Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill

Sushi restaurant · San Diego

Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill

Sushi restaurant · San Diego

1

4313 La Jolla Village Dr Suite 2265, San Diego, CA 92122

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Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
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Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill by null

Highlights

Fresh sushi, sashimi, specialty rolls & Asian-American fusion dishes  

Featured in Eater
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4313 La Jolla Village Dr Suite 2265, San Diego, CA 92122 Get directions

blueoceansushibar.com

$20–30 · Menu

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4313 La Jolla Village Dr Suite 2265, San Diego, CA 92122 Get directions

+1 858 352 6376
blueoceansushibar.com
blueoceansushibar

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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Blue Ocean Bringing Sushi and Fresh Seafood to UTC - Eater San Diego

"A Japanese restaurant with two locations in San Diego is heading for Westfield UTC, where it’ll help anchor the end of the mall near Macy’s and 85C Bakery Cafe. Moving into the 4,434-square-foot space that previously housed Smokeyard BBQ & Chop Shop, Blue Ocean Sushi opened its first outpost in Carlsbad in 2014 and landed on Prospect Street in La Jolla in 2019. With each Blue Ocean offering a slightly different menu, the restaurant group told Eater over email that the new UTC restaurant, its largest yet, will have a focus on high-quality sushi. There will be an extensive selection of nigiri, with vegetarian options available, and specialty sushi rolls like its Padres roll filled with tempura shrimp, imitation crab, and cucumber and topped with chopped soft shell crab, avocado, spicy mayo, and eel sauce. Sashimi will also be featured, including a chef-selected omakase box that holds an assortment of sashimi and seaweed salad. Owner James, who’s also the restaurant group’s executive chef, has developed an array of Asian-American fusion dishes that’ll also be available here, which range from chilled Pacific oysters seasoned with Tabasco and ponzu to his modernized takes on sushi that includes crunchy rice topped with spicy tuna and spicy mayo served with mango mascarpone puree." - Candice Woo

https://sandiego.eater.com/2023/2/7/23589380/blue-ocean-sushi-japanese-restaurant-new-opening-westfield-utc-san-diego
View Postcard for Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill

Steven Ellison

Google
Dog friendly patio and good sushi! We ate here on a Friday evening, and they were able to seat us right away (around 5:30 or so, when we left it was much busier). The patio seating isn't in the nicest place, it felt like being in a hallway a little bit. Also the wind started coming through pretty strong as the sun set so we ended up getting a little cold. Luckily, that was the worst part of the meal. Service was very quick. Our waiter had lots of good recommendations. It was cool they had fresh ground wasabi, I've never seen that on a menu anywhere else. My wife and I both got the cheapest of the chef specials and it did not disappoint! The crab rolls use real crab, which I don't know if I've ever seen that anywhere else. All the fish tasted very fresh. We were both impressed with the quality of the fish. The price point of $34 was also really good, most chef selections like that tend to be a bit more expensive at other places. Ultimately I could definitely see eating here again. It feels a bit tucked away in a corner even though it's on one of the main squares in the mall, so I wonder if that's why it doesn't seem that busy when we've looked before? The quality of the sushi will bring us back for sure.

Imee C

Google
Came here for an early dinner on a Friday afternoon. This place is next to Macy’s at UTC mall. Parking is free for 2 hours. We were seated right away upon walking in. We were handed the menu and they were wet. The saucer on our table was dirty. The spicy edamame was okay. The fatty tuna was very good. Tasted fresh and melted in my mouth. The lemon roll was disappointing. Last time we came here, I ordered this and remembered it to be tasty and fresh. The yellowtail jalapeno roll was pretty good.

Ingrid Chen

Google
Disappointing compared to the Carlsbad location. We came on a Monday for happy hour and tried the nigiri special, the quality was pretty bad. The fish had a mushy, off-putting texture. Honestly, you can find better sushi at H Mart or Mitsuwa. Really unfortunate, as we had high hopes based on their other location.

