Encinitas Sushi Lounge

Love this place!

This place is great. The staff is really friendly and the sushi is excellent quality.

Family and I tried this place because it was close by. We loved the atmosphere. Great people, and one of the guys (owner/​manager?) knew how to deal with kids. Definitely a plus in my book!

I love this place. We usually go on a Monday because of the half off roll menu. Just be prepared for a slight wait to be seated unless you get there before 5:30. It’s a great deal and worth the wait! If you can handle spicy food try the shishito peppers but be careful because 1 out of 4 will be super spicy. My favorite rolls are the happy wife & kokomo, If you check in on Unilocal you get yummy garlic edamame.

Encinitas is the land of pizza joints and sushi restaurants, so it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. While I’d heard the ads for Sushi Lounge on 1090, I’d never had the push to go try it, not with so many other options closer by. That is, until my wife started going gluten free. With soy containing gluten, and most tasty rolls having some type of Krab (gluten) or fried tempura flakes, sushi is usually difficult to do. Much to my surprise, Sushi Lounge had an extensive gluten free menu to include gluten free crab, and the utilization of gluten free tempura flakes for some awesome rolls.
The food was all delicious, with the gluten free rolls being just as good as any normal rolls. I had the non gluten free coconut shrimp rolls and was taken aback wig how tasty they are. I was also taken aback with how expensive everything was. Specialty rolls are starting around $ 15, so they add up quick. Luckily, Sushi Lounge had a good tap list (although I’d like to see St Archer start to disappear off of local tap lists) to make things appear more palatable when the check came.
So it’s pricey for sure. But for us, the sushi was great, the atmosphere was nice, and they were super nice to our 2 year old.

Their sushi is great. Fresh. I wish more of it came on one roll. I order one dish and I’m still quite hungry! Maybe I should get in for happy hour and order too! Check in on Unilocal for a discount surprise :)

If you have the chance go you will be happy. But they need to get Saint archer back on draft.

One of my favorite games as a little girl was Candyland because food is a way to a kid’s heart. Kids love deep fried, sweet food with mild spices and parents like happy kids. On my recent visits to Sushi Lounge I have noticed an exponentially growing mass of toddlers, and it seems that Encinitas Sushi Lounge is catering to the clientele, now their menues are even laminated.
The interior of Encinitas Sushi Lounge has blown glass pendant lights that are calming and lovely. It is spacious and has a nice décor and I love their innovative preparations of sushi. One of my favorite things is the jaimapeño roll, a jalapeño stuffed with crab and albacore, then deep fried and served on a bed of spicy sauces and topped with Tobiko. It is a flavor bomb that I can not resist. Those and the monthly special rolls bring me back again and again.
I have held back on writing this review for a while because I can not bear to admit that Encinitas Sushi Lounge has lost it’s edge and and dropped to a 3.5 star restaurant. One each of my last four visits there have been problems but last night at the sushi bar there were many things that stood out.
When I was sitting down my foot flung forward challenging my balance and it turned out to be a slippery mass of avocado and cucumber that had not been not cleaned up after the baby \ before me. I sat about 10 minutes without so much as a greeting from the sushi chef so I turned to our server for sushi rolls. He told me that I had to get them from the chef. The chef was so busy that he was just ignoring everyone and when I finally placed my order he was not the person who made it. The chronic roll can be a delicacy but I took one look and returned it without a taste. The rice was matted together and the fillings were falling out.
It may have just been an off night because the mixed tempura appetizer came out with doughy batter and raw vegetables inside. We left a plate full of tempura with single bites out of it. The waiter must be immune to the half eaten kid plates and never asked if the dish met our satisfaction.
I will definitely be back because this is one of my favorite restaurants. I hope that they get over the growing pains from their new market and begin to deliver the solid sushi that I love.

