4. Restaurants

Sushi Tadokoro

2244 San Diego Ave,Ste C, San Diego, CA, 92110
  • (619) 297-0298
  • Store is closed

Sushi Tadokoro Menu

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  • Jesse B.

    This was by far the best sushi, and sushi rolls I've ever experienced.. A must eat if your visiting or live near San Diego!

    (5)

  • Daryl L.

    I've been extremely excited to try this place ever since it opened. However we usually eat sushi on a whim and it is almost impossible to get a same-day reservation. Also my wife and I love sushi and will pay top dollar for top stuff (we spend ~ $80 pretip per person at Kaito with no alcohol) As my brother in law was in town only for a day we decided to come here for dinner. The sushi bar was fully booked however so we decided to take a chance on sitting at a table (despite my bad experience at Kaito when I tried that). Terrible move. We didn't have a very good experience at all - one could argue that it was almost entirely due to sitting at a table. I might have come back to try sitting at the sushi bar, however there was a critical issue with the food (described below) which has scared us off for a while. In short, if you are serious about your sushi don't come here unless you have a bar seat (that would apply to Kaito and Ota too). We came nice and early at 6pm in an effort to ensure that they didn't run out of the fish we like. Huge misses with the service here. First the waitress took a long time to come by with the sushi ordering chit. Then it was another significant wait before waitress took a long before coming by to ask if we had questions (I had a lot). She didn't exhibit complete knowledge of the menu so had to run into the kitchen a couple of times to get the answers (this was ok). However after my fourth question, she excused herself and went off somewhere (still ok), except she didn't come back! Throughout this time, both waitresses were providing the bar customers service (changing plates, etc, etc). Not to mention that the bar customers could order from the itamaes directly while we were still waiting. As it was happy hour they had Asahi drafts for $3 (!). My BIL requested 2 beers at HH price, one to be served later, which the waitress agreed to. Later on in the meal she said she thought we requested two in total and didn't agree to bring out another one at HH prices. It could have been a language barrier issue, but I would give the customer the benefit of the doubt when they are going to eat $70 worth of sushi. It was so difficult to get the waitresses attention that I literally tried waving the sushi chit in the air (it didn't help much). I considered putting up my hands and waving at one point. As a result of this slow service we decided to order all our sashimi and nigiri at once (instead of in minibatches or individually as you usually would at the bar) By the time the nigiri came almost an hour later (7pm), we were informed that there were only 2 pieces of kohada left (instead of the 7 we ordered). We were pretty upset because if they had filled in our order (or at least put aside the fish) at 6.15 it is highly unlikely they could have sold out by then. Or if they were sold out earlier, they could've let us know ahead of time. I'm pretty sure this would not have happened if we sat at the bar because we would have ordered the kohada right after the sashimi. Sushi rice was not seasoned evenly. My brother in law and I had a few nigiri which tasted to us like like the rice was cooked without salt/vinegar while my wife got a whole mouthful of vinegar in her uni gunkan which ruined it. She was NOT happy. This was especially unpardonable given the quality of the neta and the price range in general. Some nigiri were significantly smaller compared to kaito, ota and shirahama and the yelp photos (toro, salmon(!) and kohada stood out as being particularly small) We didn't like the thickness of the kanpachi sashimi cut; it seemed barely the same thickness as the kanpachi used for the nigiri. This is a minor quibble one could put down to personal preference perhaps. I've been ranting so much that I should probably talk about the good stuff. Neta was top quality in general. Saba especially was amazing - extremely fresh, lightly cured and melted in the mouth. It's served with a slice of pickled kombu similar in style to battera sushi. Less common nigiri such as sanma and iwashi were available, both of which were well done. All in all, I'm probably going to stick to Kaito in general. It would be a long time before I consider taking the risk of eating here again. Pros: Good quality neta in general Decent variety of more exotic fish Chef was nice Cons: Terrible table service. Uneven sushi rice seasoning Small portions for some nigiri/sashimi A little pricey

    (2)

  • Rose V.

    Dear Mr. Tadokoro, If for some reason, things don't work out in San Diego, could you please move to Oakland, CA (a sunnier neighborhood of the SF Bay Area ) & set up shop there? You would definitely thrive here. Or anywhere in the East Bay would suffice. Please. Otherwise, I may have to move to San Diego. Sincerely, Rose V. There were two chefs working on a Tuesday late night when we stopped by. Only 6 six customers were in the restaurant, us included. We sat at the sushi bar, which I would definitely recommend so you can watch the chefs at their art. Turns out they've only been open for about 2 months, which can be the only reason for their having 10 reviews so far. I watched Chef Tadokoro fillet my aji from whole and remove my clam nigiri from it's shell. Then the other chef (very funny & entertaining once you get him talking) masterfully & delicately shaped a little bit of rice to pair with the fish and artfully assembled our nigiri. It was almost too delicious to eat, but I quickly got over my awe. Both nigiri tasted amazingly sweet and so so delicious. This little sushi restaurant is now my #1 reason to visit San Diego. By far the best sushi I've ever tasted. Go here if you want quality nigiri/sashimi & are willing to pay a little extra for amazing quality (I firmly believe in you get what you pay for). A warning to those who like the gigantic rolls & enormous servings of rice & fish or all you can eat sushi... this is definitely not that kind of restaurant. The chefs take great care in preparing your dinner. You can tell by the cleanliness of their prep area that they take their sushi seriously. The fish is perfectly sliced and wrapped around just enough rice.... for you to enjoy the fine balance of sweet fish and rice, to enjoy the contrast between textures, flavors... I was dreaming about this place last night after we left. Location - it's just on the outskirts of Old Town, San Diego. Right next door to a liquor store. But don't judge the restaurant by it's exterior. Inside you'll find a true gem - the decor is so peaceful & chic, the service amazing, and the food is incredible. I am definitely coming back.

    (5)

  • Quyen P.

    Been here once and loved it!!! This will be my new spot! Sashimi was amazing, and I'm very picky with sashimi. Service was great! The rolls are excellent! I loved Everything about this spot!

    (5)

  • Catherine Y.

    the best sushi i've ever had in my life........since ive never been to japan.. lol. but seriously. best sushi in the world. they dont have sushi cases showcasing fish. its all managed in wooden boxes, authentically done, real japanese style. i went with 2 other girlfriends for dinner. reservations are a must, since this place is tiny. we sat at the sushi bar. we did omakase nigiris with Chef Soitchi. He was amazing. Not going to anyone else ever again. They have unique things for the sushi. The chef tells you what to dip in soy sauce, and what not to dip. Sometimes, they grate himalayan pink salt on some of the sushi. best thing ever. i like to call it diamond powder haha.

    (5)

  • lance t.

    Ate here last night and got lucky getting an open seat at the bar without a reservation. I'm sure my early arrival helped because they soon got busy. All reviews here have already described the great quality of the fish and excellent presentation so I wont go on and on. But being a self-described sushi snob I'll put this place on my very short list of legit sushi restaurants in SD. I kind of hate doing that because an already popular restaurant is going to get more and more exclusive and tough to sit'n eat. But, oh well? The chefs(2) are great. It is fun to watch them prepare the pieces. The rice is amazing and the way that they measure with their right hand and form perfectly is an art all by itself, F$%^%*@$# cool! The service is excellent but as the place filled up with patrons they got a bit hurried to satisfy everyone's sushi needs. My chef was apologetic for being slow but I completely understand and appreciate his care for not taking shortcuts and masterfully preparing each piece....well done sir!

    (4)

  • olivia p.

    5 stars all around! Immaculate inside, very simple decor. I heard that the set up is as close to what you'll find in Tokyo as you can get. The bf and I are sushi snobs and almost never order rolls anymore. You know you're at the right place when all the customers are Japanese! Sushi chefs were unbelievably friendly and masters at what they do. Chef Go took care of us. I believe he was the head chef. Bf and I ordered the Omakase Sashimi Set for $40, along with Hamachi, Kohada, Sanma, Mirugai, and Ume Shiso roll. The fish was superb. Very fresh and buttery! Their listed prices are for 1 piece, so they are a bit pricier than most sushi places, but I don't mind paying for quality. We ordered a carafe of one of their most popular sakes and had Asahi on draft and in the bottle. Always sit at the sushi bar for the full experience. We ended up striking up conversations with the Japanese men on both sides of us. On one side were the 2 men sipping on their $80 bottle of sake and on the other side were these super friendly Japanese business men from Yokohama who noticed us eyeballing their bottle of Soju that wasn't on the drink list. They ended up going through 3 bottles of Soju that were shared with us and the chefs. We ended up ordering sushi for them in return for their generosity, but they turned around and did the same for us, so we never had a leg up on them. We had an amazing time and needless to say, we ended up paying for it the next day. We've put in our reservation for New Year's Eve as every year we try to pick a sushi joint to enjoy Omakase at rather than going out on the town and getting into trouble. This place is definitely going to get busy once word gets out, and I believe they will be here for a long time (unlike all the unlucky businesses that came before). We will be back!

    (5)

  • David T.

    The prices here are very high! Something that I was not expecting, having seen the $$ on yelp. Everything here is priced high, nigiri is priced per piece, not the more common two pieces. My wife and I spent way more than we anticipated. Now, let me just say, I'm willing to spend money for good sushi, and this just wasn't worth the price.

    (3)

  • Melanie F.

    "Honestly the best sushi place in San Diego. Better or just as good as my favorite sushi places in LA. I have NEVER ordered a piece of sashimi and seen the owner/master sushi chef (Take is basically Jiro for Americans) take out a piece of Halibut, break it down, remove the skin, and filet tasty morsels for me. You had me at Halibut!" - Melanie "Freshest fish I've had, new favorite spot, and best sushi around." - Vanh

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    After a month away we tried Sushi Tadokoro again to make sure it was as good as we thought the first time. And once again we were not disappointed. What really stood out this time, other then impeccable service, was the freshness of the sushi. Whether it was uni, hamachi, ika, it didn't matter. The quality was evident in every bite. I love Sushi Ota, and I love Blue Fin in Encinitas, but Sushi Tadokoro has become our new favorite.

    (5)

  • Joe C.

    So I had to check this little hole in the wall sushi place out because its literally a block from my house. So glad I did! Masa, I believe his name is, was my sushi chef. He is fantastic, and a pleasure to have prepare my food. Very professional, and a genuinely nice guy. So let me try and make an analogy about how good this sushi is. If you've ever gone to say a Ralphs grocery store and bought sushi, you know its not as good as going to say a Harney Sushi. Big difference, right? That same difference exists with a Harney and Sushi Tadokoro. It's a huge step up! I thought I knew what good sushi was, now I do, it's the "real deal" at Tadakoro! Yes, it's a little more expensive, but worth it if it's in your budget. You see generally the same prices for the same sashimi, only most places you get 2 pieces, here it's just 1. I'm ok with that because I now know, raw fish is not the same everywhere you go. I had the Saba (Mackeral), unbelievable, then Masa recommended I try the Needlefish, he said was similar. It was amazing! I also tried the Dragon Roll and a Scallop Roll, and both were phenomenal. And finally I had the sea urchin, wow! They kept in nicely wrapped up in a Styrofoam box, when they pulled it out you felt like you were getting something special! Overall, this place is fantastic and a "must-visit" sushi spot for the sushi enthusiast. It's a little more pricey than most places, but well worth it. Seating is very limited, only accommodates about 25 people I'd guess, so make a reservation! Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Starla B.

    We made a reservation for dinner here. When we sat down my mom ordered some miso soup that was supposed to have fried tofu, mushrooms and green onion. When it came out the waitress had her thumb in the bowl GROSS and there was no tofu then my mom asked her why there wasn't tofu in there then the lady said that it didn't come when tofu so the lady picked up the menu and showed my mom where it was and of course it said fried tofu on the menu. Also employees should never argue with a customer. When she poured our water cups she was holding the pitcher with her hand on the spot she was pouring it from. Even though the food was good the customer service matters the most.

    (1)

  • Kevin S.

    Well I heard great things about this place, but I wasn't impressed. The service was extremely slow. I ordered 2 rolls to begin with and they came out so far apart from each other that i finished the first roll and had to wait at least 10 minutes for the next one. The serving sizes were a bit smaller than a normal sushi place as well. I could spend that money at another sushi place and not be able to finish it. Even when i asked for the check.....It was 30 minutes before they closed and only 2 other people in there, i had to wait 15 minutes to get my check. The only reason that I'm giving them a 2 star is because the sashimi was pretty good. Oh and also, the amount of wasabi they put on the plates were very minimal. each of the 3 rolls I got, i put all the wasabi in the soy and it wasn't spicy enough for me and I know of friends that like it hotter than me.

    (2)

  • Kevin E.

    Went here on Friday night without reservations (not a great idea, place is smallish so reservations are important on a night out) but waited only 20-25 min before getting a table for two. Fish was fresh, got a 10 piece sashimi plate that actually came with 11 pieces (bonus?) that was delicious. Gyoza: check. Rolls: check. Plum Wine ice cream: Check. (very) Hot sake: check. Overall, great place, very kind staff, definitely recommend this sort of hole in the wall place to anyone loving sushi.

    (4)

  • Janine M.

    Absolutely loved this place! Like everyone else mentioned, the fish is fresh! And the uni is local. Cant complain about price because you pay for what you get. Everything I had just about melted in my mouth.

    (4)

  • Shanee B.

    Simply amazing. Omakase was fantastic. the Uni was delicious (I think i can only enjoy Uni while in san diego). The fish was fresh, melt in your mouth. The sake glasses were all unique (you get to choose which ones you want!) I even liked the mirugai...and I never like mirugai. The scottish salmon == YUMMMY. Everything was great in this tiny gem next door to a liquor store (reminds me of Ota :)

    (5)

  • Matt A.

    Amazing sashimi, delicious tuna sushi. The fish was fresh and tasty. The itamae and owner was really nice and very helpful. I used to think Kappa in Mira Mesa was the best sushi in town, but I found a new favorite. (Note: I like simple sushi and sashimi and I'm not a fan of fancy rolls and other Americanized sushi. You might not have the same experience if you have a different taste in sushi.)

    (5)

  • Priscilla S.

    This is the best sushi I've had in California! The fish was superior and so was the presentation. The owner was very friendly and he even made our sushi. My husband and I were very pleased with our experience and we are extremely picky with food. We made a stop in Japan last year on our way back from Vietnam just to dine at a sushi bar that had amazing reviews. We will definitely go back to Sushi Tadokoro.

    (5)

  • Brandon T.

    This is a great traditional, un-Americanized sushi restaurant. They do not have a lot of specialty rolls that have all kinds of sauces and innereds, but they do have a lot of different kinds of fresh sashimi, live sweet shrimp, and house made soy-sauce. Im not a huge sushi fan, but this place is one of the better places I have been.

    (5)

  • Jason N.

    Nice ambiance and staff but pretty pricey for sushi at a hole in the wall in an easy to liquor store/strip mall. $7 for ONE Saba nigiri. All nigiri was just ONE piece. I'd expect this pricing in downtown but not here.

    (3)

  • Ben C.

    Special is the best word to describe Tadokoro! We were lucky enough to have the chef/owner serve us at the sushi bar! His skill was only eclipsed by his graciousness and friendly way. The Amberjack yellowtail sashimi was super fresh! The soft shell crab roll was ridiculously delicious! If you are looking for high price corporate sushi... then keep on looking. If you want a sushi spot that has figured out how to game Yelp and have 115 positive reviews, but is really just mediocre, again, this is not your spot. If you are looking for a neighborhood gem with authentic sushi where the chef cares about the quality of your food and dining experience, then I welcome you to try Sushi Tadokoro!!!!!

    (5)

  • J O.

    I've visited my fair share of medium to top level sushi restaurants. While I understand that a better quality of sushi can compensate for less quantity, my experience at Sushi Tadokoro was below par. I had the chef's sashimi ($40) and a TYS (tuna, yellowtail and salmon) ($15). The toro wasn't fresh, the portions were small, the wasabi was minimal. And I didnt want to pay for extra adamame and ginger. So, if you're really in a hurry then this may be your place. However, we have ample restaurants in San Diego that provide decent quantity for this level of quality. Tadokoro is not delivering for the price or the assumed level of sophistication. That is simply not there.

    (2)

  • M K.

    Just Awesome Sushi!! Head/ Owner Chef is very experienced , "REAL" , sushi chef, not like other fake one in the street. His style is authentic "Edomae" which is traditional Tokyo Sushi Style. If you dont like or dont recognize this taste, you are not real sushi lover. Possibly best sushi restaurant in town.

    (5)

  • Tram N.

    The sashimi here was as fresh as Sushi Ota and for a lot less! I came in on a night that was rather quiet with one of my friends. The chefs were super sweet but I did not catch his name. I had the Assorted Sashimi ($22, 10 pieces), Monk Fish Liver (Ankami?, $6.50), Tuna Carpaccio ($17), Mexican Roll ($10), and San Diego roll ($7.50). Everything was simplistic and delicious. For the Tuna carpaccio, I would tell them to lighten on the balsamic vinegar because it slightly took away from the delicious seared Tuna flavors (either way still very good and ideally depends on your preference). I typically like my tuna and yellowtail, but the salmon sashimi here was so awesome. The ambience for this sushi restaurant is extremely comforting, and immaculately clean (They just opened two months ago?). I also thought it was awesome sitting near the chefs and nice speaking to them. Every piece of fish they pulled onto the counter top made me drool which my friend caught my eyes wandering to each time they pulled out another ingredient. I know this place picks up a lot more business because they are pretty wonderful establishment. So worth the trip from La Jolla! :) I may want to try the Chilean Sea Bass the next time around which sounded really good. Happy Eating! YUM YUM!

    (4)

  • ¡Pedro E.

    Truly wonderful experience -- best sushi I've had in many years. I made a 6pm reservation for my wife and I a few days ahead of our chosen evening. Decided to sit at the sushi bar. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated immediately. We had the owner pretty much to ourselves for about half an hour and had a wonderful tour of amazing seafood -- oysters (huge, super-tasty), hamachi kama, and of course, sushi: fresh salmon, toro, aji, barracuda, salmon belly, hamachi -- all extremely fresh and very good. Very good hot sake and draft JAPANESE Asahi. Sorry to see that Julio U has a bad attitude and therefore a bad experience. He should learn to be more respectful. The owner/head sushi chef is a great guy and we enjoyed chatting with him. He has created a very special place. We'll be back again soon.

    (5)

  • Aurora Z.

    One of the best sushi finds in San Diego, that's virtually unknown and kind of empty when we went. The yellow tail was divine, tuna melted in your mouth, overall it was all good. The wait staff was on point and the restaurant was clean. The vibe was classy and a perfect place for a date. I will definitely return if I am in the area.

    (4)

  • Sow K.

    As close to an authentic sushi-ya as you'll find this side of the pacific without the exorbitant prices of SF, LA or NYC. Come here for the kohada (gizzard shad), Iwashi (sardine), live ama-ebi (sweet shrimp) and other traditional fish that are not served at your typical American sushi joint. Its not meant to be drenched in soy sauce and wasabi as the product is robust with flavor and sings it's own praises. And don't be intimidated, just ask if you have a question 'cos the chefs are friendly.

    (5)

  • David Z.

    Amazing sushi for very reasonable price!!! The place is small and cozy which gives a very intimate feeling. A must go!!!

    (5)

  • Lloyd E.

    Super-fresh fish, knowledgeable and personable staff (my sushi was made by Soichi), very reasonable prices. No, it's not cheap, but high quality fish couldn't be more worth it. Highlights included truly spectacular local sea urchin, plump and unadorned save a shaving of salt, marinated tuna, and small barracuda flown in from Japan. Go there, choose omakase, and convince your chef that you have an open mind and are willing to let him guide you. Buy him a beer if you appreciate it. Can't recommend Tadokoro enough.

    (5)

  • F C.

    This place is now my number one favorite sushi place in San Diego. If you want to eat real Japanese style Sushi, come to this place. The sushi bar is very Japanese style that you can see all shish chef's artistic work right in front of you. The quality of food is excellent and the way they create each dishes, you see their heart, passion and understanding of sushi that makes perfect balance of everything. There is no "too much" rice, salt, sweet souce or oil etc... that you see often at other "sushi" places. Don't get me wrong. I love "american sushi" too. But if you want to feel what is "sushi" about, go to this place, sit at the sushi bar, sip good quality sake with special sake glass and enjoy the artisan prepare your plate. Even each plate was carefully selected to make the art of sushi. I'll come back to get joyful experience again for sure!

    (5)

  • Betty W.

