Tanuki — Restaurant in San Diego

We had our eyes set on another Japanese Izakaya restaurant but unfortunately they closed last minute, so we found Tanuki and decided this would suffice as a replacement for the evening. We briefly looked through the menu to see if there were things we'd be interested in trying, and thought it was worth a shot. If you have larger parties I would recommend making a reservation - we came right when they opened so they allowed us in, but told us we needed one in general.

PARKING - Small parking lot in front of the restaurant but is shared by other businesses in the small strip. There's also street parking available.

SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - It's a very small restaurant, which makes the reservation idea much more impactful. There's bar seating and only 4 small tables inside, with a few more outdoor tables set up. The inside of the restaurant had an odd smell, almost similar to sewage. It lingered until food was being cooked and brought out. Service was fairly quick, but they did give us the wrong Sake bottle size and also charged us incorrectly for another. They did end up adjusting the check, which was appreciated.

FOOD - All the portions here are MUCH smaller than what you'd think, and for the price I don't think many of them were worth.

Some highlights: Karaage: Very crispy, nice juicy meat on the inside. Hamachi Kama: Good amount of meat, was tender.

A few that were disappointing: Wagyu Tataki Ponzu: The meat was very tough. Sake Wasa: EXTREMELY small bowl, could fit into my palm and I have small hands. Udon with Shrimp Tempura: The broth had no flavor.

All of the other dishes that we ordered along with the above mentioned came out to $280, not including tip. It's quite pricey considering none of us were full and ended up eating some place else afterwards.

OVERALL - Prices are quite high for the amount of food you get. Nothing was out-of-this-world amazing. Would most likely go to another restaurant for casual dining if I'm...

I stumbled upon this place a few years ago and fell in love! For a while I was going every week to sit at the bar and enjoy some sushi and wine after a long shift. I was going so much to the point the owner recognized me and knew my order lol. The owner is the absolute sweetest, the staff is very welcoming and sweet, and the food is amazing and fresh. I rave about this place to everyone I know. The restaurant itself is pretty small with a couple tables and bar seating. There is additional seating outside that’s covered. Parking available in the residential area and about 5 spots in the lot directly in-front of the restaurant. Definitely recommend this place if you’re in the area.

Food review: Karaage: (5/5) The chicken has amazing texture, it’s juicy, and flavorful. The spicy mayo and squeeze of lemon are a bomb dipping combo. I get this every time I come.

Spicy tuna roll: (5/5) Great size roll, fish tastes fresh, not too spicy, and overall each bite is well balanced. Simple roll, but absolutely delicious. Definitely a staple for me.

Salmon nigiri: (5/5) The salmon melts in your mouth, it was so damn good. Little rice heavy, but I enjoyed every bite!

Sake: They have an extensive menu of sake and the staff is well/versed in describing and recommending the best based on your palette. It’s worth a try if you like sake!

Desserts: I didn’t get it today because I was very full…but they have eclairs (that are sold Fridays and Saturdays? If I’m not mistaken) and they also have crème brûlée and matcha...

We've eaten here several times. Food is good depending on what you order. It is on the pricey side, and you don't really get a decent portion. We enjoyed the taste though. Our last experience was somewhat disheartening due to several reasons. One was the lenght of time it took for food to come out. We received ¹two out of about five or six orders and there was a really long wait in between that and when the next dishes came out. I did not exactly time the delay but would confidently say anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes, leaning toward 45. The waitresses came a few times and there seemed to be a confusion on what already came out and what is still to come out. Sea bass appetizer came out last. We ordered sea urchin appetizer and were told it comes out in 5 pieces only to receive a tiny portion which looked like one tiny single piece. When we asked if there are 4 more coming the server said no, that this one we already had was cut in 5 slices. If you've ever eaten a sea urchin you will surely agree that it doesnt make sense to "cut it" only to keep all the pieces together in the same place - to us it did not look cut at all and what's the point anyway, it has butterlike consistency so tender it comes easily apart with a fork. I guess they cut it to be able to say that you are getting 5 pieces to justify the high price. Honestly, not worth it and I don't think we'll be back. For $150 dinner (no alcohol just food) i expect a better experience, quicker service and more transparent...