I give this place an 8.5 out of 10 or 4.5 stars. Prices here are fair. Fish was extremely fresh and the tuna was high quality. I ordered a $ 1.25 miso soup, $m/​p toro nigiri, and $ 14 rainbow roll. Miso was perfect, toro was fatty, flavorful and melted in my mouth, rainbow roll had great variety of fish on top including salmon, tuna, halibut, yellowtail, and shrimp. Also the sushi chef was extremely friendly and helpful. I will definitely be back to this spot.

This is one of our favorites sushi places. We eat here often and love everything on the menu. The blistered shishito peppers are awesome. It’s got the laid-​back Cardiff vibe that I grew up with and love.
Wish they could expand because the only hinderance is that there is often a wait. We are also a family of five so finding a table to fit five is challenging.
We come here when we can — it’s a great spot!

It irks me to eat in a shopping center, but once you walk into Encinitas Sushi Lounge you forget that it’s located in a Vons shopping center. Great ambience, nice selection of craft beers on tap, and the bartender was super friendly. It was pretty busy when we arrived and it died down when we were sat at the sushi bar.
I would have given it 5 stars if the server didn’t disappear on us. We checked-​in on Unilocal to get the garlic edamame, put the order in with our server then she disappeared for about 20 minutes. Things seemed scattered and they made it confusing as to what we could order from her. When she showed up again we asked her about the edamame she made it seem like the sushi chef was going to provide it saying, he needs to check on it. Awful start. We were glad when we got to ordering our sushi and didn’t have to deal with her (the server) any longer.
On to the food– Protein roll was a must! Crispy rice was interesting, but worth a try. We asked for the chuck norris roll, but the sushi chef said he didn’t make it and made his own creation. My husband loved it. It had a great spice to it and wonderful flavor. Wish I remembered the name, but it was very nice that you can ask the sushi chef to make a roll based on what you like. Will definitely come here again and hopefully have a better experience with the server.

I have been frequenting ESL for years, and have always been a huge fan. Unfortunately, out of the last three visits, only the second one was up to their normal standards. The first and third visit left me wondering what has happened here after years of consistently fantastic food.
Let me start with the Albacore Special. I don’t know why they changed it, but after years of the same original sauce, which was fantastic, they have changed the sauce. The new sauce, IMHO [and that of two of my dining companions], is nowhere near as good as the old sauce that was used. No idea if this was a uniform change by management, or whether some rogue sushi chef there made the change. What I do know is this: we went to *Poway* Sushi Lounge a couple weeks after our last visit, and they served the fantastic original sauce on the Albacore Special. I hope ESL returns to the original sauce on the Albacore Special.
Other rolls that we had, including the Chronic, just didn’t hit the mark on two of the three last visits as well.
Also, the last time we were there the sushi chef assigned to us as we sat right in front of him at the bar rarely acknowledged us. We finished our rolls and sat there for 20 minutes without him once making eye contact, and the one time I vocally projected his name he didn’t acknowledge us either. Finally I had to flag a waiter to order some more sushi.
I don’t know if there has been a big turnover in chefs or what, but on one of the last three times it still gets 5 stars, while on two of the last three times it only gets 3 stars. I hope management is able to bring this place back to the consistent 5 stars that it used to be.

I’ve been really obsessed with this place lately and each time I’ve gone, it’s been a solid, positive, local experience.
The fish is oh so fresh and clean, served up with style by the sushi Chefs and the staff. I know that every time I go the flavors are going to be spot on and I’ve never had a bad piece of fish here.
The servers try really hard to be on top of it with how busy it is and although there has been rare times where it’s been just a-​ok or slow, overall the staff gets my thumbs up for efforts and niceness! The chefs are fantastic and I’ve got about a million favorite dishes but here’s the short list —
The Chuck Norris Roll (ask if you don’t see it on the menu)
Crispy Rice
The Seaweed Salad is exceptional here, served with pickled cucumbers too.
For a little more bang, order the Ahi Poke, as it comes on top of a generous seaweed salad portion.
The Sushi Combo (great deal! For 16 $ you get one piece each, tuna, yellowtail, salmon, halibut, shrimp, eel and tamago w/​a california
roll)
The Lazy Chef is my boyfriends favorite!
Centipede roll
Allllll the Bento. All of it.
The banana dessert
Get some hot sake, pull up a chair, dive in — this is one of my regular joints. Thanks for being awesome ESL, all the fishy kisses for you.

