SD Sushi Ninjas
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Food Stands Sushi Bars, Food Stands [Edit]
San Diego, CA 92122(213) 605-1089
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Fri 4 pm - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
62 reviews for SD Sushi Ninjas
Review Highlights
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"Able to try Shrimp Crunch and their lobster roll." In 5 reviews -
"I'll be following this truck around like a true ninja." In 21 reviews -
"As a side note the afro ninja was yummy." In 8 reviews
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62 reviews in English
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Review from Katherine S.
La Jolla, CA
Wow, this food truck is AMAZING! Especially for the price. Much cheaper than most sushi places, and the happy hour deal is awesome. Buy 2 rolls get 1 free is a great deal, especially when it comes with buy 1 get 1 free apps as well. We got 4 specialty rolls, 2 appetizers, and 2 sodas for $30, which is much better than any sushi restaurant around.
We got the food home and weren't sure what to expect but were pleasantly surprised. The sushi was fresh and extremely tasty. I recommend the spicy tuna crunch-type roll. It was amazing. Also, the gyoza was good. There really wasn't anything I disliked, and the guy working there were super friendly. -
Review from Deb R.
San Diego, CA
5/24/2012
so I finally got around to trying these guys out. They've been parking along Torreyana Rd on Thursdays for months now, but Thusday evening used to be my sushi night with the girls and even though I think Sushi for lunch and dinner would be a good thing...at the same time it felt a little over the top.
Was planning on going out for lunch today but with everything going on at the office, just plain ran out of time. I realized it was almost 1 and hoped the truck was still parked at the corner. Lucky for me it was, so I grabbed my $ and headed down.
They were out of 2 of the items I wanted, but I didn't hold that against them...it was almost 1pm after all, so I ordered the Blazin Tuna hand roll and the Sake Bomb.
Cant' say that I was overly impressed. As several others have mentioned, the rice, the fish, the sauce...it was all a little too warm for my taste. Probably no warmer than room temperature (and it wasn't a hot day by any means), but I like my sushi cold cold cold unless its baked.
The Blazin Tuna was tasty, but not blazing at all. And it was a little on the skinny side.
The Sake Bomb did not blow my mind. The inside was all crab surimi (or so it seemed...if there was suppose to be other things inside they were so small it was hard to tell). Outside seared salmon, covered in red onions (which I failed to notice when I ordered it....I don't like raw onions), and bonito flakes. When I picked all the onions off the flakes went with it.
overall, this roll was just bland and didn't have a lot of flavor.
The jury is still out. There are several other rolls that sound really good...so I'll give them another chance and hope for improvement. -
Review from Joseph L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went for happy hour, not a bad deal.. buy 2 get 1 free, total was $16 something for three rolls.
All three rolls had "spicy crab" inside with various changes, basically all were California rolls with different toppings. Fish was good, a little warm for my taste, and a little thin.
TLDR: Rolls were too similar, just decent quality and quantity.. good for just every once in a while -
Review from Shelby E.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 5/10/2012
I think I may have finally decided not to go back.
When SD Sushi Ninjas is on the ball, they're very good. Excellent even. Really tasty hand rolls, cut rolls, and the happy hour deal? Buy 2 rolls, get 1 free? Excellent deal for sushi.
However, the problem is that every time I go now there's something I'm disappointed about. And this is coming from someone who loves sushi so much that I like to go to this food truck at least once if not twice a week. You could even call me ninja obsessed. I really REALLY want to continue going to this truck for lunch and the occasional happy hour, but I really think I should just go cold turkey now and give up... they just aren't consistently good!
That's not to say they haven't improved in the last month since I posted my last review: they got back the spicy tuna which has been really exciting! I also found some new rolls that I liked. I don't even mind that much that they are now tacking on tax to the value, rather than the value including tax as before.
But again, consistency is key, and this truck simply does not have it.
As I said in my prior review, the hand rolls vary, but usually the Jammin' Salmon and Blazin' Tuna are fine no matter what... assuming they don't put on too much mayo.
Interested in the lobster or scallop delight? Be prepared to have red onions instead of silky white onions, which is listed on the menu. Maybe this is semantics and seems picky, but the roll with the silky white onions? SO GOOD! Red onions? Still good, but just a bit disappointing that it's not like it as good as it was before.
Afro Ninja roll? Last time, yes please! But not after today. Either their jalapeno was really messed up with no heat, or they put green BELL pepper in my roll instead of jalapeno. It was crunchy and two huge pieces per bite and ugh, grossed me out.
I also still can't get over that they are using the Kari Out soy sauce instead of the Kikkoman's they used to serve - I was going to start bringing my own soy sauce into work on Sushi Ninjas food truck days just because that soy sauce ruins their sushi when it's tasty.
