AKA San Diego

What a BUMMER! We made our reservation over 2 weeks in advance. When we arrived we were told there was only bar seating available with a small table and stools, dining room was not available (even though we had a reservation). We ordered drinks and were told they were out of the wine so I picked something else …which was fine…but they brought me something completely different which was not good. We ordered the yellow tail and scallop appetizer. The yellowtail was 5 very small pieces ($23) but flavor was pretty good. The scallop appetizer ($22) was essentially a single scallop sliced thin with a few scallions sprinkled on top. No taste. Server mentioned that this was not usually how it was served but the kitchen was really busy with some larger parties. Bummer when you pay $ 26 for an app! We ordered the lamb chops - 3 small ones ($24) which were plain and did not have the sauce as stated on menu. Dan Dan noodles ($28) were ok. Second round of drinks …they brought the wrong wine (again) and brought my husband’s gin and tonic ($17) in a plastic cup …not sure why…we were sitting inside . There was a significant wait time for all drinks and food. Overall the experience was very disappointing. I am not a negative person and have a hard time leaving negative reviews for any restaurant / bar/ hotel or company (see my Google review history) but we are also so disappointed with the food, drinks, and service of this expensive restaurant that we wanted to share our experience with others who are choosing where to celebrate their special occasion, or date night. I highly recommend considering alternative options as we have had much better food and experiences in many other restaurants in SD.

Walked right in on a Sunday night without any wait. Kelsey was very attentive and made great menu suggestions. We loved all of our food, especially the toro truffle roll and the crab fried rice.

Had an unbelievable experience here for dinner for my birthday. Our server Martin really made the night special making sure that we had enough time to order and that everything was organized and set up the way we needed to overall the experience was amazing and I would come back in a heartbeat. Thank you Martin!!!

Martina was our server on a Sunday night. The place was pretty much empty. He did an amazing job! Very attentive he knew a lot about the menu and he gave great Options.

Good experience here. Walked in with a medium sized group to eat and watch the boxing match. They were able to accommodate us and we enjoyed the food, all delicious and we ordered plenty of different items. Cocktails were also tasty. Beware that if you’re looking for a quiet spot, this is the opposite. DJ and dancing ongoing all night.

Atmosphere had a very cool vibe and well designed. Went late on a weekday and it wasn't too busy but I'm sure the place is popular on the weekends. Food was amazing in both taste and presentation. They may have a live DJ here on busy nights as there was a DJ station in the center of the restaurant.

We came from Virginia for an event we came across AKA and glad we did . The food was amazing the atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming .the service from cru was great and couldn’t expect anything better honestly . It was a pleasure dining here we will definitely return

We booked this restaurant to try out their restaurant week menu and so glad I made this choice because it is very delicious with beautiful fun atmosphere. The interior design reminds me of Tao in NYC, with a big Buddha sitting in the middle of the restaurant. The restaurant week menu is 54 for dinner for 3 courses meal. We had scallion yellowtail and lamb lollipops for appetizers, two filet mignon for entrees, Japanese cheesecake and Creme brûlée for desserts. Everything is very delicious! Especially the filet mignon, probably the best I’ve ever had in San Diego! Super tender and perfectly medium rare. The lamb lollipops are perfectly cooked with very flavorful seasoning and sides to taste along. The yellowtail is sashimi with nice seasoning, good to start a meal. The desserts also pass my expectations, the cheesecake is little thicker than regular Japanese style cheesecake, which is awesome, because I don’t typically like the spongy style cheesecake. The Ube flavor is strong, so yummy. The Creme Brûlée is different than the French version which is more like an egg custard, I like it, very eggy and creamy. Plus, the service is very nice, the waiter lets my husband had a taste of the wine before he orders it. After he makes sure he liked it, he had 3 glasses, very good wine. He also offered an extra lamb lollipop for my baby, plus a bowl of rice. My baby had a great time as well. The atmosphere of the restaurant is amazing, great for date, birthday, anniversary and parties. I’ll definitely recommend this place.

Kelsey was the best waitress ever!!! Food and drinks were amazing as well as the service! Coming back, mostly for Kelsey to be my waitress!

Service started a little slow but once Cru got here the experience was elevated. He had top notch food and drink recommendation. All 4 of us were very pleased with him, the food, the overall experience. We will be back thanks to Cru and the kitchen. Cheers and happy 2026!

Cru was great! Thanks for the service! We enjoyed our service and our server was great. Thank you!