    Based on the great reviews and the 4.5 star rep this place had, I was really excited about coming here. Especially since my friend offered to treat me. I knew what I was going to order and I was ready to eat my "money's worth". I read on a yelp review that they came in on a thursday night and was pretty empty. So I tried my luck and went without a reservation. Unlucky me, the waitress said I needed a reservation or else I had to wait an hour to be seated. After debating with my friends for 30 minutes, we decided to stay. Then the waitress told me that there was seating for us, but we had to finish within an hour. =_______= Why didn't she say so earlier? Anyway, we got seated and ordered two ankimo and the spanish mackerel (aji) sashimi. After we ordered our appetizers, the waitress left and went MIA every so often and there was only one waitress. It would be nice if she stayed in the dining area to tend her customers. When we sighted her again, we quickly ordered in case she left again. Ankimo - really delicious. it didn't have any hard pieces at all, and it had a consistency of silken tofu which is how i like my ankimo. I asked for more ponzu sauce but I don't think the waitress remembered because I never received any. Oh well. Spanish Mackerel (Aji) Sashimi - What a let down. The presentation was amazing as well as the fact that they deep fry the bones for you to eat as well. But honestly - it was a let down. The quality of the fish was not that great and you can tell that the fish wasn't the freshest it can be. I've had amazing Aji before and the texture was springy and the taste of the aji was sweet and refreshing. The aji I had at Tadokoro had a slight fishiness to it and the texture was a little mushy. This was perhaps the first time I've had bad spanish mackerel. We also had a Mixed Sashimi Plate, Caterpillar Roll, Crunchy Roll, Salmon Avocado Roll, and Nigiri (Salmon, Yellowtail, Albacore, Tuna). We were also adventurous as to order sashimi from the special menu. You'd think that when you ask for recommendations, they'll give you the best the house had to offer. Nope - whatever we ordered was pretty much crap. There was only 1 cm worth of fish on top of 2 inches of rice. Tasted like tilapia. The rolls are what you would expect out of any sushi place. Wasn't that spectacular but then again I was never a roll kind of girl. The overall quality of the fish was just okay but because the price is so expensive, it just wasn't worth it. Our party spent $167 on food including tip and NO ALCOHOL. This was only for three people too. I've had amazing sushi in Los Angeles for 1/3 of the price and I was still full. This just isn't acceptable. :( This is what I get for having high hopes for sushi. I'm always let down. Oh well, good thing I have a love waiting for me back in Los Angeles. And boy, she never disappoints.

    (3)

  • Miyu K.

    I was born and raised in Sendai, where there's fresh seafood, so I am very picky about sushi and fresh seafood. And my goodness, this place is amazing! We sat at the counter (the only way to do sushi right), and asked for Omakase, which is like chef's choice. And honestly, there was nothing that we didn't like! Uni (sea urchin) melted in my mouth. The ama-ebi (sweet shrimp) was SO fresh, and the salmon was to die for! The owner/ head sushi chef was very friendly and skilled, and he knew what he was talking about! This is not a place to get Americanized, drenched in sauce sushi. This place is for those who truly appreciate the freshness and the taste of quality fish. Do yourself a favor and ditch theCalifornia roll and go here for real sushi!

    (5)

  • Anna G.

    Sushi as good as we've had anywhere. Next time, my husband will not be allowed to order rolls; the nigiri is too good to mess around with anything else. I only wish we could afford to go more often!

    (5)

  • Emi S.

    Talk about 'sex in your mouth'... Oh my god, it was sooooo damn good. The sashimi is so fresh in this place, it literally melts in your mouth. We tried this place last night for the first time for our anniversary. Had the monk fish liver, oysters, a sashimi plate, and some rolls for the hubby (he doesn't do sashimi). Oh my god, I was in heaven! The sashimi plate I had consisted of toro, a live (yes, ALIVE) sweet prawn, big eye tuna, giant clam, mackarel, and uni. Everything was excellent!! If you are looking for Quality, this is your place! Seriously! My mouth waters as I write this... it'll be interesting how I can get through this day without thinking about it. :)

    (5)

  • K L.

    I think this place serves good sushi but subpar oysters and uni disappointed me; hence only 3 stars. The place reminds me of neighborhood sushi joints that used to be around everywhere in tokyo before the kaiten places became the norm. Not too small, not too big. There is only one sushi chef so the service can be slow. Other items like tempura are good too. Parking is bad.

    (3)

  • Federico S.

    outstanding sashi' and sushi, uni to die for, i had 18 uni orders, i could start all over again, that was in jan 2014

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    My Fisrt time at this place. We were there for 5pm opening and stayed for about an hour and a half, we tried several item on the menu. I was delighted with the Grilled Sea Bass. We also did california rolls, San Diego Rolls and shrimp rolls, Finished up with ice cream balls. Had a gret time, the Chefs were very personable and polight to anwser questions. Everything is prepaired directly in front as you watch with care and professionism, Slow to enjoy and learn. I will be back often.

    (5)

  • Jim G.

    Maybe the best sushi we have had in thee US Fresh well prepared and great presentation Close up to the sushi chef no glass storage all fish stored behind the chefs. Would highly recommend if you are a real sashimi and sushi Eater. If you want fancy rolls this is not your place. 3 sushi chefs about 10 seats at bar and maybe room for 24 at tables I would recommend a reservation.

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    2.5 stars. Overall, my husband and I were disappointed. The sushi was just OK. Nothing special or out of this world and definitely not worth another visit. As another reviewer said, "service is friendly, but not all that great," portions were small, quality was mediocre and prices were high. I am willing to spend high prices for excellent quality, but the quality here just didn't cut it for me.

    (2)

  • Michelle P.

    Highly recommend! Order omakase at the sushi bar.

    (5)

  • Sumi A.

    Not much more can be added to the numerous helpful and spot-on reviews. This was my favorite sushi experience in San Diego, and anywhere outside of Japan. We sat at the bar and ordered omakase and were amazed by the quality and deliciousness. We didn't love every piece of nigiri, but that's to be expected and we were glad to try some new things even if they weren't our favorites. Nice, friendly service and kind and funny sushi chefs. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Tracy C.

    We tried this place in celebration of date night sans the rugrats. I saw that it had a lot of great reviews on Yelp, so we gave it a go. Parking was horrible but we found some street parking just around the corner. We didn't know quite what to expect as we walked up. Looked like a hole in the wall dump on the outside, but then we stepped inside and was transformed. The decor was modern and sophisticated. There were only about 6 or so tables with a sushi bar opposite them. We were greeted with smiles and pleasantries and was seated after a couple of minutes. The waitress was pleasant and was knowledgeable of menu items. My husband ordered a Japanese beer and I had Japanese vodka with Tea. The drinks were brought out fairly quick, in addition to the homemade gyoza that was AMAZING. We ordered a Chefs Sashimi Special that had the freshest fish. The sweet shrimp were still alive and moving, which we later deep fried and enjoyed. The sashimi seriously was the best we've had and it just melted in our mouths. We also ordered a few rolls and nigiri which were just fantastic. I can not wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Angela C.

    My husband took me here for my birthday based on a recommendation and rave reviews here on yelp. I would say because we were expecting a 5 star dining experience that we were probably a little disappointed. But with that said I still gave this place high marks because the fish tastes fresh, everything was presented well, and the staff is very friendly. I was just a little underwhelmed. It is a nice, quiet, small and intimate sushi place with quality food but it just didn't blow me away or leave me craving it again which is one of the criteria for an amazing restaurant for me (and i love sushi).

    (4)

  • Ben K.

    This sushi forced me to write my very first Yelp review. Absolutely amazing. Unlike other sushi joints who are just out to sell off older fish and make money, this place serves their freshest material, only interested in taste and quality. Amazing. Best sushi in SD hands down.

    (5)

  • Helen W.

    I had tried once before to eat here on my own but got turned away as they had reservations throughout the evening. This time I also showed up without reservations but did so at opening and was able to garner a seat by promising to vacate before the reservation was due. I arrived at 5:05p and the reservation was at 7pm. :) I sat at the bar and the chef was very welcoming. It was enjoyable watching the skill employed by all the chefs. I ordered simple rolls off of the menu. I gave it 3 stars as the list was a bit limited although I well imagine the skill goes beyond these. I hope to go back and try the Omakase, a fine way to evaluate any restaurant - the chef's whim.

    (3)

  • Julio U.

    We didn't get a chance to eat at Sushi Tadokoro, but we did get to experience its customer service; this review focuses on the customer experience we had. In the day and age of TV shows like "Kitchen Nightmare", "Restaurant Stakeout" and "Restaurant Impossible" where emphasis on customer service is just as important as the taste of the food, I'm somewhat surprised when I run into a place that treats their potential customers rather rudely. Staying near the Old Town San Diego town square, we wanted to try something non-Mexican, so we searched and found Sushi Tadokoro about a mile away. We tried calling ahead earlier in the afternoon but nobody was answering the phone. Since we saw that Yelp! said it was open, we decided to go and check it out. The walk was a bit uphill, so we trekked up to the restaurant by foot. My elderly Mom was a trooper and was looking forward to the food and was more than willing to walk for the sushi. After the twenty minute walk to Sushi Tadokoro, we walked in the front door and were immediately greeted by one of the waitresses. We were asked if we had reservations and we said no. I mentioned that we tried calling several times, but the waitress just apologized and told us that there was nothing she could do and that we would need to come back after 9pm. The restaurant at this point looked about 80% full with a couple tables available. We turned around and walked out after the second smiling apology and decided to go elsewhere. After thinking about the experience, I turned around after walking out of the shopping center, walked back into Sushi Tadokoro, waited for someone to come up to me, and asked for the manager. The same waitress pointed me to one of the sushi chefs and told me he was the owner, so she called him over but since he was behind the counter it looked like he wanted me to approach him instead. Fair enough, if he wanted me to talk over the customers sitting in front of him at the bar, I guess. I told him about trying to call the restaurant ahead of time and that if someone bothered to answer the phone, it would have saved us the walk to the restaurant. All he did was apologize and said he doesn't always have the time to answer the phone. I also told him that I came back because I felt that the manager should know about the experience, but at this point I realized I was talking to a wall because I felt snubbed and we were going elsewhere anyway. After talking to him over the counter, I left feeling better for venting out my frustration at him and in front of his customers (he really should have come out from behind the counter to talk to me away from his customers, so he asked for it). Afterwards, we headed back to Old Town and went to Harney Sushi. As for the potential of the Sushi Tadokoro dining experience, it looked like a pretty popular place that served authentic style of Japanese sushi that I've had at West LA restaurants like Sasabune, Echigo and of sub-Nobu quality (we eat a lot of sushi). The difference between Harney Sushi and Sushi Tadokoro was that the former was more of the Americanized-like rock and roll sushi place as opposed to the latter's traditional style. As well, the service levels were completely different. Bottom-line is that I'll definitely not bother going back to Sushi Tadokoro as I don't think they would appreciate my patronage. Apologetic as they were, they were rude...and as my boss would say, "you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."

    (1)

  • Jeff N.

    This is my favorite sushi in San Diego. The chef is the real deal (ask him to surprise you when you order) and this little restaurant deserves a chance of survival. Give them a shot; the service, food, and just about every damn thing about it is top notch.

    (5)

  • Jon Jon B.

    Amazingly fresh fish, very good sushi chef preparation. The restaurant is small ,so make reservations even on a week night. Be prepared for a treat unlike anything else in Southern California.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    Fresh. Delicious. Friendly. Authentic.

    (5)

  • Eugene C.

    Exceptional sushi and great service! I met Take years ago at another sushi bar and was very happy to find that he had left to open his own restaurant. Sushi Tadokoro is an amazing, and he's done a wonderful job with this. He serves Edo-style sushi, something unique that you can't find elsewhere in San Diego. Try the omakase at the bar. It's exceptionally high quality and a wonderful experience. Great job Take... Congratulations!

    (5)

  • Kazu O.

    Best sushi in San Diego. Authentic experince run by Japanese people. I will be coming back for sure.

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    This place was great! We popped in here randomly on a Tues night. Its small inside, but nice. Service was great, very attentive. We sat at the sushi bar and the sushi chef (is that what you call them?) were so great. They gave us tips on what to try and how to eat certain things. The sushi was the best I've had in San Diego hands down. Very clean tasting and fresh. I would minus half a star if it was possible only because the location is in a strip mall, but once you're inside you don't even notice. And the great sushi and service more than makes up for it. Yum!!

    (5)

  • Iggy I.

    My husband and I are NEVER coming back. We're from out of town visiting San Diego. I was craving for sushi and found this place online. When we got there, the waitress asked if we prefer table or sushi bar. We said table for 2. She then asked if we had reservations and we said no. She said she'll check and get back to us. After 5-10 minutes, she came back with a paper and pencil. She said that they are full and cannot take us. Mind you, it was a small restaurant and we can see ALL tables. There was an open table for 2 when we got there. She then said they cannot take us. What restaurant rejects their customers and don't even offer the sushi bar (which had open seats) or even a wait time??!!! We left and then a minute later as we were leaving the parking lot, this group of 5-6 people from the restaurant left! I mean, they now have at least 2-3 open tables! WTF?! We're never going back here. My money was well spent on a other sushi place not too far! Maybe they should indicate somewhere on Yelp or their website that they are taking reservations ONLY! Such a disappointment!

    (1)

  • Alex T.

    This place is really fabulous. It's a small restaurant, located in old town, that has beautiful sushi. The experience was quite pure. The wasabi was right, the soy was right, the sushi was the right size, the fish was prepared well, the service was impeccable, the rice was good, the seaweed was good. Every moment of each bite, the balance of flavours and textures, was enjoyable. I will certainly be going back again.

    (5)

  • Severine C.

    We found the place by chance but it's really a hidden treasure!! We got a chef degustation menu for 60 $ each (you can choose a lower rate) and it was a really nice experience. The sushi and sashimi were not extravagant but so so good and fresh!! Should I live in San Diego I would go back for sure. The service was so dutiful, the place was full and we waited a little bit for the first round of sashimi, so they bring us some extra food on the house to make it up, so nice because we did not wait that long but I really appreciate it anyway. Go to try it, the place it's not fancy but just right if you like fresh fresh food.

    (5)

  • Richard C.

    My son and I frequently venture to new sushi restaurants in SD. We discovered this place by accident last night but what a find. Sushi chefs greet you as you enter and make you feel like a regular customer and house guest! This is a little gem with amazing, very fresh sushi reasonably priced. Rolls are super as is the live shrimp and other menu items. Definitely check this place out next time you are in the neighborhood. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Lola Z.

    Had high expectations based on all of the 5 stars. Very disappointed. Went on a Monday evening around 7pm. The place was packed, no parking spots either. There were 2 sushi chefs (assuming one was the owner). There were 2 women as servers but I only saw one and she was rarely present. The 2nd women only came out to drop and pick up checks. Strange. Ordered a variety of things and it was average, at best. They forgot about my appetizer until I reminded the server. The plates were never cleared and I had to flag the waitress down more than several times. I'm guessing she has never waited tables? The sushi took a very long time as there were only 2 chefs. With so many sushi joints around town, I will have to pass on ever returning. So sad.

    (1)

  • Frans v.

    My new favorite sushi place in San Diego and luckily right down the hill from Mission Hills! Excellent fish quality and interesting selections depending on what's fresh and available. The battera is the best I've ever had. Atmosphere is nice and staff is super friendly. They open at 5pm and have high chairs, so if you want to come when it's quiet for a dinner with well behaved young kids, it is a good option since Masa in MH doesn't open until 6pm. This place reminds me of Taka in the Gaslamp - high end sushi in a comfortable atmosphere. People that like saucy rolls should stick to other places - this is for high quality fish and traditional sushi lovers.

    (5)

  • Shamel P.

    Food was excellent! I ordered the caterpillar roll, rainbow roll, and shrimp tempura. All three were fresh and delightful. Very pleasing to my taste buds. The restaurant itself is a bit small but cozy. The chef's are actually Japanese, so I guess you can say they are more than qualified. Overall, I would definitely recommend them to a friend, however if you going with a group, you might want to consider another restaurant.

    (4)

  • Jules A.

    This is a great new restaurant ... excellent food and friendly service. A hidden gem but not for long. The quality of the sushi compares favorably to the best sushi restaurants in San Diego. The decor is simple and clean.

    (5)

  • Food C.

    Best sushi experience of my life! Order the omakase! Owner & Chef Tadokoro is a genius! This place is a hidden gem! If you like and appreciate sushi for the art and passion this is the place! YOU WON'T BE SORRY! Just made a lifetime regular!

    (5)

  • Deborah E.

    My husband and I had dinner here for the New Year. It was extrodianary and we eat at alot of sushi restaurants. The staff was so friendly and they suggested their authentic japanesse types of fish and rolls. I will return again! This ones a winner!!

    (5)

  • Jackson G.

    Fish quality was top notch, service was prompt, courteous, and professional, including knowledge of the sake selections. I was a solo act taking leave of the airport due to a delayed Southwest flight but that only caused the owner and staff to take better care of me, including inviting me to sit at the sushi bar when a space opened up. I recommend it highly.

    (5)

  • Jesse F.

    This place was a pleasant surprise! The quality of fish here is only matched by Ota, it's that bomb. Their sashimi was some of the best ever, EVER. They have an assortment of sake glasses of which you get to choose from, a nice touch. The rolls leave a bit to be desired but that's to be expected, as this place is "Traditional Japanese." It's small and parking isn't ideal but that's OK in my book, sushi this fresh is one in a million.

    (5)

  • Wataru T.

    Excellent food and service!! If you want authentic Japanese food and quality service...this is the place to go!! Go Take!

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    Superb sashimi.

    (5)

  • jd h.

    Real good sushi/sashimi just far enough away from Old Town to make parking free and easy. a very small restaurant with a basic sushi bar. A pleasure to watch the itamaes prepare their lovely presentations. I tried something I have never had: Kanpachi (Greater Amberjack) -- a bit like Yellow Tail. Worth the stop; a bit pricy but normal for California.

    (4)

  • Sean Z.

    Very disappointed experience! I got there around 8:30 yesterday, two chefs were "cooking" and there were about 10 customers. I ordered a sashimi combo, an appetizer and a small saki. The waitress served saki immediately, but it took at least 30 min for the sashimi to be served. The saki got cold, and the sashimi didn't taste fresh.The owner chef served the sashimi himself and asked me how I found this place. He was trying to be nice but I'm not going back.

    (2)

  • David H.

    My wife and I went here because the reviews have been great. I ordered their Omakase sashimi (chef's special) while my wife ordered their California roll and other sushi rolls. The presentation of each of the dishes was excellent and the fish was very fresh. For the sashimi, I'll admit that I could not get over the live shrimp heads, so they offered to fry them up and they were great.

    (5)

  • Jean N.

    I've only been here once but will definitely be back! They have amazingly fresh sushi! And so authentic. If you want to try something different, order the Ume Shiso roll. One of my personal favorites.

    (5)

  • Jaime P.

    Really good place, it's new, small but comfy. Service was great. Loved their crunchy roll.

    (4)

  • Tom P.

    Wow!! Simply the best, freshest sushi this side of Ota, and without the attitude. Just an abbreviated review here, but given the exquisite quality of the fish, the humble and attentive service and the location (walkable for this Mission Hillean). Will return with a bigger appetite, more dining companions, and lots of time, but if the two rolls, the 8 pieces of nigiri, and the miso were any indication, expect an even heartier '5'.

    (5)

  • Monica S.

    We were pleasantly surprised to see a new sushi restaurant opening in our neighborhood. With Harney Sushi nearby, it seemed that a little competition was in order. And competition is what they got. Sushi Tadokoro is fresh and friendly. We've tested the taste buds of our sushi-loving friends here who confirm the quality of every bite. The owners provide gracious service with very reasonable prices. I also took advantage of their happy hour and savored a cold, draft Saporo for $2.50 with my crunchy roll. So skip the pricey trendiness of Harney and head to Tadokoro for genuine Japanese sushi.

    (4)

  • andrew g.

    Hands down the best sushi restaurant I've ever been to. The sake is incredible. The sashimi just melts in your mouth like butter. The sushi was also unbelievably good. Definitely get a reservation since the place is tiny.

    (5)

  • Kree K.

    It is definitely my favorite sushi place in San Diego. I'm a frequent customer for Hane Sushi (Ota and Shino Sushi + Kappo as well). BUT I think I've found my favorite.

    (5)

  • Andrew H.

    Great sashimi and rolls. The crunchy roll and Hawaiian was amazing. The restaurant is small and intimiate. It wasn't super loud. Dimly lit with candles on the table. Perfect for a date. Staff was super friendly and prompt.

    (5)

  • Omar G.

    ITs sudhi at its finest. Suprised that we found this place in old town. HAd a nice conversation with the staff and all, in all I enjoyed my experience there.

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    Good service with the freshest sashimi.

    (5)

  • BigPapa M.

    We liked everything we had. Age 11-45 and all liked it. Kirin on tap was yummy. Seared tuna and crunchy roll were crazy good. Calfornia roll was very fresh and homemade gyoza were killer good. Great service and super nice ambiance overall. Not cheap but not too expensive.

    (5)

  • Spence K.

    AWESOME sushi and caring, friendly, and honest service. Would totally recommend it.

    (5)

  • S P.

    I knocked one star off only because I'm vegetarian (don't eat fish) and, while I understand that gives me an unfair advantage over reviewing a sushi place, I still think it's appropriate that every modern restaurant be able to cater to a vegetarian. To my surprise, there was nothing on the menu (besides a single veggie roll). But, Tadokoro earns its other 4 stars because, one of the chefs approached me at the bar and asked if he could "be creative" and go and make something FOR me. He did and, what he brought back was an absolutely delicious grilled kabocha squash with a seared tofu brick -- it wasn't much but, I appreciated the gesture.