Highly recommend tsunami roll. It has the kick, but very delicious. Very unique combination for sushi roll.
However, the bento is nothing special. You can get it everywhere else.

This place has been on my radar for a while now and I finally had the opportunity to make a visit. I was told to go early because this place can get packed to the gills. It wasn’t packed the day I was there but I can see why it would be. Great service, nice ambiance, fresh sushi and reasonable prices. Usually reasonable prices and fresh sushi aren’t often quoted in the same sentence. But Encinitas Sushi lounge manages both.
My server Eric was great and made sure we knew about the Unilocal check in offer of free garlic edamame. I partook in two of the soju cocktail offerings. The raspberry lemondrop and the pomegranate martini and both were delicious. It was a refreshing change from the typical beer and sake offerings that the majority of sushi restaurants serve.
They also have a bomb happy hour. Of course my favorite citrus chili yellowtail sashimi is not on it but all my husbands choices are so I can afford to splurge on sashimi. Seriously our last visit came to about $ 40.00 and that included two drinks. Perfect amount of sashimi for me and perfect sushi rolls for my bottomless pit of a husband.

Pretty damn great. I ate so much I was, for the first time, at a sushi place, full!!! Happily full. It’s a great place. I’m a fan for sure. I’ve been to a few great sushi places and this one really sells itself well. Everything fresh and tasty, I loved it all. Happy hour is a great time to go.
We arrived during happy hour and found the place nearly empty. Don’t let that fool you though, within minutes the place was full. A few more minutes and we found out why. Great prices and great sushi. Wow! What a concept. A few drinks and Saki with several choices of sushi and I was rolling in my seat ready to take a nappy poo. Ha ha ha. Sorry, I was just so pleased and relaxed I was ready to lay down and dream happy thoughts.
«Encinitas Sushi Lounge» is just one more reason in a long list, (of reasons) for me to be in love with this city. Not to take away from where you may live or love, I never want to leave this place. Encinitas brings the best restaurateurs to our front door. I suppose I must credit San Diego for having that feel in most of our best neighborhoods. San Diego county rocks. Encinitas Sushi Lounge rocks. I rock, you rock, everybody here rocks. Lucky us — we all rock! Give So Cal a hand. We are part of the best place in the world.
Notice I did not say, «one of the best places»? This is the best place in the world. Lucky for us, we get Encinitas Sushi Lounge in it.

Went to the 24 Hour Fitness last night and got hungry. So the girl friend and I stopped by Sushi Lounge for a quick bite.
Check in on Unilocal and get free garlic edemame.
We ordered:
— Red Dragon (spicy krab inside, seared tuna on top, sprouts inside) $ 13 – 14
— Crunchy Roll
— Tasmanian Salmon Sushi $ 7 – 8
Friendly service, the guy was very informative. Sushi rolls were tasty! They’ve got ½ off rolls Monday nights we wanna try to make next time!

