- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Niban Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
7081 Clairemont Mesa BlvdSte 101
San Diego, CA 92111
Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa
(858) 268-0465
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
441 reviews for Niban Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"I highly recommend the Lion King roll." In 35 reviews -
"Their monthly specials are always well-priced and great." In 31 reviews -
"I always get their Chicken Katsu Curry." In 19 reviews
Loading...
441 reviews in English
-
Review from Kristen S.
San Diego, CA
Niban is a great place to grab fast, cheap, and delicious sushi. I love how you pay beforehand so you can just leave when you are ready.
Niban is just as good as Ichiban! I was sad to move away from PB mostly because I didn't want to leave Ichiban, but now I have discovered the awesomeness that is Niban.
FOODSSS:
*hamachi (yellowtail) sashimi plate
*miso soup
*garlic edamame
*spicy baked california roll
*ebi nigiri
*hamachi nigiri
*Katsu curryListed in: San Diego Sushi and Japanese
-
Review from Areleous B.
San Diego, CA
I rounded the stars: two people gave two stars and three people gave it three stars. It came out to 2.6; rounding up to the three stars.
The chicken in my bento box was old, everything else was fine; including the beer.
Someone elses food was missing flavor except for the broth.
A couple of people in our group disliked the flavor of the food.
Another's sushi tasted like nothing. Sushi Hut is much better.
All: the service was not up to par, and the recipet shows only "hot food". -
Review from Isabelle F.
San Francisco, CA
Got the September special - chicken sukiyaki bowl. This came with 6 pieces of California rolls and a bowl of miso soup. I love that the chicken sukiyaki was served hot - freshly off the stove.
My friend and I sat at the bar during lunch and talked for quite a while, and it was nice that no one rushed us to leave. -
Review from L J.
El Cajon, CA
5/20/2012
Have been coming to Niban's for a few years and they are consistantly great! Meals are fresh and big portioned. Have had everything on the menu, all reasonably priced, and great tasting! Even spcial ordered some things without any hesitation on their part! They are fast and efficient even though they are always packed. Average 2 to 5 times a month here and love that they close in the middle of the day to replenish thier fresh fish!
-
Review from Sophia Y.
Despite my 3 star experience last time, I really like this place! Actually came here about 3 times in one week last month and then kind of got sick of sushi (not because of their sushi).
Sushi is good, big and decently priced. I usually average about $30 for 4 rolls (shared of course).
I like how they always have specials and I think they pretty much change every few days.
The last time I came, I got the February Special "Super Duo A" which was 5 pcs of baja roll and 5 pcs of crunch roll, and the "Super Duo B" which was 5 pcs Hawaiian Roll and 5 pcs lion king. It was really good and I liked how the rolls were half and half so I can have more variety without having to get a second roll.
I also got the TJ roll. My fave... I don't know why. The cilantro just goes so good with the spicy mayo and sushi.
My other fave is the dynamite roll - California roll baked with seafood on top. Squeeze a lemon on it - Delicious!
My friend got the alaskan roll and that one is one of my new favorites too.
Overall, really good sushi and good prices. Will be back!!Listed in: That's How I Sushi Roll
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/15/2011
I tried to come here on a Sunday around 2:30pm and they were closed!!! I guess they have this period… Read more »
-
-
Review from Patricia Y.
San Diego, CA
3/1/2012
Sometimes their food can be kind of gross (ie GLOBS of chicken fat clinging onto meat) but cheap, so whatever.
Definitely not authentic..
Decent portions.. I usually won't object if someone suggests eating at Niban unless I'm feelin' fancy (but for the most part, nobody really suggests Niban) -
Review from Aryan O.
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not a whole lot of selection when it comes to sushi rolls, but they do have quite a few boxes and curry as well. I was reading up on some tips for this place and people were raving about the Lion King roll so I had to see what the deal was. It was okay in my opinion. I think the creme cheese over powered most of the roll. You get that dry gunky feeling in the back of your throat when eating this roll. It's an alright roll, the tempura wasn't overly cooked or undercooked.