So overall... two stars. Sorry, SD sushi ninjas... although I wanna keep trying and I really hope you get better on your own, I think I'm done being disappointed every time with the inconsistency.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/17/2012
First off, this food truck comes to near my workplace every Thursday, so I have been a loyal recruit… Read more »
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Review from Anide J.
San Diego, CA
5/18/2012
Finally got to tried the Sushi Truck! I'd heard so much about it, so maybe my expectations were too high.. But anyways, I had the Afro Ninja, not impressed. I couldn't seem to localize any fish among all the rice and spicy crab, cream cheese etc. I also had some nigiri, which was microscopic and the fish (salmon) did not seem too fresh. I paid only $10.50 for this but I would rather pay $5 more and go to SushiKi... Too bad, it's a cool concept.
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Review from Lynne S.
5/4/2012
Honestly, I'm a bit of a sushi snob. I'm willing to admit it.
But when sushi conveniently parks itself just outside of my apartment complex, that is a different story. Accounting for the obvious difficulties that come with attempting to serve sushi from a moving vehicle, this place is pretty freakin awesome.
Three main points I can condense my thoughts down to:
1. Have fun with the sauces--they get creative, you should too. Cilantro mayo, basil mayo, eel sauce, etc. all at your disposal from handy iced pump dispensers. Me, having my mayo obsession...I think it's epic.
2. EAT THE HAND ROLLS IMMEDIATELY. I seriously cannot stress this enough. Nothing is worse than a soggy handroll, and if you let it get that way then it's your own fault and no one else's.
3. Most of the sushi is good--the Skittles and Jessica Albacore are in my top 5. But the true masterpiece is the unassuming Shrimp Crunch Roll. Not overplayed, not overdone...just right. Tender tempura shrimp, delicious crunchy bits and eel sauce, avo on the inside. Try it. You'll be pleasantly surprised. The others have some more edgy flavors, but this one stands out amongst the crowd (and I think to date I've tried everything they have!)
They can be ninja-like in the sense that the truck hard to see at night, and sometimes hard to find cause they'll take off once they run out of stuff. Offsetting that are the decent prices and nice guys who work it. Track them down and they'll surprise you with their ninja stealth sushi skills. -
Review from Vikkie H.
San Diego, CA
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
For once a food truck that DOESN'T overcharge??!?!
That's right. The sushi here is actually cheaper than normal sushi. And I know what you're thinking; gross, sushi from a food truck. I'm in for some real low quality sushi.
Not true, it's actually decent sushi. It's not that pre-made garbage either. Give it a try. It's good for the price.
I had the Afro Ninja. fried roll with spicy tuna and spicy crab with cream cheese.. and avocado I think? topped with sauces. I'd definitely order from here again if I saw this truck. -
Review from Jenny K.
4/2/2012
Sushi from a truck?
You'd be surprised :)
The prices are cheap (~$7 for a fancy schmancy roll) and they are pretty easy to find (it helps that one of their regular stops is just a stone's throw from my apartment). Their truck appears to be clean and pretty new, and the guys working in the truck are very young and friendly. Just a random plus= they play good electronica music.
I got to try some of the Ninja Combo (5 nigiri + shrimp tempura roll) and the Afro Ninja Roll (cream cheese, spicy tuna, deep fried roll). The nigiri should be renamed as MINIgiri because they were very small, but I can't really complain because I got all that plus a whole tempura shrimp roll for ten bucks. The Afro Ninja is not really my cup of tea because of the cream cheese, but my sister loved it. Both rolls were spectacular, but the nigiri is substandard (not that I expect top quality o toro or sweet shrimp from a truck haha).
I'm definitely coming back again because it's so affordable, and it makes my sister happy. A perfect option for someone too busy to cook, and too cheap to buy more expensive foods.
Just as an added note, if you're looking for cheap nigiri, go to Mitsuwa after 7PM for 1/2 off bento boxes (including nigiri). -
Review from Hannah S.
4/10/2012
I believe they are called sushi ninjas because they slice the sushi NINJA thin. But what else could you expect from a food truck that probably eats gas and serves low-cost high-quality sushi?
I stumbled upon this food truck outside my friend's place in La Jolla and was pleasantly surprised to hear that they were having a Happy Hour which meant that purchasing two rolls would result in getting one roll for FREE.
So I grabbed a SAL-antro, Scallop Delight, and Skittles rolls. All were quite delicious. All could have used a bit more cucumber as I like the crunchy factor.
But hey, three great rolls for $16? Go get someeeee and support this truck! I'd hate tp see it go! -
Review from Jenn S.
