Hip and stylish, Azuki Sushi in Bankers Hill gives all the impressions of an "in" spot. The patrons are for the most part twenty and thirtysomethings; the waitstaff and chefs are practically an ad for the United Colors of Benetton. The interior is handsome and bustling, and ample outside seating along the Fifth Avenue offers that urbanite vibe that San Diego is constantly trying to simulate. These sorts of venues are attractive, but always make me a bit leery about the food and service itself. This is especially true of sushi and Japanese food in general, since I am a frequent visitor to that country. And, after all, AS is not cheap. One of my old saws about dining out is that I don't mind paying a lot of money for good food, but I hate doing so for the mediocre stuff. So I admit to some trepidation when our party arrived. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. Almost everything went right. Once we were seated and ordered, food came out in good order. Unlike many Japanese restaurants, Azuki is well-staffed. We had a great view of the sushi bar and there were many chefs working fast, diligently and in sufficient numbers to make things work. Our party shared a couple of dishes. We all enjoyed the eggplant glazed with miso (highly recommended). We also shared the "Salmon four ways" plate (which included salmon, salmon toro, king salmon and slightly braised ocean trout). The portions were ample and generous, the plating and presentation flawless. And best of all, each piece tasted brilliant. As I wanted to see the sushi chef's chops, I ordered the chef's selection nigiri (8 pieces); my wife ordered the nigiri plate (which includes miso soup, a spicy tuna or salmon and avocado roll, but only 6 pieces). My order came out on an impressively long wood block. Again, the pieces were generously and meticulously cut and seasoned. They included toro, amberjack, uni, the braised ocean trout, iku, and several others. Undoubtedly, the selection changes with the seasons. Like our appetizers, I truly enjoyed them and appreciated a number of little touches (e.g., the iku being slightly enhanced by a tiny dollop of yuzu--very tasty). Textures, types of preparation, and flavors varied. Detail, visually and to the palate, is very much in evidence here. In sum, I left full and generally really impressed. There are a couple of cautionary notes. First, I think patrons should be mindful of the soy sauce. They are not all made the same: there are different grades of strength, viscosity and flavor (and of course quality!). AS uses a very strong, thick soy sauce made especially to adhere to the sushi. Be sparing of its use or it will easily overpower the flavor of the fish. Second, wait times, both for a table and getting your dishes, can sometimes be long. We needed reservations on a Tuesday, so I suggest getting them. Lastly, do be aware that the noise level can be considerable inside. This may be a good date spot, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this spot for intimate conversations. But taken in all, I am really impressed with this restaurant. Our party had an interesting argument as to whether Azuki Sushi or another SD Japanese eatery of some fame was better. My only comment: "I don't know, but I am glad we have two great spots to argue over." Definitely worth multiple return visits!

Azuki Sushi is my absolute favorite sushi spot in San Diego. From the moment you step in, you'll notice the bustling atmosphere--a testament to its popularity. Reservations are a must because they're consistently booked up. Now, let's talk about the food. The Kobe Roll steals the show. It's my go-to choice every time. The Nigiri here is top-notch too. Freshness is key, and Azuki delivers. What sets this place apart is the overall quality. Everything--from the rice to the fish--is meticulously prepared. You won't find any disappointments on the menu. And trust me, I've tried quite a few dishes here.

My friends came from the east coast to celebrate my birthday and I had been following Azuki for a while on Instagram so I knew this was the moment to try it! We had 4 people and ate there on a Saturday evening in May. We were seated on time, our server (sorry, forgot his name) was instrumental in choosing what dishes to order. We ordered the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, Uni Toast, Miso Eggplant, some sashimi with Crispy Salmon Skin Salad, some handrolls, the Tuna Toro Roll and the R U Kidding Me (so good!) along with a few other goodies. The experience, service, food and drinks were 1000% worth the price and I hope I have an excuse to come back soon!

I made a reservation of 8 over Yelp for my graduation. But then, my mom decided to invite 4 more people. I called the restaurant and they happily changed it for me. It was a small restaurant with some outdoor seats that were on the streets. I got placed outdoor due to the party size - absolutely love it. My family got to watch the sunset as we were enjoying our dinner. Amazing food. The sashimi were all delicious. I ordered a bunch of sushi to share they were all delicious and creative!! The desserts stole the show. My mom who hates sweets loved the desserts. Although the pacing of the dinner was a bit off with a long gap between food. But I appreciate the check ins and communication. The team was on top of it in taking care of the mishap. Will definitely come back 100%

Overall, this place was good! I'm giving it a 4/5, because my boyfriend and I came here specifically to celebrate our anniversary and he made sure to let them know prior to us arriving to make sure that something was done, but unfortunately, nothing was done until we reminded them again at the end of the dinner. It did feel like a rushed place, and it was an in-and-out type service. However, I will say the food was good and the fish was very fresh! The miso soup is very good. Their crispy rice tuna was so good, it also had a very nice kick to it as well. If you liked seared fish/beef, I would recommend getting the "R u kidding me?" And the "Kobe". Both of those rolls have seared fish/beef on it, giving it that smokey taste. We also tried the Stardust roll which was both of our favorites! The lemon on the roll adds some extra flavor to the roll, and the combination of everything in the roll went well together. Topped it off with some ice cream with fried banana for dessert!

Love love love. Not too pricey, amazing quality of fish, and well executed dishes. Walked in with no reservation when they opened and was able to snag two seats at the bar. Service is great, attentive & friendly. Crispy rice & spicy tuna: crispy rice wasn't too greasy. The warmth of the rice with the coolness of the tuna, ahmazing! I can't remember what roll we got but it was huge, which I'm not usually a fan of, oversized sushi rolls but this was sooo good. Fresh fish, the perfect temp. The shiso leaf really elevates the roll from other places. 8 piece nigiri: didn't think it would be enough but it was soo satisfying! Again great quality, their fish is seriously the perfect temperature & the seaweeed has a nice crispness to it. Nigiri pieces stood out, not over sauced or anything. Well executed, like I said. I don't think you can go wrong here. I will go to this place every time I'm in San Diego.

Awesome every single time. I'm a repeat customer month over month! The toro is always amazing!

Food tasted like bites of heaven! For reference I got their Strawberry Kush which was $15 and the Sashimi Classic for $38. From the wasabi to the fish, everything tasted so good and so fresh! They were hella packed and for good reasons. The server and the girl taking people in were all so friendly and sweet. They kept making sure everything was good for me. The vibes were great especially with the good food. Very cozy and homey vibes. It's dimly lit to give off very cozy and intimate vibes.