Ryan Rupley

Google
A Great New Sushi Spot at Westfield UTC Had a really solid experience at Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill, one of the newer spots at Westfield UTC. From the food quality to the service, they nailed the key parts of what makes a meal memorable. Food Rundown: •    Agedashi Tofu ($10): Best I’ve had so far. The crust was thick and actually crunchy—rare for this dish—and the tofu was cut perfectly. Broth was flavorful without being overly salty. •    Panko Soft Shell Crab ($12): Impressive size, lightly fried, not greasy at all. Honestly double the size I expected. •    Rice Crunch Spicy Tuna ($14 for 3 pcs): Perfect combo of textures and flavors—crunchy rice base, soft tuna, spicy jalapeño, and tangy sauce. Everything came together beautifully. •    Fried Rice w/ Chicken ($16): I was too full to eat much, but what I did try had big chunks of chicken and wasn’t greasy. Way better than the usual egg-and-rice mix. •    Chef’s Choice – Ocean Way ($43): A great variety of sushi. One piece had a truffle oil twist that caught me off guard—in the best way. Drinks: Started with a sparkling wine and tried their Tokyo Peach and Cherry Blossom cocktails. Big drinks with a solid alcohol pour—definitely not watered down. Service: The host gave us an accurate 10-minute wait time and checked in often. We were seated and helped by Jasmine, who was excellent—attentive but never overbearing. Everything we needed was handled quickly and with a great attitude. Atmosphere: Indoor decor was on point—oceanic wall tiles and a blue whale mural made the space stand out. Lighting was perfect for dinner: dim but bright enough to read the menu without using your phones flash light. Comfortable temperature and a good mix of table sizes, including space for large parties. Outside: limited seating but a cozy waiting area with fire pits and heaters. Service Dog Note: We brought our service dog, and staff made no issue of it at all—we were treated with respect and felt welcome the whole time. Just a quick PSA: if you’re bringing a service animal, they should be calm, well-trained, and not disrupt the business or other diners. Ours stayed quiet and out of the way, and it helped make the experience seamless. Overall Value: Very impressed by the portion sizes, quality, and service. It felt like a thoughtful, elevated sushi experience—without being pretentious. Definitely somewhere I’d return to. Thanks, Blue Ocean. Looking forward to round two.

Naomi Young

Google
★★★★★ Blue Ocean Sushi is hands down one of the best sushi spots around! The fish is always incredibly fresh, and their generous cuts of sashimi make every visit a treat. One of my favorites is the toro—so buttery and rich, it melts in your mouth. The quality here is top-notch, and you can really taste the difference. Whether you’re a sushi lover or just looking for a great meal, this place never disappoints. Highly recommend!

Max

Google
Wow they actually has great sushi. Best sushi ever in San Diego. Chef's choice is definigely affordable price and great quality. Uni was extremely expensive though. $22 for 2 pieces, still had phenomenal quality. Overall perfect sushi and sashimi

Kristina Parker (Mrs. Parker)

Google
Me and my husband Brendan stopped in for a quick lunch and we’re so glad we did. We ordered the TNT roll and my go-to rainbow roll (I get it everywhere we go) and both were super fresh and full of flavor. My husband said the spice on his roll was perfect, not too much, just enough to give it a kick. It wasn’t very busy since we came in a little earlier, which was actually really nice. The place was clean with a nice open layout that felt refreshing, kind of like the sushi. We also shared a Tractor lemonade, which was light and super refreshing. Our server Gaby was great. She was friendly, helpful, and had really good customer service without being over the top. We’ll definitely be back. Everything from the food to the atmosphere made this a solid lunch spot.

Akshara Tarkas

Google
Absolutely love the place and overall service! We went in on Sunday night for dinner and it’s wasn’t super busy! Food: We ordered vegetable tempura, Shisoto peppers, fried soy sushi, sea urchin sashimi and madeline roll. The food was superb and the sushi was plenty! The appetitizer were less in quantity, just five pieces for tempura Service: Super sweet and courteous staff! Quite quick and even though the restaurant was closing up in half an hour they didn’t rush us and let us enjoy our meal! Atmosphere: Loved the ambience and overall great! Definitely recommend!
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Briona P.

Yelp
So glad we discovered this amazing new sushi spot! The atmosphere is lively and fun, perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. The fish is incredibly fresh--you can tell they take pride in their ingredients. We tried a mix of sashimi, rolls, and some specialty dishes, and everything was delicious. The staff were friendly and attentive, making great recommendations from the menu. If you're a sushi lover (or even just sushi-curious), you have to check this place out. Sooo good!
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John H.

Yelp
Ok so we ordered a $50 "omakase" just to sample some of their fish. Im not even joking it was just ice cold generic sashimi (salmon, yellowtail, tuna, octopus) all cut 0.5 inch thick so it was disgusting to eat. The ambiance is very good, people were dressed nicely but the service was the "overly friendly fancy restaurant teenager server" style which offputs me. Summary: Taste = taste of food Value = price, expertise, other non-food logistics Novelty = memorability among competitors Taste 1/5, Value 2/5, Novelty 0/5. Final score 1/5
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Tessagds ..

