Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill

I dined at Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill on 12/12/2025, and it was easily one of the best sushi experiences I’ve had all year. I was visiting from out of town on business and found it on Google Maps after my first choice turned out to be takeout sushi. Fortunate for me because this place of the chain. I started with the garlic edamame, The best I’ve ever had. I followed that with the Ora King citrus sashimi (recommended by my server) and the Bambu Roll, both of were Primo!! I could stop there, however, the service elevated the experience even further. Jacqueline, my server, was genuinely warm, knowledgeable, and engaging. We had a great conversation about my travel-heavy lifestyle, and her professionalism and natural hospitality stood out. If I were hiring, I’d bring her on without hesitation. I travel constantly for work — 33 trips this year alone — and eat out often. Of all the restaurants I’ve visited, Banbu Sushi easily ranks in my top three. If you’re anywhere near La Mesa, this place is absolutely worth your time. Suffice it to say, I will be back.

Our first time coming here. We tried seared this roll and the Banbu roll. Amazing! So much flavor! Our server Chloe was great! She provided lots of recommendations and was very helpful.

I’ve tried sushi in many places around the world, and unfortunately this was the most expensive experience with the worst quality sushi I’ve ever had. It’s absolutely not worth the price, and I wouldn’t recommend spending your money here.

I had an incredible dining experience at this sushi bar & grill. The ambiance is sleek and upscale. It’s definitely not your typical sushi joint. You can tell right away that they take pride in quality, especially with the sushi rolls. The fish was incredibly fresh and flavorful. Our server, Nia, made the experience even better. She was attentive, friendly, and genuinely helpful. I asked for a recommendation and trusted her pick, and I’m so glad I did. Every bite exceeded expectations. If you’re looking for a refined sushi experience with great service and premium ingredients, this spot is a must visit. They also offer a spacious outside dining area. As I mentioned, this is not your typical sushi joint. The prices are much higher here, but the quality is superb!

Stopped here for a little sushi experience and it didn't disappoint, the food was amazing and the atmosphere was on the fancier side but still inviting and comfortable for an impromptu visit! The service on the other hand was slow in receiving our food even with sitting at the sushi bar, they were kinda busy but good thing is that we were not in a rush at all!

My husband brought me to Banbu for my birthday. I love sushi, he does NOT. Even HE said the food was delicious! A lot of thought went into the design & decor of the restaurant. The plating was 5-star. The freshness was a joyful part of the taste experience. Our waitress was intelligent, well spoken, helpfull, and had an excellent sense of humor. I WILL definitely be coming back!

Banbu sushi isn't my favorite sushi place. It's my mom's and it's a great place to hang out with friends have a nice meal and enjoy a game. The atmosphere is nice and calm and has that outside patio seating with warm lighting and a fire pit that makes it a great place for a birthday, celebration or even watching a game at their bar. The food is good and flashy, beautiful rolls with all the style and swag that pleases the eye. Not fancy sushi? How about some ramen? A burger maybe? they have it. Their tonkotsu ramen felt like something was missing for me though not bad, but not the traditional flavor I was looking for. The soup was runny and looked more like cereal than ramen. They added like half a pound of cabbage which ruined it for me. I got to try their surf and turf roll which was good, steak seared nicely with hints of lobster and crab. I also tried their new york steak and it was cooked nicely. The food is good for the price but if you're looking for a more traditional flavor I would try some other places in SD for a smaller price. The atmosphere is nice and friendly and the rolls are flashy but the presentation is half the battle. Their staff is nice and wait times can get prolonged if it's a holiday. For a nice outing with your loved ones check it out, and enjoy the scenery. For taste and price there are other options I would recommend.

It was first time I visited Banbu, and I hope last. Salmon rolls were with overcooked strange rice. Sushi set was better, but it all really overpriced! We paid more than 100$ for 2 persons.. And at least they didn' t have hot black tea 🤬😓

Kayla is the best! If you want a friendly server who knows about sushi and alcohol ask for her! Banbu sushi for the win!

The food is good. Customer is fantastic. Always happy to have Kayla my waitress every time I eat there!

Great place we live in Arizona but every time we are in the vicinity we stop here. Great food and service.

