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SOICHI San Diego Reviews
I walked in having no idea that this is a Michelin rated
I walked in having no idea that this is a Michelin rated restaurant! I got seated at the sushi bar right away. The man next to me said that he made his reservation 4 months earlier. It was a delightful experience. The decor is simple but elegant and soothing to the eye. The service was excellent. The sushi chef's were amazing to watch. In fact I would recommend getting reservations at the bar. It was like watching a food ballet. I had a very pleasant conversation with the man next to me and the chef explained everything that I was getting.
The sushi, service, and presentation was exceptional.
It is a very intimate atmosphere and the staff is so welcoming. Our server encouraged us to try a few sake selections before ordering. So fun! My husband ordered the 8 course omikase for dinner and I ordered sushi al a carte. Everything was wonderful and delicious! My husband and I both agreed we experienced the finest service ever! Not an exaggeration and we are well traveled. It is definitely an occasion restaurant! We will be back!!!
Long awaited dinner at Michelin-star Soichi Restaurant
Long awaited dinner at Michelin-star Soichi Restaurant (only one of 2 Michelin star Japanese restaurants in San Diego). We had the 11-course omakase, and it was so delicious! We even tried two different sake (and got to choose our sake cup for the meal). Reservations can only be made on 1st day of the month for following month. It gets booked up fast, and we waited almost 2 years to finally get a table! It was worth the wait!
A great meal with wonderful service! Deserving of all the
A great meal with wonderful service! Deserving of all the hype! You really do need to plan well in advance and make reservations.
5 stars all around.
Thank you Soichi for being my favorite restaurant in San Diego to dine at for the last 5 years. They are consistent in providing stellar sushi, friendly service with a smile, great hospitality, and a fun but chill ambiance. If it's your birthday, the chef will make you feel extra special with a serenade. They also consistently provide gluten free omakase at the restaurant; I feel just as welcomed as any other diner. Thank you always. Parking isn't bad. Reservations go out on the 1st of every month at noon; waitlists are available... stay vigilant and be patient. It's worth it!
This place was amazing.
It really lives up to the hype. We did the omakase and was the best experience we ever had. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Sushi chef Daniel was exceptional. Every course was just amazing and the flavors were so balanced. Their service was also exceptional. The inside was intimate but also spacious. Highly recommend this place and we will definitely be coming back.
Undistinguished dining room made up for by some of the best
Undistinguished dining room made up for by some of the best sushi in San Diego with friendly and helpful service. Worth the trip.
We've been here a couple of times and love it.
The quality of the ingredients is top. Delicate preparation and presentation of dishes. Excellent service, too. We'll be back!
Soichi San, Raechel San, your staff.
.....you're the best. Food is beyond spectacular. Always a memorable experience when we visit.
Simply the BEST! We've been trying to get reservations for
Simply the BEST! We've been trying to get reservations for years even before their coveted Michelin award but unable to, then got to experience the best Omakase! Friendly, Family, Fine Dining, Finesse, Fulfilled is what you'll get.
Omakase Dinner is EXCELLENT!
My boyfriend and I have been visiting Michelin star restaurants when we travel. Soichi Sushi did not disappoint. We had the Omakase Dinner and LOVED it! We even got to meet Chef Soichi at the end of our meal and snapped a picture with him!
