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Azuki Sushi
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
2321 5th Ave(between Juniper St & Kalmia St)
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighbourhood: Banker's Hill
(619) 238-4760
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Mhangee F. said: "The five-star is well deserved! When Moby Dick opened a few weeks back - to say that we were excited is an understatement. We have been back several times since they opened those doors. If you are a lover of clam chowder - search no…" read more »
312 reviews for Azuki Sushi
Review Highlights
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"The specialty rolls are all amazing." In 22 reviews -
"They have a back patio that is easy to miss." In 18 reviews -
"BEST of all though, they have an amazing happy hour." In 32 reviews
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312 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie H.
San Diego, CA
4/28/2012
I drove past this place and wondered "what is this little restaurant named after a bean?" I thought it was hilarious and had to know more. . so I checked Yelp and THANK YOU Yelpers for telling the absolute truth... this place is great!
My friend and I went on a Thursday at 12:30 for lunch, it had been raining a little earlier so no one was outside. We opted to sit out there under an umbrella and it was lovely. Usually I don't like outdoor seating that is right on a street, but 5th was relatively quiet that day so there was no side of fumes with my lunch, whew!
Service was lovely. Just the right amount of checking in to make sure we were taken care of but not too much to be annoying. Just right.
The food. Ahh, the food. There was fried lotus root in my albacore salad! I was really excited about that because I always see lotus root at Mitsua and I have wanted to try it. My friend ordered the salmon bento box and it was also fantastic. I was very pleased to see that they DO NOT include the most awful roll ever - the california roll (i know, this might be a personal preference, but honestly cream cheese, cucumber and imitation crab are 3 ingredients I avoid with vigor). The bento included a flavorful, crispy skinned piece of salmon, a medium portion of salad, brown rice (by request, also very well done with herbs, and I think they toast the rice before cooking, mmm mm), and a noodle dish. We both had miso to start which was so good I ordered another at the end of lunch (I was also suffering from a little cough and the miso was the best medicine!!)
Hands down, best fish I've had in San Diego. I will say this - I need to try more places. I haven't ventured into North County much so temper my review with that knowledge. BUT, if you want great quality fish, excellent (not pretentious, ATTENTIVE) service, and a reasonable bill try this place!
By the way, the name Azuki IS in reference to a bean.. a bean that the Japanese use frequently in dessert and it is said to bring Happiness! Aww, kawaii!
Another bonus - they have an extensive sake menu with most of the sake offered by the glass as well. I will be back for that!
Note: if you are tiny make sure you have someone with you to open the door - its HUGE! -
Review from Danielle G.
San Diego, CA
5/18/2012
Azuki is my favorite sushi spot in San Diego, although to be fair, I haven't found the sushi in San Diego to be as good as most that I've had on the east coast. The sushi rolls at Azuki are creative and unique without being completely bastardized. I'm a big hater of mayonaise based sauces and things like cream cheese being wedged inside of my sushi. I'm a pretty simple gal. I like a fine cut of fish and fresh ingredients. Quality is key.
Happy hour is great, although the happy hour menu once offered greater options, for example the oysters which are DIVINE (actually worth full price). They frequently change the specials so the selection doesn't get stale. This place features a decent collection of saki, premium quality sushi and some interesting options on the menu. I would definitely recommend a visit. -
Review from Suie C.
5/13/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
The food was good, the service so-so.
This place actually reminds me of Umi's in Seattle w/ the decor, think wooden, clean, modern.
We sat upstairs in the back semi-outdoor patio. One thing I noticed was that our table was kinda close to the ppl next to us...a big odd at first but they finished their meal and we had our space.
We had a variety of food and sake. The sake was served perfectly warm and the food was overall satisfying. I had one of the special rolls w/ salmon and the honeymoon oyster. It's an oyster w/ quail egg, uni, and ikura. amazing, but I was kind of disappointed they weren't served on the half shell. Ours came in a shot glass. Apparently the way it's presented depends on the chef's decision; sometimes it's on the shell.
