I believe I mentioned in my post on Di Chan closing about returning to some of my most posted places…..times are tough these days, with costs forcing increased prices or having to lower the quality of offerings. Everything seems to be much more expensive. And it seems that these days that only chains can open in areas like Kearny/Clairemont Mesa…the mom-and-pops are getting priced out. So, recently, I decided to see what three restaurants we’ve posted the most on in our 21 years. And I’m pretty sure you know which place has the most posts….with 41 in all! Yikes!
Yep, this is post 42 on Izakaya Sakura…..so, I’m pretty sure you’re tired of me posting on this place, so I’ll see ya’ tomorrow, yeah?
Of course, things have changed a Sakura over the years and I have experienced some mixed results and have made fewer visits. Heck, the last time I was here was over a year ago! Which would have been unheard of before the days of Covid and inflation.
I haven’t seen Kazu here in ages. The two guys behind the sushi bar spoke Spanish, several parties speaking mainly Mandarin entered as I was eating….the only folks speaking Japanese were the two Servers.
Having tried a couple of what I guess can be termed “modern” Sushi/Japanese restaurants in the last six months has made me yearn for a simple Chirashi…..no Escolar or huge slices of salmon. I just wanted a good basic Chirashi. Which at Sakura is now $36 for lunch, it was $34 the last time I visited last March.
But, to be honest….thirty-six bucks just didn’t seem too bad for these days. So I ordered it. Of course I was wondering what the 2026 version of Chirashi would look like at Sakura. And I had to smile when it arrived!
That bowl seemed to have even more seafood in it then I recalled.
And all the lunch special “Sakura usual suspects” were present.
The miso soup was hot and not watered down.
The agedashi tofu, the asazuke, and the potato salad…check, check, and check.
Of course, I was mainly here for this.
Well, first off…it ain’t a “Michelin” bowl, ok? But it was just what I wanted on this day.
I will say that the shari had a good amount of vinegar. It was still a bit too much rice for me; though I finished it!
I won’t go into minute detail here….but will detail what I enjoyed the most. Of course the Chu-toro, hamachi, and all that was fine.
But strangely, I really enjoyed the Oyako Nishin, that yellow slice of kazunoko that is attached to herring filet. I’m not sure why I enjoyed it so much…perhaps because it has been ages since I’ve had this. I also enjoyed little dollops of ikura in certain bites as it wasn’t overly salty.
And for some reason, the ikura took me back to a little restaurant in a fish market in a small harbor town in Hokkaido. Sometimes food can take you back like that!
The bite of tamago was a savory and slightly sweet ending to this meal. A yes, a “Bowl if Joy” indeed. For a moment it seems that all was right in the world. These days we need to feel that way more often.
Tell me “FOYs” what restaurant makes you feel that way?
Izakaya Sakura
3904 Convoy St Suite 121
San Diego, CA 92111