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Tsuruhashi Japanese BBQ
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
3904 Convoy St(between Kearny Mesa Rd & Ostrow St)
San Diego, CA 92111
Neighbourhood: Kearny Mesa
(858) 279-8929
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 12 am
Sat-Sun 4 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
230 reviews for Tsuruhashi Japanese BBQ
Review Highlights
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"The Kobe beef and skirt steak were awesome." In 80 reviews -
"And you must try the kimchi-fried rice." In 31 reviews -
"I recommend the red bean or black sesame ice cream." In 15 reviews
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230 reviews in English
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Review from Lisa W.
Quality for price? Um, yes please!
I don't know what I was thinking but I made a good choice! My coworkers and I usually celebrate our birthdays at the restaurant of our choice. I chose Tsuruhashi because of all the good reviews, and I've studied in Japan and miss the quality of their food. The pricing is quite pricey but it's about the rate in Japan.
We got everything, KOBE beef, prime rib eye, pork belly, beef tongue, family dinner size (prices went up!! $30!!, last month it was $27, and before $24, it keeps on rising, better come fast before it jacks up to $35!), kimchi fried rice, beef skirt, chicken, and a pitcher of cold Shappiro. Beer never tasted sooo good after a 12 hour work day...Meat definitely had quality. It had smaller portions, but it controls the amount you eat because it was pricey to order more! But we are working adults, we feasted. And it was expensively good feasting.
Since we were celebrating my birthday, I got black sesame ice cream. You can only get that in Japanese places. If you have the dough, make it happen because you won't regret the quality of the meats here! -
Review from Patrick L.
San Diego, CA
5/13/2012
Very high quality yakiniku. The meat is exceptional. Very well marinated and the beef is so marbled it feels like butter. The tsubo kalbi was my favorite followed closely by the prime rib eye and then outisde skirt. The sausages were surprisgly good - the kids loved them since they caramelized on the grill and had a nice sweet - breakfast sausage like - flavor. The pork belly could be skipped. Nice dipping sauces compliment the dishes.
The kimchee rice was absurdly tasty. Nothing like what you'd expect - the kimchee flavor is light but noticable. I could have eaten two plates full myself.
Hard to find antying to fault here but I'll say that for the price they should offer a side salad or some small vegetable plates to go with the meats. Feels chintzy to sell a $2.50 salad when you're spending $80 on meat for two people. -
Review from Arthur K.
San Diego, CA
3/30/2012
The saying "melt in your mouth" gets thrown around a lot these days about meat quality but after coming here you will know the exact meaning of that.
The marbling of the Wagyu (Aka Kobe) is beautiful. Once you sit that first piece of meat on the grill you can almost immediately smell the deliciousness of what is about to enter your mouth. Best part about this place? Their sauces! They have 2 different sauces for you in a split dish. The infused flavors of the Wagyu with a small dip of the sauce is just heaven.
For dessert? Green tea ice cream of course! They pair it off well with a hot cup of tea on the side as well (can't go wrong with ice cream and tea)
Now on the SLIGHT downside. This place is a tad bit on the expensive side so don't expect to get a bargain from here. Also be careful not to slip when walking in (Almost fell a couple of times because of the grease on the floor)
So on a quick breakdown. Awesome Beef, Great service and you go home feeling extremely satisfied. -
Review from Adam A.
San Diego, CA
If you want jbbq of the highest quality, look no further.
Yes, the price is high, but so is the price of quality meat. Go price a cut of american wagyu anywhere and you will understand. What sets this place apart from the kbbq places are their sauces. Sweeter, more true to the japanese palate. While I wish they used wood coals rather than gas, sometimes not leaving a place smelling like a bon fire is a good thing.
If you want cheap go to one of the ayce places, if your want real quality, come here. -
Review from Elaine C.
San Diego, CA
3/19/2012
I think the meat is great here. The meat is marbled and so good. I also like the raw meat dish which is not something I would usually eat.
The price is way too expensive though. I believe it's about $10 or so for 8 pieces of meat. Idk if I'll be able to come back even if i wanted to. ):
This place is kind of a Korean restaurant copycat though. Everything from the kimchi to the other sides and how it's prepared and served. -
Review from p m.