I think the roll to get is the Orange Blossom roll. That one is good especially with the salmon on top and the spicy tuna in the middle. Also drizzled on top is the spicy mayo. Really tasty roll. And the rolls are pretty decent size for the price.
What caught me off guard is that you have to order first from the counter and pay their like as if you're ordering from a fast food chain. Than you sit at whatever table of your liking. -
Review from David C.
San Diego, CA
3/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
When I was a sheltered college student at UCSD with no car and on a budget, I thought this place was the place to go to for cheap sushi in the area. I'm so glad I've grown out of that phase and discovered and moved on to better sushi establishments.
Pluses of this place are their daily/monthly specials which are the best values here and I really like their seating system. It's much more efficient having to pay first and then being seated, it makes it much easier especially when you have a large party.
What I dislike most about this place is easily their food. Everything about it is low quality. Their actual fish isn't fresh at all. One time, I got their spicy salmon roll and it just tasted like canned salmon wrapped in rice. And yes, I got a bad case of food poisoning after that. And I'm pretty sure their soup and appetizers are of the instant frozen kinds you just add water to or heat up or fry.
I wouldn't recommend coming here, but I can see why this place is so popular, seeing that its cheap and quick Japanese food. -
Review from christy b.
San Diego, CA
4/29/2012
This place is cheap!
My bro had me try sushi second time after a fail try at sushi deli with friends. I really liked it, we ordered crunchy roll, Philadelphia roll dragon roll and lion king all were real good. Service was great we waited about 10/15 mins to be seated(( but u knw why, so good)). Id recommend this place give it a try; i mean i don't like seafood and I'm over there eating 4 rolls of sushi! -
Review from Angelo F.
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Legit!!! I have a primary restaurant for my sushi fix but I was craving sushi during work ours so going to my usual spot wouldnt be feasible. A co-worker recommended Niban and told me rolls there were $6-$7. That lowered my expectations big time.... But I needed my sushi fix so it will have to do.
To my suprise this place is really good! For the location, the price and the portions, its definately worth it!
I ordered the rainbow roll and the dragon roll.
The Rainbow Roll was good and the cuts of fish were a good size.
The Dragon Roll had a decent amout of eel. They couldve made the eel cuts a tad bigger but it was fine given the price.
Tip: Either go early for lunch or later. It can get busy around the lunch period. -
Review from Danny T.
Campbell, CA
3/20/2012
When I was a college student living in San Diego, this was my go-to place for cheap sushi. The sushi itself is mediocre, but in comparison with the price it's pretty phenomenal. There are sushi specials everyday. Typically it's two special roll's between $10-$15 dollars. You also order and pay for your sushi before hand so it's much\ more casual than a sit-down restaurant.
As far as sushi goes, it's incredibly "average". I haven't tried anything that was terrible or excellent. You will find sushi staples here but don't expect to be blown away by the quality.
All in all, it's a great sushi place for the price that you're paying. If you are looking for quality rolls, restaurant atmosphere, and great customer service; you may want to try another restaurant. -
Review from My T.
1/21/2012 2 photos
3.5 stars, but I'll bump up rather than down because I don't think Niban fits in a "three star" category. For a cheap fast fix of sushi, this is the place to go. We typically order the same things over and over again, because we can't seem to go wrong (and we have ordering some of the other rolls).
The eel roll, the orange blossom roll, and bento box A is our typical staples here!
Good, but not great -- but for the price, we keep coming back! -
Review from Caitlin S.
San Diego, CA
2/24/2012
K, so do you want a big portion of pretty good sushi that's super cheap? Nibon is your place. Go here with a platonic friend, family member or with your honey on a week night. I wouldn't go here on the weekend... way too many more interesting and fun places to explore. Nibon is not fun or exciting - it's an absolute bore with no atmosphere but the sushi is a great value.