    (4)

  • M V.

    Just had a wonderful "oishi" meal at Sushi Tadokoro. Everything was very fresh, perfectly presented and delicious. Prices were fair and happy hour was welcome in the hot heat! The staff was very welcoming and gracious, felt like we were back in Tokyo!

    (5)

  • Nancy M.

    Sushi was alright. Service was lacking. Waitress never filled tea or water. I even made it easy for her and placed all of our empty cups at the edge of the table. Nope. Came and dropped off our food and never came back to fill us up. I had to flag her down ever time we needed something. Sushi Ota way better sushi, service and atmosphere.

    (1)

  • Rick B.

    Ok, I'm not just writing this review because this place is 2 blocks from the house. It seriously rivals sushi Ota for best nigiri in SD. Vey authentic Japanese old world style combined with new world rolls etc... Everything is super fresh and melt in your mouth delicious. Price is higher than I'm used to paying but still very reasonable for the quality of food that you get. Steamed gyoza is one of the beastie ever tried. Uni nigiri disappears on the palate like a sea cloud from heaven. I wish I could eat here more often. In fact I think I'll start to soon!

    (5)

  • Ler J.

    Very nice-- very good service, decor, and delicious food. The uni was amazing as advertised. Sweet, creamy and extremely fresh. I also enjoyed the Scottish salmon, and the halibut sashimi cured with kelp. The chef was flexible enough to adapt a sashimi plate to my appetite given I was dining on my own and had ordered other items. Their gyoza are tasty, complete with the flake of seared starch that comes from the cooking process-- usually my favorite aspect when I cook potstickers at home, I've never seen it at a restaurant! The rice texture and tightness around the spicy tuna roll was perfectly done too. Happy Hour prices are great. I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • katherine E.

    I was visiting friends and saw this place (obviously new) in this little strip mall. We took a chance on this new place and were blown away. The servings were small but every bit was meal all by itself. We left feeling really satisied. The chefs were so friendly and had great suggestions. this is now my new favorite SD dinner place.

    (5)

  • Marquis W.

    Excellent sushi and service. Make a reservation at the bar if you can and want more of the experience. Maybe a little better than Sushi Ota because of the service I received. Will be back on a regular basis.

    (5)

  • Lily R.

    Best sushi I've had. Fresh and delicious. The chef was incredible. Sake tasted amazing. Highly recommend this place. Make sure you make reservations in advance. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Jodie R.

    Incredible, authentic experience. Fish was not only fresh and delicious, but the sushi and sashimi were works of art! All the staff were friendly and attentive. Great service! This was our first time here but will not be our last! We opted for the omakase and went all out (it was New Years!), telling the sushi chef no holds barred. Total food cost was $140 with plenty of sushi, sashimi, a miso marinated black cod, and a clam soup. Even included toro and uni. Well worth it to us! But the couple next to us asked for a $40 per person budget and looked like they got a beautiful meal as well. And of course there are even cheaper options on the menu. All in all, delightful and delicious. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Jennifer R.

    We had a great dinner here and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal. I decided to make reservations for my husbands birthday and was able to get a table for that night without any problems. The servers here are so friendly and answer any questions that you may have regarding the menu. We ordered the karrage shrimp and were surprised when whole deep fried shrimp (shell and heads) arrived. We were like, "Do we eat the whole thing?" and the waitress smiled and said, "Yes! It's such a waste not to!" and joked with my husband that they would be disappointed if he didn't eat the whole thing. We had a wide variety of nigiri and rolls. The cured halibut was by far our favorite. It was one of the nights specials and differs from the regular halibut nigiri that they offer. The sushi just melts in your mouth (that's a good thing) and is so fresh. I ate so much but didn't feel bloated or stuffed afterwards. The seating is very limited here. There were even reserved signs at the bar so definitely call before going. The parking lot is small so I recommend just parking on the street. They are also now open for lunch so check it out!!

    (5)

  • Jaylene R.

    Let me just say that I'm still dreaming of the sushi I had. The food is amazing, the staff are friendly and accommodating, and the restaurant itself is very clean. Tadokoro has bar seating and only a few tables, so I recommend making reservations even if it's to sit at the bar. They have a shared lot but it's really small, so you may have to park on the street. I've tried a handful of rolls, dishes and nigiri, and the nigiri is what really stood out to me. Nigiri is per piece, and toro nigiri is a whopping $6 a piece, topping the rest of the nigiri at $2-$3 a piece. I'd say the rolls are between $8 and $15, and overall the prices aren't bad especially for the quality fish you get. ALL of the sushi is fresh, buttery and the perfect texture. I swear the fish just melts in your mouth!! Personal recommendations: Nigiri - yellowtail, toro, and salmon Negi toro roll I really thought the salmon avocado roll would be my favorite, but for some reason it tasted off to me. It could have been because the roll was extremely soft and creamy and I was looking for more texture. Whatever it was, I just wasn't a fan. Other than that roll everything was amazing and I can't wait to come back and try their black sesame ice cream for dessert. Sushi Tadokoro doesn't disappoint!

    (5)

  • Baciula L.

    I was curious to try this place as it has been compared to Sushi Ota. I came here for lunch and ordered the following sushi: yellowtail, kampachi, saba and salmon as well as a rainbow roll. It was just good, nothing out of the ordinary, in fact slightly overpriced for what it is. The staff was friendly and efficient. Not sure if it's a place I would be eager to come back to. Azuki sushi still remains my favorite and probably the best sushi (after Ota of course) in San Diego.

    (3)

  • Winston G.

    The best sushi spots in San Diego apparently are in strip malls next to convenience stores, and Sushi Tadokoro is no exception. Out of the top few places I've been to thus far (Sushi Ota, Ken Sushi and Sushi Hane), this might be my favorite one of them all! The prices here to me were very, very reasonable for top flight sushi (although be prepared, it is not cheap) and the beer and sake selection was excellent as well. Two of us spent about $120 each but we had sake and several beers as well. My buddy and I ordered omakase and the highlights of the night were the live sweet shrimp, mackerel, o-toro, uni, and salmon belly. Each of these items might have been the best pieces of nigiri I have ever had - hands down. The mackerel, which I normally find to be a bit fishy, was absolutely perfect. The uni was some of the freshes and creamiest uni I've had. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar and letting either Tadokoro-san or Soichi-san take care of you - just tell them what you like and don't like and also a budget if you want. I would probably come here and get those pieces of sushi I just mentioned again and again... absolutely delicious.

    (5)

  • Joe T.

    A very nice hidden sushi location. The food here is really good. The staff is ok. The chefs are fun to watch. The selection is not huge and that is a good thing. The nigiri is excellent. I had the fatty tuna ($$$) and several other specials and they were all excellent. I had the sashimi sampler and it came with a fish skeleton that they fry when you done with everything else and return it with some salt. It was really good. The chef mentioned it to me when I was ordering but did not catch everything he said. They have a good size sake selection. That will be next time when I have a driver. Arrive early, the parking lot is really small. Street parking may take a 5 to 10 minute walk.

    (4)

  • Tim F.

    Went with a group of 6. I've lived in Japan for 6 years and have had the best sushi in the world. It's impossible not to compare, but I tried to be as fair as possible. The good: 1. The fish was ALL good. Ate about 8 different types of nigiri and enjoyed all of them. 2. Tempura was light and crispy. 3. Beer was fresh and cold. (Asahi) The bad: 1. Miso soup was not very flavorful. Tried both regular and seafood miso. Both were lacking in flavor. 2. Edamame was nothing special. I asked if it had rock salt and they said yes. When it came out, it did not have rock salt. 3. Service was not good. Had to ask for more wasabi and ginger 3 times. 4. The portion size of the wasabi and ginger was very small. Usually u get a lot more than you would eat, but for a table of 6, we got barely enough for 1 person. This could have been easily fixed if they would have brought more when I asked. But they failed to do so. 5. Tamago was bland and nothing special. Tasted like soft fluffed egg. Was not sweet at all and was not marbled. Tamago is hard to make when made correctly. This was not real tamago. Overall, I can give 3 stars easy. But can't give more than that because the supporting service and dishes were not as good. Paid $275 for 6 people. Worth a try.

    (3)

  • Jeb H.

    All I can say about Sushi Tadokoro is...WOW, they are fantastic! I dined there over the weekend with two good friends and we had a great time! Our server was extremely friendly, the food was excellent, and the vibe of the restaurant was mellow and inviting! You know you're in for a treat when you go to a sushi restaurant in SD where the entire staff is Japanese! Sushi Tadokoro is a small place that's a few blocks from the busy part of Old Town, and it actually has dedicated parking! Brilliant!! Anyway, the super-high quality of the food at this joint reminds me of Sushi Ota, but it's less expensive and easier to get a table. We started with the some large Sapporos and the Omakase, which was sooo good! Every piece of fish melted in my mouth, and the flavor was so fresh and natural. We also ordered two hand rolls, and I appreciate how the pieces are just the right size to put in my mouth without filling it up completely. Some places make their rolls too large, but the ones here are just right. We kept the party going with two sashimi platters and ended with the green tea cheesecake, which was creamy and delicious! I have no complaints at all about Sushi Tadokoro. It is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for.

    (5)

  • Zack F.

    Wow. Wow. Wow. I'm glad I don't live in San Diego because I would put myself into destitution here. I had the chefs special and every cut melted in my mouth. I felt a little dirty using wasabi, soy and ginger on my plate. I was the only person in there that wasn't speaking Japanese, and that's a good thing. These folks make you feel like you're in a little Japanese sushi bar. The atmosphere, the beautiful plating, the almost shyly polite staff. Do yourself a favor. Sit at the bar, watch these chefs, and don't tell your friends about this place that way you can have the best kept secret around. 10 of 10, would marry restaurant.

    (5)

  • Joe M.

    I was visiting San Diego on business but was determined to spend some time with friends while I was in town. It's been a long 5 years since I moved out of the sunny city but it's as warm and welcoming as I remembered. Some of my buddies let me crash on their couches so I wanted to return the favor and treat my gracious hosts to a delicious dinner to repay their hospitality. We decided to check out Tadokoro over Ota to try something new, and we were not disappointed. We ordered a little bit of everything on the tasting menu and there were definitely standouts including the uni with ikura, amaebi, kanpachi kama, and zuke tuna. All of the fish was super fresh and melted in your mouth, and in most cases, didn't need any sauce at all. Chef was extremely friendly and happily shared a few shots of sake with our group. I'd definitely come back and next time, I'm charging it to my per diem! Service was very good and attentive as you'd expect. My only criticism is that it's on the expensive side, with each piece ranging from $3-8+, which adds up fast when you've got a larger group to feed. While we went on a Monday and there wasn't a long line, I'd definitely make a reservation at the bar for the best possible experience. Food: 10/10 Service: 9/10 Price: $$$$ Atmosphere: 8/10

    (5)

  • Lucas C.

    Japanese authentic beatiful sushi. No fusion, no aiolis or deep fried everything. The chefs are more knolageable than any I've seen before.

    (5)

  • Tony C.

    First I'm going to apologize for my long winded review. This was a great evening and overall experience that I'm still excited about. Tadokoro reminds me of sushi Ota. It's small, tucked away in a corner like Ota and you would never think that high level food would be coming out of here. I've been wanting to try Tadokoro for some time now and it was worth the wait. Called in for an 8:30 reservation at the bar but none were available. Bummer but I wasn't going to let that hold us back from our sushi craving. The moment we walked in we were greeted by our friendly server who sat us immediately. Ordered up some gyoza and a beer to start. The gyoza was arguably the best and most unique I've had. Outer texture had a light crunch that was followed up by some tasty juicy pork. Bomb! We were ready to order the rest of our meal and surprisingly our waitress remembered us from when we called in our reservation. She then asked if we were still interested in a spot at the bar. That was a given!!! Of course I wanted to be up close and see what all the hype was about. This was an important event of the evening. Anytime service is personable and even remembers your name makes a big difference in a dining experience. Makes you feel kinda special :) Two big thumbs up for the service!! I asked Chef Soichi to make us what was "fresh" and what he recommended. He literally pulled out a whole fish! Basically giving him the reins to my dinner experience and my wallet. Uhhhhh was that a mistake? No way! It was all perfect. First round was Golden Snapper nigiri with a light brushing of yuzu sauce and Fatty toro. Both absolutely heaven and melted in my mouth. Next up was a slightly seared scallops with a light sprinkle of grated sea salt. Scallop texture was plump and flavor was spot on. This was followed by a another scallop and halibut nigiri. There is a theme going on here.....and it was all like butter in my mouth. Last but not least we ordered a salmon and avocado roll to fill the belly with some rice. This did not disappoint standard in flavor but you could tell the quality was better than average. Takodoro is just another little gem tucked away in San Diego that I would love to keep to myself. Oh yea do yourself a favor and make a reservation at least a day in advance. Enjoy!!

    (5)

  • Vi N.

    love this spot. must haves: -sweet ebi -spanish mackerel (whole fish, served as sashimi, then deep fried to perfection) -sashimi combos -chicken karaage on the pricy side, but definitely a treat i look forward to! :)

    (5)

  • Ysera L.

    We came to here with very high expectation. Since we heard that it's on the top ten best sushi restaurant list of San Diego. The decoration and service is really nice here, indeed. The sashimi was super fresh and tender. I have tasted sweet, soft and plump flavor all in my mouth, which was terrific. However, the sushi was not as good as sashimi. It's not saying that the sushi is bad; it just a little bit normal for the price. The miso soup was a little bit salty than it was supposed to be. Therefore, I only gave three stars for this restaurant. Yes I'm a picky eater.

    (3)

  • Brooklyne C.

    Lunch was amazing!!!! Sat at the sushi bar with the chef/owner, no more that 6 customers in there. Service was great. Intimate, personal. Fish was so fresh. Had Scottish Salmon which was so unique. The golden eye snapper which had great flavor. Red snapper was delish. Authentic, traditional. A true gem in old town!!!

    (5)

  • Derek W.

    **Note I just came back from Japan 2 weeks ago and still have one of the best sushi dinners fresh in my mind** Since it was our 1 year anniversary, we received a comp'ed night down in Coronado and decided to have dinner with my old college roommate. He suggested coming to check out Sushi Tadokoro for dinner. We were seated off to the side of the sushi bar so that we had a clear view of the specials for the night yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . I let my rommate do the ordering since he's dined here and knew what I liked/disliked. First up ... ankimo yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . I'm personally not a fan but my wife loves this stuff and she did say it was good...just not the best she's ever had. Golden snaper yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . I liked the way the chef did a quick sear so that the skin crispens and love the yuzu salt which is grated on top before serving. Welk clam yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . A new one for me but it sure was tasty and had a nice sweet flavor. Octopus yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Surprisingly not as chewy as I had expected and another great piece of sushi. Arc shell clam yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Recently had this in Japan and am amazed at how much I actually like this. Had a really pleasant sweet aftertaste and a crisp/crunchy texture. One of new favorites to order if available. Engawa yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Another new piece of sushi I've never eaten. This is a part of the shoulder muscle of a halibut and dang was it tasty. Heard that this is pretty rare and hard to get. Another must order if on the menu. Hokkaido scallop yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . A good sized scallop that had a nice sweetness. Kanpachi and I forgot what else yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Both tasty but nothing out of the ordinary. Aji yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . This was probably the one piece of sushi that I really didn't care for during our meal. It had a weird and unfamiliar taste that I wasn't a fan of. O toro yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Good but not the best toro I've had. Wasn't as buttery as most other places I've had it at. Negi toro yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Good but was too full to finish and passed off half of the cut roll to my buddy. Gyoza yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Surprisingly really good and liked the crispy edges. Homemade zenzai yelp.com/biz_photos/sush… . Basically mochi rice balls w/ green tea ice cream and red beans. Would skip this as it wasn't really that good. Overall a good sushi restaurant in SD but one really disappointing thing was with all the gnats that kept flying around the sushi bar and around our food. They need to get rid of those as it totally kills the dining experience.

    (4)

  • J B.

    As a picky sushi eater, this is one of my TWO most favorite sushi places in San Diego. I love coming here because the atmosphere is very intimate and relaxing. Make sure to order the sweet shrimp (I'm not a sweet shrimp fan but this place is exceptionally good), and the off-the-Menu hand roll made with uni, Ikura and toro.

    (5)

  • S F.

    Excellent quality fish, true authentic Japanese spot, great service and very friendly staff. I have a new favorite sushi place!

    (5)

  • tom h.

    Hands down the best sushi in SD! Not what you'd expect in old town. The chef/owner is Japanese and was trained there. It's a pretty authentic sushi, they have bus loads of Japanese tourists come every night, so you'll need to make a reservation as the seats are very limited. And it's not cheap, it's usually $100 for me dinning alone, but well worth it!

    (5)

  • Clara Y.

    Had an amazing experience tonight. My friends took me here for my 22nd birthday and let me taste some of the freshest quality sushi in san diego. The outside area where this sushi place is located looks so different than the interior (aka kind of sketch). The interior looks chic, elegant, and is dimly lit with a sophisticated and almost sultry vibe (perf for a date night). We chose the $48 platter with choice sashimi including tuna, otoro, sweet shrimp, scallop, and more (2 pieces of sashimi each). Every piece melted in ur mouth and was top notch quality. It was my first time trying otoro and it blew me away and exceeded my expectations. When i bit into the fish, it was so juicy and soft and amazing. I felt like fucking smeagol cuz i wanted to yell "SO JUICY SWEETTTTT". There also was a twitching shrimp head on the plate for aesthetics, but u could also have it fried or cooked in miso soup. Both decisions are delish. Everything in this place is delicious. Even the ginger and the miso soup tastes amazing. We also ordered uni which just melted in your mouth, unagi which was buttery and flavorful, and monkfish liver which was creamy (almost like avocado) and absolutely amazing in flavor and texture. The salmon sashimi was also fresh, but i wish it was more room temp. The cuts were too cold. It would have been perfect if it wasnt so chilled. Because it was my birthday, they also brought out lychee icecream with a candle. So cute! Overall it was a fantastic meal. Every piece was another moment of glory and deliciousness.

    (5)

  • Pedro S.

    I'm so glad I found this place as I've been looking for a decent sushi place in San Diego. I gave this place 5 stars mainly for the food. The location is kind of funny as it's sandwiched between a liqour store and hair salon I think. Not your typical fine dining experience I would say. Who cares about that though, the important part is the food. The food was outstanding. So for that, and not having any stellar sushi places in SD ever, I think it was probably the best sushi experience so far that I've had in San Diego. Try it out :)

    (5)

  • TianChee S.

    4.5 stars. I thought I could get away without a reservation but guess I realized the hard way how legit this place is and how packed it can get. Thankfully they said they had a spot after 1.5h. They also said that if an earlier table was open they'd squeeze us in. So I decided to kill some time at Fashion Valley Mall before coming back. Once seated, I ordered a bunch of Nigiris and very soon we got our Nigiris. I ordered O Toro, Salmon, Kanpachi (Amberjack Tuna), Giant Clam, Scallop, Kamasu (Barracuda), Sea Urchin, Golden Eye snapper, Tamago (egg), and a Soft Shell Crab Roll. My person favorites were these: O Toro: very fatty and marbly and full of flavor Kanpachi (Aberjack Tuna): new favorite that I would order before Salmon, very subtle yet rich flavor (not too fatty) Golden Eye snapper: torched on the skin giving a unique smoky taste to the rich fish Sea Urchin: very creamy and sweet The rest were also very fresh and great tasting. The only item I'd probably skip would be the Tomago as I only like the sweet tasting ones which I have yet to find here and only experienced it in Japan. Definitely an excellent competitor/alternative to Sushi OTA. Would without hesitation come here again.

    (4)

  • D A.

    Let me start my review by saying that this place has really good sushi.As a big fan of Ota,Shino and Hane ,this little joint can go almost head to head with the big guys,not there but almost. We pretty much ate everything on the menu nigiri and sashimi style and it was good.Kampachi,red snapper,hamachi and uni were our favorites.We sat on the sushi bar so whatever we saw being made,we tried it.Food is 7 out 10 . But here comes my problem,we spent,two of us,$379 in this little joint and let me tell you we made reservations ahead to sit on the sushi bar.As we were about to be done,our sushi chef told us we had to leave because they had other people coming in.We understand we were there over an n hour and a half and this could happen but you don't tell your customers to leave your place after spending almost $400.You try to find a solution like, How about we offer you a table instead of sushi bar? We were still eating and ordering more at that point and all the good food experience was gone after what he said.So we asked the server if we can stay and get a table instead,she said "Let me check".Thank you so much for checking,we are giving you $400 and you are going to check if you can sit us to one of the 3 empty tables.So kind of you,so generous of you.We salute you. After she said "yes, you can take one of tables"We sat down but we were obviously not happy,we stopped ordering food.I made some faces to the chef that we were not happy,he brought some scallops to our table to apologize..too late... Well it does not work that way Mr.Chef when you are running a business and there is yelp around.I shared my sake with you ,I gave you $400 and u told me to be done with my meal and leave the restaurant without offering a table.Not that it matters to you but we will stick Hane and Shino.For the same price you will get better sushi and a way better experience. Plus don't expect an ambience ,music or any decor like Hane or Shino.It is your typical we know sushi,we ll charge you and we won't invest in the restaurant itself kind of a place.I do interior design ,reach me out ,I ll design it for free,you ll pay for the materials and labor..

