Get Your Eat On

SUSHI/JAPANESE

Benihana. 477 Camino Del Rio South, Mission Valley. This teppan-yaki style restaurant guarantees more than just a meal as chefs prepare your entrées before your eyes, making art out of rice and performing acrobatic feats with shrimp. A full-service sushi bar is available for the purists. Open for lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday, 12-2 p.m. Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Sunday; for dinner: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, 5-11 p.m. Saturday, 3-9 p.m. Sunday. 619-298-4666. $$$

Cafe Japengo. 8960 University Center Lane, La Jolla. Trendy La Jolla mixes with traditional Japanese in harmonious and hip ways-usually busy with people socializing while enjoying fresh sushi or any of the various Japanese/Pacific Rim dishes. Open for lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; for dinner: 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; 6-10:30 p.m. Thusday-Saturday; Sushi bar: 5-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 5-10 p.m. Sunday. 858-450-3355. $$$

Ebisu Sushi. 3765 Sixth Ave., Hillcrest. Ebisu's two sushi chefs can make a masterpiece out of a sea creature. If you're dining with a finicky eater, the place offers a good assortment of non-sushi choices, such as chicken katsu, soft-shell crab flash-fried in tempura batter and appetizers like miso soup and garlic edamame. 5-12 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. 619-297-3119. $$

Kemo Sabe. 3958 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest. The décor is hip, and this place gets busy on the weekends. Dishes to try are the Thai jerk smoked duck salad and Good Things Growing, which is great for vegetarians. Open 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 619-220-6802. $$$$

Niban Japanese Restaurant. 7081 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont. This small place is good for sushi, traditional Japanese or curry. It can be busy, but the service is quick. The bowl combos are tasty and a good deal-and a favorite among the locals. Lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday (no lunch Sunday); dinner 5-9:30 p.m. daily. 858-268-0465. $$

Roppongi. 875 Prospect, La Jolla. A diverse cuisine that sits comfortably on the high plane that La Jolla's renowned restaurants hold. Features dishes such as fried tofu, Mongolian shredded duck quesadilla and barbecue mini lamb chops. Try their chocolate soufflé filled with melted chocolate fudge and sides of vanilla gelato and vanilla-strawberry sauce-it's well worth the wait. Open 11:30 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 858-551-5252. $$$

Samurai Japanese Restaurant. 979 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. This restaurant has sushi and so much more. From Nigiri and maki to hand-rolls and sashimi, the fish is fresh and sliced to perfection. But don't forget to try the other traditional Japanese dishes. Open for lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; for dinner 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 858-481-0032. $$$

Sushi Garden. 4706 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., North Clairemont. If you need a break from strip mall shopping, check out the Sushi Garden nestled in North Clairemont's Diane Center. Fresh, affordable sushi of all kinds along with other highlights of Japanese cuisine can be found in a laid back, almost zen-like atmosphere. Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday; 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturday; 1 p.m.-9 p.m., Sunday. 858-490-0419. $

Taka Sushi. 555 Fifth Ave., Downtown. The sushi is so fresh that the selection may run out, so get there early. They also offer hot and cold appetizers, and a variety of great main dishes. Open 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 619-338-0555. $$$

Todai San Diego. 2828 Camino del Rio South, Mission Valley. This is the place for buffet lovers in search of some seafood including sushi from eel to sea urchin. Open for lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; open for dinner: 5:30-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday (winter) and 6-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday (summer); 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday; 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday; 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday. 619-299-8996. $$

Zen Café. 615 Broadway St., Downtown, at On Broadway nightclub. This trendy fusion restaurant puts together an array of interesting entrées and creative sushi rolls. Best make a reservation or else expect a wait. Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m.-11 p.m. (619) 231-0011. $$$$

THAI

Amarin Thai. 3843 Richmond St., Hillcrest. Tucked away on a Hillcrest side street, this is one of San Diego's better Thai restaurants. The menu's outstanding with plenty of vegetarian options. Try the Golden Triangles as an appetizer and if you're a curry fan, Amarin does 'em all good. Great weekday lunch specials. 619-296-6056. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-4 p.m. and 5-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-4 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Sunday. $$

Ivory Thai Cuisine. 859 Hornblend St., Pacific Beach. Traditional Thai cuisine in modestly decorated surroundings. There's a variety of appetizers like steamed or fried dumplings, firecrackers, soups or salads. The entrées are served family style and range from curries to noodle dishes and fried rice with a choice of tofu, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp or scallops. Open 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, closed Monday. 858-272-0930. $$

VEGETARIAN

Couleur "Alive" Café. 7820 Broadway, Lemon Grove. A restaurant to suit the tastes of vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike, transplanted into the heart of Lemon Grove. Whether you're looking for tofu curry and tempeh tacos, or if you've got a hankering for an old-fashioned BLT, you'll find something here. More on the earthy side. Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 619-697-0036.

Spread. 2879 University Ave., North Park. Billed as "nouveau comfort food," the vegetarian and vegan food here may bring back childhood memories. Comforting brunch items include the fluffernutter sandwich (marshmallow and butterscotch almond butter) and stuffed French toast. Nut butters are their signature, but savory entrees like tomato bruschetta, almond salad and mushroom stew round out the menu. Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. 619-543-0406. $$

VIETNAMESE

Balsaa. 4646 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa. This restaurant features traditional Vietnamese dishes, such as pho, or noodle soup, which comes with all the fixings ready for you to assemble to your liking. 858-874-2527. $

Minh Ky Mi Gia. 4644 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. A no-frills Vietnamese-Chinese rice-and-noodles joint with nearly 200 menu options in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it strip mall, this clean and friendly establishment will certainly satisfy your cravings for Won Ton Noodles. 619-283-4180. $ 

Saigon Restaurant. 4455 El Cajon Blvd., City Heights. House specialties at this Vietnamese restaurant include eel, barbecued beef, whole fish and beef with vinegar-flavored sauce. The menu is impressive, consisting of pho (beef-based noodle soups), noodle and rice dishes and more than 300 others of varying combinations. 619-287-7306.

Tofu House. 4646 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa. Small stone pots with ingredients layered in are served at each tablein this unique Korean barbecue restaurant. Try the Meat Party, with barbecued pork, beef and chicken or for the more veggie-minded, try the Tasty Boiled Tofu. Open daily. 858-576-6433. $