There are restaurants you visit and then there are restaurants that become part of your routine, your story, your comfort. Sushi Camp in Temecula is exactly that kind of place for me. For the past seven years, this unassuming gem has been a faithful go-to, and I can honestly say: Donny and the staff feel like family.
No matter what kind of Monday Madness life throws at you, emails that won’t stop, traffic that crawls, or just the general existential dread of the work week… Sushi Camp is the culinary sanctuary that resets your mood and reminds you: “you made it.” There’s a peace here. A warm familiarity. It’s not just sushi, it’s therapy with soy sauce on the side.
The service? Impeccable. Attentive without hovering. Friendly without being performative. And consistent, year after year. Donny is the heart of the operation, always making you feel like your arrival was the best part of his day.
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🍣 MUST-HAVE ROLLS FOR FIRST-TIMERS (and forever-fans):
Oh No! Roll 😱🤯 The name alone tells you you’re in for a wild ride. A bold, spicy, crunchy, creamy masterpiece that delivers that “OH NO!” kick; in the best way. Perfect for thrill-seekers who like their sushi to make a statement.
Tiger Roll 🐅🌶️ Elegant with a punch. This one balances heat and flavor with an almost animalistic grace. The seared top, spice drizzle, and satisfying texture give it serious main character energy.
Mermaid Roll 🧜♀️ A whimsical dream of a roll… light, beautiful, almost magical in flavor. If sushi could sing underwater ballads and sparkle in sunlight, this would be it. A crowd-pleaser for both sushi newcomers and seasoned sushi-philes.
Ultra Dragon Roll 🐉🐲🔥 The FINAL Boss of sushi rolls. Smoky, rich, and unapologetically dramatic. It commands the plate like a dragon guarding its treasure. A top-tier roll that turns dinner into a legend.
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Whether you’re looking to celebrate a milestone, recover from the daily grind, or introduce a friend to your favorite sushi escape, Sushi Camp is a reliable beacon of flavor, comfort, and hospitality. Here’s to many more years of Oh No! moments, Tiger bites, Mermaid dreams, and...
Read moreMy first time here. I opted for appetizers.
On a side note, the entire staff was staring at me the entire time I was there. It was kind of strange. I also noticed there are 2 white guys making the sushi. Not a big deal but the two that were staring at me looked like they might have been the owners and they were Japanese. Kind of strange but I used to roll sushi many years ago and I'm white so I'm not upset about that but I just got a weird vibe. The two that kept staring at me never said a thing to me so I didn't know what the deal was.
This may cause me to be a little harsh on the review but you can judge for yourself. I think it was poor value.
Two appetizers for 20 bucks. I've never been here so I didn't know what to expect but I was thinking that, for that price, the portion size would be better.
The soft shell crab. It was just one single crab for 10 bucks? Usually it's around 3 but I know they are expensive and it did include a bed of mixed greens with dressing but I know that is just filler. If it was just a single crab for 10 bucks, people would never buy.
The dynamite was good. This seems to be a rare item nowadays so I was happy they had it but unlike other places, there was no crab, they put salmon chunks in. (At least, I think it was salmon). But it was ok. Could've been a little more but again, the price is what killed me. 10 bucks. I didn't see many scallops. But since the flavor was on point, I guess I was happy with this.
Overall, just 3 stars. I'm trying not to change my star rating on the strange feeling I got from the people staring at me because I want to give 2 because if the value but I'm...
Read moreI ended up giving 5 stars because although the sushi chefs appear to have misplaced our table’s order as they served the rotating persons seated at the bar- the humility, accountability and kindness the staff showed in making it up to us was exceptional. They really cared. That mattered to me because it was our first visit. Mistakes happen, it’s how you handle them that matters.
The Sushi 🍣 and the food was great! I wanted an easier to read menu- some items on the order sheet aren’t on the menu and vice-versa.
I was very impressed with the roll size- we like to share and try many different rolls and it’s always disappointing to try a roll and barely get enough for one person much less two to share. The portion sizes are great and shareable- so you can buy a few rolls, some miso soup, an app and really enjoy!
The hospitality and the food quality made this an enjoyable meal- really enjoyed it and am looking forward to coming back and trying some of the specialties like those found advertised in...
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