Carlsbad, CA
5/21/2012
Nice place lurking in a strip mall. As everyone else says the meat is at a higher level quality than most. Nice atmosphere, seating and staff. I'm kind of glad I live 40 minutes away because if I was closer I would be here way too often.
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Review from Beverly A.
San Diego, CA
I love this place, but DAMN it's expensive! .. and.. is this really a Japanese restaurant? It says Japanese BBQ, and the menu is in Japanese too, but there are a ton of Korean options so it might throw you off a bit. Either way - if you decide to try this place - DON'T expect it to be like a Korean restaurant (although you WILL Leave smelling like food - that's the only exception, haha)!
Everything here is a la carte and you pay for what you get. Rice and lettuce are separate orders from whatever meat you order too - so remember to order those separately!
We ordered the:
Family meal = $27 (pieces of rib eye, chicken, outside skirt, boneless short rib - perfect for two)
Egg soup = $5 (I have no idea what kind of broth this is and what its seasoned with - but it's the simplest brother ever and everything tasted really well together)!
Lettuce = $5 (about 5-6 leaves)
Small bowl of rice = $2
Also, when we got our plate we thought 'Dang is that it? We're still gonna be hungry after this' and we were SO WRONG! After dinner we realized we could've done without the soup - and all the small pieces of meat were actually really filling - so although it doesn't look like much, it really is!
The meat is sliced thin (not SUPER thin like pho, but thin - so you really can't just throw it on the burner and let it sit for 5 minutes. They're the perfect sir for searing, and they cook so fast! I really try not to eat red meat - but the rib eye here was so good that I ate 5 pieces, haha.
We noticed that every table (except ours) had at least 1 Japanese person. The waitresses do a great job - each and every one of them visited our table, but they visited almost too much.
After they clean up your table they give you a cup of tea, which is a nice way to end your meal. If you haven't tried this place once, add it to your list! -
Review from David C.
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
My first true Japanese BBQ experience. Anytime you have to cook your own food it adds to the experience and is a fun thing to do with a group of friends. We ordered the family set for $30 which the price is rising so get it while its hot(was $24 a year ago). It includes rib eye, outside skirt, short rib and chicken. We also tried the need tongue, pork belly and kimchi fried rice. Our favorite was definitely the short rib as it practically melts in your mouth. The quality of the meat is great but it will cost you $$$. I couldn't believe three full pieces of pork belly is almost $7. I could see groups racking up a huge bill as the portions are small unless you have self control with food. Maybe i am just super cheap. Definitely worth checking out and I don't think their are many other options like this around in SD.
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Review from Denise K.
You order what you want and you don't overstuff yourself like at AYCE KBBQ. This place is pretty delicious.
Is this really considered a Japanese BBQ place? It's the traditional Japanese grills with charcoal underneath (gives your meats and seafoods a great flavor and smell), but there are SO many korean items on the menu. Sometimes these hybrid restaurants confuse me. But nonetheless, I won't let this menu confuse me because the food was great and I can't complain about great food!
Service here is quick so if you need a quick meal, you can eat as fast as the meat cooks. Or you can gladly take your sweet time and grill and talk and rest and grill again. -
Review from anh l.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome, but it's so damn expensive
12 bucks for 6 oz of kobe beef :(
I recommend you get the Kimchi Fried Rice as a filler item.
The service is great, kind of interesting the server didn't know what a sake bomb was.
I will definitely come here again when someone treats me ^__^ Time to try other KOBE BEEF PLACES
Btw, KOBE BEEF IS SO DELICIOUS, Soft and tender OMG! -
Review from Chen L.
Fremont, CA
This place is THE BEST!
I don't even know where to start.
All the food was super amazing. High quality, very flavorful dips/sauce. We had almost everything conceivable...I will just have to upload pictures. It's also good to go with a lot of Japanese people, then they know what to get and how to eat them.
Beware: Some of these were the weirdest foods I have EVER eaten in my ENTIRE LIFE, but it was REALLY GOOD!
Like the raw liver, I didn't want to order it, but after they convinced me to try some, boy was it good! It doesn't have the weird after taste that most cooked liver have. In fact, it doesn't even have any flavor at all, other than the sauce!
Same with the intestines! Wow...I never would have imagined myself eating intestines. Then there was raw beef with the raw egg...I must say, go there with an open mind, and try everything out.
