon and yellowtail sashimi and unfortunately it was some of the worst I had tried. And I have been to a fair number of sushi places. The flavor just sucked. Service - decent. 3/5 stars. Atmosphere - 5/5 stars. This place has potential. But at the moment it sucks!
(2)Mignon C.
We came here on Saturday of Comic Con weekend so I really hope that the discrepancy between the ratings here on Yelp and what we experienced was due to the inordinate amount of people that were there that weekend. That being said, SDCC has been hosted here for so many years how do places close to the convention center not have their ish down already?? Firstly, we tried to share a bottle of sake at the table and about 70% of the bottles on their menu was sold out. We settled on something which cost $10/person for less than a cup of sake per person. Rip off. My second order for drinks was an Old Fashioned which I sent back because it came diluted with soda water?? I've never had an Old Fashioned diluted with anything. The 2nd one came out still diluted with something that was at least not carbonated and tasted only marginally better but I no longer wanted to try and order anything else or fix it. My SO's strawberry basil martini was so disgusting that every member at the table who tried to save the wounded soldier ultimately left it behind. (For a reference as to what a good strawberry basil martini should taste like please check out Seasons 52's.) My SO and I each got a chirashi bowl which featured a chef's unimaginative selection of albacore, tuna, and salmon sashimi (yes I know, two tunas). It also had ikura which was rancid in my bowl; it took me a while to pinpoint what I was eating that was giving me that somewhat fermented flavor and when I realized it was the salmon roe I was too far gone (and too hungry) to stop. I normally love ikura and this was so disappointing but at least my SO's was fresh and we could actually compare difference in color and clarity of our roe (yay!science). Speaking of being too hungry to stop eating obviously unfresh seafood, there were five of us at the table who all ordered at the same time. We all ate in shifts since food came out staggered so far apart that those of us still waiting told the others to start eating because we had no idea when our food would come out. In fact, my friend who had gotten the chicken teriyaki of all dishes didn't get his food until after my SO and I got our second round of orders delivered (well over an hour after we first sat down). First world problems, I know, but we wound up missing out on lining up for a panel we thought we had plenty of time to get into. Basically, the food was super over-priced for the quality and quantity that we got. My SO got another round of food (sushi rolls) because the whole experience had left him still feeling so hangry (hungry... and now angry as well), and I felt badly because it's not often that he gets fresh sushi/seafood in Texas and this was supposed to be a treat for him but it didn't feel that way. The only saving grace of the whole experience was that our waitress (dressed as sexy Pikachu?) was super friendly and nice and apologetic for everything that happened though most of it was beyond her control. After all was said and done and because we wound up missing the last panel we wanted to attend, we wound up leaving the area and going to Polite Provisions instead where our drinks were at least on point. I am normally inclined, given the situation, to give places like this another shot, but between the high prices and the gross rancid seafood, I'm not sure I want to risk and see if the wait and the dearth of menu items available was just due to Comic Con.. I would say that overall, the place I went to this weekend that really had their game on point and were prepped for the SDCC crowds was Werewolf.. that is worth checking out!
(1)Michael K.
Disappointing that I have to lay down a 2 star review here since the reviews were saying best sushi in SD, but the food just came out too slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Had a reservation for Saturday night at 8. Place was fully occupied but nothing crazy...Party of 8, so a little challenge for the kitchen. Two hot dishes, the teriyaki bowl and steak lettuce wraps (marinated for 30 hours and was ironically the 2nd dish to come out) were ordered, every other order was fish. No free miso soup here so that's a bummer but it's alright. Brown rice is $2.50. A red flag. Cool art and decor. Took about 15 minutes for the teriyaki bowl to come out. Another 5 minutes for the steak lettuce wraps to come out. Another 10 minutes for an apology for why the food is coming out all separately. "Hot food comes out faster than sushi." Yes, indeed. Another 20 minutes until the 92101 rolls came out. Those with the hot food, now had cold food... Some manageresque figure came over at this point and promised that the food would come out in "5 more minutes." Another 5 minutes until three plates with assorted rolls/nigiri came out. Me and my boy who had ordered chirashi were doomed at this point, an hour in. Had to get to our club by 10 so this long dinner was putting a crimp in our style. Our chirashi bowls arrived at 9 approximately. Honestly, the quality of fish and taste was quite good. However, the portions were on the smaller side and their chirashi selection was poor. I don't expect chirashi bowls to fill me up but the majority were just basic tuna and salmon cubes, with little else of substance besides that. #cmonman They even skimp on the amount of rice that is given, not giving you a standard rice bowl size portion of rice but more like a half to three-quarters portion. The notion that chirashi in this state took this long to prepare was ludicrous, as the cuts provided were not especially complex, intricate, or rare. $17 for the chirashi bowl here so it is firmly in the mid-range price. For the uninitiated this may seem like a quality sushi experience, but no sir, no sir. Do a Google search for chirashi and you will understand my perspective. As for the other food, general consensus was the cuts of fish were very fresh and tasty. The lettuce steak wraps were quality and you could taste the marination well. The teriyaki bowl was sup-bar as the brown rice was overly dry and tasteless. The latter two dishes were eaten cold due to the wait which may have impacted the reviews for them haha. Overall, I'd recommend coming here on a weekday when the restaurant is not crowded at all and you can experience some quality fish. They should remove hot food from the menu if they cannot balance out food out times. Location is very prime and convenient in the Gaslamp which probably leads to higher rent and them pricing things up? 4 nice TVs hang above and good Padres support in this bar if you're into that. I will not be returning though as there are better sushi experiences around and I guess this was punishment for not eating Mexican food in SD.
(2)Rebecca W.
Loved this place. I sat at the bar and the bartender was very happy to recommend dishes and sauces. The prices were great for the quality of food, which was delicious.
(5)chi v.
I like this place .. Hip fun with downtown restaurant. Price is good with groupon deal $40.. I love the short cribs with lecture wraps...yum Will be here again..
(4)Sarah P.
Great location with outdoor seating! Decent menu as far as number of items. Food was fresh and was brought to table fairly quickly. Our only complaint would be our server was very forgetful and slow to fulfill our requests. We found ourselves asking other servers to get us what we needed. I would visit again!
(4)Marlon B.
What can I say...so many choices in SD for restaurants. We came here cause we had a Groupon but the sashimi was on point. Albacore, Salmon, Scallop, Tuna and Yellowtail all delicious. Service was prompt and friendly and had a Happy hour Asahi to compliment. Will definitely return.
(5)Glen H.
Service here can use a little help. I've been here a couple times and they need better management. Service just didn't flow right. No chopsticks and plates were out for us when the food arrived. Went ahead and grabbed them from another table. Food, had better. Thumbs down on the Guacamole Edamame and it came highly suggested. Don't do it.
(2)Jen C.
Impeccable service tonight from the online ordering; had a late night dinner at 10:53pm on a Friday. Delivery driver was attentive to details during the exchange, and professional when he dropped off the food -- basically told him not to ring the door bell because there's a sleeping baby in the main house and that I was staying in the back house. Food was tasty, can't beat it for a late night dinner that reminded me about good ol' college days again. +=online ordering, packaged food was neatly labeled and in reusable containers -=Spider roll could be wrapped tighter and smaller
(4)Jenna P.
This is a fun place for the weekend. They have s good fun atmosphere and good sushi. It is a bit small and the staff could be a big more knowledgeable. The waitress admitted to not knowing what most of the rolls were. She was also very slow and spacey on a Saturday night. Overall it was a good experience for downtown though. It is a clean bar with good sushi.
(4)Stephanie L.
The vibe is not only amazing but so is all of the food. The elephant privates are amazing
(5)Cory H.
Pretty phenomenal. The Brussels Sprouts appetizer is amazing. The 92101 is perfect...if you like truffle oil. Staff was great and attentive. All of the sushi was fresh. San Diego makes me happy.
(5)annie p.
Sad experience for me... We walked in, was completely ignored, after seeing flying gnats around the table...we walked out.
(1)Ren C.
First time here and will definitely come back. Came here with a family visiting from out of town and we were happy with our choices of dragon roll, kumite, kaiju, and just to seal the deal, we finish the night off with 92101. Let's talk about their service first and then move on to the food. I called to make a reservation and they told me no need if we're only 5 minutes away. We showed up and were seated right away. Our server came to our table right away to see what we want to drink. We got some dark beer and appetizers. Brussels sprouts and/or garlic edamame is a must. Brussels sprouts is sweet with salty taste, delicious by the way! Garlic edamame will hit your taste bud perfectly. Our server came to our table to make sure we're ready to order our meal. So we did. They were all delicious and the only sushi I didn't was the spicy sushi (don't remember which one because I immediately chugged a glass of water). We finish the night off with dessert, green tea mochi. Needless to say, I was hungry going in and was in food coma getting out. If you're in town visiting and craving sushi, lunch or dinner, this is a great place to try!
(5)Yuji A.
Service was nice and friendly. Got their edamame and avocado dip and chips as an appetizer. Which was delicious. I would have side more off that Unfortunately, their sushi is plain tasteless and overpriced. Ordered the Street Fighter and the Sushi Lounge, their specialty rolls. That were just plain tasteless and boring. Nothing really good on them, even supermarket sushi is superior than that. $15 sushi roll, not worth it at all. Don't waste your time or money, is just some hipster wanna be sushi place. Nothing Japanese about it.
(2)Jes V.
Please keep note, I came here during the peak of Comic Con so there was a bit of a crowd. Nonetheless, I wasn't very pleased with the service and our waitress. The food was decent, but it is on the pricier side for the food. The eggplant fries were quite interesting and different and I ended up really like it. I also ordered the 92101 roll, which was decent. I had to have waited eternity for it though. Yes, there were quite a bit of people after we came in, HOWEVER ... the waiter took my group's order. I went first. I had told her to take my friend's first and then circle back to me. She took my friend's order and then left without taken my order (I had meant AFTER she took their order to circle back to me.) I eventually had to really wrangle the waiter back to take my order. By the time I got my order, my friends had long finished their meal due to my long attempts at getting the waiter and being in a queue for the sushi. It almost got to the point that I was going to cancel my order and find some place else. I don't think I'll be returning here again.
(2)lisa c.
Fun atmosphere, pretty decent sushi. Hamachi Kama was well done, and the salmon poke was pretty good. Beware, it's really loud and seats are quite uncomfortable but then again it's downtown.
(3)Paul P.
Sarah and Ashley are the best. Dragon Roll is bomb.com . Dragon roll is deliciousness
(5)Lawrence C.
Was really craving Japanese food as many of you may have also experienced. =) So I Ubered over to Sushi Lounge on Market from my hotel to get my fix on. Surprisingly it was pretty busy and there were about 20 people waiting outside. Fortunately I was able to snag a spot at the bar and ordered Teriyaki Chicken, CA Rolls and Tempura. Forgot what the price was, but it was very economical. Service was quick, but food quality was very average. Not sure if I will go back, but I would recommend you try it for yourself.
(3)Alicia Y.
I'd have to say the food itself wasn't bad but the staff was horrible! There werw 3 tables of people when we walked in and it Took 30 min to even take our order. We were never asked for our drink order and we saw our server once in the entire hour and a half it took us to eat our rolls. The servers and the MANAGER are walking around using cell phones, totally unprofessional and perhaps the reasons they aren't paying attention to their customers. I'd never come come back, not because of the food but the staff
(1)Domenique H.
Great service from the time I placed the order to the moment we closed the door. But that's where it unfortunately ends. We were eager to eat! The first dig in was the spicy tuna classic roll... UGH! Not what we were expecting. Then we tried the spider roll... Do not attempt! They were both really fishy. The only items we enjoyed were the Brussel Sprouts and Kaiju Roll. The edamame was a little off as well.
(2)Garrett Kaeo W.
Ok. So we came in on a Wednesday night, figuring for a weekday shouldn't be to bad, and we were right. Plenty of seats open, so we sat a the bar (not the sushi bar but to the right of it). The bartender/server was preppy and very energetic. But she was all over the place it took about 10 mins just to take our drink order. Then we had to wait another 10 mins for here to make time for us to take our regular order. And I notice it was still happy hour and they never gave us the happy hour menu, because she said it was after 7, but in reality it was only 630 (which was ok after I insisted to take a look at it). The atmosphere was really cool had a great vibe to it though which was probably the best part of dining here. Once we ordered she convinced me that the Omasake Roll (Chef creation) was the best possible thing, because our chef get really creative and throw all kinds of amazing thing and make it all work. I LOVE sushi. I grew up in Hawai'i and SD and have been eating fish before I could realize it, and have eaten at practically ever sushi place in SD (just to set the stage). So when our food finally came, I was very unimpressed. My Chef creation tool was a very plain "creation" of a traditional rainbow cool, that had a crab/imitation crab meat on the inside. I was baffled, the least to say. My girlfriend had ordered the Market roll, which was actually much tastier than mine, along with being very creative. I would recommend this to anyone who stops in. But beware of the price. I have paid less at Harney, Ota, Hane, and Loha. I think this is where they lost me the most, and combined with the service. It just took way to long for the place being a 1/3 full. I really hate writing reviews like this because I do not do it often. Usually the yelpers are very accurate but this is a first for me that I have been disappoint at a sushi place. Overall this place is not on my top list and I would recommend looking else where before stoping here.
(2)Jeremy W.
Five stars all around! -Food -Service -Atmosphere -Price I highly recommend! Sarah is a superb mixologist!
(5)Casper L.
Unbelievable place! Amazing chefs with some awesome new takes on classics and with the freshest fish in town... incredible staff and service, really can't speak highly enough of this place. Just dropped in to kick off our labor day weekend and will be coming back at every opportunity!!!
(5)Janel P.
Updated review- I've been meaning to review & finally have a chance to really go in. I NEVER leave horrible reviews but I will never go here again. Apparently new management or something. My original review was 4 stars... One star because the hostess was the only person who deserves it & the food we got was decent. We went for dinner as a party of 6. Service started out good but once the dishes started coming out we noticed that my bf's meal hadn't come out. We asked the server who brought out our food to check on it. We then told the hostess who actually apologized. Our actual server didn't come back until we were all almost done eating! We told him the food never came and just to cancel it. No apologies, no drink refills, nothing. We tried to split checks (which we told them we would do) and the checks were wrong 3x. We asked to speak to the manager, no one ever came. That's unacceptable. Any business should have a manager that can show the courtesy & respect to approach their patrons, especially if it is feedback for improvement. The hostess was the only person to speak to us or even apologize for the horrendous service. As we left, we asked one more time for the manager & waited. Again, nothing. As a local downtown, I will not recommend this place to anyone. There are way more sushi spots that actually serve their paying customers.
(1)Crystal J.
Pros: The place looks fantastic! I loved the vibe. I got the Kaiju, which tasted great. I don't remember the name of my cocktail, but it was delicious as well. Cons: The cocktail was not very strong. I wish there were descriptions of the classic rolls on the menu and a larger selection of specialty rolls. I understand that we arrived late in the evening, but we had to wait for a table to be cleaned, even though the place was basically empty. By the time we finally ordered, there was only 1 other couple there, but it took forever to get our food- even though we only ordered 1 roll each (5 people).
(3)Milly T.
First time here, and the place is nice service is great but the food is alright, I feel it's over priced for the amount I get and the freshness defiantly I've had better.
(3)Dustin G.
This is a great lil spot nestled right inside the gas lamp quarter.. Beautiful interior, friendly service, and quality food.. They have free-range chicken if you don't go the sushi route, as well as ramen, bowls, and sake to go alongside their rolls.. My gf inhaled the street fighter roll and she said it was real good with an evil smile.. Will most likely be dining here again in the future..
(5)Kirk P.
Awesome location, fresh food and taste. Creative menu with smoked ghost pepper edamame. We tried the Market Street Roll, the Street Fighter Roll, the sea salt edamame, smoked ghost pepper edamame, miso soup and the teriyaki bowl. I love this place and highly recommend it. Oh, and most important... did I mention fantastic service.
