Temaki Bar Sushi

Sushi restaurant · Encinitas

Temaki Bar Sushi

Sushi restaurant · Encinitas

4

575 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024

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Temaki Bar Sushi by Robert Reyes
Temaki Bar Sushi by Temaki Bar
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Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null
Temaki Bar Sushi by null

Highlights

Fresh hand rolls, sushi, and sake near the beach  

Featured in Eater
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575 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024 Get directions

temakibarsushi.com
@temakibarsushi

$20–30 · Menu

Information

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575 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024 Get directions

+1 760 704 8888
temakibarsushi.com
@temakibarsushi

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 20, 2025

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@eater

The Best Romantic Restaurants in San Diego for Date Night | Eater San Diego

"The Encinitas sushi bar offers a perfect date-night situation, whether dining at the bar counter or sitting at a more intimate table for two. Starters like crispy bang bang shrimp swathed in a spicy gochujang mayo and thinly sliced beef tataki are made to share; roll sets, which come with three ($17), four ($21), or five ($26) different hand rolls, make for a fun way to try different fish preparations without breaking bank. Sake, wines, and beer on tap complete the picture." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-romantic-restaurants-date-night-valentines-day-san-diego
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Restaurants Open on Christmas or Christmas Eve for Dinner in San Diego 2021 | Eater San Diego

"Chef JoJo Ruiz is adding a twist to the holidays with his Merry Maki menu, showcasing sushi rolls and Brussels sprouts. The Bomb Squad is composed of Skye steelhead trout with honey mustard miso and pickled jalapenos. Pair with Soonhari apple mango soju or Santa’s Little Helper, an Imperial stout from Port Brewing Company. Menus are available throughout December." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-christmas-dinners-san-diego-restaurants
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Where to Dine In or Get Takeout for Christmas and Christmas Eve in San Diego

"Chef JoJo Ruiz is adding a twist to the holidays with his Merry Maki menu, showcasing sushi rolls. The Bad Santa Handy is composed of yellowfin tuna and scallops, and the Krampus with tempura shrimp and green apple pop rocks. They’re also hosting a holiday menu with three hand rolls and two drinks for $20, ideal for large get-togethers. Menus are available throughout December." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/where-to-eat-on-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-in-san-diego
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Temaki Bar Bringing Japanese Hand Rolls and Sake to Encinitas - Eater San Diego

"Clique Hospitality’s Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake is scheduled to splash open on Tuesday, November 1. The 2,500-square-foot space will feature a central sushi bar where chefs assemble each temaki, or sushi hand roll, to order. Executive chef JoJo Ruiz and executive sushi chef Sebastian Sevilla are ensuring peak serving conditions. The menu will include sashimi, nigiri, cut rolls, and starters like beef tataki and tuna poke bowls, with a selection of premium sake, wine on tap, and sake bombs with local craft beer." - Candice Woo

https://sandiego.eater.com/2022/10/13/23402592/temaki-bar-handroll-sushi-sake-japanese-restaurant-new-opening-clique-encinitas
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My Le

Google
We loved dining at the location in Vegas and loved that Encinitas does not come with the Vegas price tag and the space can fit so many people but the quality was lacking. We got the 5 set (salmon, shrimp, scallop, yellowtail, spicy tuna) and added three more (blue crab, toro, albacore). Spicy tuna is always good because of the crispies. Salmon is usually good but I find that the shrimp had the most flavor. The scallops were creamy and bland. The blue crab had no flavor. Basically most were lacking flavor. They say hand rolls are best to be consumed within the first 10 seconds to get the best crispy crunchiness of the nori. Well, it was a big disappointment because the nori was chewy and didn’t break off easily at every bite. That’s supposed to be the most satisfying. Good thing we always order a side of yuzukoshu. We also got the temaki spicy. 2 for 1 sauce deal. Everything taste better if dipped in this sauce. Now I need redemption at the Vegas location next month to complete my hand roll craving.

Ali Dugaw (Gluten Free Travel Girl)

Google
Excellent sushi - the fish is so fresh and tender. Skip the traditional rolls and try the hand rolls, it’s what they’re known for, hence the name Temaki. We loved the lobster, spicy scallop and the pop and rock hand rolls. The super ninja buddy roll is killer, so many flavors. So grateful for so many gluten free options too!

Kerrie LaVey

Google
Just had a wonderful meal and experience here!!! The food was insane and MaCKS our server was funny and fun and engaging and efficient! We met the chef Kevin as well who killed our dinner and was a cool ass person. Driving here from north park again asap!

Kate

Google
We were upset after visiting this place. We came home (2 hours by car from this place) and saw that $120.72 was taken from our account, although it was not dinner, we just hop over to have a snack and did not order much. We ordered: Rainbow roll - $16 3 hand roll (set) - $17 Sapporo - $8 Sake - $13 Total - $54 Ok, plus tax and tips, but not $120! The whole impression of this place was ruined… Be careful and check the receipt!