    (1)

  • Dianna C.

    4.5 really. Parking: it kinda sucks. There's only about 2-3 parking spaces in the plaza it's located in. There's a liquor store next door. So make sure you don't park in their spots. There wasn't a whole heck of a lot of parking. Mostly near residential area. Ambiance: mellow traditional with modern flair. It looks dim from the outside, but it's actually much brighter inside. We say by the sushi bar so we got to see our chef make our sushi! I really liked their sushi bar. It's very open. I've never sat where it's quite that open. The barrier between you and the chef at other restaurants are usually much higher. Food: Spectacular. They fly in a lot of their fish. The uni I had was probably the only thing that was local. It was superb by the way! The salmon and yellowtail sushi were super fresh and buttery. I didn't enjoy the toro as much as I do Sushi Ota's. Dessert: Homemade zenzai was delicious. But my favorite sad actually the sesame ice cream!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Why 5 stars? Because its that good. Ok so you pay for what you get, right? At Tadokoro's you're definitely gonna pay but you're definitely gonna get as well. I really enjoyed my food here. There's only one other place in San Diego that I've found with this level of sushi and that's Ota. I ordered the omakase and it was divine. The tuna, the uni, the amaebi, all sushi and sashimi was an another level. You want top notch sushi in San Diego, go Tadokoro. So much good stuff.

    (5)

  • Marlon T.

    I just had the omokase here--amazing and worth the money. If you're a sushi snob, you can't not compare this place to Sushi Ota. Yes, I've had the omokase at Sushi Ota also. Freshness: Sushi Ota wins: maybe it's just how their chefs cut the fish, but every single slice of sashimi at Ota was melting in my mouth, consistently, every time I was there. Rice: Sushi Tadokoro wins: yes, I am comparing the rice, because Sushi Tadokoro has watched the Jiro Ono movie (or they just know what's up), and they know that not only the type of rice is important, but the TEMPERATURE of the rice is important. Imagine putting a melty cold fish in your mouth along with warm rice--unforgettable. Atmosphere: Sushi Tadokoro wins: the smaller, more intimate areas make it better for conversation and personal space. At Ota, you're almost shoulder to shoulder--makes sense from a business perspective when you're collecting thousands of dollars a night for the never ending patrons every day. Service: Sushi Tadokoro wins: honestly this was a close one but I do feel that the servers at Tadokoro were a lot more attentive and didn't have the snobby "we're the best sushi place ever" attitude--not that all the servers did but you could sort of get that vibe from right when you walk in. Price: Sushi Tadokoro wins: hands down. The omokase is $80 vs $120 at Ota. Well, it's obvious that I think Sushi Tadokoro is way better and that would be my recommendation if you want a top-notch sushi experience in San Diego for one of those times you're looking to spend some dough for good fish. Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should try Ota to get a good baseline of what good sushi is, but after that don't forget about the gem restaurants without the hype so you can avoid the throngs of people but still have a high quality sushi meal.

    (4)

  • Sierramarie B.

    Hey a new sushi place to try! Not bad- but I don't think I will make this my regular spot. It is pretty pricey for what you get... Appetizers were ok- but agedashi tofu was a sad disaster. Maybe I am just a fat American...but them lil' sashimi/nigiri pieces were small! Oh my...no no! Good quality? Yes. Small? Mini micro- and very thin! Rolls were all very simple but had a deluxe roll price tag ($14 for a tuna/asparagus/cucumber roll- see pic) Uni was just ok...not very flavorful- $20 for 4 pieces Service was very friendly but slower than usual. I'd say more- but who wants to read a long ass review? 3***s!!!!

    (3)

  • Jack M.

    This place was perfect. I got the Omakase Chef's Tasting at the bar with Head Chef/Owner Takei Tadokoro. He was incredibly friendly, gracious, and knowledgable about his sushi. I've never spent over $100 on a meal, but this was totally worth it. Chef Takei made everything right in front of me, describing each individual piece as he went on crafting nearly every piece on his exquisite menu for me for almost two hours. Highlights were the Monkfish Liver, Toro, Oyster, Salmon, Salmon eggs, and Uni. Though every piece was excelllent. This place literally deserves a Michelin star. The chef's were on top of their game. They knew exactly where each piece of fish was from and how it was prepared. They gladly answered questions. We stopped when I was just too full to continue. Then the ice cream they served was the perfect finish. If you're anywhere near San Diego, you must try this place. It's incredible and was a major highlight of my trip.

    (5)

  • Denise K.

    I had an awesome omakase experience with sushi chef, Soichi Kadoya. The restaurant is very small. Reservations, especially for the sushi bar, are highly recommended (if not mandatory). They will only hold your table for 10 minutes so show up late and you'll be forced to eat elsewhere. They have a very small parking lot, shared with a liquor store, so your best bet is to just park on the street. Soichi-san speaks fluent English so it was nice to talk to him throughout the meal. He made some great recommendations for us. We started off with the omakase sashimi. The sweet shrimp was from San Diego, alive and kicking. I love when amaebi is that fresh. Their uni was absolutely orgasmic. Such a delicious, fresh flavor. And the uni pieces were the biggest I've seen! The toro was so marbleized that the sashimi literally melted in my mouth. Soichi-san then asked us what kind of fish we liked/ didn't like. I told him I wanted engawa, kinmedai, and mirugai. I was impressed with the presentation and execution of the nigiri. I love their home-made ponzu and yuzu sauces. They also use pink himalayan sea salt. Most of the nigiri did not need soy sauce. They were already prepared, as is. The rice is slightly warm and the proportion of rice to fish is perfect. We had a wonderful variety of sushi. By the time we reached our maximum capacity, we threw in the towel and saw that some other patrons had ordered tako, which was not listed on the white board. Next time, I'll have to remember to ask about what's truly available. Their tako nigiri looked good! Sushi Tadokoro is easily my favorite sushi joint in SD. Move over, Sushi Ota, there's a new kid on the block and he's here to stay! Tadokoro makes all their sauces (including soy sauce) in-house so the flavors are unique and just downright delicious. The fish is extremely fresh. I loved the omakase here and I can't wait to come back!!

    (5)

  • Justin A.

    I really wanted to like Sushi Tadokoro but left feeling very underwhelmed. To begin, Tadokoro does not serve edomae sushi, as some reviews point out. An edomae sushi restaurant would never serve cooked fish or rolls, as this place does. That being said, the selection of fish here is the best in San Diego. The downside to this wide variety of fish? The price! I wouldn't have cared about the price so much if there was more fish on each piece of rice, but the servings of fish were incredibly small. I think the bill came to around $165 for two people, sans tip, and for that price, the cut of fish should be larger. Here's the other thing. We did have a one to one relationship with the itimae but this was actually a detriment to the meal. There was no spacing between the fish and it was basically rapid fire sushi. We had to tell him we needed a break and as a result, the meal did feel very rushed. Come here if you want the widest variety of fish in San Diego, but expect to pay dearly for it. And no, Tadokoro doesn't resemble any sushi ya in Japan.

    (2)

  • Ada F.

    Gnats? That's the last thing I would expect sitting at the sushi bar. First sushi meal since going to Tokyo so I was not sure what my reaction to sushi in the states would be. My husband's buddy raves about this place so we decided to dine with them there. He suggested we make reservations for the sushi bar. We were seated all the way to the right, I had the last seat. There were a few items that were tasty but throughout the entire meal I saw gnats flying around. I remember the monkfish liver to be tasty, the ikura to be delicious but the gnats killed the meal. I posted pictures of what we ate but what really stuck in my mind was the gnats. Doubt I will be back.

    (1)

  • Hannah N.

    My brother in law was not joking when he said San Diego has the best uni. I had a smorgasbord of everything from fried ama ebi heads to monkfish liver to uni (and more uni) and seriously may have foodgasmed when I got to the uni. Probably within my top 5 meals of all time.

    (5)

  • Timothy C.

    Excellent sushi, engaging chefs, and amazing omakase selection. Prices are competitive to Sushi Ota, and availability is a bit more frequent - so you don't have to plan a week out! Ask for the baby barracuda and prepare to be amazed. I will definitely return to try their other specials

    (4)

  • fat m.

    Stopped in for lunch today. The owner/chef was manning the sushi bar. Very small and quaint. The fish was top notch and the service was fast and conscientious. I had a Chirashi Box and it was delicious. The Uni melted in my mouth and all the fish was divine even without any wasabi or soy sauce. The chef even noticed I had some extra rice left after eating all the sashimi off the top and he passed me a small dish of pickles to eat with the rest of the rice. I will be back to try the omakase for sure. Reservations are a must for dinner. This place has about 5 tables and a small bar. The only thing that could be a potential problem is the parking.... Or rather, the lack of parking. This place is in Old Town and located in a tiny corner next to a liquor store. There are about 5 spots in front and they are arranged in such a way that only about 4 cars fit at any given time. On a busy night, I think a Sidecar ride or Lyft ride might be necessary.

    (5)

  • Nathan M.

    Great selection of fish. My favorite was the engawa, but everything was good. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Also the green tea cheesecake was a surprise hit. Wasn't cheap, but the quality of the food justified it.

    (5)

  • Lyrick N.

    Why 1 star you ask? Welp, I called in about 2 weeks ago to make a reservation for 2 and the girl who picked up told me she have 2 available seating but we only have 45 minutes to eat as there was another reservation around that time. Ugh...okkk. do u even know how long for a waiter to come to our table take our orders, food to be cook and serve to us? That leave us 10 minutes to eat. That's ridiculous so I didn't even bother to make a reservation and went else where for our sushi fix. Sad cause I really wanted to try this place. With service like this I'll pass.

    (1)

  • George B.

    Went for lunch. Good service. The variety and cut of fish is good, but small. They have Dinner prices at lunch time. Chirashidon - $28. Eight piece Sushi dish $18. Overpriced - Too bad. They do Not accept AMEX either.

    (2)

  • P N.

    I havent found anything better. Not for everyone. This 5 star review is only for those people that understand. Anyone that complains of a restaurant giving an outtime when they are booked or upset because they couldnt seat you due to having a book full of reso's please dont go here. I dont want you taking up my space at the sushi bar. Best Sushi Around...easy. Enough said. For those of you that havent gone here, but really want to have a true sushi experience...CALL, GET A RESO AT THE SUSHI BAR, SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE. Thank you Mr. Tadakoro and Soochi for some of the best meals of my life.

    (5)

  • Cony L.

    yum yum yum yum yum~~~! I love love this place! This is my FAVORITE Japanese Restaurant in SD thus far :)) Make sure make a reservation before you go here! It's a very small restaurant and gets very packed :) After reading the reviews, I made a reservation to be seated at the bar :) The chef was so friendly and explained every piece I received :) Every bite and every food I had there was oh-so-yummy!! :) I also tried my first Plum Wine.. oh-em-gee~~~! Love love adore! :) Can't wait to have plenty of these when I visit Japan soon! :)) The waitress gave me sesame ice cream with japanese cracker, and it was very delish as well :) Thinking about my dining experience here makes my mouth watery.. :)

    (5)

  • Maria K.

    Horrible, horrible....They rudely turned us down ~8:00pm . There are only a few tables, which they are claimed to be reserved. It charges $$$$$ because they have to rip off a few guests who can sit at the several tables. The pictures on yelp are practically NOT available to you. Don't waste your time and ruin your mood by even trying to go there.

    (1)

  • Kimberly B.

    One of my favorite sushi places in SD. My boyfriend brought me here for my first omakase experience and I absolutely loved it. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Bf said that Tadokoro is cheaper than Ota but we both believe that it is just as good. The toro is especially delicious! The quality is on par with the more expensive places. Tadokoro and Shirahama are two SD sushi spots worth visiting! Tips: Make a reservation beforehand. The parking lot is small so expect to look for some street parking close to the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Tera E.

    Sushi Tadokoro seemed to be on of the few highly rated sushi places open for lunch - which is a new development I believe. We stopped in while making a trip back from LA to Arizona for a late lunch which couldn't have been a better idea. We were the only customers at the time and sat at the sushi bar right in front of one of the sushi chefs. We were able to order directly from him and watch him make our delicious sushi. Our waitress was also great. The nigiri lunch was a great way to try their different offerings. While most places I'm used to typically serve two nigiri per order, here it is only one so it is more pricy than most but certainly worth an occasional visit. Their house made mochi with green tea ice cream is also worth a taste!

    (4)

  • Roger M.

    This place is giving Sushi Ota a run for its money! Don't let it's location in a small parking lot directly next to a liquor store scare you away. Hidden away from the main business strip of restaurants along Old Town, you'll be surprised at the authentic Japanese ambiance inside! And actual Japanese patrons dining inside? Even better! We tried a couple of their sashimi combos and have to say we are highly impressed! Quality of each slice is damn fresh and on point. Grab their chef's special from the daily special menu! It came with slices of all the premium sashimi cuts you'd expect from a typical sushi joint, including two huge sweet shrimps that are practically still alive. This is as fresh as it can get (PETA, I apologize) as the head and legs are still moving, making an attempt to get off the plate. But do not fear, the live heads will be deep-fried soon after you finish the sashimi plate. It's perfectly fried to crispiness that you can literally consume it in entirety. Their gyozas are damn tasty too! It comes cooked and clumped together on this sort of pancake type of style. Order one before all the raw fish comes to the table as this will start you off right! And down it with an Asahi or Kirin on draft to quench your thirst from all the soy sauce. Oh yeah. If you still have room (we always have room after eating sashimi), grab one of their matcha green tea cheesecakes! This is the perfect way to top off your meal. It comes with red beans garnished along the side as well so you'll have a heavenly surprise for your taste buds! And please, save your Cali rolls or volcano rolls for a mediocre place like Sushi Deli, this is the place for authentic sushi only! :)

    (4)

  • Stephanie C.

    This was my first time here and I really enjoyed myself! The ambiance was casual but nice and the staff was friendly. I started off with a bowl of edamame. You can never go wrong with that. That was later followed by a crunchy roll and a caterpillar roll. I was so impressed by the presentation! They definitely made an effort to make them unique. Not only that, but they also tasted great. The freshness of each ingredient really came through. The only downside would be the price. I know I could have gotten more food for the price I paid here if I had gone to another sushi place. But do not get me wrong: These rolls were worth every penny! So expect to spend a little more than usual because you are getting more than the usual!

    (4)

  • Arlene P.

    Officially my favorite sushi place. Please don't stone me, but I feel like Sushi Ota is overated. THIS is the experience in my opinion! This place, I have gone only twice but gotten GREAT chefs. I'm a HUGE fan of getting omakase from them. I certainly love the scottish salmon now too. They really can't go wrong. Go there. Sit at the bar (no pesky refrigerator to block your view of the artists/chefs at work. Drink some sake (and pick your sake glass from an array of beautiful glasses) And now that I've given away my best kept sushi secret, I hope I can still get a seat at the bar there...

    (5)

  • Paul L.

    Another fantastic place for sushi in San Diego! Shin Ichi and Soy Ichi, are great sushi chefs, run a tight ship and serve impeccable cuts of sushi. I really like the simplicity and size of this place, it feels homey. You feel like a guest of the chefs.

    (5)

  • Jamie Y.

    Came here on a Tuesday night, place is not crowded but busy. We decided to get the Omakase meal that consists of different sashimi, nigiri, and appetizers. Definitely sit at the bar to enjoy the full view of sushi chef performing this beautiful dance with your meal. Forgot to take pictures of ALL the dishes that we got because I was THAT excited to just put the heaven in my mouth, but I will talk about my favorite ones of the night: Monkfish Liver: Best dish to open your appetite, the flavors go really well with the sauce and lemon. Sashimi plate: Beautifully displayed, only wish they didn't run out of the live shrimp. Got Tuna, Tori, Uni, Aji, Yellowtail, and they were all extremely fresh. Miso Sea Bass: All time favorite appetizers! Brings back my childhood memory at those authentic Japanese restaurant. The miso is marinated perfectly sweet and salty. The ginger also goes really well with it. Fried Shishamo: Little fried fish that's lightly salty. Definitely squeeze the lemon on it to bring the flavors out! Kettlefish Nigiri: I have only had squid before, kettle fish has an even stronger and flavorful taste. It was wonderful! Lightly torched toro Nigiri: Really enjoyed the chef dancing with the torch lighter, beautifully cut toro, and grinded sea salt. Giant Clam Nigiri: Might have been the best new thing I have tried that night, the clam was fresh and chewy. It was HUGE. Fresh Uni Nigiri: I watched him taking out a big plate of uni with my wishful eyes, then he carefully scooped out four pieces of Uni. With his gentle hand, he places two pieces on each nigiri. I skipped a heartbeat when he put them in front of us, the taste? Of course heavenly, I can never forget that feeling. I really almost cried. It was so great. So Fresh. So buttery. Ah. The atmosphere is very fun and intimate. The quality from their service to the very last bits of fish is just amazing. Will pick Tadokoro over Ota any day. BRB let me go back to drooling at my pictures from that night.

    (5)

  • Monica A.

    I would love to keep Tadokoro a secret, but that's probably not fair to them. I've been here several times, not as many times as would like to - I would love to be able to come here daily! Tadokoro has the freshest fish; I generally just get nigiri and do omakase. The uni is the best I have ever had. And, the sushi chefs besides making great sushi are also very nice. I prefer this place over Ota since I find it a bit more affordable for equally fresh and quality fish, and it is definitely not as chaotic and crowded as Ota. I generally compare this place to Dokoro Shirahama in terms of quality and authenticity. However, Tadokoro is generally better for a group bigger than 2, and it is *MUCH* nicer to my wallet :) While the fish is definitely the freshest, and I would recommend you to take advantage of that, they also have a few rolls for the less adventurous :D TIP: MAKE A RESERVATION!!

    (5)

  • Juan P.

    Do you ever wonder if some people go into a restaurant and then they post a review of a different one? Not that any applies to those 3 star reviews here.... No way.... This place is legit and as good as they come. I won't dare to go out on a limb, say that it's the best in SD and get crucified here, but it's way up there. I truly believe that if you don't like it, you might as well have your tastebuds checked.

    (5)

  • Dennis B.

    I can't believe that I have never been to this place until today. I thought I knew where all the best sushi places were in San Diego. I have to say this place has to be top 5 in San Diego. The fish tasted very fresh. As with all sushi restaurants that Ive never been to I went with the Omakase and let the chef drive. They had the baby squid which were in season. Started with that, very tasty. Ive had them before at other places but they had there own special sauce on top of it. Their golden eye snapper was ridiculous. I went thru just about every fish they had and was not disappointed. Now it is not cheap that's for sure but if you like your sushi, this place is legit. Next time ill try their Gyoza, a couple sitting beside me said it was great. This place is now on my sushi rotation.

    (5)

  • Rahul H.

    Enjoyed the experience. Sushi was good but didn't live up to all the hype. Lots of varieties of miso soup, which was nice. The highlight of the night was the Chilean sea bass. An instant favorite and I'll happily come back for that dish.

    (4)

  • Gustavo B.

    Have been here twice now. First for lunch and second for dinner. The fish is very, very fresh. The absolute star here is the uni. Not sure where they get it or why it may be different than other spots, but it is buttery, fresh and really good. All else pales in comparison a little bit, but everything else is still plenty good. Very traditional place, so no funky, flashy rolls here and none were expected, at least by me. The service was great at the sushi bar, but service at our table was a little bit less so. To be expected I suppose. One note of warning, the prices are for one piece of nigiri... it can start adding up quickly, especially if you are very hungry.

    (4)

  • Catherine C.

    4.5 stars. I came here with some friends for a little holiday celebration of sorts, and we sat at the bar in front of the owner/chef for an omakase dinner. Chef Tadokoro is a warm and friendly guy, made us feel right at home, and prepared a delicious array of sushi and other assorted goodies for us. Presentation on each piece was delicate and beautiful, and everything was very fresh. Many people have tried to compare this place to Sushi Ota, but I would say that the two are actually pretty different. Sushi Tadokoro is smaller, more personal, and has a different kind of appeal. I've had omakase at Ota as well, and I absolutely love it and it's still my favorite in San Diego flavorwise, but Tadokoro is more tucked away, a little more accessible in terms of availability, and still very delicious, plus their yuzu pepper is fantastic. Chef Tadokoro's warmth and kindness makes the experience so enjoyable... I would gladly come back here to have the privilege of enjoying his sashimi/sushi!

    (4)

  • Mindy N.

