Talitha Coffee Roasters

Very straightforward approach to omakase here at Kinme. Familiar ingredients, approachable things, delicate flavors. We had the summer menu which was highlighted by fresh lemon and wasabi. Various fish and clam dishes, some uni, wagyu, and a little bit of octopus accompanied miso this and dashi that, shiso and ginger made an appearance also as well as some corn. This salt, that pepper, some zest, every course was good and some were great. It was all very summertime. I enjoyed it!

+4

A standout omakase experience—seasonal, thoughtful, and effortlessly elevated. From start to finish, the staff delivers a sense of warmth and polish that matches the precision of each dish. The Nigiri Toro Tower (yes, I’m making that a thing) was unforgettable—melt-in-your-mouth layers of indulgence that deserve their own fan club. Every course felt like a quiet celebration of flavor and craftsmanship. This meal was a gift, literally and figuratively—courtesy of my soon-to-be mother-in-law, whose taste in gifts is only rivaled by her generosity. Safe to say she now holds legendary status in my culinary memories. Whether you’re a seasoned omakase enthusiast or just looking for a special night out, Kinme is a standout. Quietly luxe, deeply satisfying, and absolutely worth savoring.

+3

Amazing omakase. This is a gem for San Diego, especially in the city area. The quality and thoughtfulness in their menu and service is on par with some of the ones you may experience in places like NYC, but right here! 8 seats each seating time, the service was very enjoyable and not at all feeling rushed. The food were beautifully presented prior to plating and the aroma along with the “show” is all well worth the price tag (unlike some other “omakase” we’ve been tricked to before per social media) we especially appreciated that the owner /chef was right there being part of the service. Thank you for bringing a true experience and respect for Japanese culture and food to the city of San Deigo! We had the early summer 2025 menu and was very happy with every dish, the freshness of each ingredient used (including wasabi root) beautifully shines as we eat each piece per chef’s instruction. LOVED our experience, will be returning!

+6

We went back in October, and our experience was impeccable. It was truly the best meal of my life. The staff were on top of everything, and the quality of the ingredients were excellent. I still think about the corn soup and ceremonial matcha at the end.

+6

To start, this experience is going to cost you some money. Omakase along with wine/sake pairings is around $380 per person with tax and service fee (20%). You can skip the pairings and just order a glass of wine or sake but for me there wasn't much of a choice. I wanted to enjoy the experience in its entirety. For us this was a special occasion, my hubbys birthday, was worth every penny. There are only 10 seats so I was a little apprehensive having to belly up to a small bar elbow to elbow with strangers. Not the case at all. The bar is really long and seating space is quite generous with plenty of room between each of us. There were 2 other parties aside from us and all pretty much kept to themselves albeit a lively bunch. During the courses of the evening our chefs would introduce ingredients and preparations leading to an epic culinary journey. Setting hay on fire for the hay smoked salmon was quite dramatic and the result, will get to that later. Every step was thought out, methodic and precise. Expert level is the name of the game at Kinme. This includes the well synchronized wait staff, you'll be in very good hands. This is a 10 course tasting menu plus matcha tea at the end. Mind you, some courses like sashimi and sushi aren't like one piece but many, many, many pieces. I won't go into detail about everything we had but it's worth noting that their menu changes with the season. So the menu we had was towards the end of its run and a new menu will start soon. Looking at other menu posts the categories don't change much but the ingredients do. There were a few things that stood out and I can't stop thinking about them. First the hay smoked salmon in the sashimi course was mind blowing. Also in that course we were served an A5 Wagyu tartar puff. It warped me as it tasted like In-n-out burger but many steps above in flavor, texture and overall satisfaction. A5 Wagyu is something else. When leaving the chefs were outside to bid all of their guests farewell. We left full and extremely happy, what a truly memorable evening.