Yelp
My meal is not cheap !!! Sat down ordered.. meal came in time!! Food is amazing.. Not even one waiter ask me if I need anything else!! Which I did needed some ginger to clean my pallet as i devour my Sea Bass Plate!!! Which is by the way amazing!! Service needs to be better when there's only 6 customers dining!!!
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Saleen D.

Yelp
My girlfriends & I came here for lunch on a Saturday. No wait, friendly & fast service, yummy dishes. Tucked all the way in the back corner of the mall. They serve salads, soups, a variety of sushi options, & more. One of the mall's pricier restaurant choice. We each tried one of their Chef's Choice. Blue Way: Edamame, sashimi, sushi. A good way to try a little of everything. Fresh & tasty!
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Kathy T.

Yelp
Blue Ocean is located at UTC, serving a variety of sushi and asian small plates. The restaurant has a clean, modern interior with a lot of table and booth seating. We came at around 6pm on a weekday and were seated pretty quickly. Service was great and attentive. Appetizers: - Popcorn shrimp: asparagus and mushrooms added flavor and texture; shrimp were coated in a tempura batter which didn't hold a crunch but had a nice sweet and savory flavor - Amberjack carpaccio: came with 6 pieces of fish, didn't really taste the yuzu oil; a refreshing and light dish that tastes really good! Rolls: - Madison: Good flavor, big pieces - Surf Turf: Wagyu was very soft and tender, flavorful roll
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Ryan B.

Yelp
Everything we had was delicious! We were so happy to be right near a sushi place since we were already at the mall and needed a good excuse to grab food. Staff was very nice and helpful and the food came out very quickly. We loved the sunshine and marine boy and I never skip a crispy rice.
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Jenny N.

Yelp
Back again! The star of the show this time was the screaming yellowtail. It was soooo good and unique with the (olive, I think) oil! We also got the omakase box! I think it has good value but personally I like my fish and sashimi sliced thinly. The service was really good! Inside was clean and looked nice!
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Jenna D.

Yelp
Clean and airy vibe. Music is fun too. Service was friendly, but our order came out at different times. Loves crispy eggplant appetizer and the albacore delight roll
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Jeanie P.

Yelp
Fantastic view, the omakase box was delicious and perfect for 2. Service was amazing and friendly. We also got the summer roll, no rice! For the low carb peeps! Also shout out to Jared our server.
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Dylan D.

Yelp
Went to this location during their grand opening week and was pleasantly surprised by the quality! Blue Ocean is located near 85 Cafe and on a corner of the mall where an old steakhouse used to be before this restaurant replaced it. The interior is very roomy and has a very nice open floor plan with a ton of tables. I've never had trouble getting a table here but I've always gone around lunch time when it's a little more quiet. The waiters/waitresses were all friendly and willing to offer recommendations when asked about the menu. Whenever I placed my order the food would come out within a short period of time so I didn't have to wait too long especially during my lunch hour. I've tried several options off the menu but the Madison Roll and Tokyo Peach (drink) are both fantastic options for taste! I don't think you could go wrong with any particular choice on the menu since they offer all of the usual works that many other sushi places offer, with their own specialties that have unique flavors. I no longer live as close to this location as I did, however, I wouldn't mind returning to it to try new options on the menu and enjoy the experience again!
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Grace S.

Yelp
3.5 blue crabs My partner and I had gone to UTC with the purpose of grabbing udon. But, seeing as we only eat outdoors, unfortunately there weren't many tables out that weren't shaded from the sun, so we ended up going to Blue Ocean because the outdoor seating was really nice and shaded. Because the restaurant has garage door openings (which I love), we ended up sitting inside but still getting all the benefits of what it was like outdoors. I had never been to any of Blue Ocean's other locations so this was my first introduction. There are a lot of choices, both sashimi and sushi rolls selections as well as warm entrees. Whenever there is a Chef's selection on a sushi menu, it is very difficult to get me away from choosing a chef selection. We ended ordering the following: Agedashi Tofu Rainbow Roll Chef's Selections - Blue Way The agedashi tofu was way more breaded than what I am familiar with, but it was absolutely delicious. I loved how (temperature) hot it was, how crispy it was and the flavor was terrific. And I love the standard bonita flakes on top. About a week later I had ended up at Little Sakana and ordered agedashi there, and the difference between the agedashi here and there was night and day. Not surprising given all you can eat quality would not be as good as a place like Blue Ocean, but I just wanted to highlight the difference. More flavorful, more crispy outside, and better flavour. I was blown away by by the size of the cuts in my Blue Way box. The cuts of fish are incredibly generous and fresh. My partner who ordered the rainbow roll remarked that he should have ordered the Chef's Selection because the amount of fish on his roll were much much thinner than the pieces in my chef's selection. He enjoyed his Rainbow Roll but felt I got a better deal with what I received. The Blue Way comes with - blue crab cut roll, bluefin tuna, salmon nigiri, albacore nigiri, and a seasonal fish nigiri. I had never had a blue crab cut roll so it is why I ordered the Blue Way over the Ocean Way. I didn't love the texture - despite loving blue crab, but that was on me, since I am very texture centered. Everything else was really great, but I will say I am only giving a 3.5 because nothing was very memorable. I would argue that the agedashi tofu was more memorable and my favourite aspect was the size and freshness of the fish. Having a nicer quality sushi place at UTC is definitely nice to see because I love sushi, but I'm not sure how well it will do at its current location given the prices they have. The couple times I have returned to UTC since I went to Blue Ocean one time there were a lot of people in the restaurant, but the second time only had one couple around lunchtime. Compared with Marugame's lines, it is truly night and day. I'm not sure they are unique enough to succeed at this location, but I guess we will see. Two other mentions - service was very respectful and nice as well as helpful as we all asked what recommendations our waiter had. We observed a table where they were feeding food to their dog from the table, another woman sent a whole dish back, and the wait staff were very amicable and gracious considering. The restaurant atmosphere is really relaxing, decor is unique and beautiful and the restaurant is clean.
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serina c.