Fresh food, good sushi, good sake, overall very satisfied with the food here. The only reason I can't bring myself to give 5 stars is b/c our service was sporadic. Our server was hard to find at times and seemed in a hurry to rush away...and it wasn't exactly busy. But, will be back if I ever want sushi in SD.Listed in: San Diego
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Review from Rhiannon C.
Oceanside, CA
5/21/2012
The sushi roll, edamame, and veggie tempura were pretty good, however, my boyfriend ordered the "fish and chips" as his main meal, and it was really, really small. There were 4 pieces of fish that looked like deep fried onion slices, and deep fried potato shavings that looked like dried up leaves. He had to ask me if he was supposed to eat them. I wouldn't recommend ordering this. Outside patio was nice though, and the staff were pretty friendly too.
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Review from Alexandra B.
Torrance, CA
5/19/2012
Greatest sushi chef. Took great care of me as I sat at bar. Food was great . Sake excellent and cost totally affordable.
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Review from Katie L.
San Diego, CA
4/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We found this little gem thanks to yelp. It's close to where we live, so we have been several times. It is so fresh and delicious. The ambiance is fun and the chefs are great to talk to.
The sashimi is amazing. We order the omikase and have been very pleased. By The Border Roll is yummy. I really don't like the taste of the gas torch flavor on seared fish, but they do it just perfectly here. The fish didn't have that weird gas flavor. We have also had the Sunshine Roll. i think the best way to describe the rolls is "clean and crisp" tasting, if that makes sense. They aren't heavy on the gut. The flavors are well defined and complement each other. I have been very impressed.
They have local uni and amaebi. The uni is so amazing. It's soft, sweet and perfect. I don't know how many other SD sushi places have local uni (I know of one other that I also rated 5 stars), but we don't need to search around since Azuki makes us so happy. Parking is easy when we get there early enough.
This is definitely one of our favorite sushi restaurants and we go frequently. -
Review from Jena V.
San Diego, CA
5/17/2012
Very much a fan of this place. Perfect sized sushi, great for sharing a few rolls and staff was spot on!
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Review from Leonard L.
San Diego, CA
4/7/2012 18 photos
Azuki Sushi
SD: Banker's Hill, 5th Ave
Friday April 6, 2012 at 7pm
Five Stars
I keep trying to go to places where you definitely should make a reservation. However, I lucked into another amazing restaurant. The lovely hostess sat us in front of the head sushi chef. Sara ordered a green tea and I ordered a 7 0z. Carafe of Junmai Ginjo called IZUMI JUDAN "TENTH DEGREE." The Sake Carafe came as a spherical bottle with a slanted shot glass.
Sara's Food:
Miso Soup with Shiitake, Garlic Edamame, Azuki Salad, & Green Roll.
My Food:
Vegetable Tempura, 7 Piece Chef Selection of Nigiri, Tako Nigiri, Ama Ebi Nigiri, Saba Nigiri, Wagyu Nigiri, & Miso Soup with Shiitakes.
We started with Edamame, a Hijiki Salad and Azuki Salad. The Edamame was a large portion of well-cooked pouches of tastiness. They did not have the Hijiki :(but charged me anyway ). I ordered vegetable tempura to replace it. The portion size was quite large for a $5 Appetizer. It came with Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Green Beans, Mushrooms, and probably something else. The Azuki Salad was delicious - fresh mixed greens, Crunchy sweet potato Strips, Extra Crispy Fried Tofu, Radishes and a light sesame dressing.
Sushi Time:
7 Piece Chef Selection of Nigiri was a very standard selection: Red Snapper, Ahi, Seared Albacore, Salmon, Yellowtail, Squid, and Scallop. The fish was high quality. The Seared Albacore was a little burnt. The Scallop had a great depth of flavor and texture. The best nigiri was the Squid Wrapped in a Shiso Leaf. The Squid was melt in your mouth delicious and had no hint of toughness. Plus the pairing of those two flavors is something everybody should try.
The Octopus had a subtly sweet aroma and taste to it. The tentacle on the side was so much fun to eat, especially with the wide eyed white people staring at me while eating their specialty rolls drenched in their Soy Sauce/Wasabi Tincture.