Ok, only 'bad' thing is that it's very pricey. -
Review from Alycia H.
El Cajon, CA
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is delicious and authentic. Went with my husband and we had a ball...it smells fantastic and the food and all of the condiments are perfect. Love all the sauces and they give you plenty of suggestions. I will definitely be back!!
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Review from Karen C.
La Jolla, CA
2/17/2012
Came here for Valentine's day with 3 friends. I've always been a fan of the whole cook-your-own trend, so this place was pretty fun for me.
All of the serers were helpful, but quite a few of them didn't seem to speak English that well. Some people might find that problematic, but it just made me feel like I was at a more legit place. I have no idea what real Japanese BBQ should taste like, but if it's supposed to taste like Tsuruhashi, I think I like it.
Our table of four shared the family set, the mixed vegetables, and a kimchi fried rice.
The meat was really fresh, well marinated, and turned out really tender after we cooked it. Now, I know I'm a pretty good cook, but I'm fairly certain that the deliciousness was more of a reflection on the quality of the meat than on the qualtiy of my ability to flip the meat on the grill.
The kimchee fried rice was uber yum. Not too spicy, but not too bland. Rice was just the right amount of squishy (which is to say, not too squishy)
We weren't terribly full after the meal, but the bill only came out to like $13 per person, so we probably should have just ordered more.
Will probably come back to try all of the internal organs when I'm in different company. -
Review from Yutaka M.
San Diego, CA
1/15/2012
This is my third post on yelp! :)
I have been visiting "Tsuruhashi Japanese BBQ" many times! :) This is only one real Japanese BBQ restaurant is owned by Japanese in San Diego.
I recommend you to try these items-
Drinks: Sapporo Draft(Beer), Orion(Beer), Otokoyama(Sake), Kubota Hekiju(Sake), and Plum Wine(Wine) etc.
I am not sure Americans like tastes of "Shochu", so you still can try "Shochu Soda" :) I personally like "Calpico-Soda" and "Plum Wine" with "Shochu Soda" ;)
Appetizer: Assorted Kimchi(Kimchi) and Yukke(Sashimi)
BBQ: Premium Fresh Onion-Toungue, Tsubo Kalbi. U.S. Kobe Boneless Short Rib, and USDA Prime Rib Eye etc.
Please start with "Tongue" with a Japanese way! :)
- Premium Fresh Tongue, Fresh Tongue, or Premium Fresh Onion-Tongue
Noodles & Rice Dishes: Bibinba in a Stone Pot and Kuppa etc.
Dessert: Coconut Milk w/ Black Sesame or Green tea Ice Cream and Mango Pudding
I am very picky about Japanese food. I always prefer to go to Japanese restaurants which are owned by Japanese make real Japanese tastes, NOT TOO Americanized Japanese food. This place is one of them! :)
I like the servers but I do not like the manager because he checks us too much!!! Please give us a break! We go there to eat, chat, and relax with awesome food! The restaurant should provide us a nice atmosphere too!
Additional comment: It's better you should make a reservation before you go there. Otherwise, you have to wait outside of the restaurant...
Food : 5 Stars
Service : 3 Stars
Price : 2 Stars -
Review from Jonathan W.
Updated - 12/17/2011
This is my go-to staple for high quality Japanese BBQ. The cleaner cousin of Korean bbq and just as flavorful.
You can never go wrong with the egg drop soup, kobe short ribs, rib eye and tongue. Kimchi fried rice, red bean/green tea ice cream.
Just a great Asian food stop in the convoy area. You'll love it if you're ever in the mood for some BBQ meats.
Attentive servers make sure you grill is set and clean. Delish!Listed in: Convoy - Where Asian Food…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/22/2011
So what is the difference between Korean BBQ and Japanese BBQ??
Everyone asks and the biggest… Read more »
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Review from April M.
Spectacular dining options are sparse in San Diego. You know it. I know it. When compared to LA, SF or NY, no one should or could ever deny the fact that the SD food scene is second-rate. Argue with me on this, I will slap you. Ok, I'm only kidding about the slapping, but I just might punch you. Again, only kidding. Anyway, back to my point! Sometimes - if you're lucky enough - you'll stumble upon a hidden gem, and betcha by golly, WOW! You will be blown away. For us poor, poor unfortunate souls living in beautiful, picturesque, sunny San Diego, Tsuruhashi is our diamond in the rough.