Bottom line: Go here if you want cheap, good tasting sushi and don't give a damn about any other factors (customer service, atmosphere, etc). The yummy-relative-to-price factor is where it's at here...that's Nibon's bread and butter, if you will. -
Review from Andy P.
Niban, I actually like it here only because of their monthly special (call in beforehand to see what they are). They are a pretty good deal for Japanese food!
Pay first
Get free green tea.
I dont know why I keep coming back here, but I've definitely been here way too much. Food is decent - dont expect something special. Pay more and go somewhere else if you want to be impressed. -
Review from Elma Joy T.
La Jolla, CA
1/21/2012 7 Check-ins Here
I have been to Niban at least 10+ times in the past few months and each time I left satisfied. Even when I went with a large group they were accommodating and the service was courteous as usual. I think its a pretty good place for a reasonable sized group because each person pays for their food right when they order. This saves you the whole bill splitting headache/drama!
Oh &I'm allergic to a lot of sea food so I usually get the katsu curry special that is HUGE and CHEAP. Most importantly it tastes great! To me Niban's curry is a no fuss comfort food that is really satisfying and easy on the wallet. -
Review from Karila S.
1/8/2012
This is only a place you visit if:
A) you are cheap and/or don't give a crap about the ambiance of your dinner spot
B) you are a sushi noob
C) you are a poor college student who can't enjoy real sushi
D) you prefer tartar sauce with your tempura rather than tempura sauce
If you are an Angelino like me and have been to bajillions of better sushi places, don't waste your time. I'd rather wait another 10 weeks to go to a sushi place I know I will actually like.
Just don't do it. -
Review from April B.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I like this place because their sushi is cheap but it's not the greatest quality but it gets the job done! lol.
We ordered the lion king roll which was pretty good, I'd get it again. I also got the cali roll baked with spicy mayo, I forget what it's called but I got the one with the seaweed wrapped on the outside rather than the one inside =/ oh well, it was still satisfying.
There's always a line out the door but the line moves pretty quick. I kinda like that you have to pay in advance because I hate handling the bill when I'm full, I can just leave after. Next time I want to try the Katsu Curry since everyone is saying it's so good :) -
Review from Angela C.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 2/7/2012
No longer a fan of sloppy rolls and lines that are too long.
Their specials were always fun to order. I used to come here often because it was cheap and I hadn't really figured out what good sushi meant. Now that I do, I can't really go back to the average stuff. I remember the service was good and the people who work here are nice but I'm not a fan of their food anymore.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/10/2008
This busy place offers a cheap tasty menu. I like coming here for those reasons. It is not the… Read more »
-
-
Review from S S.
San Diego, CA
4/9/2012
Came here after work. Apparently, you have to order first then be seated. In our case, it wasn't busy so they let us sit wherever. I got the Chicken Katsu combo. A big bowl of chicken katsu, rice, eggs, veggies, etc. Also comes with miso soup or salad and 6 pieces of California rolls. For under 7 bucks?! It was more than enough food to get full and still take some food home.
As for their sushi rolls, really decently priced. 6 or 7 bucks and one can fill you up. A lot of variety to cater to all the taste buds, but you definitely get a lot of bang for your buck. Would I go out of my way to go here? Probably not, but if I'm in the area then I'll definitely stop by for some sushi.
It's in the plaza with the McDonalds and Souplantation is. -
Review from Naryssa K.
San Diego, CA
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I gave this restaurant two chances and both times I was unsatisfied. First off the Miso soup was like instant soup. It looked as if they simply threw a packet of seasoning in hot water. It tasted horrible. Our water cups were dirty and not washed. The fish is not fresh at all. The ginger looked old and dry. But for the price .. i guess its somewhat fair and expected.
-
Review from Michele C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
Good, cheap food for the hungry and budget wise.
I love their specials because it's a generous portion of food for a really cheap price. The sushi isn't the freshest around but it's fairly decent and at $6-7 a roll, what do you expect.
I love their dynamite roll, it's a staple and what I almost always order. Skip the bento boxes; they're nothing special.