So we were visiting San Diego for Halloween weekend, and for our last night, we decided to go to the Gaslamp and grab a bite to eat. I chose AKA because it was open late. Honestly, this restaurant, which transforms into a nice lounge later on in the night, exceeded my expectations. We were seated immediately in this nice booth-type chair, which was very comfortable. The ambiance was really nice, and we were near the bar, where we could watch the World Series. Gaslamp was busy that night; honestly, I didn't realize it was still the day after Halloween. Anyways, we were seated right away and were given the menu immediately. These were the items we ordered: Lychee Drink (5/5): Not the actual name, but the drink was extremely well-made. A-5 Pandan (5/5): Another amazing whiskey drink. Appetizer: Singapore Tempura Rock Shrimp (5/5): By far the best rock shrimp appetizer I have ever had. It had some sweetness, but not overpowering. Seared Wagyu (5/5): Another amazing wagyu appetizer. Made really well, with a perfect texture. The sauce that came with it was very tasty as well. Main Entree: Both of these sushi rolls were amazing and were well-made. Is it pricey, yes, but I think the quality of their food was really good. Tempura Roll Mango Yellowtail After we finished our meal, we were waiting for our server to come back, but since it took him too long, we asked one of the ladies who worked there if we could order a drink, which she took. Unfortunately, the drink was forgotten, and we had to flag down our actual server to check on it, and we even had to explain to him that we ordered it from the female floor manager, I'm assuming. I decided to go down a star because of our server. After all our food was served, he didn't really check up on us anymore until I flagged him down to check for another drink and get our bill so we could pay for it. I understand they were transitioning to their night/club atmosphere, but you need to be able to balance that. You can't ignore your current guest due to a transition. Unfortunately, we decided not to stay longer since people started coming in to dance, but then there were females who were drunk dancing on top of a table. They eventually kicked them out, but when people get sloppy like that, it's usually my cue to leave the place. Overall, the food and drinks here are really good, and yes, it can be pricey, but I do think it was well worth it. The restaurant has an amazing ambiance and cool decor.

The location has beautiful ambiance and is well decorated. However, the sushi was just ok at best. The fish didn't taste very fresh. Service was kind and attentive. Overall would not return.

San Diego's coastline sparkles with culinary gems for daytime dining, but when it comes to nightlife, Gaslamp Quarter seizes the spotlight. You won't need window seating either because the interior is the vibe. AKA San Diego sits prominently on the corner of Fifth Ave and Market St where an Italian restaurant used to be. Through glass panes, passersby can glimpse at the prismatic lighting and vivid decor. With same day reservations, we were seated by the tall Buddha statue, curiously situated behind a DJ setup, peaceful but ready to party. We'd find out later that the beat's turned up for birthdays which numbered 2 that night. DJ and waitstaff made each celebration lively and fun. As impressive as the backdrop is, the focus remains the menu, an array of Asian fusion dishes that blend flavors with remarkable success. The succulent Yakiniku Filet Beef Satays, the creative Grilled Baja Jumbo Prawns with risotto cake, and the mouthwatering Bluefin Tuna Wasabi are just a few highlights. Many visitors flock to SD for surf and sun, but the city doesn't go dark when nighttime comes. Contrarily, this is when downtown hits the on switch, and AKA is one of the many glowing lights you can follow to find phenomenal dining with unrivaled ambiance.

I loved my time at AKA last time I went but this one employee I met Tommy (a blonde young Woman), is hands down one of the best bartenders at AKA. She's incredibly friendly, attentive, and makes sure you're comfortable from the moment you sit down. Whether it's drinks or food, she's always on top of your order and checks in to make sure everything is perfect. She handles busy rushes like a pro and still gives excellent, respectful service to everyone. If you're at AKA, you'll definitely want Tommy taking care of you, she makes the experience so much better. Ambiance is truly amazing and worth going into AKA!

Food: Bluefin Tuna Wasabi Roll - spicy kick from wasabi but not overpowering. really tasty and flavorful! fav roll! Pork Belly Bao Buns - soft, cutely displayed, fluffy bun, kind of dry pork belly but overall flavorful, and has pickled veggies Mango Yellowtail Roll - saucy, citrusy, peppery but well combined flavors Service: Very kind service and everything went smoothly! We made a reservation day of and had no problems. Ambiance: Dim lit and very decorated restaurant with nice restaurant vibes. There's also a little bar seating area. Lots of tables and seats.