Very good
Over the last 15 years I ate at 15-20 sushi restaurants in and around San Diego, amongst them Sushi Ota, Kaito Sushi, Hane Sushi, Sushi Tadokoro and now Soichi Sushi. These are all very good places to eat sushi. In the Netherlands (where I'm from), good sushi places are harder to find than in SoCal. In low quality sushi restaurants, the rice is often mushy (too little bite/resistance), grainy (the rice does not stick and falls apart when you lift it) or flavorless (perhaps due to no or poor quality vinegar?). Another common problem is that the fish is often without flavor and/or served too cold. While it is pretty easy to distinguish a poor sushi restaurant from a very good one, it is harder for me to understand why one very good sushi restaurant earns a Michelin star and another one does not. Our meal at Soichi was very enjoyable. The waiter was super friendly and helpful. We got to taste three different types of sake before ordering a bottle that was truly outstanding. I had the full omakase which consisted of several different courses, not only sushi. A large variety of different fish was offered which I really liked. The toro and scallop were excellent. My wife is vegetarian and ordered individual dishes rather than omakase. Including tip and tax the bill amounted to $350, which I think is a lot of money (although I realize prices have gone up significantly in the last couple of years). Is it the best sushi restaurant in San Diego? That's hard to say. Kaito Sushi and Sushi Tadokoro are also very good. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be Sushi Tadokoro. But then, there are many sushi restaurants I have not yet tried.
100% Recommend Chef Soichi San My Husband and I was able
100% Recommend Chef Soichi San My Husband and I was able to dine in with him at the bar! We loved every moment of it! Thank you and your staff for your kindness! We not only enjoyed the ambiance of friendliness and hospitality but we truly enjoyed every single dish that came out! We got the class full omakese menus plus added a whole bunch extra stuff after! All their appetizers were on spot so delicious! Can I say, fresh? Hello! Yes, super fresh and supper delicious. We've been to several omakese and Soichi lived up to their expectations. Thank you chef Soichi for a wonderful time and allowing my husband to enjoy his time here! We loved every single fish and seafood you gave us! I can't even name them to be honest! See my pictures for reference!!
We put ourselves on the waitlist for anything that was
We put ourselves on the waitlist for anything that was available and got an email, which we booked reservations ASAP! When we arrived, we were seated by the hostess. The restaurant is small with a 10 person seating at the bar and a few tables inside and two outside. We went with the nigiri omakase which was $110 because we like to order extra nigiri at the end (ones we didn't try or really liked). I will say, everything we had was delicious! From the appetizers, the oyster was fresh and the monk fish liver was tasty. The nigiri, everything was also fresh and delicious. The otoro melted in our mouths and the Hokkaido uni was creamy and sweet. Each piece got better and better. I think I've tried trigger fish once but it was so good, my husband order another one at the end of the omakase meal. That along with Japanese sardine. We were at another sushi restaurant a few days before and Soichi does Golden Eye Snapper much better. The hostess and chef were very attentive and made sure we had a great time. Overall, our meal lasted 2 hours. We did find street parking pretty easily. We would definitely return!
I thought I had made a reservation for this place.
I show up there and the host says that there are 300 people in the "waitlist". While I understand this is a popular place, the delivery of the message was terrible. I felt as if the host made fun of me in front of the entire restaurant. Extremely disrespectful. My friends drove all the way from LA to have a good time, while I was not expecting to be seated, I was expecting that my party would be treated with respect. I don't care how "good" the food is. Customers should be treated respectfully not received by an obnoxious host. I am never stepping foot in this place again.
I have been to Soichi perhaps 6 times, always seated at the
I have been to Soichi perhaps 6 times, always seated at the bar for omakase. Reservations are hard to get, but so, so worth it. This is an incredible, elevated sushi experience. Chef Soichi and his team send out incredibly creative and delicious creations, and share with you what you are having, where the fish was sourced, etc. Soichi is extremely engaging. If you're having omakase, you will receive pieces one by one, giving you time to savor each one. By the end of your meal, you'll be satisfied - but craving your next visit!
Awesome service! Good sushi and booze.
Friendly atmosphere that felt authentic. Heads up that food does come out slowly as they make it
Michelin star must try.
