Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Fresh-caught Pacific purple sea urchin from the La Jolla and Point Loma kelp beds, served raw on rice or with shaved citrus zest. The Tuna Harbor Dockside Market sells live uni on Saturdays direct from the divers; Soichi Sushi and Sushi Ota serve the city's reference omakase preparations.
California sea urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) is harvested by free divers off La Jolla; San Diego is the second-largest US uni port after Santa Barbara. The Tuna Harbor Dockside Market (Saturdays, since 2014) sells live uni boxes direct from the divers. Soichi Sushi and Sushi Ota's omakase showcase the highest grades.
5 editor picks for San Diego Sea Urchin (Uni) in San Diego, ranked by editorial score. All San Diego signature dishes · San Diego Sea Urchin (Uni) across every city.
Soichi Sushi in San Diego is Soichi Kadoya's Michelin-starred (since 2022) omakase room in University Heights, an intimate counter with a six-piece omakase.
OrderThe full omakase, sat at the counter; the local yellowtail is the room's recurring star.
TipTwo omakase seatings nightly; book three weeks ahead on Tock for either.
Sushi Ota in San Diego is Yukito Ota's Mission Bay Drive room since 1990, the strip-mall sushi counter that has trained more San Diego sushi chefs than any.
OrderThe omakase, ordered by sitting at the counter and asking the chef directly.
TipBook the counter, not the dining room. The strip-mall location is intentional; ignore the parking lot and step inside.
Tuna Harbor Dockside Market on Harbor Lane in downtown San Diego, a Saturday fisherman-to-public dock-side fish market with 70-plus rotating local species.
Sushi Tadokoro in San Diego is Mitsui Tadokoro's Old Town omakase counter, the long-running Michelin Guide-listed Japanese kitchen with traditional.
OrderThe omakase nigiri course; the toro sashimi with grated wasabi made tableside.
TipReservations strongly recommended; the counter seats twelve and books out a week ahead.
Ironside Fish and Oyster in San Diego is Consortium Holdings' India Street raw bar in Little Italy, with a piranha-skull-clad back wall and an extensive.
OrderThe Connecticut-style lobster roll, hot with butter; the oyster tower to share.
TipHappy hour at the bar runs $2 oysters Mon-Fri 3pm-5pm; the back patio gets sun until 7pm.
San Diego Sea Urchin (Uni) makes more sense with someone from San Diego explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 2h 30m
Experience the atmosphere of San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter on our 2.5-hour guided walking tour. You’ll have a chance to sample lots of tasty ethnic cuisine, alo...
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Enjoy a leisurely walking tour through San Diego's Little Italy to some of the tastiest restaurants and shops in the area. Explore piazzas, learn about local history, ...
Guided tour · 4h 30m
Savor award-winning wines and a full vineyard meal on a guided tour. Explore scenic vineyards, enjoy local flavors, and discover San Diego’s wine heritage.