Pauline Steele

Izakaya is located in Mission Hills. They don’t take reservations so make sure to get there early! Our party of 2 arrived right at opening and we were seated immediately but within 30 minutes, the tables filled fast. Parking/Environment: Dedicated parking lot in front with limited spots. Metered street parking spots available around the restaurant. Traditional Japanese style restaurant inside. There were many 2 person tables, a handful of 4 table seats, and some bar seating. All indoors. Service: Our waitress always checked in on us, water was always filled, and each item came out in a timely manner. Food: -Soft Shell Crab Tempura ($13): 2 small whole crabs deep fried with sauce on the side; this was delicious, I highly recommend -Gyoza ($6): 6 pieces pan fried -Caterpillar Roll ($14): delicious if you’re an eel lover -Lobster Dynamite Roll ($17): also delicious -Una Don ($19): eel bowl with rice; good enough to share if you’re getting more entrees Overall: I really enjoyed this place and would definitely come back. Remember to come close to opening especially if you have a larger party!

+4

John Lam

One of the best izakaya in San Diego! Very good service, set in an authentic Japanese ambience. All the foods we ordered (Saba, kama, a few different kinds of ramen, and, salmon soup bowl) were top notch.

Jules T

Went for the first time last Friday and it was SO good. Expect a wait but it’s totally worth it. We got so much food and everything tasted amazing, especially the sashimi.

+1

Amanda Kellari

Delicious sushi for a great value, the atmosphere is so welcoming and authentic, I truly feel like I am in Japan. Super fast and quality service! Family owned, the owners are hard working and extremely nice! I would highly recommend!

Conrad Holden

Yum! Miso soup was great very tasty. Pork Katsu Curry was deliciously flavorful. And Sushi was lovely, especially the San Diego roll. Will definitely be back:)

Tiffany Moseley

We absolutely love this place! It’s a small, cozy spot, so don’t expect to make reservations online—you’ll need to sign in when you arrive. That said, we’ve never waited longer than 15 minutes for a table. The service is incredibly fast and friendly, making the experience even better. But the real star here is the ramen! We always go for the Hakata-style ramen, which has a rich, creamy broth that’s perfectly savory, topped with tender pork chashu and roasted garlic. It’s absolutely delicious and always hits the spot. If you’re a ramen lover, this place is a must-visit!

Paulina O

I recently had dinner at Izakaya Masa and found it to be a pleasant experience. The ingredients were fresh, contributing to the overall quality of the dishes. While nothing was particularly spectacular, the food was consistently good. The decor of the place is very cute, adding to the charm and ambiance. The service was also commendable—good and fast, ensuring a smooth dining experience. I would definitely come back for another meal.

Shana Valenzuela

I’ve been stopping in every trip I take to San Diego for a few years. I was so excited to eat here since it had been since the start of the pandemic since I’d been. You do usually have to wait a bit for a table, but the service is quick and high quality and food comes out fast. The food is tasty, I haven’t had anything I didn’t enjoy, but definitely have my favorites.

+5

P. Zhang

Mixed experience. The food is 5 stars—the ramen is delicious and the fried oysters/octopus are must-haves. The staff is very passionate, but they didn't refill my water once. I sat at the bar, which is too close to the kitchen. The air quality was bad because of the heavy smoke and smell from the fryers. I’d suggest grabbing a table further away from the kitchen if you go.

Volodymyr Korsun

Love the vibe of the place!! Feels like a Japanese whole-in-the-wall restaurant. Tuna tartare was delicious and the California roll was great as well. Ramen was a bit disappointing, so that is why 4 stars. Given the prices and Japanese beer on draft ( Sapporo and Asahi) definitely worth a visit!!

+3

Eder

Mid range Ramen and sushi. Very good service. Quick service, it tool a few minutes to get our ramen. The sushi was Ok-Ish. Edamame was smaller than expected. Gyoza were very good and just as expected. Free water. Small tables. Will be back for the ramen for sure. Will try the sashimi next time and update.

+6

Vanessa Ortiz

Nice vibe, prices are understandable. Staff is attentive and kind. This restaurant has a variety of Japanese classic dishes. It’s not strictly nor majority sushi. Both the rainbow roll and the cali roll had whole chuncks (not shredded) of crab which took most of the flavor away. It would have been better with the mix spicy mayo or reg mayo. The veggie gyoza had limited flavor. I was glad to see a veggie option but it would be nice if it had a pop of flavor. The mackerel was enjoyable in texture however the flavor could be punched up a bit (slightly bland).

Nar G

Had to come due to reviews here, Sunday night, kinda busy I can see, but I had to ask to refill water, I had to ask sides (sushi ginger/wasabi) I had even asked fresh wasabi they don’t have which gives me 0 standard of sushi, Very minimal amount of everything with the price, they don’t even have options except basic tuna, yellowtail and salmon. For sushi place seriously?! Additionally, the service left much to be desired. There was no apparent interest in ensuring a positive dining experience, with staff merely checking in to ask if we wanted more, which felt more like an effort to rush customers out than to provide genuine service. Based on this visit, I would not return. While I did not encounter any major issues, the overall lack of attention and service left a negative impression