(5)Lupe D.
Came in to a nice classy looking sushi bar only to wait 45 for my rolls. No beer. No straws. Finally sushi came and it was ok and when we ordered a different roll we waited ANOTHER 30min! It was not even busy. 3 tables other than us. Seriously?! I can find great sushi and faster service other places! Cancel my sushi!
(1)Raina D.
Salad was fresh, and flavorful. Sushi was good. Service was good. Some sushi rolls are served hot and menu does not fisclose thar.. I Would come back but overall good time.
(4)Jamie D.
I love love love this place! Sat at the bar with some white wine that tickled my fancy mixed with seaweed salad and miso soup, then onto the fab 92101 Roll and the Samurai Roll! Duh Yum! #jdixxphoto
(5)Miss D.
The food was amazing and quick. We had sea salted edamame, spicy tuna roll, gojira, dragon, samurai and ended it with the Kanjit. All amazing. The price is a little high, but worth every bite. The setting is cool. Love the style and the music. Our server Everett was very courteous and funny. He encouraged our dancing with his own moves.
(5)Karina G.
Made a reservation and was not seated until 20 minutes later. The hosted was very nice and I could see she was trying to get us a table. Good food , but my chief complaint is it is more like a bar/club than a lounge or restaurant. Music is soooo ridiculously loud - can't even have a conversation. In fact the bass is so strong that at times you can't even make out the music. Not returning.
(3)Sara L.
Came here from LA for a teachers conference & didn't know what was good. I ordered take out at 5pm, and it took about 20 minutes for me to come and pick up my Kaiju Roll and green house salad, which by the way, were the best choice. They were ready in a nice little bag, and I got 10%off due to yelp, so the bill came out to be $18. The roll was AMAZING. I just wanted time to stop there so I could have the taste of the roll in my mouth forever. The salad was also VERY good, whatever sauce they had on it. If only the roll wasn't so darn expensive ($15)!! I planned on ordering take out again two days later at 7 pm, but I guess that time is extremely busy for them, and i didn't want to wait 45 minutes to get my food. But needless to say, this spot will be a place I'll come back to.
(5)Tiffany B.
Sushi Lounge is a great way to start the night off right!! I absolutely love the design and atmosphere Sushi Lounge gives. I have been there a few times now and every time I have gone in I have never felt more special! The food is beyond AMAZING too!! I can't express enough how delicious and fresh the sushi is!! You def cannot miss out on the extremely tasty Kaiju roll (that I always get), dumplings and the brussel sprouts!! The menu just recently changed and I have already tried the juicy burger and the huge chicken fried rice bowl. Next to the food being so incredibly good, so is the staff!!! Shout to Taylor, Rosie, Julian and Rubina for being so awesome and treating me and my friends like royalty : ) I will be back very soon! Probably again this week!
(5)Kate M.
Previous reviews are correct in stating the Brussel sprouts are where it's at. Trendy spot that plays good music. Staff are super friendly. Sushi is above average.
(4)Andrea G.
My bf and I came to San Diego for a getaway and came here jan 29 due to yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. Rosie was an amazing fun loving barista/ waitress and did not disappoint. When we arrived we waited 30 min but they allowed us to order drinks as we waited on the couch to get a table. The music and atmosphere was more than suitable for someone In mid twenties looking for an evening to relax and have a great time. I definitely recommend the Brussel sprouts. We ended up ordering 2 orders. The sushi was fresh, though I personally wasn't too happy with the Sushi lounge roll but that's because I don't like fried rolls (I should've paid attention to the menu details). I will for sure be coming back here next visit!
(5)Venessa C.
I came here for dinner with some of my CAbi gals. I love sushi so much so I could eat it all the time. We first got here and had the large long table in the center of the restaurant. Not the best for a large group. We ended up moving to the round one. we ordered our drinks and my girlfriend ordered a wine and it was served in a stella glass! Wine in a beer glass NOT SO MUCH. However our waiter was awesome left the wine and she ended up with a Stella. We asked our waiter to pick his/chefs top 6 sushi rolls and they did great. Fresh, tasty and could have eaten more. However, the BRUSSEL SPROUTS.....two maybe three bowls later....AMAZING and you have to get, it seems odd to get them at a Sushi place. But do. This is a great place and a must to go too. Next time I visit I will be going back.
(4)Derek B.
Samurai was awesome; gyoza was solid but unimpressive. The gyoza sauce had a nice spiciness to it. Nunchuk roll was also solid but nothing to write home about.
(4)Debbie H.
Food was great and atmosphere was gorgeous. Used a groupon for lunch and the edamame guacamole with taro chips was awesome!
(5)Stephen B.
I came in on a week night and did not know that this place had transitioned from K7 or Kamikaze 7 and the ownership of Kevin Roberts. I liked K7 because of the fact that they had decent nigiri and rolls and had hired a mixologist to make some awesome cocktails using Japanese Whiskeys. So anyway, while IMHO the new ownership really needs to bring back that last part and promote it, the customer service experience I had here was exemplary. Ryan (new GM) was working the floor that night, and there was some sort of a snafu with my order because of a large party that had hijacked the services of the kitchen. I understand this shit happens, so I was not a dick about it, just made it clear that I had been waiting on a simple hand roll and one order of nigiri for over 20 minutes. Ryan got wind of this and really went out of his way to make sure I was taken care of because of the inconvenience. He seems to be a very nice guy and definitely seems to care about the customer experience. I believe that this is missing from a lot of the restaurant scene here in SD, and especially in the Gaslamp (see my upcoming review of Lucky Liu's for an example of this) and that Ryan is a huge asset for the ownership. The food is good and they have some great specials, a refreshingly non-traditional atmosphere and obviously some very good people running the day to day show. Thanks again Ryan, and sorry it took me so long to write this.
(5)Vijay R.
Good spot if you are in the mood for good Sushi in a prime location in the center of the gaslamp district. Located on market between 4th & 5th, the location is ideal if you want to explore the gaslamp. The Sushi is very good, large menu with plenty of options for any sushi lover and even a few excellent alternative choices for your date if he/she is not into Sushi.
(4)Korey B.
Was looking for a Ramen place downtown and found sushi lounge. I'm glad I did. The staff was friendly and the food was good. Only reason I'm not giving 5 starts is due to their garlic edamame being soggy and drowned in garlic/lemon.
(4)Val S.
Their sushi is very fresh. The street fighter roll is my favorite. The garlic edamame is not what I expected. I am used to eating edamame with the skin but in this case it is too chewy and rough. Once you get the edamame beans out there really is no garlic taste.
(4)Nikki L.
I had a groupon for this place & loved the interior. Awesome art, real nice place. It's directly across the street from Hooters, same side of road as El Pulpos. We were seated, after getting our drinks and settling in, the hostess asked us if we could move to accommodate another party that came in. No big deal. I guess this review is to give kudos to the manager Kimberly because she is on her A game! Awesome customer service from her!!! We got the brussel sprouts & garlic edamame for an app - DELICIOUS! And a nunchuck roll as well as a market roll. Both of which I HATED, lol, BUT- my boyfriend loved them both so do not take that to heart, just not in my taste is all. Would totally recommend to anyone. :)
(4)vikki l.
Another great meal. The best tasting sushi I've ever had. My husband enjoys the Kobe burger and Japanese fries
(5)Eva L.
Update: ok, fair enough, the wall art and decor has changed some, but same themes which isn't a bad thing. I happen to like it. Rating hasn't changed but in response to managers message I guess I'll clarify some... The staff was excellent and attentive, no probs there! Food-wise, it may just be preference, but I stand by the descriptions. Bland wasabi and missing cucumber in Cali roll was probably the most major aside from the super salty guacamole. Like I said, maybe a bad batch. This used to be Kamikaze 7, same decor and all but with much better quality and reasonably priced sushi. I decided to give this new place a shot, but everything we ordered here was.... bad. It's basically an overpriced tourist trap. Don't come here if you want to eat sushi, just come in to have a beer at the bar and enjoy the nice decor and staff or don't come at all. The 2 stars are for the excellent service and staff, but I can't give more than that because the food was so bad. Sushi : tasteless. We didn't order the special rolls, just nigiri, spicy salmon roll and a California roll (maybe that was our mistake?) California roll didn't have cucumber. The big-eye tuna and salmon tasted the same (like nothing)... Spicy salmon roll tasted bland and not spicy at all. Wasabi was tasteless. Appetizer: we got the much raved about edamame guacamole. Maybe we got a bad batch, but it was so salty I couldn't eat it... All you could taste was table salt and nothing else. The taro chips were pretty good, so I just ate that plain. I'll never come back here. We were in such a hurry to get out of there I even forgot to use the 10% off.
(2)Bryan S.
Laura is the most amazing host! Please try the burger, it's unbelievable! Their specialty menu during Saturday afternoons is incredible, I basically ordered everything on the menu (about 7 items), and they didn't disappoint. I recommend this restaurant, it was my first time and I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Lynette V.
Mediocre sushi, nothing special at a high price. Edamame was a little on the hard side, how can you screw that one up? We had 3 rolls, 2 alcoholic drinks and 1appetizer for $72.xx including tip and the 10% off yelp check-in offer. You can tell they are really trying to keep up with their competitors at Gaslamp but its the little things that make the difference. Pro: Nice decor. Con: No plum wine.
(2)Tiare D.
By far, the best sushi restaurant in the gaslamp. Amazing staff and chef's. Never has there ever been a disappointment. If your look for good priced, fresh sushi,and good sake, the sushi lounge is the go-to place. Much thanks to Chef Kato ! He is amazing! Must have: Brussel sprouts!!! And all the rolls, their all my absolute favorite! Highly recommended for a nice special dinner , or even to drop in for happy hour . Best place in town. Thank you Julian !!
(5)Ryan M.
Solid 4. This may be because I recently fell in love with Full Moon Sushi, but this place is centrally located and is a good warm-up for a night out! I enjoyed that the patio was pet-friendly, my niece's dog was able to hang out with us. I dint see a specific roll that stood out to me. 10 pieces for a specialty roll is great for sharing(explains the slight price uphike). Food was good enough for me to buy a groupon which means I'LL BE BACK (Terminator voice) I do love their loud interior and awesome artifacts and lighting! Again, Solid 4!
(4)Nicky L.
I was pretty underwhelmed with this sushi joint. They have a great location and awesome seating- both indoor and outdoor.... BUT the food is just eh for the price. It's basic, lacked seasoning and was overall kinda plain jane. I tried some specialty rolls and didn't find them to be special at all. The hostess was super sweet and sat us right away, just to leave us wanting to order and get some water for over 10 minutes. Maybe they were understaffed on this particular Sunday night? I'm not mad I tried this place, but I probably won't be back.
(2)Monika P.
I had lunch here and the sushi was fresh and very tasty. The service was good and the waiters were nice. I gave 5 star mainly because of the food and ambiance. My favorite was the market roll, I had it twice... :-)
(5)Angela N.
The sushi and service was fantastic! Our server Melissa was very friendly and prompt. A must order is the 92101 sushi roll. Awesome deviousness! Have it without dumpling it into your soy sauce. It's fantastic!
(5)Debra G.
Good was amazing presentation very creative and service was fabulous great staff we will be back
(5)Saunak S.
Great food, Great Service, Reasonably Priced Like all the other reviews edamame guacamole is a new distinct twist on guac. Good not as good as avocado guac but this isn't Mexican. With so many good sushi places this one is definitely a must try. They have outdoor seating with heat lamps, a good mixture of sushi rolls. They also made the rolls to accommodate us. For example, one person in my party doesn't like spicy anything, so they only put the spicy sauce on half the roll.
(4)Elijah S.
Great vibe and great eats! Location is clutch and the girls are often beautiful. Could use a little more grace at the door but its inevitable with that kind of volume. Still a 5 star ultra lounge / restaurant to me :)
(5)Anne L.
Second visit, months apart, they remembered Us, and our dog! Service is still impeccable, and the food is exquisite. The edamame guacamole I don't even have words for. The chips they made out of taro root are so amazing. I love this place so much, and I'm not easy to please when it comes to sushi!
(5)Kimberly V.
A very trendy place. The food was unbelievably delicious. Everything went well with my orange flavored vodka. The Brussels sprouts are a must to start and the lettuce wraps paired nicely. I had the teriyaki chicken bowl and ended with green tea mochi ice cream. Becky was our wonderful server and Julian Verderber welcomed us at the front door.
(5)Julian V.
Came in with 2 clients from the Hilton Bay front resort. What an amazing time We had. The staff was accommodating. The Gm Ryan was most attentive and welcoming. The only Sushi venue that I am aware of of this caliber that is open weekly 11-10 and weekends from 11-2am Something for everybody. The fish is fresh and delivered daily and the service is impeccable. Must try in the Gaslamp for Sushi.
(5)Christine W.
I had the kaiju sushi and loved it. The food was excellent but service was very slow which is what I took stars away for.
(3)Wilton C.
Got the salmon tartare which was fantastic and luxurious. Highly recommended for those celebration occasions. Also got the market roll and the dragon roll, both were super and might I say exactly what any person should expect. The classic rolls-california and spicy tuna- were also just right. The price fits the quality. What got them that last well deserved five star was the new bar manager, Adrian, who made that night "bomb" by showing appreciation with excellent service. Please be sure to ask about his super interesting story of how he got here if you decide(you should) to go!
(5)Michael C.
Woooooah. Horrible. Stay away. Worst dining experience ever. Too much to write. You can get a better tasting cali roll at the closest gas station and it will be quicker and taste better. They must have zero repeat biz and sucker tourists. Holy shit. Never had this bad of a dining experience. Kim, I made a reservation for a 7 top at 9pm friday. We called to move it to 930 but there was no record of it however were put on the books. We walked out at 11 with zero of our 7 specialty rolls served. Ticket lost, even after manager tried to.jump in we watched to-go orders and other tables rolls go out. Other tables turned over and were served even after we brought this to the restaurants attention.hot Sake served without shot.glasses had to ask and 10 mins later received unmatching glassware to drink the sake that was no longer warm. Water took 20 mins to get after our second request for it. My son doesn't like sushi and we had the restaurant next door feed him 2x while we sat and waited 90 mins. Limited menu. Server brought me a second giant Asahi that I didn't order by mistake. Staff is aloof or out of their league. Uncooked scallop on the one food item that made it. We left when the first roll was dropped at table 90 mins in. When manager tried to make it right with the offer of a sake bomb (4 adults 2 high schoolers, and my 2nd grader) we declined. He said he would make it right on the bill "a little bit". We waited over an hour before complaining because living in Vegas, we realize our food is on another level. This was the only bad meal I've had in gas lamp and the first dinner I've had where we literally had to walk out without the entree. You all need a rescue it was that bad. Good luck fixing it.
(1)Mallory R.
Super chill sushi joint with excellent food. Staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Will make this a yearly run with our con trip! :)
(5)Jackie N.
Food: Ok. Nothing special. Sushi deli tastes better and fresher. Price: not worth paying full price. We got a groupon so that made it less disappointing. Service: HORRIBLE. Monday night and restaurant is only half full. Waited 15 mins for a waiter to approach to ask for drink orders. Another 10 to get drinks ( water and a coke). Ordered 2 special rolls and lettuce wraps which took another 20-30 mins. Food comes out and we have no condiments ( soy sauce, wasabi, ginger). Waiter says he'll Be back right away...all the while he brings condiments to the other table that sat down after us. 10 mins later brings out condiments but no soy sauce and asks if we need anything else...uh hello....need soy sauce for my soy sauce dipping bowl...brings it right out; fastest thing he's done all night!
(1)Angelica R.
I wish I loved the service at this place because the food was very good. But unfortunately the service sucked !!! What a bummer!!
(3)Amanda G.