The evening couldn't have been better. We drove by and on a whim and stopped by this place not knowing it was a Michelin restaurant. Very intimate venue with 2 tables outside, 3 tables inside, and the sushi bar. We asked if there was availability for 2 and we were advised they were booked for the night. We walked outside to contemplate our next move when to our surprise said they could fit us in within about 30 min. They called me in less than 30 min to tell me the table was ready and seated us. The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable. After ordering an item we were checked in on and then made recommendations based on our likes. The food was AMAZING! This is a must try and they only open up the books once a month on the first of the month to book a spot for the next month. We got super lucky to get a chance to try out this great spot and will for sure be back.
me and my boyfriend came for the full omasake ($150 per
me and my boyfriend came for the full omasake ($150 per person). let me tell you it's worth everything. from the tasting dishes, soups, fish, dessert, drinks, etc everything was so flavorful and fresh. the service was so excellent, the staff and chef explain everything on the dish. the staff is so attentive and friendly. the only downside was the parking. there is no parking structure or parking lot. you have to be lucky enough to find parking on the road!
Everything from the food to the service and ambiance was
Everything from the food to the service and ambiance was 15/10. I cannot believe how great the meal was. Soichi's wife greeted us when we first arrived and our table was not quite ready so she said we could grab drinks at her daughter's restaurant next door and she would come get us when the table was ready. When we were able to get seated, Rachel reviews the entire menu with us and allowed us to sample the sake before deciding on a bottle. We ended up getting 3 different bottles throughout the night. One was Dewazakura Ginjo Ouka and another being Sohomare Karakuchi Junmai. For dinner, I selected to do the nigiri omakase while everyone else I went with did the full omakase. Everything that we ate was spectacular. I'm still learning to love raw fish so getting the nigiri option was perfect for me. Nothing that we ate was super fishy and more so melted in your mouth. I'd have to say the last course was my favorite. Lots of tuna and a hand roll!!!! I ended my omakase with a scoop of matcha ice cream and it was the perfect end treat. Next time I go back, I'd like to sit at the sushi bar without a doubt. Overall, one of the best restaurants I've ate at and will definitely be back!!
Exceptional experience here!!! From food, to service, to
Exceptional experience here!!! From food, to service, to ambiance, everything was great! After checking in for the reservation, I was promptly greeted by the host and guided to my seat. I tried the nigiri omakase and loved the full course! All the fish is super fresh and the chef is very informative with explaining where the fish came from and how it was prepared. I felt very welcomed and part of the journey. Chef Soichi is very generous and will answer all your questions. You have to come try all the dishes here! All the fish has a unique flavor and melts in your mouth! I am already exited to come back and try other dishes!!! You won't regret it!!! Cheers guys!!!
It took us eternity to get reservations, but sooo worth it!
It took us eternity to get reservations, but sooo worth it! I couldn't believe how delicious the sushi was and the chefs were so cool and funny! It was such a pleasure eating here.
A truly remarkable experience
Located in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego, Soichi Sushi is a Michelin star award-winning eatery specializing in Omakase service, where you essentially put your dining experience in the hands of the chef, who selects and prepare the offerings in front of you. My son and I dined here in late October 2022. NOTE that the restaurant is very small and extremely popular, so advance reservations are a must. On our visit, Chef Soichi was taking care of half the customers, while we were attended to by his sous chef, Chef Daniel, who is a second-generation sushi chef. Each dish is served separately one-at-a-time to allow you as the diner to focus of the uniqueness of each piece of sushi. As an American of Japanese descent, I’ve eaten a great deal of sushi in my day, but I was served some fish that I’ve never had on sushi before. Everything was incredibly fresh and artfully presented, and I really appreciated Chef Daniel’s engaging demeanor. Every bite was a delicious new adventure. Chef Soichi is also a wonderful host, interacting will all his patrons. In fact, upon discovering that one of the customers was celebrating a birthday, he pulled out a guitar and led everyone in a rendition of “Happy Birthday.” In addition, the wait staff was extremely gracious and attentive. Make no mistake, a meal at Soichi Sushi is going to be expensive, but if you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want a memorable dining experience, a visit here is highly recommended.
I went here for a friend's birthday and had a great time!
I went here for a friend's birthday and had a great time! All of the sushi chefs were so welcoming, sitting at the bar was like dinner and a show! Everything was super delicious and super fresh!
Soichi is a very special and unique place.