The Amaebi ($14) was a delightful experience for those who are adventurous eaters. The Chef took two live shrimps from a bucket of water, sliced the head off, peeled the shell off, and served me the nigiri with the shrimp heads still moving around. Now that's Fresh! The Shrimp was Shiny, Translucent, Sweet, and Tender. The Chef then shelled and fried the head for me to enjoy.
Saba! This fish is simply the best thing you can eat at a sushi restaurant. The chef took out a piece from the cooler and did not like it so he went to the back to search for one of better quality. I have so much respect for people who take their professional seriously. As for the Nigiri: the marinade was spot, the oily and distinctively fishy taste complemented the rice perfectly.
The slightly seared Wagyu Beef Nigiri was the best bite of food of the night. The Fatty Quality and Overall Tenderness was Indescribably Wonderful.
The Green Roll: Supple Asparagus, Crispy Sweet potato, Creamy Avocado wrapped in Rice and Nori and then topped with thinly sliced heirloom tomatoes (making it look like ahi), micro greens, sea salt, olive oil. I usually hate American Specialty Rolls but this was beyond any normal maki roll. It was pleasing in texture, flavor, and uniqueness.
We finished with some hot Miso Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms - So Much Umami Flavor.
They gave us a free dessert - Fried Yam Strips with Strawberry Ice Cream - Delicious. (I guess it makes up for the charging me for my non-existent Hijiki Salad.Listed in: Sushi
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Review from Hallie S.
San Diego, CA
5/15/2012
My boyfriend and I just recently went here on a Sunday night to satisfy our sushi craving. We always get miso soup and it was amazing! Some of the best I have ever had. Next we got a warm sake, which was quite tasty and not too pricey. The mango mojito I had was also delicious. We ordered one specialty roll and one regular shrimp tempura roll(our favorite) and they were great. The toppings on the specialty roll were a little difficult to navigate but made for a very cool design. We followed up with the desert sampler and it was fantastic! Only $12 and well worth the price. Perfect for sharing between two. The price wasn't too bad but this will be a "date night" place for us. Definitely recommend it!
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Review from Angie B.
San Diego, CA
5/3/2012
I kept knocking on wood every five minutes thinking this was a hoax... great, fresh sushi, a place to sit, helpful and friendly staff? Inconceivable. The kanpachi sashimi was divine, as was the chu-toro nigiri and the "by the border" roll. The trifecta of boy-band like sushi chefs were maestros behind the glass, and I wished hard for a bigger stomach so I could try more of their creations.
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Review from Emme F.
San Diego, CA
3/22/2012
I love amazing sushi! But what I love more than amazing sushi is the perfect balance of price and quality!!! And Azuki is that place!
Azuki is perfect in every way possible! I have pretty much tasted every fish on their menu - from their daily specials to the standard fare. All are extremely FRESH.
If you are an Uni fan like myself, look no further! Their Uni is buttery, sweet, firm... everything you want from Uni. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff over the ocean and the ocean waves are crashing into the cliff... the light seawater spray becoming the very air you breath... and you close your eyes and inhale........ That's what their Uni experience is like! Trust me - I go out of my way for good Uni. AND the price is great - $8.50 for nigiri. I usually get three orders of Uni.
If you want to pay MUCH more for the same quality sushi - go to Hane Sushi which is nearb, Sushi Ota, Nobu, etc.... Same quality - just more expensive!
Service is great as well. Always attentive service and the sushi chefs rock!
Give this place a shot - you wont regret! -
Review from Mia L.
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
2.12.12: YOU FANCY HUH? Big Huge door knob pulling thing. Fancy changing lights at the sushi bar. Projected pictures on the wall. Definitely not your traditional sushi place. It's very modern and it has its contemporary decor. The place is small, but comfortable small. I didn't have to worry if my elbows will touch my neighbors table. The seatings at the table were comfortable, and a great relaxing way to start the meal.
Our Meal: Hamachi Carpaccio, Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Kidding Me Roll, Agedashi Tofu
It was good, I liked it, lots of flavor in the hamachi, the beef was good but missing something it needed some type of a kick, kidding me roll had alot going on which overpower the fish, but still good, and last the agedashi tofu, always a good app to have.
Defintely will come back again to try more of their sushi. -
Review from Rudy D.