Awesome, fresh, creative sushi! The service here was excellent. We had a Groupon which was graciously accepted, not scoffed at as many places do. I ordered one drink that was absolutely horrible. I can't remember what it was called, cherry-something... But it tasted like cherry cough syrup. This was taken back and replaced with a different drink no questions asked and that was very much appreciated. The hostess stand was near our table. We had a lively group of 4 and the hostess kept us entertained all night. We had several rolls, all of them were good. Specifically I remember the 92101 and the Lounge roll. You MUST get the Brussel sprouts! Not only great food but an all-around great experience!
(5)Rachel T.
Their food was awesome. Had the garlic edamame (recommendation from the server) and i didn't regret it. Got the susumono cucumber salad and the samurai roll. Really good. I like less rice so this roll has no rice. Filled me up though. The servers took good care of us. definitely go back. Only thing I would suggest is bring a sweatshirt just in case. They leave the door open and a nice breeze comes in and it would be ok if your running hot.
(5)Brooke L.
Incredible, fresh sushi with unique flavor combinations, but the real star here was our waitress. I asked if they had coffee, and she said that they didn't but that there was a Starbucks across the street. Then she (genuinely) offered to run across the street and grab a coffee for me. Of course I declined, but the fact that she offered was insane. The service went above and beyond expectations. All around excellent experience.
(5)Julia H.
I live across the street and for sure the best sushi in town, Next door to the best tacos. Manager I believe his name is Ryan always make me feel at home. Super personable to all the other customers. Staff really has it going on. Kitchen a little slow but when your waiting for art:)!
(5)Keren K.
Cutest little sushi bar in Gaslamp! The owner of this restaurant is clearly aiming to please, and boy, was I pleased. As my group was waiting for a table in the outdoor patio on a chilly night, the nice man brought out warm sake for everyone to 'warm up' from the inside out. Then he shared some mini cupcakes that was made that day! What service! We ordered their sushi and sashimi platter. Exceptionally fresh fish and shellfish. Sure, the sushi is great, but their desserts is where I was really impressed. Japanese restaurants typically have poor choices--mochi ice cream or some gimmicky fried tempura ice cream...but not sushi lounge. Sushi lounge has honey toast. Honey toast is this amazing airy loaf of buttery sweet bread thats covered with honey, condensed milk, fruits, ice creams, and all kinds of great chocolately toppings. They have it here! I thought I could only have it in Japan. Its not as large and grandiose as the honey toast in tokyo, but it tastes just as good. I was in san diego on business, and hope to visit sushi lounge again very soon.
(4)Kevin S.
Good solid sushi restaurant. Food was very fresh and tasty and atmosphere nice. Good selection and our server was very attentive and knew the menu well. It is always nice when the server knows what he's doing and recommends the right selections. Good 4-5 star sushi. We will return.
(5)Myles P.
These are kind good folk here. Delicious food, even the Ramen was good and I don't usually touch it outside of Japan and LA. Atmosphere tops, piping hot wifi, no nonsense service. A+
(5)Angelie D.
Must have been a bad night when I came in with my friends. Or maybe being from LA and having a huge selection of sushi spots spoiled me? The ambiance of this place was definitely inviting. It definitely looked like a lounge, too bad I was hungry and this review is base on the food. The bf ordered a charashi bowl. Smallest bowl I have ever seen. He finished it within 5 minutes and the fish wasn't all that great. I ordered the Kumite Roll. This is exactly why I would prefer Nigiri over Specialty Rolls because if you have one bad roll then you are done. The sauce was horrible. It tasted like salsa which I would love on a burrito, but not a fish roll. On top of all of this, our food took forever to bring out. The only good thing I had were the Shashito peppers and I would have been livid if they also screwed that up!
(2)Aubrie G.
Might be the best sushi I've ever had. Get the garlic edamame and the Kaiju. Amazing. Plus the service was great. My waiter Ryan was very on top of things the entire time! I live an hour and a half from here unfortunately but we come down here a lot so I will most definitely be back.
(5)Jason B.
The sushi was good but the service was so slow. Not a good option for a quick lunch.
(3)Katie H.
Lunch! Traveling with our newby and wanted some good sushi. They had great sushi and more. Brussels sprouts app was unexpected at a sushi bar but so good. Excellent salads too. My wife really liked the house salad made with fresh kale and greens. Sushi chef was backed up and took awhile to get my roll out, but well worth the wait. Got the 92101 Roll, best new roll I've had in a lonnnng time. And, they totally comped the roll because of our wait. It seems every sushi place is trying to come up with crazier and more obscure crap to throw into a roll just to be different, but this roll was simple(ish) fresh and delicious. Scallop, fried green onion, avocado, truffle oil and yellowtail. Attentive service, and lovely server.
(5)Richie S.
Good Sushi, cool place. Slowest service of any sushi place I've ever been to by FAR. I am not someone who would just write a bad review because I had a chip on my shoulder and got off on the fact that my opinion could count for something. I've owned multiple restaurants and know and understand all the reasons service could get slow at times, I always try to look at those reasons before making a judgement. Those circumstances didn't apply tonight. I came on a Monday, not super busy, we only had a party of 3 and ordered very basic rolls. Wait time per roll order was well over 30 minutes which is honestly inexcusable in any case. Food was decent enough to return but service needs to be stepped up A LOT. Definitely going to explore other options for Sushi downtown. Sorry Sushi Lounge, step it up.
(3)Joshua S.
Great food, great service, great time :))))) Specifically the samurai, market street, kaiju, street fighter and crunchy. For dessert, the green tea ice cream was well good!!!
(5)Taylor C.
Went her on my birthday, it was on a Monday, so nothing to crazy was going on. Sat at the sushi/drink bar. Service was on point, staff was friendly and knowledgable. But most importantly they have some amazing sushi. Fish is fresh and if you are a octopus lover like myself you will fine a couple items that will make your mouth water! Will come back for sure!
(5)Solana B.
After a previously bad delivery experience, the manager reached out to me right away to mend the situation. The customer service was excellent on my second visit, and our server Ashley was awesome and went above and beyond for us. This is a cool little spot that is unlike others in Gaslamp. They also have a good drink selection for sushi spot, including beers beyond the typical Sapporo. I didn't love the rolls, but they tasted fresh and had plenty of options.
(4)Dina O.
Unimpressed. Came because of all reviews. Service bad. Appetizer came before drinks and rest of food came too quickly. Not what we were looking for Sushi average. Disappointed. Toilets clogged or wouldn't work. Then slow to get us bill. We quit after the bland miso soup and below average roll. Try another restaurant. One plus. Brussels sprouts.
(2)Brian R.
Food was good but service was extremely slow. Out of 5 beers. Lost our last order. It was not busy at all.
(1)Shay L.
Pros: friendly staff, have to give props to the hostess last night, she was a gem and our server was very pleasant The sushi was 5 stars (however i gave 3 stars based on the overall experience and impression of the restaurant) but the food was a treat for the palate, incredible flavours, loved the Brussels sprouts, they are a must! Cons: We had requested indoor seating, however there are only like 6 tables inside which are extremely uncomfortable for a dining experience, all of which are high top bar stool style, and hard to get your legs under the table because the chairs are too tall, so we opted to sit on the patio Since the four of us were all sharing, one of us ordered for everyone at once and told the server that we would all be sharing, we asked our server for no sesame seeds on anything for a serious health condition a member of our party has, only 1 of the 3 rolls we ordered came out with no seeds, sesame seeds were also in the seaweed salad and all over the top of the tempura veggie dipping sauce...note to server: health issues (gluten intolerant, allergies, and medical conditions) are extremely important to pay attention to in the food industry Also a member of our party got an unwelcome sprinkling of ceiling water on his head while visiting the men's bathroom, perhaps a busted pipe or leaky plumbing The menus need work, very bland, no pictures, and no real appeal to the eye, some items didn't even have a description of ingredients And lastly the appetizer tuna salad we ordered was $14 a bit pricey for what it was...a tuna salad. All in all, the sushi was fantastic and a total success, however there are a few kinks that still could use some ironing out and since this is a new establishment and has only been operating for 3 months I am certain things are on the up and up for them ;) good luck sushi lounge and thanks for the delicious experience!
(3)Laura S.
Such a great vibe in this hot trendy sushi lounge in the gas lamp district. My girlfriends and I flew down from Vancouver BC and this place blew us away!! personal favourites ....Maple Glazed Eggplant... amazing !! Smoked I'm house New Zealand Salmon the best I've ever had. We will be back !!
(5)Maria W.
Worst sushi place I've ever been to. The service was so slow, we had to ask if we could be seated because the waiter wasn't paying attention, the dishes were dirty. I went there with my husband and a friend of his and after 45 mins they finally got their food, it took AN HOUR just for my dragon roll. It wasn't even good nor filling. Too overpriced for small portion sizes and not fresh fish. Will never return to this place at all. Oh, also the waiter NEVER checked in with us.
(1)Tiffany S.
My girlfriends and I love this place. Hands down the best sushi I've had in the states. The gluten free options are good and the vibe is good. They also deliver. I would highly recommend a reservation on busy nights but they always find us a table and are very accommodating.
(5)Ginger Q.
Amazing atmosphere and very friendly servers! I would recommend a reservation as this place is usually packed! The sushi is amazing and they use truffle oil on many of the rolls which make for an amazing new taste, Much different then other sushi restaurants I've been to. Every time I have been there the manager and the owners have come up to my table to make sure we where enjoying ourselves and where very friendly and personable. I always ask my server for recommendations and have they never disappoint! The service is amazing, the food is impeccable, and the experience is priceless! Sushi lounge on market is worth every penny!! Also, a side note, if you're with that one friend in your group that doesn't like raw fish, there is a delicious burger on the menu as well!!!
(5)Tye D.
This is my favorite place to eat. The chef, Kato, is an artist. The food, presentation, and service will exceed all expectations, and possibly the best deal in town. The mural on the wall is amazing, and makes any meal a special occasion. I took my daughter there for her 16th birthday (her favorite place), and we had the best time. The rolls are huge, and just too good for words to describe. In the heart of the gaslamp qtr. This is an absolute MUST try spot. I could not suggest a favorite roll. Every roll I try, is the best thing I've ever eaten. Seriously. It's that good.
(5)Jonathan D.
Delicious sushi with awesome service from Sarah and a unique ambiance, definitely will be coming back when I come back to San Diego.
(5)Melissa M.
Great food, great atmosphere!!! Great place to hang out for the night or as a spot to stop in for food and drinks before going to out on the town. Food: Brussels sprouts were delicious and the sushi lounge roll is a must try. Really happy with the sushi, overall.
(4)Cameron R.
Fantastic food, my party had the spider roll, the edamame and the dragon roll. The food took a too long to get there however our bartender "Jessica" more than made up for the wait with her or prompt service and engaging personality(Hence the 5 stars and not 4), She made me a very tasty margarita and was very attentive to our needs. All in all sushi lounge has great food (might wanna grab a snickers first tho) and one great bartender that I can vouch for. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Johanna-Joy G.
Long story short: decent food, very poor service. We walked in early for our reservation, so we got a drink at the bar. The bartender was all over the place. Rushing from side to side, pouring drinks haphazardly. Apparently there was no cocktail menu because they were changing menus the following day. So I went with the bartender's suggestion of drink. It wasn't that good. We got seated on time and ordered appetizers. They came at separate times within 20 minutes. I ordered a drink off of the cocktail menu that our server was able to find (hmmm...thought they didn't have those anymore). Drink was crappy too. Our food took forever to come. And it came in spurts. With different food on different plates that didn't make sense for a group of six. We constantly had to reach over to get our share of our rolls. T Towards the end of our meal, a woman from another table came up to us and explained to us that their food also took forever and they were given coupons to use for their next visit. Well, they weren't coming back. So, she gave them to us to use for our meal. We gave all six of the coupons to our server to use for our meal. It looked like it was a manager of some sort who told us we can only use one coupon and that the 15% off would be most advantageous. We all agreed and he actually tried to walk away with the rest of the coupons. Ummm...please give us those coupons back. Super shady. We probably won't ever go back. Might give these coupons to someone else. But wanted to make sure people knew about our experience. Especially with a place that has 4.5 stars. Very deceiving.
(2)Jaina R.
If you are here for the drinks I'm sure it's star rating is fair, but the sushi is subpar. If you are looking for good sushi and not just drinks before hitting 5th look elsewhere.
(2)Jackie L.
Came here for one of my best friends bridal shower and the food was delicious. We had numerous items from the menu and a variety of cocktails. The Brussel sprouts and lounge salad were phenomenal. Julian was awesome with his service and attention to our party. I am from out of town but will definitely be back whenever I visit the Gaslamp District.
(5)Lia D.
I asked the waiter what she recommended and she said the rainbow roll & the nunchuck roll! Both rolls were so good, I would recommended both to anyone who visits!
(4)Jerry L.
We had Jefferson as a server and this place is awesome. Street fighter and 92101, and Brussels spouts. Yummm
(5)Bart H.
My wife and I are staying at a near by hotel and came across these guy's business card. We love sushi so why not give them a try. We were not disappointed! Excellent and unique sushi, pleasant staff, great service and reasonable prices! Although here for a short stay in San Diego, we will go back before we leave.
(5)Shawn Y.
With San Diego being a city that prides itself on it's fresh seafood, I expected more from the sushi joints here. Being from a city that has quality sushi restaurants on just about every corner, I found Sushi Lounge on Market a disappointment. I'd have to say that this place would be best described as a bar/lounge first, and sushi restaurant an afterthought. I have to give them credit though for the ambiance. It certainly screams trendy, "look at me" sushi joint (which some people might like) I had the 92101 roll and a some nigiri. I find myself as a bit more of a purist and not a huge fan of the more "creative" rolls which meant that the menu here wasn't really quite my thing. They do have the regular stuff too but I figured I'd try something different for a change. Food was what I would classify as average (though the presentation was nice) and would be what I'd classify as on the pricier end for sushi, although it's probably close to what you'd pay at the fancier sushi places in other major cities. I'd probably say don't go here expecting mind blowingly good sushi. You'll be disappointed. It's more of a place to hang out with friends and grab a drink and be seen. My biggest gripe with this place was with the service. I'm hoping the waitress we had was new. Service was slow (there was only one other table occupied when we went there and about 3 servers working the floor that night). Most of the time, I saw them standing around chatting and not really paying attention to customers. Stuff you'd expect at a normal sushi joint (like chopsticks, small dish for soya sauce, wasabi, ginger and even the soya sauce) we had to ask the waitress for. This is stuff that should be the first thing you put on the table when a customer gets there - or even before they show up) The waitress wasn't really familiar with the menu and always had to check with the chef if there were any changes/substitutions that needed to be made. We chose this place based on Yelp reviews and it seems like our experience was a complete opposite. I'm hoping its an anomaly and they're normally better than this.
(2)Matthew C.
Seriously fun place for a meal. The Brussels sprouts app, un... Freaking....believeable. I could eat so many of those. The sushi rolls are excellent, and a great variety. The service was exceptional, and the suggestions perfect. Priscilla was a perfect host and guided us in both drinks and food. All in all, a great to eat. Check it out.
(5)Brenda V.
My friend and I tried this place last night and our expectations were beyond met. We started w the miso soup. They offer two version, an old and new. I had the new, my friend had the old and both agreed it's the best miso we've ever had. The ambiance was great for dinner w friends or a date. Finally the grapefruit belvedere martini was delicious. I definitely suggest this places and plan on going back. Good price , ambience, and energy.
(5)Zhaneta M.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food at this restaurant. Great place and I would highly recommend it. I met one of the owners Matt who was extremely kind and generous and let us enjoy some of their unique dishes. Thank you Matt! The fish was very fresh and their sushi rolls are very unique!
(5)Sarah H.