There are only 3 tables inside, one outside, and about 12 at the sushi bar. Make reservations months in advance! Or do what we did- get there a few minutes before they open at 4:30pm. They were kind enough to accommodate us with a table for four. This is an adventure in flavor, design, and fish with all kinds fun surprises along the way. I can honestly say this is now my favorite sushi restaurant (#2 and #3 being Sushiota and Azuki). I can't wait to get back there! I think about it everyday...
I've been trying to get reservations to here for months and
I've been trying to get reservations to here for months and I'm so glad I finally did! They release reservations on the 1st of each month at 12pm for the following month. You have to be quick, it will sell out fast. There is a waiting list you can join if you don't get a spot for the month, but that's obviously not guaranteed. I went on the waitlist once and didn't get a email until literally 2 hours beforehand and unfortunately couldn't make that.This was one of the last sushi places on my list to try and I'm glad it was the last one bc it's one of my new favorite. I like how this place really focuses on nigiris/sashimis and that there is different types of omakase menus to choose from. You can get the full experience which includes hot dishes, sashimi, nigiri etc. which is the more common thing to get at any omakase place. You could also do another option where it's basically all nigiri (this is the option I chose) and also another version of this but smaller portions.I don't know any other place in San Diego that does the different types of omakase and that's why I love this place so much. I really only care about nigiris and sashimis so this was perfect. Luckily I got bar seating so you got the full omakase experience watching and talking to the chefs. Everything we ate was delicious. Normally places like this it's a one time try for me but I'd absolutely come back here over and over again
came back for more and it was just as good as the first
came back for more and it was just as good as the first time. they definitely deserve that michelin star. we enjoyed the full omakase and were fortunate enough to snag seats at the sushi bar this time. marlon was our chef and he was incredible. he was delightful and a treat to spend the evening with. i would go back for just the food, which is phenomenal, but having an entertaining chef was the icing on the cake. speaking of icing, the ice cream is wildly delicious. my dinner companion was begging to buy it by the pint. maybe, someday?
You can't go here unless you get a reservation.
You have to be one your phone/computer and waiting tight when they're released or else you won't get one - they go quick. We had an 8pm reservation and were seated outside. I was disappointed to be outside because we missed the experience of being inside, seeing the chefs work, and enjoying the ambiance. However if you are outside, you will be comfortable! There were heaters, including a heater under the table so your legs stay warm too. We did the full tasting menu and it was definitely an experience - I loved being able to try things I normally would not have. The service was impeccable. Overall the food was really good, but I was not blown away. Considering the price, this was probably a 1 time experience for me.
Well worth the Michelin Star! My good friend and I had the
Well worth the Michelin Star! My good friend and I had the pleasure of dining at SOICHI last night. Chef Soichi and Chef Daniel were incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and charismatic. I decided to enjoy the a la carte items, and I ended up trying about 4 other rolls at the recommendation of the chefs. Everything was flavorful and rich, the fish practically melted in my mouth. There was the perfect amount of fresh wasabi on each piece of nigiri and in my salmon sushi roll. I already have reservations booked for next month. The ambiance is intimate, very clean, and the low light and music adds to the high end experience. I truly felt welcomed here, and I'm excited to come back and try the omakase.
I can never say enough about this place.
It is absolutely delicious. The location is perfect in size for great service and full attention from the servers and the sushi chefs. They never skip a beat when it comes to the freshness and quality of the fish. Watching the chef in action is more than enough reason to visit. My personal favorites are the skipjack, uni, blue fin and tofu.
Every single piece Chef SoIchi and Chef Martin put out was
Every single piece Chef SoIchi and Chef Martin put out was amazing. Customer service was top notch and we left happy and full. In a different life I'd love to try the sake variants. Best sushi we've had.
