Temari-zushi

Quaint restaurant in a desirable location. Interior is decorated with animated cultural references from Pokémon, Mario, Yugioh, among other things. I stopped in for the lunch special (11AM-3PM) which is an incredible value, I’m almost certain this has to be a lost leader at the $13.5 as of time of writing. I had the option with Chicken Karaage + Edamame + 3 Temari Sushi (1 Salmon, 1 Spicy Tuna, 1 Ebi), which also comes with miso soup and a small salad. The chicken Karaage was juicy and tender with a reasonable amount of crunch to it and of course some light drizzles of sauce to enhance flavor. The sushi was really nice as well. The chicken, edamame, and most assuredly the Miso soup was piping hot and all of it was great. The lunch special alone would be enough to leave someone who was hungry content but if you are extremely hungry or looking for a larger portion I would tag along a roll. I additionally ordered a Tempura Cali Roll which is a deep fried roll, rich, creamy, hot, and filling. This was a perfect combination and overall I was incredibly satisfied with the meal, the value for the meal and the overall appearance and atmosphere of the restaurant. I would certainly recommend making a stop here

The service was absolutely outstanding, warm, attentive, and seamless from start to finish. Every item in the photos looked incredible, and they tasted even better. My personal favorites were the carpaccio and the scallops, both were exquisitely prepared and bursting with flavor. Truly a memorable dining experience!

This place is excellent. I absolutely love the energy in here. The decor, the layout, it’s so very “local.” The food was all very solid. Amazing special on Nigiri, amazing happy hour special. So dang cute in here. Only caveat was, they offer fresh grated wasabi, which turned out to be excellent- but it took the staff a long time to bring that to me, even after all my sushi dishes came out. I had to star at my Nigiri in anticipation lol… Anyway whatever this place is a gem. I will absolutely be back.

Great food. All the tuna cuts were excellent. Chicken karaage was juicy with a nice light batter. The warm sake was quite smooth. Some fun decor and the check came in an actual Dragonball manga.

Updating my review after a year: this is still my favorite sushi place. I always get the salmon sashimi plate and their miso soup, but I’ve tried plenty of things in their menu and they’re all great. They decorate seasonally, and their staff is always very nice.

A hidden gem for authentic Japanese cuisine in San Diego. They specialize in beautifully crafted sushi and homestyle dishes. The fish is incredibly fresh, and the presentation is artistic. It's a quiet, unassuming spot that focuses purely on quality and traditional flavors over trendy gimmicks.

This is probably one of the best sushi places I've been to in San Diego. The restaurant is cozy, with decorated with Pokemon and Doraemon figurines. My partner and I regularly come here and always get their shrimp tempura roll. It has a very light sauce on it, but the sauce is delicious.

After returning from a long deployment, I found myself yearning for some authentic and comforting food. That’s when I stumbled upon Temari Zushi, a delightful sushi restaurant that quickly became a favorite of mine. Walking into Temari was like stepping into a cozy little oasis filled with charm. The decor was adorable, with Pokemon that made the atmosphere warm and inviting. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a long absence; the ambiance alone was a comforting reminder of home. Now, let’s talk about the food. Oh, the food! From the moment I took my first bite, I knew I was in for something special. Each piece of sushi was not just a meal but an experience. The quality of the ingredients was evident in every sashimi slice. It truly stood apart from other sushi places I've tried—incredibly fresh fish, and beautiful presentation. The chef’s unique twists on classic dishes added an exciting dimension that I hadn't encountered elsewhere. The staff at Temari only added to the experience. They were incredibly friendly and attentive, making me feel right at home. It was clear that the team takes pride in their work, from the warmth of their greeting to their knowledge about the menu. They were more than happy to recommend some of their favorites, and I was delighted with every suggestion. After my long time away, finding Temari zushi felt like a true treasure. It satisfied my craving for authentic Japanese cuisine while offering a unique culinary experience that is hard to find. If you’re in search of quality sushi, a welcoming atmosphere, and a friendly staff, then Temari is the place to be. I’ll certainly be returning, and I highly recommend it to anyone in need of some delicious comfort food!

This is our favorite spot for beef yakisoba. Such great flavor. I also love the tempura cali roll and the mochi. Chocolate and mango are my favorite. Plenty of free parking in the parking lot. This place is fun and has lots of interesting things to look at. Good for kids too they even give them the chopstick trainers so they can eat with chopsticks too.

