Manager
Tajima Sushi and Japanese Tapas Restaurant
4411 Mercury Street
San Diego, California 92111
Phone: (858) 278-5367
Dear Sir or Madam:
Over the course of several visits to Tajima, we have enjoyed many dishes from your eclectic Japanese menu. Our first impression of your restaurant was that it was warm and homey, not what we have come to expect of “sushi bars” in San Diego. Our large, high-backed dark wood booth made us feel like we had the restaurant to ourselves, even though it was busy.
Your Tapas style menu has allowed us to affordably order several different dishes at each meal. We originally visited your restaurant in search of good local sushi, which we found. We also found many unexpected non-sushi dishes, including Breaded Deep Fried Japanese Meatloaf (Menchi Katsu ($4.50)). The meatloaf itself was similar to a classic American meatloaf but smoother. The crispy breading took the meatloaf to an unexpected zenith of indulgent greasiness. Conversely, the Deep Fried Black Pork Cutlet on Skewer ($2.00 per skewer) was a little too greasy and the pork was slightly overcooked. However, the spicy mustard served on the side had a great flavor with plenty of punch.
The heaping plate of Yaki Soba (Stir Fried Egg Noodles with Mixed Vegetables and Pork ($8.95)) was aromatic and richly flavored. The noodles had a savory flavor complemented by the salty bonito flakes on top. The sliced pork mixed in with the noodles was extremely tender and the vegetables were still crisp but not undercooked.
Our experiences with your sushi and sashimi have been excellent. We recommend to anyone who likes sashimi the Sashimi Combination ($18.95). When we ordered it, we were served Ahi Tuna, Halibut, Yellow Tail and Octopus, all of which was extremely fresh. The knife work on the sashimi was very good. The thinness of the sashimi made it tender and delicate so that it almost melted in our mouths. However, the portions were not small. The Salmon Sashimi ($8.95) was some of the best we’ve had. It was very fresh, flavorful and tender and its smooth texture was uninterrupted by its significant marbling. We were excited to try the Baby Abalone Sashimi ($12.00) as well, which was fresh but its texture would be too tough for most Westerners.
We have been impressed with the creativeness of your unique Special Sushi Rolls Menu and Daily Specials Menu. The Special Sushi Rolls Menu normally contains several special rolls, which are consistently good. However, our favorite roll in recent memory was on your Daily Specials Menu. The roll had cucumber, avocado, and Spicy Tuna on the inside with seared Hamachi (Yellow Tail) on the outside and a spicy Sriracha-based sauce on top. The miso, citrus dipping sauce gave it a wonderful brightness and a perfect balance of flavors.
The Monk Fish Liver Pate (Daily Specials Menu) had a beautiful, mild and delicate flavor, although the texture was not like any other pate we’ve had. We spread some of the pate over our rolls and really enjoyed it. We would love to see the pate incorporated into a roll.
We were impressed by your selection of Sake, Soju and Soju cocktails, though we usually order the 22 ounce Kirin Ichiban draft ($5.95). The atmosphere in Tajima is relaxed and cozy and the service is friendly and unhurried. When we visit, we always feel like we are having an authentic Japanese dining experience.
Yours Very Truly,
San Diego Restaurant Review
http://www.tajimasandiego.com/
Tajima Sushi and Japanese Tapas Restaurant
4411 Mercury Street
San Diego, California 92111
Phone: (858) 278-5367
Dear Sir or Madam:
Over the course of several visits to Tajima, we have enjoyed many dishes from your eclectic Japanese menu. Our first impression of your restaurant was that it was warm and homey, not what we have come to expect of “sushi bars” in San Diego. Our large, high-backed dark wood booth made us feel like we had the restaurant to ourselves, even though it was busy.
Your Tapas style menu has allowed us to affordably order several different dishes at each meal. We originally visited your restaurant in search of good local sushi, which we found. We also found many unexpected non-sushi dishes, including Breaded Deep Fried Japanese Meatloaf (Menchi Katsu ($4.50)). The meatloaf itself was similar to a classic American meatloaf but smoother. The crispy breading took the meatloaf to an unexpected zenith of indulgent greasiness. Conversely, the Deep Fried Black Pork Cutlet on Skewer ($2.00 per skewer) was a little too greasy and the pork was slightly overcooked. However, the spicy mustard served on the side had a great flavor with plenty of punch.
The heaping plate of Yaki Soba (Stir Fried Egg Noodles with Mixed Vegetables and Pork ($8.95)) was aromatic and richly flavored. The noodles had a savory flavor complemented by the salty bonito flakes on top. The sliced pork mixed in with the noodles was extremely tender and the vegetables were still crisp but not undercooked.
Our experiences with your sushi and sashimi have been excellent. We recommend to anyone who likes sashimi the Sashimi Combination ($18.95). When we ordered it, we were served Ahi Tuna, Halibut, Yellow Tail and Octopus, all of which was extremely fresh. The knife work on the sashimi was very good. The thinness of the sashimi made it tender and delicate so that it almost melted in our mouths. However, the portions were not small. The Salmon Sashimi ($8.95) was some of the best we’ve had. It was very fresh, flavorful and tender and its smooth texture was uninterrupted by its significant marbling. We were excited to try the Baby Abalone Sashimi ($12.00) as well, which was fresh but its texture would be too tough for most Westerners.
We have been impressed with the creativeness of your unique Special Sushi Rolls Menu and Daily Specials Menu. The Special Sushi Rolls Menu normally contains several special rolls, which are consistently good. However, our favorite roll in recent memory was on your Daily Specials Menu. The roll had cucumber, avocado, and Spicy Tuna on the inside with seared Hamachi (Yellow Tail) on the outside and a spicy Sriracha-based sauce on top. The miso, citrus dipping sauce gave it a wonderful brightness and a perfect balance of flavors.
The Monk Fish Liver Pate (Daily Specials Menu) had a beautiful, mild and delicate flavor, although the texture was not like any other pate we’ve had. We spread some of the pate over our rolls and really enjoyed it. We would love to see the pate incorporated into a roll.
We were impressed by your selection of Sake, Soju and Soju cocktails, though we usually order the 22 ounce Kirin Ichiban draft ($5.95). The atmosphere in Tajima is relaxed and cozy and the service is friendly and unhurried. When we visit, we always feel like we are having an authentic Japanese dining experience.
Yours Very Truly,
San Diego Restaurant Review
http://www.tajimasandiego.com/
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