Love this place! Have been coming here for many years, the food and ambience never disappoints. The calamari ceviche is a must-have and tonight we had the Inferno Roll and Baked Langustino Roll, both 10/10 Our server Mackenzie was great, she had a full section but was very personable, had extended knowledge on the menu, had good recommendations and overall the service was great! One of the best interactions I've had in my many years of coming here. Will def return and recommend to anyone to try if you are in the area!

Banbu is one of our favorite local restaurants. We are huge sushi snobs and banbu is consistently fresh and yummy. We especially love all the nigiri bites. The flavored sake is also really yummy and we love the fun light up carafe it comes in. The ambiance is really lovely inside and out, love the little garden seating area and the fire pit! It's unfortunate the fire pit is right near the parking lot, but it's not that busy so it's still nice. What always really stands out to us most is the service. Special shout out to Nia who is a manager but has also served us many times and is so kind, speedy, and always has amazing recos. My favorite of all time reco from her is the fresh wasabi. I've never had it anywhere else, and wow it seriously enhances sushi. When we went last night, we had Ally as our server and Valencia as our hostess. Valencia gave me the special kids birthday menu (wink wink) and Ally was so accommodating. We ordered the wrong drink twice (yikes on us) and she handled it with no issues or extra charge. The restaurant was randomly crazy busy for a Wednesday night but she was still so great with our party of 6 including kids, grabbing all the extra requests like lemons for our drinks and fresh wasabi. Our busser, David, was also insanely kind and ran after us to the parking lot when my daughter left her water bottle at the table. Banbu is def a favorite for us in the neighborhood! Such a treat and we'll be back again and again.

Banbu Sushi really knows how to plate a dish--the presentation was on point. If I were paying just to look at the food, I'd be thrilled. Unfortunately, I was also hoping to eat it. $9 for a miso soup that arrived cold felt more like a prank than a premium dining experience. The sushi looked great but tasted far from fresh--pretty, but not pretty enough to distract from the lack of flavor. If you're into fancy visuals and leaving hungry (and broke), Banbu might be your spot. Otherwise, I'd keep looking.

Best sushi my hubby and I have had! We dined in the patio and it was great. The service was great as well. We'll definitely be coming back!

Okay so this was a quick sushi find & so glad I found it because this was delicious. They were super busy but the service and food came fast! Price was pretty average for a sushi spot.

The food here is amazing. That's why we come here. The service is also really good. The ambience is romantic and fun and it's actually expensive for San Diego.

The sushi here is very good! They have plenty of room outside and inside to sit so we were sat right away. The staff were very helpful and tentative

This place is delicious. I've been multiple times and I always order the miso black cod nigiri. It's sooo goood!!!! We ordered 7 orders. We also ate the emperor's fried rice and belly trio. I could go on about the food but I don't have that kind of time. McKenzie is the sh**!!! Hands down the best server I have ever had. Her service, suggestions, and attentiveness elevated an already great meal.

This is my friends favorite sushi spot in La Mesa, now I know why! This place is so cute we sat ourside and the patio is well decorated, quiet and calm! The inside was nice! We got a bunch of rolls to share for the table and I also got a cup of miso soup! This was by far one of the best miso soups I've ever had! The rolls were really good. The service was great! Some of the best sushi I've had in awhile!

First time here while in town visiting. We had dinner here and my party of 5 all liked their food and drinks. The waitress was great very attentive! The restaurant was decorated nicely, very clean and also clean bathrooms. The food was a little expensive for what you get but it was still tasty. The edamame was very good. The drinks were all great and tasted very good. Our food came out at different times but our waiter told us that ahead of time so we expected which was nice since we knew. Great experience!

Excellent food! We love Banbu. Our server, Kenzie, was amazing. She recommended some different rolls and every recommendation was on point. She was so knowledgeable and had a bright personality. Will definitely request to be seated in her section next time.

We have been going to Bambi Sushi for years. Kayla is amazing!! She leads the team with such professionalism. Kayla always goes above and beyond to make sure we have what we need. The food, vibe and service are top notch. Highly recommend!