San Diego, CA
4/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Maybe I caught them on an off day, but I just wasn't impressed. One of my biggest pet peeves is when sushi fish is warm, which it was on the day that I tried this place out. Ick.
Two stars for insanely cheap prices and one more star for fast, friendly service. -
Review from Manami Y.
3/19/2012
I don't know what I was thinking.
One night, while my bf and I were at Geisel I called to see if I could place an order for delivery. I was told that they weren't open yet so to call back and delivery would take about 40 mins. Well, I was pretty hungry and couldn't wait that long. My bf and I ended up having a snack to tide us over. After our 6-hr. study/work session, we headed to Regents and Nobel to check out this food truck. We had checked out their website and knew exactly what we wanted. Unfortunately, 2 hours after they had opened up shop they were out of spicy tuna so by the time we got there they were substituting spicy crab for anything that had tuna in it.
There were three guys inside the truck: one making the sushi and two guys either taking the order on the phone or in person, or getting the orders together for delivery. The guy who helped me was nice and friendly. The other guy, on the other hand, ignored me when I approached the truck and then turned his back to me. He looked like he was flustered and didn't know what he was doing. While I waited for my order, two guys rushed into the truck to pick up more delivery orders. Then confusion ensued as the guys didn't know where certain places were and this and that. It was so unorganized! I'm so glad I didn't get my food delivered! It would've taken well over 40 mins.!!
My bf and I tried the sushi combo., Kobe hand roll, Nunchuck hand roll, serrano hamachi roll, and the crispy albacore roll. The combo came with a variety of nigiri and spicy california rolls. None of their "spicy" rolls were remotely spicy. Actually, all of the rolls tasted like california rolls, but slightly better because they had slices of fish on top or they were doused with sauce. The california rolls that were in the combo. were paltry. The only thing I really liked was their nigiri. I was surprised to find that the fish was pretty fresh. Other than that, the rolls were a total dud. My bf liked the kamikaze hand roll though.
Even though their nigiri was good, I would not seek them out or wait outside for it again. You really do get what you pay for! Cheap sushi from a food truck. If that's yo thang, go get it!Listed in: My Future Home - San Diego
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Review from Christopher P.
La Jolla, CA
3/23/2012
This rating is based on a delivery to UCSD during finals week, and not the food truck experience. I'm not entirely sure delivery is a normal thing or a finals week promotion to cater to students, and make a little extra money in doing so.
Sushi Ninja delivers on campus, but not directly to the door, unlike Domino's Pizza or DelSushi. It's not too big of an issue though, since you only have to meet them right outside your building. Delivery charges are built in and cheap ($1), so you don't have to worry about that - my guy didn't even accept a tip when I offered.
As for the quality of the food, I'll just go ahead and compare it to the other delivery late-night sushi available: DelSushi. DelSushi tends to give a little more food , but it's only a heavier volume of rice. On the other hand, Sushi Ninja's fish is definitely fresher, and the rolls are distinct, whereas at DelSushi, I had some trouble distinguishing. The nigiri at Sushi Ninja, which DelSushi doesn't offer, was relatively fresh, considering the time and price. Overall, it's better to the taste, the wasabi and ginger is fresher (and not prepackaged), and the prices are cheaper.
If you're wondering, the quality of the fish is similar to Sushi Deli. Granted, these aren't the highest quality sushi places that we're comparing, but hey, at $10 for 5 pieces of nigiri and a roll, I'm pretty happy. Sushi Ninja's really like a 3.7 star, but I'll bump it up for being the best late-night delivery I've had so far. -
Review from Jennifer E.
Tucson, AZ
4/22/2012
We tried the shrimp crunch and it was yummy! I was skeptical about sushi out of a truck but to my surprise it was really good! It did take a little while for us to get our food but it didn't really bother me. Hopefully we will see them again when we return to San Diego!
Listed in: San Diego, I love you...., San Diego's Food on Wheels!
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Review from Takeo T.
La Jolla, CA
3/18/2012
I'm writing this review based on food that I had delivered to my house.
Now, a lot of crap happened for me to dock them one star. A slight complication happened in the order (not really their fault... I was trying to be cheap and get some discounts that they had to verify with one of their co-owners), which delayed the order by an hour. A few of my friends had to leave early to get to the bars (this was on St. Patty's Day) which left my other roommate and I to eat 6 rolls of sushi and 2 orders of Gyozas. Just to clarify, I'm NOT complaining about the amount of food that was relinquished by my friends for my consumption. I'm fat (refer to profile picture).