    This place is AMAZING!!!!! We sat at the sushi bar, we started with a bottle of sake for all of us and the Chef Omakase Sashimi Set which that day was Fatty tuna, big eye tuna, kampachi, red snapper, scallop and sweet shrimp. Everything from that point we had told our sushi chef to make whatever he wanted. Each time we would try our next serving we all were eye-popping thrilled, everything was so fresh and delicious! Clearly one of our new fav sushi places to go to. Be sure to make a reservation, they are always busy.

    (5)

  • Lena P.

    I'm sure the food at this place would have been good. However, I can only comment on their service, which is zero stars if it was possible to give. I'd ask if ordering to-go was possible and they said yes. So I gave my order and paid for it. HALF AN HOUR LATER, I still didn't receive any food. Meanwhile, people who have entered the restaurant before AND after me were all served and nearly finished their meals. I'd ask about my order after another 20 minutes and 2 waitresses took turns telling me it was coming. When I asked about the order again after seeing multiple people receive their orders, one of the waitresses told me the chef was "starting" on my order "now." That was after another 10 minutes of waiting. I was so upset I had to cancel my order and left. WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I HAVE EVER RECEIVED AT A RESTAURANT! EVER!!

    (1)

  • Seda H.

    I don't always write reviews. The only 2 times I write reviews are when they piss me off and when they wow me :) I guess you know what this review is about. They WOWed me BIG time :) This is one of the best sushi restaurants in San Diego. I personally think this place is even better than Sushi Ota. It kinda feels like you are in Japan. Everything I tried there was very fresh and tasty. Their sea urchin and giant oyster from Seattle are AMAZING. I could just keep on going but you just have to try and find your own favs ;) I've found out about this place 2 weeks ago and been there twice already and will definitely be going back for more yummy sushi. MUST TRY!!!!!!

    (5)

  • W H.

    The nigiri style sushi is wonderful here. They do a really great job with the rice and sweetness. The wait staff is a little off, but that's why I sit at the sushi bar. Although I don't talk much, the sushi chef was very entertaining, and made the wait staff do whatever I needed. I felt taken care of and the food was really good. It also happens to be on my way from the airport, which is really nice. Can't wait to go back when I'm in SD next.

    (5)

  • Shanna U.

    Sushi tadokoro is by far my favorite restaurant! Service is always good and the food is always fresh and yummy! The homemade gyoza and the sashimi omakase are always dishes we have to get. Also the aji sashimi and uni is so fresh it melts in your mouth. Just make sure to make reservations in advance as the restaurant isn't too big and they're always busy.

    (5)

  • Grace H.

    The housemade gyoza are the BEST I've ever had and I've had a lot of potstickers. It has a nice crispy lace that sticks them all together. The filling was juicy and perfectly seasoned and the sauce was so good. The sushi was good and fresh but nothing stood out in particular.

    (5)

  • Monet B.

    Amazing amazing amazing! This is was an experience of a lifetime! I just randomly stumbled across this place and wish I had known about it earlier! It is excellent and the fish is so fresh! It resembles the traditional style Japanese. Where they serve you one nigiri at a time and you just eat it as is. Its pricey but if you want the best then you have to fork over the cash. I'm in love and I can't wait to come back again. The toro tuna is the best! Try it. 6$ for one piece but well worth the price. Bravo

    (5)

  • Kevin B.

    Serving Edo style sushi, this quaint little place in old town is perhaps one of the best in San Diego. Forget the trendy sushi hot spots, or the glitzy facade places dominated by rolls and rolls, when you are ready for the sushi experience, come here. Highly recommend asking for chef Tadokoro himself to prepare a feast fit for a shogun. Tadokoro prides themselves for blending perfect soya sauce. Not too strong and definitely not to salty. Even though I just rave about their sauce, I was surprised to learn that Edo style sushi often does not required soya sauce. With utmost freshness, expert preparation by Chef, and delicate seasoning, the combination of all three brings the essence of the fish out followed by an explosion of taste rarely experienced. Also we fell in love with the miso sea bass here. Every bite melts in our mouth. Delicate fish, marinated sublimely, and cooked to optimum makes this dish a must have for us each time. Pick your sake glass and enjoy sushi like tokyoites, Tadokoro will not disappoint.

    (5)

  • David V.

    My favorite sushi restaurant in San Diego. Traditional, excellent quality!

    (5)

  • Terry M.

    After hearing a lot of hype and reviews about Tadokoro, I had to check it out. While it is an excellent and authentic place to eat sushi, it was not the best place to eat sushi in San Diego as I had heard. It is a solid spot to get excellent sushi, but the fish and sushi rice was not the tastiest and the sushi chef was a little sloppy. As I understand it, there are 3 sushi chefs that work at Tadokoro. One is the owner and there are 2 others. I had one of the 2 others. Maybe the owner is the guy. I like being able to see the fish in the glass case at a lot of sushi bars. They do not have this here. When the sushi chef took the uni out, he took out the big styrafoam tray that the uni comes in when it's delivered. It's a really clean simple aesthetic inside the restaurant but there were several things like the styrafoam tray that kind of ruined the high end simplicity perfection that they seem to be going for. This is an above average sushi spot. I just had to reality check the hype.

    (4)

  • J S.

    Celebrated our anniversary here. Everything was delicious! On the expensive side but worth it! Can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Kelly C.

    sorry world.. can't say i was impressed by Tadokoro. maybe i had expectations too high after experiencing some of the most flavorful sushi from japan and nyc.. this didn't cut it for me. HOWEVER, i did have a lovely experience here and it's definitely a solid choice when you're in the fine city of san diego~ i have yet to try sushi Ota which will be the next stop for my next trip :) so the food was great~ fresh fish, well presented.. but the memory of eating it just didn't stick in my mind.. i enjoyed the salmon (sashimi and sushi)-- can't say no to it! i also remember liking the cured halibut (on the dinner special menu) a lot. my suggestion is to go with the fish selection on the specials menu since those are the chef's recommendation. i also liked the yellowtail? and scallion roll. you can smell the essence of nori as soon as it lands on your table! that's how you know it's authentic ;) dinner was on the pricier side and i feel like i didn't get the bang for my buck.. but please dont let me discourage you from checking this place out! maybe i ordered the wrong stuff-- who knows~

    (3)

  • Ray L.

    Best Sushi in San Diego. Things you must try: Best uni in the world, amazingly delicious and fresh scallops from Hokkaido. They also have excellent Scottish salmon and their wasabi is ground and the best out of all sushi places in SD; their home made soy sauce rocks your socks too. Very reasonably priced for the quality. Their halibut and white tail is very fresh as well, everything is high quality, comparable to being in Osaka. Meal for 2 came out to a little over $90 or about $110 total. We had all nigiri with 2 rolls (salmon avocado was amaze, salmon skin was excellent as well). Did not drink. Green tea cheesecake is nice but it's too small of a piece for $5, would rather have gotten 2 more pieces of salmon nigiri. Chef Soichi is the man, was helpful in explaining how best to each the different types of sushi.

    (5)

  • Jo S.

    It is a very good sign when the owner is your chef. This is so far my favorite sushi place in San Diego, and I am rather picky about my fish. First, this is not the place for crazy roles and cream cheese stuffed things. This is the place to go for amazing, quality fish. Most of the pieces I had in a wonderful omakase were cut directly from whole fish. To get to specifics: The uni I had was undoubtedly the best I have had IN MY LIFE. I had a second piece, which the chef gave me with salt so I could taste a different preparation. This attention to sushi education also extended to my eating companion, who went in saying 'I really only like tuna.' When I mentioned how wonderful the mackerel was, he did something I've never seen before and gave her a small piece to try. The salmon was also extraordinary; not a fish I mention often this was so luscious and so not fishy I'll be sure to get it when I come back again (soon). I am also going to note something else I have never included in a sushi place review- the dessert. The green tea cheesecake was clearly chosen by the owner and was possibly the best cheese cake I've ever had. I am from outside New York and my Jersey city mother, who was with me, and whose favorite food is cheese cake, absolutely loved it. I can't wait to head back and try their selection of clams and I hope to try other things as they get in (for example there was no sweet shrimp tonight), but I will indeed be back in the next few weeks. As an important note, this is also the type of place I would come for lunch myself; it's that friendly (the owner showed me a picture of his adorable dog). The bill wasn't cheap, but prices were very reasonable for what we ate. So reasonable I didn't hesitate to order an extra toro or uni. 3 courses, plus sake, plus extra (expensive) pieces came out just over $100. Seriously try it, or don't so the prices stay reasonable and I can always get a spot at the sushi bar!

    (5)

  • Anushka D.

    WOW! So fresh and so delicious! I went here with some friends for dinner tonight and we stayed until close and the staff were very sweet and hospitable. The ambiance was also very relaxing and the light was sort of dimmed so it was a much more intimate setting then what you normally find at many sushi joints around town. And the food is sooooo fresh! I was really impressed because you could literally taste the freshness of the fish. I will be coming back and i highly recomend it!

    (5)

  • Holly C.

    My favorite sushi restaurant in San Diego!! Nigiri omakase for about $150 for two can't be beat, especially when we got toro and other unique items, like live sweet shrimp. (Not for the squeamish.) The owner/sushi chef explained each piece of sushi, including what to do with it. Better than getting yelled at when you dip your sushi in soy sauce "without permission," which is what I have experienced at other high end edomae restaurants. I love that he used Scottish salmon both times we ate here. The chef was not afraid to branch out and take the best fish available, even if it is not Japanese. They have their own parking lot but it is small so it pays to come here early on tough parking days, like Cinco de Mayo and other big Old Town event days. Happy hour 3-6 everyday! Make a reservation, definitely sit at the bar if you can and get the nigiri omakase (not on the menu). Totally worth it!

    (5)

  • Sam S.

    I don't know how people rated this place so high. I followed the ratings to my disappointment. Stingy on everything (wasabi, ginger, spicy mayo,etc.) when I asked for more, I received micro amounts. Slow service as well and quality is sub par.

    (1)

  • Abe N.

    #NAME?

    (4)

  • Kristen C.

    This spot is a hidden gem, but after coming here, I don't think it can stay hidden much longer. We went home to SF after our visit and couldn't stop talking about it! Service: On point! You can tell he really cares about his craft! His attention to detail when creating his dishes is just incredible!! And what's nice is that you genuinely feel that he values his customers too! We wanted to come here before our flight took off, but we were worried that we might be cutting it close. The owner/head chef made sure to accommodate us and make sure we made our flight on time without making us feel rushed at all! Major bonus points :) Food: The only thing I can say here is that it was some of the freshest fish I've had aside from Japan and Jiro's apprentice's restaurant in NYC (Sushi Nakazawa). But honestly you'll just have to go and try it for yourself! We wen't for the omakase meal and let me tell you, this was the first time I had to turn down sushi. I was so full, I thought I would burst and that NEVER happens with these meals! Overall: I can definitely say I've been spoiled with good sushi, but this by far was the best experience I've ever had. It's not pretentious, there's no hype. It was just good quality fish done right by a very knowledgeable sushi master. TIP: If you're looking for a traditional style sushi spot, this is your place. Don't expect to rush through your meal, and most of all, eat it the way it's served to you. Don't be lame and ask for extra sauce!! It makes me sad when people don't appreciate it the way it's meant to be served. Last, there's a story behind each fish as he'll tell you, so be prepared for a treat!

    (5)

  • Christine D.

    I came to Sushi Tadokoro for the first time with my best friend. He has been wanting to try this place after his failed attempt at trying to dine here without making a reservation. Sushi Tadokoro is a very small restaurant and literally has 9 seats at the sushi bar and 6 tables so definitely make reservations if you want to dine here. We weren't very hungry but just kind of wanted to enjoy each others company over some sake and sashimi so Sushi Tadokoro was the perfect place for that. A great date place! First impression as I walked into the restaurant was that it was very clean and very minimalist. We sat at the bar and I loved the beautiful sake glasses displayed along the back wall. We ordered dry sake and unfortunately I do not remember the name of what we ordered but they have quite the list to choose from. You have the option of also choosing which sake glasses to drink from which was fun and was served to us in a cute little sake chilling decanter (sorry i've never really seen these before for sake so I was excited). Spice things up and let them choose your sake glasses for you and be surprised!! HAHA. We just ordered the sashimi special (see photos posted) and salmon roe. You can also do Omakase and give them a price range of how much you want to spend. It was fun to watch the chefs prepare the sashimi and showing us which local ingredients they were using as well as some other fish that were shipped from Japan and other places around the world. The sashimi here melts in your mouth. The uni......big thumbs up! It was AMAZING! Absolutely delicious and so FRESH. I am not really a fan of salmon roe and kind of was hesitant to try theirs but after the chef was explaining to me about how they carefully prepare their salmon roe and to eat it without dipping it in soy sauce....I TRIED IT and I LOVED IT and now I AM A FAN! YUM! It was just cute how the chefs were really interested in the thoughts and opinions from their customers on their food. Just shows how much they care. We dined here on one of those HOT HOT HOT San Diego days a month ago and let me tell you that it was a little warm inside this restaurant especially when we first sat down to the point where we were sweating and almost wanted to leave. Thankfully we did not and after a few sips and bites of sake and sushi the food here was that delicious that I didn't care if it was hot or freezing inside this restaurant I would have endured anything because I loved my meal that much. I am extreme people! Sushi Tadokoro is probably one of the best Sushi restaurants I've been to in San Diego and I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    Sushi Tadokoro is a hidden gem for sure! I thought about not reviewing it just because I want to be one of the few who know about it. But here we are... The atmosphere is intimate and clean, think Jiro dreams of sushi. As such, the seating is limited so a reservation is recommended. The chefs here are very attentive and they devote their entire concentration to the piece of sushi that they are preparing. They pay very close attention to detail even when they are busy. The quality of the fish is extremely high. you will see them continually prepare whole fish in front of you. When I ordered Aji they took the piece directly from the fish. This takes a little bit of extra time but the fish is extremely fresh. The little details here really stood out for me here, they even grind salt from a large himalayan salt crystal for some of the nigiri.

    (5)

  • Whimseyland C.

    Very high quality sushi and Japanese cusine. There are only 2 parking spots in front of this restaurant and street parking is hard to find. They started opening for lunch on November 1. I would have given 5 stars if they use real grinded Wasabi rather than Wasabi paste.

    (4)

  • Jessica G.

    I am a fan ! I ve been looking for a long time for a sushi restaurant that fits the name and i think i found it . The fish is fresh (for once ^^) and excellent ,. The ambiance could look a bit too dim but it gets bright enough in the inside . The only thing i can negatively say about it is about the parking area . It is kind of hard to find a empty space but really don t stop to that you ll see it s worth it . All in all pretty good place to go with a date , even family .

    (4)

  • Phe M.

    I didn't want to review this place because I wanted to keep it my little secret. Tucked away in a corner of a small strip, a few blocks from the tourists trap of old town. Pretty true & authentic to japanese sushi. I have some japanese relatives brought them here while they were visiting & they really enjoyed it. You can taste how fresh the fish is. Minus one star for lack of service at the tables, sit at the bar for real experience

    (4)

  • Lish H.

    Coming from LA, hands down Sushi Tadokoro is the best I've ever had. Chef/owner Take San, treated us very well. Definitely worth every single penny. Gotta do Omakase and he'll give you orgasms in your mouth! From Tuna, Salmon, Albacore, Baraccuda, Uni, Ama Ebi, everything is just melt in your mouth. With a nice bottle of sake and great company, I just died and went to heaven! Thank you again, Take San!

    (5)

  • J L.

    Amazing place! Great food (super fresh fish/big slices) reasonable prices & excellent service! Our new fav!!

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    The monk fish liver is a must, along with toro and uni. But that's all I enjoyed. It was definitely pricey and good. But I could have gone somewhere else to be pricey and delicious. Service is nice though.

    (3)

  • piotr d.

    We might have a new king of sushi in San Diego! I'm gonna go revisit Sushi Ota this week just so I can get a fairer comparison while they are fresh on my mind, but I think Tadokoro might be better. I wasn't even hungry when I went here last night and it blew me away. Hands down, best eel I ever had. EVER! And it's not even close. It is at least twice as good as the best eel I ever had elsewhere. They make their own eel sauce there. I also think they have the best uni. My girl hated sea urchin until she had this one. The chef we had splits time between here and Japan and said that Japanese tourists come in and always say that the uni here is better than back home. The toro was the best I ever had too! The salmon was great, but I think Ota has better salmon. Also had the hamachi maka which was fantastic. Love the vibe of this place too. Super small and intimate. If you know your sushi, this place will be at the top of your list.

    (5)

  • Tim R.

    We got the Chef's sashimi special. There did not seem to be anything special about it from a flavor point of view and the portion quantities were very underwhelming given the $48 price for it. The sweet shrimp was served to us alive with head and antenna moving.

    (2)

  • Will P.

    I come here often and have never had a bad meal. Truly excellent nigiri and sashimi. Friendly staff. Much calmer (better) atmosphere than sushi ota.

    (5)

  • Susana C.

    Came here on a Tuesday night with a friend. We were promptly seated even though we didn't make reservations. We started off with the garlic edamame and maguro tuna. The garlic in the edamame wasn't overpowering, you could taste the hint of sesame and ginger. For the cut rolls, we shared the Dragon roll and the spicy tuna (of course). Both were very delicious but the highlight of the night was the Uni (sea urchin). If you haven't tried it, this would be the place. It just melts in your mouth. I will be back specifically for the Uni. This is a quiet, intimate place to take a date and enjoy delicious sushi. Every dish brought out to other tables looked like a masterpiece! I dropped a star because the parking lot is rather small so you have to park on the street. I had to park on a very steep hill, something to remember if you are wearing heels.

    (4)

  • Steven G.

    This is probably some of the best sushi I have had in a long time. Left it up to the chef and got some amaebi that was so fresh it was still kicking. Paid much less than I expected and felt very good about it.

    (5)

  • Cindy T.

    Double dated with a friend of mine who is a local and a sushi head. He made reservations here and so glad he did because this place is small. We all ordered omakase and everything was so fresh and amazing. The chef gave us some extra pieces after, which was a pleasant surprise. I'm still dreaming about that uni.

    (5)

  • Janelle J.

    So, I have two top notch sushi joints in San Diego. And when I say top notch. I mean this is one of the best in town. The only other place comparable is Sushi Ota. And I am saying this as someone who judges a sushi place by their sashimi and quality of fish. Forget all the frills and thrills of Americanized sushi. This is it. Authentic sushi. If you're scared away by a higher price, than clearly you aren't looking for the real sushi experience. Their fish is fresh, and their prices are good for the quality. I would know this, as I buy sashimi grade fish on my own sometimes. That being said, a friend of mine (Japanese) is friends with the owner. I know they get their fish from the best supplier in town. Tucked away in Old Town, it's actually a nicer location than its competition. It's easy to book a reservation here and have a table ready for you. Parking is super easy/ I can't say enough about this place other than to go try it yourself!

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    I am a sushi aficionado and if you know SD sushi this is all I have to tell you-- I chose takidoro over sushi ota tonight. I have never uttered those words. But it's easier to get into and their fish quality is just as good, and sometimes better. Small and intimate. No frills, basic rolls. Amazing nigiri. If you like Ota, or like great sushi, you need to try this place.

    (5)

  • Megan S.

    This is my favorite sushi place in San Diego! The fish is the freshest and a lot of it comes from Japan! The service isn't over the top amazing but it makes you feel even more like you are in Japan and not in San Diego ;) You HAVE to try the sweet shrimp heads, they are the best thing on this planet. If you can sit at the sushi bar that is what I recommend, the sushi chefs are super friendly and interactive. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Edgar S.

    Best Omakase ever! We have 6 of us. All world travelers with sensitive tongues. This is definitely the best sashimi and sushi place in San Diego. Better than those commonly referred ones, and "famous" ones. Our Omakase is the best we ever had, including the last one we had at the same place. Maybe because our last one was $68, and this one is $88. Just $20 more we got at least 100% better and enjoyable fresh fishes. We love that they offer best sashimi first, with nothing pretending, sidetrack, deep fried, or land meat. They also use seasonings just right, definitely no overwhelming sauce or MSG. It is ended with a large variety plate of tasty sushi, and Japanese style gelato. In San Diego, we are spoiled by the best sea urchin in the world. Yet the scallop and toro are surprisingly fresh, tender and tasty. It was the best scallop we've ever had. Monkfish liver is unique and delicious. Grilled sea bass is unique and tasty. Half of the fishes are not common yellowtail or salmon. I cannot tell names. But, they are all great, including Uni, Sawara, Tuna and Mackerel sashimi. What an unforgettable eating experience!

    (5)

  • Peter S.

    Wow what a hidden gem. This is wonder quality sushi. The quality match that of such famous places as Katsuya Restaurant (Brentwood- Beverly Hills Adjacent) The ambiance is non assuming and quaint. Just like any good restaurant, the focus is the food. If you like a crazy variety of cut rolls, this probably isn't your place. If you want high quality Sashimi and fresh fish, this is your place. They do have rolls, just not they kind that would have odd mixtures. Please do yourself a favor and choose Sushi Tadokoro You can thank me later, when you leave your five star review.