+6

Wowowowow. My favourite omakase, and I've had many. I haven't felt this level of happiness and excitement in an omakase since my first one. This place knocks it out of the park and is tied for my favorite meal ever. The food is unparalleled and each dish is prepared with such care. The flavours are powerful but not overpowering. They melt in your melt and combine into such splendid experiences. The service is top-notch as well. I look forward to coming back many times.

I’ve tried just about every Omakase spot, big and small, in San Diego—and this one is by far my favorite and the most delicious yet! You need to book and pay in advance through the official website. Right now, it’s $225 for the meal, plus $45 gratuity and $20 tax. Reservations are available at either 5 pm or 8 pm. When you arrive, you can find street parking nearby. The restaurant opens promptly on the dot, and once you’re seated, you can order your drinks—then you’ll wait about 20 minutes before the meal officially starts. Food Review: The ingredients are super fresh and top-quality, and the menu changes with the seasons. The chef explains each dish before you try it. Most ingredients are sourced from Toyosu Market in Tokyo, Japan, as well as local suppliers right here in San Diego. The presentation is exquisite—every single dish looks like a work of art. The flavors strike a perfect balance of taste, texture, and aroma. Standout dishes include A5 wagyu beef served with seasonal vegetables and Japanese mackerel nigiri. My personal favorites this time were the smoked sashimi and A5 wagyu tartare puffs—they were absolutely amazing! Service: Three chefs work in perfect harmony, preparing the dishes right in front of you. There are also two servers standing by at all times, ready to hand you plates, clear away used ones, and refill your water. They’re incredibly attentive and thoughtful—you basically don’t have to lift a finger to handle any dishes yourself. They anticipate your needs before you even ask, making for a seamless dining experience. Case in point: if you step away to use the restroom, you’ll come back to find your napkin neatly refolded for you. Atmosphere: The vibe is elegant and cozy. It’s a high-end sister restaurant of Azuki Sushi, dedicated to showcasing the elegance and seasonality of kaiseki cuisine. There are only 10 seats in total, though they occasionally squeeze in one extra guest. All in all, it’s a really intimate spot. As a nice final touch, the staff sees you off at the door when you leave, and even gives you a little greeting card and a copy of the menu to take home as a souvenir. It boasts a solid 4.8-star rating on Yelp and has been around for three years now. If you’re a Japanese food lover, I highly recommend this place!

+6

Ill preface with this, I’m a fairly hard grader. I felt the spring menu was a bit underwhelming but the quality of ingredients were still high. I eat sushi weekly and this certainly maintains high standards of fish and quality of all ingredients. The secondary accent ingredients / dishes often shined more than the mains and that was maybe due to the season. The wine and sake pairing was fairly weak and I recommend skipping out unless you really like sake (they say wine and sake but it’s one traditional wine and the rest sake)… The one pairing that seemed best fit was during the nigiri portion of the meal. There was also less notable delicacy type offerings such as no caviar and no uni in this menu, I typically can get mostly the same fish and meat selection for ~$100 less than what the menu comprised of but their service, presentation, and attention to detail helped compromise for it. Overall good experience, but still left a bit to be desired. Staff were nice and service was excellent, personally with the spring menu I felt the experience was close to maybe a single star Michelin equivalent dining.

+1

My son and I had high expectations to go along with the high price tag for an amazing dining experience and it fell well short. Elements were great but as a whole it lacked energy. The sake and wine paring was a bust as the amount of each pour was barely enough for a taste, let alone enjoying the pairing with the food. One and done!

I dined at this restaurant on the evening of May 31st at 8 PM and ordered the omakase. Unfortunately, I experienced severe vomiting around 3 AM that night. I had not consumed any other food that day, so I strongly suspect the cause was related to the meal. I promptly emailed the restaurant. They responded saying their food “checked out fine,” but offered no meaningful explanation or support regarding my physical reaction. After my follow-up email, I received no further reply, and my review on Google has also been ignored. For a high-end restaurant, this kind of aftercare is extremely disappointing. I am sharing my experience to raise awareness about potential food safety issues and the lack of accountability I encountered. If you care about food quality and responsible service, please think twice.