I had the best experience at AKA. This was an accidental find that didn't disappoint. The V manager went above and beyond to ensure we were having a good time and enjoying our food.

Connected with friend while she was in town for a conference. This was minutes from her Airbnb. The service was good and they had a good selection of asian dishes. The speciality cocktails were nice and but the best part of the meal was the server. He was attentive and offered up great suggestions for dinner.

Came in on during the week for happy hour. Restaurant is beautifully decorated and was very clean! It was early so it wasn't too busy but they have plenty of seats and take reservations. A few things that stood out was their Geisha-Rita and the orange chicken Kara-age. We also enjoyed the Bao buns. If I'm being honest, I'd skip the potstickers. I found them lacking flavor.

So good!! My friend and I came from LA looking for a fun restaurant and omg no one told me they have the prettiest and sweetest servers?! Alyssa was such a doll!! My friend and I ate our food too fast to take pictures to show you guys but she helped a ton with recs. And she's super attentive and sweet! If you're looking for good food, nice vibe and great service, def check this place out and ask for Alyssa as your server(:

Tried out AKA recently and overall, it was a decent spot but nothing that really stood out. We ordered the Singapore Tempura Rock Shrimp, Filet Mignon Potstickers, and Salmon Avocado Roll along with drinks -- the Ube Matcha Horchata and Dirty Chai Martini. The Tempura Rock Shrimp was hands down the highlight of the meal. They give you a huge portion, perfectly fried with that light, crispy tempura batter and a spicy sauce that had a nice kick without being overpowering. Definitely the best bang for your buck. The Filet Mignon Potstickers, on the other hand, were disappointing. For the price, you only get three pieces, and they were mostly empty -- barely any filet inside. You get a faint beef flavor, but it didn't deliver the richness you'd expect from something labeled "filet mignon." The Salmon Avocado Roll was solid flavor-wise but small compared to rolls at other sushi spots nearby. Still, I'd probably order it again if I was craving something simple. Drink-wise, the Dirty Chai Martini was more like a coffee martini -- heavy on the espresso flavor, light on the chai. The Ube Matcha Horchata sounded interesting but ended up just tasting overly sweet with no real matcha or ube flavor coming through. Waiter was cool tho, he held it down as 4 other tables entered right when we sat down. He was busy but he paid attention to our table to the best he could It was relatively quiet for a Thursday at 6pm but it's nice cause HH ends at 7 Overall, AKA is fine for a casual drink and bite during happy hour, but with so many great options nearby, I'd probably try another place before coming back.

Kelsey was great! Very helpful and the service was amazing. Food was yummy. Def get the rock shrimp. The ambiance is interesting - someone taking photos and trying to get you to buy them... Loud music and birthday vibes. Would be fun with a group but not ideal for a date night in our opinion - albeit we like a dive bar and a shot and a beer. Lol!

Made reservations here for my girlfriend's bachelorette during the July 4th weekend and it was a blast! The food was delicious and plenty for us to share. Our favorite was the scallop crudo and rock shrimp tempura. The drinks were enough to get us feeling something but still tasty! During the dinner, they had complimentary photos which was nice! They did give you a small photo and asked if you'd like to purchase the nicely framed ones so beware of that! This location gives me the vibes of TAO back in Los Angeles! Very cute and instagramable :)

So I have to say my friends and I stumbled into this place, stumbled as in dodging the large crowd during comic con yesterday. There were five of us and fortunately we were able to get a table immediately. All of us enjoyed our meals. I ordered the pad Thai and I expected it to be just really expensive and mediocre, but it was actually quite delicious. The vibe inside the restaurant is awesome. The music was great. There was a live DJ music and the colors were nice. Bathrooms were clean. Servers were friendly and dressed up for comic con. My friend ordered a chicken finger type of appetizer and it came with double what we thought. Like entre sized. Had we known, he would have probably shared that with one other person.

I like that they call themselves a boutique - gives your t-shirt that bourgeois feeling. Fantastic assortment of shirts, hoodies, patches, tumblers, doo-dads, etc. Some of the funniest North Park themed t-shirts can be found here - like the one on 'Urban Camping'. Friendly staff too - really helpful with ideas for that ultimate print job. And reasonably priced - I think most of the local businesses uses AKA - which means their rep is solid. Like the 5 star rating I'm leaving.