Soichi is not our first Omakase experience, but it is the
Soichi is not our first Omakase experience, but it is the first one in San Diego that we have had. And what an amazing experience it was!Getting a reservation is key, especially if you want the bar. Our server was Marlon, and we told him we had just moved to SD and were celebrating our engagement anniversary. He was SO friendly and a willing conversationalist; we talked about everything from Ratatouille to the skeletal systems of the fish he was preparing. Not only that but Soichi himself also conversed with us and served us a little bit of sake. What a personality! Great presence, but humble and easy to talk to. The staff was amazing at welcoming us, taking care of us, and making sure we were enjoying our meal at every step. The ambiance was AWESOME! Upscale but still casual, a great place to take business partners, dates, and your in-laws!But if the staff or atmosphere were anything to appreciate, the food was even more spectacular. My husband and I have been together since college, so we've eaten Omakase in the Bay Area and Japan, but Soichi served us one of the best Omakase experiences on the West Coast. Our favorites were their black throated sea perch, amberjack, scallop, shrimp (and fried shrimp head!), salmon, trigger fish, and golden eye red snapper; the snapper is so renowned that they sell a t-shirt of it, which we bought because we enjoyed it so much. All of the ingredients were presented beautifully -- check the photos of you don't believe me. But in addition to that, the fish was very fresh and prepared thoughtfully. The Omakase menu lets you really appreciated everything the seas of Japan have to offer. We paid for the $150 full experience, but added on two flights of sake ($28 each flight for 3 different sakes) and 4 additional nigiris each. It was a full meal! But we were so pleased with the service and care and quality of food that we ended up hanging around until we were the last customers in the restaurant. Soichi, this was our first visit but not our last.Big thanks to Lorena, Marlon, and Soichi himself for making tonight as special as it was. Our engagement anniversary could not have been better spent. Hoping to come back soon!
I came here and left a bit underwhelmedAfter scoring a
I came here and left a bit underwhelmedAfter scoring a reservation we were excited to try this highly rated and awarded restaurant . Inside it is much more casual in look than I expected, but still a nice setting. We opted for the ala-cart menu and ordered a bunch of different nigiri and I also tried the Mushi and collar. I cannot speak for the Mushi as far as taste, it was new experience for me, but it felt like it was prepared well. The nigiri was hit and miss. The first few were decent, but nothing I haven't tried before. The collar was also fine, but again nothing WOW. The star of the night was the different preparations of tuna nigiri. If I came just for that I would be happy. Unfortunately we had to wait twenty minutes between our first small order of nigiri to the next... By then the experience was a little ruined by the wait. It seemed the bar folks were getting the most attention which is unfortunate. I am glad I came, but I believe it will be a one time experience for me.
I recently called to make a reservation at Soichi Sushi and
I recently called to make a reservation at Soichi Sushi and had the pleasure of speaking with Carolina. Even though I haven't had the opportunity to dine at the restaurant yet, I have to say that Carolina's friendly and helpful demeanor left a strong impression on me. From the moment I picked up the phone, she was welcoming, accommodating, and went out of her way to make sure I had all the information I needed. Her professionalism and kindness made me feel like a valued customer, and I'm really looking forward to trying the food at Soichi Sushi. Based on my interaction with Carolina alone, I have a feeling that this restaurant places a high value on customer service and creating a positive dining experience. If you're looking for great sushi and top-notch service, I'd definitely recommend giving Soichi Sushi a try!
I always feel like the money is well spent at Soichi.
We did 3 full omakase and all of us were pleased with the food. $150 pp for a full omakase seems expensive but it's well worth it - fresh fish from Japan, the ambiance, the experience... just perfect. This is the only place I go for birthday celebration
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AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with SOICHI San Diego. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
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If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to SOICHI San Diego at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the SOICHI San Diego page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
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1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* FulfilledThread16, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* FulfilledThread16 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to FulfilledThread16 for any questions Peter may have as FulfilledThread16 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* FulfilledThread16 now uses their connections at SOICHI San Diego to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If FulfilledThread16 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, FulfilledThread16 receives the $200 reward which is credited to FulfilledThread16's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at SOICHI San Diego!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
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