San Diego, CA
Man oh man....
FIrst of all, the sashimi....wow
Prior to chaperoning the high school prom me and my best friend/prom date went to get some sushi...its a tradition now i guess...sushi, then prom...so we went here....
We got the happy hour menu for the first 15 minutes of our stay! wooo hooo!
3 dollar draft saporroooo!!!! 5 dollar Albacore Tataki! http://Bomb.com/edu!!!!
We got the Chefs Choice 12 piece...
Salmon....Tuna....Albacore....Red Snapper....
Good Choice
Good effin choice
The Tuna tasted like it was literally caught off some boat 2 hours prior....
The Salmon was melting in my mouth....the Albacore had that perfect meaty texture, and the Red Snapper was delightful...
Oh, we sat at the Sushi bar and the bar table has cool dim lights under that change colors...neatooooo
After that, we had the DJ mix roll...say yes to proposition shrimp tempura! Sure, a purist would say "What avocado?" but today most rolls have avocado. Ok not most but a lot do. Shutup
Next, we tried the Kobe roll....
Nothing says I love you taste buds like seared Kobe wagyu beef over rock shrimp rolls and other stuff in it....
I think my taste buds proposed to me after that...
My teeth got jealous...
After another Sapporrooooooo at regular price we paid the bill and went to prom....dot com -
Review from Lisa W.
San Diego, CA
3/14/2012
Really good sushi! Reasonable prices too! My friend and I had a huge bowl of edamame, a california roll ($4), Spicy Tuna Roll ($5), and a specialty roll ($9 or $13, I forget). The bill was $23 I think. The non-speciality rolls were pretty filling and had a lot of fish in it. I love that they don't just throw a bunch of rice to make their rolls bigger. To make their rolls bigger , Azuki adds more fish ... what a concept!
They had pretty good lunch specials so I'll be back to try those!
Door was kinda hard to open, that is my only complaint. -
Review from M D.
Santa Barbara, CA
4/27/2012
Was in San Diego last night and found Azuki sushi through yelp. It was awesome!! Great sushi and great service. Hidden in a part of San Diego that looks like San Francisco.
Really enjoyed the sunshine roll, seaweed salad, rainbow roll, and the Azuki salad. Can't wait to go back. -
Review from Jessica L.
San Diego, CA
3/13/2012 3 photos
Best sushi ive had so far!!! I personally think it's even better than sushi ota!
We ordered an "omg", "are you kidding me" specialty roll, "Vertigo" roll, and a sashimi salad! The "omg" was literally OMG! I felt as if it was melting in my mouth! Didnt even have to dip it into soy sauce or anything and it absolutely didnt have the adverse smell that usually comes with seafood/cheap sashimi. The Vergito was amazing as well; incredibly refreshing and appetizing! I just went there today, yet I'm already craving to go back again! LEGIT FIVE STAR!! -
Review from William G.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2012
Found this place on yelp, really close to my house. usually eat lunch when I go here.
Nigiri lunch special is a fantastic deal. 7 nigiri no duplicates, either a spicy tuna roll, or a California roll, and miso. all for 14.99. Spicy tuna roll was great.
Wait staff is super nice, and respectful of privacy, while being attentive at the same time.
Fresh, fresh, fresh sushi.
And a pretty decent beer selection.
I like to sit out front, and people watch while enjoying my lunch, and beer. -
Review from Alec H.
San Diego, CA
2/7/2012
As good as any sushi restaurant in San Diego on the following criteria:
1. Variety of fish - mostly sustainable
2. Creativity
3. Authenticity
4. Freshness/Quality
Nao and team are very innovative do an incredible job. If you have a few extra bucks and want a real authentic experience, stop by for a late lunch after the rush, sit at the bar and ask for "omakase" and you will be delighted. -
Review from Rizzy B.
Oceanside, CA
5/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
loved it! outdoor seating is awesome!!!!
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Review from K K.
San Diego, CA
4/7/2012
I've driven by Azuki Sushi numerous times on my way to work, however I always thought it was a yogurt or dessert shop since "azuki" beans are often used in traditional Japanese desserts. I was surprised when Azuki Sushi populated in my yelp search for "best sushi places" around the 92101 area.