I came here with a group of girls to celebrate a birthday. We had reservations & were seated about 2 minutes upon arrival. The server told us it was a busy night & drink orders may be a bit backed up. I appreciate it when servers give us a heads up so we're not left wondering why the drinks are taking so long. Crab Fried Rice: I normally avoid fried rice dishes because they're usually so basic, but I think this was actually everyone's favorite dish. I was surprised by how flavorful it was. I would definitely order this again! Lobster Garlic Noodles: This was actually not as flavorful as I had hoped, but it wasn't terrible. The lobster was delicious & I loved how they cut it up in small pieces for you. The noodles were what lacked that garlic & butter flavor, but nothing an extra pinch of salt can't fix. Bluefin Tuna Poke Bites: This was a great little bite. However, for the price we all wished there was a bit more poke on the cracker. Hokkaido Scallop Sashimi: This was really good, another great small bite. It tasted fresh & had a little citrus tang to it. Grilled Lollipop Lamb Chops: The lamb was very tender & easy to bite off the bone. Packed with flavor & cooked to perfection. I would order this dish again. Surf n Turf Roll: The surf n turf was amazing. Get your phone out & be ready to record because it's fun to watch them torch the bone marrow as they drizzle the butter on the rolls. A real crowd pleaser for sure. Another dish I would love to order again! Our whole experience was fabulous. The server was attentive & made sure we had everything we needed. He was quick to clear off any finished plates & brought our birthday girl her dessert. They have the coolest entrance to the restroom that is very IG worthy. The bathroom was gorgeous inside & well kept. Thank you for an amazing experience, I can't wait to return!

Celebrated a friend's bday recently. First time trying this new place. Aesthetically, the place was amazing, lots of photo ops, upbeat and classy. Can't miss the meditating Buddha as it greets you as you enter the place. And that Torii gate arch to the right is an eye contact catcher as well. Definitely a nightclub-trendy vibe. Fridays and Saturdays entertainment starts at around 10 p.m. When we got there, the place was still pretty empty. The place was full when we left. Menu has a variety of different types of Asian food from Japan, China, and Thailand. We ordered quite a few dishes to share. The whole group liked the food. Blue fin poke bites 5/5 Pork belly boa 5/5 ordered 2x. Shrimp pad Thai -3/5 Filet mignon potstickers 3/5 - on the salty side. Main lobster garlic noodles - 1/5- noodles were tough, this was a missed on the flavor. Skip this one. Mango yellow tail - 3.5/5. Yellow tail scallions - 4/5. Cocktails/ mocktails- watered down Service- our server was nice. First few dishes got to our table pretty fast. The rest of the food, we had to wait longer and had to follow up on the status of our order. Noticed though at the far corner side of the bar next to the Torii gates arch, birthday celebrants, staff brought sparkles with the birthday dessert. When my friend got her bday treats, the staff that brought the sweets were holding their phones with the flashlights on. Not sure, but I did not like that part. Disappointed. Small Bathroom, was a little dark, few stalls 3-4 stalls. There was a bathroom attendant in the ladies room. Being that the bathroom was already small, it made it a bit crowded. Parking-it's in the gaslamp area. Parking is challenging. Better to Uber/Lyft, carpool. Place is pricey. It's more for aesthetic, decor, lay out of the place. Not because of " amazing food".

The lychee martini is well worth it, and we really enjoyed the rock shrimp appetizer! We had some sushi rolls, which were good, but not much different than we would have at another Japanese restaurant. The star of the show was the beignets which were filled with lychee and dipped in mango sauce. Wow!

First time here for dinner and we had a time. Meet with my sister and her bestie who I haven't seen in ages; vibe was perfect for chatting and getting caught up. Food was on point: yellowtail curry, the tuna poke, and the pad Thai noodles were my favorites. The pork belly buns, lobster garlic noodles, and the toro tuna roll were definitely perfect to share. Cru was entertaining us and provided a wonderful experience. Def gonna keep this in the rotation for nights out.

My friend and I always passed by AKA and wanted to try it out. From looks outside and inside- the aesthetic is 100%. Super pretty and instagrammable and that's what drew us in. However, the experience inside unfortunately didn't match. I mean if you're ready for a Vegas style dining experience this is your place. However, the music is so loud, tables are so small and so close together that you don't have room at the booths. Overpriced craft cocktails and Asian food. On a busy day even the waiters forget you, and only service those who ordered bottle service or the birthday celebrations with the sparklers. I tried the ube matcha horchata and it was a waste of $18+ drink. I had to return it because it was really gross. We ordered the filet mignon but I think that was the best on the menu. It was an 8oz steak for decent price. However, it was slathered in a lot of sauce but it didn't really have much flavor. I really wanted to like this place, but I guess it's just not my type of vibe. For an Asian fusion restaurant I expected more than just aesthetic and vibe.