Chris

Google
Hand rolls may be $6.50, but it’s SUPER small compared to a traditional hand roll. Pricing is not good here despite what other reviews say. Yes, it may be cheaper for a handroll here, but you get way less. Service was good at 6pm on a Wednesday evening. It’s all bar seating, aside from two (2-seater) tables on the left. Food quality is good, but if you’re genuinely wanting good sushi, go else where like Kai Ola in Leucadia or else where. This is not it. It’s more of a bar, that has sushi style items.

MK

Google
My friend and I had lunch here, and everything was fantastic. The sushi we ordered, including hand rolls and nigiri, was incredibly fresh and delicious. The miso soup, green tea, and sake were also excellent. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the restaurant felt very clean. The staff was exceptionally friendly and welcoming. We were extremely satisfied with our experience and highly recommend this place!

Timmy Doesn’t Share Food

Google
Service was very good. Extremely attentive waitress and all the other staff were pleasant. Sushi: Rolls are well enough, nothing special but by no means bad. The salmon nigiri special I had was above average and I’d come back for it. Between service and food id absolutely come back. Pretty sure they are of the same owner/brand as the location id the Cosmo in Vegas. Worth checking out -

Cherilyn Jones

Google
Portions are on the smaller side. They have fun bingo on Monday 6pm. The super ninja bunny roll was amazing. Not impressed with the other rolls we tried. The Brussels were good. And the spicy tuna fried rice appetizer was yummy, super tiny amount.
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Kai C.

Yelp
I loved this place. I came here with friends and we had such a fun time. We all got the hand roll sets, and each roll was super yummy. I enjoyed the variety of seafood used per roll. I also enjoyed the use of crispy garlic and some small rice balls to add crunch and texture to the rolls. My ranking of the 5 set rolls: 1. Scallop 2. Spicy Tuna 3. Shrimp 4. Yellowtail 5. Salmon I also appreciated our server, she like radiated "cool girl" but also super friendly energy. She did the sake bomb chant with us which was fun. She was also super attentive throughout the night. Random side note, my friends and I enjoyed how high the ceiling was, like when we entered the bathroom, it was kinda cool to see the tall doors and etc. Overall great experience and I also think everything was reasonably priced!
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Ania K.

Yelp
Delicious handrolls, sushi, and sake just three blocks from the ocean. Love eating and walking to the beach afterwards and the beautiful city of Encinitas offers that with many of their wonderful restaurants. So far I've tried the spicy tuna crispy rice that I highly recommend with chili garlic and citrus ponzu. Love the crispy to very soft textures. The yellowtail sashimi offers a burst of brightness and melts on your tongue. And if you enjoy handrolls the Dre's Pop N'Rock is unique and fun with pop rocks, crispy bang bang shrimp, and mango. A little spicy and a tad sweet. Once again the textures in this roll are awesome and love the addition of pop rocks with sushi! The space is a lot of fun with mostly bar seating. It's very open and airy. They do offer different promotions ranging from monthly specials, lunch deals, and happy hour. As I wrote this review I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying other items.
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Tijera W.

Yelp
i would not recommend this place to others! ‍ TL;DR: the customer service is unwelcoming and inattentive! they don't clean up the dirty plates and mess well after guests have finished their food! the fish is not fresh and my roll i purchased had no flavor! upon entering the restaurant, i stood next to the sign that said "wait here to be seated by host" for 30 seconds before one of the many waiters acknowledged me (the waiters were not busy). one of the waiters said i could sit anywhere however there were dirty plates and a big mess where i chose to sit! i asked the waiter if she could clean the areas next to me! (its bar sitting so there were dirty plates on the left and right of me) while she cleaned the mess she asked, "how many people will be dining with you?" i thought that was quite a funny question because she knew it was only me when she told me to sit anywhere! she asked that question because i asked her to clean the mess to the left and right of me which was a bit sarcastic! who wants to eat next to dirty plates and a mess right next to you?! not me! fast forward to me finishing my food, another waiter came to pick up my plates and the plates of the guests next to me! but did not clean the mess! ‍ the customer service was very poor, unwelcoming, and inattentive! the food was not good! you can't have bad customer service AND bad food! the fish was not fresh! i got salmon nigiri and the salmon was tough and overly chewy! i also got the shredder roll! it was flavorless and bland! i had to ask for spicy mayo to finish it! one thing i did like was that it was happy hour and they had a house wine for $5! the wine was really good!
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Diana V.

Yelp
Great spot. Love the open air bar. Very attentive. I true San Diego vibe. I'll come back here every time I'm back in Encinitas. Loved the salmon hand roll.
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Sean C.