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    Ooh baby I like it raw. Ooh baby I like it raaaaaaw. Looking for a quality cut of raw fish? This is the joint. About authentic as it comes this place is Japanese through and through. The decor and atmosphere are amazing and beautiful. Couples of all ages abound to get premium cuts here. But hey go on and break some norms bring a bro here, treat him out to some delicious fish and dim lighting; defy conventions. There's a plethora of good drinks to choose from and ooh baby the fish. My $.02? Skip the rolls and go straight for the sushi baby. Got some excellent real top notch Tuna and Salmon going on. Sushi buffs, I think you'll agree that they have a great melty quality to them while also having tremendous flavor. This place is a little hidden away, a diamond in a sea of mediocrity, like Lebron on the Cavs or Kobe on those mid 2000s Lakers. Everyone is trying to give you "sushi" but who does it like this? Be warned Tadokoro will hurt your wallet but heal your heart. Dropped a good bill on me and my date but as I had that delicious magoro I felt myself forgive Elliot Cruz for ratting on me during recess in the third grade.

    (5)

  • S S.

    This is one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to. We sat at the sushi bar, and ordered Omakase. The owner was our sushi chef, and asked us what we liked/did not like. We told him we liked everything, and asked him to just go ahead and serve us what was best. I can't remember each item in the huge array of fish that he served us, but we started out with an assortment of sashimi, and moved on to pieces of nigiri. Some of the fish was from Japan, others local or from Hawaii. Every single piece was fresh and amazing. I can usually take or leave uni, but this uni was the best I have ever had. Baby barracuda, golden snapper and two kinds of mackerel were also stand-outs. A few hot dishes, including fried whole shrimp and a miso marinated sea bass were delicious. I had no idea what the bill would be after this feast, but I was pleasantly surprised when it came in at about $190 for two, with two beers each, after tax. For the quality and amount we were served, I expected to pay significantly more. The owner was gracious and chatted with us throughout the meal. If you are not satisfied unless your sushi comes in huge slabs, don't come here. The fish is cut small the way it should be. If you like the fancy rolls with the special sauce-- you can get them here, but it's not what this place is all about. If you have sauce obscuring the flavor of your fish, you will not appreciate the perfection of the fish they serve here. If you are a lover of traditional sushi, though, this is the place to come. I wish that I did not live across the country or I would be a regular here.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth H.

    This is a secret diamond shining in Old Town! I can't say enough good things about Sushi Tadokoro. Fabulous Quality, impeccable service, completely authentic. Serene, calm, classy, satisfying. High quality Sashimi and fresh cuts of fish are the focus here - this isn't a "build your American Sushi roll" place, don't go expecting a roll with cream cheese deep fried with spicy sauce... This is for people with a developed sashimi palette and a knowledge of high quality fish. Go relax, have a beer, and enjoy refreshing sushi with classy service.

    (5)

  • Chase M.

    Amazingly fresh, clean, and small. Gives a very intimate experience not many high quality places in San Diego can offer. Their rolls are very basic, but they will make whatever you want if you ask. It's more about the sashimi and nigiri.

    (5)

  • Dena R.

    Seriously the best sushi I've ever had. We had sashimi and spicy tuna. It was so good we are going there again tomorrow for lunch. Cute, small place walking distance to Old Town. Kid friendly. Delicious!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Jeremy C.

    This is the best sushi I've ever had. It is better than sushi ota and I love sushi ota. Get the omakase, sit back and prepare to be wowed!!! The dishes where he uses salmon or sea urchin are stunning. I also love when he does some nigiri with just wasabi and shaved salt, no soy sauce at all!

    (5)

  • Tammy L.

    Looking for a replacement for Sushi Ota, because that restaurant is getting over-hyped. Also I had recently gone to New York and am trying to find sushi equivalent to that. This place is in a small square, next to a liquor shop in Old Town. Don't let the location scare you away! We made a reservation on a weekday just in case. I would recommend making a reservation, because the tables did fill up soon after we left. Most of the patrons inside were speaking Japanese, which I take as a good sign that I'm in an authentic restaurant. We ordered a few appetizers, such as gyoza and chicken karage. I liked the way they presented the gyoza, with the crispy bits of starch that comes out of the gyoza while it cooks. It almost looked like a crepe. The chicken was good as well. We ordered several different sushi, which was all very fresh. The uni was good, however not as good compared to the restaurant in NY. I would recommend coming here again.

    (5)

  • T S.

    I rarely give 5 stars but I must say that the sushi and service here is outstanding! Went with a co-worker after work and he had been here before and wanted to go back so today was the day. The quality of the fish was pretty spot on considering I have eaten sushi in Japan and Hawaii. The rice was like a garnish because it simply spotlighted the fish. I asked the sushi chef about the rice and he complimented me on my knowledge of sushi rice because he said the rice is a smaller grain from Japan quality rice. It was very airy which made the fish the center piece as it should be. We were afraid to see our bill because we were ordering like crazy and the sushi was priced for one not the normal two. Although the Ama Ebi was expensive at $7 per piece it was worth it! The shrimp was still alive as he was prepping it! After eating just about 2/3 of the sushi menu we ordered some shrimp tempura and tuna Kama which was very tasty. Well let me tell you, the bill was surprisingly low!! It was less than $120 for the both of us! We gave a 30% tip based on the service and the quality of the sushi! This is definitely a place that I will go back to and as a result it gets the TSong vote of approval!!

    (5)

  • Erin M.

    Amazeballs. From the service to the food. We lucked out on a Friday just walking in and were able to get a seat. The couple next to us had to make reservations 2 days in advance. Definitely worth stopping by. My new couple friends next to us recommend chewing the shrimp heads thoroughly as she has one stuck.

    (5)

  • Maria G.

    My favorite sushi place in San Diego! Delicious sushi,nigiri,sashimi,fresh fish that melts in your mouth! Chefs are great, informing about each piece they prepare, treating each order as artwork! Great service and good happy hour from 5-6:30 with $3 draft beers and $5 large sake!!

    (5)

  • Cody S.

    Screw this place! No parking! Wasn't open for about an entire week AFTER new years for some reason and didn't mention it to customers online at all. Instead they just left a note on the door so that you would have to drive over there just to find out.

    (1)

  • Eddie T.

    Got Valentine's Day reservations for this place as a last-minute backup plan. This place should have just been my first choice. ALL of it ROCKED - the service, the ambience, the food - ALL of it!! Recommend the Chef's Special Sashimi - loved that they brought out live animals that later became my miso soup seasoning. Can't get any fresher than that. The sea urchin and yellowtail were so popular we didn't get a chance to taste those because they ran out, but I'm not mad at them - it's a testament to how great this place is. Loved the San Diego roll, but hopefully next time I'm in town from San Francisco I will get to taste it with Yellowtail. This place was amazing! Definitely a San Diego gem.

    (5)

  • Hui Z.

    The best Sushi in San Diego! Definitely try their Uni Nigiri. Purely the best!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    Great for traditional sushi! Sat at the bar, basically told the chef to do his own Omakase of nigiri. Took me through Japanese barracuda, hamachi, aji, red snapper, and yummy local uni!! Everything is on par for a traditional Japanese sushi house.

    (4)

  • Skyler J.

    Haven't been to this place yet, but love the photos and it looks delicious and my kinda meal. Gonna take a road trip to this awesome place and hit the ocean breeze and get my party on...

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    Wavered on giving a 4 or 5. Def a 4.5. I don't think the quality is as great as a Sushi Ota or Hane Sushi but it's better than anything else that I've had in San Diego (Azuki Sushi, Dokoro Shirahama). The price is pretty decent for the quality. I think I ended up paying something like $5/piece, which is reasonable for this type of restaurant. I called ahead earlier that weekend for reservations and it was fine. Before going, I read some reviews about sub-par service but found the service to be fine. My favorite piece was the Salmon (they serve belly =) )

    (5)

  • Aileen W.

    We went during happy hour and ordered a sampling of their appetizers and some of their beer specials. Happy hour specials included: Sapporo, gyoza, spicy tuna roll. The appetizers were good but standard. What really amazed us was the uni sashimi: 4 of the most beautifully plump, large, and delicious uni we've ever had were served with beautiful plating. I consider it a bargain at $18, since we've paid for lesser quality elsewhere and these days, uni runs about $6-8 each. These were huge, fat and deliciously buttery, reminiscent of ocean breeze. I also had the omakase nigiri, highlights of which included the ika, aji, hamachi, and ikura. The toro was a bit of a let down. I also loved the way they garnished each nigiri as appropriate depending on the fish and the way the flavors of the garnish and the fish itself melded so wonderfully. I have yet to try Ota, but as a seasoned sushi consumer and connoisseur, I do think that Sushi Tadokoro offers top notch fish at very reasonable prices. My 10 piece nigiri omakase included uni and cost 33.50 before tax and tip! For fish of this quality, it's definitely reasonable. We plan to visit Tadokoro many more times upon subsequent trips out to SD.

    (5)

  • Jisun Y.

    I am a Sushi Ota fan, but I must say this place has great sushi. It is extremely fresh and delicious! Their Yellowtail was perfect and never smelly. Once in a while Sushi Ota had not so stellar Yellowtail. The staff and sushi chefs were very friendly and attentive. I ordered sushi instead of sashimi not thinking and left all the rice because I was on a cleanse. The sushi chef came over and asked me if something was not right with the rice. I was so embarrassed! I apologized profusely, but he made it clear he was just wondering if it was okay. I hope I did not offend him. He was kind and was happy to explain to me that if I only wanted the fish then I should have ordered the sashimi. I love how the establishment is small and quaint. Lovely intimate atmosphere. I will definitely try the Chef's special next time. Will be back again and again I am sure!

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    Hands down,one of the best sushi places in San Diego.I love a place that is owner operated.Everything I ordered was awesome,great presentation,super fresh,can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Diane L.

    First night attempting to dine here, my friend and I were turned away because all the tables were reserved to max capacity, which... is about 20 people. Oh but Tadokoro you know I like it when you play hard to gettt. So not one to play shy when it comes to foodie exclusiveness, the same friend and I ventured out again the following night to see what all this exclusiveness was about. Can I just say I'll be exclusive with you Tadokoro? We can even put a label on us and everything. I don't care if we're moving fast. Sashimi? Melt in yo mouth butta goodness. Friend and I split a platter with a variety of different fish. I don't even know what it was because we asked the chef to prepare something for us. Sashimi was a work of art! They even deep fry the fish skeleton for you after you're done with eating the fresh parts. We had a half oyster a piece also which was beyond delicious. All with cold sake on the side to blend all the flavors together in perfecto harmonundo. MUAH. love it. Love the simplistic, low key, but elegant ambience to the place. Can we get Nujabes playing in the background cause then i'd just die. Love the quality and fresh flavors. Will be back for you soon Tadokoro. Until then.

    (5)

  • Sonny A.

    This is my first 5 star. This place is simply amazing. Had the rainbow roll and the teriyaki box lunch. Head down. Great happy prices.

    (5)

  • Sang P.

    More variety of sashimi and faster service than Kaito, my other favorite sushi restaurant. A bit on the pricey side, but it's worth it if you want to enjoy true authenticity. Good atmosphere (pretty small restaurant). not too loud. location is also very random, but it wasn't too hard to find. The omakase experience is similar to that of Kaito. Better than Ota, but on par with Kaito in Encinitas.

    (5)

  • Vanessa F.

    BEST SASHIMI & UNI. EVERRRRRRR. Pricey but worth every penny. Make sure you make a reservation because it looks like they only seat about 30 ppl.

    (5)

  • Stuart G.

    Pros: - Fresh fish picked out daily - Rice is fantastic, perfectly cooked and seasoned - Very authentic, Japanese style sushi - Interior design very well done - Seating arrangement's are perfect - Quiet dining area, extremely clean - Extremely polite staff - Takes reservations - Delicious - Good variety of sake Cons: - The location could be slightly better - I don't have enough money to go every week :( Advisory statement: This is more of a traditional sushi restaurant with traditional style rolls, nigiri and sashimi. You won't see the sushi here covered in sauces like you will with "American style sushi" aside from the rolls being inside-out rolls. If you don't like traditional sushi, I would suggest going elsewhere. I've been to 18 other sushi restaurants in the San Diego area and this one has been, by far, the best. The food is so unbelievably fresh and very authentic to how it is served in Japan. My girlfriend and I go there mostly for the nigiri as well as the sashimi, but their rolls are also delicious. Even their spicy tuna roll is leaps and bounds ahead of the vast majority of sushi restaurants I've been to, which shows the dedication they put into their meals in comparison. For the rolls, all of them are delicious though I would highly suggest to get the rainbow roll while you're there. If you don't know what to try first or where to start, I would highly suggest making a reservation at the bar and asking the chef to make you a course. He'll tell you what each type of fish is, the best way to eat it (with soy sauce or without) and slowly bring it to heavier flavored fish, starting somewhere like halibut to toro. You'll also get the best experience at the bar and may even be served by the restaurant owner himself, who is very. They do have a happy hour as well, and the spicy yellowtail and spicy tune rolls are discounted as well as the edamame and a few choice Japanese beers. Side Note: The seating is limited, so I suggest making reservations. If you want the best experience, I also suggest making reservations at the bar. This has turned into our go to Sushi restaurant because of how delicious their food is on top of their fantastic service. The only complaint I have is that I can't afford to eat here whenever I please.

    (5)

  • Alice W.

    The sushi is easily on par with high end Edomae sushi you would expect to have in Tokyo. However, what really makes Sushi Tadokoro special to me is the amazing service I get from the chefs when having omakase at the sushi bar. Take and Soichi are charming, hilarious and kind enough to oblige my boyfriend when he speaks to them in Japanese. Masa and Nao were rockstars behind the counter, but are back in Japan now. But if you just care about the food, here's what you can expect: golden eye snapper, cured halibut, scallop, Uni, magaro and so much more delicious nigiri. Take's hand roll with uni, negitoro, and ikura is legendary. You must try it. What are you waiting for? Go make a reservation for the sushi bar now!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Ken W.

    I can't say enough good things about this small sushi and sashimi place. It has the unassuming but careful minimal design of restaurants in Japan. World-class fish (including the best uni we've had) and expert preparation. Beautiful clam miso soup. A favorite --and we've been to a lot of places in the US and Japan.

    (5)

  • Jaeko I.

    The best sushi is the freshness of seafood. Sushi Tadokoro tastes wonderful! It was the first time visiting. Sea urchin egg sushi was the most delicious that I have ever eaten. And steamed Monkfish liver was rich taste such as the foie gras. That is a favorite of my daughter. Sushi Tadokoro is famous for having delicious raw fish. Caught along the coast from SD and seasonal fresh fishes arrives by air from Japan. The atmosphere in a quiet space was relaxing. It seemed to be like in Japan at all. I would recommend you make a reservation and go. Please spend your time!

    (4)

  • GT W.

    Came here for a special occasion night and did chef's sampler sashimi, large nigiri order, veggie tempura, miso soup. Everything was very good, though some flavors were not as good as Sushi Ota. We loved the specialty menu with things available like gizzard shad, barracuda, welk. Uni was outstanding, Otoro was great. Hamachi and Akami seemed a bit watery for me. Split jumbo scallop nigiri was awesome. They even had raw octopus, which I had never had. Amaebi all had the option for fried heads, which is fun. Ambiance is dim, quiet, only about 10 tables or less. We paid around $180 for three people, so definitely pricier. Though they have less expensive things on the menu so you don't have to splurge to have a great meal here. Sake menu was fairly extensive and you can do a chilled caraf for $25, which seemed to fit the bill nicely. Server was prompt and friendly. Overall, enjoyed our time here.

    (4)

  • Chen L.

    3 days continuesly, nice place for sushi! big turtle love it! fresh uni and toro! best sweet shrimp ever!

    (5)

  • Jacq L.

    I came here with a bunch of friends for a birthday dinner. Most of us got omakase in the $80 range. We got the mixed cook food and sushi. We had the following... - oysters on the half shell -- yummy! - assorted sashimi [aji, toro, hamachi, yellowjack (baby hamachi), ame ebi, sake, maguro] -- soo fresh and a nice variety. the yellowjack and toro were my fav. - fried shrimp -- nice crunch and saltiness - sea bass - super tender and melts in your mouth - saba -- pretty standard - nigiri [ tuna, scottish salmon belly, octopus, snapper?] - octopus was surprisingly good. salmon belly was sooo good. - ikura -- delicious - miso ame ebi head -- this was not my fav. i should have picked to have my head fried or grilled, but the waitress recommended in miso. you could barely taste the shrimp. - green tea ice cream with azuki beans and mochi -- yumm. reminds me of japan. We also added some ankimo which was nice and creamy. This was one of the BEST sushi meals i've ever had. However, I was disappointed that I had to ask so often for hot tea and the recommendation of the miso soup with the shrimp head was a big fail. no one at our table enjoyed that. it just tasted like regular miso soup.. sorry 1 star for that. otherwise, i'm sure i will be back for the deliciousness.

    (4)

  • Jon N.

    Probably best sushi joint in town. As authentic as there is. The non sushi menu is great also. Monkfish liver is great. Actually has omakase menu too. Good happy hour prices as bonus

    (5)

  • Elena M.

    I visited early Saturday evening for dinner without a reservation. I'd recommend a reservation because they seem to not know how to deal with walk ins. We arrived at 5:50 and were told that we needed to leave the table by 7 for a reservation which created some unnecessary anxiety among some in my group. We had a few courses of sushi and rolls. The quality of our first two orders was good but things seemed to go a bit downhill as we ordered more. One person in my party ordered the sweet shrimp which included the fried head afterwards and was disappointed that it was quite undercooked. Overall, this place is probably a 3.5 so I rounded up. Also, it is much more of a $$$ than $$ place.

    (4)

  • Kozue M.

    Food: good and authentic, wish nigiri had a little bigger piece of sashimi though.. Service: excellent Decor: modern Japanese I definitely come back here for an intimate occasion. (Not good for a big group)

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    Small sushi place near old town. Make reservations, its a small place and gets crowded. Tadokoro is just as good as Sushi Ota... It really is one of the best Sushi restaurants in San Diego. Fresh and great quality Sashimi- melts in your mouth. Small quantity though, they did cut the slices thinner than I prefer Sweet shrimp- mmmmm Come and you won't be disappointed!! You need reservations but it's easier to get reservations here than Ota and is a great alternative

    (5)

  • Jeff L.

    Amazing sashimi! It doesn't get any better than this. Give it a shot and you won't be disappointed. Don't let the exterior fool you.

    (5)

  • Eric H.

    This place is still amazing and it is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. The sushi chefs here are truly amazingly experienced and if you like ultra authentic and fresh sushi this is the place to beat. I highly suggest that you give the chefs here some latitude to choose what is special and amazing that night and you go with the Omakase. You won't be disapointed.

    (5)

  • Beer Lover K.

    I don't usually go to old town area. However me and my boy friend make plan to go to this restaurant and harney sushi. I had been harney sushi long time ago. So I expected a lot of things about first visiting to Sushi tadokoro. When we got there, it was very slow. There were just 2tables. Server were nice but not friendly. Menu is pricy but most downtown and PB area's sushi is so expensive...so I understand sushi tadokoro is one of those group. And restaurant was too dim to see menu. I'm not grandmother, it was barely see my bf's face ;) I ordered giant clam,tuna,salmon,halibut nigiri. Nothing special or very fresh compare on other places. Gyoza was home made, my bf loved those, but not me. I like crispy thin skin of gyoza. Grilled sea bad was overcook. It was $12 by 4oz. It was small portion and Not in a entree. Only small piece of sea bass was $12. Me and bf didn't order enough like usual, but Bill was $70 with tips. We left this restaurant and moved to Harney sushi after here. More fun and lighter at harney.

    (2)

  • Sally M.