After my experience last night, I couldn't agree with Emme F.'s review any more...amazing sushi is the perfect balance of price and quality and that's why Azuki definitely deserved a 5 star rating! -
Review from Liz R.
San Diego, CA
2/24/2012
One of the few restaurants that's absolutely worth the (substantial) amount of money you pay for it. My brother demands this place every time he flies in from NYC.
FOOD:
- Fried panko oysters: These taste like a fried bit of ocean - hot, crunchy on the outside, slimy on the inside. Dipped in a spicy plum sauce, they're a mix of salty, sweet, and spicy.
- Ohitashi: Spinach served cold with a tangy ponzu & sesame seed sauce. A light, flavorful dish that's a total steal at $4.50.
- Miso soup with Shiitake: Not too salty, great on a cold night. The mushrooms are plentiful and chewy.
- Miso cod. Sweet, salty, flaky and crisped just right.
ROLLS:
The artistic presentation is fantastic. We ordered a specialty roll that involved a blow torch and crisp tomato discs perched jauntily like hats on top of the roll. Standouts include: RU Kidding Me Roll, Dragon Roll, Saco Roll, and On the Border Roll.
My brother and his friend also ordered an elaborate sushi sampler that came out with a fish head that was later fried for them when they were done.
Pass on dessert if you want anything substantial - fruit and mochi were the only things I tried. Good, but not anything stellar.
DRINKS:
Lychee & peach saketinis for $4 on Thursdays. Great beer selection. 'Nuff said.
AMBIENCE:
Service is attentive. I prefer the very hidden back patio to the front restaurant - it's less cramped and quite beautiful with twinkly lights and plants.
Bottom line: The light, intricate fare at Azuki will leave both you and your wallet feeling lean. -
Review from Maria L.
Riverside, CA
GOOD GAHD! THIS PLACE IS GOOD!
Hands down, the best sushi I've ever had in San Diego! Their speciality rolls are definitely the way to go! However, first - before I continue, I recommend you make a reservation. Please, please, PLEASE make a reservation! You will definitely NOT be disappointed!
I bookmarked this place recently and since my honey decided to splurge a bit, we went with this place. We had no idea you needed a reservation for this place, but good thing they had 2 seats at the bar available for us!
To start us off, we had the Spicy Albacore Tataki for an appetizer and it was quite tasty! My honey ordered the Kobe roll and I had the Stardust roll. OMG, it was HEAVEN! The Stardust roll consists of a chopped albacore mix, gobo, avocado, topped with seared hamachi, a VERY thin slice of lemon, scallions and garlic ponzo. MMM, doesn't that sound delicious?! IT WAS DELECTABLE! My honey's kobe roll was amazing too! But since I favor rolls that have raw meats on top, I definitely enjoyed mine more!
It was such a treat sitting at the bar too. The bar changed colors and we were able to see the chefs do their work! I'm sure they use a torch on every speciality roll, and they do amazing work! I would definitely come back again! -
Review from T.j. W.
Irvine, CA
2/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This was a recommendation from our concierge.
I thought it might be good, I was wrong, it was great!
I had the Azuki salad and the Red Roll. The salad was
large and tasty, kinda sweet. The roll had the perfect
combination of cream sauce and spicy taste.
The only negative was the ginger drink, but the
dishes made up for it. -
Review from Lloyd W.
San Diego, CA
1/6/2012
.. Wow, that hit my credit limit
Phenomenal rolls and starters!!
the pictures really don't do them much justice
you need to try it to know how good the food is
in short, you won't be disappointed.. unless you hate fish and seafood
.. Get out of Town!
Ha, Just kidding
But like I said, it's up there with Donovan's, it's an instant KO to your wallet!
but if you stay away from anything obviously overpriced (hint: sashimi platters, etc..)
I'm sure you'll be fine
Fusion and stylish, can't complain -
Review from Norman M.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
This place was amazing! My friends and I, including a sushi newbie, ate here on Saturday, 01/14 and loved everything we had. We had the:
Spicy Halibut Carpaccio
Seaweed Salad
Kobe (roll)
Super Dragon (roll)
A chef's choice platter (full of tons of wonderful goodies)
Unagi
I will definitely be back! Reservations highly recommended. -
Review from Ellie C.