Yelp
This is a average sushi spot for UTC mall. I went during lunch and shared the box and screaming yellow tail. The yellow tail had a lot of flavor elements to it that was really good. The box was average for me. Certain things were just cut so thick and the quality wasn't melt in your mouth so it didn't taste the best. Couldn't order drinks besides things in can because the bartender wasn't there yet??
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Sunny L.

Yelp
I really like the food here. The caramelized eggplant is very special. Crispy outside and soft inside with sweetness and umami. King salmon sashimi is fresh and an appropriate amount of fat in it. Surf and Turf roll is flavorful and not too spicy. The peach cocktail is sweet and tastes like juice, which I enjoy. Not busy at 8:20 pm when I walked in. Not too noisy environment. Service is okay. The Asian waitress that night was rude. She said that I should not seat without guidance but I was welcomed by another waiter. She didn't listen to that, which is awkward for me, but clear not for her. I still give 5 stars for the food here. But I really don't like this waitress.
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Coleen R.

Yelp
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill at UTC Mall is a great spot for casual sushi while shopping. Tucked away in the back of the mall, it has a surprisingly large space with decor that perfectly fits a coastal San Diego vibe. We ordered the Blue Way Box, which offered a delicious assortment of items--a perfect choice for sampling a variety of flavors. Everything was fresh and tasty, making it an enjoyable meal in a relaxed setting. If you're in the area and craving sushi, Blue Ocean is definitely worth a visit for a convenient and satisfying dining experience.
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Rom P.

Yelp
A breath of fresh air when in the area. You know that there a ton of choices when deciding where to eat at UTC mall. The ambiance was great and it is open so even though you are eating inside you can still enjoy the outside. We stopped by for lunch and we shared the bento with tuna and salmon sashimi. We also had the pork bun made with pork belly (it is a deconstructed bao bun and it was excellent). Service was great and wait staff is very attentive. Good place to grab a quick lunch.
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Jason Y.

Yelp
...my usual order is the blue way, with seasonal nigiri, bluefin toro sashimi, and blue crab rolls. just enough for those with heartier appetites. comes with edamame on the side. the fish is fresh and high quality. i recommend this spot as a healthier alternative to the food court. this restaurant is located at the west end of the UTC mall.
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Soo H.

Yelp
I remember the first time I visited this place it was Smokeyard Bbq.  I was sad it went out of business as the food was good. Fried dumplings had a crispy wrapper and a tasty pork and cabbage filling.  Very good dish except the filling had a bit more salty flavor than I'd like. Miso glazed Chilean sea bass.  The sea bass had a light char on the outside and inside was tender and delicate sea bass.  Flavor was amazing.  I've had this dish at King's Fish House and they are similar in how high quality the sea bass is and how expertly cooked the sea bass was.  I ordered it with zucchini and the zucchini was cooked just right.  Not mushy and not raw.  Rice was moist and I liked the mild flavor. 2nd visit I tried the Korean bbq short rib.  It came with rice which was moist and I enjoyed the mild flavor which went well with the bold flavors from the short rib.  Short ribs were tender and packed with flavor from being marinated in a sweet soy sauce.  Great tasting dish.  I would have liked some more short ribs as I was still a little hungry after this $32 dish. Complimentary soda water was cold and refreshing. So far the short ribs are my favorite dish here.  Staff was friendly and provided excellent service.
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Vivian T.

