Kinoyume Sushi and Grill

Where Qin West optimizes for QR-code ordering and Calvin's chains itself to a single fried-chicken concept, Kinoyume operates like an actual Japanese restaurant — reservations recommended, fish quality visible from the counter, rolls portioned larger than the strip-mall standard. This isn't grab-and-go fuel. It's the spot in University City where business lunches turn into proper sit-down meals, and where the neighborhood's families bring out-of-town relatives when they want sushi that doesn't embarrass them.

The **caterpillar roll** and **geisha roll** show up repeatedly in reviews as outsized compared to typical San Diego pricing, but the fish-to-rice ratio justifies it. The chef's knife work is clean enough that regulars mention it specifically, which doesn't happen at conveyor-belt operations. The **mango panna cotta** is the quiet closer — not a standard Japanese dessert, but it works as a palate reset after heavier rolls. The **ramen** gets praised almost as often as the sushi, which suggests a kitchen that isn't just reheating broths.

The interior runs warmer than most sushi counters, a consistent complaint that points to either undersized AC or a chef who prefers working at room temp. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if you're the type who expects arctic dining rooms. Takeout quality drops — multiple reviews flag brown tuna and disappointing fish portions — so this is a dine-in spot first. Service stays attentive even when the room isn't slammed, which is rarer than it should be in the neighborhood's transactional lunch culture.

Pricing sits above University City's weekday average but below La Jolla's beachside sushi counters. You're paying for technique and portion size, not location markup. If you want efficient noodles, Qin West is three minutes away. If you want a sushi dinner that doesn't feel like settling, Kinoyume is the move.