San Francisco, CA
Sweet lord..I miss this place so friggin much.
Was in San Diego for vacation with the fam and was searching for a restaurant nearby to have dinner at (Thanks to Yelp, of course). We tasted a few different dishes (my iphone photos do not do justice to how delicious everything was): http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Wagyu carpaccio (seared wagyu beef, garlic infused olive oil, green tea salt) - Mm...tbh, it was delicious..and I can't remember the flavors to describe it but it was DELICIOUS.
Chef's choice sashimi - Each piece of sashimi I tried was fresh, fresh, fresh. The fish just melted on my tongue. I usually hate tuna sashmi but given a plate of Azuki's tuna sashimi you will most definately never hear me complain.
Also being a huge fan of salmon sashimi/nigiri, I told my fam "this is the best piece of salmon sashimi I have ever tasted"
R U Kidding Me Roll (diver scallops, krab, tempura asparagus, topped with seared tuna and white truffle oil, served around mixed greens in ponzu, crowned with flash fried chives) - The flash fried chives were such a suprise along with the ponzu and mixed greens, the chives added a pleasant savory floral flavor. The roll in itself was moist and the white truffle oil was an scrumptious touch to the roll.
Dessert Sampler (fried banana, acai cheesecake, matcha creme brulee) - YUM. The matcha creme brulee was the perfect texture, to add.
Pricey, but the food here is definately worth every penny.
Fun fact: did you know Azuki means red bean in Japanese? Azuki Sushi's door is filled to the brim with tiny little red beans. Next time you're there, check it out! -
Review from Randy k.
San Diego, CA
12/13/2011
At the suggestion of a co-worker, we dropped in here for my birthday lunch and i was NOT disappointed!
The R U Kidding Me roll was good, the Stardust better, but the Sunshine roll was out of this world. I usually try a roll without any soy sauce to see how fresh the rice is. I didn't use any soy on any roll because the rice was so yummy! Moist, fresh and a great flavor. On to the fish... Generous portions of fish on the nigiri with just the right amount of that yummy rice! .
It was a little pricey especially for lunch, but you definitely get what you pay for.
I will really enjoy coming back here in the evening, sit at the sushi bar and enjoy probably the best sushi I've had in San Diego! -
Review from Jeannee H.
San Diego, CA
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Husband and I decided to try a new sushi place for my bday and Adzuki was PHENOMENAL!!!
We ordered the root vegetable fries, the Green Lantern roll, Bonsai roll, and spicy tuna roll. EVERYTHING, including the unassuming tuna roll was fantastic! I also ordered the lychee sakitini which my husband tasted and then pretty much swooned over the rest of dinner it was so good.
The restaurant has a great vibe and the servers were great. Granted, we went on a WEEKDAY, so that may have contributed to the cozy yet comfortable atmosphere; the tables are a bit close together and I could see that as maybe being an issue if it was packed. -
Review from Amy B.
Temple City, CA
10/24/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
We are so glad we found Azuki on Yelp! This is place is one of the best sushi restaurants we've been to. I just wish we are not two hours away! It is in Bankers Hills on a quiet street. I prefer this over the crowd at Gaslamp. The atmosphere is hip and trendy. We were originally seated right next to the door. It was a heavy door and when it opened and closed frequently, it's quite annoying. They moved us right away upon our request.
Our server was very nice and gave us some good recommendations. Their drinks were awesome. I had a mint martini and it was quite refreshing. We ordered the OMG (seared tuna, with asparagus and white truffle) and it was amazing! Other sushi we ordered was fresh and delicious. The Kobe roll was weird to me. I guess I prefer my rolls to be wrapped by raw fish than a piece of meat.
We would go back for sure when we go to San Diego. -
Review from Brittany A.
La Jolla, CA
10/18/2011
Ordered here for lunch. The sushi menu is limited at lunch time and they didn't have my typical go-to Philadelphia roll so i ordered the spicy tune and spicy salmon roll and added cream cheese. I've never been a fan of tuna rolls but thought I'd give it a try and to my surprise I really liked it!