Yelp
Initially I was going to pick up a roll from their grab and go bar but decided to try some small items from the menu and dined in instead. I've had my share of rolls and their poke bowl from Harumama before and those would be my go-to when making a selection here. Service was spotty throughout the night and being tucked in the corner did not help much as I waited quite a while for my order to be taken. My order of sashimi salad and crispy tuna rice didn't take long to arrive, though! My thoughts on the sashimi salad were that the amount of sashimi included was generous and the dressing was spicy and flavorful. The spicy tuna on the crispy rice didn't have flavor, and the lemon miso aioli was kind of confusing and sweet. Presentation wise, their dishes look upscale with what I saw. If I were to dine again, I'd take advantage of their lunch specials or try their chef specials. However, I do like the convenience of grabbing some of their ready to go rolls and other appetizers as this is the first time I've seen a section like this at a restaurant!
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Allison W.

Yelp
Yay!! We get a Blue Ocean down in our parts of SD now! Stopped by for a quick lunch with the fam and was delighted by the family friendly atmosphere. This is anything but a random sushi spot in the mall. Their food options were plenty and their happy hour menu wasn't too overwhelming. Service was great and available most of the time we were there! All in all, a good, sit down & enjoy experience at a usually very busy mall.
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Han-Nha T.

Yelp
3.5 stars At first I thought this place was expensive until I saw the portions. Quantity/$ comparable to a casual sushi roll place. This place also had very nice seating and ambiance although i could see it getting very loud. Would be a nice place for an impressive date as the food isn't the main draw, rather ambiance. I'm sure they also have nice drinks. Sushiwise, the quality isn't quite up to par with such an upscale place. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's just not as expected. The flavor combos didn't work that well. We got a roll with fish and steak and werent convinced it's a good idea. Also a surprising amount of imitation crab on the menu. It is still a new restaurant (servers arent super in sync yet), so hopefully as they continue refining it gets better.
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Maricel A.

Yelp
Staff was very sweet, friendly and attentive. The location is very open. Our seating was indoors. We chose hamachi Kama, surf and turf roll, and ocean's way. These three items were definitely filling enough for two people. All of the sashimi on the ocean's way was super fresh!
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Mary M.

Yelp
Ordered the Rainbow Spider roll and the Padres roll. Filling portion, really nice plating, quality ingredients. The Padres roll was savory, had good sauce, and I LOVED generous the soft crab topping. The Rainbow Spider definitely one of the higher quality I've had and more rainbow roll than spider roll. A bit too much caviar on top but that's personal preference. Nice spot good location friendly staff variety of options. Ambient music and big windows with sunlight.
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Satranina L.

Yelp
Came in for lunch and was seated right away. This place is really nice. The staff is really nice. I ordered a Tokyo peach cocktail and it was so refreshing. I also got fried rice and a California roll. Everything was so good. The California really stood out. Usually the place I go to are more rice than filling but the roll was more filling then rice.
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Valerie M.

Yelp
They get it right every time. Fantastic service. Oscar the manager is so thoughtful. One of The servers jose makes sure to say hi when he sees us. Quan is that way too. So kind and they actually acknowledge you. Try to accommodate you. There was only one time we had bad service. Don't know her name, again gal have us the worst service. Forgot to bring stuff, had to keep asking. Other than that one time, it's been incredible the sushi is fresh, the salmon sashimi is thick cut, comes on a bed of ice, gorgeous presentation. The rooms are creative and not your regular combinations like most places. They'll make you what you want too if course. Hope I got their names correct!
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Peter E.

Yelp
My wife and I stopped by during the soft opening and enjoyed our visit. We sat outside and ordered draft Sapporos and hot sake to drink, and some edamame to munch on. The edamame was well above average. All very good. Looking forward to future visits.
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Emily J.

