Himitsu - La Jolla, California

Caroline A. Rander - Realtor

Everything about this place felt authentic, fresh and made to order. The atmosphere is lovely bathed in greenery, and they will pretty much cater to what you would like to eat within their realm. It’s heaven for gluten free options, I had the vegetable tempura, crab tempura rolls which I haven’t been able to enjoy in years! Even their soy sauce is homemade. Delicious and will be back for sure!

Ed S

Wow! So yummy. Everything was delicious. Absolutely get the tostadas and red bean ice cream! Sashimi were very nice cuts. Will be back for sure!

ben l

Had an awesome experience here. The seafood is fresh and top notch. Man, that Big Belly combo of Toro, salmon and hamachi... Melts in your mouth. Absolutely buttery smooth.
The chef was friendly and service was attentive. When you pay for quality... It's not just the food... The service has to be comparable too otherwise the whole experience is downgraded.
Check out the photos and come try Himitsu out for yourself!
It's not cheap but as you know... You pay more you get more, pay less you get less. This isn't a dollar store meal.

Daniel Goldwater

Himitsu in San Diego hits the mark. Service? Lovely and quick. The terrace? Breezy, covered, and effortlessly comfortable. The sushi? Fresh as it gets. Sashimi melts in your mouth. Everything arrives fast, perfectly timed. It’s laid-back but polished. Exactly what you want from a top-tier sushi spot.

Scott Lee

A Hidden Gem for Japanese Cuisine in La Jolla!

Himitsu offers refined and elegant Japanese cuisine. It's a popular spot, so reservations are highly recommended. Their daily specials are listed on a blackboard, and it’s definitely worth choosing something from there.

The Honeymoon Oyster is a standout— a large oyster topped with uni, egg, and caviar, bursting with flavor. The Soft Shell Crab Appetizer features crispy, deep-fried crab with a sweet sauce that’s incredibly enjoyable. The Himitsu Plate offers a delectable assortment of sashimi, each piece a delight.

As for sushi, I recommend trying the Amaebi, which is fresh and has a subtle sweetness. The Uni Sushi from Hokkaido is so creamy and rich that you'll be tempted to order more. The Wagyu Sushi, made with grilled wagyu, is perfectly cooked with a nice balance of flavors.

Don’t forget to ask about their secret dessert menu—a scoop of ice cream that’s a perfect end to the meal.

The atmosphere is chic and relaxing, and the chef is quite engaging as he prepares your dishes. While it’s on the pricier side, the overall dining experience is well worth it.

David Hori

The restaurant is small with some outdoor seating. We recently made a trip to Japan and the sushi here for many items was as good or better than what we experienced in Japan. We mostly ordered nigiri and we ordered the hamachi kama which was very good. We also ordered the scallops and uni which were represented to be from Hokkaido. I made a trip to Hokkaido in February and the scallops and uni were by far the best I have ever had. The scallops were very good at Himitsu.

The service was very good. FWIW, the restaurant does automatically add a 20% gratuity to the bill. I am not a big fan of such practice as IMO tipping should be based on the level of service and such policy causes me to never tip more than what is added even if the service is something above and beyond 20%.

Janine Fredette

Sat at the bar with my daughter and loved every minute! The Chef and our server were very attentive and met all of our needs. Highly recommend this place.
It's very small and awkward to maneuver in.

Keaton Smith

We had reservations for 9:15, which was the only time slot available and we really wanted to try Himitsu. When we arrived, we were immediately notified that the kitchen was closing in 30 minutes. This alone almost made us leave because we didn’t want to be rushed through a $200+ dinner. I would recommend cutting reservations off at an earlier time if you want to close the kitchen promptly. After that, the food and service was great for the most part, but it didn’t live up to the price of the meal. They don’t serve cocktails, just a small selection of high priced Sake along with a very limited selection of beer and wine. The dinner cost $280 with just two beers, which seemed very expensive compared to some of the other fine sushi restaurants I’ve been to - especially when you take into account the atmosphere of it being in an upscale strip mall. Overall, I would recommend this place if you like Omakase, don’t care about cocktails and if money is not a concern.