I totally Loved this place! Food presentation and taste is amazing! We ordered the Inferno roll, Crunchy Jalapeño Hamachi Roll and Tan Tan Men as entree's and edamame and Gyoza Pork Dumpling starters! Every one of the dishes were perfectly esthetic and taste great!! Drinks were excellent as well ( Mango Sake and two wild berry Hibiscus teas! Excellent! The atmosphere of the whole restaurant was pleasant with lots of outdoor seating with elegant outdoor decorate lighting. The service waitress was a total sweetheart and attentive to our table. It's a place I will totally recommend to my friends and family! Great for any occasion!

This is the only time in my 80 years that I have left without ordering because of the prices. I had a beer before I read the menu and it was reasonable and interesting and my server was great. But the prices on the food are ludicrous. My income is not low.

pretty good and consistent food. their selection is standard but seems fresh tasting. they have a good hour with half price sake on tuesdays. The Service is always friendly which i appreciate. there's a nice sushi bar and an outside patio. i'll be back in the future.

Very trendy spot tucked in the back of a busy shopping center. The service was great, food was decent. Sushi rice was a more on the mushier side. My daughter picked the rice off of her rolls and ate it without. Presentation is beautiful.... The pricing was on the higher end for sushi, but not comparable to other higher end sushi restaurants.

The food is way over priced. 28 dollars for a lemon sushi roll.. service was great though but it didn't feel like an authentic sushi place more like a chain corporation You come here for the variety of sushi

Arguably the best sushi in San Diego. The King Salmon citrus sashimi special was as delicious as it was beautifully presented. The fish, rice and veggies were all SO fresh and flavorful. I loved the salmon belly and toro! Good news - if you're not a sushi-goer, they have PLENTY of other delicious entrees and even RAMEN to choose from. All of the portions are generous relative to other sushi restaurants, so don't let the prices scare you away. They have an expansive cocktail, beer, wine, and sake menu. The only roll I did not like was the ABURI SALMON ROLL -- the bonito shavings taste extremely fishy and smoky. Shortly after taking a bite, I started to itch and my tongue started to tingle, so on top of it tasting like feet, I might be allergic. I even mentioned this to my waitress, but she didn't offer to switch the dish at all, so service probably could improve there (especially since my party spent SO MUCH and ordered practically everything else on the menu). Also wish she would have told me one of my dishes included some seaweed salad when I asked her so that I didn't need to order another side of it and have it go to waste. They also have desserts, but the tempura banana was probably fried in the same oil as shellfish because I broke out in hives on my way home shortly after. This bit on the service was truly a disappointment because I mentioned several times to the waitress ABSOLUTELY NO SHELLFISH. Location is a bit interesting, as it's located in a strip-mall by the trolley station. Don't expect an upscale, trendy, or romantic ambiance. Think casual / modern. Go for the food. Be loud if you have any allergies/restrictions. Don't expect anything with service / ambiance. Take some Benadryl with you and an epipen ;)

Wow!! Every time we eat here at Banbu, the food and service is outstanding!!! Thank you Mckenzie for superb service and great recommendations!! Hats off to all the chefs and servers. Fresh, organic & clean ,clean,clean eats!! Thank you Banbu for stepping up the clean culinary game. We appreciate all the attention to details. 10

One of my most favorite sushi spots in this part of San Diego. The quality of sushi here is superb. Between the chirashi or any of the nigiri as well as rolls that are perhaps less traditional (with things like jalapeño and lemon slices), you really can't go wrong. I love coming here whenever I'm in town!

I'm so glad we came in today. I cannot say enough about our server, Kayla! She was professional and personable at the same time. That set the mood. The food and the ambiance (have to sit outside) was amazing. Adding Kayla's service to that and the experience was over the top. We got a few sushi rolls. Everything we ordered was very fresh. ... Make sure you save room for the tempura fried banana split Come in for yourself and you'll see why they consistently get high marks. Great spot. Two thumbs up. The full bar was an added plus.

Service good. Food not good. Ordered chicken Ramen. No chicken. Ordered chicken Katsu curry. Chicken dry as a bone like chicken jerky. Ordered a cilantro roll the size of a banana for $29. Way better options in town this place should be avoided.

We went and picked up food from the sushi place a couple of weeks ago and I've been meaning to write this review. What a fantastic experience from the beginning of the phone call to when we picked up the food. I think we spoke to the young lady her name was Valencia and she was on top of it with the order and the food pick up. Great experience and we also really like the way the restaurant looked and we were handled. We will be back because the sushi is amazing.!

