The Latest in San Diego Sushi Restaurants

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From rainbow rolls to seaweed salads to sake bombs, the San Diego sushi experience never fails to excite.

Whether you're a novice or an expert in the world of raw fish, you probably have a certain San Diego sushi restaurant you stick to. However, there are countless sushi restaurants in San Diego, new and old, tried and truly innovative. Even the most sushi-savvy San Diegans should broaden their horizons and explore the latest in San Diego's Japanese cuisine.

Here are a few of our favorite sushi restaurants in San Diego:

Pearl Sushi and Champagne Lounge in Del Mar

If you find image important when it comes to San Diego sushi, Del Mar's brand new Pearl Sushi and Champagne Lounge is the place to be. Pearl Sushi takes a twist on the traditional sushi-sake combination, matching flutes of champagne with beautiful arrangements of fish flown in straight from Japan. Master chef Makoto Okuwa appeared on TV's "Iron Chef" and now creates a California fusion of sushi inspired dishes including hamachi tacos, tofu steak and miso sake black cod.

Though prices are on the steep side, the exquisite lounge atmosphere of Pearl Sushi is worth checking out - as long as you don't mind the crowd of "Del Mar-tians" and other San Diego hipsters looking to impress.

Ichiban in Hillcrest

The usual line out the door proves Ichiban in Hillcrest keeps it customers coming back for more. The small sushi restaurant packs them in like sardines. The bare walls and fast-food style seating don't seem to deter the hungry sushi lover. And while it may not be the most authentic sushi in town, the prices can't be beat.

"This place is great," says one SDSU student about Ichiban sushi. "It's tasty, fast and affordable."

You can score a set sushi menu including rolls and nigiri sushi, miso soup and a beverage for under $8. Rolls run around $2.50. Happy hour (5-7 pm) specials include 1-cent beers after the first $4 beer. Now that's a good deal.

Fish Joint in Oceanside

Munch on awesome sushi with the local North County surf crowd at the Fish Joint on the Coast Highway in Oceanside. This laid-back sushi bar is run by two brothers, Davin and Loren Waite. While older brother Davin has worked at top San Diego sushi spots like Café Japengo, he prefers the mellowness of the Fish Joint, where he can watch surf videos and chat with the guests.

The clientele at Fish Joint is extremely loyal, and it tends to fill up even on a Monday night. The menu is extensive and creative. Favorites include delicious tempura dumplings called Scooby Snacks, as well as the Chronic Roll, filled with assorted fish and topped with mango salsa.

"I just love hearing my mom asking for the Chronic!" Davin laughs. "It's unreal!"

Ajiya Sushi and Asian Bistro in Del Mar

Lifetime sushi chef James Holder has finally opened his own sushi restaurant - the delicious Ayajai - in the Flower Hill shopping mall in Del Mar.

Half American, half Japanese, Holder was born and raised in Japan. He started making sushi at age 13 in his hometown Hiyama. Holder has worked in several high-end sushi restaurants in San Diego and is the former owner of Zen, a sushi restaurant that went under due to problems with investors. This time, Holder is doing it right. His focus with Ayajai is not on quantity, but quality. He feels too many San Diego sushi restaurants just fill their customers up on rice in their enormous hand rolls.

Ayajai is clean, contemporary and cool. The long sushi bar allows guest to watch Holder in action. The restaurant also features half-price sake deals on Sundays, which is always a draw.

Visions in the Gaslamp Quarter

Visions Restaurant and Lounge is an upscale steakhouse/sushi bar in the heart of Downtown San Diego. Visions incorporates a contemporary approach to sushi with fresh fish delivered daily creating interesting twists to classic sushi rolls while still offering traditional sushi for the true sushi enthusiast. Both the main dining room menu and the sushi menu are available throughout the venue.

The sushi bar at Visions offers late night dining for folks out in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, and stays open as long as the venue is open. The restaurant seats nearly 200 guests and turns into a trendy lounge with DJ music after dinner.

Yu Me Ya - Sake House in Leucadia

What's more exiting than sushi in San Diego? Sake, of course! Yu Me Ya is a tiny restaurant on the Coast Highway in Leucadia, with only eight tables and ten seats at the bar. Opened just over a year ago, this North County sushi restaurant is so popular, reservations are highly recommended.

The atmosphere at Yu Me Ya is intimate. Customers feel like they've been invited into a family home. Mom and Dad are in the kitchen, and their kids and their spouses work the dining room. Yu Me Ya creates traditional Japanese Izakaya cuisine, which delights guests looking for something different than your average sushi. Prices are reasonable - no food items over $6.95. The Shishitou peppers are to die for, as are the baked bay scallops, shrimp tempura rolls and homemade green-tea ice cream. And don't forget the sake!