Tried this place with my boyfriend based on the awesome reviews, and we were a little disappointed. It seemed like this place is more of a bar, and less of a sushi restaurant. My boyfriend got one of the chef special sashimis which was ok, the fish had a bit of skin still left on it, and could have been cut better, but he still enjoyed it. I ordered the lettuce wrap entree with pork, it came in a nicely prepared taco stand which seemed like it would be easy to eat. Wrong, the pork cuts were so large, I ended up with a massive mouthful every time I bit I to the lettuce wrap, and with no knife to cut the pork into smaller pieces, it was difficult to eat. The miso soup was pretty awesome, lots of flavor, lots of tofu, lots of seaweed, just what I'm looking for! My fav part of this meal actually. Overall, I wasn't overly impressed with this place, it was ok, but nothing I would describe as great. The decor was cool, the service was decent, maybe I'll have to try it for just drinks and appetizers sometime, but until then I'm rating it a solid 3 stars for an ok experience.
(3)Mick F.
Stopped by for lunch while attending a conference in San Diego. I ordered the rainbow roll and some salmon sashimi. The place was relatively empty for a lunch hour but there was a Padres game starting so that may have affected lunch rush. I did wait about 30 minutes for my for food to arrive which was not exceptionally long. The fish was amazing once it arrived. The quality was high. Very smooth and fresh fish which seems to be getting harder to find. I would highly recommend stopping for lunch or dinner. The staff was very nice and helpful. My only criticism of the restaurant was the wait time. The price is on the medium to higher end but the quality is worth the price.
(4)Jonathan H.
It was a nice atmosphere and the bar staff was really friendly and great. Food was good and it wasn't super crowded even though there were several events going on that weekend which was nice.
(4)Tina N.
Stumbled upon this sushi place looking at groupon. The place gave off a modern trendy vibe. I love how some of the tables have glowing lights. Their sashimi is really fresh which is a plus for me. The presentation for chirashi and salmon poke were nice too. Good and attentive service! Will come again:)
(5)Yolanda D.
Best sushi I have had so far. The fish was very fresh and the rolls were to die for. They played awesome music and the manager was hilarious, little creepy but funny none the less .
(5)Cal F.
Went back, disappointed. Apparently the fish freshness depends on the event/holiday. Day to day, the fish quality really is not too good. Had tuna and salmon and a white fish. Salmon was just typical farm raised. Bluefin tuna was horrible. It was previously frozen, maybe refrozen, and had a bad smell. I felt that sushi for days. The white fish also was not too fresh, but ok. Their rolls are well made, the one item they excel at. For the price this place charges, the fish MUST BE TOP NOTCH. Just having a fun club-like atmosphere does not justify subpar food. And what is with all the people in the kitchen. 5-7 people, not too many customers, and it still takes a long time to get your order. I'd rather go to a real Japanese place like Taka, and go somewhere else for socializing.
(2)Kita P.
Was able to get a last minute reservation here after our original dinner plans fell through. Fantastic sushi and great vibe! LIKES: Low-key & trendy vibe Sushi is delicious and they offer several creative rolls Service was great and food came out in a timely manner. The house hot sake was delicate and delicious! Gripes: None
(5)Kristen A.
Can I just say that Julian is amazing.... he was so accomodating to me and my friends as we celebrated a bachlorette party. The drinks were great, my personal fave was the lemon saketini. The food was fantastic, personal fave was the kaiju roll... so good. The serving staff was on point. The ambience was great! I will definitely be back when I'm in town!
(5)Irene Y.
The special rolls here are fabulous! And the host are very kind. I'll recommend my friends to here next time.
(5)Krystal M.
Awesome gluten free options and our waitress, Ashley, was super helpful with customizing my order for my gluten free lifestyle!
(5)Avyon M.
The service here was amazing!! Our server greeted us immediately and made sure we were taken care of like we were VIPs. The servers were honest when it came to the quality of the food. I trusted them with everything I ordered and it was perfect !! I would definitely come back here again
(5)Heidi C.
Came here on a Sunday for lunch on a weekend trip to the San Diego area with my boyfriend. We ordered the Brussels Sprouts (which are a must!), the Kaiju roll, and the 92101 roll. Both rolls were tasty and really fresh. The Kaiju roll was my personal favorite because of the combination of spicy tuna, jalapeños, eel sauce, and crunchy flakes. The server could have been more attentive but overall, we had a great experience.
(4)aimee b.
I stopped over at a girlfriends house last night, neither of us had eaten dinner so we decided to open a bottle of wine and order delivery. She was excited because she had gotten an advertisement for delivery from Sushi Lounge and its hard to find sushi that is delivered. Since we had been there before about a year ago and enjoyed the food we ordered. The food came quickly (5 stars there) BUT the sushi was absolutely terrible:( We were so disappointed. Spicy tuna roll was flavorless, salmon roe tasted like it was soaked in water for days and flavorless, we got an $11 special roll and it was also simply terrible, almost tasted like soap. Also it was $31.00 for what little food we ordered. After sampling all the terrible rolls we sadly waved our white flags, put our chop sticks down and tossed the food in the trash. The sautéed brussel sprout appetizer was not too bad though. I can not recommend sushi lounge after last nights experience.
(1)Jizel S.
Came here on a Friday night for some sushi and drinks, it wasn't too crowded, we didn't have a reservation so we had to wait about 25 minutes which is pretty good for a Friday night in the Gaslamp district. The manager and host were fantastic and accommodating since we didn't have a reservation, but I probably won't be coming back because the waitress was really horrible. It was a Friday night so she might have just been tired or something, but after reading multiple reviews about bad service I think the service is just always bad. We were there for about an hour and a half, maybe two hours, but that time definitely could have been reduced if we weren't waiting for our drinks for so long, or waiting for the waitress to get our check. We ordered the chips and edamame guac, and the brussel sprouts for appetizers, and we got the chicken fried rice for an entre. The guac and fried rice were ok, nothing special, the brussel sprouts however were delicious and I'm glad we ordered them. All in all I'm not sure if I would recommend this place, the food doesn't seem to be worth the stress of the bad service and you can definietly find a better sushi place to eat at.
(3)Arian R.
This gem is tucked away in the heart of gaslamp, its beautiful on the inside, and has a very welcoming feel. The entire staff is attentive, courteous and speedy. I love everything about Sushi Lounge, I'll definitely be back!
(5)Kim G.
This has to be hands down the best seared Brussel sprouts I have ever had!!! And the sushi was very fresh. I will come back here every time I'm in the gas lamp.
(5)Matt B.
Amazing food amazing service! This is the place to be seen in SD. Try the Japanese Whiskey!!
(5)Davinia P.
SUSHI LOUNGE IS EVERYTHING THATS RIGHT IN THIS WORLD ! Incredible food amazing service and loads of celebrities everywhere ! Make sure you go down there and try the Japanese whiskey which is extremely rare and hard to find! Every time I'm in San Diego this is my go to place :)
(5)Roberta M.
They now have a killer Kobe Beef Burger - A must try. This place draws the best talent I've seen so far in San Diego.
(5)Anna K.
So delicious! We had them deliver to out hotel, which they were happy to do. the Kaiju roll was tasty and so were the Brussels sprouts and teriyaki bowl. Great food and service.
(5)Zeek D.
Poor service, bartender forgot to put in appetizer and we were starving! And then sushi role took forever and she put in the appetizer when the roll arrived and then we paid our bill before the brought it. Overpriced for such a bad experience. At least my girlfriend got off cheap for my birthday dinner
(1)Ben C.
The rolls were poorly rolled and fell apart instantly. Spicy tuna roll was okay but not great. Had the Crazy 88 roll which is poorly thought out and way to sweet. The sauce completely overwhelmed the roll. Service was very poor. Waitress was unfamiliar with menu and the daily catch. Getting anyone's attention was near impossible which was odd since they seemed very well staffed. At times it seemed like all the servers were just chatting behind the bar. Not worth a return visit.
(2)Kaylin G.
Poor service and sub-par sush. Came here for a dinner on my bachelorette weekend with four girls and after 2 hours some food never made it to the table. The waitress even told us staff drama was the reason why. Then, we had to ask her to make it right. Won't go back.
(1)G V.
Against my better judgement I decided to take the wife to a restaurant in downtown on a holiday weekend. We looooooove sushi and we wanted to try a new place. Ambience: whoever designed this place didn't skimp on the details. The large wall mural was nicely done and very eye catching. The restroom was a custom job made to look like a large can of asahi beer and upon closer inspection it looks like a part of a wwII era jet...it ties in nicely with the WWII mural on the hallway. You gotta see it to appreciate it. Lighting was just right. Drinks: my wife really wanted a mojito style drink but they were out of mint so she defaulted to some kind of "saketini" which to her suprise was"pretty good." I had a orange wheat beer that was nice and cold. There drink prices were a little high but expected due to the location. Beer selection was "meh." Good: we had the edemame guac it was good. We had the samurai roll it was alright. It was wrapped in cucumber shavings which seemed like a neat idea but was a little too much cucumber in the end. My wife and I usually try new things and usually like a majority of the new rolls we order. The three rolls we got were just okay. Service: waitress was very nice. She mentioned that we the rolls were gonna take a long time due to the kitchen being understaffed. Well she was right it took about 25 minutes to get our rolls. At some point during our meal our waitress was pulled to the bar and we didn't see her for 20-30 minutes. We had to wave our hands around and get another server to get us some more drinks. Our waitress finally returned and apologized. Our trip wasn't a complete bust mainly just because I was having a good time with my wife and wasn't starving or in a hurry but I could easily see some people getting up and leaving out of frustration. Some of the people around us took there food to go because it was getting late. The waitress gave us a sob story about being so short staffed in the kitchen and on the front end. I guess there was some truth to her story but that's not my problem. I don't think I'll be giving this place a second chance due to the fact that there's so many other good restaurants out there. I gave them three stars because I think the place has potential and maybe we just order the wrong rolls...The waitress gave us a $20 discount so that made up for a little bit.
(2)Emily M.
Food is amazing! We were all really impressed. It's a really cool little spot worth visiting. I would come back again. The Brussels sprouts are a must! With a downtown filled with so many restaurants and over barring hostesses that try to lure you in to there spot. This restaurant stands on its own. It's has its owe personality and great food to back it up. I will defiantly be back.
(5)Batsheva L.
Sushi Lounge on Market was the perfect place to visit before our night out on the town! The ambience was hip, the service was excellent, the sushi was extremely fresh and the appetizers were delicious! MUST TRY DISHES: Edamame Guacamole, Brussel Sprouts, the Kaiju roll and the Sushi Lounge roll. Every bite was delicious! We will definitely be returning to Sushi Lounge on Market!
(5)Chrissy C.
Delish! Great service, friendly staff and wonderful food. Found some great items for my kids and we enjoyed the entire meal!
(4)Roxanne C.
So it was my mom's birthday and my sister and I plus our boyfriends were walking around Gaslamp to try to figure out how to get my ma turnt up. It was very rowdy this night, so it was kind of hard to find a bar that wasn't too crazy for her. We looked on yelp and found this little spot. We peeped in and the place looked nice and wasn't overly crowded like the rest of the bars. There was no host in the front, so we just walked in and sat ourselves. The waiter brings us the menus and we get stoked because everything is $5 or less. Hot Deals! He takes awhile to take our order because there is a really big Britney Spears party ahead of us. (I'm not exaggerating, they were all dressed up as Britney Spears from different music videos) After we order, he comes back 15 minutes later and tells us he gave us the wrong menu. That the items we ordered weren't available until 12AM and we had to order from the regular menu. It was 11:30 AM at this point. Like really, you couldn't just start making it 30 minutes early for us especially when you wasted our time. He did comp us $4 edamame, but our deals went from hot to not. The regular menu ranged from $10-18 items. After we order again, he comes back 10 minutes later to tell us our food is going to take awhile to come because of the Britney Spears party, so we should order some more appetizers. Sorry, we are not spending more money because you guys can't squeeze in our orders in between a huge party. If they wanted to accomodate to us, they should've brought out a complimentary app instead of asking us to buy one. Don't get me wrong, our waiter was nice to us... the situation we were in sucked. I'm also not sure he knew anything about the menu because we all had to repeat ourselves when we said our order, and he pronounced unagi as "you-nagi." If you work at a sushi place, I would think you would at least know how to pronounce the items. FOOD: Maybe I'm spoiled by all the gewd gewd sashimi I've had in the past, or maybe it's because I just came back from Hawaii, but I had the Salmon Tartare and it was whatever. With so many yelp reviews, it wasn't at all what I was expecting. I really had to swipe the sauce from the plate and have every bite with a garlic clove to give it some flavoring. Usually when I order tartare it comes with wonton chips or something to eat it with but no. It was a small portion with dots of sauce on the side. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good. Which I expect it to be for $14. Everyone else at my table had to pick something out of their food or douse it in shoyu to make their food tolerable as well. The good things about this place is the ambience. The painting on the walls are awesome. The restroom is a giant Asahi can. and there are Samurai swords hanging above one of the tables. Dangerous, but AWESOME. You can change the color of the lights that glow around your table which is pretty dope. and I got my mom to take a sake bomb. I wish I had snapchatted or instagrammed it or somethin. If there's a party constantly doing sake bombs though, I can see how it can get kind of annoying. SO! Place looks nice, but the service is slow and the food wasn't impressive at all. So unimpressive that I'm wondering how this place has 4 1/2 stars.
(3)Lauren K.
Nice place, cool art, nice servers. GOOD japanese sytle old fashion (drink). Sushi is definitely below my standard, its not bad as in spoiled, but poor quality, taste is very bland, size is very small. Normally I would go to a better place, but they had a good Groupon... so my husband and I gave them a shot. Will not be returning unless sushi rolls are upgraded, more options would be nice as well... not many to choose from. Would not recommend for sushi.
(2)Trish C.
The sushi lounge is a very nice place for a good time, or a romantic dinner, but I have to be honest it was a 100% better because of the customer service, friendliness, and outright amazing cuisine made by one of their chefs Kato. I am not one to write many reviews, but if you're ever in San Diego, or get the chance to enjoy his service, and amazing skill jump on it asap. I would go back, and back daily if I could. Hands down the best sushi experience of my life.
(5)Nuria C.
Our food (Kaiju roll, brussel sprouts, teriyaki chicken and chicken gyoza) were all delicious, but our service was SO, SO bad. Servers were unattentive, brussel sprouts came out after 1 hour (it was my appetizer), and drinks were never refilled. The service was stepped up only when we asked for our check. All of the sudden we had a ton of attention. I wish the service would have matched the quality of the food. I plan on coming back to see if it's better in a few days! Definetly try it!!
(3)A J.
As a professonal athlete here in San Diego I only put the freshest and highest quaulity sushi in my body. Of all the sushi places I have been to, this is the best sushi place hands down. Not only will you enjoy great tasting high quality sushi but the atmosphere and vibe is great. The staff is very friendly and the sushi chefs were excellent. This place will not disappoint!
(5)Jim E.
We had an early dinner with kids on a Thursday. We were seated immediately. Tons of cheerful staff, happy to serve. We ordered the edamame, salmon roll, veggie roll, ramen and eggplant fries with pork. The veggie roll was a perfect way to eat a fresh salad that looked like a sushi roll. The eggplant fries were cut in thick strips and were tasty with the pork chunks. The ramen was basically everything you would hope for in sushi place. Thanks for the good experience!
(5)Danniella M.
We came in on a Tuesday night with a reservation for our group of 6 and were seated immediately. Had to ask the waitress five times for my drink, which was a San Pellegrino. My friend ordered a specialty roll that never showed up; good thing the Brussel sprouts were good or he would have gone hungry. The food was phenomenal, I give the Brussel Sprouts and the Sushi Lounge roll five stars, but the service was about one star.
(4)Devon L.
We had dinner here (11 of us) for my bachelorette party and it was amazing. Ryan took such good care of us and the food was awesome!!
(5)Joshua G.
Fantastic atmosphere when you first walk in. Something that you MUST order are the brussels sprouts. Don't think twice about it or even pretend like there's another appetizer. Then, order the Kaiju roll. It's well balanced, has lots of great textures, and is very, very fresh. The cucumber mojito was very good but I would also encourage trying other cocktails. Ending with the mochi a refreshing way to close the night. All around, a wonderful experience and the wait staff were extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. We are from out of town and I will tell everyone about this place.
