Niban Japanese Restaurant

I come here very often and mainly because of the prices. There's different specials every month. I would recommend getting the lion king roll or a spicy tuna roll. It gets busy around Friday and the weekends.

Posted 10/30/08 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

I am a regular at Niban since I work in Clairemont. I have eaten there for years and their sushi is fresh and if you're dining with a "non-sushi" friend, there are other yummy options like Chicken & Beef Teriyaki (<--spell check!), their Katsu Salad and fried seafood are good and I like their steamed gyoza (it's my favorite). If you have vegetarians (like my brother), they have about three or four different sushi options, plus the steamed gyoza is meatless (and wonderful!). My favorite rolls are the crunchy roll, baja roll, lion king roll and Hawaiian roll. I usually eat there for lunch. I call it in and pick it up (if you do this, make sure they give you your condiments like the tartar sauce if that's what you like). I will occasionally dine in for lunch or dinner and it's very casual and the service is moderately great to wonderful (depending on who's section you're in--but isn't that like most places). If you do get stuck in a lame section, there is a very friendly Japanese woman who wear pretty make-up and she'll give you Niban bucks towards your next purchase.

Pros: GREAT DEALS, YUMMY SUSHI, DAILY LUNCH AND DINNER SPECIALS.

Cons: THE PARKING LOT STINKS and an occasional smart a** employee. But when the owner's around, that's usually not the case.

Posted 10/10/07 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

I like going to Niban's for a quick, cheap, and yummy sushi run. They always have different specials everyday on their bento plates and sushi rolls. My favorites include the dragon roll, crunchy roll, and the chicken katsu. You can expect to spend around 5-8 dollars, depending on what you get.

Posted 10/15/05 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

They usually have a monthly special at a discount price. Quality is pretty good and you get a good amount of food on certain items like chicken katsu curry or the bento boxes.

Posted 10/13/05 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

Niban means number two in Japanese. For those of you who love japanese food and have had a lot of it, this is not the best place to expect authentic dishes. For it's price though, it is certainly a fantastic deal. Being a poor college student, I can't complain about the prices, although the service can be questionable depending on who you get. If you don't have high expectations for japanese food and not a lot of money in your pocket, check this place out.

Posted 09/20/05 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?

Oh mann... This place stands its ground in Japanese cuisine. They serve udon, many different types of bento boxes and great sushi. This small restaurant in Clairemont always has a crowd (they have a line out the door at lunch and dinner time). The food is made fresh and the prices are very affordable. A must-go for any fan of Japanese food. This place is usually overlooked, but regulars will tell you that it's one of the best places around

PROS: great food, fast service
CONS: really bad parking area

Posted 08/03/05 | Report Abuse

Was this review helpful to you?