The atmosphere is very hip and trendy. The coolest thing was the door. It was filled with some type of seeds, really cool looking! Will post a pic soon. -
Review from Ryan C.
San Diego, CA
11/13/2011
Don't get me wrong, Azuki Sushi served really fresh sashimi and the food was great... but it's just not my type of restaurant.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday because I know she really wanted to try the expensive and super fresh sashimi. You know, not the Americanized sushi rolls and appetizers. It's located in the more suburban parts of 5th Ave, and parking was a bit difficult to find because it was hard to distinguish between what was a parking spot and what wasn't.
The restaurant was really modern and the atmosphere was lively. Upon walking in, it was confusing as to where to check in for our reservation. The waitress was super friendly and showed us to our table promptly.
Now, onto the food.
We ordered an appetizer, the OMG. I'm petrified of sashimi, but because it was my girlfriend's birthday, I thought I'd give it a try. Aside from the seared blue fin tuna, the crispy lotus & asparagus topping was delicious! The dish was presented beautifully and my girlfriend really enjoyed it.
Next, we had another appetizer, the Geso, which are fried calamari legs. It was nicely fried, though a bit rough and hard to chew. The dipping sauces were spicy and gave the calamari legs a nice flavor.
My girlfriend ordered the nightly special, Omakase Sashimi. She absolutely loved it! Everything was perfect and she savored every bite of her sashimi. All expect the sea urchin (?)... it was yellow and a bit slimy for her taste.
Being a real beef guy, I ordered the Wagyu Beef as my entree. The mushroom sauce (?) that came with it made the wagyu beef so much more delicious and amazing! The serving was a bit small, but I had expected that from a high-end restaurant like Azuki Lounge. The asparagus was grilled to perfection, and overall, the meal was decent.
We also ordered a Kobe specialty roll to share. I didn't like the raw ponzu beef on the top of the roll, but it was still pretty good.
Oh, and I also ordered a mango mojito on the side. The mango was strong and gave the mojito a really nice touch.
The main problems I had with the restaurant was that it wasn't private enough (the tables are way too close to each other) and that the service could be better. It took forever to get a waiter's attention to refill my girlfriend's water, and when I did get his attention, he looked confused... like why would I ask for more water?
Overall, a good experience but it's unlikely I'm come back because I just don't enjoy sashimi enough for this place. -
Review from Arlene P.
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Loved this place!
What is Azuki? They are beans! And they fill the front door and decorate the menu and are weaved into theme of this restaurant in so many ways. I liked them in my dessert.
Everything was good here, but I am a big albacore fan so, one roll I HIGHLY recommend here:
"Stardust" $15 gets you a roll with albacore, krab, gobo, avocado, topped with seared hamachi, lemon, scallions, garlic ponzu
Enjoy!
Cool reference: http://www.knowingfood...
Adzuki Bean:
(Health Benefits and Nutrition Information provided by nutritionist Lucy Kelly Nutritional Therapist, Southampton, England.)
Adzuki beans are a good source of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc copper, manganese and B vitamins. As a high-potassium, low-sodium food they can help reduce blood pressure and act as a natural diuretic. When combined with grains, beans supply high quality protein, which provides a healthy alternative to meat or other animal protein.
Like most beans, adzuki beans are rich in soluble fibre. This type of fibre provides bulk to the stool and binds to toxins and cholesterol aiding in their elimination from the body.
In Japan adzuki beans are known for their healing properties and are used to support kidney and bladder function. Gillian McKeith is a huge fan of the adzuki bean and refers to it as the 'weight loss' bean as it low in calories and fat but high in nutrients.Listed in: Asian Persuasion
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Review from Ana A.
San Diego, CA
My favorite Sushi restaurant in San Diego! I have yet to be disappointed... prices can be steep but keep in mind you get what you pay for - I have yet to be disappointed.
Best time to go is happy hour!
Enjoy! -
Review from Amy D.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 11/12/2011
MAKE A RESERVATION! sooooooo worth the 2 hr drive!
This place is so good, still haven't found it's equivalent or better in LA....good that it's so far (on the check book!)