    My husband and I have been to Sushi Tadokoro twice in 4 weeks...it is that good! The first time we dined here, it was for my birthday so my husband and I splurged and got the Omakase (with the live sweet shrimp), aji (Spanish mackerel), grilled sea bass, seafood miso soup, gyoza, and black sesame seed ice cream. The second time we brought my in-laws here and we had seaweed salad, gyzoa, aji, grilled sea bass, various pieces of nigiri, and green tea ice cream and a dessert with green tea ice cream, mochi, and red bean. Gyoza: house made (as is the ponzu sauce that comes with it) and comes out attached in one dish (see my photo). I've never had it this way before and the crispy part of the batter is as good as the gyoza itself. Only $3 during happy hour (5-6:30) for 5 pieces. Seafood miso soup: My husband really enjoyed this, but if you don't like taking the shells of seafood, then you may not like this Seaweed salad: very fresh Aji: Comes with the mackerel on the plate and slices of lemon. The aji is very good and after you're done with the fish, they take the mackerel and fry it. It is then brought back with some salt...break off pieces of the fried fish and dip it in the salt...takes like chips! Grilled sea bass: This is like butter. Very smooth and rich, which I love! I couldn't get enough of the sea bass. Omakase: Ours had sea urchin, sweet live shrimp, fatty tuna, tuna, and one other fish that I forgot what it was. It was all really good though! The shrimp are still moving while they are on the plate, so be warned if that freaks you out. After you're done, you have a couple options as to how you'd like the shrimp heads (fried, in miso soup, and one other option I forgot what it was though). Nigiri: All of the fish we had was really, really good. The fish was fresh and we all really enjoyed the salmon and ordered more of it! My father-in-law ordered one of each type of nigiri off the menu and he enjoyed all of the fish. Desserts: I'd never had black sesame ice cream before and I liked it. The green tea ice cream doesn't have too strong of a green tea flavor. I don't usually like red bean, so that dessert wasn't my favorite. The mochi didn't have much taste to it either. Drinks: They have drink specials during happy hour as well. My husband and father-in-law enjoyed 2 bottles of cold unfiltered sake and I had a glass of Riesling (only $3 during happy hour). Everything was really fresh and tasty both times. Service was pretty good as well. The restaurant is very small (about 6 tables and bar seating for maybe 8-10 people) with 2 servers working during the busiest times (only 1 when the restaurant first opens). I did have to ask for water a couple of times, but the servers were very friendly. There are at least 2 sushi chefs working as well, one of which is I think the owner. He came by our table the other day to see how everything was...we told him that we had a wonderful meal. Things to note: -This is a very traditional Japanese restaurant; so what if things are misspelled on their menu! -Make a reservation! It is a very small restaurant, so make sure to make a reservation. You can call the same day and likely get the time you'd like. -Parking lot is small, but there is plenty of parking available on the adjacent street. I haven't tried any rolls here, I would recommend going straight for the fish. It is so fresh and so good!

    (5)

  • Alton K.

    Fresh! Delicious! Authentic! My friend brought me there knowing that we are both big sushi lovers. We reserved two seats at the sushi bar. We did not order from the menu, instead we asked the chefs to decide what we should get. The chefs gave us the freshest things they have, from orange clams to bluefin tuna belly, the live sweet shrimp was in season and they were sooooo fresh their eyes literally rolled in front of us when we were having its meat. The chef also introduced us to baby sparking squid, which had a very fresh taste and unique texture. I expected a piece of rubber (like most sushi places) but this place actually prep it so well it actually surprised me! We each had about twenty pieces of nigiri sushi. The chefs skillfully arranged the courses so it started with the white (more plain-tasting) fish and ended with the rich-flavored fish like eel and sea urchin. The nigiri sushi were served one piece at a time so you may think that the serving is small and you wont be full by the end of the meal. This is totally wrong as we were both full when we left the restaurant. Price is very decent considering that this is an authentic Japanese sushi bar with Japanese sushi chefs! (not to be a racist but Japanese sushi chefs probably can make better sushi?) I would definitely come back!

    (5)

  • Vu T.

    Before I start my review, I think you need to know what kind of sushi eater I am. I'm the type that orders 90% from the fresh daily menus. So the live uni, ama ebi, toro, mirugai, etc. if that's you too, then this review applies to you. If you're looking for 30 different rolls with 4 kinds of fish, special sauce, and fried crispy stuff on the outside, then don't come here. They have rolls, but the emphasis is on the fresh fish and rice. It's like the difference between Fuddrucker's and Rocky's for burgers. Here goes: This place is one of San Diego's best for fresh fish. This is straight up quality fish, best served nigiri style. I had the raw octopus, toro, uni, mirugai (giant clam), kampachi, golden eye, aji, and mentaiko last night. All we're very fresh, very tasty. The place is beautiful, it's small though (like most great Japanese restaurants are) so definitely make reservations. The staff is really great and very attentive. We (wife, baby, and I) came at 9pm (they close at 10) and we were in and out in 42 mins. Definitely go. Wed nights are the best because it's not crowded and you don't have to wait.

    (5)

  • Marzena K.

    Fantastic. I JUST got back from Tadokoro. Let me tell ya people. The freshest sushi I've ever had in San Diego and I've tried many. The way they prepare the food is outstanding as well. You just can't take your eyes off their hands as they flow/dance in a rhythm. Just amazing. The place is small, unassuming and tucked away in a plaza, easy to drive by it. Great for date nights. Truly highly recommend it and those who know my reviews, know that I don't hold back from speaking the truth.

    (5)

  • Luke B.

    I've been to Sushi Tadokoro at least five times in the past months. I'll comment on the food and service shortly. The room is small and neighborhoody and quaint. You'll feel comfortable dressed up or casual. Food - Traditional Japanese in style, the food is fantastic. The fish is supremely fresh and the dishes are executed to exacting standards. The presentation is beautiful. Fans of traditional sushi and Japanese dishes will love the food. Service - Tom Colicchio has said you go to a restaurant for the food and you return for the service. This is absolutely true for Sushi Tadokoro. You will go back for the food for sure, but the gracious, personable service will bring you back. In short, don't debate or delay - go. You will be thrilled you did.

    (5)

  • PJ J.

    Either my hands got bigger, or this place serves miniature nigiri on purpose -but charges double. I usually stew for a while before I write these. 2.5 round up for these guys....this spot is on the fringe of touristy. They got my ass though. I think the angle here is to charge you for feigned authenticity, I mean some hard core "authenticity", but this stuff was like play sushi for my fat ass. Service is friendly, but not all that great. This is a glorified "mayo roll house", in that those specialty rolls look better crafted than their nigiri. To sum it up this place is like a sushi "fighter simulator".... You can train in simulated sushi situations before you see the real action at Ota, Shirahama, and Phil's BBQ.

    (3)

  • Jane H.

    I enjoyed my visit to this quaint Japanese restaurant. The fish was quite fresh, especially the salmon. The presentation was nice, and the ambiance of the restaurant is romantic. The tea was weak, but the house sake was not bad. Get reservations! Came here on a Tuesday night and the place was PACKED! Despite being a full house, service was great!

    (4)

  • Angelica B.

    Super amazing sushi and worth every penny of your hard earned $$. The space is small. Reservations are really really suggested especially for a spot at the bar which is highly recommended for a true sushi experience.

    (5)

  • Gwan Pein E.

    Went here again for the full-on omakase and it was one of the best I had so far. My friend and I each spend around $100 on dinner, and I had two happy hour beer and I came out a happy man. Everything is fresh, tasty, and best of all... very comfortable.

    (5)

  • Suzen T.

    This place has an authentic ambiance, love it. We sat at the sushi bar. Chef explain every delicacy. Everything here is high grade, even the sake. Restrooms are clean. Had a pleasant experience. Definitely coming back. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Jonathan W.

    Disclaimer: Asian man goes to a lot of Sushi restaurants and eat sushi, NOT rolls. I go to a lot of sushi places especially when I travel. Was in La Jolla and tried to look for a good place to go. Unfortunately, most of the ones in La Jolla are not traditional sushi restaurants. Instead, they have tons of rolls. So I expanded my search to San Diego and found this place. I went at night and it was actually a bit hard to find. The reason is because it is tucked in a small strip mall. If you see the Deli, you are at the right place. There are plenty of street parking. I went around 8:30pm and the place was not crowded. It was also relatively small (about 10 tables). The waitress seated me promptly and I ordered some sushi. The service was a tiny bit slow for my standard, however, the sushi was indeed very good. Fish was fresh and the rice was perfect texture and taste. Great combination. The Uni had a hint of sweetness and the grilled sea bass just melted in my mouth. The price was a bit on the high end, but I enjoyed my meal a lot. Ambiance was romantic and relaxing. I will definitely come back again!

    (5)

  • Ming T.

    This hidden gem was recommended to me by a few friends and I just so happen to have a craving for really good quality sushi. Their list of fish is quite impressive so I decided to go with the omakase sashimi set as well as order a few pieces of nigiri. The sashimi set came with Bluefin Tuna, sweet shrimp, Kanpachi, Uni, and Toro. The fish was incredibly fresh and everything seemed to just melt in your mouth! I also ordered the Golden Eye Snapper... twice, Ankimo (Monk Liver), Kohada (Gizzard Shad), and Kamasu (Barracuda). Soichi the chef was super friendly and engaging with us. He took great pride in his preparation of the fish and the presentation was spectacular! I would highly suggest trying some of the less common fish.

    (5)

  • Gerald R.

    Melt in your mouth delicious varieties of fish is what you'll find here at Tadokoro. I thought their food was great, but their customer service just BOMBS! They take too long to take your order and aren't as attentive as I'm used to in other restaurants. I really take customer service seriously, so this wasn't the best experience for me - I'll probably look for other options whenever I am in a mood for sushi again.

    (3)

  • Derek K.

    Great Sushi! Great Price! Great Staff! Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a sushi joint close to MCRD! Less than one mile walking distance! My buddy stopped the waitress when we got our bill to remind her that she didn't charge him for the hot tea... Turns out it's free!!!! Get in and out for less than $13 for a roll, Sapporo beer, and Miso soup!

    (5)

  • Damon T.

    - You know the word sushi has a literal translation that does not refer to raw fish - Escolar/"Super White Tuna" scares you a bit (and so do places that serve it) - It makes you sad that there is a thing called a Philadelphia Roll - You gasp and clutch yo

    (5)

  • Ngo L.

    My wife and I always make it a tradition to eat here when landing at the San Diego Airport (since its only 8 miles away). This is definitely my favorite sushi joint in San Diego. I would say Sushi Ota is my other favorite. However, dealing with the long wait times and getting to sit at the actual sushi bar has always been a challenge at Ota. Not to mention, Ota's prices are much higher and from my experience both seem to have the same quality in fish. One thing I love about Tadokoro is the authentic environment. In fact, all the chefs and waitresses are actually Japanese. The environment is on the small side with a dark and relaxed setting but it is really something to appreciate if you're not looking for a super busy/loud environment. Ordering the omakase for 2 has always satisfied us and letting the chef pick what's best has never let us down (you could also just tell them what you don't like and they'll avoid it). The omakase meal normally comes with selections such as toro, yellow tail, tuna, monk fish, barracuda, uni, sardines, etc. but served in a really special way. For me, even tuna has always been a bit on the bland side but not here. It surprisingly melts in your mouth :) For dessert, the green tea cheescake is awesome! I highly recommend this place to anyone who really loves authentic sushi!!!

    (5)

  • Jess H.

    If you want the freshest sashimi with the fish filleted right in front of your eyes come to this hidden gem. Step through the doors into what I can only call an amazing experience. I came here on my last day in San Diego and it was worth it. You have to order the omakase (basically a chef's tasting), complete with seasonal fish, house-cured roe, and mollusks. If you don't order the omakase you are missing out, but you should definitely be sure to get some of the Japanese mackerel and the uni. The uni melts like butter in your mouth with a clean finish and just leaves you wanting to have another. This place has limited seating so if you don't have a reservation you might find yourself being turned away on a busy night. I would also suggest requesting a seat at the sushi bar to watch Chef Masa and his knife skills!

    (5)

  • Kristine N.

    Yummy Yum YUM YYYY-UMMMMM!!!!!!!! Eating here made me feel like I was in Jiro Dreams of Sushi!!!!!!! My boyfriend and I came in on a Saturday night around 7:45pm and waited about 45 minutes before we got seated. This was totally fine because we got to explore different shops throughout the historical Old Town! The restaurant ambience was very private, dimly lit, and quiet! If you sit at the sushi bar like my boyfriend and I did, you get 100% attention and excellent customer service from your very own sushi chef! I forgot our chef's name (he had long hair) but he was super attentive, friendly, informative, and FUNNY! Anyway, on to the food. We pretty much ordered EVERYTHING on the menu. For our appetizers, we decided to be adventurous and ordered Monkfish Liver and house made fishcakes and WOW were they AMAZING!!! The liver tastes similar to foie gras but with a ponzu/soysauce/im not really sure dressing. Fishcakes were FRESH FRESH FRESH!!! Next, we ordered 10 different items on their special menu. From yellowtail, mackerel, tuna, salmon roe, salmon to uni, kawahagi, octopus, and i forgot the last one my bad, never have I ever had such amazing and fresh nigiri in my life! The chefs are very generous with the amount of fish that they give you on top of the rice. The prices are similar to Sushi Ota but I feel like you get quantitatively more for what you're paying. Oh and we ordered a large house sake for ONLY $8!!!!!!! You should definitely try this place out if you're ever craving high quality sashimi/nigiri in San Diego! You won't be disappointed :]

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    My parents wanted to take me out for an early birthday dinner last night so we gave Sushi Tadokoro a try. The interior is very small and like Sushi Ota, Tadokoro is oddly situated next to a janky looking liquor store. The ambiance was perfect, dimly lit, open sushi bar, just wonderful and reminiscent of authentic Japenese sushi joints from what I know. The sashimi here is INCREDIBLE! I had the assorted 10 piece and the fish was fresh, masterfully sliced, and impeccably presented. Absolutely melted in my mouth and was worth every bit of the $22 price tag. The sushi rolls here however were not as satisfying. The boyfriend ordered the soft shell roll and my dad got a spicy scallop roll. Again, the quality of the actual protein was superb but the roll itself was no where near as delictable as the sashimi. My recommendation is to go with the sashimi. Next time, i'm jonesing to get the Chef's special omakase.

    (5)

  • Jacob K.

    This place would not serve us because they said they did not have enough rice. They said this after they initially said there would be a 45 minute wait. We were very excited to try because of their excellent reviews. Earlier we called to confirm if we could order and they said no problem. We are very unimpressed and disappointed. Don't count on them for a nice evening.

    (1)

  • Ric T.

    The restaurant is styled after classy Japanese sushi bars in simplistic and beautiful style. Take-san's sushi preparation shows refined skill and care. The fish used is excellent quality. Their Chicken and Geso karaage have a crispy crust, yet the meat is soft, perfectly seasoned and delicious. While dining, soft jazz plays in the background. The food and atmosphere combines to offer a sublime experience for the senses. Reservations are required because this Sushi spot is top class with limited seating. Professional service. Some may say Todokoro is high-priced, I say it is well worth the money!

    (3)

  • Mohammad N.

    The only thing I wanted the second I sat down and saw the "specials" menu was the green tea cheesecake. I wanted it for my entrée and dessert, but I put on my big boy pants and decided that the sushi probably wasn't going to be half bad here either. I'm not a huge tuna guy, in fact, I never get tuna. And if for some reason I am coerced into getting tuna, it typically has to be slathered in some sort of sauce. However, tonight was different. I tried the Surfside Roll, which was surprisingly simple, fresh and tasty, I also ordered the crunch roll and shrimp templa, but the crunch roll was the clear winner of the night. I'm not here to come off as some huge fancy sushi connoisseur who knows the extensive history behind the art of the roll. But what I can appreciate is effort and dedication to one's craft and that came across very clear at this restaurant. The sushi appeared very well prepared and I enjoyed every bite, The pride of the pack aka the green tea cheesecake was an extremely pleasant and refreshingly way to end the evening, Make reservations or be prepared to be turned away or wait. The prices seem to be fair value for what this restaurant offers. I do wish their service was a little bit more attentive tonight, especially with such few seats you would think that it would be easier to keep a track of the needs their customers; but overall I was happy with the experience and will be back.

    (5)

  • Mitchell F.

    Great, great place. Love everything I've tried there. The amaebi sashimi was incredible. Their different miso soups are all delicious. Last time I was there, they had amazing sardine fry. It's a real treat and the prices reflect that, so I don't get there as often as I wish.

    (5)

  • Chris G.

    Outstanding! The saba is the very best. So is everything else, right down to the gari. I will return!

    (5)

  • Chern L.

    I feel guilty... like I cheated... cheated on my favorite sushi restaurant. But oh, Sushi Ota, you will always be my number one... I guess I can still see Sushi Tadokoro on the side. I found this place on Yelp when trying to find a new sushi joint in San Diego. Two of my friends had reviewed this place and mentioned it to be comparable or better (gasp) than Sushi Ota. I'm glad I trusted their judgment. The menu is more focused towards a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant, just like Ota. You won't find many fancy, fusiony rolls here. We tried a semi-normal array of assorted sashimi and nigiri pieces: salmon, yellowtail, tuna, eel, scallop, and spanish mackerel. Everything was extremely fresh and tasty. The sweet taste of the home-made wasabi between the fish and rice was delectable. I would pass on this interesting desert item that consists of red beans and mochi balls. Interestingly, they serve the nigiri by individual piece. With this in mind, I might actually come here alone... Dear Yelp friends, you were right. This place does compare to Sushi Ota!

    (5)

  • Troy S.

    My new favorite sushi place in all of Southern California. Small but classy, with very good service and genuine Japanese hospitality. And of course the sushi is FANTASTIC! It's the freshest I've tasted outside of my few visits to Japan. Beautifully presented on lovely crockery, this is the real deal. The rice used in the fresh rolls was perfect. I also had their homemade gyoza dumplings, which were amazingly delicious. We went for the sesame ice cream for dessert and are so glad we did, it was a tart yet perfect finish to a truly delicious meal. Parking can be tough in this tiny corner shopping center, so be prepared to look for street parking and walk a block or two. They recommend reservations, and we just happened to get in without one on a Monday at 5:30, but by the time we left at 6:45 the place was full and the hostess was only seating those with reservations. A true gem in San Diego!

    (5)

  • Hollie A.

    I feel like people don't get sushi. Sushi is supposed to be clean, fresh, small in portion, and mostly untreated. Its the earnest characteristics of the ingredients that are supposed to shine, the texture and flavor layering that make it amazing. Sushi is not meant to be smothered in sauces and mayo and soy sauce. You are not supposed to eat it until you can't move. Yes, there are some good rolls and such that come like that but its the equivalent to sushi "drive-thru" food. You can't get angry at a nice sushi restaurant for charging higher prices and giving smaller portions. They are performing a delicate art putting your food together balancing fresh, expensive ingredients in a way that maximizes the experience. This will take longer. If you truly love sushi it will be worth it. Go watch "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" if you think the creations in that movie look delicious, then you might actually like real sushi. If it doesn't look good to you or like its your thing that's fine. To each their own. However, don't say you love sushi then knock a wonderful restaurant when you don't like it in its classic purest form. All of that said, Sushi Tadokoro is incredible! It is the closest thing to Jiro's you're going to get in San Diego. The staff is friendly, well trained, knowledgeable, and caring. Love love love this place. Love this place so much my guy and I made a rule we will go at least once a month! The Nigiri is incredible and fresh, even the non-sushi appetizers are incredible-- garlic edamame, mixed tempura all delicious! If you like liquor they also serve and sell by the bottle a sesame seed vodka which is amazingly smooth. If you order live sweet shrimp they will offer to cook the remaining portion of the shrimp into your miso soup, you have to do this because it is incredible and completely transforms the miso soup. Additionally, they brew their own soy sauce which is to die for. I love this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    Well after years of selfishly Yelping without giving back, a recent eat at Tadokoro has finally overcome extreme procrastination. It was an experience and adventure that included some of the best sushi I've ever had. After perusing the other reviews, I decided I better come early as I had no reservation...first customer at the 5pm opening and I took a seat at the bar. Tried to sit in the middle, but was told those were reserved...ok it's their place, but no one filled those seats for the next hour and a half while I was there. HH runs from 5 - 6:30, so I took advantage of the draft beer (they have Kirin, Asahi, and Sapporo on tap). Normally low budget, this day I chose to splurge and go with the Sushi omakase. FANTASTIC choices. It was done (like it should) once piece at a time with a good explanation and diplomatic suggestions on with or w/o soy sauce for dipping. One standout was the monk fish liver that is prepared in-house (not frozen) - was a virgin on that one and loved it - texture and richness of foie gras with a slight fish note...betting the next place where I sample it will fail by comparison. The oysters on the half-shell (from Oregon) were knockout fresh and gargantuan. Live sweet shrimp was sublime and I chose (by chef rec.) a tempura fry for the head and shell...nice. It continued on and on with the nigiri and all were superb. He tended to go from the mild flavors in the beginning to stronger at the end with a couple of mix-ups. I lost count in all, but would have to guess around 20 pieces. No fault of Tadokoro (and it seems they have some of the freshest), but I still can't warm up to Uni. I'll try anything 3 times to be sure, but I think it's a texture thing. Again, no reflection on Tadokoro...it was flying out on every other plate. Only slight annoyance was that the scallops that had started to freeze just a bit (fridge was too cold in one spot I'm guessing - definitely not frozen scallops) throwing off the chew, but awesome sweet meat. About price: Yes, the price is steep, but like others have said, you get wait you pay for at this level No one would blink at the prices in NYC and Vegas, and I can guarantee Tadokoro beats out 98% of those establishments. From the skill and knowledge I witnessed at the bar, the prices are right on. So if half stars were allowed, I would go 4.5, only taking off for location and the fact that they forgot my garlic edamame.

    (4)

  • Erica K.

    Sushi Tadokoro is a fantastic restaurant! The quality of their menu was absolutely superb, and the black sesame ice cream was the best I've ever had (maybe it was also the first black sesame ice cream I've ever had but who cares!). We sat at the sushi bar on a Thursday night to celebrate my birthday. This allowed us to enjoy Tadokoro's wares with our eyes as well as our tummies. The Sushi chef's were very pleasant to talk to, extremely knowledgeable on their profession, and they had a killer sense of humor!

    (5)

  • Melanie P.

