Kokoro Restaurant in San Diego

I am so happy to have found this hidden gem. This unassuming restaurant blew both my fiancé and my expectations out the water. When you enter the store, you immediately feel like you’ve walked into a little sushi shop in Japan. The waitresses were so lovely. Decor is simple and zen. The sushi quality is excellent, I especially LOVED the Uni; very generous portion and a perfect sweet, clean taste. The presentation of the food, particularly the tempura, was beautiful. All of this for a fair price makes this a Must Go.

I have been coming here regularly for a long time, and every time I come it is perfect and delicious. I still can’t understand how something so simple can taste so good. I always get lots of nigiri and it blows me away every time. (This is an edited review, this experience is from 3 months ago)

Amazing hidden gem. Quiet atmosphere and excellent service. The inside is very nice and neat looking. The sushi was amazing. Wish I tried the sushi for two but it was just me. Saw a couple getting it and the sushi chef explained it all to them. Very friendly.

Another hidden gem. Its hidden in a neighborhood shopping mall. We went there for lunch and ordered chirashi sushi and lunch sushi set. The sushi was excellent to good. I was pleasantly surprised by the udon. I chose to upgrade from miso soup and it was excellent! It was simply dressed but its broth had depth. The noodles were chewy. The service was warm and felt by being treated by my own grandma. 😊. It deserves revisit.

I wasnt sure if I had to make reservations but I walked in anyway and they seated me right away. The staffs were super friendly and welcoming. My boyfriend and I had the omakase course. The chef prepped the food thoroughly with a lot of care into it. He even asked if there were any allergy restrictions. We paced ourselves through each meal and everything was fresh and delicious. We did not mind waiting because it was mesmerizing to watch as the chef made the sushi. I thought that the price was reasonable and it felt like I was in Japan again. Would definitely come back even for non special occasions.

Food: 10/5Service and Setting: 4/5Value: 3.5/5Kokoro restaurant has truly stolen my kokoro (heart) with the honesty and quality of their food. Located in an unassuming, honesty run down plaza, Kokoro’s entrance leaves very little expectation. Parking is easy. Their window treatments make them look like they are closed, but don’t let that fool you. The interior is clean, Japanese inspired, with no gimmicks. Natural wood is the theme and makes the small restaurant feel cozy. Service is very kind. Though slow at times, the servers are all very attentive and detailed. You don’t need a reservation for lunch but I would definitely make one for dinner, particularly on the weekend. The magic is in the food, especially their dinner. Chef Akio Ishito is truly a gem and I am so honored to have been able to try and enjoy his food (he is alive, I realize that this sounds like he isn’t oops).“Omakase” Sushi Course: 100/5I won’t mince my work. PHENOMENAL. SPECTACULAR. AMAZING. Chef Akio Ishito definitely has the sushi rizz as he gingerly formed the rice and expertly sliced his fish. Bangers on top of bangers on top of bangers, I was basically walking from side to side. All of the pieces of sushi had a unique charm, ample amounts of wasabi underneath, and years of experience ingrained into them. Cuttlefish, toro, uni, toro, this insane shiso hand roll, anago, are just a few standouts. The chef would explain to us what he was serving each time and we would be given hot dishes in between (these were also bangers). Before they serve dessert, the servers will ask if you want to order anything else to make sure sweets do not come out prematurely. The ending with panna cotta and tea was a great way to round out the meal. For the first time, I truly want to come back and support the food and art at this restaurant and I hope that all of you do as well.Mackerel Battera: 5/5A form of sushi not often served, Battera is a pressed sushi with more densely packed rice with marinated radish on top. Imagine like a Spam musubi. This dish in particular tasted “special” and I knew that Kokoro was doing something right. It tastes like sushi but something is different, come try it!Lunch Unagi Bowl: 4/5The unagi bowl comes with eel, egg, inure, shrimp, and Kanpyo rice. All of the ingredients are very fresh and expertly prepared. We all have had the experience of ordering an unagi bowl and having it literally just be a piece of fish over rice. I felt that this was lovingly and thoughtfully crafted. The only downside was that the portion is a bit small and pricey, but the quality is definitely there. The miso soup the meal comes with is also a bit elevated and has a “gourmet” taste for a lack of better words.Sushi Lunch: 4.5/5What Kokoro does better than any other sushi restaurant I have eaten at is their rice. Perfectly seasoned, perfected formed, and perfectly cooked, it truly is a masterclass in its preparation and is the ultimate vehicle for toppings. All of the sushi was phenomenal in its quality, freshens, and preparation. Even the American friendly cooked shrimp was prepared with respect and was a step above other sushi restaurants’ preparations. A bit plain Jane, but perfect for a simple lunch.Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura: 2.5/5A bit shocking, but the tempura was not that good. A bit too oily and not very crispy, a definite low point. Better than all you can eat, but definitely not worth the price they are charging. Good thing they keep things traditional and not add tempura into their rolls.Housemade Panna Cotta: 4.5/5Rich, creamy, and tastes almost exactly like White Rabbit candy. This Panna Cotta is pretty sweet, not as sweet as most American desserts, but much sweeter than most Asian ones. With a warm cup of tea, the perfect dessert.

Would not recommend!I am still trying to understand how they justify such a high price for sushi. Paid $30 for 6 pieces (single pieces, not rolls). You can buy 1-2 pounds of fish with $30!!The other menu items were a bit more reasonable. Also note that the restaurant is located in an unpleasant neighborhood, walking distance of a carwash.

An absolute gem of a place. Most omakase restaurants especially in California are full of flash and don’t feel authentic. The chef here clearly cares about the food he puts in front of you and each piece is packed away beautifully with high quality fish, years of experience, and a touch of love. The environment is incredibly intimate and service was phenomenal. Will definitely be back!

The quality of the fish at Kokoro is excellent, a clear step up from most sushi restaurants. We had the omakase, and each dish was very good. The abalone and okra dish was a standout from the kitchen, and the sushi chef is very skilled. The uni was the sweetest and freshest Ive had. The rice for the nigiri was perfect, well portioned (i.e. not too much) and not overcooked.The prices are higher than average, and the storefront is plain. But if you appreciate top quality ingredients Kokoro is a wonderful experience.

I’ve been here three times, and got the omakase all three times. They are overall very good every time, but I definitely enjoy the sashimi dishes more than their baked / fried dishes. The soups are always good too.