The delivery took a bit, considering that they were stationed in Nobel and Regents and my house was only about a mile away. It ended up taking 25 minutes, and when the delivery guy got here, the app on his phone crashed three times while trying to take down my credit card information. The thing is, it's finals week, so I'm sure they were getting TONS of orders from other customers, so I definitely understand the wait and app crashes.
Onto the food! We got almost every roll on the menu, and they were all pretty freaking good. I haven't tried any of the handrolls or the nigiris so I can't speak on their behalf, but if you want good quality americanized sushi rolls like the ones you find at sushi deli or any other popular "sushi" places, then Sushi Ninjas is the place to go. Their rolls are creative and tasty, and their prices are very VERY reasonable. My personal recommendation is their scallop roll. -
Review from Grace B.
3/17/2012
Wasn't stellar...and maybe it just wasn't their night. First off, they were Latin delivering the sushi because they gave the delivery person my wrong address. Second, they failed to tell me that all their rolls are served with crab not spicy tuna as it is listed on the menu. Because of that the rolls were not as dynamic as I would have
Iked them to be...maybe I just need to order something different until they get the spicy tuna back on the menu. -
Review from Melody Y.
San Diego, CA
2/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
The husband is a sushi lover, hence, we are constantly looking for new sushi places to try. So when our friends, who are faithful food-truck followers, told us about sushi ninja, we immediately jumped on the boat and planned a date night!
We went during their happy hour -- GREAT price. For ~ $20, we got 3 rolls + a handroll. Out of the 3, the lobster roll was my favorite. Eel sauce + spicy mayo = wins my heart. The other 2 (salantro + hamachi) was good, too, though the creamy cilantro sauce was too much for me. The husband liked them more than I did.
On a side note, the sushi was warmer than the normal ones we are used to, but it didn't bug us too much. Next time though, we'd probably try to let it sit in the fridge for a little bit before diving in.
+: free eel sauce (+ their own cilantro sauce)!. They also sell girl scout cookies, soda, chips, etc...
Overall, we liked it lots and will be back! -
Review from Tanakorn T.
San Diego, CA
More closer to a 3 1/2 though.
Sushi ninja is a truck that you will see around the ucsd area because, well, my friend runs it, but that won't change my feelin on the food. I have to stay honest since I have a high standard of quality reviews to keep up! So here is the review:
I would say the food is pretty good. For the price during happy hour, you can't beat it. 3 told for the price of 2 is awesome. They also have the free drink which is tight too.
I can't say that it's my favorite sushi place, but it is the best in the area(sorry, but that's not saying that much). I don't know if it's the fact that my gf and I brought it back home before eating it or what it was, but it didnt have the freshness feeling of good sushi for me. The rolls were good in idea and tastes blended well, so I'll give that to them.
I guess I just have to try it again. -
Review from Kelsey L.
La Jolla, CA
5/15/2012
Amazing. I had never had a hand roll before this food truck (which is incredible since I am a sushi fanatic...I am just more keen on standard rolls) and now I don't know if I can ever get one anywhere else. Some of the most unique rolls I have seen and they taste SO FRESH. really amazing how great the quality is for coming out of a food truck - better than most restaurants I have been to. Love these guys, love their sushi. Definitely recommend.
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Review from Jessica K.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2012
Who wants sushi from a truck? Sounds quite sketchy, but turned out to be a great surprise. I was hanging out at Green Flash and I walked out to grab some food. What grabbed my attention at first were the SUPER LOW prices. I was in disbelief.. but then again, fish is NOT THAT expensive. It's just ridiculously overpriced in restaurants.
I ordered the Jessica Albacore roll and that shit was an explosion of flavors in my mouth. What bought me was the roasted garlic and onions on top of the roll. All of the rolls on the menu were creative; I had a tough time deciding what to order. Since I'm a sucker for garlic and my name is Jessica, I opted for this roll. The GYOZAs were a nice balance to all the rawness of the rolls. Make sure you guys get some of those. The food came out in like 5 minutes. And I left Green Flash so full, I only drank like 1 beer. OOOF.
Look for this truck if you're craving good sushi. And if you're poor. -
Review from Lilly C.
4/30/2012
Have I really not written a review for Sushi Ninjas yet? This place is amazing!! For UCSD students, this truck is the answer to your prayers. They park right outside of Costa Verde on Regents & Nobel so you can walk right over to get your sushi fix. If you're feeling especially lazy, they even deliver! During finals weeks they deliver past midnight, which is the greatest thing ever because when I'm cranky and tired from pulling allnighters, the only thing that can make me happy is good food. You might be skeptical about eating sushi from a truck, but I assure you this is good quality. I've worked at sushi restaurants before and the quality and freshness of the sushi is always up to par. And as a broke college student, I'm just so thankful I can get sushi with my budget. My personal favorites are the jammin salmon hand roll and sake bomb roll (I really like salmon haha). I love their quirky names like Afro ninja, jessica albacore hand roll, etcc-- so funny and creative!! The chef and workers are always nice and friendly and willing to give you their recommendations. It's cheap, good quality sushi that you can conveniently get right outside your apartment! THANK YOU Sushi Ninjas for making my life a little bit easier and happier.