Wow! Wow! Wow! This restaurant is beautifully decorated. I should have taken more pictures of the ceiling, because the decor changes from section to section. The food is equally beautiful in presentation. This place is pricey, but worth it I think. The garden salad, for example, is not just a garden salad. It has sushi, avocado, wasabi, etc. It may be the best salad I have ever had in my life. I thought it was a bit over dressed. I ordered the fillet mignon potstickers and they were ok. Not bad on their own and delicious with the dressing from the salad. The Blue fin wasabi sushi was delicious and tasted better and better with every bite. The Yuzu Beignets with the mango sauce were ridiculously good. The service is top-notch . If you are in the area and you have the funds, treat yourself.

This place was a little strange. They claim on the website to be the best Asian fusion restaurant in San Diego, it wasn't that great. We started with cocktails and mocktsils. I must say that the mocktail was excellent. We ordered the Thai green papaya salad, Maine lobster garlic noodles, and the miso black cod. Of the three, the black cod was the most successful dish. The lobster was seasoned but the noodles were extremely bland and overcooked to the point of being gummy. The salad was fine but very basic. The service was good and they ended up comping the noodle dish as we couldn't eat it. The ambiance is where the strange part came in. Midway through our meal some seemingly geisha girls appeared and began dancing. It was odd. While the space is beautiful, I wouldn't come back here given the sheer number of excellent restaurants nearby.

We'll jump right into it with the food: We had some apps from the happy hour menu and found them to be the best part of our meal. The potstickers were outstanding - the meat was so flavorful and the sauce was perfect. The rock shrimp was fried and seasoned well. The entrees were just okay. We got the miso cod - the fish itself wasn't very tender, and the sauce was too thick and leaned a little too sweet. That said, it wasn't bad by any means. Just nothing spectacular. We also got the albacore roll - the rice wasn't gummy and the fish was fresh, but I wish the sauce was more ponzu forward instead of the Dijon. Service started off great. Roberto is super charismatic and very fun. He came over right away, and the apps came out surprisingly quick. Unfortunately it fell off in the second half of the meal. It took about 15-20 mins after our apps were all done for us to get entrees, then another 15-20 to flag him down for our check. Ambiance is modern Japanese - very eye catching and it was what drew us here to begin with. Great decor and seems like it would be a really lively fun place on weekends.

Cru was a great server and his service was great. The ambiance and the food were totally worth it.

THE OSCAR GOES TO KELSEY for literally making the night!!!!!! Had a super long drive in and the fist part of our vacation wasn't great but Kelsey heard that and came through for the night!!!! It was so much fun!!!!

Went on a Friday around 6pm. We had a reservation, but it wasn't needed at that time of the evening, as it was pretty quiet. The hostess was very sweet and took us right to a table. Our server came over pretty quickly and got our drink order. Even though it wasn't busy, it probably took 10 minutes to get a cocktail. When he came back he offered some suggestions about items we were considering. The two of us opted to get a 4 plates and share everything. As far as the wagyu, yellowtail, and tuna, all were pretty good, but I feel like they shaved them smaller than anywhere I have been before. The dan dan noodles were ok, but I think they were supposed to have a poached egg that didn't come? I felt they were also lacking in flavor, but seemed to be the best portion size of any of the items. The first 2 food items came really quickly, and then there was quite a wait between each of the other two items. We were still finishing the last and had to wave down our server because we had a show to get to. Our server checked on us once during the time we were eating, but he seemed to disappear for long periods of time. He was nice, but not as concerned about long wait times as maybe he should have been. We left around 7:30, which was good, as a DJ was starting. The music was super loud. I felt like it was a little early for the music to be that loud, as that is prime dinner time and it would have been hard to have a conversation. Just something to note if you are thinking about going for a nice dinner vs evening cocktails. While the experience wasn't terrible, and it's a beautiful space, it's just not a place I am interested in going back to. We left with a large bill, but I didn't feel full. We probably needed another dish or two, but the cost or wait wasn't worth it.

Had dinner here last week. This place was formally LAVA. I like the new decor and vibes. Food was good. Service was good. I really like that they had a dj and they do a whole bit for birthdays. I would recommend.