Some Tips:
- Yes, it's a bit on the expensive side for what you get, but what you're paying for is QUALITY, people! If you want shitty meat for cheap (FYI- We can NEVER be friends. :P), visit any other BBQ restaurant on Convoy Street. Let me suggest, Manna KBBQ. Their meat is so tough, my jaw locked. Yeaaa, I said it and I'll stop here.
- If you're at Tsuruhashi on a Monday-Thursday night, order the Family Set ($27 for Ribeye, Outside Skirt, Boneless Short Rib and Chicken). It's such a great deal.. It's a steal! Man, that was corny.
- U.S. Kobe Beef. U.S. Kobe Beef. U.S. Kobe Beef!
- Beef Tongue - Get it. Awesome texture and taste.
- Kimchi Fried Rice - This usually sells out with the quickness. Also, order this first because it takes them a lil while to cook it up! If unavailable, Bibinba with Yukke Raw Beef is a wonderful substitute.
- For dessert, Black Sesame ice cream is the only way to go. It's so good. SO GOOD!
- OC/LA Yelpers: If you don't want to drive all the way down to SD, there's another location in Fountain Valley. "Uh huh, sure! Drive all the way down to SD for food? Bitch, please!"
Tsuruhashi, thank you for always being around when I'm craving a damn good piece of meat. You are too kind and generous. It's because of you, my fascination with meat will never die. Eternally yours, April M.Listed in: I always leave satisfied and…, Mmmmmeat!
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Review from Jimmy K.
San Diego, CA
12/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My recommendation: outside skirt steak
Everybody always says...Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe...but the outside skirt here is definitely my favorite. I like the gooey, savory, butter that is Kobe but the outside skirt steak has a nice texture to it that gives the meat substance. It actually feels like you're eating something, not just drinking beef fat (...which is delicious too).
Anyways, Tsuruhashi is the best Japanese BBQ in San Diego...extremely friendly staff, awesome food, and very clean location. Everything about this place is warm and inviting, and it is just comfortable to sit here, enjoy a beer, and have a amazing dinner with friends. -
Review from Joanna Z.
San Diego, CA
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's a good BBQ place but I must say it is way over price. The owner is always there and will not great you right away. I waited a good 15-20 min for him to acknowledge us, even when he was standing right in front of us. Good thing our friend came and knew him, or else he might have just ignored us longer!
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Review from Valerie L.
San Diego, CA
Japanese BBQ uses coal so the meats have a smoky flavor compared to Korean BBQ.
Recommendations:
Kobe Boneless Short Rib- I always order 3 or 4 of this! My favorite meat here!
Kobe Steak Cut Rib
Tsubo Kalbi
Premium Tongue
Assorted Mushrooms - My favorite are the shimeji mushrooms! Why can't I order just these specific mushrooms?
Nappa Kimchi
My boyfriend and I always end up spending over $100 here. But we order a lot, and end up rolling out of here with fat stomachs! Lol.Listed in: ROTD and Some...
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Review from Janice S.
San Diego, CA
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh Kobe Beef....where have you been all my life?!?!?!?
Tried it....Nommed it.....Liked it.....'Nuff Said!
If my mouth could have an orgasm, this would be IT.
Kim Chi Fried Rice - Different, but equally ORGASMIC.
Black Bean Ice Cream in Coconut milk with tapioca & mandarin oranges.....Perfect ending....Ha! If I smoked, this would be like smoking a cigar after sex LOL
So yeah I smelled like BBQ afterwards......mmm I could just sniff my hair all day!
Pricey, but well worth my $75. I will be back to Nom again in the near future..... -
Review from Chrystell S.
San Francisco, CA
This is an awesome place for Japanese BBQ. I discovered it after reading a review for the Fountain Valley location by Kent D. who is my favorite source for good eats in the SoCal area.
It's a small restaurant but has excellent service and amazing meat selections. We had the beef tail soup and kimchi fried rice for our non-BBQ items. Those were okay. Then came the meats. Oh my...
U.S. Kobe Beef Cap Rib Eye - it literally melts in your mouth like soft butter. As you chew it, you feel this savory, velvety, smooth, and buttery texture. The taste lingers on your palate and you wonder if you've just eaten pure heaven.