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Review from Yong L.
San Diego, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Every now and then I'd see this truck outside of my apartment complex. I'd been meaning to try it, but I was skeptical - sushi from a food truck? How good could that be? After seeing the reviews on yelp, however, I had to give it a shot. So one day I meandered over and ordered some grub from the truck. Luckily there was nobody in line so I got my order taken care of right away. I ordered two rolls and it only took 5 minutes. The cashier was friendly and helpful. I paid with card, and luckily they take it - the cashier had that one swiping thing connected to his iphone, which I thought was kind of cool.
The two rolls I got were the shrimp crunch roll and the crispy albacore. They were both really delicious. It's pretty hard to mess up a shrimp crunch roll, so I won't really talk about that. But the Jessica Albacore roll was really delicious. It's pretty decorative taste-wise, with crispy onion bits, cruncy grilled garlic, and the sauce. It looks pretty intimidating, and the taste definitely packs a punch. But even through that I could taste that the albacore was fresh - not only for a food truck, but fresh compared to a sit down restaurant's standards.
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, and I'll definitely be back. The price was right, the sushi was good, and the service was good. I'm gonna have to try the nigiri next time to really test it out, but I'm sure it will be great.
I took out some money to tip them, but I forgot and later found it still in my pocket. Dang it, they deserved it. I'll get you guys next time! -
Review from James B.
12/28/2011 3 photos
In my quest to find delicious gourmet food trucks, I was surprised to discover a food truck in San Diego because I didn't know San Diego had food trucks like those in LA. Not only is SD not known for food trucks, but a sushi truck?! I'd have to say, I was skeptical, but I was pleasantly surprised how delicious each roll was and how it was decently priced.
Rolls:
1) Afro Ninja Roll - the most popular. Spicy tuna, spicy crab, jalapenos, cream cheese, avocado. Deep fried and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo. Personally I like less sauce than most people, so I asked for half the sauce and it was still pretty dang appetizing!
2) Serrano Hamachi - spicy tuna, cucumber, chives, sprouts, yellowtail, cilantro aioli, and serrano chile peppers. If you like spicy or a kick to your rolls, this is definitely a must try. It is definitely one of my favorites!
3+4) Lobster Delight and Scallop Delight - both contain avocado, spicy mayo, eel sauce, green onions, masago and white onions, so they tasted the same. Personally, I prefer scallops over lobsters. Both tasted very fresh.
Hand Roll:
1) Jammin Salmon - I thought it would taste like the other salmon hand rolls I've had at restaurants, but what really set this hand roll apart was its basil mayo.
Service:
Awesome! I was at a brewery and ordered some sushi from the truck. They actually brought my order to me, so I didn't have to wait in the freezing cold! I've never had food delivered to me from a truck before. A++ service!
Overall:
1) Decent prices for sushi
2) Fresh fish
3) AMAZING unique sauces.
4) Great service.Listed in: Food Trucks
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Review from Gina K.
San Diego, CA
12/10/2011
Me & my good colleagues meet up every month to drink n catch up @ Green Flash, a Brewery in San Diego - and instead of serving their own food, they have a different food truck come visit (a pretty ingenious idea)
We've been trying to find a time when we could all try SD Sushi Ninjas, and the day finally came when the *Ninjas visited Green Flash!
All of us buzzed selves frolicked towards the truck window:
"DANNYYY WSUPPP!~" (The phenomenal entrepreneur/creator of SD Sushi Ninjas)
...although big danny wasn't there (yet), we were welcomed with warm smiles from the cashier & chef - a lil bit of chuckling as well..
Ninja took my order:
- Jessica Albacore (mmhm savory*)
- Kobe (spicy - fire fsure watch out)
- Kamikaze (scallops & spiciness perfect for my alc-marinated palate)
- Jalapeno Bombers (OG - who doesn't like deep fried cream cheese & penos?!)
As I was hoovering my last roll, I saw Danny - and asked for his personal recommendations:
- Jammin Salmon
- Afro Ninja
Party of 6 confirmed that Afro Ninja is DEF bomb.
But, unfortunately, one of my drunkass colleagues ate all of the Jammin Salmon before I had a taste..........WHO was it. -
Review from Patrick Z.