Yelp
Tried Temaki tonight and was blown away at the quality/taste of the fish along with the modern vibe and solid service. Will def be back, thank you Clayton and JT!
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Melody K.

Yelp
I came here 2 time when vacationing in Del Mar with my friend in the past and loved it. This time around we came again 2 more times in August, on a Monday at 12:30 PM. and a Tuesday at 12 PM., both times the restaurant was empty. All together both time we ordered a Rainbow Roll, a 5 Roll Set, 2 Spicy Hand Rolls and a Miso Soup. My miso soup was luke warm, the rolls were good not great, needed more fish inside, less rice, but was lacking a bit was service and continuity of delivering rolls... long waits between rolls which made the whole experience drag on. My friend was much more of a fan of Temaki than I was because of the unique warming up of the seaweed covers on the Hand Rolls. If we come again I'll have to try other dishes other than the Hand Rolls. Atmosphere: fun trendy upbeat. Service: OK. Food: fell out of love with Hand Rolls and luke warm soup.
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Lori M.

Yelp
We stopped for a light snack. We didn't order much but whatever we ordered was great. Our first try was the bang bang shrimp. They had it in the happy hour menu for $5. Next up was the Crunch Roll. Try tasty. We also ordered Beef Tataki, wasn't what we expected but still good. We didn't not realize it was seared beef, only the edges were cooked the middle was raw. We ordered another bang bang shrimp since the first was so good. The seating is all bar stools so make sure you don't mind sitting at the bar. You can sit facing the street and people watch.
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Ryan M.

Yelp
3.5 stars Very good value. The 5 hand roll set is a great deal! $26 for salmon yellowtail, scallop, spicy tuna and shrimp. My favorite of the bunch was the scallop tender and sweet. My least favorite was the salmon, I thought it was kinda tasteless. The spicy tuna was made with gochujang, I prefer it with sambal. It's a stronger flavor but just my preference. I ordered a toro hand roll, it was ok. I also got the spicy bang bang shrimp which was also made with gochujang. I liked the crispy battered outside. They are on the happy hour menu 3-5 Mon-Thurs. I did like the temaki hand roll style because of the crispy texture of the nori, it's a nice transition from cut rolls to nigiri and also a bit more filling. There was a large central sushi bar so that many people can eat at the counter which I think most people prefer. Service was very friendly I enjoyed myself.
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Emmett T.

Yelp
The concept of a dedicated sushi bar serving temaki (hand rolls) seemed solid to me. I wonder why it couldn't survive in the Convoy District and instead has blossomed much further north in downtown Encinitas. We arrived for a recent weekend lunch after finding open curbside parking along Highway 101. Temaki Bar Sushi has a sister location in Las Vegas, but nothing else in California so the folks in North County San Diego are fortunate to have this business in its midst. Thirty-six diners could sit around the central bar. If you add the seats along the countertops adjacent to the front windows and a couple of two top tables, then we're talking a total capacity of about 50 customers. Happy Hour was from 3 to 5 pm on Monday through Thursday. Monthly specials were also offered. The main menu consisted of starters, hand rolls, cut rolls, sashimi, and nigiri. We noticed that minimal staff were deployed to cover all the spots around the bar. Machines to pre-form rice balls and to wrap the cut rolls aided the chefs in the preparation process. Prefilled piping bags containing seafood mixtures were used to fill the interior of certain rolls. While it detracted from the authenticity of making sushi, the speed and efficiency to keep up with orders were maximized. It's likely to be the model going forward to temper the increasing cost of human labor. My friend ordered a five hand roll set which was priced at an affordable $26. We also split the Crispy Bang Bang Shrimp as an appetizer. Gochujang mayo and scallions coated the outside of the shrimp pieces which were mildly spicy. I picked three different a la carte hand rolls that happened to be the most expensive in this sequence... King Crab, Maine Lobster, and Toro. I liked the lobster hand roll the best because of the succulent claw meat. The toro quality was okay but a step down from the local high-end sushi spots. Value was the major positive attribute of Temaki Bar Sushi. You will not find prices like this for hand roll sets in central San Diego or anywhere else in the County for that matter. I thought our lunch experience fell between a four and a five star rating.
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Danielle K.