(5)Declan F.
We went on a Sunday evening. It wasn't crowded, couple tables here and there so you don't really need to make a reservation like we did. We started off with miso soup, they were great because they had big pieces of tofu. We then ordered a bunch of rolls to share. That's when things went downhill. We waited around 40-50 minutes and still no rolls. Finial our server comes and tell us that they never made them because the other waitress told them not to? Wow spiteful staff towards each other! Not good teamwork- management should do some team bonding exercises. They took off 20% which was expected but then we couldn't use our 10% off yelp check in. On the food- mostly all the rolls are spicy which sucked for my friend who couldn't tolerate any spicy level. They were average. I gave them a 3 because I loved the ambiance and the place is truly a lounge to come with your friends to. Will I return? Yes I will, but not again of service isn't improved.
(3)Karin B.
This place is incredible!!!! Amazing sashimi, fun awesome rolls. Hundreds of different sakes and their new handcrafted cocktails are soooo yummy!!!! Ambiance, trendy and fun... A must go to for sushi downtown! I'm a really picky sushi eater and I was super impressed! Try the 92101 roll or ask for Juan special (not on menu) and the Omakase and you won't be sorry. Open for lunch and happy hour.
(5)Brian J.
We has an office party at Sushi Lounge and all I can say is Holy Crap!!!! The sushi was absolutely the best I have ever had in San Diego. It is all super fresh and pair perfectly (in the case of the rolls). They have something for everyone, even if you don't care for raw fish. The chicken ramen is worth a trip, by itself. The seaweed salad is quite possibly the best I have had anywhere. The atmosphere is very trendy without being overwhelming. A lot of sushi places I have been to nlast the music and the color scheme is an assault on your eyes. With Sushi lounge you can actually carry on a conversation without screaming. The staff is not only fast and friendly, but extremely knowledgeable. We ordered a bunch of sashimi and rolls. Our server was able to identify the sashimi we were eating amongst all the other plates of sashimi. Not only that but she knew where it came from and when it came in. The only complaint is not even a real complaint, it's a little pricey. For what you get it is well worth the price!
(5)Claire K.
Well, it was St. Patrick's Day weekend in SD and yet we needed sushi! The venue was okay and overall the food was good. The speciality rolls were amazing so I would highly recommend ensuring that you get yourself at least one of them. It is worth a visit for fresh sushi.
(3)Sarah T.
The sushi was so awful we couldn't eat the rolls. The staff was super nice and took the plates back. Only thing to get is the brussel sprouts and maybe a glass of wine before you go have dinner elsewhere or hit Gaslamp for some drinks on the weekend!
(2)Sean B.
Just happened to walk by and said to the bf that it looks cool. Let's try it. Sooooo glad we did. Service was super friendly. The food was absolutely perfect. Cucumber salad was delicious and the sushi was super fresh. A must come and eat place.
(5)Christina L.
Alright. This experience made me come out of Yelp retirement. On a whimsical pre-New Year's celebration vacation, the BF and I decided to stay in the Gaslamp District for two nights. We opted for something light on the night of 12/27. First of all, I made a reservation through Yelp. Since we hiked Torrey Pines that day, we were hungry. We were greeted by a male host, who promptly seated us AT THE BAR with a reservation sign. I have never in my life made a reservation and had to be seated at the bar. The host saw the look on my face, but never made an attempt to offer an actual table. FINE, whatever, feed me. The quiet brunette behind the bar asked us if we wanted drinks, and since we are sitting at the bar, why not? $13 for a martini, $13 for a manhattan. We looked over the menu, and realized...this would be a better place for appetizers. With the plethora of restaurants in the Gaslamp, these prices were astronomical. $15-$19 for rolls? Fine, again, I could deal since I made the mistake of suggesting this place, so I would be paying. We ordered....and this is where things got really really weird. The Nebraska/USC game was on, and we wanted to watch it. We asked the host to switch the channels (it was playing ESPN 2 instead of ESPN), and he enthusiastically agreed. He walked away. The restaurant is not that big. He continued seeing us for the rest of the night, with no acknowledgment we asked him a question. The food was fine. Small portions (thanks for supporting my quest to fit into my NYE dress), and just fine. I was kind of pissed to be honest, since the price did not reflect portions or quality. We were consistently distracted by the sake bombs. Perhaps we picked the wrong place to eat. Now, the icing on the cake was this female bartender with glasses. Apparently there is no bartender and waiters must make the drinks for their own tables. Why on earth and when on earth has this method ever worked in customer service? Also, the glasses bartender was talking to herself and even got in a tiff with one of the sushi chefs, who was annoyed she kept forgetting WHAT SHE WAS DOING AT THE MOMENT. As in, she would mix a drink then stare at it blankly, wondering why she mixed this drink. Then, she would ask herself. Ooookay. Anyway, some of the sushi chefs glanced over to us and clearly saw we were amused at her behavior. We're nice people...so we quietly paid and left. Please learn to run a business and hire waiters/hosts to cater to the guests. Also lower your prices. This isn't Tsujuki. This is a party fusion sushi place.
(2)JoJo R.
I love that this place is open later!! I came here on a weekday night and absolutely loved it!! It was pretty mellow when I came in, but according to the staff they get a rush later on in the night. My server was Taylor, who I think was also the manager, and he totally made my night. He was funny, friendly and professional, the ambiance wouldn't have been the same without him! I sat at the bar alone for a quick bite to eat and a drink. He recommended the perfect dish along with the perfect saki. I got some kind of shrimp tempura sushi roll. The sauce was amazing! I also tried the grapefruit soda, which was refreshing. The decor of the place is really chic and cozy as well. It would be a perfect place for a date or a night or with friends. :) Def recommend this place and will be returning!
(5)Memeow R.
Went here on Friday night for my best friends birthday party. We had a group of 7 people and the service made us feel like we were the only ones in the restaurant. They answered all our questions with patience no matter how many times we asked the same one. We got a bottle of snow maiden sake and it was superb. They have a huge selection of sake. We ordered eggplant frittes, gyoza because someone finally put only chicken in a dumpling instead of always pork and octopus, eel and yellowtail nigiri as our appetizers. Everything was fresh and vibrant with flavor. For dinner we had their delicious ramen and teriyaki bowls. From start to finish everything was amazing. Come here to feel like a star.
(5)Why N.
The food was wonderful. I would have given this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the subpar service. My husband and I sat at the bar and had a very disinterested, almost antisocial bartender waiting on us. She forgot our drinks twice even though we were sitting right in front of her. And again, we felt like we were inconveniecing her with our mere presence. I expected a lot more.
(3)Shannon M.
The sushi was ok. Disappointed in the taste though. The sushi was warm and that made us a little nervous. We had the Brussels sprouts though as an appetizer and they were great. They service was great and we appreciated that.
(3)Daniel R.
Great atmosphere and awesome staff, I came in 45 minutes before closing, Fat Tuesday in Gaslamp is no joke, they treat my girlfriend amazing and didn't rush is even tho we finished a little passed closing time. Oh and the unagi sashimi was amazing. I'm gonna recommend the Edamame guacamole, amazing!
(5)Nicole H.
Wow, where do I even begin? My friend and I are visiting from Vancouver where you don't have to look too far for a decent sushi restaurant, so we were quite disappointed to have wasted one of our few meals in San Diego at this place. First of all, the waitress didn't seem to have a clue about the menu. I asked her if I could replace white rice with brown rice on my sushi and she said she didn't know (even though it lists this as an option on the menu..). She said she'd have to check with the chef as it was more complicated? Huh? Next, I ordered a miso soup and it was nothing like what miso soup should be. So awful. Very watery and no taste. On top of that, when the miso soup was brought out the waitress asked if I wanted siratcha sauce for my soup.....who puts siratcha in miso soup?!? Well I guess it helps with the no taste miso soup that this was... When the sushi finally did come, my friends sushi came out before mine so we sat there and waited until mine finally came out...20 min later for a rainbow roll?!? We had to ask for soy sauce, plates, and wasabi since the waitress didn't bring any of that out.We thought maybe she was new? All in all, the food was terrible, nothing like real Japanese and the service was awful. Everything took so long (food to arrive, check to arrive, payment). At the very end the waitress asked us to leave a review for 10% off the bill. Now, I know why this place has such a high rating. Beware.
(1)Carlin Y.
Excellent Sashimi Salad and Samurai Roll! Have never liked ginger before, but their pickled ginger is awesome!
(5)Maire G.
I had an amazing time at this place. The host sat us at the bar and the bartender was so amusing. The place was clean, the staff was friendly and the food was excellent. My boyfriend and I went there on a date and it was perfect. We will be returning and bringing friends.
(5)Tam N.
Was in the area for a convention and had dinner at the famous Nobu at the Hard Rock the night before. We had their "Omakaze" and it was horrible for the $110 retail price! We were quite let down and was looking for something to redeem San Diego's sushi cred, and this place nailed it! Kato took great care of us, and we got an impressively crafted omakaze plate with typical as well as rare fish cuts. We followed it up with some apps and rolls he recommended. Everything was on point, and creative. We had a great dining experience and would highly recommend this place for a modern sushi establishment with high quality sushi.
(5)Eric Z.
Amazing sushi! Great sake. Fabio chopped up some Amazing custom sashimi and nigiri. Even a great toro. Albacore. Kampachi sashimi from Justin. Go check out Sushi Lounge. Sit in front of Fabio!
(5)J S.
A very nice, pleasant surprise. The Kaiju roll was fantastic we ended up ordering a second round. Our server was fabulous (forgot his name), but wasn't really impressed with the rest of the food. Perhaps I should have stuck with more traditional sushi rather than the specialty rolls. A guy who imagine must be the Manager checked up on us and offered each of us a coupon for a 50% roll on our next visit. I was tempted to come back a few days later, but didn't, though I'm fairly certain I'll come back at some point to try other things on the menu. Word to the wise: the large Asahi is actually the rest room.
(3)Christine S.
This restaurant is beautifully decorated, staff is super friendly, but the food is not all that. My husband and I ordered 3 sushi rolls, We weren't a fan of any of them. I ordered a veggie teriyaki bowl, it was good but way to much black pepper (I never knew black pepper could be so spicy). I love spicy food but this teriyaki bowl had my nose running. To much pepper but otherwise good. I did enjoy my green salad and pickled cucumbers. Our waitress, Anna was super friendly and on point. Very good service. But the food is not what people make out to be on here.
(3)Phil C.
Expensive sushi that is good but not worth the cost. Loud. Decent service although it took them four requests to bring miso soup. All in all, okay but underwhelming given the price...
(3)Alex R.
This place has an awesome vibe to it and the sushi stands up to any sushi I've had downtown. This includes Nobu and Katsuya (R.I.P.), which are at least double the price. The rolls are original and delicious and the sashimi is fresh. I always have a good time here. My only complaint is the place is stuck in the middle of El Pulpo and The Reef, one of the worst downtown restaurants and bars, respectively. I can't fault them for that though ;)
(5)Darek H.
The portions were small for the price and the place was dirty. We asked the waitress for separate bills and she said she couldn't give us separate bills but she allowed us to pay with individual cards.
(1)Stephanie G.
In town for a conference and came here for lunch with some co workers. We were very pleasantly surprised! Miso soup was tasty :) I had the market roll... It was very fresh and satisfying. We were indecisive about the edamame Guac ... Sushi chef overheard and surprised us with the complimentary appetizer! The Guac comes with taro chips- light and crispy.. Reminded me of plantain chips. Sunomo salad was mediocre. Also I recommend samurai roll it was so fresh!
(4)A C.
The wait was absolutely ridiculous. When we arrived there was one other table filled, with two adults and a small child. We ordered within 8 minutes - 3 sushi rolls. After 40 minutes, we asked the waitress how much longer it would be and she said "everything is made to order." Um...all sushi is made to order - and most food at restaurants. Worse than that, the guy making sushi was spending his time flirting with the girl behind the bar, rather than making our rolls. When they finally arrived, around the 50 minute mark, they were good - but nothing special or justifying the $16 each price tag. I don't fault the waitress, but I can't imagine how long it would take if it was busy. If we hadn't already paid for our groupon, we would have walked out. I won't be returning.
(1)George Z.
If you are looking to explore excellent sake, eat fresh fish, or try new foods, this is the place. This is the type of place that prizes quality and customer service above all else. It provides a true foodie experience. Their selection of sake is of the highest quality. The range of sake selection is wide and includes interesting sake not usually available. Along these lines, I would recommend both the sparkling sake and if you like the taste of cherry - the Rose sake. The menu includes very good rolls with fresh fish. In addition to the rolls, I would recommend trying the grilled kale in coconut milk - a unique dish - and the guacamole with taro chips - an excellent starter. One additional note. I last visited here 1 year ago. It was an average sushi experience then. The difference in quality led me to ask more about this. It has been under new management with an emphasis on quality that is evident as in the review above. This restaurant is now on my list of places to go every time I am in San Diego. I highly recommend it.
(5)Dale B.
This place is great! I Met a few friends here for drinks and had to order some food because everything looked so good! We started with Edamame Guacamole, Brussels Sprouts, and Gyoza. All were delicious. Then we ordered a few rolls. The "Market Street" and the "Sushi Lounge" both were fantastic and perfect to share. The drinks were great too. I loved the cucumber Mojito!! We will definitely be back!!)
(5)Nora Z.
Cool place. The sushi is decent and I left full. However, service was sloooooooooooooow. Although our server was nice, she was very very slow. The restaurant was not busy, and yet it took almost 10 minutes to be greeted by a server. The hostess sat us and brought us waters, which was great because we would have probably walked out if we had sat there for almost ten minutes without water or being greeted. Kudos to the hostess. It also took forever to get our drinks. It took a solid 15 minutes for us to get our drinks and the bar was DEAD. Overall, we had a good time and will probably be back, but the staff needs to pick up the pace.
(4)M G.
Best thing: brussel sprouts - they're SPECTACULAR. Crispy and cooked in a sweet chili sauce. Other than that, meh. Terriayaki tofu was okay - not much tofu but lots of rice. The tofu did have good consistency, but the teriyaki sauce was too sweet. Terrible service. We were there for a large birthday dinner, and they brought all the food at different times. Some of us had to wait for +1 hour. They also charged us for a birthday dessert we didn't even order.
(2)D M.
Pro tip: Get the brussel sprouts with the sauce on the side, instead of already mixed in. I loved the vibe, very cool people. I'm vegetarian so can't say much about the seafood, but the avocado rolls were good. Didn't much care for the veggie sushi roll. Brussel sprouts were delicious. The paintings on the walls were done by a Cuban artist who painted solely by hand, like ONLY his hand, no paintbrush. I really liked the paintings and kept unintentionally staring at them.
(4)Thomas M.
Solid sushi place in the Gaslamp. I had lunch there, and felt the choices were great and the portions were very generous. Others have said the place was expensive; but, grading on the sushi curve, I was very happy with what I got for my money. The special rolls that I had were fantastic, and the menu had more very spicy options than I am used to seeing. Service was attentive and the atmosphere was nice. I would definitely go back again.
(4)J P.
I have a love hate relationship with this restaurant. We have been here three times and each time the service has been, well, awful. However, the sushi is delicious and the ambiance is cool! Make sure you give yourself extra time if you come here - and don't come starving & expecting to get food right away... it won't happen.
(3)Thomas G.
Great Venue to hang out at with friends or on a date. Service was great and staff were all very friendly and fun to hang out with. The Sushi Chef, Kato, welcomed me and my group at the sushi bar when we walked up to sit down. Kato is a more than hospitable and amazing chef. The menu was solid, but Kato was able to make some very original unique dishes that were top notch when I challenged him to some off menu items that I personally wanted. Bar tenders were great, more than generous with the pours, and even offered a few samples to try from their selection of saki. On top of that, the attitude was up beat and fun to be around as all the employees were engaging and personable. Definitely makes you feel like your money was well spent.... With that the price was fair too.
(5)Jason Z.