USDA Prime Beef Rib Eye - I enjoyed this even more than the kobe beef simply because despite the thin pieces, it was packed with flavor. The seasonings were spot on.
Pork Belly - yum!
Pork Cheek - this was a tad on the chewy side for me although it was a favorite of my brother's.
If you want good quality Japanese BBQ, you can't go wrong with Tsuruhashi. -
Review from Theresa B.
Colton, CA
2/23/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Kobe beef and kimchi fried rice are must haves... Mmmmm.... I could dream about that rice.
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Review from Tadashi O.
San Jose, CA
9/13/2011
So, I'm not a big fan of BBQ joints because I usually go to buffet-style places when it comes to BBQ, so the meats aren't very good quality and drenched in marinade. This was my first time going to a non-buffet style BBQ place and WOW was I impressed! The quality of the meat, perfect, yet simple dipping sauces, courteous and attentive waitresses, AND minimal BBQ smell when you're done due to proper ventilation!
We ordered a few interesting platters - actually, I think all of them were a little "unique." We got a platter that had a combination of beef liver, intestines, tongue and heart, as well as ribeye wrapped in ume (Japanese pickled plum), beef liver sashimi, beef steak sashimi, steak wrapped in nagaimo (don't know how to translate it, but it a sweet, crunchy potato), veggie platter and a rice dish.
SO GOOD! Everything was delicious, but the dish that stood out for me was the rib eye wrapped around ume and shiso (Japanese mint). The meat melted in your mouth and the salty, sourness of the ume was a perfect combination!
The sauces here are very simple, but it works! The beef liver sashimi was served with just sesame oil, while the beef tongue was served just with a slice of lemon and pepper.
Great BBQ place in the area if you're looking for fresh, delicious meat! Feel experimental and try things out of the box - you won't regret it! -
Review from Nick L.
8/29/2011
Best Japanese BBQ I've been to! 6 stars! lol
The food here is fantastic, and almost the main reason for travelling down from SF!
What's not to like food wise? We had beef sashimi, beef tongue, kobe beef, outside skirt, kimchee fried rice (which is sublime) to name a few dishes. There wasn't a bad dish and we have tried plenty.
I'd come here again and again (not the cheapest place when thinking portion size to cost ratio) which is saying something.
Thankfully it is still a once in a while pleasant treat as I'd go broke otherwise! -
Review from Ema M.
San Diego, CA
6/13/2011
If I can eat here everyday, I would! This is why I am not a vegetarian. Try all the U.S. Kobe beefs! They will melt in your mouth. I like to cook all the beef medium-rare. Most of the time, they run out of the kobe beefs, so on a busy night, I recommend ordering any of them first.
Aside from the Kobe beef, I always order the premium fresh tongue. I don't recommend the premium fresh onion-tongue. It's basically the beef tongue with minced onion top. It really kills the flavor of the tongue for me, and it's difficult to cook them, so if you're not a pro at it, it doesn't cook well. You'll have onion all over the grill, and soon it will start burning, and you'll have to ask for another grill. It's not a pleasant experience, trust me! I like onions and I especially like grilled onions so I tried flipping it and cooking the side with the onions, but I FAILED miserably. Don't try it! (I don't think you're supposed to anyway... I still don't know how to eat it.) Either way, make sure you cook the tongue well, and dip it in lemon juice that comes with it. You don't have to worry about overcooking it, just make sure you don't burn it ;)
Some other dishes I get: grilled garlic, natural pork sausage, chicken legs, assorted vegetables and the organic mushrooms. I don't recommend the Seafood Yaki which consists of fresh salmon scallop, squid, shrimp and green mussel. I find the grill too hot to cook them. They burn onto the grill. It's just a waste of money. Stick to the meats!
The USDA Prime Beef is delicious as well. Obviously, not as tasty (and they don't necessarily melt in your mouth) like the Kobe beef, but if you don't want to spend too much, just stick to the prime beef. You can't go wrong with it.
The tsubo kalbi is not my favorite. It's not bad, but the overnight marinade just takes away from the flavor of the beef. So instead of ordering that, order another place of U.S. Kobe Steak Cut Ribs. It's the same price and 10000x better!