Yelp
THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE!!!! We visit around here a lot and ive been dying to try this place and it's finally happened. Luckily we did not have to wait. We were seated at the bar and everyone was very nice! Mia took care of us. The menu is simple and has good offerings. We had the 4 hand roll set, the crispy rice spicy tuna, and the shredder roll. OMGGGGG i cant stress this enough - it was amazing. Great mingling of flavors with the fish and so so fresh. Sadly i didnt get any photos because i ate it! The handrolls i got were: salmon (GOOD portion no skimping here), yellowtail (so delicious i had 2), shrimp (didnt think i was gonna like it but i was wrong!!), and albacore. Guys. I kept saying "it's so good!! Im having so much fun!!" That my mom was about to tape my mouth over. ITS SO GOOD! The spicy tuna on crispy rice had a good citrusy type of sauce on the bottom which was just fantastic and the shredder roll was also fresh and had a lemony dip. My mom really enjoyed it. Everything came out fast. Prices are reasonable for the quality. I feel like this is a place where you can sit back, relax, and have a super fun time. Lighting is dim and everything is clean and cozy. Can't wait to bring my husband back!!
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Dung N.

Yelp
My friend invited me to try their seasonal omakase back in February. It came with miso soup, yellowfin tataki, halibut, baja striped bass, chutoro, kanpachi, hokkaido scallop, snapper, salmon, o-toro, bluefin, and surf and turf nigiris. The nigiris had some unique flavors to it! It was the first day they had the omakase and I think the chef did a great job! We also got mochi for dessert. For an $85 omakase, this is a pretty good deal!
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Claire J.

Yelp
What a lovely menu! Love the options here, not an overwhelming amount of options like some sushi spots, yet still a nice variety of choices. We got a spicy tuna hand roll, the crunch roll, and the super ninja bunny-- all to our liking !! The super ninja bunny roll (while of course a little pricey due to caviar, truffle oil etc.) was so yummy and completely worth it. Definitely something you won't often find at other sushi spots. My only comment is that we couldn't particularly taste the brown butter aioli due to the truffle flavor, but really not complaining. We'd come back for this specifically! A lovely atmosphere with kind staff also :)
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Tara R.

Yelp
I'm a huge stickler when it comes to sushi and I'm sorry to say SD does not have good sushi. I maybe have 2 places that I like in SD and now I can add another place...Temaki Bar Sushi. I always go to Kazunori in LA have been trying to find some place similar. I tried Temaki during Restaurant Week and loved it. I ended up coming back the following weekend. My top favorites are the Specialty Nigiri: Hamachi, Yellowfin & Salmon (in that order). Now let's talk about the hand rolls. Rated best to least fave: Yellowtail, Toro, Albacore, Salmon. The sauce in the yellowtail and albacore really make these hand rolls pop!!! Salmon is typically my absolute favorite/go to but the first time I had the salmon hand roll it was off and fishy. Luckily the 2nd time I went it was better. I'm not a fan of the shrimp so unfortunately i can't order the Roll Sets because they don't allow swapping out of any rolls. I just order everything al la carte. Staff/service is great. It's a bar so nothing crazy. Very chill ambiance. Parking looks intimidating but just park in the neighborhoods a block over. I always go about 11:30 so it's never crowded but highly recommend coming here.
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Mai W.

Yelp
Decent hand roll spot. Not the best but it's a nice place to go to if you're near the coast. My favorites are the crispy tuna rice, and their hand rolls obviously. You can't go wrong with a spicy tuna hand roll or otoro roll. It's all pretty basic stuff. You just can't go wrong with a hand roll. There's a cool machine that makes the rules so your food comes out pretty quickly. The bunny ninja roll had nice presentation but just go ahead and pass on this. It wasn't really that good. It's all bar seating so I wouldn't say this place is very family-friendly. Nor would it be good for good groups who want to talk to each other. This is a good spot for a casual date or lunch to meet up with a friend!
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Kathleen T.

Yelp
Happy hour was great!! I got spicy edamame it was sweet spicy and very flavorful ! The portion was big too for $3 I also tried their seaweed salad that was also tasty & good portioned for $4 Then I tried 2 HH salmon hand rolls for $4 This was my first time trying hand roll and I think the sushi maker did a good job with filling and sealing the hand rolls! My first one tasted a lil fishy but probs was my fault I didn't eat it right away, but my second was good! I also tried their HH sake that was $5 and I loved it! One of the best sakes I've had in awhile! In total everything was $20 and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I'll be back
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Stephanie O.

Yelp
Came in on a Sunday afternoon at the recommendation of several friends and were seated right away. The restaurant was open and pleasantly quiet atmosphere. We were able to order quickly and food arrived reasonably quick. We started with the beef tataki with was tender and flavorful. The crunchy bubble were a nice texture different against the tender slice of beef. The blue crab and spicy tuna hand rolls were good though we both had an unsuspecting surprise in each. My husband found a hard chunk of something, it was not something usually found chopped down fish. I found a piece of shell in my blue crab roll. We then tried the salmon hand roll and it tasted unusually fishy. Our friends who had come a couple days before had told us they also thought the salmon was unusually fishy, not sure what could be the cause. Hopefully when we come back again, we'll have a better review to update our experience.
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Lauren C.