A couple of things I really liked about this place: - Proximity to the heart of downtown but away from the main hustle and bustle - I really liked the decor of the place, it's got a really cool and unique look - My favorite was the 92101 roll.. Scallops, Tuna, Yellowtail, aaaaand Avocado?! #Yummmmmm - Taylor is the freaking man! He was knowledgeable about the menu and gave us the low down on the go to items. He took great care of our table and with so many sushi restaurants in SD, his service, recommendations, and sushi has set this restaurant apart from the others.
(5)Kristina K.
Although the sake selection was proper and we even got a specialist to speak with us on options, the sushi itself was hit or miss in terms of roll quality and pricing. Creativity wasn't bad but the results were nothing to write home about and our server forgot a part of our order. I did, however, appreciate the outdoor seating option.
(3)Sarah K.
This is my favorite sushi place in San Diego! My girl friend and I come here often because we love the brussels sprouts and the edamame guacamole. But best of all, the staff here are awesome. Shout out to Taylor, Kris, Julian, Rebina, and the cute girl that works the front, Dee. keep up the great attitude! This place is so much fun. We also love the sake bombs and champagne cocktails. Kom Pe!
(5)Marjorie P.
My boyfriend was visiting and we were craving sushi so we went here after I got off work! They have a Groupon which was awesome and they took it with no problem. The guy at the front of the house was super cool, got us seated and answered any questions I had. Our server was Ashley, she was sweet and also helped me pick out a cocktail since I'm always so indecisive. We ordered their Edamame Guacamole Dip since everyone on Yelp talked about it ;) and with no surprise it was AMAZING. Their chips we're perfect, I think taro root? Super thin and crispy. We ended up running out of chips but I still finished that dip. Haha! Only thing I would say is it took a awhile for our waitress to come back after taking our appetizer order, we had to ask for her. We then got a spider, crunchy, spicy tuna and rainbow roll! Everything was super fresh and tasty. I do wish they brought a side of wasabi though! Cool atmosphere and perfect food, will definitely be going back.
(4)Ellina C.
I've come here a few times previously and have always had good service. This time it was amazing!!! The manager was our server and she did a great job! She accidentally put in an extra roll and gave it to use free of charge. She also gave us free green tea mochi. I will definitely make this place a sushi staple for the gas lamp. The portions were great and the pricing is extremely reasonable. Love it! And don't forget the great check in deal!
(5)Rada K.
What can I say. Visiting from Orlando. Love sushi. Consider myself a foodie. This place is amazing. The chefs recommendations are very impressive. Great vibe/ amazing food and wonderful service. Highly recommend. Will return for sure.
(5)Mary N.
So we went again last Saturday... Awesome sushi as always.. We always have fun and enjoy our time, not much to add other than Tyler is awesome! Great service he really took care of us and made the experience that much better
(5)Chad H.
Just ate here for the first time this week. For starters the food was excellent. Our group ordered 6 different rolls as well as a few of the different appetizers so that we could taste a wide variety of the food on the menu. Definitely some of the best sushi that I have personally had in San Diego! Additionally, the service was quick, friendly and on point. We had no issues getting our food in a timely manner and for a big party, our servers did a great job in getting all of the orders correct the first time around. Finally, the environment is casual and fun. The music isn't too loud and the food prices won't break the bank. A great date spot for the night as it is in the thick of the gaslamp district. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves delicious sushi!
(5)Chio P.
We loved this place so much we had to come back! The personable experience is hard to find in a big city like san diego. The people here remember who you are and welcome with open arms new customers. Prepare to be pampered because this place only wants to please you..and it's with a smile.Rubina was a phenomenal waitress who deserves to be recognized. Sushi place continues to be highly recommended.Their flavirs never disappoint.
(5)Alex W.
Was in Friday evening. My group of 6 didn't have a reservation however their GM Julian was just amazing! He gave Us the VIP treatment. Had us at a table within 5 minutes. The place was packed The service was impeccable and the Sushi was some of the best I've ever had. Kudos to this amazing venue and for hitting it out of the ballpark!
(5)Bianca R.
After much deliberation and a very convincing guy out front we decided to give this place a shot. We were looking for good sushi around the area and wanted to try something different. Taka, Nobu and RA were out of the question since we all had been to those places plenty of times. I'm a huge sushi fan and always open to trying new places. This place is renovated with new chefs, owners and investors. The restaurant is a good size but on the smaller side. We sat at the bar and quickly browsed the menu. The options were few but all very tasty. I was impressed. I ordered the Market Street roll and my friends ordered A crunchy roll and Street Fighter. They all were delicious and very fresh. I'm glad we ran into this place and I'll definitely be back!! I definitely recommend it. p.S. They have full bar with really cool cocktails on the menu. Try the Lemoncello LemonTini I loved it!!!
(5)Mike D.
The food was good and fresh, not a huge selection for lunch it seemed. The waitress was very nice, but it took forever for my friend to get a simple ramen noodle dish. I've found a lot of mediocre sushi places in San Diego, this is the upper end of mediocre - I will definitely go back.
(3)Elisabeth T.
The event coordinator e-mailed and called my boyfriend and I personally. She refunded us our dinner for that night and told us that she would like to extend an invitation for us to try the restaurant again. She said she would provide us with a reserved table and then the meal would be on the house. At this time, we have not taken her up on this very nice gesture, but we plan to in the near future once work settles down.
(4)Carl S.
New management new Decore fresh food it doesn't get any better than this in the gaslamp! Organic, non-GMO food with a cool trendy vibe...the head chef james is so creative and put together some seriously good sushi plates ....best in the gaslamp imo
(5)Jonathan D.
Worst service ever. Customer service sucks. This place was good back in the day before they switched management. Ehhhh wouldn't come here again.
(1)David W.
Fun, spot. Great food and drinks, inexpensive prices, attentive staff, if you get a chance sit at the sushi bar.
(5)Ashley A.
Veggie options for sushi that's not just an Avo roll! They have a lot of different veggies that must sushi places don't offer, making this the place for veggie sushi. For this of you who eat fish they have lots of different rolls and they offer fish that I didn't even know existed. Service was great, my drink was never less than half full. Rolls were made quickly Atmosphere was great, place is super clean. Staff is very friendly.. Easily one of the best sushi joints in SD.
(5)Chris W.
Awesome experience! Great food and great service. The Brussel sprouts were excellent. Highly recommend the 90212 and dragon roll. Will definitely come back next time I'm in San Diego.
(5)Metha W.
Great service. The decor is to die for. They have one of the most cleanest bathrooms I have ever been to in a establishment. I met with the owner Carl and he is such a friendly person. Carl we plan on coming back so look out for us! I got a chance to spend my birthday here they were so accommodating and made me feel special on my Big 25 ;)
(5)Emma H.
Loved the sushi. Great atmosphere and Chris was the best server I've ever had. He really knew his menu and gave us the best recommendations! I can't wait to come back for those Brussels sprouts and the 92101!
(4)She C.
Went back to try again.. Portion sizes were on point. Atmosphere was great. Fabio was great to us. Thank you for having us!
(5)Heeva G.
Came here with my boyfriend for lunch during Comic Con weekend. The first thing that I noticed walking into this bar/restaurant/lounge was the ambiance! Love the art work on the wall. Definitely makes this place stand out. Ryan was our waiter and he was very friendly. We ordered the Nunchuck, teriyaki chicken lunch special, and yellowtail with masago hand roll. First of all, the fish quality is really good here. The rolls are great and are different compared to other sushi bars. They include special seasons, spices, and oils. Also, the speciality rolls came with 10 pieces compared to the normal 8. As for the teriyaki lunch special, the salad was amazing! I loved the salad dressing they used. The teriyaki chicken was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. The yellowtail with masago hand roll was very delicious and was the perfect thing to end off our meal. Overall I Definitely recommend this place. Good music, food, ambience, and service :)
(4)W M.
Phenomenal tasting fish, great omakase selection by a very good chef, wonderful selection of sake wines, friendly waitstaff and cool owners. If this place keeps everything I just mentioned intact, they will do extremely well. The ambiance was also really fun. Between the over sized artworks and the samurai swords, it was really fun. The music was good, but a teeny bit loud for my taste. That said, we could still easily talk to the barkeep and yet avoid hearing the too-drunk patron near us mumble through her requests as she placed her handbag on top of her sushi (a move she will likely smell in a few days).
(5)Katie C.
I went to the Sushi Lounge tonight and the food and atmosphere were great! As with many of the earlier reviews, the service was horrible. Our server was very pushy trying to make us change our orders after we ordered, and trying to get us to add on multiple sides. We got our food in a timely manner, though. We ate and never saw our server the entire time. She came back once and filled 2 of the 4 empty glasses saying she would be right back to fill the rest and she never came. After we got our check we got attitude when asking for it to be split amongst us, and she ended up just splitting the check evenly among each of us, making some pay way too much and others pay barely nothing for what they ate. The process of getting the check and trying to pay for it took longer than the entire ordering and eating process. I've never seen a company so slow to take money before. I am sure the server is a good server. Maybe she was too overloaded with work or something but our service sucked.
(3)Colby C.
Went here on a Friday night, was able to be immediately seated at the bar and the service was great. I ordered the Market Street Roll and the 92101 roll. Only ate about a third of each one as the oils/juices on them were too much for me. I think they should let the fish speak for itself but I definitely won't order them again.
(2)Paul G.
Food was good. $$$ on price. Service was awesome too but place just opened. Would have been 5 stars but the brought my egplant pork belly all soggy! But it was still scrafable!
(4)Patrick Shane D.
If it weren't for the doorman/greeter, we probably would have walked on by. Sorry I can't recall your name, but you were a cool guy, made us laugh, and hooked us up. Overall the sushi was very good and the quality of the ingredients was high. The price was reasonable. Including the drinks and appetizers, there were a couple of things that seemed a little on the experimental side that I wasn't crazy about and wouldn't order again. That being said, keep experimenting! But consider offering these as free samples to your customers and implore honest feedback. The service was super-attentive. If you really enjoy interacting with the staff, you won't find better people. For me, it was a bit of turn-off being asked every few minutes how the food tastes and if I am okay. Still, I respect the effort. Next time I'm in San Diego and someone asks me where to get sushi, I'll be happy to be the "insider" and bring them here.
(4)Emiliano B.
WOW! I am impressed! I believe it to be the best sushi and best kept secret downtown. The salmon was so fresh it was melting in my mouth! I'm definitely coming here again. Oh! And they are also open late, can it get any better?! Healthy food late at night, an answer to my prayers. Thank you God!
(5)Adam D.
First time at Sushi Lounge and it was great. Nice environment, friendly staff, and excellent food! I went with a group and we tried a lot of the menu. Two of my favorite things were the brussel sprouts and Kaiju roll. The brussel sprouts were coated in a sweet chili sauce that really put them over the top and the Kaiju roll was one of the best rolls I've ever had!
(5)Maggie S.
We stopped in on Tuesday around 7 pm for dinner. The restaurant wasn't too busy and service was amazing! Our server came by our table every few minutes to check on us. The portions are definitely large compared to similar sushi restaurants - not just the rolls, but the soup and shishito peppers we ordered as well. The kaiju roll was our favorite and the 92101 was also good, but had a stronger taste of truffle oil that we'd like, which the server mentioned ahead of time but we chose to order it anyways. I would definitely come back here and am excited to check out the happy hour menu!
(4)Marissa M.
This place was fantastic! Went there for a quick lunch meeting, loved everything we got. There aren't a lot of sushi options downtown so this was definitely a great find!
(4)Tati S.
Love this place!! Colton was the best we would take him home but we can't lol. We will all return here when we are back in San Diego:) thank you so much for the sushi on the house as well!!!
(5)Mike M.
Stopped in for lunch with my co-workers. Food was amazing and service was on point. I loved the vibe and music here. Can not wait to go again!!
(5)Chris H.
All the food was great. The menu was incorrect and the service was immature. It doesn't get any more Americanized than this place. The bartender was clueless to even the beers on tap! When I ordered a sashimi salad, which on the menu said was with seaweed and cucumber and a sashimi salad with greens came out instead. The other bartender B.S.ed me that they took extra special care of me and gave me the greens. I wanted the seaweed with the sashimi as the menu stated but there was none and I had to order a sashimi salad, which I did for an extra $7 which they ended up taking off the bill so one star back from 2. I ordered a spider handroll which I was told 25 minutes later that they didn't make spider hand rolls. I had to point to the menu for the second time to inform them what it said. Then the waitress came back as if she was doing me a big favor and said that my spider handroll has been ordered. I do like the fact that they have good beers on tap. If they train their staff a bit better and get the menu straight, I will give them 4 stars. Don't come here if you want anything close to traditional Japanese sushi. Otherwise, for a hip and happening scene with decent sushi, this is da place
(3)Melanie B.
Chef Kato at Sushi Lounge is amazing. His preparations and treatment of fish is to die for. So creative, yet subtle and with clean, fresh flavors that enhance the sushi. BRAVO! Also chefs Fabio and Brad make amazing dishes to compliment Kato's genius. Would highly recommend this restaurant to others.
(5)Molly F.
great atmosphere, yummy food + awesome staff (esp. Ryan!) also, coolest bathroom ever and they have gluten free soy sauce!
(5)Brianadiamond Renee C.
The food was wonderful and Ryan was a great waiter. I love this pace. I really enjoyed it so much. And the hot sake was so great. It's a very pretty place and very nice and all that stuff. And Carl is a great owner. Such a sweet guy.
(5)Jason H.
For starters it is Monday at 6:00 pm and there is 4 tables with people here and it's our first meal since we drove down here and we just started our honeymoon today. We were extremely unimpressed with the service. We got seated right away and the hostess was really nice. But it took more than 20 minutes for a waitress to come up and even ask if we have been helped. He apologized for the wait, I then ordered a beer and my wife of 48 hours ordered a 10 dollar drink. We also ordered fried tempura as an appetizer. The drinks and appetizer came out within a few minutes. And then we continued to sit there for almost 45 minutes before they tried to come ask what we would like to order for dinner. We told them that we would just like the check because we were affraid of being stuck there any longer without food. They promptly brought the check and then we had to wait 10 min before we had to get up and give them our card........ And then it took another 10 min to get the card back.... Like I said the hostess was fantastic but the service was absolutely horrible!!! Will not return!
(2)Jana H.
Sushi is average at best. The bartender mixes stuff up (for multiple customers) and the service is slow. Samurai roll was total mush. You can do better than this place
(2)Christina C.
This place is so bomb! And they deliver! Which is a total rarity! I got the kaiju roll it was delicious, seaweed salad and also mochi. Everything was excellent! The timing on delivery was prompt and the girl was very sweet who delivered. Definitely recommend and will be getting delivery again!
(5)Brad B.
Nice clubby vibe, decent but novelty sushi, horrible service. Bartender was very nice and friendly, but it took 1 hour to bring out 2 rolls.
(2)Aaron C.
Great ramen bowl and the specialty rolls are fantastic. about $10 dish prices and fills the plate too. Well worth the price. HOWEVER, I GOT MY DRINK FOR DESERT, after i ordered it with my meal, with a half an apology. Charged for everything and the service was lacking. To say the least. Rated only a 3 due to service
(3)Ohhh Y.
Not a foodie experience... More about cocktails than food. Large sake list, I asked for recommendation and was recommended the very average house sake which comes hot or cold. This was after I order a Daiginjo for my first glass. Portions small, rice with the nigiri was not fresh. Part of my order never arrived, had to ask to have it removed, didn't want it after what was delivered. About 9:15 manager took a call then ran around telling all the staff in an urgent, panicked tome that someone called in sick so he was closing early, shut the doors and spent 5 min frantically telling all the servers to get final food orders in immediately. Weird that a single person could be so vital, there were 9 staff working that I could see, maybe more in back. If I was drunk, maybe I would return, other than that, not by choice
(2)Audrianna G.