We recently celebrated a birthday here, and it was absolutely unforgettable. From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was amazing and so lively!. They went out of their way to present a dessert and a candle for our celebration -- such a thoughtful touch! Special thanks to Troy for his great service!

The restaurant is really nice! Great for pictures, and our waiter Alyssa made our time here 10x better ! She was very attentive and sweet. They go all out for birthdays !

The food, service and ambiance is consistently excellent here. I've been here on my own, with friends and with family and everyone always has a nice time here. This restaurant is probably my favorite restaurant and I've been to several. I'm looking forward to going back soon.

Food and service were incredible. Our server Marco was very attentive and kind. The vibe is very lively and fun.

Kelsey is the best! she took care of our table and made my cousins 21st birthday memorable!

The drinks were good, food was not worth it. Small portions, overpriced food. $39 for a curry should be illegal. Our waiter Marco provided great service. Loud, club like atmosphere with a good DJ. Don't eat dinner here.

I feel like you pay for the ambiance here . That's about it. Service wasn't bad, other than the fact the waiter gave free shots to the couple next to us. The food though, was sad it was a set menu as when I booked it there was no saying it was a set menu. The food was just ok. The filet was sweet with the raspberry sauce and the chicken the bf had just tasted like any other curry butter chicken. The deserts tasted like they were just reheated You could get certain sushi rolls if you did ask, but not their entire menu. Not worth it at all.

Not really a fan of this place even though I really try to like it. Its definately on the expensive side for sushi and looks like everyone there was there for a special occasion. Regardless on the price, the food was just okay. The best thing there was the poke. The presentation looked good. The server was very nice. I couldnt see myself going here again, the price really doesn't justify the taste of the food. It is a fusion restaurant but the combination of the ingredients just didn't match up. Even the drinks were a lil off.

Popped in here last minute, interior looked great and it was packed. Even though it was super busy the team was attentive and super friendly. The dream team behind the bar! Miguel, Emily, Tommy and Johnny were the best!

I've been to AKA several times since moving to San Diego, and it has quickly become one of my favorite spots. The vibe is immaculate the music is always on point, the DJ keeps the energy high, and the food is phenomenal with options for literally everyone. But what truly makes AKA stand out is the service, especially Tommy, the blonde bartender. She is absolutely exceptional. Warm, charismatic, and insanely talented behind the bar, she elevates the entire experience. Her lychee martini is unreal easily one of the best cocktails I've had in San Diego. Perfectly crafted, refreshing, and unforgettable. Sitting at her bar alone is reason enough to come back. She turns a good night into a great one.

Thanks to the waiter Marco, he is the best and the most honest. The food is very tasty. Fresh. I really liked the service.

They literally gave me a sugar shot and charged me for a vodka shot. The fact that they're taking advantage of people is sick to me. I won't be returning. On top of that they gaslit us into thinking it was real which is just absolutely disgusting in itself. Fix it.

I've seen instagram posts of this restaurant and was excited to visit and take photos of the decor, specifically of the shrine (pillars) from Kyoto. We arrived at 6pm on an early Friday evening, and there were only 2 tables aside from ours. As the night progressed, the restaurant was starting to get somewhat busy. We ordered a bunch of items to share. Ming Sling drink (3/5): tasted alright, but my drink had soo much ice and wasn't filled all the way (see photo, as I hadn't even taken a sip). Yellowtail scallion (3.5/5): good and fresh, but overly priced. Rock Shrimp COCO MAYO (3/5): not bad, but the shrimp were small and also quite pricey. Chicken Kara-Age (3/5): alright. Australian Wagyu drunken noodle (1/5): beautiful presentation, but super bland and flavorless. The meat didn't taste like Wagyu... Would NOT recommend. Dry dan dan Noodle (2/5): better than the Wagyu drunken noodles, but still bland. Kung pao SSC Roll (1/5): so dry. It tasted like store bought sushi. Also would NOT recommend. Fatty tuna (Sashimi) (2.5/5): mushy; didn't taste fresh. The following are some of the better items compared to what's been mentioned. Black Cod (4/5): super tender, per usual. I love black cod for its rich and buttery taste. This dish was sweet and flavorful. Lamb Chops (3.75/5): pretty good. I also enjoyed the green curry it came with. However, one of the chops I had was very tough and inedible. Filet Mignon (3.75/5): pretty good. Quite tender. 20% gratuity was automatically applied to our party of 8. They also added a 3.95% service surcharge. I made a reservation online 6 weeks in advance, and they emailed me asking to select a pre fixe menu and to provide my credit card information to secure our res. I replied to their email 5 TIMES (not exaggerating) and didn't receive a single response! TERRIBLE COMMUNICATION. I was worried we wouldn't have a secured dinner reservation due to their lack of communication... hope they get it together. Anyways, nice atmosphere and decor, but substandard food. Pricing is what you'd expect for downtown. Our server, Mando (?) I believe was his name, was awesome.