San Diego, CA
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm writing this as I finish up my lunch of 3 handrolls: salmon skin, albacore and hamachi, 2 piece nigri eel (no sauce) and a seaweed salad. All of that food for $12.50. That's a good price point, but I'll tell you why.
I was immediately worried about ordering sushi off a truck. How could this be good? Sadly, I my fears were correct. I can overlook the seaweed on the handrolls being a bit soggy. That happens in ANY sushi restaurant if you don't eat them within about 2 minutes. All of the handrolls were pretty fishy and had juuuust a bit too much rice. I've heard fishy fish is a pretty strong sign that the fish isn't the highest quality, but I can't say that 100%. Eel should be cooked crispy no matter if it's nigri, sashimi or in a handroll and this was soggy.
The seaweed salad was a good amount of food for only $3. That's the good part. The bad part is that it's not that awesome. It's not bad, but I'd say that Bristol Farms or Whole Foods even has better seaweed salads. The fresh avocado on top is a nice touch.
I think this place is more 1.5 stars than 1 but given that I didn't really enjoy any of my food and I have to brush my teeth right quick after eating makes this place a no-go. Could this be an off day for them? Maybe, but I'm not going to eat there again in order to find out. -
Review from Kris M.
San Diego, CA
3/25/2012
Good, fast and friendly. Stick with the cut rolls.
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Review from Chrissy N.
San Diego, CA
11/18/2011
Fresh, affordable sushi...from a truck?! Yes! It does exist!
Danny is one of the guys and he's super nice. We chatted while the sushi chef put together my order. The prices are very affordable and the quality is (surprisingly) amazing. Danny told me that they buy their fish fresh every morning--hence why they sometimes run out of certain rolls during busy dinner hours. I'd rather them run out then serve me old fish..so, I appreciated that.
Also, if what you want isn't on the menu..ask them to make it for you. I asked for a caterpillar roll and they were able to make one for me! Talk about excellent customer service!
I'll be following this truck around like a true ninja! -
Review from David G.
HAI-YAH!!!!
That, my friends, was the sound of the Sushi Ninjas karate-chopping the last bit of skepticism that I was harboring toward the San Diego food truck scene.
Seriously, the Sushi Ninjas are masters of the martial gourmet arts and know how to kick some serious culinary ass. Who knew that my favorite sushi in San Diego was not to be found in some high-falootin' sushi bar downtown, but rather off of a food truck right in front of my workplace in La Jolla?
I discovered the Sushi Ninjas truck by accident. I was randomly checking the San Diego Food Trucks feed on Twitter (which I have bookmarked, natch), and a new sushi truck caught my eye. The truck was also going to be parked in front of my building that same day. I couldn't miss this opportunity to try something new and different.
I admit -- I was a little skeptical. Raw fish off of a truck? How good could this possibly be?
The answer is: VERY good. Nay -- AMAZING.
I ordered two items -- the Skittles roll and the sushi combo. The Skittles is really just their lingo for a rainbow roll, and the sushi combo is essentially a giant Skittles roll with a few extras. All together, lunch was $12, and this was enough food to feed 2 people easily. (Much of it was shared.)
The sushi was heavenly. The rice was perfect. The fish was bright, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and vivid in color. I was especially fond of the tuna, which had oodles more flavor than most other tuna that I've come across. The truck offers unlimited free dipping sauces (spicy mayo, teriyaki, and a few others) for the non-traditionalists who like like fish and rice with a little something extra. (As for me, I prefer my sushi with a dollop of wasabi and nothing else, and even their wasabi was bright green and very fresh in flavor.)
I'm not the only one who likes this truck. It was scheduled to be in front of my workplace from 11:30am-1:30pm, and they were completely sold out by 12:15pm. Yikes. (If you want food from here, come early. Better yet, you can pre-order your meal on their website for pickup.)
It's amazing -- I finally found a biz that I can simultaneously call my favorite food truck AND my favorite sushi in San Diego.
The Sushi Ninjas are welcome to karate-chop me anytime.Listed in: The Far East, Dead fish & rice, Two axles + a stove
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Review from Moira I.
San Diego, CA
3/21/2012
Well, that was disappointing!
We had seen this food truck in our neighborhood a couple of times and decided to try it. We spend $24.00 for 3 rolls that were tiny! In comparison it ended up costing us more to eat here than it would have to eat at our neighborhood's sushi place.
It took about 30 minutes for the cook to prepare our order, there was only 1 person in front of us in line.
I would say skip it... not worth the value. -
Review from alex c.
San Diego, CA
Just ask Michael Olowokandi, any Star Wars sequel, and Hugh Jackman... the hardest thing is living up to the hype.