Came in on a Sunday night with a group of girls and we were all immediately Ooo-ing and aww-ing over the super trendy decor! The waiter was attentive and very knowledgeable of the menu and what the favorites were among customers. Even the music was great... twice we stopped our conversation to comment on how awesome it was to hear some of our favorite Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris songs playing (random for a sushi place, but a fun and absolutely perfect touch for us!) The food was bomb too! You could tell it was fresh and the flavors were amazing (especially the brussel sprouts). Nice presentation to everything and overall a great experience for us. I will definitely be bringing more of my friends to this little gem!
(5)Dustin L.
This place is awesome. Very fresh food and a cool exciting atmosphere. Its right in the heart of downtown. I'll definitely be going here again. The people made me feel awesome and not like a number in most restaurants. They got my money and they'll get some more of it soon. thank you very much! " vote with your dollar"
(5)Lanna B.
Sushi is amazing! Try the 92101 roll. Decor is very pretty and interesting. Good service! Manager rocks.
(5)Jocelyn At Bassmnt B.
Great customer service. Laid back environment with delicious fresh food. Hands down my new favorite sushi spot in downtown. Definitely recommend you to try it out!
(5)Darius C.
Best find in 8 years of travel. Fish that just fell off the boat. Get the Shiso Rickey to put some hop in your hip meal. Ask Sarah, she will take care of you. Just let her know if you want sour, sweet or sweet & sour. The Orange Shiso Rickey is the second one invented. Enjoy.
(5)Daniel W.
Great place for creative decor and food! The Brussels sprouts are not what you'd expect at a sushi place, but I highly recommend that you try them. Good selection of fun rolls and sake as well. And you have to take a stop in "the Can". You have to be there. Our hosted seated us quickly and waiter showed up promptly to take our orders. The 92101 roll had truffle and aioli and was delicious. Also the Kaju roll. The bandito roll has spicy salsa on top and helped clear my head.
(5)Jason C.
Great restaurant! The old K7. We came on a random Thursday night and it wasn't packed at all. Cheap drinks during their happy hour.
(5)Ariel M.
What an amazing spot! Came in a Monday night and had great device from our server dale and the food spectacular. Couldn't have picked a better sushi spot. Definitely will be telling my friends about this place!
(5)Christopher C.
So damn good! Tried this place on the advice of a local while in town for SDCC. The sushi is awesome (kaiju roll!) and the atmosphere is super chill. Adrien the bar manager is great and super friendly. Highly recommend and we'll def be back.
(5)Katia D.
Amazing place!!! The food is really delicious and exotic, I love it, and very gently service...thank you!! Keep going like this :)
(5)Jake B.
Had reservations, but got there an hour early...they were busy, but fit us right in with no hesitation. overall the sushi was amazing. I've never been a sushi fan, but we ordered 4 rolls, the bandito, the street fighter, kaiju, and Sushi Lounge roll...all of them were great. The Sushi Lounge roll is lobster, avacado, cream cheese and fried with a spicy sauce and was my favorite. The service was beyond amazing as well. Miles and Rosey went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. Definitely be back the next time we are in town!
(5)elizabeth d.
My friends and I arrived looking for a sushi Chef we knew from around town, with the hopes of finding some amazing vegetarian sushi. When we arrived, we were informed that he was no longer working there. Lucky for us, the bartender and waitress enticed us into staying and trying The Rabbit. She asked Sushi Chef Cato to come up with creative vegetarian rolls, fresh and tempura. We were delighted with his creativity, artistry and flat out yummy presentations. I would have given it 5 stars, but the seating was a bit uncomfortable...regardless, we will be back.
(4)Colton P.
Finally a sushi venue downtown that is worth the visit!! In the heart of the Gaslamp the location is perfect. When I came here with my friends we had the best time we have ever had downtown. The atmosphere was great with fun music and dazzling lights. When you walk in you can see someone took the time to design this restaurant right. As for the food....fantastic! We had the Kaiju, Sushi lounge, and Samurai roll which were outstanding. You could tell everything was fresh and our server informed us all the fish is delivered fresh daily!! The prices were also incredibly reasonable for the amount of food and the quality. The service was impeccable as the server, Sonia took great care of us. Even the managers Taylor and Julian came and made sure we wanted for nothing the whole visit. This was one of the best venues I have been to downtown and I will definitely be back! Thank you Sushi Lounge!!
(5)Saeed C.
This place has the best sushi I have ever had. The sashimi salad was amazing and the drink which has raspberry tasted so good we got two of it. The rolls were so good we got one to go as well.
(5)Ryan H.
Absolutely love the ambiance, food, and service of this place. The GM was ever so kind to me and my friends i will for sure be back! Definitely get the brussel sprouts and kaiju roll :) Tip: ask about the sake list they have many to choose from!
(5)Liz z.
The food, décor, and service are all good! Love the brussels and the Sushi Lounge roll. Great lunch spot.
(4)Valerie V.
Delicious! Loved this place! Everything about it was good! I can't remember the name of the rolls we had, but my favorite had salmon in it and topped with spicy goodness! The whole restaurant was amazing from the decor, staff and all the way down to the food.
(5)Josh A.
Great service and very good sushi. Loved the Kaiju and crazy 88 rolls. We had time finding another sushi place open before 5/6 pm, but we're happy we found sushi lounge.
(4)Eduardo E.
First time here and I love it great quality food, they have a lettuce taco that is delicious and a roll with spicy mexican salsa is just the best, you have to try this. Very nice place no to loud not to quiet just perfect you can enjoy nice good food, nice good music, in a nice good sushi place. I can't wait to come back delicious....
(5)Narmina V.
We were in town this weekend and it was horrible!!!! Worst service and unprofessional employees.
(1)Erin K.
We came here because of good yelp reviews and the inviting atmosphere, but we'll be back because of our server Rubia. Literally the best service! And that's something to pay for folks. She was so sweet, helpful, knowledgeable about the drinks and menu, and made our whole dining experience really fun. The sushi was good too ;]
(5)Mareline C.
It was my first time here. My friend & I have been craving sushi for ever you can say hahaa. the service was great. Got greeted by what looked to be the manager. Very friendly he explain how the menu work. Major points! Later miss Sonia came by & Took our drink order, my friend was a bit disappointed that they didn't have Vodka Smirnoff. But his cranberry vodka was on point the first time, the second time it was more cranberry than vodka. Now for mine, I got a beer.. Mother Earth Cali Creamin' to be exact. They gave me too much head. If I was a guy I probably wouldn't mind that, but I had to wait a good 10 minutes for the foam to go down. It was 2/3 of beer served when the foam went down. 2nd time around it had less head so I was fine with that glass. They did take quite a while to check on us if we were ready to order some food. Once they did, the food was worth the wait. Simply amazingly delicious. I got the street fighter & California roll. My friend got the Sushi Lounge roll along with the Rainbow roll. 4 rolls in total. All devavored. I personally like my side of teriyaki sauce but I hardly used it. That's how delicious it was. The restaurant's interior definitely fits the art theme with the food. Such beautiful presentation. Great experience over all. When we got the check its was a little under $100. Why so much you ask? My friend got charged $28 dollars for 2 cranberry vodka. I order 2 cali creamin' both for $7. So in total my friend paid more than what I did. Of course with gratitude on tip, my bill was less than $50. Well worth spending. I am definitely coming back. The ambience was great. Thank you Sonia for serving us. :) she gave me 10% off bill because I told them I was yelping them.
(4)Maria D.
Love this place! Sushi is amazing, the staff is great! Had a birthday party here recently and it was a blast! They also had a sushi making class a few months ago, which was really fun, too. Can't wait for another one! Way to go, Sushi Lounge on Market!
(5)Ashley B.
This place is great! They have some of the best sushi in SD! You can't go wrong with any of the speciality rolls!! And the service is AWESOME! Everyone is just so nice and always checking up on you! Everyone needs to check this place out!
(5)Jesslyn L.
I love this place. I have been there several times and the food has never dissapointed me. I love coming in specially when the manager comes to check on us and knows us by our name. I love his service.
(5)Tami G.
Everything is amazing! Don't pass on the opportunity to try the Brussels sprouts - best I've ever had!
(5)Jimmy J.
My first time here but it's my last. Service was very bad and the food was bad too. I made a reservation but when I came I had to wait or sit at the bar. I was very disappointed . Bang bang better. Go there.
(1)Matthew J.
Fantastic sushi. Came here for Valentines Day '15 and was impressed with how smoothly the operation ran on a very hectic night. Highly recommend!
(5)Jodie H.
Ordered the ramen and was disappointed. Lacked flavor and originality. Heard other people raving about their dishes. Staff was very nice and welcoming. Perhaps I just ordered wrong.
(3)Azia M.
Our server was awesome he had a great suggestion of Sake which was delishhh! Brussle Sprouts were the most amazing appetizer ever and each roll was really good. I think the 92101 was probably my favorite out of all of them. Bathrooms are really cool also.. on a side note! It's shaped like a beer can which was cool. The whole atmosphere of the place is really cool. Would definitely want to come back for a date night. Also perfect location right downtown close to all the clubs. Overall was a great start to a fun night downtown :]
(5)Chris M.
Tried several rolls and the only one that really packed some flavor was the Street Fighter. The jalapeño roll was also good (think jalapeño popper but in a sushi roll). We sat outside which is quite different from the inside lounge which is a pretty cool bar atmosphere. What disappointed us the most was the slow service and the fact that they served one person in our group their entree about 20 mins before everyone else got their food...makes someone feel awkward eating in front of everyone else before the group has food. This makes be believe they have some logistical opportunities to work on so the diner's experience meets expectations.
(3)Michelle S.
We arrived at approximately 1:30 pm and proceeded to order some food and eat a slow late lunch. We started with Nigiri and sake. When we wanted to order our next entree, we were told that the "kitchen was closed" (it was 2:30 p.m.) and they weren't serving any more food. So, we left....still hungry and irritated. The staff were nice about it, but no notice was given before the kitchen closed. No need to go back there for us.
(2)Katrina C.
I had one of the best meals I've had in San Diego here! My friend and I sat at the sushi bar got an assortment of sushi and rolls. The fish was sooooo fresh and delicious, and the different flavors and combinations were really creative without overwhelming the fish. In addition, the service was really friendly and attentive. Sushi Lounge is definitely worth braving the drive downtown!
(5)Kevin S.
The sushi here was great and awesome service. I checked in for a 10% discount from my tab. That is always a plus. I would definatly go back again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Reef M.
Best sushi in town hands down. Their rolls are light on rice with mainly protein and have a lot of flavor. The 92101 roll has a great taste and has truffle oil, a whole new dimension is sushi for me. The vibe here is clean and sexy and you will not be disappointed. The place fills up quickly so do make reservations. For a change, they use Tamari a healthier alternative to soy sauce. It's hard to find at most places since it cost more money but here food quality obviously comes first. Plenty of Sakes and local draft beers to choose from. A must try!
(5)SF Foodie L.
If I could give TEN STARS, I would. Especially since I wish I could give 5 extra stars to this establishment after having a horrid time at a different one. Thank you, Sushi Lounge, for saving the day! I was really famished after a long work day, and wandered over here with my boyfriend. Our server was so knowledgeable about the food and very attentive to us. I recommend the delicious Crazy 88 and Sashimi salad. Harrrgggh :-) So good!! No Cons. Pros: 1) Delightful + Attentive staff 2) Delicious food 3) Comfy chairs 4) Spacious 5) Beautiful artwork 6) Hip music 7) Convenient location 8) Wonderful ambiance 9) Welcoming vibe 10) Fast service 11) Eclectic atmposphere We will return very soon, and tell friends to dine there as well.
(5)Matt B.
I have been to a lot of sushi restaurants in my time and this one stood out. Atmosphere is awesome, the owner or manger is super friendly, and the food is unreal. This place will blow you away.
(5)Raven S.
We had so much fun eating here. The food was excellent, and waitress was very knowledgable and friendly. Brussel sprouts like you wouldn't believe!
(4)Brandon S.
Great sushi rolls, very fresh, good music. Bartender Sarah is super friendly. Great place to spend time in. Been here twice and every time had an awesome time. Will definitely make this my go to sushi place in San Diego!
(5)britt g.
Sushi Lounge is definitely the best rolls I've had in San Diego! We ordered a few pieces of nigiri (so fresh!) and a couple rolls, the kumite and 92101. They were both delicious, the 92101 comes with truffle oil which sounded a little different but was sooooo good. Definitely my favorite. I believe the cocktail I had was the lounge delight fresh berries and cucumbers in it- so good I had two! Service was great, we sat at the bar and the chefs and bartender were able to answer any questions we had. I will definitely be coming back to sushi lounge.
(5)gabriella S.
Unsuspecting location, ended up being awesome!!!! Great sushi chefs that truly know about quality!
(5)James R.
Wow I loved K7 but as Sushi Lounge I love it even more! Chris and Rose are on point with their service. The new menu even better and the food is fresher! I'll be a regular here for sure!
(5)nicole t.
Not a fan of this place. I came here with a friend to have some sushi. We saw the reviews on yelp and it looked very promising! When we first arrive we were greeted by the very friendly hostess. She seated us promptly at a long communal table. Upon sitting down we notice the chairs were so uncomfortable! We look around to see if there was another table we could be moved to. We see that these instruments of torture are the only seating options. Ok, no big deal, the sushi is supposed to be amazing so let's not get hung up on chairs. After about 5 minutes we're approached by our server who was also the hostess who seated us. We order the brussels sprouts, edamame guacamole, and for a sake list, she grabs us the menu and water and says she'll give us time to look it over and then come back. After about 15 minutes she brings our appetizers but bolts before we get an opportunity to order our drinks. We then spend about 20 minutes waiting/trying to get the attention of our server. For the first 10 minutes we were fine; we had our appetizers and we had water so we were fine for the time being. The Brussels sprouts were delicious! I loved the crispy caramelized outer layer! The edamame guacamole was pretty yummy but seemed like something you could easily make at home. As we were half way into appetizers and completely out of water we start to get a little impatient. We then realize the root of the problem. Our server is also the hostess and busser for the entire restaurant! We start to feel so sorry for her as she runs from table to table (the place was pretty full), seats people, and clears tables. Meanwhile, what I can only assume is the manager is taking care of one guy sitting next to us. Really dude? Your server is running around like a crazy person trying to serve literally everyone and ultimately failing at it (not her fault) and you're helping one guy? Our server/hostess/busser finally has time to stop by and we order our sake, beer, and the 92101 roll. She takes our order and walks/runs to whatever else she has to do. We are now officially drink-less. After another 15 minutes the manager who has been so attentive to the guy next to us looks our way to ask us how we're doing. Service! We take the opportunity to ask for our drinks and water. He grabs our beverages just as the server brings over our roll with an apology. Not your fault! By now we're parched and starving! We dig in. YUCK!! The roll was horrible! One of the reasons I eat sushi is because I love the taste of fish. All you could taste was truffle oil and lots and lots of salt. I'm fan of both of those ingredients but the flavor a were so unbelievably overpowering we couldn't even finish the roll. We debated ordering another roll but realized it would probably take forever to get so opted for the check instead. On a whole it was a very unpleasant dining experience. I'll admit the appetizers were delicious and maybe if we had ordered a different roll we might have enjoyed it. But if there's one thing I can't stand it's when establishments try to save money by extremely cutting their labor and overwhelming their employees. It's just a poor business practice. This is what will ultimately drive me to never give this place a second chance.
(2)Jonathan K.
The sushi was delicious, and the fish was so fresh! The chef was very accommodating to dietary restrictions. The samurai roll is one of my favorites, and the brussel sprouts were phenomenal, a must have. Drinks were very tasty, the bartender was knowledgable and creative. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The bathrooms and what you can see of the kitchen is very clean. This sushi lounge is the best in the area, by far!
(5)Kathy L.
Have been to Sushi Lounge three times. Have never been disappointed. They use the freshest ingredients. The presentation of all the dishes was amazing and the taste was heavenly. My favorites are the Brussel Sprouts, the garlic Edamame and the Sushi Lounge Roll. I brought my little grandsons in for a sushi dinner and they wanted to go back the next day. The ambience of the venue was so inviting and comfortable with low and high top tables. Love, love this place! Will go back definitely!