Yelp
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this place!! The vibe in there is so cute and fun but the food was definitely the best part. I highly recommend getting the handroll set. The shrimp and yellowtail had this delicious yuzu aoili that was to dieee for. Their fish tasted very fresh and delicious. Definitely coming back!!
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Rae P.

Yelp
I came here with my sister and our girlfriend, and we had the best experience. The server was Max and he was really nice and very attentive and went above and beyond. The ambience of the restaurant was pretty loud, but not loud enough to where we couldn't hear each other and what we were saying. We sat at a high top and the only critique I would leave is that they only had Coke zero and not Diet Coke but other than that 10 out of 10, recommend.
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Vanessa L.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. I have been looking specifically for hand roll bars and am so glad I stumbled upon one. I have been here 4 times and it never fails to disappoint me each time I went. I love their hand roll sets (I usually get the 5 roll set for $26) but there are also the 3 roll set for $17 and the 4 roll set for $21 so they are all very reasonably priced. I have taken a few friends here and they have all enjoyed it! My only qualm last time I went is that there were some pieces of rice that weren't fully cooked in my hand rolls but that won't stop me from coming back! The owner is also super welcoming and I love the environment and ambiance of the restaurant. It is very open and there are table seating, bar seating so you can see them make your hand rolls in front of you, and seating facing the street. The best part is that they have a points program so after you spend a certain amount you can get $10 off your next meal! I can't wait to come back soon.
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Maya D.

Yelp
This is probably my new favorite sushi spot!! It's so cute and aesthetic I love the Takashi Murakami piece they have inside, very cool. The miso soup is to die for and the rest of the food was amazing!! We were able to get seated right away and the staff were super nice! Will be coming again ‍‍
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Janette A.

Yelp
It was a nice day and was craving sushi. The staff was attentive and I loved how I was able to choose my own spot. It was a chill vibe and close to the beach, which I love! I got the Super Ninja Bunny Roll. One of the best rolls I've ever had. They had me with the caviar and truffle oil on top with this one. For the price point of the roll, was it worth it? YES. Truffle oil and caviar?! Cmon. I also got the 5 handroll special: shrimp, spicy tuna, yellowtail, scallop and salmon. Not gonna lie, the only one I liked were scallops. Everything else was alright. Drink of choice was their hard kombucha POG drink that had a mix of pineapple and guava.
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Sarah K.

Yelp
Delicious sushi with a wide variety! My daughter fell in love with the hand rolls even going so far as to say one was the best she ever had! My Shredder roll was also extremely tasty with a nice citrusy dipping sauce. Service was friendly and efficient and Mia took very good care of us. Nice selection of sake, too. Hipster vibe. Go here if you're in the area!
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Michelle N.

Yelp
Casual, laidback vibes with some delicious Temaki and sushi! Got a chance to try out their monthly menu at the time, which I always appreciate when restaurants do because it keeps the options fresh and fun! - PARKING - There are a few spots right outside the restaurant, but otherwise you'll have to cross your fingers that you'll find a parking space within walkable distance on the neighboring streets. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - One big huge bar in the middle of the restaurant, with a few tables on the perimeter. Decor is modern and they have neat art too. The bar seating is quite tall, at least for me being 5'0. You have two ledges, one where they serve you the Temaki and other rolls, and a lower ledge where you can place your plate and eat. - FOOD - Shishito Peppers: Really nice blistering on these, and super flavorful with the sauce they put on too! Specialty Nigiri: Salmon/Yellowtail/Tuna. This was also a monthly special where they torched the nigiri pieces, all were absolutely amazing!! I loved the flavor combinations they had with each of the fish. Ninja Bunny Roll: I honestly wanted to see the ninja bunny holder so we ordered this as it was the only way to get it. I did really like the roll itself too! A bit pricier obviously due to the ingredients, but I'm glad I got the experience alongside it. - OVERALL - Really yummy food here, super casual which is nice when you don't want any frills that sometimes comes with sushi bars!
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Anh H.

Yelp
I love sushi and bars. By default, I love a bar concept when it comes to a sushi restaurant. There is a couple of hi tops besides the bar counters. But for the most part, the interior follows the traditional bar design - perfect for a casual hangout for a small group of friends or a cute date night. I came in a rainy night, so it was not too packed. My friend found two spots at the bar with ease. Upon seating, we were greeted by a lovely server. She let us have a look at the menu before ordering. Not too long after, a chef introduced himself and said that he will be taking care of us. The experience was similar to that of a bar: instead of watching a bartender makes drinks, we watched a chef hand rolled our sushi. We could stay there for as long as we want and order whenever we would want to. Service was friendly and fast. Moving onto the food, we started with a set of tempuras. I love the variety of vegetables, especially the sweet potato. Nice and crispy texture throughout paired with tentsuyu. My friend ordered a set of hand rolls and different nigiris - fresh and delicious. I also tried the special roll that came with edible firecrackers - it was okay and mostly gimmicky. Luckily, the West Philly roll redeemed it. Would definitely come back for their hand rolls and nigiri :)
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Mary L.