What Sushi ought to be.....everywhere! No wonder you need reservations!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/14/2011
By FAR this place is on my top 2 places for Sushi.
FRESH, SUPERB CUTS and CHEAP! Well, clearly, the… Read more »
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Review from TONY C.
San Diego, CA
3/12/2012
Ive always been a huge fan of sushi Ota and still am but I have to say that Azuki is now up on my top 3 three list. I love the ambiance but most of all the sushi was delicious and the service was amazing. I would recommend to anyone that really loves good sushi!!
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Review from Jill J.
Seattle, WA
This is my FAVORITE sushi spot in San Diego.
The happy hour is fantastic.
The sushi is always fresh... so fresh it's still moving
The ambiance is simple- and serves it's purpose.
The drinks are interesting and yummy.
This place never lets me down.
AND... there is a patio out back on the roof. Not many people know about it, but sit out here if you can. It just adds to the experience. -
Review from Lalaine C.
San Diego, CA
What can I say about Azuki Sushi except that they keep it REAL.
REAL FRESH.
Their sashimi was beautifully opaque, identical in size, and tasted like it was just caught in the ocean. Nice quality selection of fish too (ahi, hamachi, salmon, and snapper) - some sushi joints give you the cheap stuff, like white fish. Real CHEAP!
And we also ordered our favorite delicacy - uni. If you want to find out the true caliber of a sushi restaurant, order the uni. Azuki's didn't disappoint - definitely Grade A (rich, gold color, creamy yet firm texture, and semi-sweet. ) Yes, I can Google!
REAL ORIGINAL.
For our appetizer, we ordered the root vegetable fries - something we've never seen on any menu before -instead of our standard veggie tempura that we always get at sushi restaurants. These fries consisted of julienned carrot, yam (and probably daikon and taro - we couldn't tell!) and were generously seasoned, which just made us more thirsty. Oh well, can we get ANOTHER carafe of sake, please!!!
Azuki also has a lot of original sushi rolls that we haven't seen before either, so we opted for the most unusual, most expensive roll on the menu. This $17 concoction had scallops, asparagus, tuna, and truffle oil with a nest of fried chives in the center. RU KIDDING ME? Seriously, that is what this roll is called LOL. No joke though, it was NOM!!!
REAL SUSHI CHEFS.
You want Mexicans making your carne asada burrito and Italians making your capellini di mare, right? Well, I want Japanese sushi chefs rolling my sushi! #1, it's more authentic. #2, you get to do sake shots with them, like we did! Kampai!!!
Besides the food, the service was great (except for one inattentive waitress), and the ambience was pretty chill - nothing sexy like LA's Katsuya or hip like Old Town's Harney Sushi. But Azuki Sushi keeps it REAL, and when you're in the mood for fresh, original, and authentic sushi, at the end of the day, REAL is what you'll want. -
Review from Scott B.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2012
I think this is the best sushi in the Bankers Hill / Hillcrest / Mission Hills area.
The menu also has plenty of grilled and cooked items, so you can bring friends who don't like raw fish.
I was there early on a weeknight, so got a table no problem, but its a small space so I imagine it gets packed on weekends. -
Review from Helen H.
San Marcos, CA
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Since I'm from Vancouver, BC, sushi doesn't get any better than from BC...however, after visiting Azuki Sushi for the first time, I have to say I was quite impressed! The overall ambiance (very trendy) to the attentive service to the actual food I ate...all were fabulous! So why didn't I give it 5 stars? The price was a bit steep and would probably be 3/4 of the cost of what i would have paid in Vancouver. I guess I'm just spoiled with Kadoya on Davie & Thurlow.
Overall, I would definitely visit Azuki Sushi again. Loved it! (especially the garlic edammame...so good!). -
Review from T S.
San Diego, CA
2/21/2012
Super fresh, upscale sushi joint. The back patio is really nice and perfect place for larger parties.
The great:
RU kidding me roll
Wagyu Carpaccio
Miso Cod
hotate
age dashi tofu
bonsai
The OK:
Spicy Albacore Tataki
seaweed salad
shishito peppers
No need to eat again:
Ankimo (monkfish liver)