    Sushi is so fresh and delicious. Love this place. Never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Janine D.

    I was on my way to Sushi Ota but couldn't get a spot so this place was recommended by my brother-in-law. It was definitely very good, not as good as Ota but good alternative. I had the tuna and salmon sushi. Good service.

    (4)

  • Jean L.

    1. Tuna sashimi 2. Salmon nigiri 3. Halibut nigiri 4. Spicy Yellowtail Roll 5. Fried Crab Roll Sushi chef came by with the last dish. Delicious quality fish in an unpretentious location. Sigh. Commence fluttery heart palpitations.

    (5)

  • Lil L.

    Tiny little hole in the wall place in the most unexpected location ever. However, they set themselves apart from the rest of the so-called sushi restaurants because they definitely strive for quality fish. 1. gyoza: this was on the HH menu (which ends at 630pm) im glad we tried it because it seems like the gyozas are made in house. 2. flavored edamame : also on the HH menu. nothing unique about this 3. spicy tuna roll: was impressed with the texture of the tuna. extremely fresh and the fish seems beaten, giving the soft smooth texture. 4. scallop handroll: just the right amount of mayo sauce on the scallops. you can still taste the freshness of the scallop. 5. giant clam nigiri: fresh but i wasnt a fan. this was the first time ive had giant clam 6. tako nigiri: one of my all time faves everywhere i go. i loved how it was prepared. some places ive gone to , the tako was still drenched of its fishy wetness. pretty gross. they handle and prepare all their fish very well. 7. live shrimp nigiri: also one of my faves that night. the shrimp was very sweet. the head, we had it friend and ate it like a shrimp chip :) Will be coming back soon. I would say its on par with "Sushi Ota and Sushi Kappa Shino. I put these on my top 3 list in SD Word of advice - make reservations. I called in a few hours before we arrived to ensure seating would be available. Can't always assume theres a table waiting for you every time you walk in.

    (5)

  • Denise D.

    By far the freshest sashimi I've had in SD. Love everything about the place. Sat at the bar and did the omakase menu. It's a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend making reservations, the place is small, and it can be up to an hour or two wait if you just walk in. Best things I put in my mouth: Giant clam (I usually don't like clam but this one was creamy and delicious) Spanish mackerel (I don't like this either, but man was it good here, not fishy at all) Yellowtail (best I've ever eaten) Sweet shrimp Another thing to note is how fresh (still alive) a bunch of their items are, both the giant clam and sweet shrimp were still moving when they were served to us. Yum to the O.

    (5)

  • Adam C.

    I think I just had a magical sushi experience. I don't tend to go out to sushi much in San Diego, since the line at Ota is too much for me (and too expensive), but now that this moved in relatively close to me...I think it's gonna cost me. We just told the chef how much we wanted to spend and he made us a bunch of nigiri. There were two absolute standouts: a squid + basil(?) and the uni. SO DELICIOUS. Everything else was great, too. The rice had good flavor, though it would have been nice if it had a bit more of it.

    (5)

  • Danny S.

    Best class Sushi in the States! I like the fact that they welcome families with kids as some of the good Sushi places are not always family friendly. Parking may be the only challenge. Make sure to make reservations. It is a nice clean but small Sushi Restaurant.

    (5)

  • Steve E.

    My wife and I were in San Diego for a weekend getaway, and found this gem by searching for good sushi restaurants on yelp. We eat sushi regularly, and both feel that Tadokoro is the BEST sushi we've ever had. Where do I begin? It's an unassuming place, only a few tables, and seems like a reservation is a good idea. We were sat at the bar, where we got to watch the three chefs work their magic. They are funny, amazing to watch, and will throw back a sake with you if you share yours (their sake selection is outstanding, btw). We ordered an 8 piece plate, which included local shrimp and urchin (both were mind blowing). The shrimp were alive, and the chef prepared them in front of us. If local shrimp are available, then definitely order them. Period. Thank me later. We also ordered a "rainbow maki", which is a hand rolled california roll with various sushi on top. Also amazing. At this point, we just let the chef serve us various fish that he felt were very good for the day. We didn't have a single thing that wasn't fantastic. I can't seem to get this place out of my mind, and will have to plan another trip to San Diego just to return to Tadokoro.

    (5)

  • Zaneta L.

    I came here with my brother and a few of his friends for my brother's birthday and we sat at the sushi bar. The sushi and service is AMAZING!! We started with a few hot sakes, beers, edamame, dumplings and Omakase sushi. The chef asked us what we did and did not like and he tailored our meal to each of us. He would prepare each sushi and then place it on our plate one at a time with an explanation on how to eat it. After our initial order we started ordering what we wanted more of or something else we wanted but didn't try yet. I don't remember all the sushi I had but the most memorable is the Uni with pink salt and the monkfish liver. I would definitely come here again.

    (5)

  • Claire D.

    Good quality but very limited variety. Our group had a non-sushi eater and there were only a couple of menu choices for her. The rest of us tried some rolls and nigiri. The rolls were good but they only had the usual rolls plus a couple of their own creations. The prices were on the steep side for the quality, given that you could eat at ota for the same price and get better quality fish. The fact that the nigiri is charged by individual pieces is nice, but if you think about it, they are charging more for a set than a lot of places which give you better quality and portions for less. The mushroom side that came with the chicken teriyaki was different and delicious. All in all, the place is nice and the service was friendly and the quality was solid. There are, however, too many great competitors in the area that offer good to great quality for less. For the price, in my opinion, they aren't very competitive and I would rather go to someplace that has more variety.

    (4)

  • Gigi G.

    I don't know how other places stand higher in the ratings with less stars than tadokoro. I eat sushi a lot. This is hands down the best. The quality is amazing. The service so great. The sushi chef was so personable without being pretentious. We had an awesome dinner. We live in OC but we will come back for sure.

    (5)

  • Gina C.

    Fresh and fantastic....love the staff. Incredibly friendly and they describe every dish beautifully. An absolute gem and the only sushi I'll eat now in San Diego! Yummy!

    (5)

  • Malicia T.

    Really enjoyed our meal and the company the staff provided us. Went here because the yelp reviews were so good and well it's a true reflection of this cute little place. The fish is the freshest I've had!! We tried a variety of items. The unagi was delish! Highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • John C.

    Glad Yelp helped the wife and I discovered this wonderful gem in San Diego. First a bit of background.....For years our family has avoided eating at sushiyas because we simply feel quality sushi is far too expensive in the US for what you can get after visiting Japan regularly for the last couple years. I know Ota and Hane gets high marks in San Diego as well as other big players like Sushi Gen in the LA area and I agree, the quality is fairly good....but the pricing is far far too expensive as the quality of these places are below above average mall sushiyas in Japan which cost less than $20 USD for a full nigiri lunch or less than $40 a person for dinner. You'd be paying at least twice that much to have that quality here with the aforementioned big namers. Wife and I decided on our date night to give Tadokoro a chance....and we were very glad we did. Sushi chefs and waitresses were very friendly since we came in and sat down. Place is very small and cozy. Extremely clean and simple decor. First thing wife and I did was take a quick glance @ the menu and saw the prices.....my expectations at that point took another dive as I figured they couldn't deliver anything of interest for the price......I am very glad to be proven wrong soon enough. Everything we had that night (in order of impressiveness).....Otoro (haven't seen a nice marbled belly piece since Japan actually), uni, mirugai, sanma, amai ebi (a bit small but very fresh and still a botan ebi), zuke maguro, spicy scallop roll were all extremely good.....especially when you factor in the price. Wife and I struck up a conversation with the chefs and discovered they have excellent pull with the local seafood market/providers especially for the local uni (which surprised us since they had a huge tray with nice sized pieces laid out)....most likely due to Tadokoro san's history/connection/experience with Tsukiji market back in Japan. Extremely impressed with the level of sushi for the price. Dessert we had the green tea cheesecake and it wasn't anything special, but nothing wrong either....the other dessert I believe was shiratama with anko (red bean paste) and that's something my wife makes regularly so we didn't want to try. Overall, highly recommended and I'll be sending all my friends this way for decent sushi, will be my go to spot for sushi in San Diego now for sure. Bravo to Tadokoro-san and his team for the wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • Edwin L.

    I had heard about this place for some time and while I am a loyal Kaito fan, we had to try it out. The location is a little odd, considering it is near the heart of Old Town, where Mexican fare is the norm. Don't let the outside fool you, once you walk in you get a little of Japanese serenity. The green colors and simplicity work well and the lighting give the whole place a nice calm feel. We basically ordered Omakase and let the chef pick his favorites. I love the japanese draft beers, which go well with the food. Our chef was a rock star and offered some insane creations. Offer him a drink if you are happy. A awesome variety of Sake which they serve in some beautiful glassware. This is in line with Kaito, and above any of the other sushi joints in San Diego. It is expensive, so if your looking for a california roll this is not the place for you. We will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Ben T.

    Like another reviewer said, after watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi, I've been inspired to find a Japanese restaurant (and of course, the chefs behind it) that take sushi as serious as Jiro. I saw this place on Yelp, and I will honestly say that I almost gave up because it's a) hidden off the beaten path, and b) when I walked in at 6pm on Thursday, it looked empty. I was on vacation. I threw caution to the wind and walked in. Immediately I was greeted by the waitress and was offered a table inside a restaurant that completely belies it's exteriors. The decor was very modern, and bossa nova was playing. Based on Yelp reviews, I ordered a couple of things off the special menu, and took a gamble at asking what the waitress recommended. I had the Spanish mackerel sashimi. Not only was this thing the freshest fish I've ever had, the presentation was rather unorthodox. It was the head and backbone curled up with a skewer through it, while six delicious pieces of fish were arranged on a "raft" on the plate. Later, after I was finished with the sashimi pieces, the head and backbone was returned to me deep fried, re-served with a wedge of lemon and instructions to eat all of it. I ate all of it, bones, head, fins, everything. IT WAS THAT GOOD. What's really unique is that one of the overarching themes of the food is freshness and utilizing all parts of the seafood. I've never had a fish head served in that way. To summarize: This place feels like it belongs in a four-star hotel. Fortunately, it's not.

    (5)

  • Bryan F.

    Sure you could fly to Japan for some authentic sushi, or you could go to Tadokora instead. I've had my fair share of sushi in SD and I must say this place stands out a cut above the rest. Just like the best Mexican food places you find, Tadokora is just one small room with a few tables and a great sushi bar to watch the chefs create your dinner. The chefs even drink(a lot!) with you while preparing your food. I had the grilled sea bass, incredible, and a spicy tuna roll, really fresh and actually spicy! It's above average in pricing, but what you're getting is so much better quality than, let's say, sushi deli. A must try, go now.

    (5)

  • Veronica W.

    Authentic gem! My husband & I are picky sushi eaters like most of San Diego and loved it here. The menu is simple, but each piece is well executed and delicious!

    (5)

  • Sophia G.

    I never thought I'd hear "how would you like your head?" in a fine restaurant. That being said, Tadokoro delivered. And my friend, celebrating her birthday, told me how damned tasty that live shrimp head was- grilled to her preference and delivered personally by one of the restaurant's sushi chefs. Amazing meal- we ordered their sashimi special (delicious), 6 pieces of nigiri (tasty), as well as two rolls (salmon + avocado and their Surfside roll). Their raw fish is absolutely delicious, though I have to admit that their rolls leave something to be desired. I could barely taste the garlic and pepper in the Surfside roll, and in retrospect I probably should have ordered more sushi instead. The ambiance of this place is great- it's a bit dark and minimally decorated, as a Japanese restaurant should be. The location- directly off the freeway but a bit off the Old Town strip, and a good distance away from the hip "Harney's Sushi"- is ideal. We made a reservation for two on Monday, but there were a few empty tables when we arrived, the rest being full of Japanese diners (that's when you know a place is good). Much better than the wait at Sushi Oto or Harney's, plus there's plenty of street parking. One of the best parts of our experience had to be the spelling mistakes throughout the menu- just look at the "DESART" section and you'll see what I mean. That being said, make sure you get yourself some desart! The black sesame ice cream was some of the most delicious ice cream I've ever had. We came, we laughed, we cried, and we had some great head. I'd highly recommend this place and consider it one of the top sushi restaurants in San Diego- right up there with Sushi Ota. If it wasn't out of my budget I'd have to venture back a few times to see which is better...

    (5)

  • Seung L.

    Very tasty sushi. The fish was fresh and really tasty. The albacore was super buttery smooth. Service was also very good. 1 star taken off because it was pretty pricey and the atmosphere was a little packed in and the parking is pretty bad. The location is also in a strip mall next to a liquor store. But the food is 5 stars all the way for the sushi.

    (4)

  • Natalie W.

    I ate at this restaurant and I love their food a lot, I usually do not write reviews but after seeing some reviews of this restaurant I think it is little unfair to the restaurant and I want to express my experience in the restaurant after eating there in January. I ate there in January and I still cant find any other places have the same quality of sushi as they do. The fishes are shipping from Japan and the quality of the sushi is terrific. I don't think all customer understand the traditional japan culture of serving sushi. Chefs special is something that the chef will surprise their customer by picking what they think is the best for the day ( could be a fish just shipped from Japan fresh or some seasonal fish that is only available at that certain time). Sometimes the items are not on the menu are the best dishes which have very limited in quantity. I agree that the chef would have better tools and information to better educate their customer about the fish they are eating. I understand not all customer understand what is real traditional sushi are and how they suppose to be served. Nowadays there are many fusion dishes and the name of the dishes got modified to a point that Japanese will not understand what we are trying to order. I traveled to Japan and went to their fish market, tried their sushi in Japan. I think the quality of sushi Sushi Tadokoro is Terrific.

    (5)

  • Brooke M.

    Hidden gem! I too thought twice about writing a review for this place, but the only thing I hate more than waiting is seeing a good place fail because it didn't get enough business. So, here's my thoughts... Came in with my sister and sat at the bar on a quiet Wednesday night. Almost didn't make it through the door because it looks so unassuming in the back corner of its little mini-mall, but SO glad we did! The interior is modern and subdued with jazz music playing in the background. Clientele was 30-40s, at least half speaking and looking Japanese. Overall ambiance is much more sophisticated than what you'll find in 90% of the sushi places in San Diego - it's obvious they are focused on the fish here. Fresh specials are on a whiteboard behind the chefs who greeted us and were very nice and conversational without being overly chatty. We ordered mostly off the board, but added a couple favorites off the simple menu. Everything was so fresh I expected it to jump off the plate and slap me. If you're looking for a roll with avocado and mayo or drowned in sauce, this is not for you. If you want a truly authentic experience from taste buds to toes, you have found one of two places in San Diego (the other is Kaito in Encinitas) that I would dare to bring my raised-in-Japan step-father.

    (5)

  • John B.

    I'm going to start by saying that I seriously did not want to write this review. This place is too good and I want to keep it for myself. Seriously. Alas, here I am. I had a truly amazing experience at this tiny little sushi bar in a small strip mall next to a liquor store in Old Town, and I never saw it coming. The quality of the fish, the purity of the technique and the attention to detail in the presentation is impeccable. I've done Harney, Sushi Ota, Hane, Nobu and Ebisu many times and they are all very good. With the exception of Ota, they can all provide very interesting and crazy rolls with every type of Avoocado, crunchies and mayo sauce you can think of. But that doesn't compare to what I had at Tadokoro. I had the Omokase (Chefs Choice) and it was incredible. I had everything from Hamache, to Scallops, to Salmon , to Uni (Local) and two different kinds of Toro (Tuna Belly) and they were amazing. The quality was better than anything I have anywhere and the sushi chef was an artist. This place is better than anything in San Diego. If you are looking for a truly traditional Japanese sushi experience with insane quality go to this restaurant. NOW. It wasn't cheap, my Omokase was $90, but I'd go back again tomorrow if I didn't already have dinner plans. It's that good. Support this sushi bar, you'll be happy you did.

    (5)

  • Tess S.

    We love it here. Pure, fresh and delicious. A hidden gem near our Mission Hills community. Thank you! I would never go to Harney Sushi near me. I'd rather travel! If you want the best, stick with Tadokoro, Taka, Sushi Ota, Hane or Azuki!

    (5)

  • Joel K.

    Reserved sushi bar for Sat night. When I arrived they were ready for me. Even got a parking space in the little parking lot in front. My wife and I did omakase and put ourselves in the chef's hands. He served us a bunch of cool stuff from oysters to grilled sea bass to sashimi and sushi served many different ways. Most of his sushi is ready to eat (no soy). He used Hawaiian sea salt on a few pieces, shaving a giant pink cube in front of us. The very attentive wait staff kept the dirty plates going and my beer glass full. The price for what we got was very good. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Tiffany R.

    Since watching the documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" a few months ago, my boyfriend had been desperately craving really high quality sashimi. Our four year anniversary was coming up and I wanted to satiate his craving, so I started looking up places that do omakase - chef's choice sashimi sets that often feature the freshest catch of the day. I work in the nonprofit sector so I can't quite afford to spend the equivalent of half of my rent on places like Sushi Ota; thanks to Yelp, I found Sushi Tadokoro and decided to surprise my boyfriend here for dinner. This anniversary, we both fell in love - with our sushi chef. We sat at the sushi bar and Take, pronounced like "sake," he says, prepared an unforgettable meal for us. Hake recommended the raw oysters, and it was love at first bite. We savored every moment of the freshly caught oysters, sliced and prepared with a lightly tangy ponzu sauce and pops of roe that elevated the texture and flavor. The Chef's Sashimi omakase special was $40 and had salmon, yellowtail collar, fatty tuna, ahi tuna, and sea urchin, all cleaned perfectly and prepared divinely. Take felt the tuna was on the smaller side, so he threw in an extra piece of uni! We were completely transfixed by how much we loved everything. I think for most of the night we were closing our eyes and uttering "mmm" and "oh my gosh, so good" between each taste. We also ordered miso soup and a spicy scallop roll which were made with the same level of quality and care as the sushi. Hake was really great at telling us about each piece of fish as he presented them. He's also such a humble guy! It wasn't until the end of the meal that he let us know that he was the owner of the restaurant -- Take Tadokoro. Please check out Sushi Tadokoro if you're looking for a lower-budget option for high-quality sushi. The restaurant itself is very nice. Once you enter, you forget that you're in a random little shopping center next to a liquor store. The decor is very clean and has a simple elegance, certainly fit for a special occasion. Oh, and I almost forgot! Take and the staff gave us a complimentary dessert for our anniversary, with black bean ice cream and a cute little candle. Oh, Take Tadokoro, you're such a charmer!

    (5)

  • J S.

    Sushi Tadokoro is one of my two favorite sushi restaurants in San Diego. I highly recommend coming in for Happy Hour (reduced price Sapporo)...and staying beyond. The homemade gyoza are really good. From there you cannot go wrong with the ikura (house seasoned salmon roe). The omakase has been spot on for two trips in a row, and from that I move on to a full order of uni. Seeing that this is close to the trolley I would move it in as my favorite sushi restaurant. Close proximity to the trolley + happy hour + great sushi = my favorite San Diego sushi restaurant.

    (4)

  • De D.

    Terrific sushi! They were extraordinarily accommodating. Best mackerel we had ever had. He even fried up the skeleton for us, and it was wonderful and thoughtful. Not a roll person, but these were really excellent. The salmon skin roll with bonito flakes, and the yellowtail and Asparagus roll, a very subtle hint of sesame. Sashimi well prepared. Best uni ever. Service was great. The owner was there creating the sushi, and made the experience much more personal and inviting.

    (5)

  • Mary K.

    A wonderful addition to SDs sushi restaurants. Quality of fish equals Ota with a really nice sushi chef/owner, Take, who makes you feel welcome like a friend. Omakase there is fantastic. Fish is highest quality and the freshest. just ask the chef what to order. There are some rolls which are tasty but the real focus is sashimi and sushi. The reasons why we mostly go here now instead of Ota is you can get reservations for the sushi bar on weekends with less than a week notice and the ambience. It's a small, very relaxed place with low lighting and jazz softly playing in the background. So it's great for a date when you want to hear yourself and have a fantastic meal. It's on the south non-busy end of Old Town and if you can't get a spot in the small lot, street parking is easy. They have daily happy hour which is another wonderful perk. Our new go-to place. Try it!

    (5)

  • Tomonari I.

    Authentic sushi! I'm from tokyo, trust me.

    (5)

  • Jerrett D.

    I lived in Mainland Japan for 2 years. I have long searched for something semi close to the environment and quality of the "authentic" Japanese sushi dining experience. THIS IS IT! All the chefs actually speak Japanese and are a blast to hang out with and just talk. The environment is amazing. The food is incredible. Everything about this place is perfect. I very much enjoy the size (20-30 people) of the restaurant as well! My girlfriend is Japanese and lived in Tokyo for awhile, she agrees with me on every point i've made. It may seem pricey but the quality is well worth it and as long as you avoid the more expensive dishes (Tuna Belly Fat and Sea Urchin) your bill won't be too high! STOP READING THIS REVIEW AND GO HERE NOW! I recommend making a reservation just in case.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Sushi Tadokoro

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