Yelp
I had the absolute best experience at Temaki Bar Sushi! Chef Benjamin and the entire team were incredibly attentive and catered to every detail of our meal. We opted for the chef's choice recommendations, and every dish was not only fresh but uniquely flavorful. Each plate had its own distinct taste, showcasing the chef's creativity and mastery. The service was top-notch, making the evening even more memorable. I highly recommend Temaki Bar for anyone looking for a truly exceptional sushi experience!
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Stella Z.

Yelp
We loving coming back here. The service is always great and love how open the inside is. We love sitting at the bar. The handrolls are a must here. Can't go wrong with any of them but my favorites are the scallop and spicy tuna. We also got their appetizers for the first time and they were so good. Love the shishito peppers and the crispy rice with spicy tuna. Can't forget to order some sake to go alone with your meal, it pairs perfectly.
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Brandi E.

Yelp
Delicious, good service, great ambiance. We will be back!! We tried several rolls/hand rolls and nothing was short of delicious.
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Tina P.

Yelp
Cute spot in Encinitas. Known and branded for their hand rolls. The seaweed wrapped hand rolls is an acquired taste. Some are a tad tricky to bite through. The sashimi had a quality taste. Servers were very friendly but the restaurant was predominantly a traditional sushi bar setting which at times felt less catered to and less attention to detail. Would return for lunch maybe not the dinner vibe.
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Havilah Vashti U.

Yelp
Chef Sebastian curated a delicious tasting at temaki bar for my husband and I and wow were we blown away. Chef Sebastian has extensive experience in the food industry and uses all his previous experience to elevate the Omakase tasting. The service was speedy and everyone was so friendly while dining here. The ambiance of an intimate setting and makes any heh together very special. The tasting varies per what's in season but rest assured you'll be leaving with an extremely satisfied food palate. Some of what we had: MISO SOUP AMUSE | YELLOWFIN TATAKI HALIBUT BAJA STRIPED BASS CHUTORO KAMPACHI HOKKAIDO SCALLOP SEASONAL OMAKASE SNAPPER SALMON O-TORO BLUEFIN SURF & TURF MOCHI
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Sean D.

Yelp
Came to Encinitas to visit scotty Cameron store ended up finding some Amazing sushi! Sebastian the owner was very helpful gave us off the menu rolls and everything was delicious!!! Highly suggested sushi spot!
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Andrea F.

Yelp
I was super excited to try this place because it looked similar to Kazunori in LA. Salmon hand roll was the favorite of my meal. Simple and flavorful. Perfect fish to rice ratio, and I liked that the fish was cold sitting on a warm bed of fresh rice. The spicy tuna hand roll was good, I liked that it had a crunchy element in it. I liked that they had three different options of soy sauce - regular, low sodium, and gluten free.
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Jenna D.

Yelp
4 hand roll was a great way to space out the meal. Yellowtail hand roll was my fav (aioli in there was fantastic!). Bang bang shrimp was ok, but I wouldn't order it again. Wait staff got us to upgrade from ordering house sake to a special bottle, which was delicious, but it was odd they were belittling their own house product. Food came out as it was ready, service was attentive, vibe is trendy, but parking can be difficult.

Scott V.

Yelp
I live two blocks away and have been here multiple times. The fish is always fresh and the specials are unique. I came here three weeks ago and was told it was a 15min wait for the sushi bar. I waited almost an hour to be seated. Tonight I was seated right away. As a single customer I felt invisible. I did not get served before couples or groups around me. I did not get water, wasabi, refills unless asked, and much later than those around me. I have spent a lot of money here and I really want to like it but if they don't improve I will not be back.
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Jen P.

Yelp
Here is our typical line up: Edamame Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Yellowtail Sashimi 4 Hand Roll Dre's Pop N Rock (soy paper) Hamachi Side of green and red sauce Our go to and one of our favorite spots for sure!
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Allyssa P.