Gets packed around dinner time and there's usually a line of 10-15 people waiting outside for the restaurant to open for dinner. Call in ahead of time for to go orders if you don't want to wait 15 mins. -
Review from Anna B.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
1/4/2012
I wouldn't come back.
Niban is tucked away into a tiny corner of what I like to call "Walmart Street" and I came here because of the decent Yelp reviews of the 3 popular rolls everyone mentions:
1. Rainbow Roll-- dry sashimi on top, but decent california roll under
2. TJ Roll- a bit of a kick with the spicy roe on top, but pretty boring inside
3. Lion King Roll- deep fried, but the sauce covered up any issues
4. Spicy Tuna Roll- Boring, but decent
5. Baked Scallop Roll- Meh, could be better but no complaints
6. Squid nigiri- ample amount of squid, good size
7. Masago nigiri- DELISH! I love roe, but they stuffed it on top like no one's business
8. Snow Crab nigiri- dry, oversalted crab, wouldn't order again
9. Unagi nigiri- pretty good, but I wish they cooked the skin more. I was chewing it for a while and didn't know when to swallow because it was so gamey
Man, I feel like a pig because this was all for myself.
But the total was still under $70.
MORAL OF THE REVIEW: Cheap, decent sushi... don't except more, and don't take a first date or else she'll think you know NOTHING about good sushi. Just do what I did and pig out by yourself as the petite Asian servers look on with horror. -
Review from Dani R.
San Diego, CA
12/17/2011
I've been going here for years with friends. Their sushi rolls are my favorite and I love the seaweed in the miso soup. All their other food is just as good but I definitely come here for the rolls!
All the employees there are super cool too! The girls are all so sweet and helpful and the guys at the sushi bar are always chill. I introduced this place to my boyfriend when we first started dating and have been going so much because we just over all love the food and the service!!! Sitting at the tables are nice but if you don't want to wait for one just grab a seat at the bar(self-seating) and tell the guys your order, super speedy and friendly service!!
Also, if you just want some sushi to take home, call ahead of time to order and you can avoid the wait!((it gets busy because it GOOOD!) Learn your way around this place and I am sure you will love it too :)) -
Review from Greg L.
San Diego, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
i like it, i always get the Bento A, i like the grilled salmon and the fried "whatever", i like that it comes with miso soup, salad, rice, chicken, a few other things, it's a good deal. She usually has what ever the "special on the board" is for the day, those are pretty good as well. overall great value for the money, last time sat down right away, food was a little slow getting to the table.
if you can find a parking spot, and the line is not too long, well worth it, in my opinion. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Pomona, CA
10/3/2011
One word - YUCK!
I am at a total loss for why this place has such great reviews. Service was slow and food was less than mediocre so the only attractive thing I can think of is the price.
- Miso soup was super salty (and also possibly instant??)
- Rolls fell apart
- Mystery fried fish was rubbery
- Odd, not exactly teriyaki sauce
- Weird umeboshi gel on rice
- "California" rolls were just rice with avocado and krab
I could go on and on but I think you get the gist. This place is less Japanese than Taco Bell is Mexican. Stay far far away! -
Review from Jennifer L.
San Diego, CA
11/25/2011
Probably one of the least authentic Japanese restuarants I've seen, but it is a great place for college students to get some cheap and sauce drenched sushi.
All the specialty sushis are overly doused in sauce, which isn't a good sign, but if you're not too picky about quality. This place is not bad for the price. -
Review from Mindy Y.
San Diego, CA
3/2/2012
It's really difficult for me to rate this place. I think a 2.5 justifies the food here. Sometimes I'll regret coming here, and other times I actually find it to be decent. The fish is not the freshest, but then again the rolls are cheap in cost. Good place for an inexpensive sushi fix, so don't come here if you're looking for quality sushi.
-
Review from Jennifer W.
Murrieta, CA
10/8/2011 1 photo
Okay food, good prices.