The Bone Short Rib takes awhile to cook, but it's so worth it, so I suggest ordering it in the beginning. They will assist you in cutting it up and they will let you know when it's good to eat it. You want it to cook, almost burn sightly so the meat comes off the bone easily. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The manager and staff are all very friendly, so they will guide you.
I'm not a fan of tripe and intestine, because of its super chewy texture. But its custom to order them in Japan. If you like em, go for it! I still eat it if its in front of me since they are still pretty good. Just prepare a lot of chewing!
All the appetizers are delicious here as well. I always get the cucumber kimchi, Tsuruhashi salad or Tofu salad. You have to try the sashimi dishes. When I'm there with a big group, we order all four of them. My favorite is the beef tripe sashimi and the yukke. The tripe is somewhat chewy, but not as chewy like when it's cooked. You mix this Korean chili paste called kochujan with it. It masks the flavor of the tripe, if there even is one. I think it's all about the texture here as well. Yukke is a Korean dish made of sliced, raw rib eye. They serve it with sliced apples, and a raw quail egg on top. I typically mix the egg and the beef together, then eat it with the sliced apples. I know, raw beef. Kinda scary, but think about it, if it was not good for you, they wouldn't serve such a thing.
I always finish my dinner there with a soup, noodle or rice dish. I don't like eating rice with the BBQ because it fills me up quickly. If you like spicy tofu soup, get it! The egg soup and the seaweed soup are my next favorites. The flavor is not as bold and spicy as the tofu soup. The bibinba in a stone pot is my favorite rice dish. Bibinba has seasoned vegetables on top of rice, and it's served with spicy Korean kochujan sauce. Kuppa is a rice dish but it's served in soup. If you don't like spicy, this one might be for you. Their kimchi fried rice is BOMB! If you like kimchi, you'll surely like this one! The ReiMen (cold noodle soup) is a traditional Korean noodle dish. It doesn't have a bold flavor, so if you're used to eating hot Japanese ramen noodle dishes, then you might not like this one. I love it. This dish is typically eaten for the special noodles.
Now, tips on cooking the meat. Japanese BBQ is all about cooking the meat yourself. It's not difficult, even for those that do not know how to cook. Cook a few pieces per person at a time! Don't dump all the meat on the grill because it will just sit there and become cold. If it's still pink on the outside, then it's probably not ready yet. You get two dipping sauces. One is soy-sauce based and the other is sesame seed based. I like the soy-sauce better. Try them both though! Some people just ask for a side of salt and use that.
I do recommend calling in and making a reservation because this place is usually packed. And just FYI, you will smell like BBQ after. So don't think about going to the movies afterwards! :) -
Review from Xin S.
Los Angeles, CA
6/7/2011
MEat meat meat!
For the grill...Beef liver A+, Premium beef tongue A+, Outside skirt yum!
GREat service.
Skip the beef liver sashimi. Really gross texture and not taste. The Beef sashimi was flavorful and fresh. The spicy tofu soup is taste-less but the tofu is really smooth.
Meat comes out in small portions but its good for trying all the different selections. -
Review from Michelle C.
Buena Park, CA
7/9/2011 1 photo
Amazing! Been here twice, ordered the same thing both times, sadly. Maybe I should have been a little more adventurous for the sake of Yelping; but my bibimbap was delicious!! I ordered the bibimbap (vegetarian, without beef), and I have to say, verrrry yummy. I know my bibimbap, being korean. And Tsuruhashi's bibimbap was spot on. I also loved the egg drop soup that comes with the dish. I'm fairly certain that it's made with chicken stock, and I shouldn't be eating it, but oh well... it's delicious! I've also tried the kimchi fried rice. Sadly, their kimchi fried rice doesn't live up to my standards, I've been pretty spoiled with my mom's kimchi fried rice. But, Tsuruhashi's kimchi fried rice is still quite good. Just not as spicy/kimchi-filled as I like. On the other hand, they give you a HUGE portion, so it may be a fair exchange.
Since I don't eat meat, I haven't tried any of their kobe meat plates (raw meat ordered, self-cooked on grill), but my dinner mates have, and all of them said it was delicious. Just from the looks/smell, I can tell that the meat was very good quality; it looked mouth watering. It's pretty expensive though, you don't get very much meat per plate.
I had their green tea ice cream for dessert, and as always, it was
delicious. You can never go wrong with green tea ice cream!