Yelp
After walking by on a rainy Saturday, the girls and I decided to stop in for a late lunch. Right off the bat, the staff weren't the friendliest. Aside from telling us to sit wherever, they didn't say much. The restaurant is a full sushi bar with a few surrounding tables. I expected more interaction between the staff a patrons since we were all in close contact. At one point, I think the sushi chef's friend came in and sat a few seats away from me and they were loudly talking about nonsense. I wish their menu was a little more extensive when it comes to options. Same goes for their "drinks" menu. It's really just beer on tap and a few sake options. The menu only includes descriptions of items for their appetizers and a few of their rolls, nothing under their handrolls. This was difficult for me to pick my hand rolls. I went with the 3 handroll set. I enjoyed the salmon one the most, probably because it was pretty standard. The yellowtail was okay and I wasn't a fan of the shrimp. There was a may-o like sauce in either the yellowtail or shrimp that I didn't like. I usually stray away from creamy sauces. Had I known there was a creamy ingredient, I wouldn't have ordered it. Why I wish they had descriptions on their menu... Needless to say, the experience was so so.
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Henry's T.

Yelp
"Eat here. Live forever." While I'm fairly certain that Temaki Bar Sushi isn't willing to offer a guarantee on their tagline, they sure know how to capture your attention. I've enjoyed sushi for years, so it wasn't difficult to convince me to try this place (especially considering their post-meal immortality offer). A scan of their menu didn't reveal an exclusive "immortality section", (nor was there a notation requiring some special coupon) so I'm assuming an end to aging is included with all of their menu items. Bolstered by the power of this knowledge, literally how could anyone go wrong when ordering here? ‍ I appreciate their connection to North County San Diego culture and enjoyed their "Moonlight" Roll (homage to nearby Moonlight Beach) and their "Kook" Roll (homage to the nearby Cardiff Kook). The Miso Soup and Edamame were very good, the Crispy Bang Bang Shrimp was even better, and there are also many Vegan choices to consider. It's been a few hours since our meal (and we're still alive and kicking) so that whole "immortality" thing is working out pretty good for us so far! And that's...Henry's Take. #sushiimmortality
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Olivia K.

Yelp
This place is a gem!! We got the hand roll deal and some nigiri, and everything was so fresh and reasonably priced for the main drag in Encinitas!Great ambience; we loved that it was only bar seating. Gio one of the sushi makers was so friendly and very attentive and really solidified it for a great experience!!
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Candice J.

Yelp
Our favorite place to go! We keep coming back again and again! Only the freshest at this place! Made sure to order a double order of agadashi tofu!! Fun and easy going atmosphere! And did I mention FRESH?? totally worth the drive and really fun. Edamame was on point too! GET THE SPARKLING SAKE.
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Matteo G.

Yelp
Out favorite sushi by place in the area by far! Love sitting at the bar counter watching the chefs do their magic on the handrolls. Handroll set is a must, but also love their cut rolls, crispy rice, bang bang shrimp appetizers and their weekly specials.
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Tai N.

Yelp
Came here for lunch and ordered the 4 hand roll combo with a Japanese lager to wash it down. The hand rolls are a good size and decent value. The only one that was notable was the yellowtail. The sauce on it is fantastic. The other three were ok. There are no tables and it's a bar setup with stools. That was a bit uncomfortable. Cool spot to check out for hand rolls.
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Gregory-Luke H.

Yelp
The special salmon nigiri with brown butter aioli and the mama's roll are just perfect. It's expensive and worth every penny!!!!
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Valerie G.

Yelp
First timers for my daughter and myself . Absolutely loved the vibe of this place and plan to make this our go-to place for sushi. Our server,Maya, was very knowledgeable and her recommendations were spot on. Every hand roll was crafted to perfection ! We ordered the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice for starters ; The 4-Roll handset: albacore, yellowtail, shrimp and salmon; The Lobsta Queen (the 8-piece cut roll ) & The Toro hand roll. My daughter and I were gastronomically satisfied !! This sushi bar is a gem in downtown Encinitas. I just love the spaciousness feel of the restaurant ....and the eye catching artwork throughout. The layout is an invitation to sit, relax and enjoy eating damn good sushi! Dog friendly ! This place is great for couples, catching up with 1to 2 friends, or just a "me - time -self care nourish the palate time". @yelpsandiego @temakibarsushi #EatHereLiveForever
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Elisa G.

Yelp
Great hand roll bar for lunch in Encinitas and I highly recommend the yellowtail specialty sashimi. I would definitely recommend for happy hour. I love the ambience and decor! So cute!! The cucumber salad is so spicy and so is the spicy tuna. Someone is whistling which is annoying!
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Michelle Z.

Yelp
I've visited the sister location of this restaurant in Las Vegas. The one here in San Diego has far more seating and far more reasonable prices. While the temaki (hand rolls) are small l, the crab definitely packs a punch and deserves a highlight. I go here specifically for the crab temaki. If you make it for happy hour, 4$ salmon temaki is a great deal. This place can be quite pricey if you're want to get super full but great for a quick snack, happy hour break. If it wasn't so far up in Encinitas I'd be back more often!
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Molly G.