I got a sushi combo that comes with two hand rolls, six pieces of assorted nigiri, miso soup, and edamame for 11 something. The hand rolls were huge, and the nigiri was decently sized. Since the hand rolls were suppose to be spicy tuna and spicy crab, I asked for regular. I felt like the imitation crab meat used for california rolls was a bit on the mayo-y side, but I felt it was better than the regular Tuna which was hard to bite off sometimes. I think one of the pieces of nigiri was squid? It was okay, I liked that the rice stayed together since it was hard to bite a piece of the squid off. The other pieces of nigiri were nice and soft, and easy to bite through. The miso soup, didn't come with tofu, at least, from what I could see, or taste, but it was still good. Loved that my combo came with edamame, they were nice and firm, and perfectly salted.
My friend ordered a TJ roll, and with a drink that came out to around $7 something. I didn't get to try it, but it's her favorite roll, and I like how the pieces are small, so you're not struggling to eat it one piece at a time lol.
We probably got checked up a couple of times, didn't get offered refills, so service wasn't so great. If I am ever in the area, and want some sushi, I'd stop by here.Listed in: Japanese / Sushi
-
Review from Gabrielle O.
San Diego, CA
1/9/2012
You have to order when walking in....for us first-timers, that easn't exactly obvious. Instead of helping us, the register girl stood there smirking...not exactly amazing customer service. A nice waiter finally clued us in.
Rolls were quick....and cheap. However, I don't like my sushi rolls like my dates =\ I got two rolls and both of them fell apart when they got placed on the table.
My advice, check out another one of the sushi places in the area -
Review from Cecile N.
San Diego, CA
12/2/2011 7 Check-ins Here
I have loved Niban since.. forever! It's not the fanciest restaurant, but the food is cheap and it's good. Chicken katsu is a must order! So good. Their slices are a lot thicker than most Japanese restaurants which is what's so good about it.
My favorite roll is the Fried Calamari roll!! OMG, yum! Spicy mayo on the side so I can dip a little extra. I also always order a peach iced tea here. I normally hate any tea drinks, but for some reason peach iced tea is so good here. And it's just Nestea! I don't know what it is about it, but it's really good.
Rolls are under $10 and they usually have daily specials where some of their featured rolls are $6 or something like that. Chicken katsu is only $6! And it's a really good serving, you'll be full afterwards.
Also if you come around holiday season they give you little gift certificates for a dollar or something that you can use on your next visit. Pretty good deal if you ask me! -
Review from Lalo G.
9/28/2011
Niban is awesome because the sushi is good, the service is fast, and the prices are very reasonable.
Of course, there are a lot of really great reviews for Niban because they make sushi ordering easy. While the menu may not be impressive for the seasoned veteran sushi connoisseur, what they do offer is done fairly well and faster than most are accustomed to.
But look elsewhere if you want sit down romantic dinner sushi. This is fast, easy and pretty darned good for what it is. It's definitely worth a try if you're looking for something new and it's always a good choice for lunch.
Enjoy! -
Review from Doris S.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 11/29/2011
I am pleased to say that Niban upped their game food-wise.
I ordered take-out today. I asked the waitress on the phone about their daily special & I saw that she neglected to tell me all of them... lame.
I ordered three rolls: soft shell crab, rainbow and albacore supreme. They told me the order would take 15 minutes to complete. I got there in 10 or 15 minutes and it was done when I walked in the door. I was pleasantly surprised since this isn't always the case around dinner time. I don't know the waitress's name but she wasn't very talkative or friendly. Don't know her name but same one from the phone I'm guessing from her voice. I hope you peep this... wack tip for wack service.
The soft shell crab roll was okay. Very big pieces for a five-piece roll. Nothing much on the roll but... soft shell crab. Boring. Sriracha that for some deliciousness.
Rainbow roll was so good! The fish actually tasted fresh this time... the salmon tasted so fresh that it melted in my mouth. YES.
Albacore supreme was also good. The fish tasted pretty fresh and so did the green onions they threw on it. I'm sad that they don't put a lot of lemon slices on it anymore still, though. What made me love this roll in the first place was that they used to have a nice sized one on every single piece & now it's mostly rind and little slivers of nothingness.