Came here with a buddy for lunch to try some sushi rolls. We ordered 4 sushi rolls and the kaarage for an appetizer. The sushi rolls we ordered were the Tuna Scale, Crunchy Dragon, Black Pearl, and the Red Tiger. The sushi were all pretty solid, but I felt like the menu and the rolls we got all kind of tasted very similar. Most of the menu's rolls felt redundant or too similar to each other. Our favorite was the Black Pearl roll because it was the most distinctive amongst them. The karaage was good and came out piping hot. Service was friendly and there was ample parking in the parking lot. They also have lunch specials but I didn't come on a non holiday weekday.

I loved this experience! The sushi was fresh, the rice on the rolls were the perfect temperature for my taste, and the environment is so endearing. Our server was kind and attentive, and the menu is broad and unique. The whole place feels cozy, authentic, and private. I'll be back!

They have good lunch deals. The sushi was pretty fresh. The teriyaki chicken was ok. The lunch deals were good and I plan on coming back. They chill the drink mugs which is always a plus.

Great casual sushi spots. They have unique rolls called Zushi. All the fish is fresh and the service is nice.

Came in because the temari caught my eye, but ended up going with the sashimi gozen for my dinner. This comes with nice thick cuts of fish, two gyoza, a good portion of chicken karaage, sushi rice, miso soup and salad. The sushi rice had a nice vinegary tang to it, and the texture was just right. This is a lot of food, so you will be full. Had I known how much karaage would come with this order, I wouldn't have ordered my toddler a whole karaage dinner for herself. Her karaage pieces were the size of her fist lol I like that they put all the sauces on the side as well. In true fat girl fashion, I ordered a sushi roll as well. I went with the Black Pearl as it was suggested as a fan favorite. TBH it was just way too lemony for me. It overpowered the spicy tuna and torched salmon on top. The roll was a good size and made well though, it's just a taste preference on my end. This is a casual sushi spot with affordable eats. The quality is consistent with the pricing, and while it may not be the best sushi spot out there, it's definitely worth the visit if you're looking for an inexpensive sushi dinner. The servers are very nice and accommodating and they were kind enough to give my daughter some chopstick clips so she could eat with them. BTW I love the pokemon decor! Soooo stinkin cute!

This is a casual sushi place. The nigiri and the rolls were solid. The Toro that they had on offer on special that day was outstanding. The service was good -- things came out quite fast for sushi. A good place overall.

Nice casual place with cute decor. Even the bathroom has Doraemon decor. We came here for lunch and got two lunch specials, two hand rolls, and a Sunset roll. The food tasted good and the sushi tasted fresh. The price seemed good but realized that the portion sizes were a little on the small side. The chicken teriyaki lunch special came with a California roll. The roll was fine but the chicken was just about 10 small pieces of chicken on a small plate with no rice or anything else. Service was great but we were the only ones in the restaurant for a while. Overall, we enjoy the food.

Everything was great. Good service. Pokémon all over the room. The dragon roll was the best. Ramen was also pretty great. 10/10 will come back.

This spot is a winner! I came here hearing about the great menu offerings and not only was the overall presentation and comfortable experience a bonus, but the flavors of the sushi were all terrific. Service was fast and attentive on a weekday night. The food comes out quickly. I was happy to order chu-toro off the special menu and it was a good portion, melt-in-your mouth soft and fairly priced. My group primarily chose roll combos and they were all very unique and tasty. The option to substitute blue crab made for an extra tasty dinner. I hope to come back soon because there are so many good looking menu options. Added plus, parking lot is good. (Side note for book lovers, the one in the same plaza is perfect to walk off dinner and it is extremely well curated.)

Probably the best Asian fusion spot in San Diego, the sushi rolls are a tad pricey but they are heavy handed on the fish and the quality is on point. The service was excellent, decor was hilarious, they had decorations up ahead of time for the upcoming 2 holidays, the restaurant was clean and well run.

A hidden sushi gem and total surprise, the decor is so cute... Pokémon and the menu is huge, with pictures as the dishes are colorful with edible flowers and a mixed use of fish eggs, sauces, sliced vegetables, and they have delicious roasted green tea! I craved a shrimp crunchy roll, ended up eating 2 crunchy shrimp hand rolls, 6 sushi temari balls loved the fruit sauce as an edible garnish, my green tea was roasted and tasted rich on its own, it had a monster tea bag inside with no strange floating leaves, which is a plus. If I had more room in my stomach I would have pigged out more... a must return visit is due and I will make this place my go to sushi hidden gem. The prices are so reasonable, (shhh... under $16 a roll; as I've paid $22 elsewhere) for this food, it's fresh, the server was friendly and polite, patient with poise. They have happy hour, lunch specials, udon, ramen, omakase, hand rolls, rolls, and etc. I took some pictures of the menu legend, extra prices, and some helpful information. Will be returning soon for another visit!