Yelp
I was with friends in Encinitas and looked up a sushi restaurant and came upon this business that's known for their hand rolls. We decided to try and was a great experience. If you love hand rolls, this is the place for you! They make them fresh to serve one at a time, to ensure the seaweed stays crispy and the rice warm. When I'm back in town I'd love to go back!
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Monica G.

Yelp
moved to write a review by their speciality nigiri rolls -- had the salmon with brown butter aioli and the hamachi with black garlic ponzu sauce and both were luscious and perfect. If money were no object, I would have ordered 2 more of each. The spicy tuna cut roll, miso soup and edamame (with smoked salt, yum) were all very good too, but it was the nigiri specials that were life changing.
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Leslie Y.

Yelp
I really want to love this place. I'd been to the on in Vegas and LOVED it. We went twice in 1 weekend is how good it was. So when I saw they were opening in Encinitas, I was ready to drive 30-40 minutes every weekend to get it. So I want to say I gave the place a true chance as I was ready to commit to this place. Unfortunately a lot of things fell short. First the food. The fish quality was fine. The sushi rice was inconsistent. The pacing was awkward. Usually at hand roll bars, including the Temaki Bar in Vegas, the sushi chefs manage maybe 4 people at a time max. This ensures your roll is fresh, they can pay attention to your pace, and your seaweed stays crisp. They can check in on each of your rolls and tell you what is in them so you can look for the flavors that should come across as you eat them. This did not happen in Encinitas. There were only 2 chefs for a very large bar of 20 so we sat around waiting for a while why they were making other people's food. That was not a huge issue, but just a straw on the camels back. Therer were at least 4 others that checked on beverages which was nice but we were only drinking water. First salmon roll came out randomly. The salmon was OK, but there was nothing with it so I had to dip in soy sauce. I should also mention I got the exactly the same menu of 4 handrolls in Vegas with no need to add soy sauce at all. Roll #2 came which was albacore. As he was setting it down I immediately saw there was red sauce in it so I said to the chef that I was allergic to peppers and that red looks like it has peppers in it. He confirmed yes it does so I said he could give that one to the bf and the chef said he could make me one with no sauce and apologized that the menu did not list the sauces. I said, yes otherwise I would have brought up my allergy earlier and thanked him for making one without the sauce. The albacore roll was also good fish but for some reason this rice was clumpy. But I felt maybe he had to rush with my allergy issue so would have forgiven a less than perfect roll. Before I was done with mine he put down the next roll. Both the bf and I were not ready for it so the seaweed was no longer crisp since it sat there in mayo sauce for a few minutes. Again I thought, it's fine. Maybe my allergy threw off his timing. Roll #3 was the shrimp. It was quite tasty, with mayo, some fish eggs, yuzu, and garlic flavors. It was my favorite until something started burning my throat slightly that I was suspicious. While my brain was still processing he asked if we were ready for our last roll, the yellowtail. I was not ready but I looked over at the bf who was done with #3 so I responded sure. As he put #3 down, for the bf, I asked what was the sauce that was in the shrimp because I although I liked it a lot it was spicy and I want to confirm there were no peppers because I am allergic to all peppers (I know I was being repetitive but I wanted to make sure he heard I was concerned not because I can't handle spice but because I have a legit pepper allergy. It's not a terribly common allergy so I like to emphasize the potential concern). He said there were no peppers, just mayo, aioli, yuzo kosho and I was probably feeling it from the garlic. It will be the same in our #4 roll and he placed mine in front of me and turned away. I don't know if the average person knows this but I would assume a sushi chef should know this but yuzu kosho is yuzu pepper paste. He was so dismissive of this I thought maybe the pepper is yuzu pepper is made from peppercorn and not capsicum or fruited pepper. Also it was tasty and I wanted to keep eating it so I took 1 bite of #4 while googling. Yuzu kosho is made from togarashi shichimi powder which I know I can't have. Shichimi is made of seven spices, one of which is red chili pepper....so I gave the rest to the bf. My allergic reactions usually include gastrointestinal issues with some peppers causing hearing loss, lightheaded-ness, and anophylactic shock. I will spare you the details but it started with a trip to the bathroom and ended with me being unable to drive and some minor chest pains, and feeling winded. In conclusion, I don't think I'll be coming back, but I cannot recommend enough their Vegas location. Also if you have any allergies, be careful.
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Amelia W.

Yelp
Loved it! Really cute bar seating inside and great design. Order the super ninja bunny for a fun and unique option, I haven't had a roll like it anywhere else I have been.
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SS S.

Yelp
It was close to the beach, very clean bathroom and great customer service. The food was amazing! My favorite was the hamachi special and my daughters was the shrimp hand roll. They are quick with servicing you. If I'm ever in this area again, I would most definitely stop here for sushi.