EE NAMI Tonkatsu Izakaya - Authentic Japanese restaurant in San Diego - 4706 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, USA

Small restaurant that gets quite busy so I definitely suggest getting there towards when they open. There's inside and a courtyard, which is enclosed but not covered. We sat outside and it was really nice weather for it. The space is a bit small but cozy enough. Service was very good and we enjoyed all our food. Lots of great appetizer options that are a little more uncommon in the area. A bit on the pricier side but worth it imo.

If you have to wait to be seated, you know the food is worth the wait! This restaurant is so cozy and the staff is friendly. The food matched well with the atmosphere. Do try the karage chicken; super crispy and juicy! And finish off with their amazing light and floral green tea!

We came here for lunch without a reservation. We were seated in the courtyard under the sun. It was quite hot but we had no choice. We sat and ordered our food. The table next to us left and we asked if we could move to that table. The waitress refused. Later on, a waiter came out and told us to wait for the other table after the customers at that table were done. We waited and was able to move to a shady spot. I just got back from Japan and I had good tomkatsu multiple times while I was there. My Japanese co-worker recommended this place so I had to try it. Unfortunately it’s just average IMO. You have to pay additional fee if you want rice (In Japan, they offer unlimited rice and salad without additional charge). The meat was a bit chewy. My son couldn’t even bite into him tomkatsu sando because it was chewy. The price is on the higher end. I don’t think the food quality is worth the price.

Ee Nami is a pretty cool, pretty authentic Japanese restaurant inside of Diane shopping center off of Clairemont Mesa Blvd. The shop is a bit small, but they do also have bar and outdoor seating. It gets a bit crowded, especially on weekends, so it’s a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation. Out of all the dishes I tried, my favorite was the niku miso eggplant. The eggplant was cooked perfectly, the ground pork was tasty, and it had just the right amount of chili sauce. The chicken karaage was good but a bit greasy. I thought the potato salad w/ roe and fried garlic were both quite nice as well. I especially enjoyed the side topping that came with the fried garlic, though I’m unsure what it was exactly. Atmosphere is decent but a bit cramped (and the chairs are super loud on the floor indoors). The container of tonkatsu sauce on the table basically exploded when I finally wrenched the cap off, as it was frozen on. Some of the food was great, some was kind of mid-range (the beef tongue was fresh and authentic, but also a bit overly sauced and oily). I hope to come back soon and try a full course like a curry or combo plate. Then I’ll update my review.

This place is super popular. Better to reserve in advance or get there early. I had pork loin which is crispy but rather taste less. The Japanese yam and crab ikura is a bit salty.

Wow, just wow. Excellent place to eat all sorts of Japanese cuisine. Their menu is pretty extensive whether you're looking for sushi or sashimi offerings or specific things like tonkatsu or karaage. There's so much that you'll have to come back to try something else. Preparation of our entrees was just a chef's kiss and we couldn't have left the restaurant so excited for a great meal. The staff are polite and professional. They are following current Covid guidelines. Recommended.

I reached the restaurant at 9.22pm and the lady was so kind to take my to-go order. I had the loin Katsu combo that comes with miso soup, and rice, and fillet Katsu. Both Katsu were crispy, juicy, and breaded well. I could hear the crunch every bite. It was so good. I had a great supper! The restaurant is very small thus big groups will have difficulty finding seating.

First visit and this is the best Katsu in the area I have had so far. Quite similar to what you would find in Japan. Great quality meat as well as seafood made into crispy Katsu perfection. Service was friendly. Highly recommend!!