AKA just opened in November and finally had a chance to stop in. I got a seat at the bar at the tail end of happy hour, and ordered the, garlic edamame with butter soy ($5) - it was very flavorful and generous portion. Then salmon and avocado roll ($11) - did not love this - was a bit slimy and too fishy. I initially ordered the Geisha Rita, but it was just too acidic for me today, so my friendly bartender let me switch it out for the dirty chai martini, which was very tasty. Liked the kind of funky but still comfortable ambience. Wish the sushi had been better.

The Vibes were immaculate and Miguel was awesome! The Thai me up drink was next level!!

we went here for the first time for my birthday weekend and everything was fabulous. The ambience was great very upbeat and vibrant energy. The service was excellent. The food was excellent and everything was good. We'll definitely be back next time we come to San Diego. Roberto was an extremely good waiter very attentive, great personality very friendly. We loved him. He made our experience extra special. We will definitely be back.

We finally came last Friday. Since we were going all over Gaslamp we just. Same for drinks and an appetizer. We've been coming to this location for many years. Since it was Searsucker and Lavo. They have an outstanding location and bar. We get there close to 5:30 and sit at the bar. We ordered a Azaela mocktail and Geisha-Rita. The mocktail had an apple sort of taste to it. My wife liked it. The Geisha-Rita tasted just like a jalapeño Rita that Searsucker used to serve. It was very delicious and had a good amount of heat to it. We ordered the Filet Mingon Potsticker's. I am used to Boston/NY style which have a thicker dough. These are thin dough but are very good. The filling reminded me of exactly on how a potsticker filling should be. Couldn't taste the Filet Mingon however it was delicious. The bartenders were great and very informative. Pablo took care of us and was very nice and quick to serve. We were there for about an hour and it was still kinda dead. They told me it picks up later in the night. That makes sense since it's nightclub oriented. The place is very well designed. It will remind of you of Tao in Vegas. It is very instagramic lol. The bathroom was beautiful as well. Almost didn't want to leave. The damage for a couple drinks and Potstickers was close to $60. We will be back for sure.

Came here on a Saturday night and thought I walked into a night club. Music was very loud. Couldnt hear the waittress. Ordered the miso cod and the crab fried rice. The food was about 7/10. Tasted good but in my opinion about 25% overpriced for what you are getting. 4% surcharge as well. I think you are paying a premium for the ambiance and thats what the restaurant is going for. If you like that, you will enjoy your time here.

Came on a week night and got the Karaage, Dan Dan noodles, Braised short ribs and miso black cod. The karaage was very crispy and juicy, the ponzu aioli was a tasty dip. The Dry Dan Dan noodles were my favorite item of the evening. The noodles were very chewy (in a good way) which I've found only in a handful of restaurants. it came topped with a flavorful ground pork, the noodles were coated lightly with a cream (maybe mayo) based sauce. The cucumbers added a nice freshness and crunch which was a nice contrast to the chewy noodles. The short ribs were very tender and delicious, and the mashed potatoes were creamy, but I didn't really feel it had much of an asian influence despite the black bean curry sauce. Short ribs are usually my go to dish, I'd still recommend them if you're craving short ribs but they don't have a strong asian influence. Maybe if it came on some sort of rice like asian influenced risotto or something. The miso black cod was also good, very tender and moist. Pretty standard at any high end asian place these days. AKA did a good job of it. The place is modern and new, AKA means red in Japanese and the place has a red backlit shelf which reminds me of TAO in Las Vegas. The hallway to the restrooms look like the gates of the iconic Fukushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto. Its a definite photo op that's IG or FB worthy. Service was friendly and attentive, the place is new and modern. Being downtown parking can be tough and the prices a little higher than normal but not unexpected in the Gaslamp.

Came here for to celebrate a birthday and it was amazing. Miguel was great! We'd definitely comeback again!