Do NOT get the Del Mar Roll.
I try not to jump to the negative when I write a review, but it sucks to be having a nice dinner, some pleasant surprises, and then have the roll you’ve been looking forward to since seeing the menu online, end up as a rather disgusting disappointment. I’ll explain why in a bit.
Alright, Sushi Lounge. My girlfriend went here a week before, came back with one of their Chronic Rolls to-​go, and I had to admit that it was great, even for a roll that was 30 minutes passed peak freshness. So, when the chance came up to dine here and cap off the end of an intense week, I agreed to try it out.
We started with the Garlic Edamame, their Unilocal Check-​In special. This was easily one of the best appetizers I’ve ever had. Most times restaurants offer something new they are trying to advertise or something they make in large batches (like soup), but may not be ordered often enough to use up their nightly supply. While small and simple, it was still a far cry from being a throw-​away special offer. Hot and smoky sweet, these salty beauties are cooked in a garlic marinade, making them finger licking delicious.
Next, we moved on to Salmon Nigiri; this is a personal favorite and something I always get at every sushi bar I go to. It should be cool, buttery, melt on the tongue, and fill your mouth with a subtle sweetness as it warms from that light chill. Not so much here. It didn’t taste bad, there was no fishiness to ruin anything, it just wasn’t the top quality you hope it is.
After that, I chose their Oyster Shooter. Typically this comes steeped in cocktail sauce, a sprinkle of horseradish, and a twist of lemon. At Sushi Lounge that oyster comes served in ponzu sauce with onions, masago, and chili paste to garnish. It was smooth and very fresh, hot on the tongue, with surprisingly no heat on the back end. Got to say, it was quite impressive.
Then came a pair of California Rolls, a happy hour staple. Admittedly, I think I get them more out of habit than anything else. California Rolls are a good indicator of how thick future rolls will be and the quality of wrapping, cutting, and plating you can expect. If they go out of their way to make even the cheapest of rolls stand out, the specialty rolls will be that much more impressive. But with just the roll on the plate and being filled with «krab» instead of, you know … crab, it does make for lower expectations. The taste was alright, good size, with a nice dusting of sesame atop, it just wasn’t as good as many other restaurants.
We then split a pair of hand rolls, a Philadelphia for her, and a Shrimp Tempura for myself. She enjoyed the Philly, her first hand roll ever. On mine, the shrimp was fantastic, well fried with good flavor, which held a great contrast against the chilled «krab» and veggies alongside it. Every bite was a nice switch in texture and temperature, very well done.
Now came our specialty rolls, starting with the Chimichanga. It’s a novel concept, a non-​tempura, breaded and fried sushi roll. But, that breading doesn’t translate well with fish. It has a shake and bake taste and was unappetizing despite the rest of the roll being pretty good. I have no idea if wrapping this in either a thin tortilla or egg roll wrapper before frying would be better, but it’s certainly worth a try. Also, the spicy aioli it comes with has no heat whatsoever. My lady love, who sometimes thinks her ice water is too spicy, didn’t even bat an eyelash while trying it.
And the finale, The Del Mar Roll. On paper, this thing should be fucking amazing. And when it hit the table, it was slightly underwhelming in size and aesthetic. A number of sushi places have this or something similar, typical copies having shrimp tempura in lieu of lobster, and are delicious; so, we were still excited to try it. But, when first lifting a piece up for a bite, we stopped as the pungent scent of the garlic ponzu hit us straight in the face.
It was soaked in it! When placing it on the tongue, you literally can sense nothing else but the overwhelming taste of the stuff. A bit disturbed at the lack of flavors, we deconstructed a few slices to see if anything could be salvaged. The steak was a complete loss, no sear on the outer edges, no hint of seasoned taste, not even a chill from a pink middle … all it seemed to be was a thin, medium-​well layer of lukewarm meat. Inside, the lobster salad, while having the stringy characteristics of lobster, was drowned in pepper, leaving it with all bite and no lobster flavor.
This is the most expensive roll on their menu, a blending of two decadent ingredients. It should be brilliant beyond everything else. Instead, it’s a sauce soaked, soulless disappointment. Not worth the cost, not even at half-​price on Mondays.
In the end, some great ideas, a couple of hits, but many more misses. Eating here was a long time coming, maybe we should have waited a bit longer…

Best sushi in all of Encinitas!!! If you’re thinking about trying this place, don’t hesitate, just go!
Ps– I love the fresh salmon and Mt Fuji roll!