There's a lot of hype to this place, and I had sky high expectations. Sushi lover- check, food truck lover- check, Jessica Alba lover (I'll explain later)- check... I was just begging to be let down.
I started with the combo plate for $6. I wanted to try the nigiri, because it's the metric by which I judge sushi places. I was very pleasantly surprised. Is it as good as sushi ota? Naw... but is it better than a whole lot of other budget sushi places? Hell yeah.
Also, the rolls are among the most creative that I've seen. And with names like Jessica Albacore. We tried the Kobe, Albacore, Jammin Salmon and Blazin' Tuna. All awesome. And they had some bomb ingredients too.
2 small nitpicky issues- 1 is an overreliance on mayo for the rolls, which I'm not a huge fan of. It's not overpowering, but just a little much. Also, they only give 1 packet of soy sauce. Don't skimp, give two!
Bottom line- I hope to develop mercury poisoning (Ari Gold style) from eating from this truck far too often. Send it! -
Review from Andrew C.
La Jolla, CA
Came here on their grand opening day for lunch. The menu is pretty simple, and the prices are very reasonable for what you get - $7 for a 8 piece roll is a very good price for the area. I had the tuna nigiri ($2.50/2 pieces) which was fresh and very tender. Surprisingly good for a food truck. I also had the Crispy Albacore ($7) - a roll with spicy crab, shrimp tempura, avacado, albacore tuna, and garlic sauce. Also fresh and had some good sweet/savory combination of flavors. Probably could have been a little crunchier on the tempura and a little more avocado, but definitely enjoyable.
The food truck craze is in full force, but I had yet to see a sushi food truck, so there is the novelty factor which is neat. The sushi was fresh, prices were great, and if they are in the UTC area often I will definitely go back there for lunch before any other sushi restaurant in the area. Plus, the guys running it were approachable, helpful, and friendly. Give it a try. -
Review from Jenny D.
San Diego, CA
10/5/2011
Has anyone ever craved sushi so much that they were willing to drive down to the nearest joint, to sit by themselves at the bar, avoid eye contact with the sushi chef, order 2 large hot sake and the sashimi special by themselves at random times at the day, but were too scared?? (I've battled against my own urge to do this too many times.. )
well fear no more! SUSHI ON WHEELS? IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? You can get sushi in your jammies and it wouldn't be awkward at all! (not suggesting you should do that though)
Skeptical at first, but as a sushi fanatic I had to try it.
I had the Jessica Albacore handroll, and another roll im not to sure of the name but it had these crunchy garlicky chips on them.. So yummy! The fish fresh, the rolls creative and they give you a choice of sauces. The prices menu of all rolls was no more than 9 dollars.. :D:D
All they need now is an alcohol license..just saying.. -
Review from Nina K.
San Diego, CA
9/22/2011 2 photos
I was pretty skeptical about the idea of eating sushi off a truck. Doesn't seem right?
With that said, I stand corrected. Pretty much some of the best sushi I've eaten and I know I'd rather go here than some sushi restaurants in town and in OC. Get the sake bomb roll! I love love the seared salmon and the onions on top really add to the flavor.
Don't really know what else to say except GO TRY IT. It really is worth a try and I know I'll be back for more to try the rest of the menu.
Oh and I love their creative roll&handroll names: Jessica Albacore, nunchuck, afro ninja, etc etc. -
Review from Karen C.
San Diego, CA
2/25/2012 1 photo
I give my first food truck experience an A+!!
I agree that the sound of sushi from a truck seems suspect at first, but man oh man, it delivered! The sauces were AWESOME and it was service a smile from everyone on board. I chatted with the guys working and they were all super friendly.
I ordered their daily special (can't remember the name, Phat Shrimp something - so good!), Shrimp Crunch, and Scallop Delight. I think their special was my favorite, but the sauce for the scallop roll with the shaved red onions was super tasty! They were all good! (and come with a little container of wasabi, ginger, and packets of soy sauce). Three rolls was enough for two of us. Although it was so tasty I'll probably buy 4 next time.
They take credit card and deliver. With their prices it's definitely worth a try!! Do it! Find them! Now!! -
Review from Alison L.
San Diego, CA
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
The first time I went they said they were gonna be there from 4-11 for dinner. I got there at 6, and they were sold out. I was at first kind of aggrivated since I drove all the way there, looked for street parking had to parallel park in traffic to only find out they're sold out. LAME but i guess that also tells me they're really good! They also gave me a flier for a free hand roll..which I late found out is not that special because they hand out the fliers to everyone, BUT at that moment I felt special.
So I had better luck the next day. I got the Afro Ninja 2 orders of salmon nigiri and a rockin salmon hand roll. All for 12bucks with my free flier. I paid with a credit card which the guy processed through his Iphone...cool and sketchy at the same time. They had like 4 different sauces that you can help yourself too I tried them all. They were all pretty good.