We stumbled along this sushi place while going to our favorite bookstore. We were starving and looking for a sushi place that is kid-friendly enough for our sushi loving 8 year old. This place was AMAZING! Tucked in to an unassuming strip mall, it is decorated so cutely with various kawaii characters like pokemon and Kirby. The food was incredible! Great quality and incredible value. The service was so sweet and very attentive and the food came out quickly. Our new favorite sushi in San Diego!

I love love the decorations inside this place! If you're a Pokémon fan and love ramen/sushi you should definitely stop by. The food was great, best Philadelphia roll I've ever had and the service was excellent.

Very clean, fun decor, and great music choices. I'm a huge weeb so they played to my heart strings. Checks come in manga books! How cute is that! Fish is super fresh, thick slices of fish, and it is now my favorite sushi spot in San Diego for me. Everything I ate was amazing. Employees here are super friendly, service is fast. I would definitely come back again!

Great service. Low key ambience. The best prices and specials for the area. $13 for gyoza, a hand roll, sake and a beer? So refreshing to find a restaurant that is not price gouging in 2024! It's really hard to go out to eat as a couple for under $60 these days if you have a drink! They even took off 5% for paying cash :) Oh and the Pokémon decor is cute! I did not get the cute Temari but I saw a cute panda sushi at another table.

A cute restaurant theme of many favorite cartoon characters from the 80s to beyond. The food is absolutely delicious and bursting with yummy tastes! I ordered the mix tempura--loved it! The crispy, golden bites were perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. The Japanese curry (makes me think of Japan ) had a rich, comforting taste that warmed my heart, and the tamari genzo was a delightful treat, enhancing the gourmet experience while evoking sweet memories of the 80s Japanese cartoons. There was even a fun surprise with Doramen in the bathroom, adding a quirky touch to the overall experience.

Very quick service &fresh seafood ingredients! I skipped the rice balls because it looked like too much rice. Would come here again, the sushi was outstanding

The little sushi balls were the cutest thing ever. The quality of the fish was decent. Ordered the salmon also and it was pretty tasty. Was inexpensive for sure. Located in a litttle strip mall.

Found it by accident ...and a happy little accident it was. Sushi was fresh, gorgeous and delicious. Staff was nice. Space is CUTE. Ample parking. Will for sure be coming back.

Amazing food, located in a small strip mall. You wouldn't think much of the place when you first step in but let me tell you the fish quality was amazing. We got the ootoro and had to go back for more. Also great happy hour deals!

I have to say, the instagram-able temari got me! They are rolled balls of sushi rice topped with fish. The fish was delicious and super fresh--however, the rice to fish ratio was off. There was so much rice that I barely tasted the fish so I ended up just eating half of the rice ball. For $45, I'm not quite sure if it's worth it. The garlic edamame appetizer was the highlight! We even used the sauce for our rolls. The perfect amount of garlic to edamame. The rolls were decent, the rice ratio were definitely better. The service was phenomenal! We definitely enjoyed our time and meal in part because of the server. He checked on us regularly and even encouraged our shenanigans when we wanted photos with all the cute decor.

WOW! This place truly exceeded expectation and delivered an above and beyond experience. We ordered the unagi rice bowl and the temari 7 pcs sashimi plate as well as the freshly grated wasabi. The quality of the sashimi was extraordinary, I didn't even need to chew the otorro, it melted in my mouth. The uni was unbelievable, very high quality. I have had plenty of eel in my life, but their unagi truly blew my mind, it was extremely buttery, and full of flavor. Our waitress was exceptionally friendly and accommodated our every need. This restaurant is not like your typical Americanized Japanese restaurant, it was truly authentic and has a very cozy Japanese style vibe to it. It was decorated with a lot of Japanese mementos and collectibles and was very quaint. The prices weren't low, but also weren't too high at all, and were very justified. Amazing experience and I will definitely come back again.

We LOVE this place! It's my favorite sushi spot in town. I always get their salmon plater. We've been going for about a year, ever since we moved to SD. The staff is really nice and the food quality is great.

I came here and tried out a couple rolls and scallop carpaccio. Service was good, and items tasted fresh, but both rolls I had would not stay together, and kept falling apart each time I dipped them. It made for a slightly annoying experience. Parking was pretty decent, and there is a cute bookstore nearby. Service was friendly. If they improved the way the rolls are constructed I would consider trying them out again

Food is fresh and delicious, service is attentive, and decor is modern Japanese kitsch. Love it and you will too!