(5)Brian P.
I had a chance to stop in and try this restaurant out on Saturday. To start from the top I had set a reservation and was running a few minutes behind due too the ballgame's traffic. The hostess was kind enough to hold my reservation and even follow up with me to assure I didn't need to adjust the time. Once I arrived I was seated right away, and also took note to a walk up that they worked generously hard to seat right away as well. The environment is a fusion of upscale classical Japanese with a fun fusion of nightlife that makes this downtown stop very appealing. My waitress Jacqueline was on top of everything, and very knowledgeable. Sushi lounge has a most impressive drink menu, and the best selection of Saki Nigori I've seen in San Diego. For appetizers I had a great garlic edamame, and a MUST have which is their flash fried Brussels sprouts with a perfect hint of char then tossed, and deglazed with a roasted sweet chile sauce that excites the pallet! The sushi menu has all the classics along with a gourmet selection of house specialties that work with infused truffle oils, red clay salts, and chefs that pour their passion into their work. I personally loved the Kaiju roll, and a chefs custom spider roll. I've heard they're under new management and like what I saw. Ryan who periodically checked on my meal assuring everything was to my satisfaction even bringing out a new house saki to sample together very fun! Kanpai! Mostly a chance to engage with Kimberly who through her dedication gained another very satisfied customer who looks forward to the next dinning experience there, and would gladly refer someone to Sushi Lounge. In fact highly recommend it! Thank you for a very fun date night...
(5)Brad S.
I brought my wife and three children to The Sushi Lounge, we had a super special, memorable evening. Great sushi!! The service and ambiance were equally fabulous! I'll be back!
(5)BriAnna M.
This is my favorite new sushi spot. Amazing food, awesome service, exquisite decor. Everything about it is a 5 star!!!!
(5)Nathan C.
Awesome sushi joint! I was in town with my girlfriend for a wedding and decided to check this place out. It was a Friday night and the place seemed pretty full but they were able to accommodate us with a table inside. The table was glass with awesome lights INSIDE. The overall restaurant decor was great. The service was great also! My girlfriends cocktail was delicious and Kat, our server, was awesome! She introduced us to "sake bombs" and we ended up having two each! She recommended some appetizers and special rolls, all of which were amazing. My favorite was the order of brussel sprouts and my girlfriends was the Market Street Roll. We had a great experience here and if we're ever in town again we'll definitely stop by!
(5)Autumn S.
I love the concept of this place. First of all, you can feel the subwoofers in the wall throwing out bass to the awesome variety of music they have playing. Second, the decor is an eclectic mix of rustic chic meets urban asian explosion. Imagine that for a second. The tables are community style also which is great for meeting people! Now for the food... Yellowtail collar-so good and seasoned with a salad that had a dressing to kill for. Spicy tuna roll (which I never order because it is usually too simple but this was on the house)-soo good and don't add too much wasabi or you'll pay the price! Finally- the Japanese Yellowtail nigiri...Oh.My.Gosh. It tasted like garlic buttery goodness but it was just fresh fish on rice and I would come back for that alone! They had some interesting specialty rolls which I didn't get around to trying but definitely will next time.
(5)GeorgeandLinda D.
We have owned our condo downtown for two years at The Mark. We ate at K7 early on and was very impressed and loved the menu. Service was personable and a inviting environment. It closed for a while and reopened with this new, oh so original name: Sushi Lounge!! We went for drinks and my husband ordered a martini that was not much bigger then a aperitif, although the price of $14.00 was not an aperitif price. Tonight we decided to choose this restaurant to have dinner, and sat at the bar. What a mistake....waited a long time to be asked if we would like a cocktail, one of the bartenders was so busy flipping her hair she had no time to look up to see if we need to order. The second bartender was much more attentive and took our drink and food order. A large group was coming in and the owner/manager began his chair arrangements to accommodate the group. Sliding, slamming and moving chairs on the concrete with no clue that perhaps there were other diners already enjoying their food! We asked the owner/manager how the restaurant was doing and he shot off all the money he had spent and how the former owners mismanaged etc. a lot information from just asking how the restaurant was doing, a little tacky to belittle a former owner. And finally the clincher, we were told that on weekends no special programs were available on the TV, well, lo and behold,until the large party came and alas there appears a football game. We asked to see a basketball game on another screen and were told at this time, the cable wasn't working. hmmmmm? The owner/manager said under his breath, I am not a tech person of how to have multiple programs and I said really? And he promptly shared with the bartender, I was rude! Good bye and never, ever will we ever go into this restaurant. And will share this review with our fellow penthouse condo dwellers as well. There are too many restaurants in San Diego that have the ability to have a multi-task owner/manager and run a restaurant in a non frantic atmosphere. We travel all over the world and this by far, is the worst....bar none!
(1)Mark M.
Well to start, the service was horrible from the get-go. My girlfriend and I made reservations for 2 people b/c the receptionist told us we'd need them. When we got there the place was empty. I was shocked b/c they have so many good reviews. It then took 15 minutes to get drinks (or anyone to even notice) which was odd b/c there were only a few guests. Once I flagged down someone to ask who our waiter was and order drinks our 'waiter' forgot them so that took another 15 min. I'm not lying... We finally ordered everything at one time b/c we had reservations after dinner and I didn't like how this was going. The only reason I'm giving them 2 stars vs. 1 is b/c the sushi was quite good. PS the sashimi is priced for 1 NOT 2?? So you pay full price but usually you get 2 pieces of raw fish but not here so that jacks up the price very quickly. All in all, with so many 'good' restaurants wanting your business, you can find better elsewhere. Good luck!
(2)Madeline J.
This place was awesome! Taylor was the best! We were there on a Sunday night and literally shut it down!!! I will definately be back. Good job and especially to Taylor for having such great customer service skills!!!
(5)Dani L.
Taylor Is the reason why I give this place 5 stars and why I will be back everytime that in San diego. He was informative, kind, and gave the best recommendation for a Belgian beer that was to die for. Ashley was also so amazing and has a great energy. The sushi is fresh and delicious. give me more sushi : )
(5)Bobby A.
Best sushi I've had. Great and unique atmosphere. 2 of us went. No double tables available. One of the owners was there dining at his table. He was gracious enough to allow us to join his table at the open chairs. Not many would have done that! Try the ice burg salmon sashimi. Excellent.
(5)Sophie J.
Absolutely had the worst, slowest service I have ever experienced. It may have been the waiters first day though so I will give a go one more time.
(1)Jennifer M.
Always love coming to see the crew for some of the best sushi in San Diego. Fresh, innovative, fun. And always delicious. I do wish they would improve the seating at the sushi bar, however, which needs to be reshaped so people can sit comfortably and watch the masters at work. Would also recommend a dedicated server/bus-person for the sushi bar seats, which get overlooked by the bartenders who are busy keeping things flowing for the rest of the restaurant. Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Jerry S.
All the dishes had an amazing profile and their menu had an awesome selection of creative rolls and cold beer from Japan. The sushi was fresh and the restaurant is super cool in a great location. The staff was super helpful and Carl made sure we enjoyed our time. I definitely would recommend Sushi Lounge on Market! :)
(5)Edna L.
when in during my lunch break had edamame guac and the kaiju roll,have to say that I was very impress with the quality and taste of both I've never tasted anything like that roll before and edamame guacamole is definitely a different twist made my meal interesting also service was quick and friendly ,back bar guy Miles and server Britt took care of me during my Hangry moment!!!!
(5)Mikaela M.
Such a fun late night sushi spot!! Always fresh ingredients and delicious sushi! The staff is so welcoming and lovable, they made us feel like regulars even though it was our first time!
(5)Mckenzie C.
Fun girls night out. Sushi was amazing. Especially loved the 92101. Would come back again.
(4)Ashley C.
We had a great meal here. Everything was very fresh and tasty. The service was great too... everyone was friendly and knowledgeable. We had several of the specialty rolls and they were the perfect bite size. You get 10 pieces which is a pretty big size and great for the price.
(5)Martha V.
Loved this place! The atmosphere was welcoming, I feel like I can stop by here after a baseball or before going out. The sushi was delicious, I prefer the specialty sashimi dishes but also tried some really good rolls! And the Brussels Sprouts everyone is raving Amazing! I highly recommend this place, only place downtown I would go for sushi!
(5)Katie W.
This sushi place is AMAZING. I've always been very picky with my sushi, and most sushi restaurants I've been to are notorious for their slow service, but not this place. The service is quick and friendly, the servers are all wonderful. Taylor always makes sure that you are taken care of! He's friendly and personable and makes an effort to really get to know the customers, which makes you feel welcomed and eager to return! The atmosphere is the best, I have to say, this place just looks SO cool! I love the decor, it really takes your experience to the next level. As far as the food goes, I've had many kinds of sushi and this place takes the cake. I come all the way from Los Angeles to eat here whenever I'm in the area. The sushi is better than Taka's, which I've also tried out. There's just something about the chef's in this restaurant; they really know what they're doing. I give this place a 10! Definitely come check it out, it's worth it!
(5)Arielle R.
The brussels sprouts were really good. I had an allergic reaction to the nunchuck roll (last I checked I wasn't allergic to any of the listed ingredients) so ask your server for a full list of what goes in the roll of you have any food allergies.
(2)Javie O.
This is my first Yelp review, though I've had my account for a couple years. I suppose for one reason or another I haven't been motivated by the businesses I've frequented since joining. But on a trip to San Diego's Gaslamp district Saturday night, I had a great experience and feel compelled enough by that to share with the Yelp community. My friend Anna & I had just arrived downtown from Las Vegas and agreed we needed some general nutritional value from all that Gaslamp has to offer. We passed by several establishments on Market Street, but the one that caught our eye was the Sushi Lounge. The quaint interior was plenty inviting, even from the sidewalk, and we both acknowledged that sushi sounded like a winner at that moment. We approached and the hostess was so quick with a hello and friendly smile, so we knew right away we'd made the right choice. There was some energy inside as it was-around 30 other customers that seemed to be enjoying themselves, but there were a couple tables open and we seated almost immediately. The mix of feng shui and rustic creative flair were a good mix and a young lady named Rubina stopped by to say she'd look after us in a moment. She was knowledgeable about the menu and we took her recommendation on the coconut kale salad as well as the brussel sprouts appetizer. The kale on the salad was perfectly charred in my opinion, but the brussels were 110% amazing. Rubina recommended a samurai roll and we chose an omakase for 1 to split for the 2 of us. We paired this up with a bottle of sake whose name escapes me now, but it was both delicious and aesthetically pleasing. As I noticed, most of their sake bottles were arranged and displayed in a cooler next to the bar, which is just delicately inviting. The manager, Julian, stopped by as we were eating entrees to ask how we were enjoying everything. He was extraordinarily pleasant and engaging, very warm gentleman. We even had a bit of mochi, something we'd generally pass on. Since everything else about the place was so fun, we figured to splurge our calorie count. And for the restroom enthusiast, the quarters there would more than suffice for even the most discerning of critics. The bill was very reasonable as well....tremendous overall value. I can't say enough about this place, quite honestly. It truly made the trip entirely worthwhile.
(5)Ann S.
Love this place!! The food is amazing and so is the service. Experienced my first real sake bomb here tonight :)
(5)Mike H.
Waitress was horrible and the sushi was subpar at best decent atmosphere but horrible overall experience...not worth the money not sure how they are going to survive we went with a large party on saturday night and had to wait 15 mins for soy sauce...one of the girls soup was cold when they got it too....wow
(1)Krir S.
Came here early on a Thursday night craving tasty sushi. Was not disappointed! Staff was awesome. Kato is a star sushi master and Robert made the BEST Brussel Sprouts I have ever tasted. Secrets in the sauce plus and they aren't telling :) I think I could even get my kids to eat these!! Rosie behind the bar is an energized hostess and makes you feel like your part of the family. If your in SD downtown be sure to stop here.
(5)Wyatt B.
Best sushi in San DIego so far. This is our3rd sushi place in downtown and amongst the $$ this place blows the competition out of the water!! You get tons of fish in the roll. It is fresh and delicious. The market roll with jalapeño and citrus glaze is amazing!! Great combo. The bar tender was amazing. She squeezes all her own fresh juices and my husband actually said its one of the best margaritas he's ever had. And at a sushi bar of all places. She knows her sake too!! Really friendly staff and the specialty rolls and everyday rolls were superb. Oh and how they got that rice so perfect I'll never know. Check it out. Pleasantly surprised!!
(5)J H.
I love not only the food but the vibe is awesome! The wait staff have been really friendly. I even go by myself sometimes and sit at the bar. Love it.
(5)Inocente A.
i ordered from them today for the first time! they where so nice! plus the food was really really good! they did not have the brown rice i wanted so they where extremely apologetic and offered me a complementary side plus gave me a card for a free sushi roll, again the food was really good and i will order from them again!
(5)Taylor P.
I went here on a Sunday night, it was absolutely amazing. I had a few rolls, teriyaki chicken bowl, and ramen soup. I loved the way they decorated the food and how well it was presented. I also had their house Cabernet and Zing Red Velvet Vodka. I will always recommend these food items as well as these beverages. I have also had large parties here and the customer service was impeccable. COME TRY SUSHI LOUNGE!! :)
(5)Sami R.
I would not go back to the Sushi Lounge on Market because the sushi chef James was so rude. The way he talked to the employees was beyond unprofessional. It was very uncomfortable to hear and we all felt that we were forced to be a part of it because we were sitting at the bar. There is so much more than food that makes up a fun night out. Our bartender, Jade, was awesome but she couldn't make up for the blatant disrespectful behavior of the sushi chef.
(1)Tod W.
So I have to start off by saying that I frequent many sushi restaurants through the country as I travel for business quite a bit and I have yet to find a go to place in San Diego.. Until now. I actually stumbled upon this place on accident while downtown and am very glad I did. The ambiance was nice enough and enhanced by the friendly service which are aspects that are of some importance but the food, the food was unbelievable. The fish was fresh and our chef Cato blew us away with his stunning presentation and unique and explosive flavor profiles. I never had such a creative take on sushi or a more enjoyable experience. I have to tell my chef at Sushi Yasuda he needs to step up his game he has some steep competition out on the west coast. Will be back on my next trip NO QUESTION. -Doc Wilks
(5)Tierney B.
Great place if your looking to grab a roll or two of sushi! Awesome service! The waitress even asked if we wanted spicy mayo or eel sauce which was a first for us! Great new place in the gaslamp!
(5)Temple R.
This place is amazing. I could not find one flaw, not one! Manager was very friendly and so was our server. The food was great i ordered the Brussels sprouts. they were so good Ive been dreaming about them ! I recommend this place to everyone!
(5)E O.
Love Sushi Lounge on Market! Amazing rolls, we especially enjoyed the Market St. and Street Fighter rolls were awesome and you cannot skip the brussel sprouts. Awesome service, super friendly staff and great atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Mandy M.
Very unique selection of specialty rolls, great albacore sashimi and lovely ambience with beautiful art.
(4)T M.
Stellar service. Great sushi. Two miso soup choices, traditional or fish stock base. Great clean sushi. We would go back. Server offered a great Saki choice too.
(5)M M.
Had a date night with my hubby at this wonderful Resturant. Sushi was excellent as was the service. We will definitely come back.
(5)Kristen W.
really good food but still working out the kinks. i went there last night and the atmosphere was great, (although maybe they could add more comfortable/loungy seating given the name?) and the people were really nice and helpful. the food was sort of slow, but i'm not sure slow is the right word, things just came out in a strange order...we ordered edamame because we were starving and it came out after our soups and salads. and the sushi came out long after the hot kitchen dishes we ordered. i should mention there was hardly anyone there so its not like the kitchen was slammed...but its a new restaurant and they seem eager to improve and handed out feedback cards so i have high hopes for future visits!
(4)