Service was good but not great. My friend's order of kimchi fried rice took 20 minutes longer than it should have. The first time we were almost done with out meals, and the second time, we actually were done with our meals. Also, the first time they split the check for all of us separately, but the second time, the didn't, only because we asked before ordering. wtf :l -
Review from Piggy P.
University Heights, San Diego, CA
2/19/2012
Food was delicious!! My bf and I liked the skirt better than the kobe. Must try!! HOWEVER, the manager at the front never seems to want your business and never seems to acknowledge you.
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Review from L T.
San Diego, CA
7/25/2011 9 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite BBQ place, Korean style but Japanese flavor. Mon - Thu they have a 4 item BBQ set for $27.
My favorites: Cap ribeye, pork belly, tsubo kalbi, assorted vegetables and miso chicken - don't forget the garlic
Great service
Reasonably priced
Flavorful Dipping Sauce
Fresh meats
Plenty of parking
Reservations Accepted -
Review from Lewis G.
San Diego, CA
1/23/2012
very authentic japanese bbq... with grills in the center. get the cow tongue, pork belly, kobe beef, cold noodles, and the fried rice, and the rib eye! each dish does not come with much food but they are fairly priced. pitchers of sapporro are $12.
the black sesame ice cream was the best, the red bean and green tea were good also -
Review from Jaimee H.
5/16/2011
They certainly get a star for creativity. This is a nice twist to Japanese dining because they've fused it with the concept of Korean BBQ grilling.
PROS:
- Concept: You grill your own food. Prevents you from eating too fast.
- Ordered the Kobe boneless short rib and the seafood yaki which came with fresh salmon, scallop, squid, shrimp, and green mussel. Both dishes were yummy.
- Good ventilation.
CONS:
- Small portions.
- Customer service. We were expert chopstick users, but the employees felt the need to correct our usage.
- You have to pay extra for rice.
Overall, it was a unique Japanese dining experience, but I'd rather go somewhere where i can get more for my money. -
Review from Heather M.
Olympia, WA
5/4/2011
I really like this place. Here's the scoop. It's pricey, small, and the parking lots sucks! But the food makes up for it. I tried every cut minus the organs, and they were all amazingly good! Everyone I've taken here leaves saying how they can't wait to come back.
Obviously I wouldn't recommend bringing your accident prone friends as bad things could happen... although safety really isn't an issue. You can cook your entree' as much or as little are you like. I recommend going during the week and getting the family special, where you get a ton of food for $24. And you must try the kimchi-fried rice! I don't even like fried rice and I'd eat this with my hands off the floor if I had to. It's THAT good! Oh, and the green tea is good too!
When it comes down to it, this place is awesome! I'd recommend it to anyone... except a vegetarian or vegan. Although their veggies looked good too! LOL -
Review from Meow K.
San Diego, CA
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
this place has such great potential - the kobe beef has a wonderful tenderness to it, its juicy, but its just not worth the price to me. 12 bucks for 6 pieces of meat, no me gusta. i wouldnt hesitate to go to this place if someone suggested, but im not going back here by choice.
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Review from Ian C.
Updated - 10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
came here recently.
and got the beef tail soup.
get the beef tail soup.
and ice cream.
i got the black bean ice cream in coconut milk with mandarin oranges and tapioca.
it made me happy.
i want to make babies with this place.Listed in: food
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/17/2011
although i'm not a fan of having to grill my own food. i like this place.
yeah. it's one of those… Read more »
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Review from Marie K.
San Mateo, CA
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
One word to describe this restaurant? Quality.
This is a typical high quality Japanese BBQ, which is hard to find in the US.
The restaurant is in the corner ish of a plaza on Convoy and could be easily missed-- But if you want high quality meats and other Japanese flare, and don't mind spending a bit more than a KBBQ place, come to Tsuruhashi.
I've been here a couple of times with my Japanese friends when we yearn for high quality, Japan-like atmosphere and food. It's nice to be able to go and order in Japanese and order foods we miss from Japan (unlike those "Japanese" restaurants that think teriyaki sauce and mayonaise belong on everything).
The place is definitely a bit pricey if you're not used to going to authentic Japanese places, but I would say this place actually prices fairly reasonably.