Me and my dad went here once, the food was terrible but it wasn't special either. Definitely not as good as Ikiru, Kiiro and Umi and other local spots. I think it's a good spot for people who are on a tighter budget and especially like to attend happy hour. The service from what I remember was good and the ambiance was pretty quiet and mellow, felt pretty homely. There is also no available sushi bar to sit at which is always a positive factor for me in sushi spots, from what I remember there is one in the restaurant but it's all covered up.

Great sushi! Service is friendly as well; reasonably priced and very casual spot. Their speciality rolls are very good.

I really enjoyed this place, not because of the awesome atmosphere of Pokémon and anime everywhere, but mainly due to decent amount that they give you when you order sashimi and their rolls are amazing! The staff were super friendly and helpful with ordering as well as them being on top of checking in with us regularly. Our food came out pretty quick and was gone just as quick! I highly recommend this place if you're in San Diego/point Loma area.

Wow I really wanted to like the place. It was my first meal in town after arriving in the area- lunch. I asked the waiter of his recommendation and he recommended the most expensive items on the menu. I was there for lunch and thought it interested that he wanted to steer me to ordering a omakase. When I declined he recommended the next most expensive and when I requested a special roll he suggested the most expensive roll. I tried it and it tasted like tuna salad in a sushi roll. Just disappointing. The restaurant itself was neat and clean yet cozy.

Cute place. I wanted to love it so much. They definitely need a better ventilation system though. The place smells very oily which sticks to your clothes and hair. Also, the constant sound of the microwave beeping and being used was off putting. The baked scallops appetizer was fishy and weirdly I've never had a scallop dish where the scallops were uncleaned with the mantle and everything attached. Was not a fan at all. The eel roll - if you see my pic. BARELY had any eel in it. It was basically a cucumber roll. The red tiger and rainbow rolls were okay. But due to the overall experience I don't know if I'd go back.

A hidden secret! Smaller restaurant with Small dining area. The quality of their food is consistent. Husband usually gets a chicken katsu curry plate and a salmon skin hand roll. The size of the hand roll is pretty big and the salmon skin is super crunchy. I dont usually care for chicken katsu, but theirs is juicy and crispy. My kids love the tempura cali roll. I usually like to try different things, like their gyudon and yakisoba. All consistently good. Prices seem fair and the service is straightforward. Sometimes theres a lil wait depending how busy they are.

I'm soooo happy to have found this place!!! The food at Temari-zushi is perfect!! I love everything about it so much, from the 492838 knickknacks and lucky cats sprawling the walls to the 2000s era jpop that I know every word to... this is my place for sure :') Feels welcoming and sweet and millennial. The decor definitely skews younger & v casual so just be open to it. The check comes in manga :) It's a sushi place & that's mostly what I've ordered so far. The fish quality is great and the rice is seasoned really well. I can't ask for anything more, well actually I ask for negi every time and they don't seem to mind, tysm. The sushi tastes like it's just homemade, or like my other favorite mom & pops throughout the years, shout-out to Wakamatsu in Hayward! The caterpillar roll is stunningly good! The unagi sauce tastes homemade and has a rich depth of flavor. I usually keep it simple and just order nigiri, hand rolls, hosomaki and not complex rolls, but I'm definitely ready to branch out and experiment here because I trust them! Speaking of trust, the omakase is like $55 or something and I can't wait to experience it! Unagi don is only $12?!?! Gyudon is only $9!!??? Is it still 2006? The main experience here, the temari-zushi. It's so exciting to see it as the focus. I think it's really fun and special and the fish:rice ratio changes things up with texture and balance. I really recommend coming here with someone you care about & treating yourself :) Really really love this place!!!!

This was good. We enjoyed the dishes we tried. I got the curry katsu, my daughter wanted shrimp fried rice. My husband and son got 4 rolls and my husband also did the happy hour special with 1 hand roll, one appetizer sake and a beer for $13. He did that a few times lol. He enjoyed it. The food all came out very quick. They have a small kitchen but everything they prepared was actually very good!

Passed by this place so many times. Finally tried it and it's become my favorite sushi place. Super quick, good food, beautiful presentation. Staff seem to work hard and get things done.

Definately a hidden gem. The cutest little spot specializing in temari which is like a lil ball shaped sushi that packs so much flavor in a single bite. I've eaten here several time. Most of the time I've gotten it to go which is still fresh and very delicious. Live it a try, they have so many options. One of my favorite spots. I would go more often if I lived close by.