Yelp
Hmm... after dining at Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill twice, I definitely have some mixed feelings about this restaurant... The first time I dined here, I came here with one of my friends who was visiting the San Diego area, and we both loved our experience + the food. We arrived for lunch around 12PM on a Saturday, and were promptly seated as the restaurant was relatively empty when we had arrived. I ordered the Chef Specialty Tempura Roll, and we had also ordered the Popcorn Shrimp to share. I'm typically not a huge roll-person (and generally prefer nigiri/sashimi), but was pleasantly surprised by the roll that I had ordered, as the tempura offered a nice crunch with each bite. The roll was also reasonably priced for its portion size, so I was happy to see that. Similarly, the Popcorn Shrimp was also tasty, and both my friend and I almost immediately devoured it while waiting for our rolls. I loved my first experience here so much that I decided to come back with my boyfriend that following Tuesday, however, was disappointed by the difference in the quality of the food. The second time around, my boyfriend and I ordered 3 different rolls to share between the two of us, in addition to the house salad. In hindsight, this was more than enough food for the two of us, but at the time, we couldn't decided what to order since everything on the menu seemed so appealing. Everything was... fine... nothing was too special but the one roll that did stand out to me was Albacore Delight, which unfortunately was anything but delightful. Albacore Delight - this roll consists of an albacore/krab/miso mix, along with albacore, avocado, green onion, ponzu, and chili oil, and was sadly DRENCHED with chili oil. Overall, the roll felt almost soggy, and it wasn't the most pleasant experiencing chewing a mouthful of albacore/krab mix along with heavy amounts of chili oil. I'm not sure if the roll was designed to be like that, or if they just happened to have an off day, but my second dining experience here definitely tainted my overall perception of Blue Ocean :( will cut them some slack since it is their soft opening, however :') Ambiance - The overall ambiance of the restaurant is nice. There's plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors, and can be a good choice to dine at with either a small or large group, as there are various size tables that cater to different group sizes. The restaurant is overall very clean, and feels very relaxed.
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Alyssa N.

Yelp
Food was delicious, the Sunshine roll was so fresh and insanely flavorful. Fried soy protein roll had a nice texture, was well flavored, not too overwhelming or underwhelming in taste. Veggie Tempura was crispy, well fried, came out piping hot and was delectable. Tako salad had so much flavor and was so incredibly fresh. Spicy Garlic Edamame packed a nice punch and was delicious. Service was great, our waiter Mateo was very attentive to our dining experience. Checked in on us multiple times throughout our meal and made sure we had condiments, waters, utensils replenished when needed. Major shoutout to Mateo, fantastic customer service. Ambiance of the restaurant was great. Very intimate and homey vibes and despite being at a mall, created a relaxing and peaceful break from the busy, bustling energy outside the restaurant. Highly recommend dining here!
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Vicky K.

Yelp
We love Blue Ocean Carlsbad and Blue Ocean in La Jolla! This was the first time we've come to the Blue Ocean in UTC. They have mostly the same menu except for the beloved three course and the fried rice is different. We love that there is no wait though, great spot to grab a bite when we are in the area.
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Gillian W.

Yelp
This review is based on the restaurant's soft opening. So far, everything was great. The fish was fresh and the size they cut is pretty big. My friend and I were full half way through our meal. The place is super nice and spacious on the inside. They have an outdoor area which is great if you bring your dog. We ordered the omakase box and the blue ocean - both were priced pretty decent. I'd like to come back for their grand opening soon!
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Viv N.

Yelp
Blue Ocean in La Jolla is a family favorite so when we heard they were expanding to UTC, we had to stop by during their soft opening! They don't take reservations but there's really no need. We only had a 5-10 minute wait at 6:30 pm on a Saturday night for a table of 4. Plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. The hostess was super nice and friendly, but service was a little weird. The waitress at our table only gave us 1 side of wasabi and ginger. When we requested wasabi/ginger for each of us, she only gave us 1 more. So we had to explain to her that we each wanted a side. It's usually a given at other restaurants so that was kinda bizarre. Regardless, we enjoyed everything we got!! The fish tasted so fresh & the rolls were filling yet delicious. At other places, rolls tend to come with 8 pcs but here you get 10 (at least for what we ordered) so that was a nice surprise. We also felt that the prices were really good for the portions & quality. My family eats a lot of sushi/sashimi so we know what's worth it!! You honestly can't go wrong with anything here and we will for sure be back :-) FYI: They don't have Harumama at this location so their menu doesn't include character buns, ramen, etc!
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Katrina D.

Yelp
Came here for soft opening and everything we tried was delicious! Albacore delight roll: 5/5 My favorite out of the entire meal. The fish was very fresh and the inside was very creamy it was melt in your mouth. A little spicy with the chili oil but I think it works really well! Madison roll: 4.5/5 This roll was insane, for $21 you get both fatty seared toro as well as blue crab on the inside which I think is pretty good value compared to other sushi spots. The toro on top was very fatty and such thick slices!! So yum. There is fresh wasabi chopped on the top so if you like wasabi, this is a good roll for you ! The soy mustard sauce and chili oil sauce on it was really good too. Crunch salmon: 3.5/5, This roll was pretty good but I've had the crunch salmon roll at the other La jolla location and theirs is like 10x better. This one only comes with 6 pieces vs 8 pieces and not as much crunch topping. Eel: 5/5 This was really good as well! For $7, you get 2 pieces which I think is pretty good. Excellent quality and very fresh! Overall the entire experience was great! Rinaldo was our server and he gave some suggestions and answered any of our questions. Lots of seating inside and overall ambiance is really nice!
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Ashley L.