From the amazing food to the amazing customer service, our dinner tonight was absolutely wonderful! As always the sushi here never disappoints! Always fresh, creative and beautiful, and of course...tasty! What made the evening even better was our server, Kayla. Courteous and friendly as well as funny! Kayla was prompt and efficient without being rushed or put out if we had questions. Thank you Banbu for another fantastic meal and do everything you can to hold on to your employee Kayla. She emulates the true definition of excellent customer service!

Kayla does a great job! Always remembers us and ensures we are taken care of. Sushi is always great!

We went to explore the area for new sushi places, found this one on a whim, and was thoroughly impressed. Not only by the food but the service as well. The ambiance was calming, and the music choices were awesome! We had Nia, I believe her name was, and she was very informative of the menu as well as super approachable, kind and had exceptional customer service. We are definitely coming back for date nights and will recommend this place to our friends and family! Thank you to Nia, who made our experience exceptional, and also made our night :)

Loved this place! The sushi & drinks were amazing. The customer service was top notch I love how both inside & outside looked, it was perfect for a date or even to just catch up with friends! Will definitely come again.

Finally went back 07/11/25 and they still left the sauce out, I guess if you know it's going to be missing you can just check, it is listed as part of the roll on the menu.

Have eaten here in the past with friends. I have ordered take out all without incident. I have celiac and worked briefly in the hospitality industry as a line cook. We clearly established that I was celiac with our server and she seemed up for the challenge. I know that it's a pain in the but to work with dietary restrictions, but I was hopeful. We ordered edamame and Nigiri and she 2x checked and it came out great. Long pause, I mean long in between apps and main. I figured they were dialing it in just right. Ordered inferno, COBE, and wife ordered some other gf rolls. We were assured that they 3x checked. Dug into the inferno about 5 pieces in it tasted great, however I could taste fryer. Sure enough- the shrimp was coated in tempura. Now I am effed... go into panic mode and bolted out. They took the inferno roll off, but how about the week I am gonna be down because of this carelessness. Shoulda known better- clearly the JV staff working a Monday lunch. If you have dietary restrictions- steer clear my friends.

Since I came alone, I decided to sit at the bar. I was seen right away by the bartender (Zach) and he asked right away if there was anything I wanted so definitely quick on service. Made me a spring fling very quickly then followed up with me to check if I was ready to order anything. I ordered the fried calamari and sashimi combo along with a melrose roll and cobe style beef roll. The sashimi was all delicious. I enjoyed every bite of it! The melrose was delicious too! Definitely recommend! Throughout my time, it seemed like many people relied on Zach and yet he was quick to help me when I asked for anything and constantly checked on me but not in an overbearing way at all. The overall vibe was the place was great and I would recommend coming by here. My total was about $187 for everything I ordered. The only thing I didn't post a photo of was the Cobe since I got that to go. I also got a Kirin. The place is a lil expensive but it's not surprising considering the vibe I get here.

My husband and I had an absolutely wonderful evening at Banbu for date night! Robin was our server and he was awesome - attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. The outside seating area creates such a pleasant, relaxed vibe perfect for a quiet dinner. The sushi rolls were amazing - fresh, beautifully presented, and flavorful. My favorite was the lemon cilantro roll. We also enjoyed the Asahi and Orion beers. Banbu delivered on all fronts: exceptional food, great drinks, wonderful ambiance, and top-notch service. We'll definitely be back next time we're in town!

Sushi was delicious and restaurant had a nice, breezy, and relaxing environment. I remember when this building used to be a movie theater! The quality of the fish and vegetables was good. Service was also very friendly. Prices were quite expensive, much more than other restaurants in the area. It would be great to have some appetizers or specials with a lower cost.

Nia was amazing! Great food as always and service was great!!!! We'll definitely be back soon!!

Amazing amazing! Last year we celebrated my sister's birthday here . Everything from cocktails to entrées were absolutely good. During the Christmas holiday my brother came in from the East Coast and we decided to have dinner at this restaurant. All entrées we ordered were absolutely delicious. I cannot wait to return & have some more delicious sushi . Nothing we ordered was disappointing. Everything was absolutely amazing.

The katsu sandwhich on the special list was literally the best sandwhich I've ever had. I didn't even get that - it was my husbands meal lol I got the inferno roll (I think that's what it was called) and it was really good. We had a great lunch here. Prices are high so be prepared to spend quite a bit , but it will be worth it.