Went here for their lunch special today which included teriyaki and 3 temari. I was a little shocked to find out that the teriyaki chicken didn't come with rice but fortunately, the temari balls had some rice. I've never had temari balls before so I didn't know what to expect. I also ordered their spicy salmon hand roll, which I have ordered every week since I had it last week. I love the restaurant's Pokémon theme (there are Pokémon figurines everywhere) and I am hoping to try their Pokémon bento box. I also love the friendly service and good deals. Parking can be a little bit hard to find but they have a 20 minute parking spot for to go orders. I will be back for their lunch specials and happy hour deals :) Price: $ Parking: Plaza parking - can get busy in the evening Recommendation: Spicy Salmon Handroll & Temari balls

This place is a hidden gem. I'm so glad I found this place. It has some of the best sushi I have had. It can be on the pricier side if you don't watch yourself lol but it is so worth it!

Amazing food and atmosphere!!! Visiting here in SD will definitely come back the staff was very courteous and the Pokémon/Yugioh memorabilia was awesome!

This is our favorite Sushi restaurant. Anytime we are in San Diego we make it a point to stop. My kids are obsessed as well. Lots of pokemon decorations to keep them entertained. Great prices. Food is made fresh and fast.

I'd do 4.5 if I could. I thought the rolls I had were delicious well balanced in ingredients. I only did take out so can't really comment on much. The restaurant itself seemed clean and well established. The staff was very pleasant to interact with and seemed knowledgeable on the menu.

We found this sushi place on Yelp. And we are so happy we found it. For one.. I LOVE that there are Pokémon, Yugi-Oh and Dragon ball Z memorabilia all over the restaurant. Very quick service. They have great happy hour everyday I think. The sashimi .. literally melts in your mouth. Loved! New favorite sushi joint. And they also have the option to swap out and Krab with real blue crab!

Hidden gem . Skip the convoy traffic if you're looking for a great spot to grab some sushi. If you haven't been here yet you need to stop in.

This place is super cute. I got the beef udon & protein roll and it was the perfect amount. Def recommend both!

Super fresh fish! First impressions, this place was super cute with its festive decorations for the holidays. Definitely has a cozy and relaxed vibe. I think this place would be great with friends and/or family. What I really liked about the menu was its wide array of fish options for sashimi. Not only do they have the classics such as salmon, tuna, yellowtail, etc., but they also have toro (fatty tuna), uni, and sweet shrimp. They also offer omakase which I thought was impressive as most Americanized sushi restaurants do not offer this to my knowledge. Also, the prices are pretty reasonable. I got the temari sashimi platter, temari random 6, Walk Through True love, and Red-Eyes Spirit Roll. And I was not disappointed by any of the dishes. The fish tasted super fresh and was aesthetically placed on these lovely plates. I loved the plate decorations they add. It definitely adds a nice touch and shows that they put a little more effort on presentation! My favorite was definitely the sashimi platter but the rolls were amazing as well. Again, great options in terms of rolls. It's really hard to decide which one to get because they are all unique from each other and sound really appetizing. Overall, great experience! The service was also fantastic. Did not have high expectations coming here but will definitely be coming back!

My favorite thing about coming here is how fun and cute the ambiance is. There is decor from various anime such as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and more. The servers and staff are always very nice. The prices are very reasonable which makes getting lunch here a no brainer whenever I am in the area.

10/10 experience - definitely coming back to try the Monster Ball Pokemon Box. Went here for the first time with my husband and 3 month old! Staff was super friendly! Got some O-toro and sweet shrimp! Also tried uni for the first time! And it was all so scrumptious! It was my husband's first time trying sweet shrimp, and the head was a bit much, but they offered to fry it at the end and he loved it so much! Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic Japanese cuisine and good sushi!

Came in for dinner with my daughter and ordered the Luxury Temari - with Sweet shrimp, Uni, Blue Crab, Tuna, Salmon and Scallop. And then a Fish Trio Plate - 2 Hamachi, 2 tuna and 2 salmon. Beautiful presentation, and not very much fish on top, and messy little buggers to eat - when you pick them up with your chopsticks. They would break in half and splat into your soy sauce, splattering soy sauce all over - not just me; happened to both of us! Ended with the crunchy dragon roll with shrimp tempura and crab inside and eel, avocado, Eel sauce and crunchies on top, which was good, but would have been better without the mayo. Cut interior and friendly service.

Back again after having to leave SD for two years and have to say this spot is even better than I remember and my memory of it was pretty stellar. The sushi here brings me to another place. The fish melts in your mouth and the flavor is perfect unlike so much sushi nowadays that has a tendency to lack bold flavors. The cuts of fish they use here are superb. The service is always kind and friendly and the decor is fun and full of character. I highly recommend this spot to anyone who truly enjoys sushi