Ami Sushi — Restaurant in El Cajon

I have tried food from this place before multiple times and all I can say is that it is worth ordering and dining inside the restaurant, don't do takeout the quality is poor. I did take out and immediately started to eat it in my car. I got the Philadelphia roll and it wasn't cold at all, it was barely room temp. Fresh sushi should be cold always and not warm or even lukewarm because it can cause illness. The fish from the roll was kinda chewy and tough even though it looked nice presentation wise. When I had it inside the restaurant it was very delicous and cold idk why takeout has poorer quality. I ordered the miso soup and it was bland. It was salty of course but it didn't taste like anything else. There wasn't enough tofu pieces in it. I only had like 2 tiny pieces of tofu and the rest seaweed which tasted fine. I didn't taste the paste much at all. It needs more flavor. I also ordered unsweetened iced green tea, I was hoping for it to taste like green tea but nope. It just tasted like regular water. I didn't taste green tea at all. It was colored so I know it's iced green tea but there was no flavor of it at all. How sad. I also had the green tea mochi icecream ball and weirdly enough this one tasted very strong but it didn't taste like green tea or macha, it tasted very perfumey. Howcome this one has a very strong flavor but the unsweetened green iced tea had no flavor? I wish this place knew how to make green tea flavored items and...

I got the eel roll, the Philadelphia roll, and the tempura vegetables. We were first served the Philadelphia. The only ginger and wasabi came on this plate, so after it was cleared we weren’t served any for the other roll. Then they brought out the appetizer. This was tasty and a generous serving. 12 pieces of mushroom, zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower. They could use a little more salt on the starchy vegetables, but I would order these again if I came back. Then later we got the eel roll. There was no eel at all in 2/8 rolls, and an unbalanced amount in the others. We ended up opening them. No eel sauce on top, only masago and sesame, making it a rather dry avocado roll. The tiny dot of brown pictured was the only eel in this third piece. The ratio in the Philadelphia was about 90% salmon, 10% cream cheese and cucumber, which is off balance for me but I know some people would prefer. Unfortunately it was both smoky and fishy. I wouldn’t order either roll again. At the end of the meal I put a little lemon and tempura sauce on a piece of ginger and it was by far the tastiest bite of the lunch. My date also was trying very hard to hide his disappointment. The service was friendly but lacking for a restaurant that was almost completely empty. The happy hour from before is no...

Start off with the food. Some pretty great options here. I recommend the dynamite roll but it does take a long time to prepare.

The menu is pretty standard and they do offer specials with discounted prices that change often.

The basic rolls of California and Philly had no flavor and was served with out a sauce so pretty dry unless you like hi sodium soy sauce.

The prices are for the most part average, the standard roll (California, Philly, and such) proces are a little above other locations. Not a lit of Sushi competition in The area so I guess it sets the prices.

Staff, really nice and friendly, seemed like a lack of communication between wait staff though as it appeared as if they are not sure who is working which table.

Atmosphere is really nice hand done artwork. Although the art has been slowly progressing for 5+ years now. Just finish it already.

Location and parking isn't the best but it's close to. A mall and shopping nearby, it is sort of hidden behind a larger building in front of it and car dealerships around it so it's easily overlooked.

Final result, I have been coming for years and will still do so for sushi needs in the area. Other areas are better further away but for the locations...