Yelp
Yummy fresh sushi, I love their happy hour prices and our hostess Jenny was super nice and welcoming! We ordered the nigiri plate, popcorn shrimp and a cucumber wrapped roll. The cucumber roll was so light and refreshing and the fish was so fresh. Definitely coming back!
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Lara C.

Yelp
We came at Saturday noon and were seated right away. We ordered two Marin Boy's, Spider roll, Bake Toro, and spicy edamame. They were all so good! The Bake Toro was my favorite, it had a unique taste and melted in my mouth. Overall food and service were great and I would definitely go again and try more rolls!
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J. M.

Yelp
Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill is by far my favorite new place to enjoy fresh sushi! I My husband and I stumbled upon this sushi restaurant last week while shopping at the UTC Mall. When you first walk in, you're welcomed to a sleek and modern interior. The restaurant is extremely clean and organized. We ordered a variety of rolls. including the Blue Way, which serves as one of the chefs recommendations. Everything was delicious! The staff were very attentive and our food arrived so quickly after we ordered. We probably waited about 5-10 minutes in total before beginning to eat. I highly recommend Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill.
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Myrna G.

Yelp
Went here for a friend's birthday and was so much fun. Our waitress was so sweet and very relatable. The sushi was very filling. I especially loved the rainbow spider as the crab adds a nice crunch to the middle of the roll. There seemed to be a good mix of people there for casual dinner and a date night.

Claire Y.

Yelp
I got the miso sea bass and the madison roll and both were amazing. Both dishes were so flavorful and visually appealing. The ambiance was great and would want to try going for dinner. A little pricey, but won't be disappointed!
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Keri W.

Yelp
I really liked how this business stepped up when I posted my last review. It showed they care about their restaurant and their customer's experience. Went back last week and had a good experience. The food was great and the service was on point. I ordered the bento box and a roll. Both were very yummy. The sashimi in the bento box were huge pieces and very fresh. The roll was good and very flavorful. No issues at all. The only suggestion I would have for the restaurant as a whole is to close the doors during this warm weather. There were quite a few flies. I know flies are everywhere right now but I feel if they closed the doors it would minimize them. Again, had a great lunch and I will return.
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LaRae B.

Yelp
I was impressed with Blue Ocean in the UTC mall. When we first arrived I noticed a large table had just placed their orders and I thought "Oh no, we are going to wait a long time for our food." However, this was not the case at all. Our drinks came out quickly and our mains came out faster than expected. We ordered the Chef's Selection "Ocean Way" and a few other sashimi items. Everything was balanced and tasty. They had a nice wine list too. Service was friendly and the space is cute. The only thing I didn't love was something the restaurant has zero control over and that's the paid Westfield Mall parking. The ticket dispenser at the entrance wasn't working so I was sort of stressing how we were going to get out after dinner. NBD but that dang paid parking lot is so irritating. LOL
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JiaJia T.

Yelp
So great having this addition to the shopping mall! The space is modern, airy and spacious. I love that the outdoor and indoor seating are connected giving it a more open feel. Looking at the menu, I thought prices were on the higher side but I thought well, the location. However, upon receiving the food, I can see why. The fish portions are generous and quality is excellent. The blue way, toro sushi, rainbow spider, and dragon rolls were all fresh and tasty. The service was good with my water being filled the whole time. The only gripe I have is that while we were eating, a lady and a kid came around asking for money and then asking for sushi from our plate! I'm not sure how they got past the hostess but I think in the future they should be more wary of these people who were pushy and didn't hesitate to interrupt people's dinners.
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Jessica D.

Yelp
what I ordered | ocean way box | caramelized eggplant | calamari taste | the caramelized eggplant appetizer was probably my favorite and one of the albacore sushi. The the blue fin sashimi was alright. The toro roll was good service | servers were nice. parking | westfield utc parking garage notes | their happy hour menu has some pretty good deals. Will need to come back for their sushi rolls!

Maria K.

Yelp
Literally the best fish ever So fresh and tasty Kinda on the pricier side but well worth the $$$ Nice atmosphere too
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Imee C.

