Bistro Kaz — Restaurant in San Diego

I didn’t know what to expect when I first heard about this Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant, however, Bistro Kaz did not disappoint!

Ambiance/Service: Our party of 4 went at 5:30pm on a Thursday and there was no wait for a table. The inside is pretty small with 2-4 person tables plus 4 bar seats. I saw a party of 6 inside and by looks of the tables, they could probably accommodate a party of up to 8. Outside, there were three 2-person tables. It looked like our server was the only one working the whole floor but still, she was very nice and attentive. The pizza and salmon belly came by quickly but the pastas took maybe 10-15 min longer.

Food: -Unagi Eel Pizza ($20): eight square slices— perfect to share! I’d get this again.

-Miso Marinated Salmon Belly ($20): served with rice. My husband says he enjoyed this plate and would get this again next time.

-Creamy Sea Urchin with Salmon Roe Pasta ($36 for market price): Served with garlic bread. The flavor was very tasty, though I wish it could have been a little bit creamier. There was a decent amount of salmon roe though not too much of the sea urchin.

Overall: Very interesting flavor profile but Bistro Kaz delivered. I enjoyed the dishes that our group tried, and would love to come back to...

I contest that some of the best pasta dishes in San Diego can be found at our small handful of Italian-Japanese restaurants. The "best known" place like this is Shin's in La Jolla, but the best spot to actually dine at is definitely Bistro Kaz on Convoy.

My favorite squid ink pastas are unapologetic about the squid ink like Bistro Kaz's. Here, the squid ink is used as more than just food color, and you can taste and enjoy its glorious oceanic brininess. Ample amounts of meaty squid chunks are also included. It's a fairly intense and umami-fied dish, but thankfully some fresh elements on the plate help keep it balanced.

While you're at Bistro Kaz, check out their ultra-flavorful consommé, a soup that will leave you scratching your head about how they figured out how to liquefy the best roasted meat dish you've had this month. Also, this is one of the few restaurants in San Diego serving "Omurice," a Japanese fusion food consisting of a fluffy egg omelet filled with rice that has become popular in Japan with late night revelers. At Bistro Kaz, I suggest the variant served with stewed beef hayashi sauce that is named...

We've been a couple times before, this was the first with the baby. She loved the uni toast (as did we) and the beef tongue stew. For dessert she preferred the mango mousse cake over the green tea tiramisu one. She also loved the table apparently. My wife and I loved everything, including the butter pasta with two kinds of roe. It was a bit warm inside but not bad. Cozy/cramped depending on your point of view. Never been busy every time we've been so never had issues with seating or waiting. Staff are very friendly. Only one "high" chair that's not super high and doesn't have anything to secure your baby so be mindful if you have a little one who won't sit still (ours lasted just long enough with the help of Ms. Rachel 😅).

Also when we first walked in it had a bit of a smell to it (not inherently bad, just noticeable). Didn't take long to not notice that or the heat though, especially once we had that delicious food in our mouths. And the apps came out quickly once ordered! Uni toast is a must if you go (can also bump the squid ink pasta from last time we went as...