My friends and I have been going to the Samurai for over a decade, and I still love the place.

We went there so frequently a decade ago (and always reserved one of the back "party rooms" or a tatami room) that we came to know the owner by name. Even today, he still greets us all warmly when we come back periodically, even though we go there less frequently now since we've all moved away from Del Mar.

Whenever I go to The Samurai, I always order only sushi and drinks. That's all. So I can't comment about their other menu items. But the sushi there is excellent. (And don't be afraid to order off the menu. The chef is very knowledgeable and appreciates requests made with insight.)

Excellent sushi doesn't come cheap anywhere, of course, and the Samurai is no exception. But the pricing isn't crazily high either. (It's less expensive in my experience than sushi at Top of the Market downtown or at Cafe Japengo in La Jolla, for example.)

The thing that makes this place a real gem is the location: in a strip mall in Del Mar/Solana Beach, on the east side of I-5. Who would have thought that a top notch sushi restaurant would be there? And for years (and maybe even still today) it had the longest sushi bar in San Diego.

The service is unfailingly prompt and courteous, even when its crowded, which it always is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Gotta say that Samurai is a great restaurant and have been going there since I was 5 years old. They've got something for everyone. They even gave me chopsticks that we're made for kids that had a rubber band on them.
Now that I'm an adult, I don't need the rubber band and I eat the sushi. They always have high quality, fresh fish. As always sushi can be pricey but this place seems reasonable. I always sit at the sushi bar, you get to interact with the chefs directly and they are all quite friendly.

Fish for sushi and sashimi must be at its freshest and the Samurai serves it patrons with exactly that. Located in Solana Beach at 979 Lomas Sante Fe Drive, the Samurai is one of the premiere Japanese restaurants in San Diego County.
The decor is beautifully simple and traditional. The restaurant has a huge sushi bar, floor-seating tatami rooms, and a teppan yaki room where your food is sliced, diced and sizzled right in front of you. There's also a bar located just left of the entranceway for you to get a drink in case you need to wait for a table.
As mentioned earlier, the sashimi here is absolutely as fresh as it can be - you can taste it! The hand rolls are definitely my wife's favorite, though we also love their huge selection of tempura - especially their lobster tempura. Samurai also carries an extensive selection of sakes, both hot and cold, as well as a large selection of Japanese beer.
The waitresses are dressed in traditional geisha robes, and, considering the place is usually mobbed when we're there, the service is still excellent. The dishes could be a bit larger and more generous, but that's what I say about every Japanese restaurant. When I eat here it's rare I bring a doggy bag home.
For sushi lovers all over San Diego, the Samurai Japanese Restaurant is it!

Have a craving for table side cooking? Samurai brings the heat with out the circus sideshow. Fresh vegetables, big cuts of meats with the sauces to compliment; this meal leaves you wanting more. Leftovers are just as good next day, so don't feel shy asking for a box to go. Whether Rich or Rob is cooking your food, every bite will be one to remember. My personal favorite: Filet and Shrimp.

The Chefs are always having fun and the wait staff are on top of it. This is the spot to go for a Sushi craving.