Kayla was awesome! She made sure we our drinks were full and was very well versed onsushi!

Here at Banbu everything is very tasty... especially the SESAME CHICKEN OMG!! We ordered it twice LOL. In other words, we ordered one plate first as an appetizer(ask them to add veggies) and gobbled it up real quick. Then we ordered a second plate but with no rice but instead extra veggies. Our server highly recommended it. He said it was his fave dish. So thank you mister server!!! I forget his name but he is asian young guy black hair courteous guy and helpful. Then we ordered this cucumber Martini wow!! Also very tasty. But beware ... each sushi roll is about $30. I have never seen specialty rolls at this price!! Not even in LA Garlic edamame is $13. Can you believe it. That's my entire combo meal at In N Out .....My cava bowl is $13. But garlic edamame should be max $9. But anyway I'm not complaining too much..... more like I'm shocked at the inflation here in San Diego now! We came here on New Year's Eve just the other night ... they have lovely indoor and outdoor ambiance...even on cold winter night they have cozy outdoor heat lamps! Def need to visit next time I'm in sd!

The service is exceptional and the staff seem very happy to be working there! It creates a welcoming atmosphere! The food is fresh and I always manage to bring a little something home for the next day. Banbu Sushi continues to be a great place for lunch and dinner with family and friends.

Lot of parking in structure across the restaurant Very friendly service Large seating areas Indoor / outdoor Creative sushi rolls Restrooms inside Large selection Fresh wasabi or wasabi paste Alcohol available Dessert available Heat lamps for outside Vegan options

The only reason I didn't give this place five stars was because of the pricing. It was a bit outrageous how expensive the portions were. Other than the pricing, the food and service were amazing. Our server Kayla was so attentive and fun, she constantly checked on us to see how our food was and if we needed anything. The house made sauces were delicious. We got the surf and turf roll, which was a little on the big size for bites but the combination of flavors was surprising and delicious. The fish was so fresh and flavor profiles were on point.

Had an absolutely wonderful time yesterday! Had late lunch on the patio with my mom and daughter and Kayla was a joy to have as our server. She was very personable as well as professional. We had edamame and tuna poke salad. We also ate amazing sushi rolls; lemon cilantro roll, protein roll and seared ahi jalapeño roll - all delicious! I highly recommend Banbu for their delectable food, excellent service and lovely location. Kudos if it's a sunny day and you snag a table on their outdoor patio! Make sure to ask for Kayla as your beautiful server! AAAAA+

I come here often and food and service are always amazing! Kayla is especially great and friendly and can even predict my very predictable order. Highly recommend this place for great atmosphere, delicious sushi and friendly staff.

Great food and service! We specially loved their sushi, plus service crew was nice and friendly. Also, the place was clean and music was not super loud.

My boyfriend and I were craving sushi and wanted to try a different spot versus our favorite sushi joint. We both have been wanting to try this place since it always pops up on our Yelp. The restaurant is cute, quaint and quiet. Can feel very intimate. They also have outside seating with warmers. They have blankets to use as well if the warmers don't help which I think is pretty thoughtful. The service was great. Their drinkware is stainless steel or something cause it kept everything nice and cold. The menu wasn't anything crazy. They had a great list of starters and other items aside from sushi. The sushi menu was a little small for my liking. I ordered the 5 piece salmon sashimi. My boyfriend and I both ordered a rainbow roll and miso soup. My boyfriend also had a tuna roll and crispy rice. You can definitely tell everything is fresh. As soon as I bit into my rainbow roll.. I looked at my boyfriend and I said "is this real crab?" I didn't ask but it was so good and so fresh. The cucumbers in the roll... perfect. Nice and crisp. Gave a good little crunch. We decided to indulge in their dessert for the night. I can't remember the name of it. What I do remember is that it was a white chocolate dessert with cookie butter. It was very rich. But omg if I could I would've eaten them all. However, I am a sweets person soooooo

Came here with a couple of friends and everything seemed to be much better than the last time. Fish was fresh nicely prepared. Enjoyed the experience.

Good, service, ambiance is fire! Check this place out. Jackie is absolutely the best! You should def check this place out, don't wait.