Clean meats, fresh, a lot of variety, HIGH QUALITY. They have really Japanese options like meat wrapped shiso wrapped yamaimo! omg love. And you know you're at a Japanese place when they have Nankotsu (chicken cartilage!)
The drinks they offer remind me of Izakayas too! Chu-hais, Sours... variety of Shochu and Sake. Beer on tap and bottle too!
One of my favorite parts about this restaurant is their desserts. I love Ice cream... I love coconut milk.... THEY OFFER THEM TOGETHER! Coco-Ice: pick an icecream flavor of your choice (Vanilla, Strawberry, Mango, Matcha, etc.) and they put it in a bowl and pour coconut milk on it! Simple. Genius.
Their Mango pudding is good too.
In the end, if you don't mind spending a little more for high quality meats and foods, come to Tsuruhashi. If not, there's tons of AYCE KBBQ on Convoy. -
Review from Amber Y.
San Diego, CA
10/20/2011
My boyfriend and I dined here on one of our Monday date nights; probably one of the worst experiences, ever. Our waitress was very impatient and borderline rude. It almost seemed like she hated her job and took it out on us. Anyway, service was horrible and the place is way overpriced. Yes, the food was dope, but the portions were too small. I left that place feeling like I could eat more and I don't even eat that much.
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Review from Ashley R.
San Jose, CA
4/9/2011
My girlfriend found this place on yelp. Our group consistence of a picky eater (myself) and two others. They had a wide variety of meats, from Kobe beef to pork cheek. The cool thing is you can cook your own food!
The Kobe beef tasted absolutely amazing, but the portions were a bit small for one person. It is probably best ordered with something else if you really want to be filled up. It comes with two dishes of some kind of sauce (I don't know quite what they are) that were simply incredible especially basted on the pieces of meat before the went on the grill.
Me, the picky eater, loved the pork cheek and the pork belly. They came with lettuce and we cooked them with the aforementioned sauces. I never thought I'd ever eat, much less enjoy, Pork Cheek and Pork Belly but they were great.
This place gets 4 stars not 5 because the portions of Kobe beef were too small. Also, we asked for more lettuce to wrap the pork cheek and belly in, and they wouldn't give it to us for free. Lettuce! -
Review from Lex I.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/10/2012
Excellent food. Kobe steak cut, ribeye outside skirt steak and pork belly.
Only downside was that I ate so well I didn't leave room for dessert.
Very clean and not as smoky as some korean table bbq places I have been to. -
Review from Arpa O.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2011
NOM!
This was my first time having Japanese BBQ and it was amazing! Their kobe beef was amazing even though its about $12 for about 8 small pieces of it. Their kalbi which was basically marinated steak was also really good. We got mixed veggies as well and I got to grill what I think was pumpkin :]
There is a bit of wait on weekends so I'd probably make reservations.
We were two people so we ended up spending about $40 with tax and tip.
Overall, it was well worth it. -
Review from Eri G.
Chula Vista, CA
1/8/2011
I love this place. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Before I begin this review let me state what I always state in my review. QUALITY not Quantity...& DO NOT REVIEW if you're a fat lard.
Basically, grill your own-
The first time we ordered:
-Family Set (for 2-3 people) $24
-Yukke $7.5
-Beef Tataki $8.5
-Assorted Vegetables (for grilling) $4.5
-Soju Plum Soda
-Coconut Milk Strawberry Ice Cream. $4.5
The meat in the family set was delicious! They are small slices of beef about 1.5"x3" and super tender with a light shoyu marinade. They only serve this when available M-Th so make sure you go on one of those days, it's the best way to go cost wise!
I love their yukke. THAT and that it's actually affordable and delicious compared to other places that serve yukke for almost $20. Yukke is a marinated raw meat--this is the japanese version of the korean original.
The family set already COMES with vegetables so I would say opt out of ordering the additional veggies because then it becomes too filling.
The ice cream was really good! topped with coconut milk, tapioca pearl, and mandarin oranges.
I left OVERLY stuffed. I tried to force myself to eat the rest of it because 1) It was THAT good 2) didn't want to waste it as it wouldnt be as good the next day.
On another occasion we ordered the kobe beef short rib, prime ribe eye roll, & the overnight marinated kalbi. all of which were delicious but costs more together and a lot less meat as opposed to the family set if thats what you're looking for.