The afro ninja was okay, it was a deep fried roll which you can't really go wrong with. The weird thing was that they deep fried each piece, not just the whole roll then cut it up. The hand roll was pretty standard and the nigiri was good, the salmon was cut pretty thick. Overall I think it was a pretty good deal, and I would go again. Tracking down the truck is half the fun I guessListed in: Sushi!
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Review from Michelle N.
San Diego, CA
10/16/2011 1 photo
I can't believe I didn't yelp them sooner!! I meant to, but forgot, so here goesssss (I hope I remember)...
My friends and I ran into Sushi Ninjas on my way to Vons/Tapx. We ordered the following:
Shrimp crunch: sooooo good!...well, you could pretty much fry anything and it'd be a winner in my eyes, but this tasted GOOD. Not soggy, not stale, but legitimately good. I will say that, since I was too busy shoving the shrimp crunch roll in my face, I didn't get a chance to try anything else.
Skittles: aka rainbow. My friend enjoyed it.
Afro: When the last member of our party didn't know what to order, one of the guys from the truck suggested this, as it was his best seller. The 2 guys I was with seemed to enjoy this.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sushi. This isn't just good-for-a-food-truck, it's good...bc it's DELICIOUS, regardless of the food truck! Sorry for the lame review, I really should've yelped this earlier, but I will definitely be back again! -
Review from Brandy C.
12/4/2011 4 photos
I visited this place on the first day they opened, but I totally forgot to review this cute food truck! FAIL!
My mom and I came here because we were so hungry. We didn't expect anything good from here since it was their first day. Surprisingly, the roll is really delicious, but I think it's a little pricey for the quality. I visited here a few times recently, and still think the roll was really good.
I think their do really well on their quality control. -
Review from Chrissie O.
Escondido, CA
10/25/2011
KARATE CHOP! I want to karate chop the truck so half won't be in the red zone.
Ended up stopping by when I saw them on Regents in La Jolla. Im not sure why they chose La Jolla. Not really a good area to find street parking since the area is surrounded by apartment complexes. Well I guess the foot traffic is perfect for them since the UCSD bus stop is right there.
Able to try Shrimp Crunch and their lobster roll. Both were good rolls. I was surprised I preferred the shrimp crunch roll over the lobster roll. If you like the extra kick then lobster roll would be a good choice. I just like the taste better in the shrimp crunch roll.
The person helping me was pretty nice. I'd probably try them again if I see them around San Diego. -
Review from Rich T.
San Diego, CA
4/18/2012
This was our first experience with a sushi food truck...All I can say is impressed! Friendly service, fresh food and very affordable! Especially with their happy hour specials. I highly recommend you take the time to track them down and give them a shot...
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Review from Diem L.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2012
This is good as sushi out of a truck gets!
Seriously give them a try and see for yourself.
Pro:
- The asian guys who work there are cute and super friendly
- Parked on Regents Rd. outside Costa Verde Apartments so convenient for students who live off campus nearby
- Happy Hour 4- 6 PM: buy 2 rolls get one free
- Free Delivery 4- 8 PM, min. of $10
- If delivery, then buy two get one free until 8PM :)
-Next to shuttle stop
-Easy to follow them on their website
-Accept credit/ debit cards
Con:
-No parking if you drive unless you want to park in red zone
-No seating if you are looking for a sit-down type of place
Food:
Quick (good for dinner when you are studying and don't have time to cook)
Cheap (they are young guys who understand college students are broke)
My bf loves their hand rolls $3 each, 3 for $8, or 4 for $10
Personally, I love the shrimp crunch $6 and afro ninja $7 (deep fried yum)
Overall,
I am a college student who loves this sushi truck -
Review from q m.
Walnut, CA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't know what you people are all on, but truthfully and bluntly put, this place isn't all that great.
The menu is simple with a twist of cool names, like jessica albacore and nunchuck. It's about 7-8 dollars for 8 pieces of the cut roll. The sushi combo is a pretty good deal at 7 dollars but only if you like california rolls- which are a bore to me.
I tried the lobster delight and it was just so-so. Lobster seemed more like crawfish to me and it wasn't too much of it. The rice was cooked well and the sauce was good too. But the portions are pretty small. I was sort of surprised and I'm not saying the portions should be ridiculously big, but when I eat sushi- I do like a fair amount. And for the price I paid, I don't think it was. 8 minuscule pieces that fit into a 4x4 box was not worth a dollar each.
But what is cool here is the service and the sauces they put out. I did like the cilantro mayo.