Yelp
This restaurant is right next to Macy's in UTC. There's plenty of parking and 1st 2 hours is free. We came for a late lunch, early dinner and were seated right away. The place was pretty busy. Sushi we ordered were very good and tasted fresh. This will be a place I will go to again so I can give a more detailed review.
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Jeanette J.

Yelp
YUM YUM YUM! My absolute favorite sushi ever ! They have the most fresh quality fish and everything is delicious. My bestie and I come here every week mainly to the UTC location. All the staff members are super attentive and sweet. They definitely recognize you if you're a regular. Yellowtail jalapeño and play boy are my favorite! Must try!!!!
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Christine B.

Yelp
Blue Ocean is a new addition to Westfield UTC mall! There is plenty of parking with the first 2 hours being free. Blue Ocean is near Macy's toward the MTS parking lot of the mall. The hostess was very nice and friendly! It is not too crowded and the food tastes amazing! I ordered the king salmon sashimi, and it was so fresh. The fish is soft, a nice orange color, and the cuts were thicker than average. In addition, their rolls are pretty good too. I ordered the sunshine roll, and the spicy dressing was so delicious and went well with the flavor of fish! It was a pleasant surprise of how there is pretty good quality sushi at the mall! I would definitely return.
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Jimmy T.

Yelp
Met up with some coworkers to try out this new sushi place in the UTC mall. It's near the 85c Bakery in the newer part of the mall where most of the eateries are at. It was a weekday so it wasn't crowded at all. It's a nice place with modern decorations. I believe there's a bar inside for drinks. They have a lunch menu to go with their regular menu. Lots of selections from sushi to other dishes. I went with the lunch bento box and that was plenty of food. Will have to try this place again and check out the other food choices.
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Lam B.

Yelp
Being an aficionado of the other Blue Ocean, I was excited to see another location with better parking. Given the location I highly recommend parking near Macy's or 24 Fitness. They were quite filled for Friday night but I was able to walk in without a reservation. The menu was smaller than other locations, missing the larger omakase, noodles and baos. The servers were excellent. Sushi came out first followed by any hot items. =ORDERED= *Ocean Way: a good shareable for 2. The toro roll was fatty and simple. The bluefin tuna sashimi was melty and not fishy in the slightest. The nigiri was massive compared to the one I received a la carte. The albacore was my favorite and it went well with the yuzu--although less could have been used. The salmon was fatty and the sesame flavor was subtle. The yellowtail was a bit chewy and the truffle oil wasn't prominent. *Rice Crunch Spicy Tuna: the rice block was very big compared to the smaller scoop of spicy tuna on top. The spicy tuna was rather bland and each piece was strangely placed atop a goop of mayonnaise. Despite it being called a spicy aioli, the sauce was incredibly sweet. The mentioned lemon miso wasn't detectable. *Hokkaido Scallop Nigiri: the cut of scallop was on the thinner side so the chew wasn't as satisfying. The yuzu flavoring was overpowering so I couldn't taste the natural sweetness. *Cherry Blossom: the combination didn't give off floral or citrusy flavors. Tasted more like a dull Shirley Temple. The pour was generous but the mix should be refined. I was most impressed by the chef's selection while the a la carte items seemed unpolished or executed poorly. The prices weren't outrageous so I can see this being a fun date spot for students nearby. I'm happy to see a sushi option at UTC but I prefer the flavors from the other Blue Ocean.
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Yueming Q.

Yelp
I believe this new restaurant will be a popular spot! They are still in soft opening. We walked in on a Friday lunch time. No waiting time and we got a nice seat. The foods here are very very delicious comparing to their prices. Can you believe the big piece of salmon Kama only costs $7.5? My husband giant chef selection sushi plate is $34 with two pieces of bluefin tuna! The restaurant atmosphere is nice, pretty well decorated, kind of modern and luxurious. The only thing is they wrong calculated the price on the bill and we found out...
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Courtney O.

Yelp
Omg this happy hour is AMAZING. the nigiri plate for $17 is unreal. All of their fish is so fresh. Glasses of good wine for $6. Other apps like calamari are so tasty too. We come like 1x a week since we moved here. Great service. Chill atmosphere. Our server matt was great! Every server we have is great just didn't get their names too.
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Denise R.

Yelp
My group and I visited during Soft Opening. The ambience is cozy and the service made my party feel very taken care of. Matt was our server and he accommodated for giving us recommendations for the dishes for the "most gains " and was attentive to our needs. I recommend the apple dumplings! Very refreshing and new for a dessert dish! The fish quality was incredible and fresh. The plating was beautiful. The music was predominantly modern RnB, like Bryson Tiller, SZA, and Kehlani, which honestly was the cherry on top for me. I will definitely be coming back.