They're still getting three stars from me but hopefully there will be more improvement in the quality later.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/17/2009
Niban is a good restaurant to go to when you have a sushi craving. It's fairly priced, though they… Read more »
-
-
Review from Dane B.
Wylie, TX
2/23/2012
My family and I have been coming here for years; it's our go-to place for sushi! The quantities are excellent and so are the prices! Their sushi has definitely become a comfort food for me. There's almost always a line at peak hours, but we all know it's worth the wait! Whether you want a bento, a katsu rice bowl, stamina noodle soup, or one of their many sushi rolls, you won't be let down!
-
Review from Marie B.
San Diego, CA
2/25/2012
Yes, there are lots of sushi places in San Diego that are a lot more glamorous and pricey, but if you want cheap good sushi just for fun THIS is the place to go!!! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the place is too small. Sometimes the wait time is just ridiculous.
-
Review from Mylinh N.
San Diego, CA
10/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My friends and I love coming here. The sushi is good, the rolls are big, and the prices are affordable. It's not a "fancy" sushi restaurant but who's complaining?! I really like the concept of paying in advance for the rolls that you plan on purchasing before being seated. You can always order more after as well. It saves on the hassle of waiting for your bill to come after you finish eating and you can just leave whenever you please.
I really love how Niban has different daily specials everyday. The bento boxes and the rolls are always changing and you can look at what is on special on the board in the back behind the cashier and also in the glass display up front. The specials are always such a steal too!
My favorite roll? Probably the Lion King Roll and the Fried Calamari Roll :)
Make sure to get lots of extra eel sauce and spicy mayo!!! -
Review from Rene P.
9/22/2011
An average, decent sushi place...
The menu didn't really offer any surprises; it definitely reflected the CA vibe with nearly every roll featuring avocado. This would be great for an avocado fan, which unfortunately I am not.
I had the Orange Jasmine roll, filled with spicy tuna and topped with salmon and "spicy mayo." It seems identical to the Spicy Washington Roll at Ki Sushi minus the Jalapeno slices. The tuna was adequate with the salmon being more tasty and tender.
My date had the chicken katsu curry. I appreciated the chicken which was *very* tender, and I was fan of the big chunks of potato and carrot. The curry itself was tasty although a little bland; it could have used more cumin perhaps. A fitting dish for an unassuming, middle-of-the-road restaurant such as Niban. -
Review from Brian H.
Kearny Mesa, San Diego, CA
2/17/2012
Went on a Sunday night around 8:30 and it was perfect timing. No lines and plenty of seating. Got one of the specials, vegetable tempura, and a spicy scallop roll. Everything was great and service was on point.
-
Review from Javier C.
San Diego, CA
10/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great food and very affordable. It's not the best sushi ever, but good luck finding better at a similar price.
Oh- try the chicken katsu. It's awesome. -
Review from April H.
San Diego, CA
9/22/2011
I've been coming here since high school and it's our go-to spot when me and my girlfriends are meeting up for dinner to catch up. It's really affordable and the food is pretty good. I usually order the Fried Calamari roll or Albacore roll. Both very good! I always ask for a side of spicy mayo and they're really good about giving it to me to-go if I need it.
Peach ice tea is what I always order here! It's so good! I don't know what it is, but their peach ice tea is better than a lot restaurants. It can get crowded with a line out the door, but that's just a testament to how popular this neighborhood sushi spot is. And they've recently remodeled so everything looks great!
Come here for happy hour too. Beer + sake is the best combination! -
Review from Jason E.
San Diego, CA
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
My go to place when I'm low on cash. Being the cheap college student that I am I frequently find myself getting the monthly specials. I love going here since the prices are so low for 10 piece rolls and they're a good size too. Every time I go to some other sushi restaurant (other than sushi deli) I feel like I could get a better deal here.
Sushi is great here, but I wouldn't recommend the curry.
