Restaurant-Kazumi Sushi

While it does not get as much notice as a place like Sushi Ota, Kazumi Sushi is the finest sushi I have had. And I am not the only one--my mother-in-law, who is Japanese and has lived in Japan and visited for prolonged times, says it is as good as any she has had there.

Kazumi is a true sushi chef, as he says, "not just a sushi maker." He also says that there are only about 5-6 true sushi chefs in San Diego...that means a long apprenticeship in Japan, up to 10 years. When he started it was four years before he was allowed even to touch the rice and fish. He worked 9 am until midnight, filling the cases up with ice and learning by listening and watching. Then he started to work with food.

And it shows...this is fine dining. Every cut, every piece of fish is perfect. The highest quality ingredients, the best preparation. You do not find this kind of sushi on every street corner in PB.

And you will pay for it. It is not cheap. But when you can taste, even in his wasabi, the best---well, you are OK with that.

His toro, fatty tuna, simply melts in your mouth. The maguro is the best fish I have ever tasted. On his unagi he has his own eel sauce and it is...perfect, just perfect.

Kazumi's is sometimes a little slower on service, again because of quality. Kazumi does not just let anyone work for him, and I am sure is a tough task-master. So sometimes it is just him behind the bar, making his heavenly morsels. But when you taste this sushi, you know that this is how it is supposed to taste...

Kazumi's is in Hillcrest on 5th, right across the street from Corvette Diner. Treat yourself one night. It is worth it.