Ocean Beach Restaurant Review : “Taika Sushi”

Restaurant Review:
“Taika Sushi”
4953 Newport Ave.
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
619-221-1288
http://www.taikasushi.com/ menu-2

Rainbow Roll

It is amazing to me that one block in Ocean Beach can support three Japanese restaurants. But that seems to be the case, with the newest, “Taika Sushi” filled to capacity Friday evening at 6:45pm.  I had wanted to try the restaurant ever since it opened, and particularly after reading a review by [Reader writer] Mercy Baron but it just never happened.  Until last night.

As it happens, I currently have two foreign language students living with me to hone their English Skills. Leticia is my student from Sao Paulo (Brazil) and she is celebrating her birthday this weekend.  Yuri, is my current Japanese student and has been with me for almost seven months.  What better time could there be to try out “Taika Sushi.”

We were greeted by a beautiful waitress that yelled across the room “welcome to Taika”, and an older gentleman that at first we took to be the owner. However, when we asked him later in the meal, he said that he was only helping to “run the restaurant.”  As happens in so many Asian establishments, our male was not Japanese at all but Chinese.  It didn’t make a difference, because the questions we asked he could answer.  It was interesting to note that every time someone came in the door – and there were many that came in while we were there – the waitress welcomed them, no matter where in the restaurant she might be.

Tempura Sake Roll

The menu was extensive – 8 pages of items and many beautiful photographs of the offerings.  It had Appetizers, Salads, Soup/Noodle/Rice selections; Classic  Rolls, Specialty Rolls, House  Premium Rolls, Veggie Specialties, Sushi Bento, Shooter Specials, Temaki, Nigiri Sushi and Sashimi, Entrees, and Bento Boxes.

Ika

Additionally they offered wine and beer, and, of course Sake.  They had three desert items as well, and the prices were reasonable!  At the end of this article I will let you know just how reasonable.

To begin the meal I tried to order a small bottle of sake – $2.50 – but for some reason our server either didn’t hear me or was distracted by my students. He got their drink order right, but I had to request the sake a second time.  By the way, it was very tasty, and just warm enough.

Octopus roll

We ordered a variety of items starting with “Tempura Vegetables” as our appetizer.  The veggies were cooked perfectly.  They were not greasy; they were not overdone; they were perfect.  And there was ample for each of us.  And, it only cost $4.25.  Additionally, Leticia, from Brazil, wanted to try an order of Gyoza to compare it with what she gets in Sao Paulo.  Six perfectly cooked dumplings only had a $3.95 price tag on them, and they were delicious.

Salmon Skin roll

We let Yuri do a lot of the ordering because she was doing a “comparison” of authentic  Japanese fare and Ocean Beach Japanese fare.

She ordered a “Rainbow Roll” – basically a California roll but with a variety of fish making up the roll.  The cost for 5 pieces of roll was $6.50.  We also ordered “Tempura Sake Roll – and it cost $6.00.  It was delicious.  We ordered a selection of “Ika” – squid, and the cost was $3.25 for two.  (We ordered two orders .)  We also ordered two orders of “Tako” – octopus – and it was $3.25 an order.

Yuri wanted to try a Salmon Skin roll, which she said was delicious. It was served beautifully and the cost was $3.25.  We told our waiter that it was Leticia’s birthday and they brought her a scoop of green tea ice cream.  Since I knew that that was Yuri’s favorite ice cream, I ordered a scoop for her also.  It was $3.   I was somewhat surprised that the two scoops were served on the same plate, and the waitress told us that one of the scoops “was for Leticia’s birthday” but we would be paying for the second one.

Green Tea Ice Cream

Neither of the girls wanted tea with their meal, and they stayed with water. I nursed my sake throughout the meal and our water glasses were continually being filled.

Yuri said that the meal we were served tasted almost the same as it does in Japan. She marveled at the prices – as both Leticia and I did – because for all the food we ate I was sure the bill would be much higher than it was.  In fact, knowing that we were going to a sushi restaurant I took plenty of money with me because I have always had to pay a large amount for this type of food.  But I was very pleasantly surprised when the bill was only $45.85, plus tip.  Three people; lots of food; the best deal in Ocean Beach! Would I go back?  Definitely.  And what letter grade would I give it?  Without question … an “A”.

Judi, Leticia and Yuri.

And one more thing.  Even if you don’t like sushi, take a look at their menu on line.  It is delightful, and complete with Japanese music.  A class act.   Let me know when you want to go.  Let me know if you want a “guide.”  (Me…..not Yuri!)